UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
Form
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from _______________ to ________________
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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As of April 29, 2024, the registrant had
SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 37 | |
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Quarterly Report”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this Quarterly Report regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this Quarterly Report, the words “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “preliminary,” “forecast,” and similar expressions or variations are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, in this Quarterly Report and those set forth from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those summarized below:
● | global economic distress, including that resulting from the sustained Russia-Ukraine war and related economic sanctions, the conflict in the Israel-Gaza region and continued hostilities in the Middle East, including rising tensions with Iran, inflation and elevated interest rates, and potential energy insecurity in Europe, each of which may decrease demand for oil and natural gas or contribute to volatility in the prices for oil and natural gas, which may decrease demand for our services; |
● | actions taken by the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and Russia (together with OPEC and other allied producing countries, “OPEC+”) with respect to oil production levels and announcements of potential changes in such levels, including the ability of the OPEC+ countries to agree on and comply with announced supply limitations, which may be exacerbated by an increase in hostilities in the Middle East; |
● | the level of capital spending and access to capital markets by oil and gas companies in response to changes in commodity prices or reduced demand; |
● | the ability to source certain raw materials and other critical components or manufactured products globally on a timely basis from economically advantaged sources, including any delays and/or supply chain disruptions due to increased hostilities in the Middle East; |
● | the impact of central bank policy actions, such as sustained, elevated rates of interest in response to high rates of inflation, and disruptions in the bank and capital markets; |
● | the severity and duration of world health events and any resulting impact on commodity prices and supply and demand considerations; |
● | the potential deterioration of our customers’ financial condition, including defaults resulting from actual or potential insolvencies; |
● | the degree to which consolidation among our customers may affect spending on U.S. drilling and completions, including the recent consolidation in the Permian Basin; |
● | trends and volatility in oil and gas prices, and our ability to manage through such volatility; |
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● | the impact of current and future laws, rulings and governmental regulations, including those related to hydraulic fracturing, accessing water, disposing of wastewater, transferring produced water, interstate freshwater transfer, chemicals, carbon pricing, pipeline construction, taxation or emissions, leasing, permitting or drilling on federal lands and various other environmental matters; |
● | regional impacts to our business, including our key infrastructure assets within the Bakken, the Northern Delaware and Midland Basin portions of the Permian Basin, and the Haynesville; |
● | capacity constraints on regional oil, natural gas and water gathering, processing and pipeline systems that result in a slowdown or delay in drilling and completion activity, and thus a decrease in the demand for our services in our core markets; |
● | regulatory and related policy actions intended by federal, state and/or local governments to reduce fossil fuel use and associated carbon emissions, or to drive the substitution of renewable forms of energy for oil and gas, may over time reduce demand for oil and gas and therefore the demand for our services, including as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA 2022”) or otherwise; |
● | actions taken by the Biden Administration or state governments, such as executive orders or new or expanded regulations, that may negatively impact the future production of oil and natural gas in the U.S. or our customers’ access to federal and state lands for oil and gas development operations, thereby reducing demand for our services in the affected areas; |
● | changes in global political or economic conditions, generally, including as a result of the fall 2024 presidential election and any resultant political uncertainty, and in the markets we serve, including the rate of inflation and potential economic recession; |
● | growing demand for electric vehicles that may result in reduced demand for refined products deriving from crude oil such as gasoline and diesel fuel, and therefore the demand for our services; |
● | our ability to hire and retain key management and employees, including skilled labor; |
● | our access to capital to fund expansions, acquisitions and our working capital needs and our ability to obtain debt or equity financing on satisfactory terms, including as a result of sustained increases in cost of capital resulting from Federal Reserve policies and otherwise; |
● | our health, safety and environmental performance; |
● | the impact of competition on our operations; |
● | the degree to which our exploration and production (“E&P”) customers may elect to operate their water-management services in-house rather than source these services from companies like us; |
● | our level of indebtedness and our ability to comply with covenants contained in our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility (as defined herein) or future debt instruments; |
● | delays or restrictions in obtaining permits by us or our customers; |
● | constraints in supply or availability of equipment used in our business; |
● | the impact of advances or changes in well-completion technologies or practices that result in reduced demand for our services, either on a volumetric or time basis; |
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● | acts of terrorism, war or political or civil unrest in the U.S. or elsewhere, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict in the Israel-Gaza region and/or other instability and hostilities in the Middle East; |
● | accidents, weather, natural disasters or other events affecting our business; and |
● | the other risks identified in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and under the headings “Part I—Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Part II—Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report. |
These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on our future results. Our future results will depend upon various other risks and uncertainties, including those described under the heading “Part I―Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and under the heading “Part II―Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary note.
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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
| (unaudited) |
| ||||
Assets | ||||||
Current assets |
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Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | ||
Accounts receivable trade, net of allowance for credit losses of $ |
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Accounts receivable, related parties |
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Inventories |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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Total current assets |
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Property and equipment |
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Accumulated depreciation |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Total property and equipment, net |
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Right-of-use assets, net | | | ||||
Goodwill |
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Other intangible assets, net |
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Deferred tax assets, net | |
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Other long-term assets |
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Total assets | $ | | $ | | ||
Liabilities and Equity |
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Current liabilities |
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Accounts payable | $ | | $ | | ||
Accrued accounts payable | | | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses, related parties |
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Accrued salaries and benefits |
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Accrued insurance |
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Sales tax payable | | | ||||
Current portion of tax receivable agreements liabilities | | | ||||
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
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Current operating lease liabilities | | | ||||
Current portion of finance lease obligations |
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Total current liabilities |
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Long-term tax receivable agreements liabilities | |
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Long-term operating lease liabilities |
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Long-term debt |
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| — | ||
Other long-term liabilities |
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Total liabilities |
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Commitments and contingencies (Note 9) |
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Class A common stock, $ |
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Class B common stock, $ |
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Preferred stock, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Accumulated deficit |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Total stockholders’ equity |
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Noncontrolling interests |
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Total equity |
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Total liabilities and equity | $ | | $ | |
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
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SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
Revenue |
|
|
|
| ||
Water Services | $ | | $ | | ||
Water Infrastructure | | | ||||
Chemical Technologies |
| |
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Total revenue |
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Costs of revenue |
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Water Services | | | ||||
Water Infrastructure | | | ||||
Chemical Technologies |
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Depreciation, amortization and accretion |
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Total costs of revenue |
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Gross profit |
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Operating expenses |
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Selling, general and administrative |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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Impairments and abandonments |
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Lease abandonment costs |
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Total operating expenses |
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Income from operations |
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Other income (expense) |
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Gain on sales of property and equipment and divestitures, net | | | ||||
Interest expense, net |
| ( | ( | |||
Other |
| ( | | |||
Income before income tax expense and equity in losses of unconsolidated entities |
| |
| | ||
Income tax expense |
| ( | ( | |||
Equity in losses of unconsolidated entities | ( | ( | ||||
Net income |
| |
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Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| ( | ( | |||
Net income attributable to Select Water Solutions, Inc. | $ | | $ | | ||
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders (Note 15): |
| |||||
Class A—Basic | $ | | $ | | ||
Class B—Basic | $ | — | $ | — | ||
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders (Note 15): |
| |||||
Class A—Diluted | $ | | $ | | ||
Class B—Diluted | $ | — | $ | — |
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
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SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| |||
Net income | $ | | $ | | |||
Comprehensive income |
| |
| | |||
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Comprehensive income attributable to Select Water Solutions, Inc. | $ | | $ | |
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
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SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)
Class A | Class B | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders | Stockholders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Additional | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common | Common | Paid-In | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | Noncontrolling | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Stock |
| Shares |
| Stock |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Equity |
| Interests |
| Total | ||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2023 |
| | $ | |
| | $ | |
| $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
Equity-based compensation | — | — | — | — | | — | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted shares |
| |
| |
| — |
| — |
|
| |
| — |
| |
| ( |
|
| — | |||||
Repurchase of common stock | ( | ( | — | — | ( | — | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Restricted shares forfeited | ( | ( | — | — | ( | — | ( | | — | ||||||||||||||||
Performance shares vested | | | — | — | | — | | ( | — | ||||||||||||||||
Dividend and distribution declared: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A common stock ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Unvested restricted stock ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Class B common stock ($ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| |
| |
| |
|
| | |||||
Balance as of March 31, 2024 |
| | $ | |
| | $ | |
| $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | |
Class A | Class B | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders | Stockholders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Additional | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common | Common | Paid-In | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | Noncontrolling | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Stock |
| Shares |
| Stock |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Equity |
| Interests |
| Total | ||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2022 |
| | $ | |
| | $ | |
| $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||
Equity-based compensation | — | — | — | — | | — | | | | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted shares | | | — | — | | — | | ( | — | ||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of common stock | ( | ( | — | — | ( | — | ( | | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Restricted shares forfeited | ( | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | | — | ||||||||||||||||
Contributions from noncontrolling interests | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | ||||||||||||||||
NCI income tax adjustment | — | — | — | — | | — | | ( | — | ||||||||||||||||
Dividend and distribution declared: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A common stock ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Unvested restricted stock ($ | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Class B common stock ($ | — | — | — | — | — | — | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||
Net income |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
|
| — |
| |
| |
| |
|
| | |||||
Balance as of March 31, 2023 |
| | $ | |
| | $ | |
| $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | |
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
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SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
Cash flows from operating activities |
| |||||
Net income | $ | | $ | | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
| ||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |
| |
| | ||
Deferred tax expense (benefit) | | ( | ||||
Gain on disposal of property and equipment and divestitures |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Equity in losses of unconsolidated entities | | | ||||
Bad debt expense |
| |
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Amortization of debt issuance costs |
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Inventory adjustments | ( | | ||||
Equity-based compensation |
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Impairments and abandonments |
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Other operating items, net |
| |
| ( | ||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities |
|
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Accounts receivable |
| |
| ( | ||
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
| |
| ( | ||
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
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Purchase of property and equipment |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Acquisitions, net of cash received |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Proceeds received from sales of property and equipment |
| |
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Net cash used in investing activities |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
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Borrowings from revolving line of credit | | | ||||
Payments on revolving line of credit |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Payments of finance lease obligations | ( | ( | ||||
Dividends and distributions paid |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Contributions from noncontrolling interests |
| — |
| | ||
Repurchase of common stock |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| |
| | ||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
| |
| | ||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | | $ | | ||
Supplemental cash flow disclosure: |
|
| ||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | | $ | | ||
Cash refunds for income taxes, net | $ | ( | $ | — | ||
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities: |
|
| ||||
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | | $ | |
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
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SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE 1—BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Description of the business: Select Water Solutions, Inc. (“we,” “Select Inc.,” “Select” or the “Company”), formerly Select Energy Services, Inc., was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on November 21, 2016. On May 8, 2023, Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation became effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware which, among other things, changed the name of the company from Select Energy Services, Inc. to Select Water Solutions, Inc. to reflect its strategic focus as a water-focused company. We retained our stock ticker “WTTR” trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company is a holding company whose sole material asset consists of common units (“SES Holdings LLC Units”) in SES Holdings, LLC (“SES Holdings”).
