2018 ANNUAL REP ORT
2019 PROXY STATEMENT
T O O U R S T O C K H O L D E R S
A Letter from our President
Dear Fellow Stockholders,
2018 was a momentous year for our organization, highlighted by several key accomplishments, the most important
of which was the transaction in June that created Covia. The origins of our name, “Co” = together and “Via” = by way
of, reflect Covia’s culture of building strong relationships with customers, suppliers, shareholders, our local
communities and other key partners to benefit all of our stakeholders.
Recently, we introduced Clearly Covia™ to communicate this unique culture and commitment to deliver customer-
driven solutions across both our Industrial and Energy segments, and to create value for our stockholders and our
many other stakeholders. Clearly Covia represents our four key values:
• Safety First
• Be Different
• Deliver on Promise
• Do Good. Do Well. Act Responsibly.
It also represents our commitment to the fundamental behaviors which underpin each of these key values.
Guided by these values and the tireless efforts of our employees, we have already made significant progress in
leveraging Covia’s strengths in order to deliver value today, and to build the foundation for future value creation.
Some of these accomplishments include:
• Quickly integrating our supply chains to capture synergies and deliver value to customers;
• Commissioning three new Energy plants, as well as expanding an Industrial plant to support growing customer
demand; and
• Completing a materiality assessment for our Sustainable Development (SD) program to determine the areas
where SD can maximize value for our stakeholders.
From an operational perspective, one of the key strategic objectives of the transaction was to create a balanced,
cost-effective and diversified business not only between our two segments, but also among minerals, logistics,
product technologies, geographies and end markets. We have achieved this objective and look to further enhance
our balanced business model in the future.
The transaction provided our Energy segment with the scale and diverse combination of plants, products and
logistical capabilities to solve our customers’ varied needs across all major oil and gas basins. Additionally, our
Energy segment has the flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions, as evidenced by the decisive actions we
took in the second half of 2018 to align our production capacities with market demand and maintain our low-cost
position. Complementing the cyclicality of energy markets, our Industrial segment has a large and diverse footprint
across North America, where we provide a wide range of mineral-based solutions and serve more than 2,000
customers across multiple end markets. This results in a large, resilient and more predictable segment, with
significant cash flow generation, and one which is strongly positioned to capture targeted growth opportunities.
In 2019, we expect to continue to integrate and realize synergies, leverage our assets to maintain low-cost leadership,
and continue introducing new solutions to better serve our customers. These actions should enhance our well-
balanced business model and position us to maximize cash flow and reduce financial leverage.
In closing, I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to all Covia employees, our business partners, the communities
in which we operate, and our fellow stockholders for your ongoing support and we look forward to a prosperous
2019.
Sincerely,
Jenniffer D. Deckard
President and CEO
Covia Holdings Corporation
Notice of 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
and
Proxy Statement
Covia Holdings Corporation
3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700
Independence, Ohio 44131
April 12, 2019
Dear Stockholder:
On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to invite you to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Covia
Holdings Corporation. The Annual Meeting will be held at our office located at 2829 Technology Forest Blvd., The
Woodlands, Texas 77381, on May 23, 2019, beginning at 8:15 a.m. CDT.
The following pages contain the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and the accompanying Proxy Statement. We
encourage you to review these materials for information concerning the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting.
Your vote is very important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote as soon as possible. If
you attend the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote in person, even if you have previously submitted a proxy.
We have elected to take advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow us to furnish proxy materials to
certain stockholders on the Internet. On or about the date of this letter, we began mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of
Proxy Materials to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 25, 2019. At the same time, we made our proxy
materials available over the Internet and filed our proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If you
received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless
you request it by following the instructions for those materials contained in the Notice.
Thank you for your continued support of Covia Holdings Corporation.
