Quarterlytics / Basic Materials / Oil & Gas Equipment & Services / CARBO Ceramics Inc.

CARBO Ceramics Inc.

crr · NYSE Basic Materials
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Industry Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
Employees 501-1000
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FY2017 Annual Report · CARBO Ceramics Inc.
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2 0 1 7   A N N U A L   R E P O R T

L E V E R A G I N G   O U R

STRENGTHS

TRANSFORMING 

O U R   B U S I N E S S

T E C H N O L O G I E S   F O R

O I L   A N D   G A S • I N D U S T R I A L • E N V I R O N M E N T A L

L E V E R A G I N G   O U R

STRENGTHS
TRANSFORMING

O U R   B U S I N E S S

In 2017, CARBO® continued its transformation from a predominantly Oil and Gas services company to a 

company serving the Oil and Gas, Environmental and Industrial sectors. Our transformation leveraged 

the strengths of CARBO that brought about decades of successful performance. Strengths such as 

insightful thinking, innovative problem solving, advanced technology, service execution, and efficiency 

in manufacturing.

As the oil and gas industry continued to struggle through one of the worst oil and natural gas markets, 

CARBO developed focused technologies and effective products to further enhance performance and 

deliver value.

In the industrial sector, CARBO made a deep commitment to bring clients the performance and value 

advantages of ceramic media. CARBO developed innovative new products to help our clients achieve 

higher quality with greater efficiency. Our ceramic media also provides a silica-free work environment, 

resulting in improved safety.

CARBO transformed its environmental business by identifying products that could be produced with 

existing technologies to serve a much broader range of applications and industries.

In 2017, CARBO proved that leveraging its strengths could transform its own business, and its clients’ 

businesses. Year-over-year revenue growth of 83 percent provided evidence that the transformation 

strategy is working.

To Our Shareholders, Clients and Employees:

In fiscal 2017, CARBO delivered strong and balanced 

across a broad range of industries. Our environmental 

performance, with notable improvements in all of our 

services business model is transforming to take current 

businesses. These were the result of strategic decisions and 

technologies, facilities and products sold to oilfield clients 

bold initiatives developed to reduce the Company’s long-

and market them to other targeted industries through 

time reliance on the historically cyclical petroleum industry 

innovative new sales channels.

In each of these transformations, the CARBO team 

has found ways to leverage our Company’s distinctive 

strengths—intellectual capital, technological expertise, 

by channeling our defining strengths, unique skillsets 

and differentiating attributes to create a more diversified, 

capable and stable company.

In 2017, CARBO’s efforts came together as we executed  

our strategy of leveraging our strengths and transforming 

our business.

TRANSFORMATION AT WORK
For nearly four decades, the CARBO name has been 

synonymous with ceramic proppant. In 2014, our base 

ceramic proppant provided approximately 80 percent of 

the Company’s total revenue, while in 2017 it represented 

approximately 30 percent of total revenue. While the oil 

and natural gas sector will always remain a core business, 

CARBO is transforming from a one-dimensional company 

manufacturing capabilities, distribution and client 

into a truly multi-faceted, strategically diversified company.

relations—and apply them to previously untapped 

Technology-enhanced oilfield ceramic products now 

contribute nearly as much revenue on a percentage 

basis as base ceramic proppant. We are transforming our 

industrial products business by developing products 

to specifically address the needs of many more clients 

opportunities. We have taken the lessons learned 

in building the world’s leading ceramic proppant 

manufacturer and transferred them to areas with ready 

potential. The entire team has shown creativity and energy 

in developing avenues of diversification.

1

PROVIDING UNMATCHED TECHNOLOGY 
FOR THE OILFIELD
In the oil and natural gas sector, CARBO has long been 

the recognized leader in applying powerful, innovative 

technology and expertise that enhance the productivity and 

extend the life of oil and gas wells. In 2017, we continued to 

develop, introduce and commercialize technology-driven 

products. Through increased product sales to an expanding 

global client list, oilfield technology revenue increased 

significantly compared to the prior year.

In addition, our strategic decision to provide high-quality 

sand alongside our proprietary ceramic proppant continued 

to generate revenue growth. By using maximum capacity 

in our own facilities and through third-party arrangements, 

sand sales increased more than sevenfold, from 311 million 

pounds in 2016 to 2.19 billion pounds in 2017.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Total Company revenue for 2017 increased 83 percent 

from 2016, driven by solid revenue growth in each of our 

businesses.

As we entered 2017, one of our biggest challenges was 

reducing the cash burn from the previous year. We achieved 

continuous improvement throughout 2017, reaching a cash-

neutral position in the fourth quarter. 

Management continued to reduce costs across the 

organization. We trimmed our distribution footprint while 

retaining the flexibility to handle client needs. Through 

initiatives such as closing and subleasing facilities and idled 

rail cars, we reduced distribution expense by $9 million on  

an annualized basis in 2017.

We made the strategic decision to divest our Russian 

proppant business for $22 million. This move strengthened 

our liquidity position and reduced risk in our company 

portfolio. Additionally, we refinanced our bank debt with 

privately secured debt in the amount of $65.0 million. 

As of December 31, 2017, cash and cash equivalents, 

including restricted cash, totaled $78.4 million. Maintaining 

cash at strong levels will allow us the freedom to continue to 

execute on our transformation strategy in 2018 and provide 

flexibility to increase resources to grow our business.

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INDUSTRIAL SECTOR ADVANTAGES
CARBO has long had a presence in the industrial sector. 

Ceramic proppant originally developed for the oilfield  

also has applications as casting and grinding media.  

Client relationships in those business sectors tend to be  

long-lasting, and the industries are not particularly cyclical  

in nature, serving to mitigate the impact of the historic  

cycles of the petroleum industry. 

In 2017, we made a transforming commitment to the 

industrial sector by introducing products engineered for 

specific industrial applications. We also added significant 

resources to our technical sales team. As a result of this 

strengthened focus, our industrial revenues increased 

75 percent over 2016 levels. New clients accounted for 

roughly one-quarter of our industrial sales in 2017.

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH

With exceptional thermal stability and pellet consistency, 
ACCUCAST enables precise casting of intricate and 
complex parts.

NEW MARKETS FOR  
ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS
Our strategies of transformation were notable in our 

ACCUCAST AND CARBOGRIND 
RAISE THE BAR

CARBO has developed industrial media products that 

environmental protection business. Prior to 2016, Falcon 

set new standards for durability, accuracy, safety and 

Technologies served the oil and gas sector by providing 

containment structures and systems, often installed on 

site, to protect against leaks and spills. In 2016, we focused 

on increased utilization of our automated manufacturing 

facilities and on the creation of a line of products that could 

be purchased directly by clients or distributors, thereby 

reducing labor costs and improving profit margins.

value. ACCUCAST® ceramic casting media enables 

foundries to improve casting quality and consistency, 

reduce media consumption and costs, and eliminate 

the threat of harmful silica dust to keep workers safe. 

In a mining company’s head-to-head comparison, 

CARBOGRIND® ceramic grinding media outperformed 

two established industry suppliers by more than 30%. 

Breakthrough products such as these helped CARBO 

generate record industrial revenues in 2017.

ASSETGUARD™ manufactures a durable, impermeable liner 
that protects the environment from leaks and spills.
Shown above is our LOCATIONGUARD® service that protects 
wellsites during drilling and completion operations. 

The strength, uniform size and spherical shape of 
CARBOGRIND result in longer media life, more efficient 
grinding and reduced wear on milling equipment.

3

At the end of 2016, we made the strategic decision to pursue 

containment and spill protection sales opportunities in 

industries other than oil and gas.

AN ENCOURAGING OUTLOOK
With the progress of our transformation strategies coupled 

with the signs of recovery in the oil and gas sector in 2017, 

 In 2017, more than 50 percent of environmental segment 

we expect continued improvement in our operating results 

revenue came from product sales rather than services. 

through the coming year.

•  We expect our diversification initiatives to continue to  

  increase Company revenue, producing profitable growth  

  and cash from operating activities.

•  We project that the cost-reduction measures implemented  

  in 2017 will continue to be a positive force on our earnings.

•  We believe revenues for our oil and gas businesses will  

  grow in 2018, in line with increased industry activity.

•  We anticipate increased market penetration of our  

  higher-margin, technology-rich products in the oil and  

  gas sector to continue to drive double-digit growth.

•  We project that our industrial business will grow by  

  double digits again in 2018 and continue to grow  

Our environmental protection business has shifted its focus 
from on-site services to sales of a wide range of products such as 
TANKGUARD®, a lightweight yet long-lasting tank base.

MAXIMIZING FACILITIES UTILIZATION
During 2017, CARBO continued our program to employ idled 

  significantly for the foreseeable future in terms of product  

  volume, revenue, industries served and geographical  

or under-utilized assets to generate cash flow. We leveraged 

  distribution.

the CARBO Technology Center and our state-of-the-art 

manufacturing facilities to provide minerals processing 

capacity to a number of companies in the oil and gas, 

manufacturing, construction and agriculture industries. 

•  We project that our environmental business will continue  

  to grow in 2018, following oil and gas sector activity as well  

  as our targeted revenue streams in the Industrial sector. 

In conclusion, I especially want to thank our CARBO team 

members, our Board of Directors and our stakeholders. 

Diversifying our business requires a transformation of vision, 

focus, aspirations and expectations. Our culture at CARBO  

is one that looks at challenges to be met and opportunities 

to be seized rather than being distracted by uncertainty.  

You helped make all of this possible.

Sincerely,

Gary Kolstad
President and Chief Executive Officer

4

UNITED STATES 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(cid:3)(cid:3) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF

1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
or

(cid:3)(cid:3) TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13  OR  15(D)  OF  THE  SECURITIES  EXCHANGE

ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________ to _____________
Commission File No. 001-15903

CARBO Ceramics Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

72-1100013
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

575 North Dairy Ashford, Suite 300
Houston, Texas 77079
(Address of principal executive offices)
(281) 921-6400
(Registrant’s telephone number)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

Name of each exchange on which registered
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  (cid:4)    No  (cid:3)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  (cid:4)    No  (cid:3)

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.    Yes  (cid:3)    No  (cid:4)

 Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  has  submitted  electronically  and  posted  on  its  corporate  Web  site,  if  any,  every  Interactive  Data  File  required  to  be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant 
was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  (cid:3)    No  (cid:4)

Indicate  by  check  mark  if  disclosure  of  delinquent  filers  pursuant  to  Item  405  of  Regulation  S-K  is  not  contained  herein,  and  will  not  be  contained,  to  the  best  of 
registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.

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:

Large accelerated filer
NNon-accelerated filer
Emerging growth company

(cid:4)
(cid:3)  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
(cid:3)  

   Accelerated filer
   Smaller reporting company

(cid:3)
(cid:3)

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised 
financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  (cid:31)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  (cid:4)    No  (cid:3)

The aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, based upon the closing sale price of the Common Stock on June 30, 2017, as
reported on the New York Stock Exchange, was approximately $112,118,204.  Shares of Common Stock held by each director and executive officer and each person 
who owns 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates.  This determination of affiliate 
status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

tt

As of February 28, 2018, the Registrant had 27,414,445 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement for Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 22, 2018, are incorporated by reference in Part III.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Business...........................................................................................................................................................................
Item 1.
Item 1A. Risk Factors .....................................................................................................................................................................
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments............................................................................................................................................
Properties.........................................................................................................................................................................
Item 2.
Legal Proceedings ...........................................................................................................................................................
Item 3.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure ...................................................................................................................................................

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities .....
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data ...................................................................................................................................................
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations .........................................
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk .........................................................................................
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data ...............................................................................................................
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure .........................................
Item 9.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures..................................................................................................................................................
Item 9B. Other Information............................................................................................................................................................

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance ..............................................................................................
Item 11. Executive Compensation .................................................................................................................................................
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters .......................
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence................................................................
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services .........................................................................................................................

PART IV

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15
15
16
16

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19
20
29
29
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29
30

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31
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Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules...................................................................................................................
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.......................................................................................................................................................
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting..............................................................................................
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ...........................................................................................................
Consolidated Financial Statements ...................................................................................................................................................
Exhibit Index.....................................................................................................................................................................................
Signatures..........................................................................................................................................................................................

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F-1
F-2
F-4
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Item 1.

Business

General

PART I

CARBO Ceramics Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our” or our “Company”) is a technology company that provides products and services to
the global oil and gas and industrial markets to enhance value for its clients.  The Company was incorporated in 1987 in Delaware.  As 
used herein, “Company”, “CARBO”, “we”, “our” and “us” may refer to the Company and/or its consolidated subsidiaries.

aa

The Company conducts its business within two operating segments: 1) Oilfield Technologies and Services and 2) Environmental 
Products and Services.  These two operating segments provide products and services to several market segments in the oil and gas, 
and  the  industrial  markets.    Financial  information  about  reportable  operating  segments  is  provided  in  Note  13  to  the  Company’s 
Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Our Oilfield Technologies and Services segment includes the manufacturing and selling of proppant products for use primarily 
in  the  hydraulic  fracturing  of  oil  and  natural  gas  wells,  FracPro®  software  for  the  design  of  fracture  treatments,  and  StrataGen®
consulting  services  for  the  optimizing  of  well  completions.    Hydraulic  fracturing  is  the  most  widely  used  method  of  increasing 
production from oil and natural gas wells.  The hydraulic fracturing process consists of pumping fluids down a natural gas or oil well 
at  pressures  sufficient  to  create  fractures  in  the  hydrocarbon-bearing  rock  formation.    A  granular  material,  called  proppant,  is
suspended  and  transported  in  the  fluid  and  fills  the  fracture,  “propping”  it  open  once  high-pressure  pumping  stops.    The
proppant-filled fracture creates a conductive channel through which the hydrocarbons can flow more freely from the formation to the 
well and then to the surface.

There are three primary types of proppant that can be utilized in the hydraulic fracturing process: sand, resin-coated sand and
ceramic.    Sand  is  the  least  expensive  proppant,  resin-coated  sand  is  more  expensive  and  ceramic  proppant  is  typically  the  most 
expensive.    The  higher  initial  cost  of  ceramic  proppant  is  justified  by  the  fact  that  its  use  in  certain  well  conditions  results  in  an
increase in the production rate of oil and natural gas, an increase in the total oil or natural gas that can be recovered from the well and,
consequently, an increase in cash flow for the operators of the well.  The increased production rates are primarily attributable to the 
higher strength and more uniform size and shape of ceramic proppant versus alternative materials.  We are one of the world’s largest 
suppliers of ceramic proppant.

We manufacture various distinct ceramic proppants.  Our technology suite of ceramic proppants include the following:

KRYPTOSPHERE® HD is a high-performance ceramic proppant engineered to deliver increased conductivity and durability in 
the highest closure stress wells.  Even in challenging, high-cost environments such as deep water wells, KRYPTOSPHERE HD retains
its integrity and enables greater Estimated Ultimate Recovery (“EUR”) from the reservoir.

KRYPTOSPHERE  LD  meets  client  needs  for  a  lower  density  proppant  than  KRYPTOSPHERE  HD,  yet  has  similar 

characteristics and conductivity in high stress wells.

SCALEGUARD®  is  a  porous  ceramic  proppant  that  is  infused  with  scale-inhibiting  chemicals  and  placed  throughout  the 
fracture as part of the hydraulic fracturing process.  The infused scale inhibitor in SCALEGUARD is designed to be released into the 
fracture  only  on  contact  with  water  and  thereby  reduce  or  eliminate  expensive  remedial  maintenance  programs.    We  also  are
developing SALTGUARD® and PARAGUARD™ to help prevent salt and paraffin wax buildup in wells.

Our  FUSION®  technology  improves  well  productivity  by  forming  a  stable,  high-permeability  proppant  pack  that  prevents

proppant washout from the non-compressive annulus and near-wellbore areas.

CARBOAIR® is a high-transport, ultra-low-density ceramic proppant technology that has been developed primarily to increase
production and EUR from slickwater fracturing operations. The technology enables exploration and production (“E&P”) operators to
avoid the introduction of gel into their fracs while improving reservoir contact and fracture conductivity.

In  addition,  we  manufacture  CARBONRT®TT ,  a  detectable  proppant  that  utilizes  a  non-radioactive  tracer  material  to  assist 
operators in determining the locations of fractures in a natural gas or oil well.  This tracer is added to the proppant granules during the 
manufacturing process, and can be added to most of the types of proppant that the Company sells.

1

Our base ceramic suite of products include:

CARBOHSP®  and  CARBOPROP®  are  high  and  intermediate  density  ceramic  proppants,  respectively,  designed  primarily  for 

use in deep oil and natural gas wells.

CARBOLITE®,  CARBOECONOPROP®  and  CARBOHYDROPROP®  are  low-density  ceramic  proppants.    CARBOLITE®  is
used in medium depth oil and natural gas wells, where higher production rates can be achieved due to the product’s uniform size and 
spherical shape.  CARBOECONOPROP was introduced to provide a lower cost ceramic to compete more directly with resin-coated 
sand and sand proppant, and CARBOHYDROPROP was introduced to improve performance in “slickwater” fracture treatments.

P

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We produce resin-coated ceramic (CARBOBOND LITE®), which addresses a niche market in which oil and natural gas wells 

are subject to the risk of proppant flow-back.

Our  sand  proppants  include  CARBO  NORTHERN-WHITE,  which  is  a  frac  sand  that  is  used  by  operators  that  still  value

quality, but do not wish to pay the higher costs associated with ceramic or resin-coated proppants.

Our manufacturing facilities also produce ceramic media for use in various industrial technology applications, including but not 
limited to the casting and milling markets.  New ceramic media products have been developed specifically for industrial applications
expanding our market opportunities outside the oil and natural gas industry.  We also have begun plant trials at our manufacturing
facilities to produce products other than ceramic proppant and media for contract manufacturing clients.  Those mineral processing
plant  trials  have  proven  successful  and  have  led  to  increased  revenue  generation.    One  example,  we  recently  signed  a  multi-year
contract manufacturing agreement to be the exclusive toll processor for a product in the agricultural industry.

Through our wholly-owned subsidiary StrataGen, Inc., our Oilfield Technologies and Services segment also promotes increased 
production  and  EUR  of  oil  and  natural  gas  by  selling  one  of  the  most  widely  used  fracture  stimulation  software  under  the  brand 
FracPro, and providing fracture design and consulting services to oil and natural gas E&P companies under the brand StrataGen.

FracPro  provides  a  suite  of  stimulation  software  solutions  used  for  designing  fracture  treatments  and  for  on-site  real-time 
analysis.    Use  of  FracPro  has  enabled  our  clients  to  recognize  and  remedy  potential  stimulation  problems.    FracPro  has  also  been
integrated with third party reservoir simulation software, furthering its reach and utility.

StrataGen,  our  specialized  consulting  team,  works  with  operators  around  the  world  to  help  optimize  well  placement,  fracture
treatment design and production enhancement.  The broad range of expertise of the StrataGen consultants includes: fracture treatment 
design; completion support; on-site treatment supervision, quality control; post-treatment evaluation and optimization; reservoir and 
fracture studies; rock mechanics; and software application and training.

Our Environmental Products and Services segment is intended to protect operators’ assets, minimize environmental risks, and 
lower lease operating expense (“LOE”).  Asset Guard Products Inc. (“AGPI”), the only wholly-owned subsidiary of ours to operate in
this segment, provides spill prevention, containment and countermeasure systems for the oil and gas and industrial industry.   AGPI
uses  proprietary  technology  to  make  products  designed  to  enable  its  clients  to  extend  the  life  of  their  storage  assets,  reduce  the 
potential for hydrocarbon spills and provide containment of stored materials.  

Current demand for proppant is extremely dynamic.  Most of our oilfield products and services depend primarily on the supply 
of  and  demand  for  oil  and  natural  gas,  as  well  as  on  the  number  of  natural  gas  and  oil  wells  drilled,  completed  or  re-completed
worldwide.  More specifically, the demand for most of our products and services is dependent on the number of oil and natural gas 
wells  that  are  hydraulically  fractured  to  stimulate  production.    The  demand  for  our  products  and  services  is  also  dependent  on the
commodity price of oil and natural gas, and lower commodity prices result in fewer purchases of our premium products.  In addition,
our results of operations are also significantly affected by a host of other factors, including but not limited to (a) rig counts, (b) well 
completions  activity,  which  is  not  necessarily  correlated  with  rig  count,  (c)  customer  preferences,  (d)  new  product  and  technology
adoption,  (e)  imports  and  competition,  (f)  changes  in  the  product  mix  of  what  we  sell,  (g)  costs  of  developing  our  products  and
services and running our business, and (h) changes in our strategy and execution.  

During the year ended December 31, 2017, we generated approximately 79% of our revenues in the United States and 21% in

international markets.

Competition

As the demand for ceramic proppant (including proppant produced by us) continued to be negatively impacted by the severe 
decline in the oil and natural gas industry in 2017, the number of domestic and international competitors in the marketplace continued 

2

to decrease, and many of our competitors have shut down plants and/or reduced production.  However, we do not have full visibility
as  to  the  extent  or  duration  of  these  shut-downs  and  reductions.    One  of  our  worldwide  proppant  competitors  is  Saint-Gobain 
Proppants (“Saint-Gobain”).  Saint-Gobain is a division of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, a large French glass and materials company. 
Saint-Gobain manufactures a variety of ceramic proppants that it markets in competition with some of our products.  Saint-Gobain’s 
primary manufacturing facilities are located in Fort Smith and Bauxite, Arkansas.  Saint-Gobain also manufactures ceramic proppant 
in  China.    Mineracao  Curimbaba  (“Curimbaba”),  based  in  Brazil,  also  manufactures  and  markets  ceramic  proppant  in  competition 
with some of our products.  Imerys, S.A., a competitor based in France (“Imerys”), has ceramic proppant manufacturing facilities in 
Andersonville and Wrens, Georgia and also competes with some of our products.

We are aware of two major manufacturers of ceramic proppant in Russia.  One of which is FORES Refractory Plant (“FORES”)
located  in  Ekaterinburg,  Russia.    Although  we  have  limited  information  about  FORES,  we  believe  that  FORES  manufactures 
intermediate-density and low-density ceramic proppant lines and markets its products both inside and outside of Russia.  We are also
aware of a large number of manufacturers in China.  Most of these companies produce intermediate-density and low-density ceramic
proppants that are marketed both inside and outside of China.  Chinese proppant imports into the United States increased beginning in
2010  and  2011,  which  contributed  to  an  over-supply  of  ceramic  proppant  beginning  in  2012.    However,  beginning  in  early  2015, 
imports declined significantly.

Our  KRYPTOSPHERE  product  line  is  replacing  both  CARBOHSP  and  CARBOPROP.    Historically,  competition  for 
PROP principally includes ceramic proppant manufactured by Saint-Gobain, Curimbaba, as well as various 
CARBOHSP and CARBO
P
manufacturers located in China.  Our CARBOLITE, CARBOECONOPROP and CARBO
HYDROPROP products compete primarily 
with  ceramic  proppant  produced  by  Saint-Gobain,  Curimbaba  and  Imerys  and  with  sand-based  proppant  for  use  in  the  hydraulic 
fracturing  of  natural  gas  and  oil  wells.    At  this  time,  there  is  not  in  our  view  a  comparable  competitor’s  product  to  our 
KRYPTOSPHERE product line, which is the subject of patent protection.

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The  leading  suppliers  of  mined  sand  are  Unimin  Corp.,  U.S.  Silica  Company,  Fairmount  Minerals  Limited,  Inc.,  Hi-Crush 
Partners LP, and Badger Mining Corp.  The leading suppliers of resin-coated sand are Hexion and Santrol, a subsidiary of Fairmount 
Minerals.

We  believe  that  some  of  the  significant  factors  that  influence  a  customer’s  decision  to  purchase  our  ceramic  proppant  are  (i)
reservoir  and  geological  characteristics,  (ii)  price/performance  ratio,  (iii)  on-time  delivery  performance,  (iv)  technical  support,  (v) 
proppant availability and (vi) the financial status of E&P operators.  We believe that our products are competitively priced and that our 
delivery performance is far better than the competition.  Lastly, our superior technical support has enabled us to persuade customers to 
use  our  technology  products  in  an  increasingly  broad  range  of  applications  which  in  turn  has  increased  the  overall  market  for  our 
technology products.

Product Development

We continually conduct testing and development activities with respect to alternative raw materials to be used in our existing
and  alternative  production  methods.    During  2015,  we  completed  the  first  line  of  a  plant  retrofit  to  enable  production  of 
KRYPTOSPHERE products including both KRYPTOSPHERE LD and KRYPTOSPHERE HD.  We introduced KRYPTOSPHERE 
HD in 2013, a proppant with greatly increased strength and conductivity when compared to our traditional proppants.  This proppant is
intended  for  use  in  ultra-high  stress  wells.    In  2015,  we  introduced  KRYPTOSPHERE  LD,  a  lower  density  proppant  than 
KRYPTOSPHERE  HD.    For  information  regarding  our  research  and  development  expenditures,  see  Note  1  to  the  “Notes  to 
Consolidated Financial Statements.”

SCALEGUARD, our proppant-delivered, scale-inhibiting technology continues to show positive performance results in multiple
basins across North America.  SCALEGUARD has now been successfully used in hundreds of hydraulic fracturing stages.  We are
pursuing the development of other infused proppant technologies, some of which underwent field trials in 2016 and 2017.

Going beyond our existing proppant detection capabilities, we are developing technology for far-field detection of proppant in a 

fracture, which has shown positive results.

We  are  aware  of  others  engaged  in  the  development  of  alternative  products  for  use  as  proppants  in  the  hydraulic  fracturing
process, but are uncertain of the financial status and product viability of these potential competitors.  We believe that while there are 
potential specialty applications for such products, they will not significantly impact the use of ceramic proppants.  Further, we believe 
that the “know-how” and trade secrets necessary to efficiently manufacture a product of consistently high quality are difficult barriers 
to entry to overcome.

t

3

Customers and Marketing

Our clients include both oil and gas customers, and industrial customers.  Our largest customers are participants in the hydraulic
fracturing industry.  Specifically, Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. and Keane Group each accounted for more than 10% of our 2017 
revenues.    However,  the  end  users  of  our  products  are  principally  the  operators  of  natural  gas  and  oil  wells  that  hire  the  pressure 
pumping service companies to hydraulically fracture wells.  We work both with the pressure pumping service companies and with the 
operators  of  natural  gas  and  oil  wells  to  present  the  technical  and  economic  advantages  of  using  ceramic  proppant.    We  generally 
supply our customers with products on a just-in-time basis, as specified in individual purchase orders.  Continuing sales of product 
depend  on  our  direct  customers  and  the  operators  being  satisfied  with  product  quality,  availability  and  delivery  performance.  In
addition,  our  ability  to  increase  sales  of  all  of  our  products  depends  significantly  on  a  favorable  level  of  activity  in  the  upstream
natural gas and oil industries.  We sell our software products and consulting services directly to operators of oil and natural gas wells 
as well as to service companies involved in hydraulic fracturing.

t

We recognize the importance of a technical marketing program in demonstrating long-term economic advantages when selling 
products and services that offer financial benefits over time.  We have a broad technical sales force to advise end users on the benefits
of using ceramic proppant, fracture simulation software, and related consulting services.

Although  originally  our  ceramic  products  were  intended  for  use  in  deeper,  higher-stress  wells  that  require  high-strength
proppant, we believe that there is economic benefit to operators of using ceramic proppant in shallower, lower-stress wells.  We also
believe that our new product introductions and education-based technical marketing efforts have enabled us to maintain our position
not only as one of the world’s largest suppliers of ceramic proppant but also as a leading innovator in our industry.