We are a leading provider of sustainable water-management and chemical solutions to the energy industry in the United States (“U.S.”). As a leader in the water solutions industry, we place the utmost importance on safe, environmentally responsible management of oilfield water throughout the lifecycle of a well. Additionally, we believe that responsibly managing water resources through our operations to help conserve and protect the environment in the communities in which we operate is paramount to our continued success.
Class A and Class B common stock: As of March 31, 2024, the Company had both Class A and Class B common shares issued and outstanding. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock, par value $
Exchange rights: Under the Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SES Holdings (the “SES Holdings LLC Agreement”), SES Legacy Holdings LLC (“Legacy Owner Holdco”) and its permitted transferees have the right (an “Exchange Right”) to cause SES Holdings to acquire all or a portion of its SES Holdings LLC Units for, at SES Holdings’ election, (i) shares of Class A common stock at an exchange ratio of
Basis of presentation: The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all disclosures required for financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP.
This Quarterly Report relates to the three months ended March 31, 2024 (the “Current Quarter”) and the three months ended March 31, 2023 (the “Prior Quarter”). The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Form 10-K”), filed with the SEC on February 21, 2024, includes certain definitions and a summary of significant accounting policies and should be read in conjunction with this Quarterly Report. All material adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods have been reflected. The results for the Current Quarter may not be indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
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The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the Company’s accounts and all of its majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
For investments in subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned, but where the Company exercises control, the equity held by the minority owners and their portion of net income or loss are reflected as noncontrolling interests. Investments in entities in which the Company exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity-method, and investments in entities for which the Company does not have significant control or influence are accounted for using the cost-method or other appropriate basis as applicable. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had
Year | As of March 31, | As of December 31, | |||||||
Type of Investment | attained | Accounting method | Balance Sheet Location | 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
(in thousands) | |||||||||
2020 | Equity-method | Other long-term assets | $ | | $ | | |||
2021 | Equity-method | Other long-term assets | | | |||||
2021 | Equity-method | Other long-term assets | | |
Dividends: During the Current Quarter, the Company paid $
Segment reporting: The Company has
Effective June 1, 2023, our CODM began to strategically view and manage certain water sourcing and transfer operations, previously included in our Water Infrastructure segment, as part of our Water Services segment. These changes were driven by multiple factors, including the preponderance of our water sourcing business that integrates with our water transfer operations, the continued transition of completions water demand from fresh and brackish water to recycled water, and the anticipation of more efficient sharing and utilization of resources to realize potential synergies. Prior periods have been recast to include the water sourcing and transfer operations within the Water Services segment and remove the results of those operations from the Water Infrastructure segment.
Concurrently, the Company also decided to rename its Oilfield Chemicals segment as Chemical Technologies. This change was based on a number of factors, including the continued success of our chemicals business in delivering customized, specialty chemicals products developed through our own research and development efforts and the de-emphasis of certain traditional commoditized chemistry products within the oil and gas industry, as well as the continued investments in time and resources we make to manufacture and sell our specialty chemical products into non-oilfield industrial-related applications. We believe these segment changes better align the business with the current and future state of the Company’s operations and capital allocation and strategic objectives. This change was a naming convention only change that did not impact any Current Quarter or Prior Quarter numbers.
The Water Services segment consists of the Company’s services businesses, including water sourcing, water transfer, flowback and well testing, fluids hauling, water monitoring, water containment and water network automation,
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primarily serving E&P companies. Additionally, this segment includes the operations of our accommodations and rentals business.
The Water Infrastructure segment consists of the Company’s fixed infrastructure assets, including operations associated with our water distribution pipeline infrastructure, our water recycling solutions, and our produced water gathering systems and saltwater disposal wells (“SWDs”), as well as waste solutions facilities, primarily serving E&P companies.
The Chemical Technologies segment provides technical solutions, products and expertise related to chemical applications in the oil and gas industry. We develop, manufacture, manage logistics and provide a full suite of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing and well completions for customers ranging from pressure pumpers to major integrated and independent oil and gas producers. This segment also utilizes its chemical experience and lab testing capabilities to customize tailored water treatment solutions designed to optimize the fracturing fluid system in conjunction with the quality of water used in well completions.
Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made to the Company’s prior period consolidated financial information to conform to the current year presentation. These presentation changes did not impact the Company’s consolidated net income, consolidated cash flows, total assets, total liabilities or total stockholders’ equity.
NOTE 2—SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Significant accounting policies: The Company’s significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, included in the 2023 Form 10-K.
Use of estimates: The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to the recoverability of long-lived assets and intangibles, useful lives used in depreciation, amortization and accretion, uncollectible accounts receivable, inventory reserve, income taxes, self-insurance liabilities, share-based compensation, contingent liabilities, lease-related reasonably certain option exercise assessments, and the incremental borrowing rate for leases. The Company bases its estimates on historical and other pertinent information that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The accounting estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the Company’s operating environment changes.
Allowance for credit losses: The Company’s allowance for credit losses relates to trade accounts receivable. The Company treats trade accounts receivable as one portfolio and records an initial allowance calculated as a percentage of revenue recognized based on a combination of historical information and future expectations. Additionally, the Company adjusts this allowance based on specific information in connection with aged receivables. Historically, most bad debt has been incurred when a customer’s financial condition significantly deteriorates, which in some cases leads to bankruptcy. Market volatility is highly uncertain and, as such, the impact on expected losses is subject to significant judgment and may cause variability in the Company’s allowance for credit losses in future periods.
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The change in the allowance for credit losses is as follows:
Three months ended March 31, 2024 | |||
(in thousands) | |||
Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | | |
Increase to allowance based on a percentage of revenue |
| | |
Charge-offs | ( | ||
Recoveries | | ||
Balance as of March 31, 2024 | $ | |
Asset retirement obligations: The Company’s asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) relate to disposal facilities with obligations for plugging wells, removing surface equipment, and returning land to its pre-drilling condition. The following table describes the changes to the Company’s ARO liability for the Current Quarter:
| Three months ended March 31, 2024 | ||
| (in thousands) | ||
Balance as of December 31, 2023 |
| $ | |
Accretion expense |
| | |
Acquired AROs |
| | |
Revisions | | ||
Payments | ( | ||
Balance as of March 31, 2024 |
| $ | |
Short-term ARO liability | | ||
Long-term ARO liability | | ||
Balance as of March 31, 2024 | $ | |
We review the adequacy of our ARO liabilities whenever indicators suggest that the estimated cash flows underlying the liabilities have changed. The Company’s ARO liabilities are included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Lessor Income: The Company is a lessor for a nominal number of owned facilities and also recognizes income related to multiple facility subleases that are accounted for as follows:
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | ||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Category | Classification | ||||||
Lessor income | Costs of revenue | $ | | $ | | ||
Sublease income | Lease abandonment costs and Costs of revenue | | |
The Company also generates short-term equipment rental revenue. See “Note 4—Revenue” for a discussion of revenue recognition for the accommodations and rentals business.
During the Current Quarter, the Company made the decision to abandon operations at
Defined Contribution Plan: The Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan for the benefit of substantially all employees of the Company. The Company incurred $
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Severance: During the Current Quarter, the Company incurred $
Recent accounting pronouncements: In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 requires disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss, an amount and description of its composition for other segment items to reconcile to segment profit or loss, and the title and position of the entity’s CODM. The amendments in this update also expand the interim segment disclosure requirements. ASU 2023-07 will be effective for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and for interim periods starting in our first quarter of 2025. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments in this update are required to be applied on a retrospective basis. We are currently reviewing the impact that the adoption of ASU 2023-07 may have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”), which includes amendments that further enhance income tax disclosures, primarily through standardization and disaggregation of rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 will be effective for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2023-09 to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.
NOTE 3—ACQUISITIONS
The following table presents key information connected with our 2024 and 2023 acquisitions (dollars in thousands):
Assets and Operations Acquired | Acquisition Date | Cash Consideration | Acquisition related costs for Asset Acquisition | Total Consideration | Segments | ||||||
Buckhorn | March 1, 2024 | $ | | $ | - | $ | | Water Infrastructure | |||
Iron Mountain Energy | January 8, 2024 | | - | | Water Infrastructure | ||||||
Tri-State Water Logistics | January 3, 2024 | | - | | Water Infrastructure | ||||||
Rockies produced water gathering and disposal infrastructure | January 1, 2024 | | - | | Water Infrastructure | ||||||
Four Smaller Asset Acquisitions | Multiple 2023 Dates | | - | | Water Infrastructure | ||||||
Asset Acquisition | April 3, 2023 | | - | | Water Services | ||||||
Asset Acquisition | January 31, 2023 | | | | Water Infrastructure | ||||||
Total | $ | | $ | | $ | |
Buckhorn Acquisition
On March 1, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of membership interests from Buckhorn Waste Services, LLC and equity interests from Buckhorn Disposal, LLC (together “Buckhorn” or the “Buckhorn Acquisition”). The Company paid initial consideration of $
The Buckhorn Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. When determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management made estimates, judgments and assumptions. The Company engaged third-party valuation experts to assist in the purchase price allocation. These estimates, judgments, assumptions and valuation of the property and equipment acquired, intangible assets, current assets and current liabilities are preliminary and have not been finalized as of March 31, 2024. The assets
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acquired and liabilities assumed are included in the Company’s Water Infrastructure segment and a portion of the goodwill acquired is deductible for income tax purposes. The Company incurred $
Iron Mountain Energy Acquisition
On January 8, 2024, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and operations of Iron Mountain Energy, LLC (the “Iron Mountain Acquisition”). The Company paid initial consideration of $
The Iron Mountain Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. When determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management made estimates, judgments and assumptions. The Company engaged third-party valuation experts to assist in the purchase price allocation. These estimates, judgments, assumptions and valuation of the property and equipment acquired, intangible assets, current assets, current liabilities and long-term liabilities are preliminary and have not been finalized as of March 31, 2024. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are included in the Company’s Water Infrastructure segment and the goodwill acquired is deductible for income tax purposes. The Company incurred $
Tri-State Water Logistics Acquisition
On January 3, 2024, the Company acquired the assets and operations of Tri-State Water Logistics, LLC and certain of its affiliates (the “Tri-State Acquisition”). The Company paid initial consideration of $
The Tri-State Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. When determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management made estimates, judgments and assumptions. The Company engaged third-party valuation experts to assist in the purchase price allocation. These estimates, judgments, assumptions and valuation of the property and equipment acquired, intangible assets, current assets, current liabilities and long-term liabilities are preliminary and have not been finalized as of March 31, 2024. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are included in the Company’s Water Infrastructure segment and the goodwill acquired is deductible for income tax purposes. The Company incurred $
Rockies produced water gathering and disposal infrastructure Acquisition
On January 1, 2024, the Company acquired certain disposal assets, operations and disposal and recycling permits in the Rockies region (the “Rockies Infrastructure Acquisition”). The Company paid initial consideration of $
The Rockies Infrastructure Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. When determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management made estimates, judgments and assumptions. The Company engaged third-party valuation experts to assist in the purchase price allocation. These estimates, judgments, assumptions and valuation of the property and equipment acquired, intangible assets, current assets, current liabilities and long-term liabilities are preliminary and have not been finalized as of March 31, 2024. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are included in the Company’s Water Infrastructure segment and the goodwill acquired is deductible for income tax purposes. The Company incurred $
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A summary of the consideration transferred and the estimated fair value of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of the Company’s 2024 acquisitions is located below:
Preliminary Purchase price allocation | Buckhorn | Iron Mountain Energy | Tri-State Water Logistics | Rockies Infrastructure | Total 2024 Acquisitions | ||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Consideration transferred | |||||||||||||||
Cash paid | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Total consideration transferred | | | | | | ||||||||||
Less: identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed | |||||||||||||||
Working capital | | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||
Property and equipment | | | | | | ||||||||||
Right-of-use assets | — | — | | — | | ||||||||||
Customer relationships | | — | | | | ||||||||||
Long-term ARO | — | ( | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||||
Long-term lease liabilities | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||
Total identifiable net assets acquired | | | | | | ||||||||||
Goodwill | | | | | | ||||||||||
Fair value allocated to net assets acquired | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
2023 Asset Acquisitions
During the year ended December 31, 2023, Select acquired certain assets, revenue-producing contracts and associated liabilities, primarily in the Permian Basin, from multiple entities for $
NOTE 4—REVENUE
The Company follows ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, for most revenue recognition, which provides a five-step model for determining revenue recognition for arrangements that are within the scope of the standard: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company applies the five-step model only to contracts when it is probable that we will collect the consideration the Company is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services the Company transfers to the customer. The accommodations and rentals revenue continues to be guided by ASC 842 – Leases, which is discussed further below.
