Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of and for the period covered by this report.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and our dispositions of assets; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition and use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
On July 28, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Transtar. Our management is in the process of reviewing the operations of Transtar and integrating its controls into our internal control structure. In accordance with SEC guidance permitting a company to exclude an acquired business from management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting for the year in which the acquisition is completed, we have excluded Transtar from our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. Transtar represented approximately 16% of our total assets and 13% of our total revenues as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information about the acquisition of Transtar.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on management’s assessment using this framework, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2021, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.
The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report included herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC (the “Company”) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on the COSO criteria.
As indicated in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of Transtar, LLC, which is included in the 2021 consolidated financial statements of the Company and constituted 16% of total assets as of December 31, 2021 and 13% of revenues for the year then ended. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Transtar, LLC.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes and our report dated February 25, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
February 25, 2022
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Item 9B. Other Information
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
PART III—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Any information required by this Item 10 is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (our “Definitive Proxy Statement”) under the headings “Proposal No. 1 Election of Directors” and “Executive Officers.”
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated by reference to our Definitive Proxy Statement under the headings “Executive and Manager Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Report.”
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated by reference to our Definitive Proxy Statement under the heading “Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners.” See also “Nonqualified Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan” in Part II, Item 5, “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item 13 is incorporated by reference to our Definitive Proxy Statement under the headings “Proposal No. 1 Election of Directors—Determination of Director Independence” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated by reference to our Definitive Proxy Statement under the heading “Proposal No. 2 Approval of Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm—Principal Accountant Fees and Services.”
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 19, 2019, by and among Soo Line Corporation, Black Bear Acquisition LLC, Railroad Acquisition Holdings LLC and Fortress Worldwide Transportation and Infrastructure General Partnership (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 6, 2020).
3.1
Certificate of Formation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Amendment No. 4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on April 30, 2015).
3.2
Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC, dated as of March 25, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC’s Form 8-A, filed March 25, 2021).
3.3
Share Designation with respect to the 8.25% Fixed-to-Floating Series A Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares, dated as of September 12, 2019 (included as part of Exhibit 3.2).
3.4
Share Designation with respect to the 8.00% Fixed-to-Floating Series B Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares, dated as of November 27, 2019 (included as part of Exhibit 3.2).
3.5
Share Designation with respect to the 8.25% Fixed-Rate Reset Series C Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares, dated as of March 25, 2021 (included as part of Exhibit 3.2).
4.1
Indenture, dated March 15, 2017, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 6.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 15, 2017).
4.2
Form of global note representing the Company’s 6.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 (included in Exhibit 4.1).
4.3
First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 8, 2017, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 6.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 1, 2018).
4.4
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated August 23, 2017, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 6.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 23, 2017).
4.5
Third Supplemental Indenture, dated December 20, 2017, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 6.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2017).
4.6
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 31, 2018, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 6.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 31, 2018).
4.7
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated February 8, 2019, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 6.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 8, 2019).
4.8
Indenture, dated September 18, 2018, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 6.50% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on September 18, 2018).
4.9
Form of global note representing the Company’s 6.50% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (included in Exhibit 4.8).
4.10
First Supplemental Indenture, dated May 21, 2019, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 6.50% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 21, 2019).
4.11
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated December 23, 2020, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 6.50% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 23, 2020).
4.12
Indenture, dated April 12, 2021, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC’s Form 8-K, filed April 12, 2021).
4.13
Form of global note representing the Company’s 5.50% senior unsecured notes due 2028 (included in Exhibit 4.12).
4.14
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 24, 2021, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the Company’s 5.50% senior unsecured notes due 2028 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on September 24, 2021).
4.15
Form of certificate representing the 8.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series A Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-A, filed September 12, 2019).
4.16
Form of certificate representing the 8.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series B Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-A, filed November 27, 2019).
4.17
Form of certificate representing the 8.25% Fixed-Rate Reset Series C Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC’s Form 8-A, filed March 25, 2021).
4.18
Description of Securities Registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
10.1
Fourth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement of Fortress Worldwide Transportation and Infrastructure General Partnership (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 21, 2015).
121
Exhibit No. Description
† 10.2
Management and Advisory Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2015, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC and FIG LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 21, 2015).