Sincerely,
Richard A. Navarre
Chairman of the Board
COVIA HOLDINGS CORPORATION
NOTICE OF 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ................................................................................................... i
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING VOTING ...................................................................................................... ii
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS ......................................... ii
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDANCE .................................................... ii
PROXY STATEMENT................................................................................................................................................................ 1
ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING ...................................................................................................................................... 1
ITEM 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS .............................................................................................................................. 4
GOVERNANCE .................................................................................................................................................................... 11
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT .................................... 23
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION ........................................................................................................................................ 26
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION .......................................................................................................................................... 53
ITEM 2: SAY-ON-PAY VOTE (ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION) ................. 55
ITEM 3: SAY-ON-FREQUENCY VOTE (ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE SAY-ON-PAY
VOTE) ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
ITEM 4: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP .................................................. 56
AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS ..................................................................................................................................... 56
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................................... 58
OTHER MATTERS .............................................................................................................................................................. 59
Covia Holdings Corporation
3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700
Independence, Ohio 44131
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MAY 23, 2019
To our Stockholders:
The 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Covia Holdings Corporation (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held at our office
located at 2829 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, Texas 77381, on May 23, 2019, beginning at 8:15 a.m. CDT, for the
following purposes:
1. Elect as directors the 13 nominees named in the Proxy Statement for a term of one year;
2. Approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers;
3. Approve, on an advisory basis, the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive
officers;
4. Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019; and
5. Transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 25, 2019, as the record date for the determination of
stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof.
We began mailing a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials on or about April 12, 2019 to stockholders of record at
the close of business on March 25, 2019, except for those stockholders of record who had requested a paper or email copy of
our proxy materials to whom we mailed or emailed a copy of our proxy materials. The Notice contains information on how to
access on the Internet our 2019 Proxy Statement, our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders, our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and the form of proxy. The Notice also provides instructions on how to vote via
the Internet or by telephone and how to request a paper or email copy of our proxy materials.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Chadwick P. Reynolds
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
April 12, 2019
Independence, Ohio
Your vote is very important. Stockholders are urged to vote online. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you may revoke
your proxy and vote in person if you wish, even if you have previously submitted a proxy.
i
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING VOTING
If our shares of common stock are registered in your name with our transfer agent, you are considered, with respect to those
shares of common stock, a holder of record (which we also refer to as a registered stockholder). If you hold our shares of
common stock in a brokerage account or through a bank or other nominee serving as holder of record, which is also referred to
as holding in “street name,” you are considered the beneficial stockholder of those shares of common stock.
If you are a beneficial stockholder, you must instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote your shares of common
stock. If you do not provide voting instructions, your shares of common stock will not be voted on any proposal on which your
broker, bank or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote. This is called a “broker non-vote.” In such cases,
your broker, bank or other nominee may register your shares of common stock as being present at the Annual Meeting for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum but will not be able to vote on those matters for which specific authorization
is required under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).
If you are a beneficial stockholder, your broker has discretionary authority under NYSE rules to vote your shares of common
stock on Item 4 (Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP) in the event the broker does not receive voting
instructions from you. However, your broker does not have discretionary authority to vote your shares of common stock on
Item 1 (Election of Directors), Item 2 (Say-on-Pay Vote) or Item 3 (Say- on-Frequency Vote) without instructions from you, in
which case a broker non-vote will occur and your shares of common stock will not be voted on those matters. Accordingly, it
is particularly important that beneficial owners instruct their brokers how they wish to vote their shares.
If you have any questions about the voting process, please contact the broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares of
common stock. The Securities and Exchange Commission also has a website (sec.gov/spotlight/proxymatters.shtml) with more
information about your rights as a stockholder. Additionally, you may contact our Investor Relations Department via the
information located in the Investor Relations section of our website (ir.coviacorp.com/home).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
Our 2019 Proxy Statement, our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018, are available for review by registered and beneficial stockholders at www.proxyvote.com.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ANNUAL MEETING ATTENDANCE
In accordance with our security procedures, all persons attending the Annual Meeting must present picture identification and
their Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, the admission ticket found on their proxy card (if they requested and
received a proxy card), or a brokerage statement or other proof of ownership of our shares of common stock as of the record
date. For security purposes, briefcases, bags, purses, backpacks and other containers will be subject to search at the door.
Directions to the location of the Annual Meeting are available in the Investor Relations section of our website
(ir.coviacorp.com/home).
ii
Covia Holdings Corporation
3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700
Independence, Ohio 44131
______________________________
PROXY STATEMENT
______________________________
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (“Board”) of Covia
Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“we”, “our”, “us” and “Covia”), for use at the 2019 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held at our office located at 2829 Technology Forest Blvd., The Woodlands, Texas 77381, on May 23, 2019,
beginning at 8:15 a.m. CDT (“Annual Meeting”). On or about April 12, 2019, we began mailing to our stockholders of record
at the close of business on March 25, 2019 (“Record Date”), a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing
instructions on how to access the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this Proxy Statement, our 2018 Annual Report to
Stockholders and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (“2018 Form 10-K”).
ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
Purpose of the Annual Meeting
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will act upon the matters outlined in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
included with this Proxy Statement. Specifically, stockholders will be asked to: (1) elect as directors the 13 nominees named
in this Proxy Statement; (2) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed in
this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis,
compensation tables and the narrative discussion accompanying the tables (“Say-on-Pay Vote”); (3) hold an advisory vote on
the frequency of future advisory votes on the compensation of our named executive officers (“Say- on-Frequency Vote”); (4)
ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019; and (5) transact
such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Registered Stockholders and Beneficial Stockholders
If our shares of common stock are registered in your name with our transfer agent, you are considered, with respect to those
shares of common stock, a holder of record (which we also refer to as a registered stockholder). If you hold our shares of
common stock in a brokerage account or through a bank or other nominee serving as holder of record, which is also referred to
as holding in “street name,” you are considered the beneficial stockholder of those shares of common stock.
Voting Securities and Stockholder Voting Rights
Our voting securities consist of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share. Only stockholders of record of our common
stock at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. On the
Record Date, there were 131,420,006 outstanding shares of our common stock. Each outstanding share of our common stock
entitles the holder thereof to one vote on each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting or any postponement or
adjournment thereof.
Individual votes of stockholders are kept private, except as appropriate to meet legal requirements. Access to proxies and other
individual stockholder voting records is limited to our inspector of election and certain of our employees and agents who must
acknowledge their responsibility to comply with this policy of confidentiality.
1
A list of the holders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for inspection at the Annual Meeting and,
for a period of 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting, at our headquarters located at 3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700,
Independence, Ohio 44131. All voting at the Annual Meeting will be governed by our Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”), our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”), and the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.
Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
In accordance with rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), instead of mailing a printed copy of
our proxy materials to each stockholder of record, we are permitted to furnish our proxy materials, including the Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, this Proxy Statement, our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders and our 2018 Form 10-K, by
providing access to those documents on the Internet. Generally, stockholders will not receive printed copies of the proxy
materials unless they request them.
A Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Notice of Internet Availability”) that provides instructions for accessing
our proxy materials on the Internet was mailed or emailed directly to registered stockholders. The Notice of Internet
Availability also provides instructions regarding how registered stockholders may vote their shares of common stock on the
Internet. Registered stockholders who prefer to receive a paper or email copy of our proxy materials should follow the
instructions provided in the Notice of Internet Availability for requesting those materials.
The broker, bank or other nominee who is considered the registered stockholder with respect to shares of common stock should
forward to the beneficial stockholder of those shares of common stock a notice that directs the beneficial stockholder to the
website where our proxy materials may be accessed. That broker, bank or other nominee should also provide to the beneficial
stockholder instructions on how the beneficial stockholders may request a paper or email copy of our proxy materials.
Beneficial stockholders have the right to direct their broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote their shares of common
stock by following the voting instructions they receive from their broker, bank or other holder of record.
To elect to receive proxy materials for future stockholder meetings through our electronic delivery service, follow the
instruction in your Notice of Internet Availability (or proxy card, if you received printed copies of the proxy materials) to
register online at www.proxyvote.com and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access stockholder
communications electronically in future years.
How to Vote
As a Registered Stockholder
After receiving the Notice of Internet Availability (or proxy card, if you received printed or emailed copies of the proxy
materials), registered stockholders are urged to visit www.proxyvote.com to access our proxy materials and vote online. When
voting online, you must follow the instructions posted on the website and you will need the control number included on your
Notice of Internet Availability (or proxy card, if applicable). Registered stockholders may also vote by telephone by calling 1-
800-690-6903 , by completing and mailing a proxy card (if you received printed copies of the proxy materials), or by
submitting a written ballot at the Annual Meeting. If, after receiving the Notice of Internet Availability, you request (via
online, toll-free telephone number or email) that we send you paper or emailed copies of our proxy materials, you may vote
your shares of common stock by completing, dating and signing the proxy card included with the materials and returning it in
accordance with the instructions provided.
If you vote online, by telephone or by mail, your vote must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 22, 2019, the day before
the Annual Meeting.