We provide a variety of technical support services and have developed computer software that models the return on investment 
achievable by using our ceramic proppant versus alternatives in the hydraulic fracturing of a natural gas or oil well.  In addition to the
technical  marketing  effort,  from  time  to  time,  we  engage  in  field  trials  to  demonstrate  the  economic  benefits  of  our  products  and 
validate the findings of our computer simulations.  Periodically, we provide proppant to operators for field trials on a discounted basis
in exchange for their agreement to provide production data for direct comparison of the results of fracturing with ceramic proppant as
compared to alternative proppants.

a

Our  international  marketing  efforts  are  conducted  primarily  through  our  sales  offices  in  the  United  Arab  Emirates,  Canada,
Russia, and South America.  Our products and services are used worldwide by U.S. customers operating domestically and abroad, and 
by  foreign  customers.    Sales  outside  the  United  States  accounted  for  21%,  34%  and  29%  of  our  sales  for  2017,  2016  and  2015,
respectively.    The  distribution  of  our  international  and  domestic  revenues  is  shown  below,  based  upon  the  region  in  which  the 
customer used the products and services:

2017

For the years ended December 31,
2016
($ in millions)

2015

Location

United States........................................................................
International.........................................................................
Total ...............................................................................

 $

 $

149.0   $
39.7    
188.8   $

67.6   $
35.4    
103.0   $

199.2 
80.4 
279.6

Production Capacity

We have constructed adequate capacity to support present and foreseeable demand for our ceramic proppant. We continue to 
incorporate  new  methods  and  technologies  to  reduce  our  manufacturing  costs  and  make  our  products  more  cost-competitive.      As 
production levels increase, our manufacturing costs per unit tend to decrease.

4

 
 
   
   
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
Stated capacity of our facilities varies based on the mix of products we expect to produce.  The following table sets forth the

current stated capacity of each of our existing ceramic manufacturing and other facilities:

Location

Annual
Capacity
 (millions of pounds)

Eufaula, Alabama ...................................................................  
McIntyre, Georgia...................................................................  
Toomsboro, Georgia ...............................................................  
Millen, Georgia.......................................................................  
Total ceramic manufacturing capacity ..............................  
Marshfield, Wisconsin – sand processing ..............................  
New Iberia, Louisiana – resin-coating....................................  
Total current capacity........................................................  

245  *
275  *
1,000  *
250  *
1,770  
1,500 

330 **

3,600 

*

**

Given market conditions, our Millen manufacturing facility is currently mothballed and output levels at our Eufaula, McIntyre
and Toomsboro facilities are at reduced levels.
Processing  activities  at  the  New  Iberia  facility  primarily  involve  resin-coating  of  previously  manufactured  ceramic  proppant 
substrate.

The retrofit of the first production line at our Eufaula, Alabama plant to produce KRYPTOSPHERE was completed in late 2015.  
With this retrofit, we can now produce up to approximately 100 million pounds of KRYPTOSPHERE annually.  While this retrofit 
enables production of our new KRYPTOSPHERE technology products, it did not add additional production capacity.  The retrofit of af
second production line at this plant has been deferred until market conditions warrant moving forward with the project.

During  2017,  our  overall  total  ceramic  plant  utilization,  excluding  our  Russia  plant,  which  we  sold  in  September  2017,  was
approximately 18% of stated capacity.  Our sand processing plant in Marshfield operated at approximately 82% of its stated capacity 
during 2017.  We do not expect any significant improvements to our ceramic proppant plant utilization in 2018, except possibly to due 
to mineral processing growth.  We expect utilization at our sand processing plant to improve during 2018.  Depending on industryrr
conditions, we can modify output levels or idle operations at plants as needed.  Refer to our discussion of impairment considerations 
in the “Critical Accounting Policies” section of Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations.  Construction of additional manufacturing capacity beyond our existing facilities is not expected in the foreseeable future,
and would be dependent on the expected future demand for our products, access to needed capital and the ability to obtain necessary 
environmental permits.

Long-Lived Assets by Geographic Area

Long-lived  assets,  consisting  of  net  property,  plant  and  equipment,  goodwill,  intangibles,  and  other  long-term  assets  as  of 

December 31 in the United States and other countries are as follows:

Long-lived assets:

United States........................................................................
International (primarily Canada for 2017; China, Russia, 
and Canada for 2016 and 2015)...........................................
Total ...............................................................................

 $

 $

332.6   $

496.0   $

538.8 

6.5    
339.1   $

10.2    
506.2   $

12.3 
551.1

2017

2016
($ in millions)

2015

Distribution

We  maintain  finished  goods  inventories  at  each  of  our  manufacturing  facilities  and  at  remote  stocking  facilities.    Our  North
American  remote  stocking  facilities  consist  of  bulk  storage  silos  with  truck  trailer  loading  facilities,  as  well  as  rail  yards for  direct 
transloading  from  rail  cars  to  tank  trucks.    International  remote  stocking  sites  are  duty-free  warehouses  operated  by  independent 
owners.  North American sites are typically supplied by rail, and international sites are typically supplied by container ship.  In total, 
we lease approximately 2,225 rail cars for use in the distribution of our products, of which we have subleased approximately 745 rail
cars.  The price of our products sold for delivery in the lower 48 United States and Canada typically includes just-in-time delivery of 
proppant to the operator’s well site, which eliminates the need for customers to maintain an inventory of ceramic proppant.

5

 
 
 
  
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
    
 
    
 
 
  
Raw Materials

Ceramic proppant and ceramic media are made from alumina-bearing ores (commonly referred to as clay, bauxite, bauxitic clay 
or kaolin, depending on the alumina content) that are readily available on the world market.  The main known deposits of alumina-
bearing ores in the United States are in Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia; other economically mineable known deposits are located in 
Australia, Brazil, China, Gabon, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Russia and Surinam.  Bauxite is largely used in the production of aluminum
metal, refractory material and abrasives.  We believe that our ability to purchase bauxite on the open market coupled with our current 
bauxite inventories will sufficiently provide for our bauxite needs in the United States during 2018.

P

Our Eufaula, McIntyre, Toomsboro and Millen facilities primarily use locally mined kaolin for the production of CARBOLITE, 
CARBOECONOPROP and CARBO
HYDROPROP.  We have entered into bi-lateral contracts that require a supplier to sell to us, and 
require us to purchase from the supplier, at least fifty percent of the Eufaula facility’s and Millen facility’s annual kaolin requirements.  
The  Eufaula  contract  runs  through  May  2020,  with  an  option  for  us  to  extend  this  agreement  for  additional  three  year  terms.    The
Millen contract, which commenced in July 2014, has an initial term of five years with options to extend the agreement for additional 
five year terms.  Our Millen facility is currently idled.  We have obtained ownership rights in acreage in Wilkinson County, Georgia,
which contains in excess of a twelve year supply of kaolin for our Georgia facilities based on full capacity production rates.  We have 
entered into a long-term agreement with a third party to mine and transport this material at a fixed price subject to annual adjustment. 
The agreement requires us to utilize the third party to mine and transport a majority of the McIntyre and Toomsboro facility’s annual
kaolin  requirement.    Overall,  we  estimate  that  our  fee  simple  and  leasehold  mineral  rights  in  the  states  of  Alabama  and  Georgia
contain approximately 20.1 million tons of kaolin suitable for use in production of our kaolin-based proppants.

d

We utilize our own Northern White sand, CARBO NORTHERN-WHITE, and purchase third party wet processed sand reserves 

for our sand processing facility in Marshfield, Wisconsin, which supplies raw frac sand to the proppant market.

Ceramic Production Process

Ceramic proppants are made by grinding or dispersing ore to a fine powder, combining the powder into small pellets and firing 
the pellets in a rotary kiln.  We use three different methods to produce ceramic proppant.  Industrial ceramic media follows a similar 
process.

Our  plant  in  McIntyre,  Georgia  uses  a  dry  process,  which  utilizes  clay,  bauxite,  bauxitic  clay  or  kaolin.    The  raw  material  is 

ground, pelletized and screened.  The manufacturing process is completed by firing the product in a rotary kiln.

Our plants in Eufaula, Alabama, Toomsboro, Georgia, and Millen, Georgia, use a wet process, which starts with kaolin that is

formed into slurry.  The slurry is then pelletized in a dryer and the pellets are then fired in a rotary kiln.

The  portion  of  our  plant  in  New  Iberia,  Louisiana  that  manufactures  ceramic  proppant,  as  well  as  one  line  at  our  Eufaula,

Alabama facility, uses a new manufacturing process associated with the Company’s KRYPTOSPHERE product line. 

Our rotary kilns are primarily heated by the use of natural gas.

Patent Protection and Intellectual Property

We  make  ceramic  proppant  and  ceramic  media  used  in  foundry  and  scouring  processes  (the  latter  two  items  comprising  a 
minimal volume of overall sales) by processes and techniques that involve a high degree of proprietary technology, some of which is
protected by patents.

We own multiple patents in the United States and various foreign countries that relate to different types of ceramic proppant and 
production methods used for ceramic proppant and media; however, depending on market conditions, production of products pursuant 
to these patents may not necessarily constitute a material portion of our output.  We also own multiple U.S. and foreign patents that 
relate to methods for the detection of subterranean fractures and material, including gravel packs, in the near-borehole region.  We
also own multiple U.S. patents that relate to detectable proppant.

During  2014  and  2015,  we  obtained  three  U.S.  patents  relating  to  our  KRYPTOSPHERE  manufacturing  process,  and  during 
2017,  we  obtained  one  U.S.  patent  covering  the  KRYPTOSPHERE  product.    We  expect  these  patents  to  provide  assistance  in  the
future  sales  of  this  product  line.    During  2015,  2016  and  2017,  we  obtained  four  U.S.  patents  relating  to  our  far-field  proppant 
detection products, systems, and methods which relate to our iON™ product line and the QUANTUM™ service line, which are still 
under development. 

6

We  own  multiple  U.S.  patent  applications  (together  with  a  number  of  counterpart  applications  pending  in  foreign 
jurisdictions).  A portion of the U.S. patent applications cover ceramic proppant, detectable proppant, processes for making ceramic
proppant  and  detectable  proppant,  detection  of  subterranean  fractures,  and  our  GUARDTM,  FUSION  and  AIR™  product  lines  and 
methods  for  making  and  using  these  products.   Another  portion  of  the  U.S.  patent  applications  cover  non-oilfield  or  industrial 
products, such as water treatment compositions, foundry media, building materials and ceramic media for use in solar power plants. 
The  applications  are  in  various  stages  of  the  patent  prosecution  process,  and  patents  may  not  issue  on  such  applications  in  any
jurisdiction for some time, if they issue at all.

AGPI (formerly Falcon) owns three U.S. patents, which expire in 2026, 2027 and 2034 and relate to construction of secondary
containment areas.  In addition, AGPI owns four U.S. patents, which expire in 2030 and 2031 and relate to polyurea-encapsulated tank 
bases.   AGPI  also  owns  multiple  U.S.  patent  applications  (together  with  a  number  of  counterpart  applications  pending  in  foreign
jurisdictions), each of which relates to tank bases or methods of constructing secondary containment areas.

d

We believe that our patents have historically been important in enabling us to compete in the market to supply proppant to the 
natural gas and oil industry.  We intend to enforce, and have in the past vigorously enforced, our patents.  We may from time to time 
be  involved  in  litigation  to  determine  the  enforceability,  scope  and  validity  of  our  patent  rights.    In  addition  to  patent  rights,  and 
perhaps more notably, we use a significant amount of trade secrets, or “know-how,” and other proprietary information and technology 
in the conduct of our business.  None of this “know-how” and technology is licensed from third parties.  However, we have negotiated 
a long term license for some third party intellectual property used or jointly developed in connection with our QUANTUM service
line.

Seasonality

Historically,  our  business  has  not  been  subject  to  regular  material  seasonality  fluctuations.    However,  with  the  activity  in 
resource plays in the northern and eastern United States, we have experienced higher levels of proppant sales activities during warmer 
weather  periods  and  less  during  colder  weather  months.    In  addition,  sales  activities  can  be  decreased  by  the  spring  snow  and  ice
“break-up” in Canada, North Dakota, Montana, and the Northeast U.S., as well as the winter holidays in December and January.

Environmental and Other Governmental Regulations

We  believe  that  our  operations  are  in  substantial  compliance  with  applicable  domestic  and  foreign  federal,  state  and  local 

environmental and safety laws and regulations.

Existing federal environmental requirements such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, as amended, impose certain 
restrictions  on  air  and  water  pollutants  from  our  operations  via  permits  and  regulations.    Those  pollutants  include  volatile  organic
compounds,  nitrogen  oxides,  sulfur  dioxide,  particulate  matter,  storm  water  and  wastewater  discharges  and  other  by-products.    In
addition  to  meeting  environmental  requirements  for  existing  operations,  we  must  also  demonstrate  compliance  with  environmental 
regulations in order to obtain permits prior to any future expansion.  The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and 
state programs require covered facilities to obtain individual permits or have coverage under an EPA general permit issued to groups 
of facilities.  A number of federal and state agencies, including but not limited to, the EPA, the Texas Commission of Environmental 
Quality, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the Wisconsin 
Department of Natural Resources, and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, have environmental regulations applicable to 
our operations in the states in which we do business.  Historically we have been able to obtain permits, where necessary, to build new 
facilities and modify existing facilities that allow us to continue compliant operations.  Obtaining these permits in a timely manner 
will continue to be an important factor in our ability to do so in the future.

Employees

As  of  December  31,  2017,  we  had  424  employees  worldwide.    In  addition  to  the  services  of  our  employees,  we  employ  the 
services of consultants as required.  Our employees are not represented by labor unions.  There have been no work stoppages or strikes
during  the  last  three  years  that  have  resulted  in  the  loss  of  production  or  production  delays.    We  believe  our  relations  with  our 
employees are satisfactory.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

Gary A. Kolstad (age 59) was elected in June 2006, by our Board of Directors to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer 
and  a  Director  of  the  Company.    Mr.  Kolstad  previously  served  in  a  variety  of  positions  over  21  years  with  Schlumberger.    Mr. 
Kolstad became a Vice President of Schlumberger in 2001, where he last held the positions of Vice President, Oilfield Services – U.S. 
Onshore and Vice President, Global Accounts.

7

Ernesto Bautista III (age 46) joined the Company as a Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in January 2009.  From July 
2006 until joining the Company, Mr. Bautista served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of W-H Energy Services, Inc., a
Houston,  Texas  based  diversified  oilfield  services  company  (“W-H  Energy”).    From  July  2000  to  July  2006,  he  served  as  Vice 
President and Corporate Controller of W-H Energy.  From September 1994 to May 2000, Mr. Bautista served in various positions at
Arthur Andersen LLP, most recently as a manager in the assurance practice, specializing in emerging, high growth companies.  Mr. 
Bautista is a certified public accountant in the State of Texas.

Don  P.  Conkle  (age  53)  was  appointed  Vice  President,  Marketing  and  Sales  in  October  2012.    Mr.  Conkle  previously  held  a
variety of domestic and international managerial positions in engineering, marketing and sales, and technology development over a 26 
year  period  with  Schlumberger.    He  served  in  the  positions  of  Vice  President  of  Stimulation  Services  from  2007  until  2009,  as
GeoMarket Manager (Qatar & Yemen) from 2009 until 2011 and as Production Group Marketing and Technology Director from 2011
until he joined the Company.

r

Roger Riffey (age 59) joined the Company in July 2006 as Director of Logistics and Customer Service.  He was appointed Plant 
Manager of the Toomsboro, Georgia, facility in July 2010, and was named Vice President, Manufacturing in May 2013.  Previously,
Mr. Riffey held positions with Rio Tinto Energy in Special Projects, U.S. Borax as Global Logistics Manager and Kerr-McGee Coal
Corporation as Manager of Marketing.

Robert J. Willette (age 42) joined the Company in October 2017 as Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and 
Chief  Compliance  Officer.    Prior  to  his  current  role,  Mr.  Willette  served  as  General  Counsel  and  Corporate  Secretary  for  Texon
Distributing L.P. beginning in 2009.  From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Willette served as Corporate Counsel for Ferrellgas L.P.

All officers are elected for one-year terms or until their successors are duly elected.  There are no arrangements between any
officer  and  any  other  person  pursuant  to  which  he  was  selected  as  an  officer.    There  is  no  family  relationship  between  any  of  thet
named executive officers or between any of them and the Company’s directors.

Forward-Looking Information

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements.  This Form 10-K, 
our Annual Report to Shareholders, any Form 10-Q or any Form 8-K of the Company or any other written or oral statements made by
or  on  behalf  of  the  Company  may  include  forward-looking  statements  which  reflect  the  Company’s  current  views  with  respect  to 
future  events  and  financial  performance.    The  words  “believe”,  “expect”,  “anticipate”,  “project”,  “estimate”,  “forecast”,  “plan”  or 
“intend”  and  similar  expressions  identify  forward-looking  statements.    Readers  are  cautioned  not  to  place  undue  reliance  on  these 
forward-looking statements, each of which speaks only as of the date the statement was made.  We undertake no obligation to publicly 
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Our forward-
looking  statements  are  based  on  assumptions  that  we  believe  to  be  reasonable  but  that  may  not  prove  to  be  accurate.    All  of  our
forward-looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results 
expected.  Although it is not possible to identify all factors, these risks and uncertainties include the risk factors discussed below.

Our  results  of  operations  could  be  adversely  affected  if  our  business  assumptions  do  not  prove  to  be  accurate  or  if  adverse 

changes occur in our business environment, including but not limited to:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

changes in the cost of raw materials and natural gas used in manufacturing our products;

risks related to our ability to access needed cash and capital;

our ability to meet our current and future debt service obligations, including our ability to maintain compliance with our 
debt covenants;

our ability to manage distribution costs effectively;

our ability to successfully implement strategic changes in our business;

changes in demand and prices charged for our products;

technological, manufacturing and product development risks;

our dependence on and loss of key customers and end users;

potential  declines  or  increased  volatility  in  oil  and  natural  gas  prices  that  adversely  affect  our  customers,  the  energy 
industry or our production costs;

8

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

potential reductions in spending on exploration and development drilling in the oil and natural gas industry that reduce 
demand for our products and services;

seasonal sales fluctuations;

an increase in competition in the proppant market, including imports from foreign countries;

logistical and distribution challenges relating to certain resource plays that do not have the type of infrastructure systems 
that are needed to efficiently support oilfield services activities;

the  development  of  alternative  stimulation  techniques  that  would  not  benefit  from  the  use  of  our  existing  products  and 
services, such as extraction of oil or gas without fracturing;

changes  in  foreign  and  domestic  governmental  regulations,  including  environmental  restrictions  on  operations  and 
regulation of hydraulic fracturing;

increased regulation of emissions from our manufacturing facilities;

the development and utilization of alternative proppants for use in hydraulic fracturing;

general global economic and business conditions;

weather-related risks and other risks and uncertainties;

changes in foreign and domestic political and legislative risks;

risks of war and international and domestic terrorism;

risks associated with foreign operations and foreign currency exchange rates and controls; and

the potential expropriation of assets by foreign governments.

Our  results  of  operations  could  also  be  adversely  affected  as  a  result  of  worldwide  economic,  political  and  military  events, 
including, but not limited to, war, terrorist activity or initiatives by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”).  
For further information, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

Available Information

Our  annual  reports  on  Form  10-K,  proxy  statements,  quarterly  reports  on  Form  10-Q,  current  reports  on  Form  8-K  and 
amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange
Act”) are made available free of charge on our internet website at http://www.carboceramics.com as soon as reasonably practicable 
after such material is filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street,
Room 1580, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.  The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by 
calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.  The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and 
other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, at http://www.sec.gov.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should consider carefully the trends, risks and uncertainties described below and other information in this Form 10-K and 
subsequent reports filed with the SEC before making any investment decision with respect to our securities.  If any of the following 
trends,  risks  or  uncertainties  actually  occurs  or  continues,  our  business,  financial  condition  or  operating  results  could  be  materially 
adversely affected, the trading prices of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Our business and financial performance largely depends on the level of activity in the natural gas and oil industries.

Our  operations  are  materially  dependent  upon  the  levels  of  activity  in  natural  gas  and  oil  exploration,  development  and 
production.  More specifically, the demand for our products is closely related to the number of natural gas and oil wells completed in
geologic formations where ceramic or sand proppants are used in fracture treatments.  These activity levels are affected by both short-
term  and  long-term  trends  in  oil  and  natural  gas  prices.    In  recent  years,  oil  and  natural  gas  prices  and,  therefore,  the  level  of 
exploration,  development  and  production  activity,  have  experienced  significant  fluctuations.    Worldwide  economic,  political  and
military events, including war, terrorist activity, events in the Middle East and initiatives by OPEC, have contributed, and are likely to 
continue to contribute, to price volatility.  Despite recent initiatives to curb supply, the global supply of oil is currently at historically

9

high  levels,  and  there  is  potential  for  geopolitical  and  regulatory  events,  such  as  normalization  of  trade  relations  with  the  Islamic
Republic of Iran, to further increase the supply of oil.  Additionally, warmer than normal winters in North America and other weather 
patterns may adversely impact the short-term demand for natural gas and, therefore, demand for our products and services.  Natural 
gas  prices  experienced  a  significant  decline  during  2012  and,  although  they  have  increased  since  then,  remain  relatively  low  on an
historic basis, resulting in generally lower gas drilling activity.  Further, the price of oil declined precipitously from the second half of 
2014 through mid-2016 and, although the price has rebounded from its low, it still remains at weakened levels for industry activity.  
This reduction in oil and natural gas prices has depressed the level of natural gas and oil exploration, development, production and 
well completions activity, resulting in significantly reduced demand and pricing for our products.  This decline has had, and continues
to  have,  a  significant  adverse  impact  on  our  results.    If  oil  and  natural  gas  prices  and  well  completion  activity  do  not  materially
improve  and/or  demand  for  our  products  does  not  otherwise  increase,  this  decline  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  have  a  material
adverse effect on our financial condition or operations, including, but not limited to, the temporary idling of all, or a portion of all, of 
our facilities until such time as market conditions improve.

We  may  not  have  sufficient  cash  and/or  be  able  to  access  liquidity  alternatives  in  the  credit  and  capital  markets  to  meet  our 
liquidity needs.

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand and cash flow from operations.  Our ability to fund our working capital and 
capital expenditures and other obligations depends on our future operating performance and cash from operations and other liquidity-
generating transactions, which are in turn subject to prevailing oil and natural gas prices, economic conditions and other factors, many
of which are beyond our control.  

If  our  future  operating  performance  falls  materially  below  our  expectations,  our  plans  prove  to  be  materially  inaccurate,  or 
industry  conditions  do  not  materially  improve,  we  may  require  additional  financing.    Even  if  additional  or  alternative  financing
becomes available to us, future financing transactions may significantly increase the Company’s interest expense, which could in turn 
reduce  our  financial  flexibility  and  our  ability  to  fund  other  activities,  and  could  make  us  more  vulnerable  to  changes  in  operating
performance or economic downturns generally.  The inability to generate sufficient cash, modify our New Credit Agreement, or obtain 
replacement or additional financing, or an event of default under our New Credit Agreement, could have a material adverse effect on
our financial condition.

We therefore cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to access the capital or credit markets on acceptable terms or 
timing, or at all.  Access to the capital markets and the cost and availability of credit may be adversely affected by factors beyond our 
control, including turmoil in the financial services industry, volatility in securities trading markets, the continuing downturn in the oil 
and gas industry and general economic conditions.  Currently, we do not qualify as a “well-known seasoned issuer,” which otherwise
would allow us to, among other things, file automatically effective shelf registration statements.  Now, even if we are able to access
the  public  capital  markets,  any  attempt  to  do  so  could  be  more  expensive  or  subject  us  to  significant  delays  when  compared  with
previous periods.

Our  business  and  financial  performance  has  suffered  and  could  suffer  further  if  the  levels  of  hydraulic  fracturing  continue  to
decline or cease as a result of the low commodity price of oil and natural gas, development of new processes, increased regulation 
or a continued decrease in drilling activity.

tt

Substantially all of our products are proppants used in the completion and re-completion of natural gas and oil wells through thet
process of hydraulic fracturing.  Completion activity is directly impacted by the price of oil and natural gas.  In addition, demand for 
our proppants is substantially higher in the case of horizontally drilled wells, which allow for multiple hydraulic fractures within the
same well bore but are more expensive to develop than vertically drilled wells.  A reduction in horizontal drilling or the development 
of new processes for the completion of natural gas and oil wells leading to a reduction in, or discontinuation of the use of, hydraulic
fracturing  could  cause  a  decline  in  demand  for  our  products.    Additionally,  increased  regulation  or  environmental  restrictions on
hydraulic fracturing or the materials used in this process could negatively affect our business by increasing the costs of compliance or 
resulting in operational delays, which could cause operators to abandon the process due to commercial impracticability.  Moreover, 
future federal, state, local or foreign laws or regulations could otherwise limit or ban hydraulic fracturing.  Several states in which our 
customers  operate  have  adopted,  or  are  considering  adopting,  regulations  that  have  imposed,  or  could  impose,  more  stringent 
permitting, transparency, disposal and well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations.  Some states, such as New 
York, have banned the process of hydraulic fracturing altogether.  Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our 
results of operations and financial condition.  As stated elsewhere, the upstream oil and natural gas industry is in the midst of a severe
contraction,  resulting  in  a  significant  reduction  in  horizontal  drilling  and  further  resulting  in  a  material  decline  in  demand  for  our 
products and services.

10

We face distribution and logistical challenges in our business

As  oil  and  natural  gas  prices  fluctuate,  our  customers  may  shift  their  focus  back  and  forth  between  different  resource  plays, 
some  of  which  can  be  located  in  geographic  areas  that  do  not  have  well-developed  transportation  and  distribution  infrastructure
systems.    Transportation  and  logistical  operating  expenses  continue  to  comprise  a  significant  portion  of  our  total  delivered  cost  of 
sales.  Therefore, serving our clients in these less-developed areas presents distribution and other operational challenges that affect our 
sales and negatively impact our operating costs.  Disruptions in transportation services, including shortages of rail cars or a lack of rail 
transportation  services  or  developed  infrastructure,  could  affect  our  ability  to  timely  and  cost  effectively  deliver  products  to  our 
customers and could provide a competitive advantage to competitors located in closer proximity to customers.  Additionally, increases
in  the  price  of  diesel  fuel  could  negatively  impact  operating  costs  if  we  are  unable  to  pass  those  increased  costs  along  to  our
customers.  Failure to find long-term solutions to these logistical challenges could adversely affect our ability to respond quickly to the 
needs of our customers or result in additional increased costs, and thus could negatively impact our results of operations and financial
condition. 

We operate in an increasingly competitive market.

The proppant market is highly competitive.  We compete with other domestic and international suppliers of ceramic proppant, as 
well  as  with  suppliers  of  sand  for  use  as  proppant,  in  the  hydraulic  fracturing  of  natural  gas  and  oil  wells.    The  expiration  of  key 
patents owned by the Company has resulted in additional competition in the market for ceramic proppant.  The entry of additional 
competitors into the market to supply ceramic proppant and/or a surge in the level of ceramic proppant imports into North America
from existing competitors could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We  have  been  and  may  continue  to  be  adversely  affected  by  decreased  demand  for  our  proppant  or  the  development  by  our 
competitors of alternative proppants.