The following factors are applicable to all
● | The vast majority of Water Services and Chemical Technologies customer agreements are short-term, lasting less than one year. Water Infrastructure contains both short-term and long-term agreements. |
● | Contracts are seldom combined together as virtually all of our customer agreements constitute separate performance obligations. Each job is typically distinct, thereby not interdependent or interrelated with other customer agreements. |
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● | Most contracts allow either party to terminate at any time without substantive penalties. If the customer terminates the contract, the Company is unconditionally entitled to the payments for the services rendered and products delivered to date. |
● | Contract terminations before the end of the agreement are rare. |
● | Sales returns are rare and no sales return assets have been recognized on the balance sheet. |
● | There are minimal volume discounts. |
● | There are no service-type warranties. |
● | There is no long-term customer financing. |
● | Taxes assessed by government authorities included on customer invoices are excluded from revenue. |
In the Water Services and Water Infrastructure segments, performance obligations arise in connection with services provided to customers in accordance with contractual terms, in an amount the Company expects to collect. Services are generally sold based upon customer orders or contracts with customers that include fixed or determinable prices. Revenues are generated by services rendered and measured based on the output generated, which is usually simultaneously received and consumed by customers at their job sites. As a multi-job site organization, contract terms, including the pricing for the Company’s services, are negotiated on a job site level on a per-job basis. Most jobs are completed in a short period of time, usually between one day and one month. Revenue is recognized as performance obligations are completed on a daily, hourly or per-unit basis with unconditional rights to consideration for services rendered reflected as accounts receivable trade, net of allowance for credit losses. In cases where a prepayment is received before the Company satisfies its performance obligations, a contract liability is recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Final billings generally occur once all of the proper approvals are obtained. Mobilization and demobilization are factored into the pricing for services. Billings and costs related to mobilization and demobilization are not material for customer agreements that start in one period and end in another. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had
Accommodations and rentals revenue is included in the Water Services segment and the Company accounts for accommodations and rentals agreements as an operating lease. The Company recognizes revenue from renting equipment on a straight-line basis. Accommodations and rental contract periods are generally daily, weekly or monthly. The average lease term is less than three months and as of March 31, 2024, there were no material rental agreements in effect lasting more than one year. During the Current Quarter and Prior Quarter, approximately $
In the Chemical Technologies segment, the typical performance obligation is to provide a specific quantity of chemicals to customers in accordance with the customer agreement in an amount the Company expects to collect. Products and services are generally sold based upon customer orders or contracts with customers that include fixed or determinable prices. Revenue is recognized as the customer takes title to chemical products in accordance with the agreement. Products may be provided to customers in packaging or delivered to the customers’ containers through a hose. In some cases, the customer takes title to the chemicals upon consumption from storage containers on their property, where the chemicals are considered inventory until customer usage. In cases where the Company delivers products and recognizes revenue before collecting payment, the Company has an unconditional right to payment reflected in accounts receivable trade, net of allowance for credit losses. Customer returns are rare and immaterial and there were no material in-process customer agreements for this segment as of March 31, 2024, lasting greater than one year.
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The following table sets forth certain financial information with respect to the Company’s disaggregation of revenues by geographic location:
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Geographic Region | ||||||
Permian Basin | $ | | $ | | ||
Rockies | | | ||||
Eagle Ford | | | ||||
Marcellus/Utica | | | ||||
Haynesville/E. Texas | | | ||||
Mid-Continent | | | ||||
Bakken | | | ||||
Eliminations and other regions | ( | ( | ||||
Total | $ | | $ | |
In the Water Services segment, the most recent top
NOTE 5—INVENTORIES
Inventories, which are comprised of chemicals and raw materials available for resale and parts and consumables used in operations, are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value, with cost determined under the weighted-average method. The significant components of inventory are as follows:
| ||||||
| March 31, 2024 |
| December 31, 2023 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Raw materials | $ | | $ | | ||
Finished goods |
| |
| | ||
Total | $ | | $ | |
During the Current Quarter, the Company recorded net credits to the reserve for excess and obsolete inventory of less than
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NOTE 6—PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation (and amortization of finance lease assets) is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of each asset. Property and equipment consists of the following as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| ||||||
| March 31, 2024 |
| December 31, 2023 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Machinery and equipment | $ | | $ | | ||
Buildings and leasehold improvements |
| |
| | ||
Gathering and disposal infrastructure |
| |
| | ||
Recycling facilities | | | ||||
Pipelines | | | ||||
Vehicles and equipment |
| |
| | ||
Land | | | ||||
Computer equipment and software | | | ||||
Office furniture and equipment |
| |
| | ||
Machinery and equipment - finance lease |
| |
| | ||
Vehicles and equipment - finance lease |
| |
| | ||
Computer equipment and software - finance lease |
| |
| | ||
Construction in progress |
| |
| | ||
| |
| | |||
Less accumulated depreciation(1) |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Total property and equipment, net | $ | | $ | |
(1) | Includes $ |
Total depreciation, amortization and accretion expense related to property and equipment and finance leases presented in the table above, as well as amortization of intangible assets presented in “Note 7— Other Intangible Assets” is as follows:
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Category | ||||||
Depreciation expense from property and equipment | $ | | $ | | ||
Amortization expense from finance leases | | | ||||
Amortization expense from intangible assets | | | ||||
Accretion expense from asset retirement obligations | | | ||||
Total depreciation, amortization and accretion | $ | | $ | |
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NOTE 7—GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The Company recorded $
The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill by reportable segment as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are as follows:
Water | Water | ||||||||
| Services |
| Infrastructure |
| Total | ||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2023 | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
Additions | — | | | ||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2024 | $ | | $ | | $ | |
The components of other intangible assets, net as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are as follows:
As of March 31, 2024 | As of December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross |
| Accumulated |
| Net |
| Gross |
| Accumulated |
| Net | ||||||||||
Value | Amortization | Value | Value | Abandonment | Amortization | Value | |||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Definite-lived | |||||||||||||||||||||
Customer relationships | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | ( | $ | | |||||||
Patents and other intellectual property | | ( | | | — | ( | | ||||||||||||||
Trademarks | — | — | — | | ( | ( | — | ||||||||||||||
Water rights and other | | ( | |
| | — |
| ( |
| | |||||||||||
Total definite-lived | | ( | | | ( | ( | | ||||||||||||||
Indefinite-lived | |||||||||||||||||||||
Water rights | | — | | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||
Total indefinite-lived | | — | | | — | — | | ||||||||||||||
Total other intangible assets, net | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | |
21
During the Current Quarter, the Company added $
| Amount | ||
(in thousands) | |||
Remainder of 2024 | $ | | |
2025 |
| | |
2026 |
| | |
2027 |
| | |
2028 |
| | |
Thereafter | | ||
Total | $ | |
22
NOTE 8—DEBT
Sustainability-linked credit facility and revolving line of credit
On March 17, 2022 (the “Restatement Date”), SES Holdings and Select Water Solutions, LLC (“Select LLC”), formerly Select Energy Services, LLC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES Holdings, entered into a $
The Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility permits extensions of credit up to the lesser of $
Borrowings under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility bear interest, at Select LLC’s election, at either the (a) one- or three-month Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) (as defined in the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility) or (b) greatest of (i) the federal funds rate plus
Level | Average Excess Availability | Base Rate Margin | SOFR Margin | |||
I | < 33.33% of the commitments | |||||
II | < 66.67% of the commitments and ≥ 33.33% of the commitments | |||||
III | ≥ 66.67% of the commitments |
Level | Average Revolver Usage | Unused Line Fee Percentage | ||
I | ≥ 50% of the commitments | |||
II | < 50% of the commitments |
23
Under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, the interest rate margin and the facility fee rates are also subject to adjustments based on Select LLC’s performance of specified sustainability target thresholds with respect to (i) total recordable incident rate, as the Employee Health and Safety Metric and (ii) barrels of produced water recycled at permanent or semi-permanent water treatment and recycling facilities owned or operated, as the Water Stewardship Metric, in each case, subject to limited assurance verification by a qualified independent external reviewer. The adjustment for the interest rate margin is a range of plus and minus
The obligations under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility are guaranteed by SES Holdings and certain subsidiaries of SES Holdings and Select LLC and secured by a security interest in substantially all of the personal property assets of SES Holdings, Select LLC and their domestic subsidiaries.
The Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the lenders may declare all amounts outstanding under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility to be immediately due and payable.
In addition, the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility restricts SES Holdings’ and Select LLC’s ability to make distributions on, or redeem or repurchase, its equity interests, except for certain distributions, including distributions of cash so long as, both at the time of the distribution and after giving effect to the distribution, no default exists under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and either (a) excess availability at all times during the preceding
The Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility also requires SES Holdings to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least
Certain lenders party to the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and their respective affiliates have from time to time performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory, commercial banking and investment banking services for the Company and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business for which they have received and would receive customary compensation. In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, such parties and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investments and securities activities may involve the Company’s securities and/or instruments.