If you timely and properly submit your vote, your shares of common stock will be voted as you direct. If you return or
otherwise complete your proxy card, but you do not indicate your voting preferences, the proxies will vote your shares in
accordance with the Board’s recommendations as follows: FOR the election of the director nominees identified in Item 1
(Election of Directors); FOR the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in Item 2 (Say-on-
Pay Vote); on Item 3 (Say- on-Frequency Vote), for future advisory votes on approval of the compensation of our named
executive officers to occur EVERY YEAR; FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent
registered public accounting firm for 2019 as described in Item 4 (Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP),
and in their discretion for such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
A registered stockholder may revoke a proxy at any time before it is exercised at the Annual Meeting by (1) filing with our
Inspector of Election a written notice of revocation, (2) duly executing and delivering to our Secretary a proxy bearing a later
date or (3) by attending the Annual Meeting and giving written notice of revocation to the secretary of the meeting.
Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not by itself revoke a previously granted proxy.
2
As a Beneficial Stockholder
Beneficial stockholders should follow the procedures and directions set forth in the materials they receive from the broker,
bank or other nominee who is the registered holder of their shares of common stock to instruct such registered holder how to
vote those shares of common stock or revoke previously given voting instructions. Please contact your broker, bank or other
nominee to determine the applicable deadlines. Beneficial stockholders who wish to vote at the Annual Meeting will need to
obtain and provide to the secretary of the meeting a completed form of proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee who is
the registered holder of their shares of common stock.
Brokers, banks and other nominees who hold shares of common stock for beneficial stockholders in street name may vote such
shares of common stock on “routine” matters (as determined under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)),
such as Item 4 (Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP), without specific voting instructions from the
beneficial owner of such shares of common stock. Brokers, banks and other nominees may not, however, vote such shares of
common stock on “non-routine” matters, such as Item 1 (Election of Directors), Item 2 (Say-on-Pay Vote), and Item 3 (Say-
on-Frequency Vote), without specific voting instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares of common stock. Proxies
submitted by brokers, banks and other nominees that have not been voted on “non-routine” matters are referred to as “broker
non-votes.” Broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining the number of shares of common stock
necessary for approval of any matter to which broker non-votes apply (i.e., broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome
of such matter).
Householding
SEC rules allow multiple stockholders residing at the same address the convenience of receiving a single copy of the Notice of
Internet Availability, Annual Report to Stockholders and proxy materials if they consent to do so (referred to as
“householding”). Householding is permitted only in certain circumstances, including when you have the same last name and
address as another stockholder. If the required conditions are met under the applicable SEC rules, your household may receive
a single copy of the Notice of Internet Availability or the Annual Report to Stockholders and proxy materials. Upon written or
oral request, we will promptly deliver a separate copy of the Notice of Internet Availability or the Annual Report to
Stockholders and proxy materials, as applicable, to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the document(s)
was delivered.
You may either request householding or revoke your consent for householding at any time by contacting Broadridge, either by
calling 1-866-540-7095, or by writing to: Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
You will be added to or removed from the householding program within 30 days of receipt of your instructions. If you revoke
your consent for householding, you will be sent separate copies of the documents sent to our stockholders at such time as you
are removed from the householding program.
Beneficial stockholders may request more information about householding from their brokers, banks or other nominees.
Board’s Recommendations
Subject to revocation, all proxies that are properly completed and timely received will be voted in accordance with the
instructions contained therein. If no instructions are given (excluding broker non-votes), the persons named as proxy holders
will vote the shares of common stock in accordance with the recommendations of the Board. The Board’s recommendations
are set forth together with the description of each proposal in this Proxy Statement. In summary, the Board recommends a
vote:
1. FOR the election of each of the 13 director nominees named in this Proxy Statement (see Item 1);
2. FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this
Proxy Statement (see Item 2);
3. For the approval, on an advisory basis, of a ONE YEAR frequency for future Say-on-Pay Votes (see Item 3); and
4. FOR the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm
for 2019 (see Item 4).
If any other matter properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof, or if a director nominee named in
this Proxy Statement is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxy holders will vote on that matter or for a
substitute nominee as recommended by the Board.
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Quorum
The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to be
voted at the Annual Meeting, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum and permit us to conduct our business
at the Annual Meeting. Proxies received but marked as abstentions and broker non-votes will be included in the calculation of
the number of shares of common stock considered to be represented at the Annual Meeting for purposes of establishing a
quorum.