Ceramic proppant is a premium product capable of withstanding higher pressure and providing more highly conductive fractures 
than mined sand, which is the most commonly used proppant type.  We continue to see operators that have traditionally used ceramic 
proppant  shifting  to  use  mined  sand  instead.    Despite  recently  improving  commodity  prices  in  the  oil  and  natural  gas  industry, 
continued pressure on operators to reduce cost or to evaluate returns on a shorter horizon has had a detrimental impact on the demand 
for ceramic proppant, which is a higher cost product than mined sand.  Although we believe that the use of quality ceramic proppant in 
appropriate geologic formations typically generates higher production rates and more favorable long-term production economics thant
mined sand, the shifting of customer demand to lower cost products, such as mined sand, has had an adverse effect on our results of 
operations  and  its  continuation  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  financial  condition.    The  development  and  use  of 
alternative proppant could also cause a decline in demand for our products, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of 
operations and financial condition.

We  have  no  current  plans  to  pay  cash  dividends  on  our  common  stock  for  the  foreseeable  future  and  our  Amended  Credit 
Agreement contains restrictions on our ability to pay dividends; therefore, you may not receive any return on investment unless
you sell your common stock for a price greater than you paid.

We do not plan to declare dividends on shares of our common stock in the foreseeable future.  In addition, our Amended Credit 
Agreement prohibits us from paying such dividends.  We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation of our 
business and meet our debt obligations.  As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our common stock if thet
market price of our common stock increases.  Further, one of our financing options involves the issuance of equity securities, which
would dilute current stockholders and could reduce our stock price.

The  outstanding  indebtedness  under  our  New  Credit  Agreement  is  secured  by  a  substantial  portion  of  our  domestic  assets  and 
guaranteed by our two domestic operating subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions.

The  outstanding  indebtedness  under  our  New  Credit  Agreement  is  secured  by  (i)  a  pledge  of  all  accounts  receivable  and 
inventory,  (ii)  cash  in  certain  accounts,  (iii)  domestic  distribution  assets  residing  on  owned  real  property,  (iv)  our  Marshfield,
Wisconsin and Toomsboro, Georgia plant facilities and equipment, and (v) certain real property interests in mines and minerals.  In 
the event of a default, our lenders may (1) elect to declare all outstanding borrowings made under the New Credit Agreement and the
guaranties  of  the  two  operating  subsidiaries,  together  with  accrued  interest  and  other  fees,  to  be  immediately  due  and  payable;  (2) 
exercise their set-off rights; and/or (3) enforce and foreclose on their security interest and liquidate some or all of such pledged assets.  
Any of these actions could, individually or in the aggregate, have a substantial negative impact on our financial condition and results
of operations.

d

d

11

We rely upon, and receive a significant percentage of our revenues from, a limited number of key customers and end users.

During  2017,  our  key  customers  included  several  of  the  largest  participants  in  the  worldwide  petroleum  pressure  pumping 
industry.  Two of these customers each accounted for more than 10% of our 2017 revenues.  However, the end users of our products
are  numerous  operators  of  natural  gas  and  oil  wells  that  hire  pressure  pumping  service  companies  to  hydraulically  fracture
wells.   During  2017,  a  majority  of  our  ceramic  proppant  sales  were  directed  to  a  concentrated  number  of  end  users.   We  generally 
supply  our  domestic  pumping  service  customers  with  products  on  a  just-in-time  basis,  with  transactions  governed  by  individual
purchase  orders  and/or  a  master  supply  agreement.   Because  of  their  purchasing  power,  our  key  customers  may  have  greater 
bargaining leverage than us with respect to the negotiation of prices and other terms of the sale in their supply contracts with us, which
in turn, could adversely affect our profit margins associated with those contracts.  Disparities in bargaining leverage, when combined 
with the Company’s desire to maintain long-term relationships with key customers, could limit our practical ability to assert certain
terms of our supply agreements with them.  Continuing sales of our products depend on our direct customers and the end user well 
operators being satisfied with product quality, pricing, availability, and delivery performance.  While we believe we have satisfactory
relations with our customers and our end users, a material decline in the level of sales to any one of our major customers or loss of a 
key end user due to unsatisfactory product performance, pricing, delivery delays or any other reason could have a material adverse
effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

tt

The operations of our customers, and thus the results of our operations, are subject to a number of operational risks, interruptions
and seasonal trends.

As hydraulic fracturing jobs have increased in size and intensity, common issues such as weather, equipment delays or changes 
in  the  location  and  types  of  oil  and  natural  gas  plays  can  result  in  increased  variability  in  proppant  sales  volumes.    Our  business 
operations  and  those  of  our  customers  involve  a  high  degree  of  operational  risk.    Natural  disasters,  adverse  weather  conditions, 
collisions and operator error could cause personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property, equipment and 
the environment, and suspension of operations.  Our customers perform work that is subject to unexpected or arbitrary interruption or 
termination.  The occurrence of any of these events could result in work stoppage, loss of revenue, casualty loss, increased costs and 
significant  liability  to  third  parties.    With  the  increase  in  resource  plays  in  the  northern  and  eastern  United  States,  as  well  as  our 
operations in Marshfield, Wisconsin, our results of operations are increasingly exposed to seasonal variations and inclement weather.  
Operations in certain regions involve more seasonal risk in the winter months, and work is hindered during other inclement weather 
events.  This variability makes it more difficult to predict sales and can result in greater fluctuations to our quarterly financial results.  
These quarterly fluctuations could result in operating results that are below the expectations of public market analysts and investors,
and therefore may adversely affect the market price for our common stock.

a

t

The ability of our customers to complete work, as well as our ability to mine sand from cold climate areas, could be affected 
during  the  winter  months.    Our  revenue  and  profitability  could  decrease  during  these  periods,  as  well  as  in  other  severe  weather 
conditions, because work is either prevented or more costly to complete.  If a substantial amount of production is interrupted, our cash
flow and, in turn, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Our  North  American  ceramic  proppant  production  is  manufactured  at  two  plants.    The  vast  majority  of  our  mined  sand  is 
processed at one plant.  Any adverse developments at those plants could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition 
and results of operations.

With the mothballing of our Millen plant and the very limited production at our McIntyre plant, we are producing the majority
of our North American ceramic production from two plants, our Eufaula and our Toomsboro plant.  Our Marshfield, Wisconsin plant
represents  the  vast  majority  of  our  annual  mined  sand  processing  capacity.    Any  adverse  developments  at  these  plants,  including  a
material disruption in production, an inability to supply the plant with raw materials at a competitive cost, or adverse developments
due to catastrophic events, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We provide environmental warranties on certain of our containment and spill prevention products.

AGPI’s  tank  liners,  secondary  containments  and  related  products  and  services  are  designed  to  contain  or  avoid  spills  of 
hydrocarbons and other materials.  If a release of these materials occurs, it could be harmful to the environment.  Although we attempt 
to  negotiate  appropriate  limitations  of  liability  in  the  applicable  terms  of  sale,  some  customers  have  required  expanded  warranties, 
indemnifications or other terms that could hold AGPI responsible in the event of a spill or release under particular circumstances.  If 
AGPI is held responsible for a spill or release of materials from one of its customer’s facilities, it could have a material adverse effect 
on our results of operations and financial condition.

12

We rely upon intellectual property to protect our proprietary rights.  Failure to protect our intellectual property rights may affect 
our competitive position, and protecting our rights or defending against third-party allegations of infringement may be costly.

The Company uses a significant amount of trade secrets, or “know-how,” and other proprietary information and technology in
the  conduct  of  its  business.    In  some  cases,  we  rely  on  trade  secrets,  trademarks  or  contractual  restrictions  to  protect  intellectual 
property  rights  that  are  not  patented.    The  steps  we  take  to  protect  the  non-patented  intellectual  property  may  not  be  sufficient  to 
protect  it  and  any  loss  or  diminishment  of  such  intellectual  property  rights  could  negatively  impact  our  competitive  advantage.  
Additionally, our competitors could independently develop the same or similar technologies that are only protected by trade secret and 
thus do not prevent third parties from competing with us.  Furthermore, even protected intellectual property rights can be infringed 
upon by third parties.  Monitoring unauthorized use of Company intellectual property can be difficult and expensive, and adequate 
remedies may not be available.

Although  the  Company  does  not  believe  that  it  is  infringing  upon  the  intellectual  property  rights  of  others  by  using  such
proprietary information and technology, it is possible that such a claim might be asserted against the Company in the future.  In the 
event any third party makes a claim against us for infringement of patents or other intellectual property rights of a third party, such
claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming and result in costly litigation.  In addition, the Company could experience loss
or cancellation of customer orders, experience product shipment delays, or be subject to significant liabilities to third parties.  If our 
products or services were found to infringe on a third party’s proprietary rights, the Company could be required to enter into royalty or 
licensing agreements to continue selling its products or services.  Royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available on 
acceptable terms, if at all, which could seriously harm our business.  Involvement in any patent dispute or other intellectual property 
dispute or action to protect trade secrets and expertise could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

rr

Significant increases in fuel prices for any extended periods of time will increase our operating expenses.

The  price  and  supply  of  natural  gas  are  unpredictable,  and  can  fluctuate  significantly  based  on  international,  political  and 
economic  circumstances,  as  well  as  other  events  outside  of  our  control,  such  as  changes  in  supply  and  demand  due  to  weather 
conditions, actions by OPEC and other oil and gas producers, regional production patterns and environmental concerns.  Natural gas is 
a significant component of our direct manufacturing costs and price escalations will likely increase our operating expenses and can
have a negative impact on income from operations and cash flows.  We operate in a competitive marketplace and may not be able to
pass through all of the increased costs that could result from an increase in the cost of natural gas.

d

Environmental compliance costs and liabilities could reduce our earnings and cash available for operations.

We  are  subject  to  increasingly  stringent  laws  and  regulations  relating  to  environmental  protection,  including  laws  and 
regulations governing air emissions, water discharges and waste management.  The technical requirements of complying with these
environmental  laws  and  regulations  are  becoming  increasingly  expensive  and  complex,  and  may  affect  the  Company’s  ability  to
expand its operations.  Our ability to continue the expansion of our manufacturing capacity to meet market demand is contingent upon
obtaining required environmental permits and compliance with their terms, which continue to be more restrictive and require longer 
lead times to obtain in anticipation of any efforts to expand and increase capacity.  We incur, and expect to continue to incur, capital 
and operating costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations.

t

In addition, we use some hazardous substances and generate certain industrial wastes in our operations.  Many of our current 
and former properties are, or have been, used for industrial purposes.  Accordingly, we could become subject to potentially material
liabilities  relating  to  the  investigation  and  cleanup  of  contaminated  properties,  and  to  claims  alleging  personal  injury  or  property
damage  as  the  result  of  exposures  to,  or  releases  of,  hazardous  substances.    These  laws  also  may  provide  for  “strict  liability”  for 
damages to natural resources or threats to public health and safety.  Strict liability can render a party liable for environmental damage
without regard to negligence or fault on the part of the party.  Some environmental laws provide for joint and several strict liability for 
remediation of spills and releases of hazardous substances.

Stricter  enforcement  of  existing  laws  and  regulations,  new  laws  and  regulations,  the  discovery  of  previously  unknown 
contamination  or  the  imposition  of  new  or  increased  requirements  could  restrict  our  expansion  efforts,  require  us  to  incur  costs,  or 
become the basis of new or increased liabilities.  Any of these events could reduce our earnings and our cash available for operations.

13

Our international operations subject us to risks inherent in doing business on an international level that could adversely impact 
our results of operations.

International  revenues  accounted  for  approximately  21%,  34%  and  29%  of  our  total  revenues  in  2017,  2016  and  2015,
respectively.    We  may  not  succeed  in  overcoming  the  risks  that  relate  to  or  arise  from  operating  in  international  markets.    Risks 
inherent in doing business on an international level include, among others, the following:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

economic  and  political  instability  (including  as  a  result  of  the  threat  or  occurrence  of  armed  international  conflict  or 
terrorist attacks);

potential declines or increased volatility in oil and natural gas prices that would adversely affect our customers, the energy 
industry or our production costs;

changes in regulatory requirements, economic sanctions, tariffs, customs, duties and other trade barriers;

transportation delays and costs;

power supply shortages and shutdowns;

difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations and other labor problems;

currency rate fluctuations, convertibility and repatriation;

taxation of our earnings and the earnings of our personnel;

potential expropriation of assets by foreign governments; and

other risks relating to the administration of or changes in, or new interpretations of, the laws, regulations and policies of 
the jurisdictions in which we conduct our business.

Undetected defects in our fracture simulation software could adversely affect our business.

Despite extensive testing, our software could contain defects, bugs or performance problems.  If any of these problems are not 
detected, the Company could be required to incur extensive development costs or costs related to product recalls or replacements.  The 
existence of any defects, errors or failures in our software products may subject us to liability for damages, delay the development or 
release of new products and adversely affect market acceptance or perception of our software products or related services, any one of 
which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The market price of our common stock will fluctuate, and could fluctuate significantly.

The market price of the Company’s common stock will fluctuate, and could fluctuate significantly, in response to various factors

and events, including the following:

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

the liquidity of the market for our common stock;

seasonal or quarterly sales fluctuations;

differences between our actual financial or operating results and those expected by investors and analysts;

changes in analysts' recommendations or projections;

a substantial short position in our stock;

new statutes or regulations or changes in interpretations of existing statutes and regulations affecting our business;

changes in general economic or market conditions; and

broad market fluctuations.

Our actual results could differ materially from results anticipated in forward-looking statements we make.

Some  of  the  statements  included  or  incorporated  by  reference  in  this  Form  10-K  are  forward-looking  statements.    These
forward-looking statements include statements relating to trends in the natural gas and oil industries, the demand for ceramic proppant 
and our performance in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business"
sections of this Form 10-K.  In addition, we have made and may continue to make forward-looking statements in other filings with the
SEC, and in written material, press releases and oral statements issued by us or on our behalf.  Forward-looking statements include
statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers.  Our actual results could differ materially 

14

from  those  anticipated  in  these  forward-looking  statements,  and  our  financial  forecasts  are  particularly  sensitive  to  changes  in  the 
current  market  conditions.    Further,  our  financial  forecasts  have  been  less  accurate  during  the  recent  downturn.    See  "Business–
Forward-Looking Information."

The success of our business depends on achieving our strategic objectives, including the diversification of our product and service 
portfolio.

As we continue to expand our portfolio of product and service offerings to industrial and other new markets, we face certain
risks  associated  with  these  new  business  strategies,  including  unknown  regulatory  changes  and  product  acceptance  by  these  new
markets,  that  could  affect  our  future  financial  results.    In  addition,  lower  than  expected  sales  in  these  new  markets  could  have  a
material adverse effect on our results from operations and financial condition.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

Item 2.

Properties

We maintain our corporate headquarters in leased office space in Houston, Texas and also lease space for our technology center 
in  Houston.    We  own  our  manufacturing  facilities,  land  and  substantially  all  of  the  related  production  equipment  in  New  Iberia,
Louisiana,  and  Eufaula,  Alabama,  and  lease  our  McIntyre,  Toomsboro,  and  Millen,  Georgia,  facilities.    We  own  the  buildings  and 
production equipment at our facility in Luoyang, China, and have been granted use of the land on which the facility is located through 
2051  under  the  terms  of  a  land  use  agreement  with  the  People’s  Republic  of  China.    The  Luoyang,  China  facility  was  shut  down 
during 2015, and we do not intend to resume production.

The  facilities  in  McIntyre  and  Toomsboro,  Georgia,  include  real  property,  plant  and  equipment  that  we  lease  from  the 
Development Authority of Wilkinson County.  The original lease was executed in 1997 and was last amended in 2008.  The term of 
the current lease, which covers both locations was automatically extended through November 1, 2021.  Under the terms of the lease,
we are responsible for all costs incurred in connection with the premises, including costs of construction of the plant and equipment.  
At the termination of the lease, title to all of the real property, plant and equipment is to be conveyed to us in exchange for nominal 
consideration.  We have the right to purchase the property, plant and equipment at any time during the term of the lease for a nominal 
price.

r

In November 2012, we entered into a lease with the Development Authority of Jenkins County for the land and improvements 
associated with the construction of a plant in Millen, Georgia.  The lease term continues until the tenth anniversary of the completion
of the last phase of the facility.  Similar to lease terms of the two other Georgia facilities, the Millen lease requires us to be responsible
for all costs (including construction costs) incurred in connection with the premises.  Moreover, title to the real property, plant and 
equipment of the facility is to be conveyed to us at the end of the lease term for nominal consideration, and may be purchased by us at 
any  time  for  a  nominal  price.    We  completed  construction  and  commenced  operations  of  the  first  250  million  pound  ceramic
production  line  in  Millen  during  2014.    We  began  the  construction  on  a  second  250  million  pound  production  line  in  Millen.  
However,  due  to  current  market  conditions,  the  construction  and  completion  of  this  second  line  has  been  suspended  until  market 
conditions warrant completion.

The Marshfield, Wisconsin sand processing plant, which became operational during 2012, is located on land owned by us.  We 
decided  not  to  move  forward  with  construction  of  a  resin  coating  plant  in  Marshfield,  Wisconsin  for  which  we  had  previously 
developed engineering plans and procured certain equipment that had long-lead delivery times.

We own or otherwise utilize distribution facilities in multiple locations around the world.  See “Item 1. Business – Distribution.”

We own approximately 4,618 acres of land and leasehold interests near our plants in Georgia and Alabama.  The land contains 
raw  material  for  use  in  the  production  of  our  lightweight  ceramic  proppants.    We  also  hold  approximately  113  acres  of  land  and 
leasehold interests in Wisconsin.

AGPI owns its service facility located in Decatur, Texas, and leases other regional service facilities within the United States.

15

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we are the subject of legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.  We do not believe that any

of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our business or our results of operations.

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosure

Several  of  our  U.S.  manufacturing  facilities  process  mined  minerals,  and  therefore  are  viewed  as  mine  operations  subject  to 
regulation by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.  Information 
concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act and the recently proposed Item 106 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.106) is included in Exhibit 95 to this
annual report.

16

PART II

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Common Stock Market Prices, Dividends and Stock Repurchases

Our  common  stock  is  traded  on  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  (ticker  symbol  CRR).    The  number  of  record  and  beneficial 

holders of our common stock as of February 1, 2018 was approximately 11,515.

The  following  table  sets  forth  the  high  and  low  sales  prices  of  our  common  stock  on  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  and 

dividends for the last two fiscal years:

Quarter Ended
March 31 ...................................................................................  $ 16.28 
13.04 
June 30 ......................................................................................   
8.79 
September 30.............................................................................   
10.66 
December 31 .............................................................................   

  High

Low
 $ 10.26 
6.02 
6.12 
6.44 

2017

Sales Price

2016

  Cash
  Dividends  
  Declared  
— 
— 
— 
— 

Sales Price

  High
 $ 23.68 
16.70 
14.91 
11.87 

Low
 $ 14.20 
10.63 
10.00 
6.08 

  Cash
  Dividends  
  Declared  
— 
— 
— 
—

In January 2016, our Board of Directors suspended our policy of paying quarterly cash dividends, and there can be no assurance 

as to the payment of future dividends because they depend on future earnings, capital requirements and financial condition.

On  January  28,  2015,  our  Board  of  Directors  authorized  the  repurchase  of  up  to  two  million  shares  of  our  common  stock. 

Shares are effectively retired at the time of purchase.  As of March 7, 2018, we had not repurchased any shares under this plan.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

For information regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, refer to “ITEM 12. SECURITY 
OWNERSHIP  OF  CERTAIN  BENEFICIAL  OWNERS  AND  MANAGEMENT  AND  RELATED  STOCKHOLDER  MATTERS”
and  “NOTE 10 — Stock  Based  Compensation”  in  the  accompanying  “Notes  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements”  in  this  Annual
Report.

The following table provides information about our repurchases of common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2017,

all of which represent shares surrendered to us for tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock:

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period
10/01/17 to 10/31/17 ............................................................................   
11/01/17 to 11/30/17 ............................................................................   
12/01/17 to 12/31/17 ............................................................................   
Total................................................................................................   

Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased

Average
Price Paid
per Share

514  (3)$
— 
— 
514 

8.63    
—    
—    

Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plan (1)

Maximum
Number of
Shares that May
be Purchased
Under the
Plan (2)
2,000,000 
2,000,000 
2,000,000 

—    
—    
—    
—    

(1) On January 28, 2015, we announced the authorization by our Board of Directors for the repurchase of up to two million shares

of our Common Stock.

(2) Represents the maximum number of shares that may be repurchased under the plan as of period end.  As of March 7, 2018, a 

maximum of 2,000,000 shares may be repurchased under the plan.

(3) Represents shares of stock withheld for the payment of withholding taxes upon the vesting of restricted stock.

17

 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
     
Stock Performance Graph

The graph below compares the cumulative shareholder return on our common stock with the cumulative returns of the the S&P 
500  index,  and  the  S&P  SmallCap  600  -  Oil  &  Gas  Equipment  &  Services  index.    The  graph  tracks  the  performance  of  a  $100 
investment  in  our  common  stock  and  in  each  of  the  indexes  (with  the  reinvestment  of  all  dividends)  from  December 31,  2012  to 
December 31, 2017.

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among CARBO Ceramics Inc., the S&P 500 Index,
and S&P SmallCap 600 - Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Index

$250

$200

$150

$100

$50

$0

12/12 3/13 6/13 9/13 12/13 3/14 6/14 9/14 12/14 3/15 6/15 9/15 12/15 3/16 6/16 9/16 12/16 3/17 6/17 9/17 12/17

CARBO Ceramics Inc.

S&P 500

S&P SmallCap 600 - Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Index

*$100 invested on 12/31/12 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending December 31.

Copyright© 2018 Standard & Poor's, a division of S&P Global. All rights reserved.

18

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements.  The data should be read in
conjunction  with  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  and  the  consolidated 
financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

Statement of Income Data:

Revenues...........................................................................
Cost of sales ......................................................................
Gross (loss) profit .............................................................
Selling, general, & administrative expenses.....................
Other operating expenses (income) (1).............................
Operating (loss) profit.......................................................
Other (expense) income, net .............................................
(Loss) income before income taxes ..................................
Income tax (benefit) expense............................................
Net (loss) income ..............................................................
(Loss) earnings per share:

2017

Years ended December 31,
2016
2014
2015
($ in thousands, except per share data)

 $

188,756   $
242,081    
(53,325)   
42,533    
152,525    
(248,383)   
(6,760)   
(255,143)   
(2,027)   
 $ (253,116)  $

279,574   $
103,051   $
335,699    
188,065    
(56,125)   
(85,014)   
62,199    
39,984    
44,908    
904    
(163,232)   
(125,902)   
(517)   
(5,306)   
(163,749)   
(131,208)   
(51,081)   
(54,205)   
(80,127)  $ (109,544)  $

648,325   $
467,045    
181,280    
72,535    
15,890    
92,855    
16    
92,871    
37,283    
55,588   $

2013

667,398 
474,403 
192,995
68,447
(43)
124,591 
610
125,201 
40,315
84,886 

Basic ............................................................................
Diluted .........................................................................

 $
 $

(9.49)  $
(9.49)  $

(3.29)  $
(3.29)  $

(4.76)  $
(4.76)  $

2.41   $
2.41   $

3.67
3.67

2017

December 31,
2016
2014
2015
($ in thousands, except per share data)

2013

Balance Sheet Data:

Current assets....................................................................  $
Current liabilities ..............................................................   
Property, plant and equipment, net ...................................   
Total assets........................................................................   
Total shareholders’ equity ................................................   
Cash dividends per share ..................................................   

195,797 
42,431 
324,186 
540,598 
405,765 
— 

 $

217,223 
34,804 
494,103 
723,457 
616,570 
— 

 $

 $

285,277 
70,290 
537,731 
836,369 
642,306 
0.63 

 $

 $

337,611 
77,415 
568,716 
934,226 
776,057 
1.26 

 $

 $

371,382 
56,688
478,535 
878,951 
768,587 
1.14

(1) Other operating expenses primarily include gains/losses on disposal or impairment of assets.  In 2017, it also included a loss on 

the sale of our Russian proppant business.

19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
     
     
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Executive Level Overview

CARBO Ceramics Inc. is a technology company that generates revenue primarily through the sale of products and services to
the global oil and natural gas industry for production enhancement and environmental products and services, and through the sale of 
products and services to industrial market segments.

The Company conducts its business within two operating segments: 1) Oilfield Technologies and Services and 2) Environmental 
Products and Services.  These two operating segments provide products and services to several market segments in the oil and gas, 
and  the  industrial  markets.    Our  Environmental  Products  and  Services  segment  is  limited  to  production  and  sales  by  our  AGPI 
subsidiary.

Our Oilfield Technologies and Services segment includes the manufacturing and selling of proppant products for use primarily 
in  the  hydraulic  fracturing  of  oil  and  natural  gas  wells,  FracPro  software  for  the  design  of  fracture  treatments,  and  StrataGen
consulting  services  for  the  optimization  of  well  completions.    These  products  include  ceramic  proppant  and  raw  frac  sand.    Our 
manufacturing facilities also produce ceramic pellets for use in various industrial technology applications, including but not limited to, 
casting  and  milling.    We  also  have  begun  plant  trials  at  our  manufacturing  facilities  to  produce  products  other  than  base  ceramic
proppant.  Those mineral processing plant trials have proven successful and have led to increased revenue generation.  Through our 
wholly-owned subsidiary StrataGen, Inc., we promote increased operators’ production and EUR by providing one of the industry’s 
most widely used hydraulic fracture simulation software under the brand FracPro, as well as hydraulic fracture design and consulting 
services under the brand StrataGen.  Our Environmental Products and Services segment, through AGPI, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
ours, uses proprietary technology to provide products that are designed to enable its clients to extend the life of their storage assets,
reduce the potential for hydrocarbon spills and provide containment of stored materials.  This business is intended to protect operators’ 
assets, minimize environmental risk, and lower LOE.

Our products and services help oil and gas producers increase production and recovery rates from their wells, thereby lowering 
overall finding and development costs.  As a result, our business is dependent to a large extent on the level of drilling and hydraulic
fracturing activity in the oil and gas industry worldwide.  Although our ceramic proppants are more expensive than alternative non-
ceramic proppants, we have been able to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of our products to numerous operators of oil and gas wells
by  marketing  our  technical  expertise.    We  believe  our  future  prospects  benefit  from  both  an  increase  in  drilling  and  hydraulic
fracturing activity worldwide and the desire of industry participants to improve production results and lower their overall development 
costs. 

Our  ceramic  media  for  use  in  various  industrial  technology  applications  improve  the  quality  of  end  products  and  industrial 
processes primarily in the casting and milling markets.  We believe growth in our industrial business will in part benefit from recent 
changes in the regulatory environment, a corresponding conversion to ceramic media, and our expanded product portfolio.

m

International revenues represented 21%, 34% and 29% of total revenues in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Operating  profit  margin  for  our  ceramic  proppant  business  is  principally  impacted  by  sales  volume,  product  mix,  sales  price, 
distribution costs, manufacturing costs, including natural gas, and our production levels as a percentage of our capacity.  The level of 
selling, general and administrative spending, as well as other operating expenses, can also impact operating profit margins. 