The Company had $
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outlined above. The unused portion of the available borrowings under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility was $
The principal maturities of debt outstanding on March 31, 2024 were as follows:
| Amount | ||
(in thousands) | |||
2024 | $ | — | |
2025 |
| — | |
2026 |
| — | |
2027 |
| | |
Total | $ | |
In connection with the entry into the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, the Company incurred $
The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of March 31, 2024.
NOTE 9—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
The Company is subject to a number of lawsuits and claims arising out of the normal conduct of its business. The ability to predict the ultimate outcome of such matters involves judgments, estimates and inherent uncertainties. Based on a consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, including applicable insurance coverage, it is not expected that the ultimate outcome of any currently pending lawsuits or claims against the Company will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows; however, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of these matters.
Retentions
We are self-insured up to certain retention limits with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability and vehicle liability matters, and health insurance. We maintain accruals for self-insurance retentions that we estimate using third-party data and claims history.
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NOTE 10—EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION
The SES Holdings 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) was approved by the board of managers of SES Holdings in April 2011. In conjunction with the private placement of
Currently, the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2016 Plan is approximately
On February 23, 2022, the Company assumed the Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc. 2017 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), and the Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc. 2018 Restricted Stock Plan for Directors (the “2018 Plan” and, together with the 2017 Plan, the “Assumed Plans”) and certain equity awards outstanding under the Assumed Plans in connection with the Company’s previously completed acquisition of Nuverra Environmental Solutions, Inc. (the “Nuverra Acquisition”). Under the 2017 Plan, the Company may grant to certain eligible participants who were employees, directors or other service providers of Nuverra prior to the Nuverra Acquisition options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock awards, dividend equivalents, other stock-based awards, cash awards, substitute awards, performance awards, or any combination of the foregoing, with respect to up to
The aggregate number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock available for issuance under the Assumed Plans will be reduced by
26
Stock Option Awards
The Company has outstanding stock option awards as of March 31, 2024 but there have been
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information as of and for the Current Quarter is as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 | ||||||||||
Weighted-average | ||||||||||
Weighted-average | Grant Date Value | Aggregate Intrinsic | ||||||||
| Stock Options |
| Exercise Price |
| Term (Years) |
| Value (in thousands) (a) | |||
Beginning balance, outstanding |
| | $ | | $ | — | ||||
Expired | ( | | — | — | ||||||
Ending balance, outstanding |
| | $ | | $ | | ||||
Ending balance, exercisable | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Nonvested as of March 31, 2024 | — | $ | — |
(a) Aggregate intrinsic value for stock options is based on the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and the quoted closing Class A common stock price of $
As of March 31, 2021, all equity-based compensation expense related to stock options had been recognized.
Restricted Stock Awards
The value of the restricted stock awards granted was established by the market price of the Class A common stock on the date of grant and is recorded as compensation expense ratably over the vesting term, which is generally over
A summary of the Company’s restricted stock awards activity and related information for the Current Quarter is as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 | |||||
Weighted-average | |||||
| Restricted Stock Awards |
| Grant Date Fair Value | ||
Nonvested as of December 31, 2023 | | $ | | ||
Granted | | | |||
Vested | ( | | |||
Forfeited | ( | | |||
Nonvested as of March 31, 2024 | | $ | |
Performance Share Units (“PSUs”)
During 2022 and 2023, the Company approved grants of PSUs that are subject to both performance-based and service-based vesting provisions related to (i) return on asset performance (“ROA”) in comparison to thirteen peer companies and (ii) Adjusted Free Cash Flow (“FCF”) performance percentage. The number of shares of Class A common stock issued to a recipient upon vesting of the PSUs will be calculated based on ROA and FCF performance
27
over the applicable period from either January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024 or January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2025.
The target number of shares of Class A common stock subject to each remaining PSU granted in 2022 and 2023 is
The target PSUs granted in 2022 and 2023 that become earned connected with the ROA in comparison to other companies will be determined based on the Company’s Average Return on Assets (as defined in the applicable PSU agreement) relative to the Average Return on Assets of the peer companies (as defined in the applicable PSU agreement) in accordance with the following table, but the Company must have a positive Total Shareholder Return (as defined in the applicable PSU agreement) over the performance period. As a result of this market condition, the 2022 and 2023 PSUs will be valued each reporting period utilizing a Black-Scholes model.
Ranking Among Peer Group | Percentage of Target Amount Earned | |
Outside of Top 10 | ||
Top 10 | ||
Top 7 | ||
Top 3 |
The target PSUs that become earned in connection with the adjusted FCF performance percentage will be determined (as defined in the applicable PSU agreement) in accordance with the following table:
Adjusted FCF Performance Percentage | Percentage of Target Amount Earned | |
Less than 70% | ||
70% | ||
100% | ||
130% |
During 2024, the Company approved grants of PSUs that are subject to both performance-based and service-based vesting provisions related to ROA in comparison to twelve peer companies and PSUs subject to market-based and service-based vesting provisions related to absolute total shareholder return (“TSR”) over the performance period from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2026. The target number of shares of Class A common stock subject to each PSU granted in 2024 is
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The target PSUs granted in 2024 that become earned in connection with the ROA in comparison to other companies will be determined (as defined in the applicable PSU agreement) in accordance with the following table:
Ranking Among Peer Group | Percentage of Target Amount Earned | |
Outside of Top 10 | ||
Top 10 | ||
Top 7 | ||
Top 3 |
The PSUs granted in 2024 that become earned in connection with TSR will be determined (as defined in the applicable PSU agreement) in accordance with the following table:
Performance Level | Absolute TSR (%) | Percentage of Target PSUs Earned | ||
Below Threshold | Less than 0% | |||
Threshold | 0% | |||
Target | 10% | |||
Maximum | Greater than or equal to 30% |
The fair value on the date the PSUs were granted during 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $
As of March 31, 2024, the unrecognized compensation cost related to our unvested PSUs is estimated to be $
The following table summarizes the information about the PSUs outstanding as of March 31, 2024:
| PSUs | |
Nonvested as of December 31, 2023 | | |
Target shares granted | | |
Target shares vested (1) | ( | |
Target shares added by performance factor | | |
Target shares forfeited (1) | ( | |
Target shares outstanding as of March 31, 2024 | |
(1) | The PSUs granted in 2021 related to ROA vested at |
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
The Company formerly had an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) under which employees that have been continuously employed for at least
29
Share Repurchases
During the Current Quarter, the Company repurchased
The 1% U.S. federal excise tax on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. corporations enacted as part of the IRA 2022 applies to our share repurchase program.
NOTE 11—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
The Company utilizes fair value measurements to measure assets and liabilities in a business combination or assess impairment and abandonment of property and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill or to measure the value of securities marked to market. Fair value is defined as the amount at which an asset (or liability) could be bought (or incurred) or sold (or settled) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Further, ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value, and includes certain disclosure requirements. Fair value estimates are based on either (i) actual market data or (ii) assumptions that other market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including estimates of risk.
ASC 820 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for the disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2—Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3—Inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement (including the Company’s own assumptions in determining fair value).
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. There were
Other fair value considerations
The carrying values of the Company’s current financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable trade and accounts payable, approximate their fair value as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of debt as of March 31, 2024 approximates fair value due to variable market rates of interest. The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in a current market exchange.
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NOTE 12—RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company considers its related parties to be those stockholders who are beneficial owners of more than
During the Current Quarter, sales to related parties were $
During the Prior Quarter, sales to related parties were $
Tax Receivable Agreements
In connection with the Select 144A Offering, the Company entered into two tax receivable agreements (the “Tax Receivable Agreements”) with certain then-affiliates of the then-holders of SES Holdings LLC Units. As of March 31, 2024, certain of the TRA Holders were employed by the Company, on the Company’s board of directors and/or owned shares of the Company’s Class A and/or Class B common stock.
The first of the Tax Receivable Agreements, which the Company entered into with Legacy Owner Holdco and Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (“Crestview GP”) generally provides for the payment by the Company to such TRA Holders of
The second of the Tax Receivable Agreements, which the Company entered into with an affiliate of Legacy Owner Holdco and Crestview GP, generally provides for the payment by the Company to such TRA Holders of
On June 23, 2023, the Tax Receivable Agreements were amended to replace references to one year LIBOR with references to the 12-month term SOFR published by CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited plus
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The Company has recognized a liability associated with the Tax Receivable Agreements of $
NOTE 13—INCOME TAXES
The Company’s income tax information is presented in the table below. The effective tax rate is different than the
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Current income tax expense | $ | | $ | | ||
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | | ( | ||||
Total income tax expense | $ | | $ | | ||
Effective Tax Rate |
We regularly review our deferred tax assets for realization and establish a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Historically, we have maintained a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. The Company considers all available positive and negative evidence in determining whether realization of the tax benefit is more likely than not. This evidence includes historical income / loss, projected future income, the expected timing of the reversal of existing temporary differences and the implementation of tax planning strategies. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company evaluated all available positive and negative evidence and determined that $
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NOTE 14—NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
The Company’s noncontrolling interests fall into two categories as follows:
● | Noncontrolling interests attributable to joint ventures formed for water-related services. |
● | Noncontrolling interests attributable to holders of Class B common stock. |
As of | As of | |||||
| March 31, 2024 |
| December 31, 2023 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Noncontrolling interests attributable to joint ventures formed for water-related services | $ | |
| $ | | |
Noncontrolling interests attributable to holders of Class B common stock | |
|
| | ||
Total noncontrolling interests | $ | |
| $ | |
For all periods presented, there were changes in Select Inc.’s ownership interest in SES Holdings. The effects of the changes in Select Inc.’s ownership interest in SES Holdings are as follows:
Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | ||||
(in thousands) | |||||||
Net income attributable to Select Water Solutions, Inc. | $ | |
| $ | | ||
Transfers from (to) noncontrolling interests: |
|
|
| ||||
Increase in additional paid-in capital as a result of restricted stock issuance, net of forfeitures |
| |
|
| | ||
Increase in additional paid-in capital as a result of vested PSUs | | — | |||||
Increase (decrease) in additional paid-in capital as a result of the repurchase of SES Holdings LLC Units |
| |
|
| ( | ||
Change to equity from net income attributable to Select Water Solutions, Inc. and transfers from noncontrolling interests | $ | |
| $ | |
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NOTE 15—INCOME PER SHARE
Income per share is based on the amount of income allocated to the stockholders and the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period for each class of common stock. Outstanding options to purchase
The following tables present the Company’s calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the Current and Prior Quarter (dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
Three months ended March 31, 2024 | Three months ended March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| Select Water Solutions, Inc. |
| Class A |
| Class B |
| Select Water Solutions, Inc. |
| Class A |
| Class B | |||||||
Numerator: | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | ( | ( | ||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Select Water Solutions, Inc. — basic | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | ||||||
Add: Reallocation of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the dilutive effect of restricted stock | | | — | ( | ( | — | ||||||||||||
Add: Reallocation of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the dilutive effect of performance units | | | — | ( | ( | — | ||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Select Water Solutions, Inc. — diluted | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | ||||||
Denominator: | ||||||||||||||||||
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding — basic | | | | | ||||||||||||||
Dilutive effect of restricted stock | | — | | — | ||||||||||||||
Dilutive effect of performance share units | | — | | — | ||||||||||||||
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding — diluted | | | | | ||||||||||||||
Income per share: | ||||||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | ||||||||||
Diluted | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | — |
NOTE 16—SEGMENT INFORMATION
Select Inc. is a leading provider of sustainable water-management and chemical solutions to the oil and gas industry in the U.S. The Company’s services are offered through
The Company’s CODM assesses performance and allocates resources on the basis of the following
Water Services — The Water Services segment consists of the Company’s services businesses, including water sourcing, water transfer, flowback and well testing, fluids hauling, water monitoring, water containment and water network automation, primarily serving E&P companies. Additionally, this segment includes the operations of our accommodations and rentals business.