Vote Required for Approval
Item 1
Our Bylaws provide that if a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, director nominees receiving the greatest number of
votes properly cast (a “plurality”) will be elected as directors. The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides
that stockholders cannot elect directors by cumulative voting unless a company’s certificate of incorporation so provides. Our
Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.
If no voting instructions are given (excluding broker non-votes), the persons named as proxy holders on the proxy card will
vote the shares of common stock FOR the election of the director nominees identified in Item 1 (Election of Directors).
Other Items
For Item 2, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and
entitled to vote is required to approve the Say-on-Pay Vote. For purposes of Item 3, the option of every one, two or three years
that receives the most votes cast by stockholders will be considered the advisory vote of the stockholders. The affirmative vote
of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on Item 4 is required
to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP.
A properly executed proxy marked “abstain” with respect to Item 2, Item 3 and Item 4 will not be voted with respect to such
matter. Accordingly, for purposes of Item 2 and Item 4, abstentions will have the effect of a vote against Item 2 and Item 4.
For purposes of Item 2, broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as entitled to vote, and they will have no effect on the
outcome of Item 2. For purposes of Item 3, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast, and they
will have no effect on the outcome of Item 3.
If no voting instructions are given (excluding broker non-votes), the persons named as proxy holders on the proxy card will
vote the shares of common stock in accordance with the recommendations of the Board with respect to Item 2, Item 3 and Item
4 and at the discretion of the proxy holders on all other matters that may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting or any
adjournment thereof. The votes received with respect to Item 2, Item 3 and Item 4 are advisory and will not bind the Board or
us.
ITEM 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
At the Annual Meeting, 13 directors are to be elected to serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their
respective successors are elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. All 13 nominees are
currently directors on our Board. Proxies may not be voted at the Annual Meeting for more than 13 persons. Our stockholders
do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. The Board recommends each nominee listed below for re-
election as a director and knows of no reason why any such nominee may be unable to serve or for good cause will not serve as
a director if elected. If a director nominee is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the shares of common stock
represented by all valid proxies will be voted for the election of such other person as the Board may nominate.
Information concerning each director nominee is set forth in the following table, including each director nominee’s age (as of
the Record Date), current Board committee memberships, business experience and principal occupation for the past five years
or more, the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each director nominee that led to the conclusion that the
director nominee should serve as a director, other public company directorships held by each director nominee during the past
five years, and tenure as a director on the Board. The Board has affirmatively determined that, with the exception of Mr.
Decat, Ms. Deckard, Mr. Deleersnyder and Mr. Lambrechts, all of the director nominees are independent of Covia, its
subsidiaries and its management under the standards set forth in the NYSE rules, and no other director nominee has a material
relationship with Covia, its subsidiaries or its management aside from his or her service as a director. Ms. Deckard is not an
independent director due to her employment as our President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). Mr. Decat, Mr.
Deleersnyder and Mr. Lambrechts are not independent due to their employment as executives of SCR-Sibelco NV (“Sibelco”)
and the transactions between Sibelco and us in the past three years. See the “Related Party Transactions” section of this Proxy
Statement for information regarding transactions with Sibelco.
4
Name
Director
Since
Age
Business Experience, Current Positions on the Board’s Committees,
and Specific Qualifications for Service on the Board
Jenniffer D. Deckard
53
2018
Business Experience: Ms. Deckard has served as our President, CEO and as a
William E. Conway
91
2018
director since June 2018. Previously, Ms. Deckard served as President, CEO and
a director of Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. from 2013 until June 2018. At
Fairmount Santrol, she was President from 2011 until 2013, and served as Vice
President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer and in other roles in
accounting and finance from 1994 until 2011. Ms. Deckard joined the Board of
Directors of RPM International Inc. (NYSE: RPM) in 2015 and currently serves
as a member of RPM’s Audit Committee. In her local community, Ms. Deckard
serves on the boards of the Cleveland Foundation and the EDWINS Foundation.
She also serves on the Case Western Reserve Weatherhead School of
Management’s Visiting Committee and the Board of Directors for the Fairmount
Santrol Foundation. Ms. Deckard received a B.S. from the University of Tulsa
and a MBA from Case Western Reserve University.