As a result of the depressed commodity price for oil during 2017, there has been a negative impact on industry activity levels 
which  has  in  turn  negatively  impacted  the  demand  for  ceramic  proppant,  so  we  continue  to  focus  on  cash  preservation  and  cost 
reduction strategies.  Beginning in 2015, we slowed and idled proppant production to assist in managing cash and inventory levels. 
We  mothballed  our  proppant  facility  in  Millen,  Georgia  and  McIntyre,  Georgia  and  shut  down  our  facility  in  Luoyang,  China 
However,  we  are  now  utilizing  our  McIntyre,  Georgia  facility  only  in  a  limited  capacity  primarily  to  supply  the  industrial  market.  
These events resulted in significant negative impact to the financial results of our operations.  Additionally, we suspended completion
of two large construction projects.  We suspended completion of the second production line at Millen, Georgia indefinitely, and we are 
exploring ways to monetize these assets.  We also suspended completion of the second phase of the retrofit of our Eufaula, Alabama
plant with our new KRYPTOSPHERE® technology until such time that market conditions improves enough to warrant completion.  
During the three months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded an impairment on the Millen, Georgia facility.  As of December 31, 
2017, the value of the projects relating to these two assets totaled approximately 85% of the Company’s total construction in progress
and we estimate that both projects are over 90% complete.  See “Item 1 - Business” and “Item 1A - Risk Factors”.

d

Although most direct manufacturing expenses have been relatively stable or predictable over time, we have experienced volatility tt
in  the  cost  of  natural  gas,  which  is  used  in  production  by  our  manufacturing  facilities.    The  cost  of  natural  gas  has  been  a  significant 
component  of  total  monthly  direct  production  expense.    In  recent  years,  the  price  of  natural  gas  has  been  low  compared  to  historical

20

prices, as well as fairly stable from period to period.  However, in an effort to mitigate volatility in the cost of natural gas purchases and 
reduce  exposure  to  short  term  spikes  in  the  price  of  this  commodity,  we  contract  in  advance  for  portions  of  our  future  natural gas
requirements.  Our gas contract commitments can extend several years into the future.  Despite the efforts to reduce exposure to changes 
in natural gas prices, it is possible that, given the significant portion of manufacturing costs represented by this item, gross margins as a 
percentage of sales may decline and changes in revenue may not directly correlate to changes in net income.  Due to the severe decline in 
industry activity beginning in early 2015, we significantly reduced production levels and consequently did not take delivery of all of the 
contracted natural gas quantities.  As a result, we have accounted for the relevant contracts as derivative instruments.

f

General Business Conditions

Our  Oilfield  Technologies  and  Services  segment  is  impacted  by  the  number  of  natural  gas  and  oil  wells  drilled  in  North 
America,  and  the  need  to  hydraulically  fracture  these  wells.    In  markets  outside  North  America,  sales  of  our  products  are  also 
influenced by the overall level of drilling and hydraulic fracturing activity.  Furthermore, because the decision to use ceramic proppant 
is based on comparing the higher initial costs to the future value derived from increased production and recovery rates, our business is
influenced by the current and expected prices of natural gas and oil.

Beginning in late 2014, a severe decline in oil and continued decline in natural gas prices led to a significant decline in oil and 
natural  gas  industry  drilling  activities  and  capital  spending.    During  2017,  however,  the  average  price  of  West  Texas  Intermediate 
(“WTI”) crude oil rose 18% to $50.88 per barrel compared to $43.14 per barrel in 2016.  The average North American rig count also 
rose 69% in 2017 to 1,081 rigs compared to 640 rigs in 2016.  Despite these improvements, E&P operators continued to use lowest-
cost  completions,  a  trend  that  we  expect  to  continue  in  2018,  as  our  customers  remain  under  pressure  to  consider  lower  cost 
alternatives,  notwithstanding  the  superior  performance  results  of  our  products.    These  events,  along  with  an  oversupplied  ceramic 
proppant market and depressed oil and natural gas prices, kept demand and average prices low for our proppants.

Current demand for proppant is extremely dynamic.  In addition to rig counts and commodity prices, our results of operations 
are also significantly affected by a host of other factors, including but not limited to (a) completion activity, which is not necessarily
correlated  with  rig  count,  (b)  customer  preferences,  (c)  new  product  and  technology  adoption,  (d)  imports  and  competition,  (e) 
changes  in  the  product  mix  of  what  we  sell,  (f)  costs  of  developing  our  products  and  services  and  running  our  business,  and  (g)
changes in our strategy and execution.

Beginning  early  in  2015,  we  implemented  a  number  of  initiatives  to  preserve  cash  and  lower  costs,  including:  (1)  reducing 
workforce across our organization, (2) lowering our production output levels in order to align with lower demand, including through
idling and mothballing of some of our production facilities (3) limiting capital expenditures and (4) eliminating dividends.  In 2016, 
we  idled  the  majority  of  the  production  activities  at  our  New  Iberia,  Louisiana  plant  until  such  time  as  market  conditions  warrant 
bringing  them  back  online.    Our  facility  in  Millen,  Georgia  remains  idled  due  to  market  conditions.    However,  in  late  2016  we 
recommenced  processing  at  our  Marshfield,  Wisconsin  sand  processing  facility.    Our  remaining  plants  remain  at  reduced  output 
levels.  As a result of operating some of our plants below their normal production capacity, we expensed $40.7 million of production 
overhead  costs  in  excess  of  amounts  that  would  have  been  allocated  to  each  unit  of  production  at  normal  production  levels.    We
continue to rationalize headcount as needed. 

During the third quarter of 2017, we closed on the sale of our Russian proppant business and received gross proceeds of $22.0
million.  We expect to receive additional proceeds on the sale of approximately $4.0 million related to net debt and net working capital
purchase price adjustments.  Although we remain in active discussions with the buyer regarding the purchase price adjustments, in
January 2018, we filed a Notice of Arbitration related to this purchase price adjustment against the buyer.  Loss on the sale was $26.7 
million, which included the reclassification of $33.3 million of foreign currency cumulative translation loss from shareholders’ equity
and approximately $1.6 million expenses related to the sale.  Net assets included in the calculation of the loss on the sale were $17.8
million.

The Company’s Environmental Products and Services segment is also impacted by the global drilling and hydraulic fracturing 
activity,  and  has  been  negatively  impacted  by  the  significant  decline  in  oil  and  natural  gas  industry  drilling  activities  and  capital
spending.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  are  prepared  in  accordance  with  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  U.S.,
which require us to make estimates and assumptions (see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).  We believe that, of our 
significant accounting policies, the following may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity.

21

Revenue  is  recognized  when  title  passes  to  the  customer  (generally  upon  delivery  of  products)  or  at  the  time  services  are
performed.    We  generate  a  significant  portion  of  our  revenues  and  corresponding  accounts  receivable  from  sales  to  the  petroleum
pressure pumping industry.  In addition, we generate a significant portion of our revenues and corresponding accounts receivable from
sales  to  two  major  customers,  both  of  which  are  in  the  petroleum  pressure  pumping  industry.    As  of  December  31,  2017, 
approximately 26% of the balance in trade accounts receivable was attributable to those two customers.  We record an allowance for 
doubtful accounts based on our assessment of collectability risk and periodically evaluate the allowance based on a review of trade
accounts receivable.  Trade accounts receivable are periodically reviewed for collectability based on customers’ past credit history and 
current financial condition, and the allowance is adjusted, if necessary.  If the economic downturn in the petroleum pressure pumping 
industry  worsens  or  does  not  materially  improve  or,  for  some  other  reason,  any  of  our  primary  customers  were  to  experience
significant adverse conditions, our estimates of the recoverability of accounts receivable could be reduced by a material amount and 
the allowance for doubtful accounts could be increased by a material amount.  As of December 31, 2017, the allowance for doubtfulff
accounts totaled $1.6 million.

tt

We  value  inventory  using  the  weighted  average  cost  method.    Assessing  the  ultimate  realization  of  inventories  requires 
judgments  about  future  demand  and  market  conditions.    We  regularly  review  inventories  to  determine  if  the  carrying  value  of  the
inventory  exceeds  market  value  and  we  record  an  adjustment  to  reduce  the  carrying  value  to  market  value,  as  necessary.    Future 
changes  in  demand  and  market  conditions  could  cause  us  to  be  exposed  to  additional  obsolescence  or  slow  moving  inventory.    If 
actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, lower of cost or market adjustments may be required.  
There was no lower of cost or market inventory adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2017.  We recorded a $1.5 million lower 
of cost or market inventory adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Income  taxes  are  provided  for  in  accordance  with  ASC  Topic  740,  “Income  Taxes”.    This  standard  takes  into  account  the 
differences  between  financial  statement  treatment  and  tax  treatment  of  certain  transactions.    Deferred  tax  assets  (“DTAs”)  and 
liabilities (“DTLs”) are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying 
value of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax 
rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  
The effect of a change in tax rates is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date.  This calculation 
requires us to make certain estimates about our future operations.  Changes in state, federal and foreign tax laws, as well as changes in 
the Company’s financial condition, could affect these estimates.

t

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 740, Income Taxes, provides the carrying value of DTAs should be reduced 

by the amount not expected to be realized.  A company should reduce deferred tax assets by a valuation allowance if, based on thet
weight of all available evidence, it is no longer more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized.  
The valuation allowance should be sufficient to reduce the deferred tax asset to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.  
ASC 740 requires all available evidence, both positive and negative, be considered to determine whether a valuation allowance for 
deferred tax assets is needed in the financial statements.  Additionally there can be statutory limitations and losses also assessed on the
deferred tax assets should certain conditions arise. 

As a result of the significant decline in oil and gas activities and net losses incurred over the past several quarters, we

determined during the year ending December 31, 2017 that it was more likely than not that a portion of our deferred tax assets will not 
be realized in the future.  Accordingly, we established a $52.7 million valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.  Our 
assessment of the realizability of our deferred tax assets is based on the weight of all available evidence, both positive and negative,
including future reversals of deferred tax liabilities.  Income tax benefit was $2.0 million, or 0.8% of pretax loss, for the year ending 
December 31, 2017 compared to income tax benefit of $51.1 million, or 38.9% of pretax loss, for the same period in 2016.  The
decrease was primarily due to the valuation allowance recorded against our deferred tax assets.

Long-lived assets, which include net property, plant and equipment, goodwill, intangibles and other long-term assets, comprise a
significant  amount  of  the  Company’s  total  assets.    The  Company  makes  judgments  and  estimates  in  conjunction  with  the  carrying
values of these assets, including amounts to be capitalized, depreciation and amortization methods and useful lives.  Additionally, the
carrying values of these assets are periodically reviewed for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that 
the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.  An impairment loss is recorded in the period in which it is determined that the carrying 
amount  is  not  recoverable.    This  requires  the  Company  to  make  long-term  forecasts  of  its  future  revenues  and  costs  related  to  the 
assets subject to review.  These forecasts require assumptions about demand for the Company’s products and services, future market 
conditions and technological developments.  Significant and unanticipated changes to these assumptions could require a provision for 
impairment in a future period.

rr

t

As  of  September  30,  2017,  the  Company  concluded  that  the  Company’s  Toomsboro  and  Millen,  Georgia  facilities  should  no 
longer be evaluated together as a group of assets because the facilities are no longer interchangeable and will no longer manufacture
like  products.    As  a  result  of  the  sustained  and  long-term  shift  away  from  base  ceramic  proppant  to  less  expensive  frac  sand,  the

ff

22

Company  has  made  a  strategic  decision  to  focus  on  growing  technology,  industrial  and  mineral  processing  revenue  streams.    Our 
Toomsboro, Georgia plant is being repurposed to produce technology and industrial products, as well as for use in toll processing of 
minerals.    Our  Millen,  Georgia  facility  is  currently  only  able  to  produce  base  ceramic  proppants,  but  given  our  current  long-term
outlook on base ceramic proppant demand, we do not expect to utilize this plant to produce base ceramic proppant.  We are currently
evaluating opportunities to monetize our assets at our Millen facility.  As a result, we evaluated the Toomsboro and Millen, Georgia
plants separately for indicators of impairment during the third quarter of 2017.

Given the change in the asset groupings of the two facilities and lack of estimated future cash flows associated with the base
ceramic production at the Millen, Georgia facility, the Company identified indicators of impairment at the Millen, Georgia facility as 
of September 30, 2017.  The Company determined that the projected cash flows attributable to our Millen, Georgia facility did not 
exceed  the  carrying  value  of  the  assets;  therefore  the  Company  concluded  there  was  an  impairment  at  that  facility.    The  Company
engaged  the  services  of  a  third  party  consulting  firm  to  assist  with  the  determination  of  the  fair  value  of  the  related  assets  and 
concluded that the assets were impaired.  The key assumptions and inputs impacting the fair value include third party commentaryrr
with  respect  to  the  property  and  equipment  at  our  Millen,  Georgia  facility.    For  machinery  and  equipment  and  construction  in
progress, we used a cost approach to estimate the valuation.  We applied a 65 percent downward adjustment to calculated replacement 
cost based on an analysis of construction documents and historical expenditures to remove non-saleable soft costs such as engineering
and  installation  that  would  have  no  value  to  a  market  participant.    Based  on  discussions  with  market  participants,  a  salvage  value 
multiplier ranging from 12 percent to 50 percent of the remaining replacement cost basis was applied to arrive at the estimated fair 
value for the machinery and equipment and construction in progress subject to impairment.  For real property, the value of comparable
property ranged from approximately $30 to $40 per square foot, and the concluded value of the property at the Millen, Georgia facility 
was approximately $35 per square foot.  We applied a 94% downward adjustment to the calculated value from a cost approach for the
buildings and site improvements as a representation of economic obsolescence.  As a result, during the three months ended September 
30,  2017,  we  recognized  a  $125.8  million  impairment  of  long-lived  assets,  primarily  relating  to  machinery  and  equipment  and 
construction  in  progress.    As  of  December  31,  2017,  the  remaining  carrying  value  of  the  impaired  assets  at  the  Millen  facility was 
approximately $18.5 million.

d

ff

As of December 31, 2017, there were no indicators of additional impairment.  We continue to monitor whether or not events or 

circumstances would indicate that the carrying value of any of our long-lived assets might not be recoverable.  

At  December  31,  2016,  as  a  result  of  the  continued  severity  of  the  market  downturn,  the  Company  identified  indicators  of 
impairments  related  to  each  of  its  domestic  manufacturing  plant  asset  groups.    The  Company  completed  undiscounted  cash  flow
analyses on that date and determined no impairment charge was necessary at that time.  During the year ended December 31, 2015, as 
a  result  of  worsening  conditions  in  the  oil  and  natural  gas  industry  during  the  fourth  quarter  of  2015,  we  recorded  a  $43.7  million
impairment of long-lived assets, primarily relating to machinery and equipment at our McIntyre, Georgia manufacturing plant and our 
Marshfield, Wisconsin sand processing facility.  As of December 31, 2017, the remaining carrying value of machinery and equipment 
relating to those previously impaired facilities was approximately $3.1 million.

d

We account for certain natural gas contracts as derivative instruments, which requires us to recognize the gas contracts as either 
assets or liabilities at fair value with an offsetting entry in earnings.  We use the income approach in determining the fair value of our 
derivative instruments.  The model used considers the difference, as of each balance sheet date, between the contracted prices and the 
New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) forward strip price for each contracted period.  The estimated cash flows from these
contracts  are  discounted  using  a  discount  rate  of  8.0%,  which  reflects  the  nature  of  the  contracts  as  well  as  the  timing  and  risk  of 
estimated cash flows associated with the contracts.  The discount rate had an immaterial impact on the fair value of the contracts for 
the year ended December 31, 2017.  The last natural gas contract will expire in December 2018.  During the year ended December 31, 
2017 and 2016, we recognized a loss on derivative instruments of $0.9 million and a gain on derivative instruments of $1.9 million, 
respectively,  in  cost  of  sales.    As  of  December  31,  2017,  gas  contracts  covering  1,680,000  MMBtu  are  subject  to  accounting  as
derivative instruments.  Future decreases in the NYMEX forward strip prices will result in additional derivative losses while future
increases in the NYMEX forward strip prices will result in derivative gains.  Future gains or losses will approximate the change in
NYMEX natural gas prices relative to the total quantity of natural gas under contracts subject to accounting as derivatives.

ff

t

Low  production  levels  triggered  the  component  of  our  inventory  accounting  policy  relating  to  operating  at  production  levels
below  normal  capacity.    To  determine  the  amount  of  production  costs  that  we  expense  during  each  period,  the  Company  allocates 
fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion based on the normal capacity of each production facility, generally considered to
be 65% of a facility's stated capacity or higher.

When a production facility operates at normal capacity, all of its fixed production overheads are allocated to costs of conversion
of each product manufactured, based on the actual level of production.  This determination is made facility-by-facility on a monthly
basis in order to calculate the initial measurement value to recognize as cost of goods produced in a month by a given facility.

23

When  a  facility's  total  production  in  a  month  drops  below  65%  of  its  normal  capacity,  it  is  considered  to  be  operating  at  an 
abnormally low production level.  In such cases, each unit of production receives an allocation of fixed overheads in the amount that 
would have been allocated at the lower-end of normal capacity.  The remaining unallocated excess fixed overhead cost for the facility 
is recognized as expense in the period and classified as Cost of Sales.

Materials are the only variable component of production.  Plant labor and all other overhead costs incurred in the production of 
the Company's products are either semi-fixed or fixed in nature, therefore all are included in the monthly evaluation of costs allocable 
to costs of conversion at normal capacity.

The Company maintains a rate for each production facility that represents the maximum fixed production overhead cost per unit 
of  production  allocable  to  costs  of  conversion.    The  rates  are  based  on  an  analysis  of  a  recent  historical  period  considered 
representative of a normal operating environment in which the facility operated at normal capacity.  The maximum rate is calculated 
by recasting the fixed production overhead cost per unit of production on a pro forma basis as if the facility had operated at the lower-
end  threshold  of  its  range  of  normal  capacity,  generally  65%  of  stated  capacity.    The  current  rates  are  based  on  2014  as  the
representative year.  Implied in this method is the assumption that 2014 production costs relative to sales prices yield a normal profit 
margin.  A significant, permanent deterioration in the average selling prices of the Company’s products could result in a significant 
lowering of the rates, thereby increasing the periodic charge.  The most recent period in which normal capacity was achieved was the
year-ended December 31, 2014.

Results of Operations

Net Loss

 ($ in thousands)
NNet Loss.................................................................................. $ (253,116)

2017

Percent
Change

(216)% $

2016
(80,127)

Percent
Change

2015

27% $ (109,544)

For the year ended December 31, 2017, we reported net loss of $253.1 million, which was 216% larger than the $80.1 million
net loss reported in the previous year.  Net loss in 2017 was driven by a $125.8 million loss on disposal or impairment of assets and a
$26.7  million  loss  on  the  sale  of  our  Russian  proppant  business.    Excluding  the  impact  of  income  taxes,  the  loss  on  disposal  or
impairment of assets, and the loss on the sale of our Russian proppant business, net loss in 2017 improved by $29.5 million, or 22%, 
primarily due to a 69% increase in the North American rig count which resulted in higher ceramic proppant sales volumes, including
an increase in technology sales volumes.  In addition, slowing and idling costs were reduced by $6.7 million, and severance costs were
$6.1  million  lower  as  compared  to  2016.    For  the  year  ended  December  31,  2016,  there  was  also  a  $1.5  million  railcar  lease 
termination fee and $1.5 million lower of cost or market inventory adjustment , neither of which reoccurred in 2017.

r

For the year ended December 31, 2016, we reported net loss of $80.1 million, a decrease of 27% compared to the $109.5 million
net loss reported in the previous year.  Operations in 2016 continued to be negatively impacted by the severe decline in the oil and 
natural  gas  industry.  Net  loss  in  2016  was  impacted  by  a  45%  reduction  in  the  North  American  rig  count  which  resulted  in  lower
ceramic proppant sales volumes, a decrease in the average selling price of ceramic proppant, and $47.3 million in production costs 
expensed  as  a  result  of  low  production  levels  and  idled  and  mothballed  facilities.  Further  impacting  net  loss  were  $6.4  million  in
severance costs, $1.5 million of lower of cost or market inventory adjustments, and a $1.5 million railcar lease termination fee.  Net 
loss was partially offset by actions taken throughout 2016 to reduce our cost base and a $1.9 million gain on natural gas derivative
instruments.

Individual components of financial results by reportable operating segment are discussed below.

Revenues

 ($ in thousands)
Consolidated revenues............................................................  $ 188,756     
Revenues by operating segment:
  Oilfield Technologies and Services......................................  $ 165,557     
23,199     
  Environmental Products and Services..................................  $

2017

Percent
Change

2016

Percent
Change

2015

83%  $ 103,051     

(63)%  $ 279,574 

85%  $
69%  $

89,351     
13,700     

(65)%  $ 257,373 
22,201
(38)%  $

Oilfield Technologies and Services segment revenues of $165.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased 85% 
compared to $89.4 million in 2016.  The increase was mainly attributable to an increase in ceramic technology product sales and and

24

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
      
  
   
      
  
   
  
increase in frac sand sales.  These increases were largely attributable to a 69% increase in the North American rig count and an 18% 
increase in oil prices.

a

Oilfield Technologies and Services segment revenues of $89.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased 65% 
compared to $257.4 million in 2015.  The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in proppant sales volumes, in conjunction
with  market-driven  declines  in  the  average  selling  prices  of  proppant,  both  which  are  presented  in  the  table  below.  The  decline  in
ceramic sales volume was largely attributable to a 45% reduction in the North American rig count and depressed oil prices and thet
resulting negative impact on industry activity levels, along with E&P operators continuing to use a higher percentage of raw frac sand 
as an alternative to proppant due to its lower cost.

Worldwide proppant sales volumes were as follows.

Product Sales Volumes
(Volumes in million pounds)

2017

For the years ended December 31,
2016

2015

Ceramic.........................................................................   
Resin Coated Sand........................................................   
Northern White Sand ....................................................   
Total..............................................................................   

389 
— 
2,190 
2,579 

  Volumes

  Price / lb  
0.27 
 $
— 
0.02 
0.06 

  Volumes

356 
— 
311 
667 

  Price / lb  
0.22 
 $
— 
0.02 
0.13 

  Volumes

818 
19 
819 
1,656 

 $

  Price / lb
 $

0.27
0.19
0.03 
0.15

North  American  (defined  as  Canada  and  the  U.S.)  ceramic  proppant  sales  volume  increased  25%  in  2017  compared  to  2016.  

International (excluding Canada) ceramic proppant sales volume decreased 13% in 2017 compared to 2016, primarily due to decreases
in Russia.

North  American  (defined  as  Canada  and  the  U.S.)  ceramic  proppant  sales  volume  decreased  67%  in  2016  compared  to 
2015.  International (excluding Canada) ceramic proppant sales volume decreased 19% in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to
decreases in Europe, Latin America, and China, partially offset by an increase in Russia.

All of our Northern White Sand sales are in North America.

Environmental Products and Services segment revenues of $23.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased 69%
compared to $13.7 million in 2016.  These increases were mainly attributable to a strengthening commodity price environment and the
resulting positive impact on industry activity levels.  Environmental Products and Services segment revenues of $13.7 million for the
year  ended  December  31,  2016  decreased  38%  compared  to  $22.2  million  in  2015.    The  decrease  was  mainly  attributable  to  the 
depressed commodity price environment and the resulting negative impact on industry activity levels.  

d

ff

Gross (Loss) Profit

2017

 ($ in thousands)
Consolidated gross loss .........................................................  $ (53,325)
Consolidated as a % of revenues ...........................................   
Gross (loss) profit by operating segment:
  Oilfield Technologies and Services.....................................  $ (56,397)
  Oilfield Technologies and Services % ................................   
  Environmental Products and Services .................................  $
  Environmental Products and Services %.............................   

3,072 

(34)%   

13%   

(28)%   

Percent
Change

2016

Percent
Change

2015

37%  $ (85,014)

(51)%  $ (56,125)

(82)%   

(20)%

34%  $ (84,866)

(44)%  $ (58,801)

(95)%   

(23)%

2176%  $

(148)

(106)%  $

2,676 

(1)%   

12%

Our  cost  of  sales  related  to  our  Oilfield  Technologies  and  Services  segment  consists  of  manufacturing  costs,  packaging  and 
transportation  expenses  associated  with  the  delivery  of  our  products  to  our  customers  and  handling  costs  related  to  maintaining
finished  goods  inventory  and  operating  our  remote  stocking  facilities.    Variable  manufacturing  costs  include  raw  materials,  while 
labor, utilities and repair and maintenance supplies are semi-fixed.  Fixed manufacturing costs include depreciation, property taxes on 
production facilities, insurance and factory overhead.

Oilfield Technologies and Services segment gross loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $56.4 million, or (34)% of 
revenues,  compared  to  gross  loss  of  $84.9  million,  or  (95)%  of  revenues,  for  2016.    The  improvement  in  gross  loss  in  2017  was 
primarily attributable to the strengthening commodity price environment and the resulting positive impact on industry activity levels. 
Improved  gross  loss  was  further  impacted  by  lower  slowing  and  idling  production  costs,  lower  severance  and  other  charges,  and  a

25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
railcar lease termination fee and inventory adjustment in 2016 that did not reoccur in 2017.  We expect to incur slowing and idling 
production costs in the future until our production levels return to normal capacity.   

Oilfield Technologies and Services segment gross loss for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $84.9 million, or (95)% of 
revenues, compared to gross loss of $58.8 million, or (23)% of revenues, for 2015.  Gross loss in 2016 was primarily the result of a 
56% decline in worldwide ceramic proppant sales volumes and a decrease in the average selling price of ceramic proppant, resulting
in a 65% decrease in revenues.  Also negatively affecting gross loss during 2016 was $47.3 million in production costs that were not 
offset  by  increases  in  revenue,  as  a  result  of  low  production  levels  and  idled  and  mothballed  facilities.    Gross  loss  was  further 
impacted by $6.2 million in severance costs, a $1.5 million lower of cost or market inventory adjustment, and a $1.5 million railcar 
lease  termination  fee  to  preserve  cash  in  future  years  for  unused  railcars.  Gross  loss  was  partially  offset  by  a  $1.9  million gain  on
natural gas derivative instruments.

Environmental Products and Services segment gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $3.1 million, or 13% of 
revenues, compared to gross loss of $0.1 million, or (1)% of revenues, for 2016.  This increase in gross profit were primarily the result 
of  the  strengthening  commodity  price  environment  and  the  resulting  positive  impact  on  industry  activity  levels.    Environmental 
Products and Services segment gross loss for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $0.1 million, or (1)% of revenues, compared to 
gross profit of $2.7 million, or 12% of revenues, for 2015.  This decrease in gross profit were primarily the result of the depressed 
commodity price environment and the resulting negative impact on industry activity levels.

Consolidated cost of sales for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 included the following:

 (In thousands)
Primary cost of sales ................................................................  $
Slowing and idling production................................................. 
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments...................................... 
Railcar lease termination fee.................................................... 
Lower of cost or market inventory adjustment ........................ 
Severance and other charges.................................................... 
Total Cost of Sales ................................................................... $

2017

2016

2015

200,213    $
40,664   
917   
—   
—   
287   
242,081    $

133,431    $
47,318   
(1,886)  
1,500   
1,515   
6,187   
188,065    $

Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) and Other Operating Expenses

2017
42,533 

 ($ in thousands)
Consolidated SG&A and start-up...........................................  $
Consolidated as a % of revenues............................................   
Consolidated loss on disposal or impairment of assets ..........  $ 125,778 
Loss on sale of Russian proppant business ............................  $
26,747 
SG&A and start-up by operating segments:
  Oilfield Technologies and Services......................................  $
  Oilfield Technologies and Services % .................................   
  Environmental Products and Services..................................  $
  Environmental Products and Services % .............................   