† 10.3
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2015, among Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC, FIG LLC and Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Master GP LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 21, 2015).
† 10.4
Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC Nonqualified Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 21, 2015).
10.5
Form of director and officer indemnification agreement of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Amendment No. 4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed April 30, 2015).
* 10.6
Engineering, Procuring and Construction Agreement dated as of February 15, 2019, between Long Ridge Energy Generation LLC and Kiewit Power Constructors Co. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 3, 2019).
* 10.7
Purchase and Sale of Power Generation Equipment and Related Services Agreement dated as of February 15, 2019, between Long Ridge Energy Generation LLC and General Electric Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 3, 2019).
10.8
First Lien Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2019, among Ohio River PP Holdco LLC, Ohio Gasco LLC, Long Ridge Energy Generation LLC, the lenders and issuing banks from time to time party thereto, and Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 3, 2019).
10.9
Second Lien Credit Agreement dated as of February 15, 2019, among Ohio River PP Holdco LLC, Ohio Gasco LLC, Long Ridge Energy Generation LLC, the lenders from time to time party thereto, and Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 3, 2019).
† 10.10
Form of Award Agreement under the Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors Nonqualified Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 17, 2018).
10.11
Credit Agreement, dated as of February 11, 2020, among Jefferson 2020 Bond Borrower LLC, as the borrower and Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC, acting through one or more affiliates, as the lender (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 1, 2020).
10.12
Senior Loan Agreement, dated as of February 1, 2020, between Port of Beaumont Navigation District of Jefferson County, Texas, as issuer and Jefferson 2020 Bond Borrower LLC, as borrower (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 1, 2020).
10.13
Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Fixture Filing, dated February 1, 2020, from Jefferson 2020 Bond Borrower LLC, as grantor, and Jefferson 2020 Bond Lessee LLC, as grantor, to Ken N. Whitlow, as Deed of Trust Trustee for the benefit of Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as beneficiary (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 1, 2020).
10.14
Amended and Restated Lease and Development Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2020, by and between Port of Beaumont Navigation District of Jefferson County, Texas, as lessor, and Jefferson 2020 Bond Lessee LLC, as lessee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on May 1, 2020).
10.15
Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2021, by and between United States Steel Corporation and Percy Acquisition LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 8, 2021).
10.16
Credit Agreement, dated July 28, 2021, among Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on July 29, 2021).
10.17
Railway Services Agreement, dated July 28, 2021, by and among United States Steel Corporation, Transtar, LLC, Delray Connecting Railroad Company, Fairfield Southern Company, Inc., Gary Railway Company, Lake Terminal Railroad Company, Texas & Northern Railroad Company and Union Railroad Company, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on July 29, 2021).
10.18
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2021, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC, the lenders and issuing banks from time to time party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed December 8, 2021).
10.19
Credit Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2021, between Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed December 8, 2021).
21.1
Subsidiaries of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC.
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
122
Exhibit No. Description
32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101 The following financial information from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, formatted in iXBRL (Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
† Management contracts and compensatory plans or arrangements.
* Portions of this exhibit have been omitted.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized:
FORTRESS TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTORS LLC
By: /s/ Joseph P. Adams, Jr. Date: February 25, 2022
Joseph P. Adams, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: /s/ Joseph P. Adams, Jr. Date: February 25, 2022
Joseph P. Adams, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
By: /s/ Scott Christopher
Date: February 25, 2022
Scott Christopher
Chief Financial Officer
By: /s/ Eun Nam Date: February 25, 2022
Eun Nam
Chief Accounting Officer
By: /s/ Paul R. Goodwin Date: February 25, 2022
Paul R. Goodwin
Director
By: /s/ Judith A. Hannaway Date: February 25, 2022
Judith A. Hannaway
Director
By:
/s/ A. Andrew Levison
Date: February 25, 2022
A. Andrew Levison
Director
By: /s/ Kenneth J. Nicholson Date: February 25, 2022
Kenneth J. Nicholson
Director
By: /s/ Ray M. Robinson Date: February 25, 2022
Ray M. Robinson
Director
By: /s/ Martin Tuchman Date: February 25, 2022
Martin Tuchman
Director
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