Committee Memberships: Executive Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to her experience as our President and CEO, and
her prior experience as Fairmount Santrol’s President and CEO, Ms. Deckard is
particularly qualified to serve on our Board. In addition, in her role as CEO, she
has proven that she is an effective leader. Ms. Deckard’s financial expertise and
over 24 years combined experience at Covia and Fairmount Santrol provide her
with intimate, working knowledge of our day-to-day business, plans, strategies
and initiatives.
Business Experience: Mr. Conway has been a director of Covia since June 2018,
and previously served as Chairman of the Board (emeritus) of Fairmount Santrol
from 2010 until June 2018. After he and other investors acquired Best Sand in
1978, Mr. Conway invested in Wedron Silica in 1984, along with Charles D.
Fowler and the Wedron Silica management team. Best Sand and Wedron Silica
then merged to form Fairmount Minerals, what would later be known as
Fairmount Santrol, in 1986. Mr. Conway served as Chairman of the Board and
CEO of Best Sand from 1978 until 1984 and Fairmount Minerals from 1984 to
1996. From 1996 until 2010, he served as Fairmount Santrol’s Chairman of the
Board. Prior to entering the industrial minerals business in 1978, Mr. Conway
held positions with Pickands Mather & Co., Diamond Shamrock Corporation and
Midland-Ross Corporation. Mr. Conway serves on the boards of directors of the
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, University School and Holden Forests and
Gardens. Mr. Conway received a B.S. from Yale University and completed the
Executive Program at the University of California, Berkeley.
Committee Memberships: Governance Committee (Chair)
Director Qualifications: Due to his experience as Fairmount Santrol’s former
Chairman of the Board and CEO, Mr. Conway is particularly well qualified to
serve on our Board. In such roles, he has proven that he is an effective leader. As
one of the founders of Fairmount Santrol, Mr. Conway brings an extensive
understanding and comprehensive knowledge of various segments of our
business to our Board.
5
Name
Director
Since
Age
Business Experience, Current Positions on the Board’s Committees,
and Specific Qualifications for Service on the Board
Kurt Decat
53
2018
Jean-Luc Deleersnyder 57
2018
Business Experience: Mr. Decat has been a director of Covia since June 2018
and has been the Chief Financial Officer of Sibelco, a privately-owned Belgian
company, since joining Sibelco in 2015. Prior to joining Sibelco, Mr. Decat
served for 11 years as the Chief Finance Officer and as a director of Taminco
Corporation, a global specialty chemical company. Earlier in his career, Mr.
Decat held a number of finance, procurement and audit positions at Coopers
Lybrand, FedEx Corporation, Minit Group and Domo Inc. Mr. Decat holds a
master’s degree in commercial engineering and an M.B.A. from Katholieke
Universiteit Leuven.
Committee Memberships: Executive Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to his more than 15 years of experience as the
principal financial officer of Sibelco and Taminco Corporation, his experience as
a board member of Taminco Corporation, his broad financial background and his
working knowledge of the chemical and mining industries, Mr. Decat is well
qualified to serve on our Board.
Business Experience: Mr. Deleersnyder has been a director of Covia since June
2018, served as a member of the Board of Directors of Unimin Corporation from
2007 until June 2018, and has been CEO of Sibelco since 2014. Mr.
Deleersnyder joined Sibelco in April 2006 and served as CEO Europe and Group
Chief Operating Officer prior to his appointment as the CEO of Sibelco in 2014.
Prior to joining Sibelco, from 1996 to 2006, he was Executive Vice President of
Umicore SA. He started his career at McKinsey & Co. where he worked from
1988 to 1996. Mr. Deleersnyder received a M.S. in Electro-Mechanical
Engineering and a Ph.D. in Operations Management, both from University of
Ghent (Belgium).
Committee Memberships: Executive Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to his 20 years of experience with global industries,
including most recently as Sibelco’s CEO, Mr. Deleersnyder is well qualified to
serve on our Board. His business and industry expertise provide the Board with a
unique perspective on the global minerals industry.