39,403 

3,130 

24%   

13%   

23%   

Percent
Change

6%  $

2016
39,999 

Percent
Change

(37)%  $

14048%  $
 $

39%   
889 
— 

(98)%  $
 $

44,111
—

7%  $

36,908 

(36)%  $

57,738

41%   

22%

1%  $

3,091 

(41)%  $

5,258

23%   

24%

Oilfield Technologies and Services segment SG&A was $39.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $36.9 
million for 2016.  The increase in SG&A expenses primarily resulted from an increase in sales and marketing expenses to support the
growth of this segment.  Consolidated loss on disposal or impairment of assets in 2017 consisted of a $125.8 million impairment of 
our Millen, Georgia proppant manufacturing facility.  Consolidated loss on sale of Russian proppant business of $26.7 million was 
related to the sale of our Russian proppant business.  As a percentage of revenues, Oilfield Technologies and Services segment SG&A
expenses for 2017 decreased to 24% compared to 41% in 2016, primarily due to the increase in revenues.

t

t

Oilfield Technologies and Services segment SG&A and start-up expenses was $36.9 million for the year ended December 31,
2016 compared to $57.7 million for 2015.  The decrease in SG&A expenses primarily resulted from actions we took during 2015 to 
reduce our cost base and preserve cash in light of the severe decline in the oil and natural gas industry.  These savings were partially 
offset  by  $0.2  million  in  SG&A  related  severance  costs  in  2016.    Consolidated  loss  on  disposal  or  impairment  of  assets  in  2016 
consisted of $1.1 million impairment of the long-term portion of bauxite raw materials partially offset by $0.2 million gain on disposal 

26

274,554 
33,724 
15,040 
— 
4,546 
7,835 
335,699

2015
62,996 

23%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
of assets.  As a percentage of revenues, Oilfield Technologies and Services segment SG&A and start-up expenses for 2016 increased 
to 41% compared to 22% in 2015, primarily due to the decrease in revenues.

Environmental Products and Services segment SG&A of $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 was flat compared 
to 2016.  Environmental Products and Services segment SG&A of $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 decreased 41% 
compared to $5.3 million in 2015.  This decrease was primarily the result of actions we took, beginning in 2015, to reduce our cost 
base and preserve cash in light of the severe decline in the oil and natural gas industry.

Income Tax Benefit

($ in thousands)
Income Tax Benefit................................................................  $
Effective Income Tax Rate ....................................................   

2017

(2,027)

0.8%   

Percent
Change

(96)%  $

Percent
Change

(6)%  $

2016
(51,081)

38.9%   

2015
(54,205)

33.1%

Income taxes are not allocated between our operating segments.  Consolidated income tax benefit was $2.0 million, or 0.8% of 
pretax loss, for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $51.1 million, or 38.9% of pretax loss for 2016 and $54.2 million, or 
33.1%  of  pretax  loss  for  2015.    Net  operating  losses  generated  in  2015  were  carried  back  to  2013  and  2014.    Net  operating  losses
generated in 2016 and 2017 are carried forward, a portion of which are reserved by a valuation allowance in 2017.  As a result of the
net operating loss in 2015, we lost the benefit of our Section 199 manufacturing deduction, which negatively impacted the effective 
tax  rate  for  2015.    In  2016,  the  effective  tax  rate  increased  as  it  normalized  and  due  to  a  change  in  election  for  certain  foreign  tax
credits.  In 2017, the effective tax rate was significantly lower due to the application of the valuation allowance.

Outlook

A  key  goal  in  2018  is  continued  progress  on  our  transformation  strategy  to  diversify  revenue  streams.    It  is  our  belief  that 
execution  on  this  transformation  strategy  will  result  in  profitable  growth  and  positive  cash  from  operating  activities.    Although  we
expect that weather will impact the first half of 2018, we believe our revenue and operating cash will show improvement in the first 
half of 2018 compared to the first half of 2017.  

We  believe  revenues  will  grow  in  2018.    We  expect  revenues  from  both  of  our  operating  segments  should  follow  industry 

activity.  Within both segments, we believe revenue from industrial markets should see strong double-digit growth year over year.

If the recent strengthening in oil price continues in 2018, we believe base ceramic demand could improve in 2018.  In addition,
based  on  early  indications  from  clients,  we  believe  ceramic  technology  sales  will  increase  in  our  KRYPTOSPHERE  and  GUARD
family  of  products.  We  anticipate  KRYPTOSPHERE  HD  sales  will  be  down  slightly  in  2018  due  to  a  decrease  in  Gulf  of  Mexico
activity,  while  KRYPTOSPHERE  LD  sales  should  exhibit  steady  growth  globally.    SCALEGUARD,  a  scale-inhibiting  production 
assurance product, continues to be successful due to its ability to prevent scale buildup and lower lease operating expense for E&P 
operators.  The pipeline of opportunities is promising and we have been awarded additional work in 2018 for a customer’s Permian
basin wells, which should result in increased revenues compared to 2017.

r

Regarding  our  sand  business,  first  sales  for  our  North  East  project  began  in  January.    We  will  continue  to  utilize  various 

business models, including an ‘asset-lite’ model like this, to serve client demand.

We achieved steady growth in our industrial ceramics business during 2017, and we believe we will, while we continue to seek 
opportunities to monetize other businesses, continue to grow this business significantly in 2018 and well into the foreseeable future.  It 
is important that we continue to expand in the markets we serve today as well as develop new markets and continue to develop new
products specifically designed for industrial markets.  We expect to add additional resources in 2018 to meet our objectives to grow
this business by strong double digits again in 2018.

We expect to develop additional contract manufacturing opportunities in mineral processing during 2018 for our underutilized 

manufacturing plants.  Recently, we signed a multi-year agreement to toll process an agricultural product.

Our Environmental Products and Services segment bounced back from the weather impacts of the third quarter of 2017.  Given
that the results in this segment tend to correlate to results in the Oil and Gas sector, we believe it should also follow industry activity in 
2018.  In addition, we are targeting revenue streams in the Industrial sector and expect strong year-over-year growth in those sales.

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
We  believe  growth  of  industrial  ceramic  and  technology  sales,  broader  sources  of  revenue,  an  improving  commodity  price
environment and a corresponding increase in industry activity will improve our results of operations in 2018.  This view, including 
increased demand for our products, is based on changing industry conditions and interactions with our customers.  Despite our outlook 
for an improved operating environment in 2018, we have found generating accurate financial forecasts in the industry downturn has 
been difficult.

o

In addition, we continue to explore certain asset monetization opportunities to further strengthen the balance sheet.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At  December  31,  2017,  we  had  cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  restricted  cash  of  $78.4  million  compared  to  cash  and  cash 
equivalents and restricted cash of $91.7 million at December 31, 2016.  During the year ended December 31, 2017, we received net 
proceeds of $21.2 million relating to the sale of our Russian proppant business, and net cash provided by financing activities was $6.3
million.  Uses of cash included $38.8 million in operating activities and $2.2 million for capital expenditures.  There were no major 
capital  spending  projects  in  2017.    Capital  spending  in  2017  primarily  related  to  various  plant  maintenance  as  well  as  equipment 
purchases for our consulting and environmental businesses.

We estimate our total capital expenditures in 2018 will be less than $5.0 million.  Due to market conditions, the completion of
the second line at the manufacturing facility in Millen, Georgia and the second phase of a plant retrofit with new KRYPTOSPHERE®
technology have been suspended until such time that market conditions warrant completion.  Currently, we do not intend to complete 
the second line at the Millen, Georgia facility.

The Company anticipates that cash on hand will be sufficient to meet planned operating expenses and other cash needs for the 
next 12 months from the date of this Form 10-K.  The Company’s view regarding sufficiency of cash and liquidity is primarily based 
on  our  financial  forecast  for  2018,  which  is  impacted  by  various  assumptions  regarding  demand  and  sales  prices  for  our  products. 
Generally, we expect demand for our products and the sales prices to increase in 2018 compared to 2017.  Although we have observed 
certain factors in the fourth quarter 2017 that support improving industry conditions, our financial forecasts are based on estimates of 
customer demand, which is highly volatile in the current operating environment, and we have no committed sales backlog with our
customers.  As a result, there is inherent uncertainty in our forecasts.

rr

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2017.

Contractual Obligations 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2017:

($ in thousands)

Long-term debt obligations.....................................................  $
Capital lease obligations .........................................................   
Operating lease obligations:

  Less than  
1 year

Payments due in period
1 - 3
years

3 - 5
years

  More than

5 years

 $

— 
— 

 $

27,040 
— 

 $

65,000 
— 

— 
—

Total

92,040 
— 

- Primarily railroad equipment (net of subleases) .............   

94,627 

11,404 

28,511 

30,052 

24,660 

Purchase obligations:

- Natural gas contracts.......................................................   
- Raw materials contracts ..................................................   
Other long-term obligations....................................................   
Total contractual obligations ..................................................  $

9,334 
11,200 
— 
207,201 

 $

9,334 
5,600 
— 
26,338 

 $

— 
5,600 
— 
61,151 

 $

— 
— 
— 
95,052 

 $

— 
— 
— 
24,660

See Note 3, Note 5, and Note 15 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Operating  lease  obligations  relate  primarily  to  railroad  equipment  leases  and  include  leases  of  other  property,  plant  and 

equipment.

28

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
We use natural gas to power our manufacturing plants.  From time to time, we enter into contracts to purchase a portion of the 
anticipated  natural  gas  requirements  at  specified  prices.    As  of  December  31,  2017,  the  last  such  contract  was  due  to  expire  in
December 2018.

We  have  entered  into  contracts  to  supply  raw  materials,  primarily  kaolin,  bauxite,  slurry  and  various  forms  of  sand,  to  our 
manufacturing  plants.    Four  outstanding  contracts  do  not  require  us  to  purchase  minimum  annual  quantities,  but  do  require  the 
purchase  of  minimum  annual  percentages,  ranging  from  50%  to  100%  of  the  respective  plants’  requirements  for  the  specified  raw
Each  of  the  contracts  is 
materials.  Three outstanding contract requires us to purchase a minimum annual quantity of frac sand. 
described in Note 15 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

As of December 31, 2017, the Company does not have a material net investment that is subject to foreign currency fluctuations.

As of December 31, 2017, we had a $65.0 million fully drawn term loan and a $27.0 million notes payable.  Under the terms of 
the term loan agreement, the interest rate is set at 9.00% and terms of the notes payable, the interest rate is set at 7.00%.  We do not 
believe that we have any material exposure to market risk associated with interest rates.

We are subject to the risk of market price fluctuations of certain commodities, such as natural gas, and utilize forward purchase 
contracts to manage or reduce market risks relating to these costs.  We do not enter into these transactions for speculative or trading 
purposes.  As of December 31, 2017, we have contracted for a total of 1,800,000 MMBtu of natural gas at an average price of $4.40 
per MMBtu through December 31, 2018.

r

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The information required by this Item is contained in pages F-3 through F-25 of this Report.

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not applicable.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

(a)

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure  controls  and  procedures  are  designed  to  ensure  that  information  required  to  be  disclosed  in  the  reports  filed  or 
submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within 
the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and 
procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and 
communicated  to  management,  including  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer,  as  appropriate  to  allow  timely 
decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of December 31, 2017, management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief 
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls 
and procedures.  There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures.  Accordingly,
even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurances of achieving their control objectives.  Based 
upon and as of the date of that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s 
disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it 
files  or  submits  under  the  Exchange  Act  is  recorded,  processed,  summarized  and  reported,  within  the  time  periods  specified  in  thet
SEC’s rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits 
under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

mm

(b) Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

For Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, see page F-1 of this Report.

29

(c)

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

For the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, 

see page F-2 of this Report.

(d) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There  were  no  changes  in  our  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  during  the  quarter  ended  December  31,  2017  that 

materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, those controls.

Item 9B. Other Information

Not applicable.

30

PART III

Certain  information  required  by  Part  III  is  omitted  from  this  Report.    We  will  file  a  definitive  proxy  statement  pursuant  to
Regulation 14A  (the  “Proxy  Statement”)  not  later  than  120  days  after  the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  covered  by  this  Report  and  certain
information included therein is incorporated herein by reference.  Only those sections of the Proxy Statement that specifically address 
the items set forth herein are incorporated by reference.  Such incorporation does not include the Compensation Committee Report rr
included in the Proxy Statement.

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Information concerning executive officers under Item 401 of Regulation S-K is set forth in Part I of this Form 10-K.  The other
information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the portions of the Company’s Proxy Statement entitled “Security 
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management,” “Election of Directors,” “Board of Directors, Committees of the Board of 
Directors  and  Meeting  Attendance,”  “Code  of  Business  Conduct  and  Ethics,”  “Section  16(a)  Beneficial  Ownership  Reporting 
Compliance” and “Report of the Audit Committee.”

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the portions of the Company’s Proxy Statement entitled 

“Compensation of Executive Officers,” "Director Compensation" and "Potential Termination and Change in Control Payments."

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The  information  required  by  this  Item  is  incorporated  by  reference  from  our  Proxy  Statement  under  the  captions  “Securities 

Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the portion of our Proxy Statement entitled “Election of 

Directors.”

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the portion of our Proxy Statement entitled “Ratification of 

n

Appointment of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”

31

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

(a)

Exhibits, Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules:

1.

Consolidated Financial Statements

PART IV

The Consolidated Financial Statements of CARBO Ceramics Inc. listed below are contained in pages F-3 through F-25 of this

Report:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for each of the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

2.

Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules

All schedules have been omitted since they are either not required or not applicable.

3.

Exhibits

The exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Report.

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

None

32

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  as  defined  in 
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for 
external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements.    Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of 
changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management,  including  our  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  our  Chief  Financial  Officer,  assessed  the  effectiveness  of  the 
Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017.  In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth
by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (COSO) in  Internal  Control–Integrated  Framework 
(2013).  Based on its assessment and those criteria, management has concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017.

The  Company’s  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm,  Ernst  &  Young  LLP,  has  issued  an  attestation  report  on  the 

Company's internal control over financial reporting.  That report is included herein.

F-1

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of CARBO Ceramics Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited CARBO Ceramic Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria 
established  in  Internal  Control—Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway 
Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, CARBO Ceramics Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material 
respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

We  also  have  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States)
(PCAOB),  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  as  of  December  31,  2017  and  2016,  the  related  consolidated  statements  of  operations, 
comprehensive loss, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the 
related notes of the Company and our report dated March 7, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The  Company’s  management  is  responsible  for  maintaining  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  and  for  its 
assessment  of  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  included  in  the  accompanying  Management’s  Report  on 
Internal  Control  Over  Financial  Reporting.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  Company’s  internal  control  over 
financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent 
with  respect  to  the  Company  in  accordance  with  the  U.S.  federal  securities  laws  and  the  applicable  rules  and  regulations  of  the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material 
respects.

Our  audit  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  assessing  the  risk  that  a  material 
weakness  exists,  testing  and  evaluating  the  design  and  operating  effectiveness  of  internal  control  based  on  the  assessed  risk, and 
performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable 
basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A  company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is  a  process  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the 
reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of  financial  statements  for  external  purposes  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1)
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the
assets of the company (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being
made  only  in  accordance  with  authorizations  of  management  and  directors  of  the  company;  and  (3)  provide  reasonable  assurance 
regarding  prevention  or  timely  detection  of  unauthorized  acquisition,  use,  or  disposition  of  the  company’s  assets  that  could  have  a
material effect on the financial statements.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements.  Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of 
changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/S/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana
March 7, 2018

F-2

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of CARBO Ceramics Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CARBO Ceramics Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 
2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of 
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial 
statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the 
Company at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period 
ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We  also  have  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States)
(PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal
Control—Integrated  Framework  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (2013 
framework) and our report dated March 7, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on 
the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required 
to  be  independent  with  respect  to  the  Company  in  accordance  with  the  U.S.  federal  securities  laws  and  the  applicable  rules  and 
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or 
fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due 
to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence 
regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used 
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe 
that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/S/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1987.

New Orleans, Louisiana
March 7, 2018

F-3

CARBO CERAMICS INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
($ in thousands, except per share data)

December 31,

2017

2016

Current assets:

ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents ................................................................................................................
Restricted cash ..................................................................................................................................
Trade accounts and other receivables, net ........................................................................................
Inventories:

  $

Finished goods............................................................................................................................
Raw materials and supplies ........................................................................................................
Total inventories ...................................................................................................................
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ........................................................................................
Prepaid income taxes ........................................................................................................................
Total current assets .....................................................................................................................
Restricted cash ........................................................................................................................................
Income tax receivable .............................................................................................................................
Property, plant and equipment:

Land and land improvements............................................................................................................
Land-use and mineral rights .............................................................................................................
Buildings...........................................................................................................................................
Machinery and equipment ................................................................................................................
Construction in progress ...................................................................................................................
Total............................................................................................................................................
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization ..............................................................................    
Net property, plant and equipment ..............................................................................................    

Goodwill ..................................................................................................................................................  
Intangible and other assets, net ................................................................................................................    
Total assets ..................................................................................................................................   $

Current liabilities:

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Long-term debt, current portion ........................................................................................................   $
Accounts payable...............................................................................................................................    
Accrued payroll and benefits .............................................................................................................    
Accrued freight ..................................................................................................................................  
Accrued utilities.................................................................................................................................  
Derivative instruments.......................................................................................................................  
Other accrued expenses .....................................................................................................................    
Total current liabilities.................................................................................................................    

Deferred income taxes .............................................................................................................................  
Long-term debt, net..................................................................................................................................    
Notes payable, related parties ..................................................................................................................    
Other long-term liabilities........................................................................................................................  
Shareholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000 shares authorized, none outstanding ...................    
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 80,000,000 shares authorized; 27,133,614
   and 26,881,066 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016,
   respectively .....................................................................................................................................  
Additional paid-in capital ..................................................................................................................    
Retained earnings...............................................................................................................................    
Accumulated other comprehensive loss ............................................................................................  

Total shareholders’ equity ...........................................................................................................    
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity.....................................................................................   $

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-4

68,169    $
6,935   
37,705   

59,519   
19,480   
78,999   
3,989   
—   
195,797   
3,281   
2,389   

41,590   
19,696   
72,427   
455,863   
36,138   
625,714   
301,528   
324,186   
3,500   
11,445   
540,598    $

—    $

19,417   
6,056   
2,292   
1,552   
2,537   
10,577   
42,431   
230   
60,698   
27,040   
4,434   

—   

271   
125,715   
279,779   
—   
405,765   
540,598    $

91,680 
— 
23,622

74,133
23,041
97,174
3,548 
1,199 
217,223
—
—

45,530
19,696
87,318
647,753
92,704
893,001
398,898
494,103
3,500
8,631 
723,457 

13,000 
7,782 
3,434 
593 
1,169 
1,599 
7,227 
34,804
1,236 
42,404
25,000
3,443 

—

269 
117,192
533,435
(34,326)
616,570
723,457

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
 
  
 
 
   
 
 
    
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
    
 
  
   
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CARBO CERAMICS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
($ in thousands, except per share data)

Revenues ............................................................................................................   $
Cost of sales .......................................................................................................    
Gross loss ...........................................................................................................    
Selling, general and administrative expenses.....................................................    
Start-up costs ......................................................................................................    
Loss on disposal or impairment of assets, net ....................................................    
Loss on sale of Russian proppant business ........................................................    
Operating loss.....................................................................................................    
Other expense:

Interest expense, net......................................................................................    
Foreign currency exchange gain, net ............................................................    
Other income (expense), net .........................................................................    

Loss before income taxes ...................................................................................    
Income tax benefit ..............................................................................................    
Net loss...............................................................................................................   $
Loss per share:

2017

Years ended December 31,
2016

2015

188,756  $
242,081 
(53,325)    
42,533 
— 
125,778 
26,747 
(248,383)    

(7,700)    
35 
905 
(6,760)    
(255,143)    
(2,027)    
(253,116)   $

  $

103,051 
188,065 
(85,014)    
39,984 
15 
889 
— 

(125,902)    

(5,435)    
119 
10 
(5,306)    
(131,208)    
(51,081)    
(80,127)   $

279,574
335,699 
(56,125)
62,199
797
44,111
—
(163,232)

(470)
94 
(141)
(517)
(163,749)
(54,205)
(109,544)

Basic..............................................................................................................   $
Diluted ..........................................................................................................   $

(9.49)   $
(9.49)   $

(3.29)   $
(3.29)   $

(4.76)
(4.76)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
  
 
  
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
  
 
  
 
  
CARBO CERAMICS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
($ in thousands)

Net loss...............................................................................................................   $
Other comprehensive income (loss):

Foreign currency translation adjustment.......................................................    
Reclassification of Russia cumulative translation loss to Net Loss upon 
sale ................................................................................................................    
Reclassification of China cumulative translation gain to Net Loss upon
   substantial liquidation ................................................................................  
Other comprehensive income (loss) ...................................................................    
Comprehensive loss............................................................................................   $

2017
(253,116)   $

Years ended December 31,
2016

(80,127)   $

2015
(109,544)

979 

3,376 

(5,880)

33,347 

— 

— 

— 
34,326 
(218,790)   $

— 
3,376 
(76,751)   $

(8,853)
(14,733)
(124,277)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
  
 
  
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
CARBO CERAMICS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
($ in thousands, except per share data)

Balances at January 1, 2015....................................................   
Net loss..............................................................................   
Foreign currency translation adjustment ...........................   
Reclassification of China cumulative translation gain to
   Net Loss upon substantial liquidation ............................   
Comprehensive loss ..........................................................   
Tax expense from stock based compensation ...................   
Stock granted under restricted stock plan, net...................   
Stock based compensation ................................................   
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes .................   
Cash dividends ($0.63 per share) ......................................   
Balances at December 31, 2015..............................................  $
Net loss..............................................................................   
Foreign currency translation adjustment ...........................   
Comprehensive loss ..........................................................   
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy............   
Stock sold under ATM program .......................................   
Stock granted under restricted stock plan, net...................   
Stock based compensation ................................................   
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes .................   
Balances at December 31, 2016..............................................  $
Net loss..............................................................................   
Foreign currency translation adjustment ...........................   
Reclassification of Russia cumulative translation loss to
   Net Loss upon sale .........................................................   
Comprehensive income .....................................................   
Issuance of warrant............................................................   
Stock granted under restricted stock plan, net...................   
Stock based compensation ................................................   
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes .................   
Balances at December 31, 2017..............................................  $

Common
Stock

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

Retained
Earnings

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)  

231    
—    
—    

59,297    
—    
—    

739,498    
(109,544)   
—    

(22,969)   
—    
(5,880)   

—    

—    

—    

(8,853)   

—    
2    
—    
—    
—    
233   $
—    
—    

—    
34    
2    
—    
—    
269   $
—    
—    

(1,768)   
698    
6,840    
—    
—    
65,067   $
—    
—    

—    
—    
—    
(580)   
(14,666)   
614,708   $
(80,127)   
—    

697    
45,530    
478    
5,420    
—    
117,192   $
—    
—    

(697)   
—    
—    
—    
(449)   
533,435   $
(253,116)   
—    

—    
—    
—    
—    
—    
(37,702)  $
—    
3,376    

—    
—    
—    
—    
—    
(34,326)  $
—    
979    

—    

—    

—    

33,347    

—    
2    
—    
—    
271   $

3,870    
398    
4,255    
—    
125,715   $

—    
—    
—    
(540)   
279,779   $

—    
—    
—    
—    
—   $

Total
776,057 
(109,544)
(5,880)

(8,853)
(124,277)
(1,768)
700 
6,840
(580)
(14,666)
642,306 
(80,127)
3,376 
(76,751)
— 
45,564 
480 
5,420 
(449)
616,570 
(253,116)
979 

33,347 
(218,790)
3,870 
400 
4,255
(540)
405,765

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
    
     
     
     
    
     
     
     
     
     
CARBO CERAMICS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
($ in thousands)

Operating activities
Net loss...............................................................................................................   $
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by
   operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization......................................................................    
Provision for doubtful accounts....................................................................    
Deferred income taxes ..................................................................................    
Lower of cost or market inventory adjustment.............................................    
Loss on disposal or impairment of assets .....................................................    
Loss on sale of Russian proppant business...................................................    
Foreign currency transaction gain, net..........................................................    
Stock compensation expense ........................................................................    
PIK accrual on notes payable, related parties ...............................................    
Change in fair value of derivative instruments.............................................    
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Trade accounts and other receivables......................................................    
Inventories ...............................................................................................    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets...............................................    
Accounts payable ....................................................................................    
Accrued expenses ....................................................................................    
Other, net .................................................................................................    
Income tax receivable, net.......................................................................    
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities ...........................................    
Investing activities
Capital expenditures ...........................................................................................    
Net proceeds from sale of Russian proppant business .......................................    
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities............................................    
Financing activities
Proceeds from long-term debt ............................................................................    
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under ATM program.......................    
Repayments on long-term debt ..........................................................................    
Repayments on insurance financing agreement .................................................    
Payment of debt issuance costs ..........................................................................    
Proceeds from notes payable, related parties .....................................................    
Dividends paid....................................................................................................    
Purchase of common stock.................................................................................    
Net cash provided by financing activities ..........................................................    
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash............................................................    
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash..........    
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year ..................    
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year ............................   $
Supplemental cash flow information
Interest paid ........................................................................................................   $
Income taxes paid...............................................................................................   $

2017

Years ended December 31,
2016

2015

(253,116)   $

(80,127)   $

(109,544)

45,337 
589 
(2,134)    
— 
125,778 
25,101 

(35)    

4,892 
2,040 
(930)    

(20,533)    
10,524 
724 
11,666 
8,687 
2,949 
(357)    
(38,818)    

(2,152)    
21,154 
19,002 

12,349 
— 
(3,250)    
(1,296)    
(989)    
— 
— 
(539)    
6,275 
246 
(13,295)    
91,680 
78,385 

  $

48,451 
918 
(50,535)    
1,515 
889 
— 
(119)    
5,939 
— 
(7,687)    

24,569 
6,433 
1,726 
631 
(8,405)    
1,730 
36,137 
(17,935)    

(6,848)    
— 
(6,848)    

— 
45,564 
(32,099)    
(917)    
(339)    

25,000 
— 
(450)    

36,759 
838 
12,814 
78,866 
91,680 

  $

54,457 
1,857 
(56,800)
4,546 
44,111
—
(94)
7,547
— 
11,155

81,371 
27,022 
1,437 
(7,861)
(9,104)
697
19,780 
70,577

(62,747)
— 
(62,747)

70,000 
— 
(7,000)
— 
— 
— 
(14,666)
(580)
47,754 
(1,016)
54,568 
24,298
78,866 

2,319 
457 

  $
  $

5,269 
— 

  $
  $

2,613
—

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

F-8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
  
 
 
   
  
 
  
 
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
  
   
   
   
   
 
  
 
  
 
  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
  
   
  
   
  
 
  
   
 
  
   
  
 
  
   
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
  
   
  
   
  
CARBO CERAMICS INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
($ in thousands, except per share data)

1.

Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  (the  “Company”)  was  formed  in  1987  and  is  a  manufacturer  of  ceramic  proppants  and  also  produces
resin-coated  ceramic  proppants.    The  Company  has  production  plants  in:  New  Iberia,  Louisiana;  Eufaula,  Alabama;  McIntyre, 
Georgia;  Toomsboro,  Georgia;  and  Millen,  Georgia;  and  a  sand  processing  facility  in  Marshfield,  Wisconsin.    The  Company 
predominantly  sells  its  proppant  products  through  pumping  service  companies  that  perform  hydraulic  fracturing  for  oil  and  gas
companies.    Finished  goods  inventories  are  stored  at  the  plant  sites  and  various  domestic  and  international  remote  distribution
facilities.  The Company also provides one of the industry’s most widely used hydraulic fracture simulation software FracPro®, as well
as  hydraulic  fracture  design  and  consulting  services.    In  addition,  the  Company  provides  a  broad  range  of  technologies  for  spill 
prevention, containment and countermeasures.

Beginning in late 2014, a severe decline in oil and natural gas prices led to a significant decline in oil and natural gas industry 
drilling activities and capital spending.  Beginning in 2015, the Company implemented a number of initiatives to preserve cash and 
lower  costs,  including:  reducing  workforce  across  the  organization,  lowering  production  output  levels  in  order  to  align  with  lower 
demand,  limiting  capital  expenditures  and  reducing  dividends.    The  Company  incurred  severance  costs  of  $287  and  $6,426  during 
2017 and 2016, respectively, as a result of these actions.

Temporarily idled facilities are expected to remain closed for a short period of time, generally less than one year.  Mothballed 
facilities are expected to remain closed for one year or longer.  The accounting treatment is the same for both temporarily idled and 
mothballed  facilities,  except  that  mothballed  assets  are  evaluated  for  possible  impairment  while  temporarily  idled  assets  are  not 
necessarily assessed for impairment.  The Company continues to depreciate both temporarily idled and mothballed assets.

As  of  December  31,  2017,  we  are  producing  ceramic  proppants  predominantly  from  our  Eufaula,  Alabama  manufacturing
facility, and processing sand at our Marshfield, Wisconsin facility.  We are currently producing ceramic pellets in a limited capacity at 
our  McIntyre,  Georgia  facility.    Our  Millen,  Georgia  facility  is  currently  mothballed  and  not  expected  to  resume  ceramic  proppant 
production  in  the  near  future.    We  are  currently  using  our  Toomsboro,  Georgia  facility  in  a  limited  capacity  to  primarily  process
minerals for third parties.  The Company continues to assess liquidity needs and manage cash flows and, if industry conditions do not 
improve and/or demand for its products does not otherwise increase, the Company would expect to temporarily idle all or a portion of 
our currently active facilities in the short term.  As a result of the steps the Company has taken to enhance its liquidity, the Company 
currently believes that cash on hand will enable the Company to meet its working capital, capital expenditure, debt service and other 
funding requirements for at least one year from the date this Form 10-K is issued.  The Company’s view regarding sufficiency of cash
and liquidity is primarily based on our financial forecast for 2018, which is impacted by various assumptions regarding demand and 
sales  prices  for  our  products.    Generally,  we  expect  demand  for  our  products  and  the  sales  prices  to  increase  in  2018  compared to
2017,  and  this  expectation  is  included  within  our  2018  financial  forecast.    Although  we  have  observed  certain  factors  in  2017  that 
support  improving  industry  conditions,  our  financial  forecasts  in  recent  periods  have  proven  less  reliable  given  customer  demand, 
which is highly volatile in the current operating environment and no committed sales backlog exists with our customers.  As a result, 
there is no guarantee that our financial forecast, which projects sufficient cash will be available to meet planned operating expenses
and other cash needs, will be accurate.   

d

t

Additionally, the Company suspended completion of two large construction projects.  We suspended completion of the second 
production line at the Millen, Georgia facility indefinitely, and we are exploring way to monetize these assets. The second phase of the 
retrofit of our Eufaula, Alabama plant with the new KRYPTOSPHERE® technology has been suspended until such time that market 
conditions  improve  enough  to  warrant  completion.    During  the  three  months  ended  September  30,  2017,  we  recorded  a  $125,759 
impairment on the Millen, Georgia facility, which included an impairment of construction in progress of $50,170.  As of December 
31, 2017, the value of the assets relating to these two projects, after consideration of the impairment, totaled approximately 85% of the 
Company’s total construction in progress and both projects are over 90% complete.  

Principles of Consolidation

The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  accounts  of  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  and  its  operating  subsidiaries.    All

significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

F-9

Concentration of Credit Risk, Accounts Receivable and Other Receivables

The  Company  performs  periodic  credit  evaluations  of  its  customers’  financial  condition  and  generally  does  not  require 
collateral.    Receivables  are  generally  due  within  30  days.    The  majority  of  the  Company’s  receivables  are  from  customers  in  the
petroleum  pressure  pumping  industry.    The  Company  establishes  an  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  based  on  its  assessment  of 
collectability  risk  and  periodically  evaluates  the  balance  in  the  allowance  based  on  a  review  of  trade  accounts  receivable.    Trade
accounts receivable are periodically reviewed for collectability based on customers’ past credit history and current financial condition,
and the allowance is adjusted if necessary.  Credit losses historically have been insignificant.  The allowance for doubtful accounts at 
December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $1,602 and $2,804, respectively.  Other receivables were $546 and $650 as of December 31, 2017 
and 2016, respectively, of which related mainly to miscellaneous receivables in the United States.

Cash Equivalents

The  Company  considers  all  highly  liquid  investments  with  a  maturity  of  three  months  or  less  when  purchased  to  be  cash

equivalents.  The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Restricted Cash

As a result of the repayment of the Wells Fargo term loan, combined with the continued use of letters of credit and corporate 
cards with Wells Fargo, a portion of the Company’s cash balance is now restricted to its use in order to provide collateral to Wells 
Fargo.  As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, restricted cash was $10,216 and 0, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (weighted average) or market.  Finished goods inventories include costs of materials, 
plant  labor  and  overhead  incurred  in  the  production  of  the  Company’s  products  and  costs  to  transfer  finished  goods  to  distribution 
centers.

The Company evaluated the carrying values of its inventories and concluded that market prices had fallen below carrying costs 
for certain inventory.  Consequently, the Company recognized $1,515 and $4,546 lower of cost or market adjustments in cost of sales
in 2016 and 2015, respectively, to adjust finished goods and raw materials carrying values to the lower market prices.  No adjustments
were required in 2017.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property,  plant  and  equipment  are  stated  at  cost.    Repair  and  maintenance  costs  are  expensed  as  incurred.    Depreciation  is

computed on the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes using the following estimated useful lives:

Buildings and improvements.......................................................
Machinery and equipment ...........................................................
Land-use rights ............................................................................

15 to 30 years
3 to 30 years
30 years

The  Company  holds  approximately  4,618  acres  of  land  and  leasehold  interests  containing  kaolin  reserves  near  its  plants  in
Georgia and Alabama.  The Company also holds approximately 113 acres of land and leasehold interests containing sand reserves near 
its  sand  processing  facility  in  Marshfield,  Wisconsin.    The  capitalized  costs  of  land  and  mineral  rights  as  well  as  costs  incurred  to
develop such property are amortized using the units-of-production method based on estimated total tons of these reserves.

rr

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets

Long-lived  assets  to  be  held  and  used  and  intangible  assets  that  are  subject  to  amortization  are  reviewed  for  impairment 
whenever events or circumstances indicate their carrying amounts might not be recoverable.  Recoverability is assessed by comparing 
the undiscounted expected future cash flows from the assets with their carrying amount.  If the carrying amount exceeds the sum of m
the undiscounted future cash flows an impairment loss is recorded.  The impairment loss is measured by comparing the fair value of 
the assets with their carrying amounts.  Intangible assets that are not subject to amortization are tested for impairment at least annually 
by comparing their fair value with the carrying amount and recording an impairment loss for any excess of carrying amount over fair 
value.  Fair values are generally determined based on discounted expected future cash flows or appraised values, as appropriate.  For 
additional  information  on  the  Company’s  long-lived  assets  and  intangible  assets  impairment  assessment,  please  refer  to  Note  4  -
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.

F-10

Manufacturing Production Levels Below Normal Capacity

As a result of the Company substantially reducing manufacturing production levels, including by idling and mothballing certain 
facilities, the component of the Company’s accounting policy for inventory relating to operating at production levels below normal 
capacity  was  triggered  and  resulted  in  certain  production  costs  being  expensed  instead  of  being  capitalized  into  inventory.    The
Company  expenses  fixed  production  overhead  amounts  in  excess  of  amounts  that  would  have  been  allocated  to  each  unit  of 
production  at  normal  production  levels.    For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2017,  2016  and  2015  the  Company  expensed  $40,664, 
$47,318 and $33,724, respectively, in production costs.

r

Capitalized Software

The  Company  capitalizes  certain  software  costs,  after  technological  feasibility  has  been  established,  which  are  amortized 

utilizing the straight-line method over the economic lives of the related products, generally not to exceed five years.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of companies acquired over the fair value of their net assets at the date of acquisition.  

Goodwill  relating  to  each  of  the  Company’s  reporting  units  is  tested  for  impairment  annually,  during  the  fourth  quarter,  as  well  as
when  an  event,  or  change  in  circumstances,  indicates  an  impairment  is  more  likely  than  not  to  have  occurred.    For  additional 
information on the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment, please refer to Note 4 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from proppant sales is recognized when title passes to the customer, generally upon delivery.  Revenue from consulting 
and  geotechnical  services  is  recognized  at  the  time  service  is  performed.    Revenue  from  the  sale  of  fracture  simulation  software  is
recognized when title passes to the customer at time of shipment.  Revenue from the sale of spill prevention services is recognized at 
the time service is performed.  Revenue from the sale of containment goods is recognized at the time goods are delivered.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are classified as cost of sales.  Shipping costs consist of transportation costs to deliver products to 

customers.  Handling costs include labor and overhead to maintain finished goods inventory and operate distribution facilities.

Cost of Start-Up Activities

Start-up activities, including organization costs, are expensed as incurred.  Start-up costs for 2016 and 2015 related to the start-
up of the first phase of a retrofit of an existing plant to produce KRYPTOSPHERE® products.  There were no start-up costs for 2017.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires 
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.  
Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Research and Development Costs

Research  and  development  costs  are  charged  to  operations  when  incurred  and  are  included  in  Selling,  General  and 

Administrative expenses.  The amounts incurred in 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $4,417, $3,817 and $7,047, respectively.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In  November  2016,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2016-18,  “Statement  of  Cash  Flows  (Topic  230)  –  Restricted  Cash,”  which
requires  that  a  statement  of  cash  flows  explain  the  change  during  the  period  in  the  total  of  cash,  cash  equivalents,  and  amounts
generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents.  The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2017.  The
adoption did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In  February  2016,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2016-02,  “Leases  (Topic  842)

,”  which  amends  current  lease  guidance.    This 
guidance requires, among other things, that lessees recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at 

“

F-11

the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on
a  discounted  basis;  and  (2)  a  right-of-use  asset,  which  is  an  asset  that  represents  the  lessee’s  right  to  use,  or  control  the  use  of,  a
specified asset for the lease term.  Lessees and lessors must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or 
entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements.  The new guidance will be 
effective  for  the  interim  and  annual  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2018  with  early  adoption  permitted.    The  Company  is
currently  evaluating  the  potential  impact  of  adopting  this  new  guidance  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  related 
disclosures.

uu

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) – Deferral of the 
Effective Date,” which revises the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606),” (“ASU 
2014-09”) to interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted no earlier than interim and 
annual  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2016.    In  May  2014,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  2014-09,  which  amends  current  revenue 
guidance.  The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or 
services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods
or services.  The Company’s analysis of sales contracts under ASC 606 supports the recognition of revenue at a point in time, typically
when title passes to the customer upon delivery, for the majority of contracts, which is consistent with the current revenue recognition
model.  The Company utilized the modified retrospective approach, which requires a cumulative adjustment to retained earnings and 
no adjustments to prior periods.  The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2018.  There was no material impact on the
Company’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures. 

tt

tt

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330),” (“ASU 2015-11”) which amends and simplifies the 
measurement  of  inventory.    The  main  provisions  of  the  standard  require  that  inventory  be  measured  at  the  lower  of  cost  and  net 
realizable  value.    Prior  to  the  issuance  of  the  standard,  inventory  was  measured  at  the  lower  of  cost  or  market  (where  market  was 
defined as replacement cost, with a ceiling of net realizable value and floor of net realizable value less a normal profit margin).  The 
Company adopted ASU 2015-11 as of January 1, 2017.  The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated 
financial statements and related disclosures.

2.

Intangible and Other Assets

Following is a summary of intangible assets as of December 31:

2017

2016

Weighted
Average
Life

Gross
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization  

Gross
Amount

Accumulated
Amortization  

Intangibles:

Patents and licenses, software and hardware designs .......  
Developed technology.......................................................  
Customer relationships and non-compete .........................  

6 years
10 years
9 years

 $

  $

5,320 
2,782 
2,838 
10,940 

 $

 $

3,540 
2,295 
2,621 
8,456 

 $

 $

5,033 
2,782 
2,838 
10,653 

 $

 $

3,187
2,017
2,331
7,535

each of the ensuing years through December 31, 2022 is $889, $602, $341, $323 and $40, respectively.

Following is a summary of other assets as of December 31:

Other assets:
Bauxite raw materials:

Inventories.............................................................................  $
Other assets.................................................................................   
$

3,527   $
5,434    
8,961  $

3,989 
1,524
5,513

2017

2016

Bauxite raw materials are used in the production of heavyweight ceramic products.  As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the 
Company has classified as long-term assets those bauxite raw materials inventories that are not expected to be consumed in production 
during the upcoming twelve month period.  For additional information, refer to Note 4 – Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.  Other
assets as of December 31, 2017 includes a $4,000 receivable relating to additional money owed us relating to the sale of our Russian
proppant business.  For additional information, refer to Note 17 – Sale of Russian Proppant Business.

dd

F-12

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
   
 
 
     
  
  
     
  
 
3.

Long-Term Debt and Notes Payable

On March 2, 2017, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”) with
Wilks  Brothers,  LLC  (“Wilks”)  to  replace  its  current  term  loan  with  Wells  Fargo  Bank,  National  Association  (“Wells  Fargo”)  and 
provide  the  Company  with  additional  liquidity  for  a  longer  term.  The  New  Credit  Agreement  is  a  $65,000  facility  maturing  on
December 31, 2022, that consists of a $52,651 term loan that was made at closing to pay off Wells Fargo and an additional term loan
of $12,349 that was made to the Company after the Company satisfied certain post-closing conditions.  The $52,651 term loan was a
non-cash transaction to the Company as Wilks directly paid Wells Fargo and assumed the New Credit Agreement.  The Company’s 
obligations  bear  interest  at  9.00%  and  are  guaranteed  by  its  two  operating  subsidiaries.  No  principal  repayments  are  required until 
maturity  (except  in  unusual  circumstances),  and  there  are  no  financial  covenants.  In  lieu  of  making  cash  interest  payments,  the
Company has the option during the first two years of the loan to make interest payments as payment-in-kind, or PIK, by applying an
11.00%  rate  to  the  interest  payment  due  (instead  of  the  9.00%  cash  interest  rate)  and  capitalizing  the  resulting  amount  to  the 
outstanding principal balance of the loan.  The Company is required to provide Wilks 30 day notice of its intent to exercise this option
for an interest payment.  The Company does not anticipate utilizing this option and has therefore accrued interest expense using the 
9.00% cash interest rate.

The  loan  cannot  be  prepaid  during  the  first  three  years  without  making  the  lenders  whole  for  interest  that  would  have  been 
payable over the entire remaining term of the loan.  The Company’s obligations under the New Credit Agreement are secured by: (i) a
pledge of all accounts receivable and inventory, (ii) cash in certain accounts, (iii) domestic distribution assets residing on owned real 
property,  (iv)  the  Company’s  Marshfield,  Wisconsin  and  Toomsboro,  Georgia  plant  facilities  and  equipment,  and  (v)  certain  real
property interests in mines and minerals.  Other liens previously in favor of Wells Fargo were released.  

As  of  December 31,  2017,  the  Company’s  outstanding  debt  under  its  New  Credit  Agreement  was  $65,000.  During  the  year 
ended December 31, 2017, the Company expensed $455 of debt issuance costs relating to the previous Wells Fargo Amended Credit 
Agreement.  As  of  December 31,  2017,  the  Company  had  $853  of  unamortized  debt  issuance  costs  relating  to  the  New  Credit 
Agreement  that  are  presented  as  a  direct  reduction  from  the  carrying  amount  of  the  long-term  debt  obligation.  The  Company  had 
$9,230  and  $11,980  in  standby  letters  of  credit  issued  through  Wells  Fargo  as  of  December 31,  2017  and  December 31,  2016, 
respectively,  primarily  as  collateral  relating  to  our  natural  gas  commitments  and  railcar  leases.  As  of  December  31,  2016,  the
Company’s  outstanding  debt  under  its  previous  Wells  Fargo  Amended  Credit  Agreement  was  $55,901,  of  which  $13,000  was 
classified  as  current  and  $42,901  was  classified  as  long-term.  As  of  December  31,  2016,  the  Company  had  $497  of  debt  issuance
costs that are presented as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the long-term debt obligation.  For the year ended December 
31, 2016, the weighted average interest rate was 6.447% based on LIBOR-based rate borrowings.  

On March 2, 2017, in connection with entry into the New Credit Agreement, the Company issued a Warrant (the “Warrant”) to 
Wilks.  Subject to the terms of the Warrant, the Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase up to 523,022 shares of the Common
Stock, at an exercise price of $14.91 per share, payable in cash.  The Warrant expires on December 31, 2022.   Based on a Form 4 
filing  with  the  SEC  on  December  29,  2017,  Wilks  owned  approximately  11.4%  of  the  Company’s  outstanding  common  stock,  and 
should  Wilks  fully  exercise  the  Warrant  to  purchase  an  additional  523,022  shares,  it  would  hold  approximately  13.1%  of  the 
Company’s outstanding common stock.  The Company allocated the proceeds received of $52,651 to each of these two instruments
based  on  their  relative  fair  values.  Accordingly,  the  Company  recorded  long-term  debt  of  $48,780  and  warrants  of  $3,871  at 
inception.  The  amount  associated  with  the  Warrant  was  recorded  as  an  increase  to  additional  paid-in  capital.  The  original  issue
discount of the long-term debt will be amortized using the effective interest method over the term of the loan.  As of December 31, 
2017, the unamortized original issue discount was $3,448.

r

In  May  2016,  the  Company  received  proceeds  of  $25,000  from  the  issuance  of  separate  unsecured  Promissory  Notes  (the 
“Notes”) to two of the Company’s Directors.  Each Note matures on April 1, 2019 and bears interest at 7.00%.  On March 2, 2017, in
connection  with  the  New  Credit  Agreement,  the  Notes  were  amended  to  provide  for  payment-in-kind,  or  PIK,  interest  payments  at 
8.00% until the lenders under the New Credit Agreement receive two consecutive semi-annual cash interest payments.  On April 1,
2017, the Company made a $997 interest payment as PIK, and capitalized the resulting amount to the outstanding principal balance. 
On October 1, 2017, the Company made a $1,043 interest payment as PIK, and capitalized the resulting amount to the outstanding
principal balance.  As of March 7, 2018, the outstanding principal balance of the Notes was $27,040.

    Interest cost for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $8,058, $6,022, and $2,973, respectively, of which
$0, $80, and $2,038 was capitalized into the cost of property, plant and equipment in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 
2015, respectively.  Interest cost primarily includes interest expense relating to our debts as well as amortization and the write-off of 
debt issuance costs and amortization of the original issue discount associated with the New Credit Agreement and Warrant.

F-13

4.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

During 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded losses totaling $125,759, $1,065 and $43,697, respectively, on impairment 

of certain long-lived assets as market conditions changed with regard to demand for certain products offered by the Company.

A decline in oil and natural gas prices during the second half of 2014 resulted in a severe decline in market conditions beginning
in early 2015.  During the fourth quarter of 2015, industry conditions further deteriorated as oil prices fell below $30 per barrel.  As a 
result  of  these  worsening  conditions,  the  Company  evaluated  substantially  all  of  its  long-lived  assets  for  possible  impairment as  of 
December 31, 2015.  Key assumptions used in the analysis varied by facility.  However, the overriding assumptions included: 1) the
industry downturn would last longer than originally anticipated, taking up to five years to fully recover; 2) production levels would 
rise over the recovery period eventually returning to production levels within normal capacity; 3) market pricing would be similar to
lower  2015  levels,  thus  conservatively  reducing  expected  gross  profit  and  thus  cash  flows;  4)  the  Company’s  wet  process 
manufacturing  plants  (Toomsboro  and  Millen,  Georgia  and  Eufaula,  Alabama)  were  evaluated  as  a  group  of  assets  because  these 
facilities  manufacture  like  products;  and  5)  other  facilities  were  separately  evaluated.    Pursuant  to  that  analysis,  the  Company 
determined that the projected gross cash flows attributable to certain assets did not exceed the carrying value of the assets; therefore, 
the  Company  concluded  that  there  was  indication  of  possible  impairment.    The  Company  engaged  the  services  of  a  third  party 
consulting  firm  to  assist  with  the  determination  of  the  fair  market  value  of  the  related  assets  and  concluded  that  the  assets  were
impaired.  The key assumptions and inputs impacting the fair value analysis were the weighted average cost of capital and perpetuity
growth rate as well as certain market data with respect to the property and equipment at each facility.  As a result, during the year-
ended  December  31,  2015,  the  Company  recorded  a  $36,177  impairment  of  long-lived  assets,  primarily  relating  to  machinery  and 
equipment  at  the  McIntyre,  Georgia  manufacturing  plant  and  Marshfield,  Wisconsin  sand  processing  facility.    As  of  December  31, 
2017, the remaining carrying value of the previously impaired assets at the McIntyre, Georgia manufacturing plant and Marshfield, 
Wisconsin sand processing facility was approximately $3,144.

During the year-ended December 31, 2016, industry conditions remained depressed, but showed signs of improvement with oil
prices above $50 per barrel.  The Company evaluated substantially all of its long-lived assets for impairment as of December 31, 2016. 
Key  assumptions  were  not  materially  different  from  the  December  31,  2015  analysis,  except  that  we  evaluated  the  Eufaula  facility tt
separate from the Toomsboro and the Millen facilities given the completion of our KRYPTOSPHERE technology retrofitting in 2016.  
Pursuant to the December 31, 2016 analysis, the Company determined that the projected gross cash flows attributable to each asset 
group  exceeded  the  carrying  value;  therefore,  the  Company  concluded  there  was  no  impairment  for  the  year-ended  December  31, 
2016.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company concluded that the Company’s Toomsboro and Millen, Georgia facilities should no 
longer be evaluated together as a group of assets because the facilities are no longer interchangeable and will not manufacture like
products.  As a result of the sustained and long-term shift away from base ceramic proppant to less expensive frac sand, the Company
has made a strategic decision to focus on growing technology, industrial and mineral processing revenue streams.  Our Toomsboro,
Georgia plant is being repurposed to produce technology and industrial products, as well as for use in toll processing of minerals.  Our 
Millen,  Georgia  facility  is  currently  only  able  to  produce  base  ceramic  proppants,  but  given  our  current  long-term  outlook  on base
ceramic  proppant  demand,  we  do  not  expect  to  utilize  this  plant  to  produce  base  ceramic  proppant.  We  are  currently  evaluating 
opportunities  to  monetize  our  assets  at  our  Millen  facility.  As  a  result,  we  evaluated  the  Toomsboro  and  Millen,  Georgia  plants
separately for indicators of impairment during the third quarter of 2017.

     Given the change in the asset groupings of the two facilities and lack of estimated future cash flows associated with the base
ceramic  production  at  the  Millen  facility,  the  Company  identified  indicators  of  impairment  at  the  Millen,  Georgia  facility  as  of 
September  30,  2017.  The  Company  determined  that  the  projected  cash  flows  attributable  to  our  Millen,  Georgia  facility  did  not 
exceed  the  carrying  value  of  the  assets;  therefore  the  Company  concluded  there  was  an  impairment  at  that  facility.  The  Company
engaged  the  services  of  a  third  party  consulting  firm  to  assist  with  the  determination  of  the  fair  value  of  the  related  assets  and 
concluded  that  the  assets  were  impaired.  The  key  assumptions  and  inputs  impacting  the  fair  value  include  third  party  data  and 
commentary  with  respect  to  the  property  and  equipment  at  our  Millen  facility.  For  machinery  and  equipment  and  construction  in
progress, we used a cost approach to estimate the valuation.  We applied a 65 percent downward adjustment to calculated replacement 
cost based on an analysis of construction documents and historical expenditures to remove non-saleable soft costs such as engineering 
and  installation  that  would  have  no  value  to  a  market  participant.  Based  on  discussions  with  market  participants,  a  salvage  value
multiplier ranging from 12 percent to 50 percent of the remaining replacement cost basis was applied to arrive at the estimated fair 
value for the machinery and equipment and construction in progress subject to impairment.  For real property, we used a market and 
cost approach and reconciled the two approaches.  In using the market approach, we determined that the value of comparable property
ranged  from  approximately  $30  to  $40  per  square  foot,  and  the  concluded  value  of  the  property  at  the  Millen  facility  was
approximately $35 per square foot.  In using the cost approach, we applied a 94% downward adjustment to the calculated value for the
buildings  and  site  improvements  as  a  representation  of  economic  obsolescence.    As  a  result  of  these  valuation  procedures,  which
included  the  use  of  Level  3  inputs  as  defined  in  Note  9,  the  Company  recognized  a  $125,759  impairment  of  long-lived  assets, 
primarily relating to buildings, machinery and equipment, and construction in progress.  As of September 30, 2017, as a result of our 

d

F-14

valuation  procedures,  the  fair  value  of  the  Millen  facility,  including  land,  buildings,  machinery  and  equipment  and  construction  in
progress,  was  approximately  $18,786.     As  of  September  30,  2017,  related  to  the  other  asset  groups,  there  were  no  events  or 
circumstances that would indicate that carrying amounts of long-lived and other noncurrent assets might be impaired given that results
for the first nine months of 2017 generally met our expectations from our analysis as of December 31, 2016 and given that our future
outlook of cash flows associated with those asset groups has not significantly changed since that date.

ff

There were no additional indicators of impairment during the fourth quarter of 2017.

As  of  December  31,  2017,  the  remaining  carrying  value  of  the  impaired  assets  at  the  Millen  facility  was  approximately 

$18,471, which included $6,753 classified as construction in progress.

The  Company  also  evaluated  the  carrying  value  of  the  long-term  portion  of  bauxite  raw  materials.    Much  of  the  bauxite  raw
material was intended for use in production at the McIntyre facility.  Based upon this evaluation, during 2016 and 2015, the Company
recognized an impairment charge of $1,065 and $6,488, respectively, on the long-term portion of the bauxite raw material inventories. 
There was no such impairment during 2017.

The Company assesses goodwill for possible impairment annually or sooner if circumstances indicate possible impairment may 
have occurred.  The Company evaluated goodwill during the fourth quarter of 2015, and as a result of the further decline in the oil and 
natural gas industry during the fourth quarter of 2015, concluded that Asset Guard Products Inc. (“AGPI”) projected future cash flows
were  negatively  impacted  and  thus  indicated  possible  impairment  of  the  AGPI  goodwill.    AGPI  was  formerly  known  as  Falcon 
Technologies and Services, Inc.  The Company engaged a third party to assist in the evaluation and concluded that impairment had 
occurred.    Fair  value,  which  was  determined  using  a  discounted  cash  flows  method,  fell  below  the  carrying  value.    Consequently,
during  the  fourth  quarter  of  2015,  the  Company  recorded  an  $8,664  impairment  of  AGPI  goodwill  and  an  $833  impairment  of  the 
indefinite-lived AGPI Trademark intangible asset, both the full value of each of those assets.  Evaluation of the StrataGen goodwill 
resulted in no indication of possible impairment.  There were no such impairments during 2017 or 2016.