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Water Infrastructure — The Water Infrastructure segment consists of the Company’s fixed infrastructure assets, including operations associated with our water distribution pipeline infrastructure, our water recycling solutions, and our produced water gathering systems and saltwater disposal wells, as well as waste solutions facilities, primarily serving E&P companies.
Chemical Technologies — The Chemical Technologies segment provides technical solutions, products and expertise related to chemical applications in the oil and gas industry. We develop, manufacture, manage logistics and provide a full suite of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing and well completions for customers ranging from pressure pumpers to major integrated and independent oil and gas producers. This segment also utilizes its chemical experience and lab testing capabilities to customize tailored water treatment solutions designed to optimize the fracturing fluid system in conjunction with the quality of water used in well completions.
Financial information by segment for the Current and Prior Quarter is as follows:
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
| Depreciation, |
| |||||||||||
Impairments and | Income | amortization | Capital | ||||||||||||
Revenue | abandonments | before taxes | and accretion | Expenditures | |||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Water Services | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Water Infrastructure | | | | | | ||||||||||
Chemical Technologies | | — | | | | ||||||||||
Other | — | — | ( | — | — | ||||||||||
Eliminations |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | |||||
Income from operations |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| ||||||
Corporate |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| |
| ( | |||||
Interest expense, net |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — | |||||
Other income, net |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — | |||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
|
| Depreciation, |
| ||||||||||||
Impairments and | Income | amortization | Capital | ||||||||||||
Revenue | abandonments | before taxes | and accretion | Expenditures | |||||||||||
(in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Water Services | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Water Infrastructure | | — | | | | ||||||||||
Chemical Technologies | | | ( | | | ||||||||||
Other | — | — | ( | — | — | ||||||||||
Eliminations |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | |||||
Income from operations |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| ||||||
Corporate |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| |
| | |||||
Interest expense, net |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — | |||||
Other income, net |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — | |||||
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
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Total assets by segment as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, is as follows:
As of | As of | |||||
| March 31, 2024 |
| December 31, 2023 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Water Services | $ | | $ | | ||
Water Infrastructure |
| |
| | ||
Chemical Technologies |
| |
| | ||
Other | | | ||||
$ | | $ | |
NOTE 17—SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On April 1, 2024, Select acquired Trinity Acquisition Holdings, LLC, the parent company of Trinity Environmental Services and related entities (“Trinity”) for $
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report, as well as the historical consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2024 (our “2023 Form 10-K”). This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based upon our current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors as described under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our 2023 Form 10-K and this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
This discussion relates to the three months ended March 31, 2024 (the “Current Quarter”) and the three months ended March 31, 2023 (the “Prior Quarter”).
Overview
We are a leading provider of sustainable water-management and chemical solutions to the energy industry in the U.S. As a leader in the water solutions industry, we place the utmost importance on safe, environmentally responsible management of oilfield water throughout the lifecycle of a well. Additionally, we believe that responsibly managing water resources through our operations to help conserve and protect the environment in the communities in which we operate is paramount to our continued success.
Sustainability
Select is committed to a corporate strategy that supports the long-term viability of our business model in a manner that focuses on all stakeholders, including our people, our customers, the environment, and the communities in which we operate. We believe this focus will help us and our customers achieve their short-term and long-term environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) goals, help us attract and retain top talent, and further our efforts to generate investor returns. We believe our commitment to foster a culture of corporate responsibility is an important part of being a company with operations spanning the contiguous U.S. Further, we believe being a good corporate steward is strategic to our growth in the energy industry and will better allow us to develop solutions that both address the needs of our customers and contribute to sustainable business practices. As a service company, we compete with other service providers based on various factors, including safety and operational performance, technological innovation, process efficiencies and reputational awareness. We have identified the following four priorities as part of our comprehensive corporate responsibility initiative: Environmental Consciousness, Health and Safety, Human Capital Management and Community Outreach. We believe there is a strong link between these corporate responsibility initiatives and our ability to provide value to our stakeholders.
We are one of the few public companies whose primary focus is on the management of water and water logistics in the energy industry with a focus on driving efficient, environmentally responsible, and economic solutions that lower costs throughout the lifecycle of the well. We believe water is a valuable resource and understand that the energy industry as well as other industries and the general public are competing for this resource. As a company, we continue to provide access to water as demanded by our customers and have significantly increased our focus on the recycling and reuse of produced water, as well as assessing other industrial water sources, to meet the industry’s water demand and align our operations with the goals of our customers. We have invested significantly in the development and acquisition of fixed and mobile recycling facilities that support the advancement of commercialized produced water reuse solutions. By doing so, we strive to reduce the amount of produced water being reinjected into SWDs and to reduce our usage of fresh water as well as that of our customers. We view our rather unique position as an opportunity to strategically transform water management by leveraging our Chemical Technologies business to develop produced water management solutions that increase our customers’ ability to reuse this produced water and add value to their operations.
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By implementing our innovative approach to water solutions, Select has become a leader in recycling produced water to be reused for energy production.
Our strong company culture includes commitments to all stakeholders, and we aim to create a work environment that fosters a diverse and inclusive company culture. Additionally, we prioritize safety in our operations through rigorous training, structured protocols and ongoing automation of our operations. Our prioritization of safety includes a commitment to safeguarding the communities in which we operate.
We believe that proper alignment of our management and our board of directors with our shareholders is critical to creating long-term value, including the alignment of management compensation and incentive structures and the continued leadership of an experienced, diverse and independent board of directors.
Recent Developments
During the Current Quarter, we completed four acquisitions for $108.3 million in cash adding strategic infrastructure assets in the Haynesville, Rockies and Bakken regions. These acquisitions encompassed the gathering and disposal assets and operations of Tri-State Water Logistics, LLC, the fluids and solids treatment and disposal assets and operations of Iron Mountain Energy, LLC, produced water gathering and disposal infrastructure and additional permitted disposal and recycling capacity in the Rockies region and two landfills from Buckhorn in the Bakken region. These acquisitions will add approximately 450,000 barrels per day of permitted disposal capacity to our Water Infrastructure segment across 21 saltwater disposal wells, two slurry injection wells, a solids treatment facility and two landfills. The disposal assets are supported by a significant portfolio of interconnected gathering pipelines, strategic surface acreage and right-of-way, and multiple long-term pipeline gathering and dedication contracts.
Select is prioritizing investments in water infrastructure projects, which often bring a more predictable and steady revenue stream through long-term contracts and production-related operations. These investments typically produce higher gross margins and also foster stronger partnerships with customers, as Select becomes an integral partner in ensuring well integrity for ongoing customer production over the life of a well. Our focus is on integrated solutions that enhance contracted infrastructure projects with logistics services and chemical solutions, and expanding the value we provide to our customers. Our approach, historically and during the Current Quarter, has been to streamline operations and offer a more comprehensive and valuable overall package to customers that is built around optimizing the entire water lifecycle as such integrated solutions drive revenue growth and enhance overall value to clients.
The armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia continued into 2024, as well as the sustained conflict in Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East, including escalating tensions with Iran. As a result of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, the U.S., the United Kingdom, the member states of the European Union and other public and private actors have sustained severe sanctions on Russian financial institutions, businesses and individuals. In October 2023, Hamas militants conducted attacks in Israel and an armed conflict has ensued between Israel and Hamas. The ensuing conflict has resulted in increased hostilities and instability in oil and gas producing regions in the Middle East as well as in key adjacent shipping lanes. In tandem with such conflict, the Houthi movement, which controls parts of Yemen, has targeted and launched numerous attacks on Israeli, American and international commercial marine vessels in the Red Sea, resulting in many shipping companies re-routing to avoid the region altogether and worsening existing supply chain issues, including delays in supplier deliveries, extended lead times and increased cost of freight, insurance and materials. On April 13, 2024, Iran launched an attack on several targets in Israel, and in response the U.S. and a number of its allies have stated an intent to impose additional sanctions on Iran. The escalating international conflict with Iran, a major oil producer, the Houthi movement in Yemen or the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon has been perceived by many to have increased due to continued increasing hostilities in the Middle East. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the resulting sanctions and concerns regarding global energy security, has contributed to, and the conflict in the Israel-Gaza region and any heightened hostilities in the Middle East may contribute to, increases and volatility in the prices for oil and natural gas. Such volatility, coupled with an increased cost of capital, due, in part to higher rates of inflation and interest rates, may lead to a more difficult investing and planning environment for us and our customers. The ultimate geopolitical and macroeconomic consequences of these conflicts and associated sanctions and/or international responses cannot be predicted, and such events, or any further hostilities elsewhere, could severely impact the world economy and may adversely affect our financial condition. An end to these conflicts and an easing or elimination of the related
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sanctions and/or international response could result in a significant fall in commodity prices as hydrocarbons become more readily accessible in global markets, which could have an adverse effect on our customers, and therefore adversely affect our customers’ demand for our services. An intensification of that conflict could also have an adverse effect on our customers and their demand for our services.
In addition, OPEC+ countries announced production cuts of around 1.16 million barrels per day in April 2023, bringing its total volume cuts to 3.66 million barrels per day since 2021. A number of other production cuts have followed, most recently, in March 2024, OPEC+ announced the extension of voluntary output cuts totaling approximately 2.2 million barrels per day through the second quarter of 2024. Although OPEC+ increased its output in December 2023 due to, among other things, the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, OPEC+ may, at its discretion, continue to decrease, or increase, production, which will continue to impact crude oil and natural gas price volatility. The actions of OPEC+ countries with respect to oil production levels and announcements of potential changes in such levels, including agreement on and compliance with production targets, may result in volatility in the industry in which we and our customers operate. During the Current Quarter, the average spot price of WTI crude oil was $77.50 versus an average price of $75.93 for the Prior Quarter. The average Henry Hub natural gas spot price during the Current Quarter was $2.15 versus an average of $2.64 for the Prior Quarter. Henry Hub natural gas price levels in the Current Quarter have declined materially relative to the Prior Quarter and have negatively impacted activity levels in natural gas basins.