6
Name
Director
Since
Age
Business Experience, Current Positions on the Board’s Committees,
and Specific Qualifications for Service on the Board
Michel Delloye
62
2018
Business Experience: Mr. Delloye has been a director of Covia since June 2018
Charles D. Fowler
73
2018
and has been a permanent representative of Cytifinance SA on the board of
directors of Sibelco and the chairman of the Audit Committee of Sibelco since
2016. Mr. Delloye started his career at the audit firm Deloitte Haskins & Sells in
1981, where he worked until 1984. In 1984, he joined Groupe Bruxelles
Lambert, a major investment group based in Brussels. Mr. Delloye served as
Finance Director of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert from 1986 to 1988, was President
of The Lambert Brussels Capital Corporation (New York) from 1988 to 1990 and
was General Manager of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert from 1990 to 1992. Between
1992 and 1996, Mr. Delloye was Managing Director (CEO) of RTL Group, the
leading European TV and radio group based in Luxembourg. He served as the
CEO and President of Central Media European Enterprise (London) between
1997 and 1998. Since then, he has been an active long-term investor in medium
sized European companies and has served as an independent board member of
several listed and unlisted companies, mainly in Belgium. Mr. Delloye was a
director of Compagnie du Bois Sauvage SA from 2007 to 2011, serving as
Chairman during 2010-2011, and served as an independent director of Telenet
Group Holding NV from 2003 until 2015. Mr. Delloye (personally or as
representative of Cytifinance SA) is currently a member of the board of a number
of major companies in Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, including
Vandemoortele, Matexi Group Holding, Brederode (listed on EURONEXT
Brussels and the Bourse de Luxembourg) and Schréder. Mr. Delloye serves as
the chairman of Brederode’s audit committee. Mr. Delloye received a degree in
law from the University of Louvain.
Committee Memberships: Audit Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to his management expertise combined with his
extensive experience as an independent board member, Mr. Delloye is well
qualified to serve on our Board.
Business Experience: Mr. Fowler has been a director of Covia since June 2018,
and served as a director of Fairmount Santrol from 1984 until June 2018. Mr.
Fowler and the Wedron Silica management team partnered with William E.
Conway in 1984 to acquire Wedron Silica and ultimately merge it with Mr.
Conway’s company, Best Sand, to create Fairmount Minerals. Mr. Fowler served
as President and CEO of Fairmount Santrol from 1996 until his retirement in
2013. He served as the past Chairman of the Board of Case Western Reserve
University, and continues to serve on the Board of Case Western Reserve
University. Mr. Fowler is also on the boards of directors of Flying Horse Farms,
DDC Clinic and the Greater Cleveland Water Alliance. He received a B.S. from
Purdue University and completed the Executive MBA program at Case Western
Reserve University.
Committee Memberships: Governance Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to his experience as Fairmount Santrol’s former
President and CEO, Mr. Fowler is particularly well qualified to serve on our
Board. In addition, in such roles with Fairmount Santrol, he has proven that he is
an effective leader. As one of the founders of Fairmount Santrol, Mr. Fowler
brings an extensive understanding and comprehensive knowledge of various
segments of our business to our Board.
7
Name
Director
Since
Age
Business Experience, Current Positions on the Board’s Committees,
and Specific Qualifications for Service on the Board
Jean-Pierre Labroue
56
2018
Olivier Lambrechts
38
2018
Business Experience: Mr. Labroue has been a director of Covia since June 2018
and has served as the permanent representative of Calavon Finance SAS on the
board of directors of Sibelco since 2017 and as the President of Calavon Finance
SAS since its incorporation in May 2017. From December 2012 to December
2016, Mr. Labroue served as Group General Counsel and Head of Legal and
Compliance of Solvay, an international chemical group, where he also supervised
mergers and acquisitions. From 2004 until 2011, he served as Group General
Counsel & Corporate Secretary of the international chemical group Rhodia,
which was acquired by Solvay in 2011, first supervising the legal function and
later also mergers and acquisitions and public affairs. From 1999 to 2004, Mr.
Labroue was Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Aventis
Pharma SA. From 1989 to 1999, he worked at Rhone-Poulenc, including
working in Rhône-Poulenc Chimie’s legal department from 1989 to 1993,
working in the American Rhône-Poulenc Rorer’s headquarters in Collegeville, PA
from 1993 to 1996 and serving as Vice President & General Counsel, Europe and
International of Rhône-Poulenc Rorer from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Labroue began his
career in 1988 with the Jeantet & Associés law firm in Paris. Mr. Labroue holds
post graduate law degrees from the University of Paris X Nanterre, completed the
ESSEC-IMD business school program and obtained an LL.M. degree in
corporate law and finance from Widener University.