During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized a loss of $19, gain of $176, and gain of 

$230, respectively, on disposal of various assets.

Components of loss on disposal or impairment of assets are as follows:

Domestic long-lived assets impairment ....................................  $
China assets impairment ...........................................................   
Goodwill and intangible assets impairment ..............................   
China CTA gain realization ......................................................   
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets...............................................   
Total.....................................................................................  $

For the years ended December 31,
2016

2015

2017
125,759   $
—    
—    
—    
19    
125,778   $

1,065   $
—    
—    
—    
(176)   
889   $

42,664
1,033
9,497
(8,853)
(230)
44,111

5.

Leases

The Company leases certain property, plant and equipment under operating leases, primarily consisting of railroad equipment 
leases.  Net minimum future rental payments due under non-cancelable operating leases with remaining terms in excess of one year as
of December 31, 2017 are as follows:

a

2018 ...............................................................................................  $
2019 ...............................................................................................   
2020 ...............................................................................................   
2021 ...............................................................................................   
2022 ...............................................................................................   
Thereafter ......................................................................................   
Total...............................................................................................  $

11,404
12,272
16,239
16,393
13,660
24,660 
94,628

Leases  of  railroad  equipment  generally  provide  for  renewal  options  at  their  fair  rental  value  at  the  time  of  renewal.    In  the 
normal course of business, operating leases for railroad equipment are generally renewed or replaced by other leases.  For the years 
ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, minimum future rental payments in the table above are presented net of sublease income 

F-15

 
 
 
 
 
 
related  to  subleases  of  railroad  equipment  of  $3,933,  $2,853  and  $440,  respectively.    Rent  expense  for  all  operating  leases  was
$20,310  in  2017,  $22,040  in  2016  and  $23,757  in  2015.    For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2017,  2016  and  2015,  rent  expense  is 
stated net of sublease income of $3,040, $4,778 and $5,031, respectively.

6.

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities 
for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  Significant components of the Company’s deferred 
tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 are as follows:

Deferred tax assets:
Employee benefits ......................................................................  $
Inventories ..................................................................................   
Natural gas derivatives ...............................................................   
Goodwill & other intangibles .....................................................   
Net operating loss .......................................................................   
Foreign tax credits ......................................................................   
Other ...........................................................................................   
Total deferred tax assets........................................................   

Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation................................................................................   
Indefinite-lived intangibles.........................................................   
Foreign........................................................................................   
Total deferred tax liabilities ..................................................   
Valuation Allowance.................................................................   
Net deferred tax liabilities .....................................................  $

2017

2016

836   $
2,309    
610    
3,179    
59,536    
667    
2,029    
69,166    

14,332    
209    
26    
14,567    
54,829    
(230)  $

1,349 
8,811 
1,281
4,881
51,722
— 
2,028 
70,072 

71,308 
— 
— 
71,308 
— 
(1,236)

Significant components of the provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31 are as follows:

2017

2016

2015

Current:

Federal .................................................................................  $
State .....................................................................................   
Foreign.................................................................................   
Total current ...................................................................   
Deferred ...................................................................................   
 $

(375)  $
(99)   
581    
107    
(2,134)   
(2,027)  $

(495)  $
(496)   
445    
(546)   
(50,535)   
(51,081)  $

1,509 
120
966 
2,595 
(56,800)
(54,205)

The reconciliation of income taxes computed at the U.S. statutory tax rate to the Company’s income tax expense for the years 

ended December 31 is as follows:

2017

2016

2015

  Amount

    Percent

  Amount

    Percent

  Amount

    Percent

U.S. statutory rate .........................................................  $ (89,300)   
(5,684)   
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit ...............   
(619)   
Mining depletion...........................................................   
(667)   
Change in election for foreign tax credits.....................   
—    
Foreign tax assets valuation allowance.........................   
8,569    
Foreign investments......................................................   
876    
Stock compensation excess tax deficiency ...................   
1,806    
Other permanent differences.........................................   
28,163    
Tax reform deferred rate change...................................   
54,829    
Valuation allowance .....................................................   
 $
(2,027)   

(35.0)%  $ (45,923)   
(3,283)   
(2.2)
(378)   
(0.2)
(2,753)   
(0.3)
—    
— 
(323)   
3.4 
789    
0.3 
790    
0.7 
—    
11.0 
21.5 
—    
(0.8)%  $ (51,081)   

(35.0)%  $ (57,312)   
(3,474)   
(1,557)   
1,442    
1,230    
847    
—    
4,619    
—    
—    
(38.9)%  $ (54,205)   

(2.5)
(0.3)
(2.1)
— 
(0.2)
0.6 
0.6 
— 
— 

(35.0)%
(2.1)
(0.9)
0.9
0.7
0.5 
—
2.8 
—
— 
(33.1)%

F-16

 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
As a result of the significant decline in oil and gas activities and net losses incurred over the past several quarters, the Company
determined during the year ending December 31, 2017 that it was more likely than not that a portion of our deferred tax assets will not 
be realized in the future.  Accordingly, we established a $54,829 valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.  Our assessment 
of the realizability of our deferred tax assets is based on the weight of all available evidence, both positive and negative, including
future reversals of deferred tax liabilities.  

In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Legislation”) was enacted. The Tax Legislation significantly revises the 
U.S. corporate income tax by, among other things, lowering corporate income tax rates, implementing the territorial tax system and 
imposing a repatriation tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company has not 
completed  its  accounting  for  the  tax  effects  of  enactment  of  the  Tax  Act.    The  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  issued  Staff 
Accounting  Bulletin  No.  118,  or  SAB  118,  to  address  the  accounting  and  reporting  of  the  Tax  Legislation.    SAB  118  allows 
companies to take a reasonable period, which should not extend beyond one year from enactment of the Tax Legislation, to measure 
and recognize the effects of the new tax law.  The Company has made a reasonable estimate of the effects on existing deferred tax
balances  and  recognized  a  provisional  reduction  of  approximately  $28,163  in  the  Company’s  net  deferred  tax  assets  before 
consideration  of  the  valuation  allowance,  due  primarily  to  the  remeasurement  of  U.S.  deferred  tax  assets  at  the  lower  enacted 
corporate rate.  The Company recorded the adjustment during the fourth quarter of 2017; however, because of an offsetting change in 
our  valuation  allowance,  there  was  zero  net  impact  to  net  income  during  2017  as  a  result  of  the  legislation.    The  Company  is  still
analyzing certain aspects of the Tax Legislation and refining its calculations, which could potentially affect the measurement of these
balances  or  potentially  give  rise  to  new  deferred  tax  amounts.    The  Company  will  complete  this  analysis  within  the  measurement 
period in accordance with SAB 118.  The Company also continues to evaluate the impacts of the newly enacted global intangible low-
taxed  income  (“GILTI”)  provisions  which  subject  the  Company’s  foreign  earnings  to  a  minimum  level  of  tax.    Because  of  the 
complexities of the new legislation, the Company has not elected an accounting policy for GILTI at this time.  Recent FASB guidance
indicates  that  accounting  for  GILTI  either  as  part  of  deferred  taxes  or  as  a  period  cost  are  both  acceptable  methods.    Once  further 
information  is  gathered  and  interpretation  and  analysis  of  the  tax  legislation  evolves,  the  Company  will  make  an  appropriate 
accounting method election. 

rr

Provision  has  been  made  for  deferred  U.S.  income  taxes  on  all  foreign  earnings  based  on  the  Company’s  intent  to  repatriate 
foreign  earnings.    During  the  years  ended  December  31,  2017  and  2016,  the  Company  did  not  recognize  benefits  on  foreign 
investments due to the uncertainty of the Company being able to realize the foreign tax assets in light of current market conditions in
China and Russia.  This treatment decreased (increased) income tax benefit by $8,569 and ($323) for the years ended December 31, 
2017 and 2016, respectively.

During 2017, 2016, and 2015, the Company incurred a net operating loss in the United States.  Net operating losses associated 
with the 2015 tax return have been carried back in full, while certain of the net operating losses incurred in 2016 and 2017 are carried 
forward to offset future taxable income. The cumulative recorded tax benefit of these net operating loss carryforwards totals $59,536 
and $51,722 as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and is included in the deferred income tax asset on those respective
dates.  The recorded tax benefit of $59,536 as of December 31, 2017 includes the impact of the change in corporate income tax rate
following  the  enactment  of  the  Tax  Legislation.    The  Company  filed  amended  2013  and  2014  Federal  income  tax  returns  to  claim
$37,397 of the tax benefit which was received as a refund in April 2016.  After finalization of the 2015 Federal return and a change in 
the attribute of the NOL carryback, additional refunds for 2012 through 2014 tax years are being claimed in the amount of $2,206.  
These amounts are included within income tax receivable as of December 31, 2017.  The federal NOLs generated in 2017 and 2016
will be carried forward until they are utilized or their expiration in 2037 and 2036, respectively.

The Company elected to claim bonus tax depreciation totaling $29,221 and $61,781 on assets placed in service in the United 
States during 2015 and 2014, respectively.  This election increased the net operating loss in 2015 and reduced current taxable income
in 2014.  No such bonus depreciation was elected in 2016 and is not anticipated for 2017.

The Company has not recognized any uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2017.  The reserve recorded as of December 

31, 2015 of $153 was associated with a period no longer subject to audit and thus was reduced to $0 during 2016. 

The Company files its tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates, the most significant of 
which  are  U.S.  federal  and  certain  state  jurisdictions.    In  2016,  the  Company  received  an  audit  notice  from  the  Internal  Revenue
Service for periods 2013-2015.  The Company does not anticipate any material findings.  The 2016 federal tax year is also subject to
examination.    Various  U.S.  state  jurisdiction  tax  years  remain  open  to  examination  as  well,  although  the  Company  believes
assessments, if any, would be immaterial to its consolidated financial statements.

t

F-17

7.

Shareholders’ Equity

Common Stock

Holders  of  Common  Stock  are  entitled  to  one  vote  per  share  on  all  matters  to  be  voted  on  by  shareholders  and  do  not  have 
cumulative voting rights.  Subject to preferences of any Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably 
such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. 
In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all 
assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of any Preferred Stock then outstanding.  The Common
Stock  has  no  preemptive  or  conversion  rights  or  other  subscription  rights.    There  are  no  redemption  or  sinking  fund  provisions 
applicable to the Common Stock.  All outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

n

On January 19, 2016, the Board of Directors suspended the Company’s policy of paying quarterly cash dividends.

Preferred Stock

The Company’s charter authorizes 5,000 shares of Preferred Stock.  The Board of Directors has the authority to issue Preferred 
Stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion 
rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series
or the designation of such series, without further vote or action by the Company’s shareholders.

Common Stock Repurchase Program

On  January  28,  2015,  the  Company’s  Board  of  Directors  authorized  the  repurchase  of  up  to  two  million  shares  of  the 
Company’s common stock.  Shares are effectively retired at the time of purchase.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company had not 
repurchased any shares under the plan.

Equity Offering Program

On  July  28,  2016,  the  Company  filed  a  prospectus  supplement  and  associated  sales  agreement  related  to  an  at-the-market 
(“ATM”)  equity  offering  program  pursuant  to  which  the  Company  may  sell,  from  time  to  time,  common  stock  with  an  aggregate
offering price of up to $75,000 through Cowen and Company LLC, as sales agent, for general corporate purposes.  As of December 
31, 2017, the Company sold a total of 3,405,709 shares of its common stock under the ATM program for $46,612, or an average of 
$13.69  per  share,  and  received  proceeds  of  $45,564,  net  of  commissions  of  $1,048.    These  sales  occurred  during  August  and 
September 2016, and the Company has not utilized the program since those sales.

8.

Natural Gas Derivative Instruments

Natural gas is used to fire the kilns at the Company’s manufacturing plants.  In an effort to mitigate potential volatility in the
cost of natural gas purchases and reduce exposure to short-term spikes in the price of this commodity, from time to time, the Company 
enters  into  contracts  to  purchase  a  portion  of  the  anticipated  monthly  natural  gas  requirements  at  specified  prices.    Contracts  are 
geographic  by  plant  location.    Historically,  the  Company  has  taken  delivery  of  all  natural  gas  quantities  under  contract,  which
exempted the Company from accounting for the contracts as derivative instruments.  However, due to the severe decline in industry 
f
activity beginning in early 2015, the Company significantly reduced production levels and consequently did not take delivery of all of 
the contracted natural gas quantities.  As a result, the Company began to account for relevant contracts as derivative instruments.

t

Derivative  accounting  requires  the  natural  gas  contracts  to  be  recognized  as  either  assets  or  liabilities  at  fair  value  with  an
offsetting entry in earnings.  The Company uses the income approach in determining the fair value of these derivative instruments. 
The model used considers the difference, as of each balance sheet date, between the contracted prices and the New York Mercantile 
Exchange (“NYMEX”) forward strip price for each contracted period.  The estimated cash flows from these contracts are discounted 
using  a  discount  rate  of  8.0%,  which  reflects  the  nature  of  the  contracts  as  well  as  the  timing  and  risk  of  estimated  cash  flows
associated  with  the  contracts.    The  discount  rate  had  an  immaterial  impact  on  the  fair  value  of  the  contracts  for  the  year  ended 
December  31,  2017  and  2016.    The  last  natural  gas  contract  will  expire  in  December  2018.    As  a  result,  during  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recognized a loss on derivative instruments of $917 and a gain on derivative instruments
of  $1,886,  respectively  in  cost  of  sales.    The  cumulative  present  value  of  the  losses  on  these  natural  gas  derivative  contracts  as  of 
December 31, 2017 and 2016 are presented as current and long-term liabilities, as applicable, in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

At December 31, 2017, the Company has contracted for delivery a total of 1,800,000 MMBtu of natural gas at an average price 
of  $4.40  per  MMBtu  through  December  31,  2018.    Contracts  covering  1,680,000  MMBtu  are  subject  to  accounting  as  derivative
instruments.  Future decreases in the NYMEX forward strip prices will result in additional derivative losses while future increases in

F-18

the  NYMEX  forward  strip  prices  will  result  in  derivative  gains.    Future  gains  or  losses  will  approximate  the  change  in  NYMEX 
natural gas prices relative to the total quantity of natural gas under contracts now subject to accounting as derivatives.  The historical
average NYMEX natural gas contract settlement prices for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $3.11 per MMBtu and 
$2.46 per MMBtu, respectively.

9.

Fair Value Measurements

The  Company’s  derivative  instruments  are  measured  at  fair  value  on  a  recurring  basis.    U.S.  GAAP  establishes  a  fair  value 
hierarchy that has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine the fair value.  These levels include: Level 1, 
defined as inputs such as unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2, defined as inputs other 
than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs for 
use when little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

n

The  Company’s  natural  gas  derivative  instruments  are  included  within  the  Level  2  fair  value  hierarchy.    For  additional 
information on the derivative instruments, refer to Note 8 – Natural Gas Derivative Instruments.  The following table sets forth by
level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value:

Liabilities:

Derivative instruments .......................................................  $
Total fair value..............................................................  $

—   $
—   $

(2,537)  $
(2,537)  $

—   $
—   $

(2,537)
(2,537)

Fair value as of December 31, 2017

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

Liabilities:

Derivative instruments .......................................................  $
Total fair value ..............................................................  $

—   $
—   $

(3,468)  $
(3,468)  $

—   $
—   $

(3,468)
(3,468)

Fair value as of December 31, 2016

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

At December 31, 2017, the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt approximated the carrying value.

10.

Stock Based Compensation

On  May  20,  2014,  the  shareholders  approved  the  2014  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  Omnibus  Incentive  Plan  (the  “2014  Omnibus
Incentive  Plan”).    The  2014  Omnibus  Incentive  Plan  replaces  the  expired  2009  Omnibus  Incentive  Plan.    In  May  2017,  the 
shareholders  approved  the  Amended  and  Restated  2014  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  Omnibus  Incentive  Plan  (the  “Amended  2014 
Omnibus Plan”).  Under the Amended 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, the Company may grant cash-based awards, stock options (both 
non-qualified  and  incentive)  and  other  equity-based  awards  (including  stock  appreciation  rights,  phantom  stock,  restricted  stock, 
restricted  stock  units,  performance  shares,  deferred  share  units  or  share-denominated  performance  units)  to  employees  and  non-
employee directors.  The amount paid under the Amended 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan to any single participant in any calendar year 
with  respect  to  any  cash-based  award  shall  not  exceed  $5,000.    Awards  may  be  granted  with  respect  to  a  number  of  shares  of  the 
Company’s Common Stock that in the aggregate does not exceed 1,450,000 shares prior to the fifth anniversary of its effective date,
plus  (i)  the  number  of  shares  that  are  forfeited,  cancelled  or  returned,  and  (ii)  the  number  of  shares  that  are  withheld  from  thet
participants to satisfy an option exercise price or minimum statutory tax withholding obligations.  No more than 100,000 shares may
be granted to any single participant in any calendar year.  Equity-based awards may be subject to performance-based and/or service-
based  conditions.    With  respect  to  stock  options  and  stock  appreciation  rights  granted,  the  exercise  price  shall  not  be  less  than  the
market value of the underlying Common Stock on the date of grant.  The maximum term of an option is ten years.  Restricted stock 
awards granted generally vest (i.e., transfer and forfeiture restrictions on these shares are lifted) proportionately on each of the first 
three anniversaries of the grant date, but subject to certain limitations, awards may specify other vesting periods.  As of December 31,
2017, 759,326 shares were available for issuance under the Amended 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

F-19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
     
     
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
     
     
     
  
A summary of restricted stock activity and related information for the year ended December 31, 2017 is presented below:

Nonvested at January 1, 2017 .....................................................   
Granted........................................................................................   
Vested..........................................................................................   
Forfeited ......................................................................................   
Nonvested at December 31, 2017 ...............................................   

  Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Per Share

Shares
339,140   $
297,685   $
(145,643)  $
(50,063)  $
441,119   $

28.59
10.30 
36.69 
17.19 
14.87

As of December 31, 2017, there was $3,183 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted shares granted under 
Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.6
years.  The weighted-average grant date fair value of restricted stock granted during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 
2015 was $10.30, $17.27 and $34.62, respectively.  The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2017, 
2016 and 2015 was $2,023, $6,532 and $6,910, respectively.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company’s outstanding market-based cash awards to certain executives of the Company had a
total Target Award of $2,822.  The amount of awards that will ultimately vest can range from 0% to 200% based on the Company’s 
Relative Total Shareholder Return calculated over a three year period beginning January 1 of the year each grant was made.

The Company also made phantom stock awards to key employees pursuant to the Amended 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  The
units subject to an award vest and cease to be forfeitable in equal annual installments over a three-year period.  Participants awarded 
units of phantom stock are entitled to a lump sum cash payment equal to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the
vesting date.  In no event will Common Stock of the Company be issued with regard to outstanding phantom stock awards.  As of 
December 31, 2017, there were 163,215 units of phantom stock granted under the Amended 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, of which 
4,189 have vested and 12,950 have been forfeited.  As of December 31, 2017, nonvested units of phantom stock under the Amended 
2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan have a total value of $1,487, a portion of which is accrued as a liability within Accrued Payroll and 
Benefits.

11. Loss Per Share

ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”, provides that unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights 
to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of 
earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method.  The Company’s outstanding non-vested restricted stock awards are participating 
securities.    Accordingly,  earnings  per  common  share  are  computed  using  the  two-class  method.    The  impact  of  the  Company’s 
Warrant issued to Wilks in March 2017 was not included in the computation of diluted loss per share because the average price for our 
common stock was less than the strike price of the Warrant and, therefore, the Warrant was not dilutive for 2017. The Warrant entitles 
the holder thereof to purchase up to 523,022 shares of the Common Stock, at an exercise price of $14.91 per share, payable in cash. 
Refer to Note 3.   

ff

F-20

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per share under the two-class method:

Numerator for basic and diluted loss per share:

Net loss ................................................................................  $
Effect of reallocating undistributed earnings of
   participating securities......................................................   

Net loss available under the two-class
   method.........................................................................  $

Denominator:

2017

2016

2015

(253,116)  $

(80,127)  $

(109,544)

—    

—    

—

(253,116)  $

(80,127)  $

(109,544)

Denominator for basic loss per
   share—weighted-average shares ......................................    26,664,247     24,377,839     22,999,318 
Effect of dilutive potential common shares .........................   
— 
Denominator for diluted loss per
   share—adjusted weighted-average shares ........................    26,664,247     24,377,839     22,999,318 
(4.76)
(4.76)

Basic loss per share ........................................................  $
Diluted loss per share .....................................................  $

(3.29)  $
(3.29)  $

(9.49)  $
(9.49)  $

—    

—    

12. Quarterly Operating Results––(Unaudited)

Quarterly results for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

  March 31

June 30

  September 30  

  December 31  

Three Months Ended

2017
Revenues..................................................................................  $
Gross loss.................................................................................   
Net loss ....................................................................................   
Loss per share:

34,670   $
(19,458)   
(32,444)   

43,572   $
(13,433)   
(24,822)   

50,173   $
(14,523)   
(178,465)   

60,341
(5,911)
(17,384)

Basic...................................................................................  $
Diluted................................................................................  $

(1.22)  $
(1.22)  $

(0.93)  $
(0.93)  $

(6.69)  $
(6.69)  $

(0.65)
(0.65)

2016
Revenues..................................................................................  $
Gross loss.................................................................................   
Net loss ....................................................................................   
Earnings per share:

33,102   $
(23,641)   
(24,684)   

20,651   $
(20,012)   
(20,296)   

20,241   $
(20,865)   
(19,950)   

29,058
(20,495)
(15,197)

Basic...................................................................................  $
Diluted................................................................................  $

(1.07)  $
(1.07)  $

(0.88)  $
(0.88)  $

(0.81)  $
(0.81)  $

(0.57)
(0.57)

Quarterly data may not sum to full year data reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements due to rounding.

13.

Segment Information

The Company has two operating segments: 1) Oilfield Technologies and Services and 2) Environmental Products and Services.  
Discrete financial information is available for each operating segment.  Management of each operating segment reports to our Chief 
Executive Officer, the Company’s chief operating decision maker, who regularly evaluates revenue and income (loss) before income
taxes  as  the  measure  to  evaluate  segment  performance  and  to  allocate  resources.    The  accounting  policies  of  each  segment  are  the
same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note 1.

The Company’s Oilfield Technologies and Services segment manufactures and sells ceramic proppants on a global basis for use
primarily  in  the  hydraulic  fracturing  of  natural  gas  and  oil  wells.    All  of  the  Company’s  ceramic  proppant  products  have  similar 
production  processes  and  economic  characteristics  and  are  marketed  predominantly  to  pressure  pumping  companies  that  perform 
hydraulic fracturing for major oil and gas companies.  The Company’s manufacturing facilities also produce ceramic pellets for use in
various  industrial  technology  applications,  including  but  not  limited  to  casting  and  milling.    This  segment  also  promotes  increased 
production  and  Estimated  Ultimate  Recovery  (“EUR”)  of  oil  and  natural  gas  by  providing  industry  leading  technology  to  Design,
Build, and Optimize the FracTM.  Through our wholly-owned subsidiary StrataGen, Inc., we sell one of the most widely used fracture 

F-21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
  
 
 
 
 
     
     
     
 
  
     
     
     
 
 
     
     
     
 
  
     
     
     
 
stimulation  software  under  the  brand  FracPro®  and  provide  fracture  design  and  consulting  services  to  oil  and  natural  gas  E&P 
companies under the brand StrataGen.  

Our Environmental Products and Services segment is intended to protect operators’ assets, minimize environmental risks, and 
lower  lease  operating  expense  (“LOE”).    AGPI,  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  ours,  provides  spill  prevention,  containment  and 
countermeasure systems for the oil and gas industry.  AGPI uses proprietary technology designed to enable its clients to extend the life
of their storage assets, reduce the potential for hydrocarbon spills and provide containment of stored materials.

d

Summarized financial information for the Company’s operating segments for the three-year period ended December 31, 2017 is

shown in the following tables.  Intersegment sales are not material.

Oilfield 
Technologies
and Services

Environmental
Products and
Services
($ in thousands)

2017
Revenue from external customers .........................................................   $
Loss before income taxes ......................................................................    
Total assets ............................................................................................    
Capital expenditures, net .......................................................................    
Depreciation and amortization ..............................................................    
2016
Revenue from external customers .........................................................   $
Loss before income taxes ......................................................................    
Total assets ............................................................................................    
Capital expenditures, net .......................................................................    
Depreciation and amortization ..............................................................    
2015
Revenue from external customers .........................................................   $
Loss before income taxes ......................................................................    
Total assets ............................................................................................    
Capital expenditures, net .......................................................................    
Depreciation and amortization ..............................................................    

165,557    $
(255,097)    
524,952     
2,228     
44,060     

89,351    $
(128,128)    
709,180     
7,008     
46,871     

257,373    $
(151,772)    
817,845     
62,996     
52,451     

23,199    $
(46)    
15,646     
(76)    
1,277     

13,700    $
(3,080)    
14,277     
(160)    
1,580     

22,201    $
(11,977)    
18,524     
(249)    
2,006     

Total

188,756 
(255,143)
540,598 
2,152 
45,337 

103,051 
(131,208)
723,457 
6,848 
48,451 

279,574 
(163,749)
836,369 
62,747 
54,457

Geographic Information

Long-lived assets, consisting of net property, plant and equipment and other long-term assets, as of December 31 in the United 

States and other countries are as follows:

Long-lived assets:

2017

2016

2015

United States........................................................................
International.........................................................................
Total ...............................................................................

 $

 $

326,665   $
6,482    
333,147   $

489,374   $
10,241    
499,615   $

531,518
12,320 
543,838

Revenues  outside  the  United  States  accounted  for  21%,  34%  and  29%  of  the  Company’s  revenues  for  2017,  2016  and  2015, 

respectively.  Revenues for the years ended December 31 in the United States, Canada and other countries are as follows:

Revenues:

United States........................................................................
Canada .................................................................................
Other international...............................................................
Total ...............................................................................

 $

 $

149,040   $
7,439    
32,276    
188,756   $

67,609   $
7,460    
27,982    
103,051   $

199,187
33,614
46,773 
279,574

2017

2016

2015

F-22

 
 
 
      
      
  
      
      
  
      
      
  
 
   
   
 
  
     
     
  
  
 
   
   
 
  
     
     
  
  
  
Sales to Customers

The  following  schedule  presents  customers,  primarily  from  the  Oilfield  Technologies  and  Services  segment,  from  whom  the 

Company derived 10% or more of total revenues for the years ended December 31:

2017 ...................................................................   
2016 ...................................................................   
2015 ...................................................................   