Additionally, increased inflation in recent years has resulted in higher interest rates and increased cost of capital for Select and for our customers. As costs of capital has increased, many of our customers have demonstrated their resolve to manage their capital spending within budgets and cash flow from operations and increase redemptions of debt and/or returns of capital to investors. Additionally, consolidation among our customers, such as the current consolidation of E&P companies in the Permian Basin, can disrupt our market in the near term and the resulting demand for our services. Overall however, the financial health of the oil and gas industry and many of our customers specifically, as reflected in revenues and earnings, debt metrics, recent capital raises, and equity valuations, is much healthier in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to prior periods.
When one customer acquires another, drilling and completions activity levels may decrease overall, but acquisitions can lead to larger blocks of consolidated development and production acreage, which can increase the demand for our longer-term integrated full water lifecycle solutions. This consolidation may streamline operations, as Select can offer integrated solutions to clients with larger water volumes to manage in certain areas. The Company's position in the market may strengthen, as it becomes an essential partner for long-term production integrity in larger, more comprehensive water projects. However, it also means Select must meet the changing needs and structures of these consolidated entities to maintain and grow these relationships. While customers involved in acquisitions may initially slow activity to focus on integration and portfolio management, we believe we are well-positioned to meet the increased responsibilities of overall water management, including water reuse, recycling, transmitting and balancing across customers and regions, and ultimately disposal, for these larger customers and blocks of contiguous acreage.
While the financial health of the broader oil and gas industry has shown improvement as compared to prior periods, central bank policy actions, bank failures and associated liquidity risks and other factors may negatively impact the value of our equity and that of our customers, and may reduce our and their ability to access liquidity in the bank and capital markets or result in capital being available on less favorable terms, which could negatively affect our financial condition and that of our customers.
From an operational standpoint, many of the recent trends still apply to ongoing unconventional oil and gas development. The continued trend towards multi-well pad development and simultaneous well completions, executed within a limited time frame, combined with service price inflation and elevated interest rates, has increased the overall intensity, complexity and cost of well completions, while increasing fracturing efficiency and the use of lower-cost in-basin sand has decreased total costs for our customers. However, we note the continued efficiency gains in the well completions process can limit the days we spend on the wellsite and, therefore, negatively impact the total revenue opportunity for certain of our services utilizing day-rate pricing models.
This multi-well pad development, combined with recent upstream acreage consolidation and corporate mergers as well as the growing trends around the recycling and reuse applications of produced water provides a significant
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opportunity for companies like us that can deliver increasingly complex solutions for our E&P customers across large swathes of acreage through our regional infrastructure networks, delivering solutions for the full completion and production lifecycle of wells. While these trends have advanced the most in the Permian Basin to date, they are emerging in other basins as well and Select has recently performed recycling projects in the Haynesville, Rockies and South Texas regions as well.
The increased reuse of produced water requires additional chemical treatment solutions. We have a dedicated team of specialists focused every day on developing and deploying innovative water treatment and reuse services for our customers. Our FluidMatch™ design solutions enable our customers to economically use these alternative sources to optimize their fluid systems by providing water profiling and fluid assessment services working towards real-time. This trend also supports more complex “on-the-fly” solutions that treat, proportion, and blend various streams of water and chemicals at the wellsite. This complexity favors service companies that are able to provide advanced technology solutions. Ultimately, we intend to play an important role in the advancement of water and chemical solutions that are designed to meet the sustainability goals of key stakeholders.
Our water logistics, treatment, and chemical application expertise, in combination with advanced technology solutions, are applicable to other industries beyond oil and gas. We are working to further commercialize our services in other businesses and industries through our industrial solutions group.
Our Segments
Our services are offered through three reportable segments: (i) Water Services; (ii) Water Infrastructure; and (iii) Chemical Technologies.
● | Water Services. The Water Services segment consists of the Company’s services businesses, including water sourcing, water transfer, flowback and well testing, fluids hauling, water monitoring, water containment and water network automation, primarily serving E&P companies. Additionally, this segment includes the operations of our accommodations and rentals business. |
● | Water Infrastructure. The Water Infrastructure segment consists of the Company’s fixed infrastructure assets, including operations associated with our water distribution pipeline infrastructure, our water recycling solutions, and our produced water gathering systems and SWDs, as well as waste solutions facilities, primarily serving E&P companies. |
● | Chemical Technologies. The Chemical Technologies segment provides technical solutions, products and expertise related to chemical applications in the oil and gas industry. We develop, manufacture, manage logistics and provide a full suite of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing and well completions for customers ranging from pressure pumpers to major integrated and independent oil and gas producers. This segment also utilizes its chemical experience and lab testing capabilities to customize tailored water treatment solutions designed to optimize the fracturing fluid system in conjunction with the quality of water used in well completions. |
How We Generate Revenue
We currently generate most of our revenue through our water-management services associated with well completions as well as ongoing produced water management, provided through our Water Services and Water Infrastructure segments. Most of this revenue is realized through customer agreements with fixed pricing terms and is recognized when delivery of services is provided, generally at our customers’ sites. While we have some long-term pricing arrangements, particularly in our Water Infrastructure segment, most of our water and water-related services are priced based on prevailing market conditions, giving due consideration to the customer’s specific requirements.
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We also generate revenue by providing completion and specialty chemicals through our Chemical Technologies segment. We invoice the majority of our Chemical Technologies customers for services provided based on the quantity of chemicals used or pursuant to short-term contracts as customer needs arise.
Costs of Conducting Our Business
The principal expenses involved in conducting our business are labor costs, vehicle and equipment costs (including depreciation, rental, repair and maintenance and leasing costs), raw materials and water sourcing costs and fuel costs. Our fixed costs are relatively low. Most of the costs of serving our customers are variable, i.e., they are incurred only when we provide water and water-related services, or chemicals and chemical-related services to our customers.
Labor costs associated with our employees and contract labor comprise the largest portion of our costs of doing business. We incurred labor and labor-related costs of $138.3 million and $138.2 million for the Current Quarter and Prior Quarter, respectively. The majority of our recurring labor costs are variable and dependent on the market environment and are incurred only while we are providing our operational services. We also incur costs to employ personnel to ensure safe operations, sell and supervise our services and perform maintenance on our assets, which is not as directly tied to our level of business activity. Additionally, we incur selling, general and administrative costs for compensation of our administrative personnel at our field sites and in our operational and corporate headquarters, as well as for third-party support, licensing and services.
We incur significant vehicle and equipment costs in connection with the services we provide, including depreciation, repairs and maintenance, rental and leasing costs. We incurred vehicle and equipment costs of $79.5 million and $78.2 million for the Current Quarter and Prior Quarter, respectively.
We incur raw material costs in manufacturing our chemical products, as well as for water that we source for our customers. We incurred raw material costs of $61.7 million and $83.2 million for the Current Quarter and Prior Quarter, respectively.
We incur variable transportation costs associated with our service lines, predominately fuel and freight. We incurred fuel and freight costs of $24.0 million and $32.6 million for the Current Quarter and Prior Quarter, respectively. Rising fuel prices impact our transportation costs, which affects the results of our operations.
How We Evaluate Our Operations
We use a variety of operational and financial metrics to assess our performance. Among other measures, management considers each of the following:
● | Revenue; |
● | Gross Profit; |
● | Gross Margins; |
● | EBITDA; |
● | Adjusted EBITDA; |
● | Cash Flows; and |
● | Free Cash Flow. |
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Revenue
We analyze our revenue and assess our performance by comparing actual monthly revenue to our internal projections and across periods. We also assess incremental changes in revenue compared to incremental changes in direct operating costs, and selling, general and administrative expenses across our reportable segments to identify potential areas for improvement, as well as to determine whether segment performance is meeting management’s expectations.
Gross Profit
To measure our financial performance, we analyze our gross profit, which we define as revenues less direct operating expenses (including depreciation, amortization and accretion expenses). We believe gross profit provides insight into profitability and the true operating performance of our assets. We also compare gross profit to prior periods and across segments to identify trends as well as underperforming segments.
Gross Margins
Gross margins provide an important gauge of how effective we are at converting revenue into profits. This metric works in tandem with gross profit to ensure that we do not seek to increase gross profit at the expense of lower margins, nor pursue higher gross margins at the expense of declining gross profits. We track gross margins by segment and service line and compare them across prior periods and across segments and service lines to identify trends as well as underperforming segments.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
We view EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as important indicators of performance. We define EBITDA as net income/(loss), plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation, amortization and accretion. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus/(minus) loss/(income) from discontinued operations, plus any impairment and abandonment charges or asset write-offs pursuant to accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”), plus non-cash losses on the sale of assets or subsidiaries, non-recurring compensation expense, non-cash compensation expense, and non-recurring or unusual expenses or charges, including severance expenses, transaction costs, or facilities-related exit and disposal-related expenditures, plus/(minus) foreign currency losses/(gains), plus/(minus) losses/(gains) on unconsolidated entities and plus tax receivable agreements expense less bargain purchase gains from business combinations. The adjustments to EBITDA are generally consistent with such adjustments described in our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. See “—Comparison of Non-GAAP Financial Measures—EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA” for more information and a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Cash Flows and Free Cash Flow
We define free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, plus proceeds received from sale of property and equipment. Our board of directors and executive management team use free cash flow to assess our liquidity and ability to repay maturing debt, fund operations and make additional investments. We believe free cash flow provides useful information to investors because it is an important indicator of our liquidity, including our ability to reduce net debt, make strategic investments, pay dividends and distributions and repurchase common stock. Our measure of free cash flow may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. Furthermore, free cash flow is not a substitute for, or more meaningful than, net cash provided by (used in) operating activities nor any other measure prescribed by GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP measures such as free cash flow. Accordingly, free cash flow should not be considered a measure of the income generated by our business or discretionary cash available to it to invest in the growth of our business.
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Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations to Our Historical Results of Operations
Our future results of operations may not be comparable to our historical results of operations for the periods presented, primarily for the reasons described below and those described in “—Recent Developments” above.
Acquisition Activity
As described above, we continuously evaluate potential investments, particularly in water infrastructure and other water-related services and technology. To the extent we consummate acquisitions, any incremental revenues or expenses from such transactions are not included in our historical results of operations.
During the Current Quarter, we completed four business combinations. Our historical financial statements for periods prior to the respective date each acquisition was completed do not include the results of operations of that acquisition. See “—Recent Developments” and “Note 3—Acquisitions” for a description of these transactions.
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Results of Operations
The following tables set forth our results of operations for the periods presented, including revenue by segment.