A

— 
— 
10.7%   

C

Major Customers
B
16.1%   
20.4%   
26.9%   

— 
11.1%   
— 

D
10.2%
— 
—

14. Benefit Plans

The  Company  has  defined  contribution  savings  and  profit  sharing  plans  pursuant  to  Section  401(k)  of  the  Internal  Revenue

Code.  Benefit costs recognized as expense under these plans consisted of the following for the years ended December 31:

Contributions:

Profit sharing .......................................................................  $
Savings.................................................................................   
 $

—   $
953    
953   $

—   $
939    
939   $

— 
1,547
1,547

2017

2016

2015

All contributions to the plans are 100% participant directed.  Participants are allowed to invest up to 20% of contributions in the

n

Company’s Common Stock.

15. Commitments 

In January 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with one of the Company’s existing suppliers to purchase from the 
supplier at least 70 percent of the annual kaolin requirements for the Eufaula, Alabama plant at specified contract prices.  The term of 
the agreement was three years, with options to extend for an additional six years.  In May 2012, the agreement was amended to require
the Company to purchase from the supplier at least 50 percent of the annual kaolin requirements for the Eufaula, Alabama plant at 
specified  contract  prices  for  the  remainder  of  2012  and  the  ensuing  five  calendar  years.    In  May  2017,  the  agreement  was 
automatically  extended  for  an  additional  three  years.    For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2017,  2016  and  2015,  the  Company 
purchased from the supplier $2,207, $968 and $2,380, respectively, of kaolin under the agreement.

In  January  2003,  the  Company  entered  into  a  mining  agreement  with  a  contractor  to  provide  kaolin  for  the  Company’s 
McIntyre, Georgia plant at specified contract prices, from lands owned or leased by either the Company or the contractor.  The term of 
the  agreement,  which  commenced  on  January  1,  2003,  and  remains  in  effect  until  such  time  as  all  Company-owned  minerals  have
been depleted, previously required the Company to accept delivery from the contractor of at least 80 percent of the McIntyre plant’s 
annual kaolin requirements.  In 2006, the Company’s plant in Toomsboro, Georgia commenced operations and became part of this 
agreement.  In November 2015, the agreement was amended to require the Company to accept delivery from the contractor of 100
percent of the annual kaolin requirements for the plants in McIntyre and Toomsboro.  For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016
and 2015, the Company purchased $950, $1,196 and $3,245, respectively, of kaolin under the agreement.

In  July  2011,  the  Company  entered  into  an  agreement  with  a  supplier  to  provide  hydro  sized  sand  for  the  Company’s 
Marshfield, Wisconsin plant at a specified contract price.  The term of the agreement was five years commencing on July 30, 2011 and 
required  the  Company  to  purchase  a  minimum  of  40,000  tons  and  100,000  tons  of  hydro  sized  sand  during  2011  and  2012, 
respectively.  Effective January 30, 2012, the agreement was amended and requires the Company to purchase a minimum of 150,000 
tons of hydro sized sand annually during 2012 and 2013 and a minimum of 350,000 tons of hydro sized sand in 2014, all at a stated 
contract price.  There were no purchase commitments required during 2015 through May 2017.  Effective June 2017, the Company
entered into an agreement to purchase a minimum of 360,000 tons of hydro sized sand in 2017, all at a stated contract price.  There are 
no  additional  minimum  purchase  requirements  under  this  contract.    For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2017,  2016,  and  2015,  the 
Company purchased $3,876, $0 and $3,997, respectively, of sand under this agreement.

TT

In  May  2012,  the  Company  entered  into  a  supply  agreement  with  a  contractor  to  provide  kaolin  for  the  Company’s 
manufacturing  plant  in  Millen,  Georgia  at  specified  contract  prices,  from  lands  owned  or  leased  by  either  the  Company  or  the 
contractor.  The term of the agreement, which commenced in July 2014, has an initial term of five years with options to extend for an
additional  five  years  and  requires  the  Company  to  accept  delivery  from  the  contractor  of  at  least  50  percent  of  the  Millen  plant’s 

F-23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
     
     
 
annual  kaolin  requirements.    For  the  years  ended  December 31,  2017,  2016  and  2015,  the  Company  purchased  $0,  $0  and  $561, 
respectively, of kaolin under this agreement.

In  October  2014,  the  Company  entered  into  an  agreement  with  a  supplier  to  mine  kaolin  and  process  into  a  slurry  for  the 
Company’s  manufacturing  plant  in  Millen,  Georgia  at  specified  contract  prices.    The  term  of  the  agreement  was  five  years  with
automatic  two  (2)  year  extensions  and  requires  the  Company  to  source  at  least  50  percent  of  the  Millen  plant’s  annual  slurry 
requirement from the supplier.  For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company purchased $0, $0 and $1,300,
respectively, of slurry under this agreement.

In November 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with a supplier to provide frac sand for the Company’s Marshfield,
Wisconsin plant at a specified contract price.  The term of the agreement, which commenced on November 13, 2014, remains in effect 
until the specified sand is depleted and required the Company to purchase a minimum of 300,000 tons of frac sand during 2015 and 
400,000 tons of frac sand for each year thereafter.  Effective October 12, 2015, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement with the
supplier resulting in the adjustment of required annual minimum purchased tons of frac sand to 123,203 and 116,599 for years 2015 
and 2016, respectively.  In July 2016, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement with the supplier which removed the required
annual minimum purchased tons of frac sand for 2016.  In April 2017, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement with the supplier 
to purchase a minimum of 400,000 tons in 2017, all at a stated price.  The minimum purchase requirements of 400,000 tons for years 
2018 and thereafter until the specified sand is depleted remains unchanged.  For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015,
the Company purchased $3,837, $252 and $1,751, respectively, of frac sand under this agreement.

ff

In September 2017, the Company entered into an agreement with a supplier to provide frac sand for the Company’s Marshfield, 
Wisconsin plant at a specified contract price.  The contract requires us purchase 16,000 tons of frac sand per month through February
2018.  For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company purchased $675 of frac sand under this agreement.

In  November  2017,  the  Company  entered  into  an  agreement  with  a  supplier  to  provide  hydro  sized  sand  for  the  Company’s 
Marshfield, Wisconsin plant at a specified contract price.  The Company agreed to purchase a minimum of 40,000 tons with the option
to purchase additional hydro sized sand at the Company’s discretion.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company had not yet purchased 
any hydro sized sand under this agreement.

The Company entered into a lease agreement dated November 1, 2008 (“2008 Agreement”) with the Development Authority of 
Wilkinson  County  (the  “Wilkinson  County  Development  Authority”)  and  a  lease  agreement  dated  November  1,  2012  (“2012 
Agreement”) with the Development Authority of Jenkins County (the “Jenkins County Development Authority” and together with the 
Wilkinson  County  Development  Authority,  the  “Development  Authorities”)  each  in  the  State  of  Georgia.    Pursuant  to  the  2008 
Agreement, the Wilkinson County Development Authority holds the title to the real and personal property of the Company's McIntyre
and  Toomsboro  manufacturing  facilities  and  leases  the  facilities  to  the  Company  for  an  annual  rental  fee  of  $50  per  year  through 
November 1, 2017, and includes a Company renewal option to extend through November 1, 2021.  Pursuant to the 2012 Agreement, 
the  Jenkins  County  Development  Authority  holds  title  to  the  real  estate  and  personal  property  of  the  Company’s  Millen,  Georgia 
manufacturing  facility,  and  leases  the  facility  to  the  Company  until  the  tenth  anniversary  of  completion  of  the  final  phase  of  the
facility.  At any time prior to the scheduled termination of either lease, the Company has the option to terminate the lease and purchase
the property for a nominal fee plus the payment of any rent payable through the balance of the lease term.  Furthermore, the Company 
has  security  interests  in  the  titles  held  by  the  Development  Authorities.   The  Company  has  also  entered  into  a  Memorandum  of 
Understanding  (the  “MOU”)  with  the  Development  Authorities  and  other  local  agencies,  under  which  the  Company  receives  tax
incentives  in  exchange  for  its  commitment  to  invest  in  the  county  and  increase  employment.    The  MOU  with  the  Jenkins  County
Development Authority also requires the Company to pay an administrative payment of $50 per year during the term of the Millen 
lease.  The Company is required to achieve certain employment levels in order to retain its tax incentives.  In the event the Company 
does  not  meet  the  agreed-upon  employment  targets  or  the  MOU  is  otherwise  terminated,  the  Company  would  be  subjected  to 
additional property taxes annually.  Based on adverse economic conditions beyond the Company’s control that negatively impacted
employment levels, a notice dated December 1, 2015 sent by the Company to the Development Authority of Jenkins County declared 
a  force  majeure,  which  suspended  employment  levels  defined  in  the  original  agreement  and  preserved  tax  incentives  until  further
notification of the restart of plant operations.  The suspension period defined in the amended agreement cannot extend beyond January
1, 2021.  Based on adverse economic conditions beyond the Company’s control that negatively impacted employment levels, a notice
dated  February  1,  2016  sent  by  the  Company  to  the  Development  Authority  of  Wilkinson  County  declared  a  force  majeure,  which 
suspended employment levels defined in the original agreement and preserved tax incentives until further notification of the restart of 
plant  operations.    The  Development  Authority  of  Jenkins  County  and  the  Development  Authority  of  Wilkinson  County  has  not 
challenged the Company’s declaring a force majeure.  The properties subject to these lease agreements are included in Property, Plant 
and Equipment (net book value of $262,319 at December 31, 2017) in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

F-24

16. Employment Agreements

The Company has an employment agreement through December 31, 2018 with its President and Chief Executive Officer.  The 
agreement provides for an annual base salary and incentive bonus.  If the President and Chief Executive Officer is terminated early
without cause, the Company will be obligated to pay two years base salary and a prorated incentive bonus.  Under the agreement, the
timing  of  the  payment  of  severance  obligations  to  the  President  in  the  event  of  the  termination  of  his  employment  under  certain
circumstances  has  been  conformed  so  that  a  portion  of  such  obligations  will  be  payable  in  a  lump  sum,  with  the  remainder  of  the
obligations to be paid over an 18 month period.  The agreement also contains a two-year non-competition covenant that would become
effective upon termination for any reason.  The employment agreement extends automatically for successive one-year periods without 
prior written notice.

17.

Sale of Russian Proppant Business

On  July  21,  2017,  subsidiaries  of  the  Company  Carbo  Ceramics  (Mauritius)  Inc.  and  Carbo  LLC  (together,  the  “Sellers”)
entered  into  a  Share  Purchase  Agreement  with  Petro  Welt  Technologies  AG  and  PeWeTe  Evolution  Limited  (together,  the
“Purchasers”) to sell the Company’s Russian proppant business.  The adjusted purchase price is approximately $26,000 for all of the
shares  of  CARBO  Ceramics  Cyprus  Limited  held  by  the  Sellers.  The  transaction  received  local  regulatory  approval  and  closed  on 
September 21, 2017.

f

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company received gross proceeds of $22,000 related to the sale.  We expect to receive 
additional  proceeds  on  the  sale  of  approximately  $4,000  related  to  net  debt  and  net  working  capital  purchase  price 
adjustments.  Although the Company remains in active discussions with the Purchasers regarding the purchase price adjustments, in
January  2018,  the  Company  filed  a  Notice  of  Arbitration  related  to  this  purchase  price  adjustment  against  the  Purchasers.    The net 
assets  included  in  the  calculation  of  the  loss  on  the  sale  were  $17,754,  including  cash  and  cash  equivalents  of  $846,  accounts
receivable of $6,047, total inventory of $8,573, net PP&E of $2,763, other net assets of $670, and accrued expenses of $1,145.  The
Company  incurred  approximately  $1,646  in  expenses  relating  to  the  sale.  Gain  on  the  sale  before  consideration  of  the  cumulative
translation  adjustment  was  approximately  $6,599.  However,  as  a  result  of  the  sale,  the  Company  reclassified  the  foreign  currency
cumulative translation loss of $33,347 from accumulated other comprehensive loss within shareholders’ equity to net loss which offset 
the initial gain on the sale.  As a result, the Company’s net loss on the sale was approximately $26,747, presented as a separate line 
item within operating loss on the consolidated statement of operations.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company does not have a material net investment that is subject to foreign currency fluctuations.  

18. Legal Proceedings and Regulatory Matters

The  Company  is  subject  to  legal  proceedings,  claims  and  litigation  arising  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business.    While  the 
outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, management does not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters 
will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

19.

Subsequent Events

In January 2018, the Company awarded the following:

334,638  shares  of  restricted  stock  to  certain  employees.    The  fair  value  of  the  stock  award  on  the  date  of  grant  totaled 
$4,069, which will be recognized as expense, less actual forfeitures as they occur, on a straight-line basis over the three-year 
vesting period.

51,401 units of phantom shares to certain employees.  The fair value of the phantom shares on the date of grant totaled 
$625.    Compensation  expense  for  these  shares  will  be  recognized  over  the  three-year  vesting  period.    The  amount  of 
compensation expense recognized each period will be based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock at the end of 
each period.

F-25

Exhibit Index

Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 3.1  of  the
Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed for the period ending June 30, 2012)
Second  Amended  and  Restated  By-Laws  of  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 3.1  of  the 
Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report filed July 17, 2013)
Form  of  Common  Stock  Certificate  of  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 4.1  of  the
Registrant’s Form S-1 Registration Statement No. 333-1884 filed July 19, 1996) (P)
Certificate  of  Designations  of  Series A  Preferred  Stock  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 2  of  the  Registrant’s
Form 8-A12B Registration Statement No. 001-15903 filed February 25, 2002)
Amended and Restated Mining Agreement dated as of November 30, 2015 between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Arcilla
Mining  &  Land  Co.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 10.1  of  the  Registrant’s  Form 10-K  Annual  Report  for  the
year ended December 31, 2015)
Proppant  Supply  Agreement  dated  as  of  August  28,  2008  between  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  and  Halliburton  Energy
Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter 
ended September 30, 2008)
Amendment No. 1 to Proppant Supply Agreement dated as of February 28, 2011 between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and 
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly 
Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2011)
Side  Letter  to  Proppant  Supply  Agreement  dated  as  of  August  26,  2011  between  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  and 
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly 
Report for the quarter ended September 30, 2011)
Amendment No. 3 to Proppant Supply Agreement dated as of March 24, 2014 by and between CARBO Ceramics Inc. 
and  Halliburton  Energy  Services,  Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1  of  the  Registrant’s  Form 10-Q
Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2014)
Amendment No. 4 to Proppant Supply Agreement dated as of September 25, 2015 between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and 
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly 
Report for the quarter ended September 30, 2015)
Amendment No. 5 to Proppant Supply Agreement dated as of September 25, 2015 between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and 
Halliburton  Energy  Services,  Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 10.10  of  the  Registrant’s  Form 10-K  Annual 
Report for the year ended December 31, 2015)
Amendment  No.  6  to  Proppant  Supply  Agreement  dated  as  of  April  30,  2016  between  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  and 
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly 
Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2016)
Promissory Note between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Williams C. Morris (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of 
the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2016)
Promissory Note between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Robert S. Rubin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the 
Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2016)
Master Purchase Agreement for Goods and Services dated as of January 18, 2017 between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and 
Halliburton  Energy  Services,  Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.15  of  the  Registrant’s  Form  10-K  Annual 
Report for the year ended December 31, 2016)
Lease  Agreement  dated  as  of  November  1,  2008  between  the  Development  Authority  of  Wilkinson  County  and 
CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 10.1  of  the  Registrant’s  Form 8-K  Current  Report  filed 
December 30, 2008)
Option  Agreement  dated  as  of  November  1,  2008  between  the  Development  Authority  of  Wilkinson  County  and 
CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 10.2  of  the  Registrant’s  Form 8-K  Current  Report  filed 
December 30, 2008)
Lease Agreement dated as of November 1, 2012 between the Development Authority of Jenkins County and CARBO
Ceramics  Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 10.9  of  the  Registrant’s  Form 10-K  Annual  Report  for  the  year 
ended December 31, 2012)
Amended and Restated 2014 CARBO Ceramics Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 
of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2017)
Form of Officer Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan
Form  of  Non-Employee  Director  Restricted  Stock  Award  Agreement  for  Amended  and  Restated  2014  Omnibus
Incentive Plan
Form of Officer Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Amended and Restated Omnibus 2014 Incentive Plan

      3.1

      3.2

      4.1

      4.2

**10.1

**10.2

**10.3

    10.4

    10.5

**10.6

**10.7

    10.8

    10.9

    10.10

**10.11

    10.12

    10.13

    10.14

  *10.15

  *10.16
  *10.17

  *10.18

33

  *10.19

  *10.20

  *10.21

  *10.22

  *10.23

    10.24

    10.25

    10.26

    10.27

    10.28

    10.29

    10.30

    10.31

    10.32

    10.33

    10.34

    10.35

    10.36

    10.37

Description  of  Annual  Non-Employee  Director  Stock  Grants  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1  of  the
Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2010)
Description of Modification to Annual Non-Employee Director Stock Grants (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2
of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2011)
Description of Modification to the Annual Non-Employee Director Stock Grants (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.2 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2012)
Description of Modification to Annual Non-Employee Director Stock Grants (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1
of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2013)
Description of Modification to Annual Non-Employee Director Stock Grants (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2
of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2014)
Office Lease dated as of January 20, 2009 between I-10 EC Corridor #2 Limited Partnership and CARBO Ceramics 
Inc.  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.27  of  the  Registrant’s  Form  10-K  Annual  Report  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2009) 
First Amendment to Lease dated as of January 15, 2010 between I-10 EC Corridor #2 Limited Partnership and CARBO 
Ceramics Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 of the Registrant’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year 
ended December 31, 2009) 
Second Amendment to Lease dated as of March 1, 2015 between I-10 EC Corridor #2 Limited Partnership and CARBO 
Ceramics Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report filed March 16, 
2015)
Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of  January  29,  2010,  among  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.,  as  borrower,  Wells  Fargo  Bank,
National  Association,  as  administrative  agent,  issuing  lender  and  swing  line  lender,  and  the  lenders  named  therein
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report filed February 4, 2010)
Amendment No. 1, dated as of March 5, 2012, among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swing line lender, and the lenders named therein (incorporated 
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report filed March 6, 2012)
Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2013, among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, Wells 
Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swing line lender, and the lenders named 
therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended 
June 30, 2013)
Amendment  No.  3  to  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of  October  31,  2014,  among  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.,  as  borrower, 
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swing line lender, and the lenders 
named  therein  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1  of  the  Registrant’s  Form  10-Q  Quarterly  Report  for  the
quarter ended September 30, 2014)
Amendment No. 4 to Credit Agreement, dated as of July 27, 2015, among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, Wells 
Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swing line lender, and the lenders named 
therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended 
June 30, 2015)
Amendment No. 5 to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2015, among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, 
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swing line lender, and the lenders 
named  therein  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.2  of  the  Registrant’s  Form  10-Q  Quarterly  Report  for  the
quarter ended September 30, 2015)
Amendment No. 6 to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2016, among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower,
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swing line lender, and the lenders 
named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 of the Registrant’s Form 10-K Annual Report for the year 
ended December 31, 2015)
Agreement  and  Amendment  No.  7  to  the  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of  April  27,  2016,  by  and  among  CARBO 
Ceramics Inc., as borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swing
line  lender,  and  the  lenders  named  therein  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.1  of  the  Registrant’s  Form  10-Q
Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016)
Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2016, by and between CARBO Ceramics
Inc.,  as  borrower  and  Wells  Fargo  Bank,  National  Association,  as  administrative  agent  (incorporated  by  reference  to 
Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016)
Patent  and  Trademark  Security  Agreement  dated  as  of  April  27,  2016  by  and  among  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.,  as 
borrower,  certain  Material  Domestic  Subsidiaries  of  the  Borrower  and  Wells  Fargo  Bank,  National  Association,  as 
administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the 
quarter ended March 31, 2016)
Waiver  Agreement  dated  as  of  April  27,  2016,  by  and  among  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.,  as  borrower,  certain  Lenders 
parties  thereto  and  Wells  Fargo  Bank,  National  Association,  as  administrative  agent  (incorporated  by  reference  to 
Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016)

34

    10.38

    10.39

  *10.40

    10.41

    10.42

    10.43

    10.44

    10.45

    10.46

    *10.47

    10.48

    10.49

***10.50

    21
    23
    31.1
    31.2
    32

    95
  101

Guaranty Agreement dated as of April 27, 2016, by and among certain Guarantors of CARBO Ceramics Inc. thereto 
and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the 
Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016)
Security Agreement, dated July 27, 2015, among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly 
Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2015)
Form of Change in Control Severance Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 
10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2012)
Sales Agreement between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC, dated July 28, 2016 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report filed July 28, 2016)
Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement  dated  as  of  March  2,  2017,  by  and  between  CARBO  Ceramics  Inc.,  as
borrower, and Wilks Brothers, LLC, as lender and administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of
the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report filed March 6, 2017)
Letter Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2017, by and between Carbo Ceramics Inc., Wilks Brothers, LLC, William C.
Morris, Robert S. Rubin and Gary A. Kolstad (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Form 8-K 
Current Report filed March 6, 2017)
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2017, by and between Carbo Ceramics Inc. and Wilks Brothers, 
LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report filed March 6, 2017)
Warrant, dated as of March 2, 2017, issued by Carbo Ceramics Inc. to Wilks Brothers, LLC (incorporated by reference 
to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report filed March 6, 2017)
Second  Amended  and  Restated  Pledge  and  Security  Agreement,  dated  as  of  March  2,  2017,  by  and  among  CARBO
Ceramics  Inc.,  as  borrower,  and  Wilks  Brothers,  LLC,  as  administrative  agent  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit 
10.5 of the Registrant’s Form 8-K Current Report filed March 6, 2017)
Fifth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of March 20, 2017, by and between CARBO Ceramics
Inc. and Gary A. Kolstad (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for 
the quarter ended March 31, 2017)
Letter Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2017, between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and William C. Morris (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2017)
Letter Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2017, between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Robert S. Rubin (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.8 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2017)
Share Purchase Agreement between Carbo Ceramics (Mauritius) Inc. and CARBO LLC and Petro Welt Technologies
AG  and  PeWeTe  Evolution  Limited,  dated  as  of  July  21,  2017  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.2  of  the
Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2017)
Subsidiaries
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Gary A. Kolstad
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Ernesto Bautista III
Certification  pursuant  to  18 U.S.C.  Section 1350,  as  adopted  pursuant  to  Section 906  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act  of
2002
Mine Safety Disclosure
The following financial information from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 
31,  2017,  formatted  in  XBRL:  (i)  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets;  (ii)  Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations;  (iii)
Consolidated  Statements  of  Comprehensive  Loss;  (iv)  Consolidated  Statements  of  Shareholders’  Equity;  (v) 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

*

**

Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 15(b) of the requirements for an 
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, confidential portions of these exhibits have been 
omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.
***    The schedules and Exhibit A to the Share Purchase Agreement have been omitted from this filing pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of 
Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon request.
(P)     Paper exhibits

35

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this

Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

SIGNATURES

CARBO Ceramics Inc.

By:

By:

/S/ GARY A KOLSTAD
Gary A. Kolstad
President and Chief Executive Officer

/S/ ERNESTO BAUTISTA III
Ernesto Bautista III
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

Dated: March 7, 2018

36

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW  ALL  PERSONS  BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that  each  person  whose  signature  appears  below  constitutes  and  appoints 
Gary A. Kolstad and Ernesto Bautista III, jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him in
any  and  all  capacities,  to  sign  any  amendments  to  this  Report  on  Form  10-K,  and  to  file  the  same,  with  exhibits  thereto  and  other 
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of 
said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  this  Report  has  been  signed  below  by  the  following 

persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

/S/ WILLIAM C. MORRIS
William C. Morris

/S/ GARY A. KOLSTAD
Gary A. Kolstad

/S/ ERNESTO BAUTISTA III
Ernesto Bautista III

/S/ SIGMUND L. CORNELIUS
Sigmund L. Cornelius

/S/ CHAD C. DEATON
Chad C. Deaton

/S/ H.E. LENTZ, JR.
H.E. Lentz, Jr.

/S/ RANDY 

L. LIMBACHER

RR
Randy L. Limbacher

/S/ ROBERT S. RUBIN
Robert S. Rubin

RR

Date

March 7, 2018

March 7, 2018

March 7, 2018

March 7, 2018

March 7, 2018

March 7, 2018

March 7, 2018

March 7, 2018

Title

Chairman of the Board

President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director (Principal Executive Officer)

Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

37

Corporate Information

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
William C. Morris
Chairman of the Board, CARBO Ceramics Inc.
Chairman of the Board, Clysar, LLC and
Gulf Coast Supply & Manufacturing, LLC

Sigmund L. Cornelius
President & COO, Freeport LNG, L.P.

Chad Deaton
Retired Chairman & Chief Executive Officer,
Baker Hughes Incorporated

Gary A. Kolstad
President and Chief Executive Officer,
CARBO Ceramics Inc.

H. E. Lentz, Jr.
Former Managing Director,
Lazard Frères & Co.

Randy L. Limbacher
Chief Executive Officer,  
Meridian Energy LLC

CORPORATE OFFICERS
Gary A. Kolstad
President and Chief Executive Officer

Ernesto Bautista, III
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Don P. Conkle
Vice President, Marketing and Sales

Roger Riffey
Vice President, Manufacturing

Ellen M. Smith
Vice President, Human Resources

Robert J. Willette
Vice President and General Counsel

Paul Howard
Vice President, Research and Development

Stephen Love
Vice President, Industrial Technology

CORPORATE OFFICES
Energy Center II 
575 N. Dairy Ashford 
Suite 300 
Houston, Texas 77079 
281-921-6400

STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING
The New York Stock Exchange 
Symbol: CRR

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Computershare 
PO Box 50500, Louisville, KY 40233-5000 
800-635-9270

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Ernst & Young LLP 
New Orleans, Louisiana

FORM 10-K
A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to 
the Securities and Exchange Commission 
(Form 10-K) is available free of charge by 
contacting:

Ernesto Bautista, III 
Chief Financial Officer 
CARBO Ceramics Inc. 
575 N. Dairy Ashford 
Suite 300 
Houston, Texas 77079

CERTIFICATIONS
The certifications required by Section 302  
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 were filed 
as exhibits to the Form 10-K. In addition, 
we have submitted to the New York Stock 
Exchange the annual certification of our 
Chief Executive Officer regarding the 
Company’s compliance with the NYSE 
corporate governance listing standards.

INVESTOR RELATIONS
Additional corporate information  
is available from our website at  
www.carboceramics.com or by e-mailing 
the Company at IR@carboceramics.com.

Mission Statement –  
Profitable Growth for CARBO and Clients

Production Enhancement: 
Our Production Enhancement businesses increase  
E&P Operators’ Production and EUR by providing 
industry-leading technology to Design, Build and 
Optimize the Frac.

Performance Enhancement:  
Our Industrial Performance Enhancement business 
increases manufacturers’ process efficiency, improves 
end-product quality and reduces operating costs. 

Environmental Services: 
Our Environmental Services business protects E&P 
Operators’ assets, minimizes environmental risk and 
lowers lease operating expenses (LOE).

Core Values

We achieve our mission within the framework established by our  
core values.

•  HSE: We are committed to a Safe and Healthy workplace and 

protection of the Environment.

•  Ethics: We conduct our business with the highest ethical standards.  
We are truthful and honor our commitments and responsibilities.

•  Respect: We foster a supportive environment by treating each 

other with mutual respect and understanding.

•  Goals: We set aggressive goals and strive to exceed them.

•  Results: We value and celebrate a high level of individual 

achievement and team performance.

•  Profitable Growth: We encourage innovation and continuous 

improvement to ensure future profitable business growth.

Energy Center II
575 N. Dairy Ashford
Suite 300
Houston, TX  77079
Corporate Office: 281-921-6400

www.carboceramics.com