Current Quarter Compared to the Prior Quarter
Three months ended March 31, | Change |
| |||||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| Dollars |
| Percentage |
| |||||
(in thousands) |
| ||||||||||||
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Water Services | $ | 228,307 | $ | 274,678 | $ | (46,371) |
| (16.9) | % | ||||
Water Infrastructure | 63,508 | 55,466 | 8,042 | 14.5 | % | ||||||||
Chemical Technologies | 74,733 | 86,448 |
| (11,715) |
| (13.6) | % | ||||||
Total revenue |
| 366,548 |
| 416,592 |
| (50,044) |
| (12.0) | % | ||||
Costs of revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Water Services |
| 181,532 |
| 219,942 |
| (38,410) |
| (17.5) | % | ||||
Water Infrastructure | 33,692 | 34,333 |
| (641) |
| (1.9) | % | ||||||
Chemical Technologies | 61,755 | 69,709 | (7,954) | (11.4) | % | ||||||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion |
| 36,892 |
| 32,943 |
| 3,949 |
| 12.0 | % | ||||
Total costs of revenue |
| 313,871 |
| 356,927 |
| (43,056) |
| (12.1) | % | ||||
Gross profit |
| 52,677 |
| 59,665 |
| (6,988) |
| (11.7) | % | ||||
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
| 43,980 |
| 35,829 |
| 8,151 |
| 22.7 | % | ||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 1,258 |
| 595 |
| 663 |
| 111.4 | % | ||||
Impairments and abandonments | 45 | 11,166 | (11,121) | NM | |||||||||
Lease abandonment costs |
| 389 |
| 76 |
| 313 |
| 411.8 | % | ||||
Total operating expenses |
| 45,672 |
| 47,666 |
| (1,994) |
| (4.2) | % | ||||
Income from operations |
| 7,005 |
| 11,999 |
| (4,994) |
| (41.6) | % | ||||
Other income (expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Gain on sales of property and equipment and divestitures, net | 325 | 2,911 | (2,586) |
| (88.8) | % | |||||||
Interest expense, net |
| (1,272) |
| (1,483) |
| 211 |
| (14.2) | % | ||||
Other |
| (282) |
| 842 |
| (1,124) |
| NM | |||||
Income before income tax expense and equity in losses of unconsolidated entities |
| 5,776 |
| 14,269 |
| (8,493) |
| (59.5) | % | ||||
Income tax expense |
| (1,452) |
| (198) |
| (1,254) |
| 633.3 | % | ||||
Equity in losses of unconsolidated entities |
| (449) |
| (366) |
| (83) |
| NM | |||||
Net income | $ | 3,875 | $ | 13,705 | $ | (9,830) |
| (71.7) | % |
Revenue
Our revenue decreased $50.0 million, or 12.0%, to $366.5 million for the Current Quarter compared to $416.6 million for the Prior Quarter. This decrease was composed of a $46.4 million decrease in Water Services revenue and an $11.7 million decrease in Chemical Technologies revenue partially offset by an $8.0 million increase in Water Infrastructure revenue. The net $50.0 million decrease was driven primarily by macroeconomic factors stemming from lower frac crew deployments and associated price reductions impacted by competitor price cuts. For the Current Quarter, our Water Services, Water Infrastructure and Chemical Technologies constituted 62.3%, 17.3% and 20.4% of our total revenue, respectively, compared to 65.9%, 13.3% and 20.8%, respectively, for the Prior Quarter. The revenue changes by reportable segment are as follows:
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Water Services. Revenue decreased $46.4 million, or 16.9%, to $228.3 million for the Current Quarter compared to $274.7 million for the Prior Quarter. The decrease in revenues was primarily attributable to lower customer activity levels primarily driven by macroeconomic factors stemming from lower frac crew deployments and associated price reductions impacted by competitor price cuts.
Water Infrastructure. Revenue increased $8.0 million, or 14.5%, to $63.5 million for the Current Quarter compared to $55.5 million for the Prior Quarter. The increase was primarily driven by additional revenue from acquisitions completed during the Current Quarter and growth in our recycling business line, offsetting lower pipeline distribution volumes.
Chemical Technologies. Revenue decreased by $11.7 million, or 13.6%, to $74.7 million for the Current Quarter compared to $86.4 million for the Prior Quarter. The decrease in revenues was primarily driven by macroeconomic factors stemming from lower frac crew deployments and associated price reductions impacted by competitor price cuts.
Costs of Revenue
Costs of revenue decreased $43.1 million, or 12.1%, to $313.9 million for the Current Quarter compared to $356.9 million for the Prior Quarter. The decrease was primarily composed of a $38.4 million decrease in Water Services costs, a $0.6 million decrease in Water Infrastructure costs and an $8.0 million decrease in Chemical Technologies costs due to supporting the lower revenue-producing activity discussed above.
Water Services. Costs of revenue decreased $38.4 million, or 17.5%, to $181.5 million for the Current Quarter compared to $219.9 million for the Prior Quarter. Cost of revenue as a percent of revenue decreased from 80.1% to 79.5%. The decrease was due to higher gross margins in our Water Transfer and Well Testing business lines due to effective cost controls and higher water sourcing margins impacted by higher revenue, partially offset by lower fluids hauling margins due to price reductions.
Water Infrastructure. Costs of revenue decreased $0.6 million, or 1.9%, to $33.7 million for the Current Quarter compared to $34.3 million for the Prior Quarter. Cost of revenue as a percent of revenue decreased from 61.9% to 53.1% due primarily to increase in disposal margin impacted by the margin accretive contributions of acquired disposal operations, improved operational throughput and execution, as well as higher skim oil sales. Additionally, growth in high-margin recycling revenue favorably impacted gross margin.
Chemical Technologies. Costs of revenue decreased $8.0 million, or 11.4%, to $61.8 million for the Current Quarter compared to $69.7 million for the Prior Quarter. Cost of revenue as a percent of revenue increased from 80.6% to 82.6% primarily driven by higher absorption costs in our manufacturing facilities due to lower volumes as well as modest price reductions stemming from macroeconomic factors.
Depreciation, amortization and accretion. Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense increased $3.9 million, or 12.0%, to $36.9 million for the Current Quarter compared to $32.9 million for the Prior Quarter primarily due to a higher fixed asset base resulting from recent acquisitions as well as investments made into fixed infrastructure projects.
Gross Profit
Gross profit was $52.7 million for the Current Quarter compared to $59.7 million for the Prior Quarter due primarily to lower revenue and gross profit in our Water Services and Chemical Technologies segments coupled with higher depreciation expense, partially offset by higher revenue and gross profit in our Water Infrastructure segment. Gross profit decreased by $8.0 million in our Water Services segment, increased by $8.7 million in our Water Infrastructure segment and decreased by $3.8 million in our Chemical Technologies segment. Also contributing to the decrease in gross profit was a $3.9 million increase in depreciation, amortization and accretion expense. Gross margin as a percent of revenue was 14.4% and 14.3% in the Current Quarter and Prior Quarter, respectively.
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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $8.2 million, or 22.7%, to $44.0 million for the Current Quarter compared to $35.8 million for the Prior Quarter. The increase was due primarily to a $4.2 million increase in incentive and equity-based compensation cost, $2.0 million in higher wages, associated payroll taxes and employer 401(k) match contributions, an increase of $2.0 million in transaction and rebranding costs, $1.1 million in higher contract labor and $0.6 million in severance expense partially offset by a $1.4 million decrease in bad debt expense and a $0.3 million decrease from a combination of other expenses.
Impairments and Abandonments
Prior Quarter impairment and abandonments were comprised of $11.1 million trademark abandonment in the Chemical Technologies segment as well as $0.1 million to impair the remaining value of a cost-method investment in our Water Services segment. Current Quarter impairments and abandonments were less than $0.1 million.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense decreased by $0.2 million, or 14.2%, to $1.3 million for the Current Quarter compared to $1.5 million in the Prior Quarter due primarily to higher interest income on cash balances.
Net Income
Net income decreased by $9.8 million, or 71.7%, to $3.9 million for the Current Quarter compared to $13.7 million for the Prior Quarter, driven primarily by decreased revenues and higher selling, general and administrative expenses, including additional rebranding and transaction costs, partially offset by the trademark abandonment in the Prior Quarter.
Comparison of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We view EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as important indicators of performance. We define EBITDA as net income (loss), plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation, amortization and accretion. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus/(minus) loss/(income) from discontinued operations, plus any impairment and abandonment charges or asset write-offs pursuant to GAAP, plus non-cash losses on the sale of assets or subsidiaries, non-recurring compensation expense, non-cash compensation expense, and non-recurring or unusual expenses or charges, including severance expenses, transaction costs, or facilities-related exit and disposal-related expenditures, plus/(minus) foreign currency losses/(gains), plus/(minus) losses/(gains) on unconsolidated entities and plus tax receivable agreements expense less bargain purchase gains from business combinations. The adjustments to EBITDA are generally consistent with such adjustments described in our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. See “—Comparison of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Our board of directors, management and investors use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to assess our financial performance because it allows them to compare our operating performance on a consistent basis across periods by removing the effects of our capital structure (such as varying levels of interest expense), asset base (such as depreciation, amortization and accretion) and items outside the control of our management team. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we believe they provide useful information regarding the factors and trends affecting our business in addition to measures calculated under GAAP.
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Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures will provide useful information to investors in assessing our financial performance and results of operations. Net income is the GAAP measure most directly comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Each of these non-GAAP financial measures has important limitations as an analytical tool due to the exclusion of some but not all items that affect the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. One should not consider EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as substitutes for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our definitions of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility.
The following table sets forth our reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to our net income, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure for the periods presented:
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Net income | $ | 3,875 | $ | 13,705 | ||
Interest expense, net | 1,272 | 1,483 | ||||
Income tax expense | 1,452 | 198 | ||||
Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 38,150 | 33,538 | ||||
EBITDA | 44,749 | 48,924 | ||||
Non-cash compensation expenses | 6,359 | 2,964 | ||||
Non-recurring severance expenses(1) | 648 | — | ||||
Non-cash loss on sale of assets or subsidiaries(2) | 1,748 | 823 | ||||
Transaction and rebranding costs(3) | 4,929 | 2,881 | ||||
Lease abandonment costs | 389 | 76 | ||||
Impairments and abandonments | 45 | 11,166 | ||||
Equity in losses of unconsolidated entities | 449 | 366 | ||||
Other | 442 | 4 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 59,758 | $ | 67,204 |
(1) | For the Current Quarter, these costs related to severance costs associated with our former CFO. |
(2) | For all periods presented, the losses were due primarily to sales of real estate and underutilized or obsolete property and equipment. |
(3) | For all periods presented, these costs were due primarily to legal-related due diligence costs and rebranding costs as well as costs related to certain acquired subsidiaries. |
EBITDA was $44.7 million for the Current Quarter compared to $48.9 million for the Prior Quarter. The $4.2 million decrease in EBITDA was driven primarily by a $3.0 million decrease in gross profit an $8.2 million increase in selling, general and administrative expense and a $2.6 million decrease in gains on asset sales partially offset by an $11.1 million decrease in impairments and abandonments. Adjusted EBITDA was $59.8 million for the Current Quarter compared to $67.2 million for the Prior Quarter.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, borrowing capacity under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, cash flows from operations and proceeds from the sale of excess property and equipment. Our primary uses of capital have been to fund current operations, maintain our asset base, implement technological advancements, make capital expenditures to support organic growth, fund acquisitions and minority investments, pay dividends and distributions, and when appropriate, repurchase shares of Class A common stock in the open market. Depending on available opportunities, market conditions and other factors, we may also issue debt and equity securities in the future, if needed.
We prioritize sustained positive free cash flow and a strong balance sheet and evaluate potential acquisitions and investments in the context of those priorities, in addition to the economics of the opportunity. We believe this approach provides us with additional flexibility to evaluate larger investments as well as improved resilience in a sustained downturn versus many of our peers.
Based on our current cash and cash equivalents balance, operating cash flow, available borrowings under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and the ongoing actions discussed above, we believe that we will be able to maintain sufficient liquidity to satisfy our obligations and remain in compliance with our existing debt covenants through the next twelve months and beyond, prior to giving effect to any future financing that may occur.
We intend to finance most of our capital expenditures, contractual obligations and working capital needs with cash on hand, cash generated from operations and borrowings under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. For a discussion of the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility, see “—Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility” below. Although we cannot provide any assurance, we believe that our current cash balance, operating cash flow and available borrowings under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next twelve months.
During the fourth quarter of 2022, we initiated a quarterly dividend and distribution program of $0.05 per share and $0.05 per unit for holders of Class A and Class B shares, respectively. We paid quarterly dividends at the same rate through the third quarter of 2023, then the board of directors increased the quarterly dividend paid on November 17, 2023 to $0.06 per share and $0.06 per unit for holders of Class A and Class B shares, respectively. This resulted in a financing outflow of $7.5 million in the Current Quarter, and this quarterly dividend program is expected to continue. All future dividend payments are subject to quarterly review and approval by our board of directors.
As of March 31, 2024 cash and cash equivalents totaled $12.8 million, and we had approximately $155.8 million of available borrowing capacity under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. As of March 31, 2024, the borrowing base under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility was $247.9 million, we had $75.0 million in outstanding borrowings and outstanding letters of credit totaled $17.1 million. As of April 29, 2024, we have $100.0 million in outstanding borrowings, the borrowing base under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility was $248.2 million, the outstanding letters of credit totaled $17.0 million, and the available borrowing capacity under the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility was $131.2 million.
Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We define free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, plus proceeds received from sale of property and equipment. Our board of directors and executive management team use free cash flow to assess our liquidity and ability to repay maturing debt, fund operations and make additional investments. We believe free cash flow provides useful information to investors because it is an important indicator of our liquidity, including our ability to reduce net debt, make strategic investments, pay dividends and distributions and repurchase common stock. Our measure of free cash flow may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies. Furthermore, free cash flow is not a substitute for, or more meaningful than, net
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cash provided by (used in) operating activities nor any other measure prescribed by GAAP, and there are limitations to using non-GAAP measures such as free cash flow. Accordingly, free cash flow should not be considered a measure of the income generated by our business or discretionary cash available to it to invest in the growth of our business.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:
Three months ended March 31, | Change | |||||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| Dollars |
| Percentage | |||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 32,129 | $ | (18,016) | $ | 50,145 | 278.3 | % | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (136,908) | (30,579) | (106,329) | (347.7) | % | |||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 60,451 | 47,304 | 13,147 | 27.8 | % | |||||||
Subtotal | (44,328) | (1,291) | ||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (2) | (3) | 1 | NM | ||||||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (44,330) | $ | (1,294) |
Analysis of Cash Flow Changes between the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $32.1 million for the Current Quarter, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $18.0 million for the Prior Quarter. The $50.1 million improvement is comprised of $60.2 million of decreased working capital primarily due to collecting trade receivables impacted by improvements in the billing and collection process offset by a decrease of $10.1 million of net income combined with non-cash adjustments.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $136.9 million for the Current Quarter, compared to $30.6 million for the Prior Quarter. The $106.3 million increase in net cash used in investing activities was due primarily to an increase of $98.9 million spent for acquisitions net of cash received, a $5.9 million increase in purchases of property and equipment, and a $1.6 million decrease in proceeds received from sales of property and equipment.
Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $60.5 million for the Current Quarter, compared to $47.3 million for the Prior Quarter. The $13.1 million increase in net cash provided by financing activities was due primarily to borrowings net of debt repayments increasing $15.5 million and a $3.9 million decrease in repurchases of shares of Class A common stock partially offset by $5.0 million of cash received from noncontrolling interest holders in the Prior Quarter and a $1.3 million increase in dividends paid.
Free Cash Flow
The following table summarizes our free cash flow for the periods indicated:
Three months ended March 31, | ||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
(in thousands) | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 32,129 | $ | (18,016) | ||
Purchase of property and equipment | (33,763) | (27,885) | ||||
Proceeds received from sale of property and equipment | 5,166 | 6,724 | ||||
Free cash flow | $ | 3,532 | $ | (39,177) |
Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility
On March 17, 2022 (the “Restatement Date”), SES Holdings and Select Water Solutions, LLC (“Select LLC”), formerly Select Energy Services, LLC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES Holdings, entered into a $270.0 million
49
amended and restated senior secured sustainability-linked revolving credit facility (the “Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility”), by and among SES Holdings, as parent, Select LLC, as borrower and certain of SES Holdings’ subsidiaries, as guarantors, each of the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, issuing lender and swingline lender (the “Administrative Agent”) (which amended and restated the Prior Credit Agreement dated November 1, 2017). The Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility also has a sublimit of $40.0 million for letters of credit and a sublimit of $27.0 million for swingline loans. Subject to obtaining commitments from existing or new lenders, Select LLC has the option to increase the maximum amount under the senior secured credit facility by $135.0 million during the first three years following the Restatement Date.
Refer to “Note 8—Debt” for further discussion of the Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations include, among other things, our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility and operating leases. Refer to “Note 6—Leases” in our 2023 Form 10-K for operating lease obligations as of December 31, 2023 and “Note 8—Debt” in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report for an update to our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility as of March 31, 2024.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
There were no changes to our critical accounting policies from those disclosed in our 2023 Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-07”). ASU 2023-07 requires disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss, an amount and description of its composition for other segment items to reconcile to segment profit or loss, and the title and position of the entity’s CODM. The amendments in this update also expand the interim segment disclosure requirements. ASU 2023-07 will be effective for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and for interim periods starting in our first quarter of 2025. Early adoption is permitted and the amendments in this update are required to be applied on a retrospective basis. We are currently reviewing the impact that the adoption of ASU 2023-07 may have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” (“ASU 2023-09”), which includes amendments that further enhance income tax disclosures, primarily through standardization and disaggregation of rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 will be effective for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating ASU 2023-09 to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.
Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements
As of March 31, 2024, we had no material off-balance-sheet arrangements. As such, we are not exposed to any material financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such financing arrangements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The demand, pricing and terms for oilfield services provided by us are largely dependent upon the level of drilling and completion activity in the U.S. oil and gas industry as well as the level of oil and gas production. The level of drilling and completion activity is influenced by numerous factors over which we have no control, including, but not limited to: the supply of and demand for oil and gas; war, armed conflicts, economic sanctions and other constraints to global trade and economic growth; current price levels as well as expectations about future prices of oil and gas,
50
including announcements and actions taken by the members of OPEC+ with respect to oil production levels; the magnitude and timing of capital spending by our customers; the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and delivering oil and gas; the extent to which our E&P customers choose to drill and complete new wells to offset decline from their existing wells; the extent to which our E&P customers choose to invest to grow production; discoveries of new oil and gas reserves; available storage capacity and pipeline and other transportation capacity; weather conditions; domestic and worldwide economic conditions; instability in oil-producing countries; environmental regulations; technical advances in alternative forms of energy (e.g., wind and solar electricity, electric vehicles) that encourage substitution for or displacement of oil and gas consumption in end-use markets; the price and availability of alternative fuels; the ability of oil and gas producers to raise equity capital and debt financing; global health events; merger and acquisition activity and consolidation in our industry, and other factors.
Any combination of these factors that results in sustained low oil and gas prices and, therefore, lower capital spending and / or reduced drilling and completion activity by our customers, would likely have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Interest Rate Risk
As of March 31, 2024, we had $75.0 million in outstanding borrowings under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. As of April 29, 2024, we had $100.0 million in outstanding borrowings and $131.2 million of available borrowing capacity under our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility. Interest is calculated under the terms of our Sustainability-Linked Credit Facility based on our selection, from time to time, of one of the index rates available to us plus an applicable margin that varies based on certain factors. We do not currently have or intend to enter into any derivative arrangements to protect against fluctuations in interest rates applicable to our outstanding indebtedness.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, we have evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2024.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely against us, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are, however, named defendants in certain lawsuits, investigations and claims arising in the ordinary course of conducting our business, including certain environmental claims and employee-related matters, and we expect that we will be named defendants in similar lawsuits, investigations and claims in the future. While the outcome of these lawsuits, investigations and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect these matters to have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. We have not assumed any liabilities arising out of these existing lawsuits, investigations and claims.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There are a number of risks that we believe are applicable to our business and the industry in which we operate. These risks are described elsewhere in this report or our other filings with the SEC, including the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. If any of the risks and uncertainties described within our Annual Report on Form 10-K or this Quarterly Report actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
(c) Common Stock Repurchases Made in the Quarter
During the Current Quarter, we repurchased the shares of Class A Common Stock as shown in the table below, which included 830,337 shares purchased to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to vested restricted stock and performance shares previously awarded to certain of our current and former employees.
Total Number of Shares | Maximum Dollar Value of | |||||||||
Total Number of | Weighted-Average Price | Purchased as Part of Publicly | Shares that May Yet be Purchased | |||||||
Period | Shares Purchased | Paid Per Share(1) | Announced Plans or Programs | Under the Plans or Programs(2) | ||||||
January 1, 2024 to January 31, 2024 | 234,599 | $7.59 | — | $21,177,432 | ||||||
February 1, 2024 to February 29, 2024 | 391,844 | $8.77 | — | $21,177,432 | ||||||
March 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024 | 203,894 | $8.73 | — | $21,177,432 |
(1) | The average price paid per share includes commissions. |
(2) | On November 8, 2023, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program of up to $25.0 million of outstanding shares of Class A common stock. This new authorization was in addition to the $7.5 million remaining outstanding under our previous authorization, as of November 8, 2023. Repurchases under the share repurchase program may be made at any time or from time to time, without prior notice, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at prevailing market prices, or such other means as will comply with applicable state and federal securities laws and regulations, including the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including Rule 10b5-1 and, to the extent practicable or advisable, Rule 10b-18 thereunder, and consistent with the Company’s contractual limitations and other requirements. |
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Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed, furnished or incorporated by reference, as applicable, as part of this report.
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Exhibit |
| Description |
3.1 | ||
3.2 | ||
10.1* | ||
*31.1 | ||
*31.2 | ||
**32.1 | ||
**32.2 | ||
*101 | The following financial statements from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
*Filed herewith
**Furnished herewith
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS, INC. | ||
Date: May 1, 2024 | By: | /s/ John D. Schmitz |
John D. Schmitz | ||
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Date: May 1, 2024 | By: | /s/ Chris George |
Chris George | ||
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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