Committee Memberships: Compensation Committee (Chair); Governance
Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to his extensive experience gained through
leadership roles at a number of European chemical companies, combined with his
extensive legal background, Mr. Labroue is well qualified to serve on our Board.
Business Experience: Mr. Lambrechts has been a director of Covia since June
2018 and has served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development of
Sibelco since 2016. Prior to joining Sibelco, from 2008 until 2015, Mr.
Lambrechts was an associate, engagement manager and associate principal at
McKinsey & Company. From 2003 until 2007, he served as Ph.D. Researcher at
K.U. Leuven, where he received a Ph. D. in applied economics, business
engineering and operations management in 2007.
Committee Memberships: Executive Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to his extensive experience at Sibelco and
McKinsey & Company in the field of strategic project development, Mr.
Lambrechts is well qualified to serve on our Board.
8
Name
Director
Since
Age
Business Experience, Current Positions on the Board’s Committees,
and Specific Qualifications for Service on the Board
Matthew F. LeBaron
48
2018
Business Experience: Mr. LeBaron has been a director of Covia since June 2018.
He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Fairmount Santrol from 2010
until June 2018. Mr. LeBaron is a co-founder of LeBaronBrown Industries, a
private investment holding company focused on investing in industrial
businesses. He was previously a Managing Director at American Securities,
which he joined in 1999. Mr. LeBaron serves on the board of United Distribution
Group, an American Securities portfolio company, and has previously served on
the boards of numerous other private and public companies. Previously,
Mr. LeBaron was a private equity investor at Bain Capital, Inc. and a consultant
at The Boston Consulting Group. He received a B.A. from Amherst College and
a MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Committee Memberships: Executive Committee
Director Qualifications: As an investor with over two decades of experience,
Mr. LeBaron brings the knowledge of corporate finance, corporate governance,
corporate transactions, organizational development and strategic planning to our
Board. Due to this experience, he is particularly well qualified to serve on our
Board.
William P. Kelly
69
2018
Business Experience: Mr. Kelly has been a director of Covia since June 2018,
and he previously served as a director of Fairmount Santrol from 2005 until June
2018. Mr. Kelly was Chairman and CEO of Unifrax Corporation from 1996 to
2006. From 2010 to 2015, he served on the Executive Council of American
Securities. He is a member of The Operating Council for Kirtland Capital
Partners. He was a Board member for privately held Unifrax Corporation from
2006 until the sale of the company in December 2018, and has been a Board
member of Smart Source Computer Rentals since 2006, where Mr. Kelly
currently serves as a member of the compensation committee. He received a B.S.
degree in Ceramics Engineering from Alfred University and an M.B.A. from
Duquesne University. He also attended the Tuck Executive Program at Dartmouth
College.
Committee Memberships: Compensation Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to his experience as Chairman and CEO of Unifrax,
as well as board membership of Unifrax and several other private companies, he
is particularly well qualified to serve on our Board. In these roles, he has proven
to be an effective leader.
9
Name
Director
Since
Age
Business Experience, Current Positions on the Board’s Committees,
and Specific Qualifications for Service on the Board
Stephen J. Hadden
64
2018
Business Experience: Mr. Hadden has been a director of Covia since June 2018
and he previously served as a director of Fairmount Santrol from 2015 until June
2018. Mr. Hadden has over 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry,
having served in various management roles for Texaco Inc., now Chevron
Corporation, and more recently as Executive Vice President of Worldwide
Exploration and Production for Devon Energy Corporation from 2004 until 2009.
Mr. Hadden was a director of Ulterra Drilling Technologies, a leading PDC bit
supplier in the U.S., from September 2016 to November 2018, and serves as a
Senior Executive Advisor for Tennenbaum Capital Partners, LLC, a leading
alternative investment management firm. Previously, Mr. Hadden was a director
of LINN Energy from 2013 until 2017 and with Berry Petroleum Company from
2011 until its merger with LINN Energy. Mr. Hadden also served with the
following entities: The Advisory Board of the Society of Petroleum Engineers,
the Upstream Committee of the American Petroleum Institute, and the Western
States Petroleum Association. He has a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering
from The Pennsylvania State University.
Committee Memberships: Audit Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to his significant experience in the oil and gas
industry, including service on industry advisory boards, and his experience
serving on public company boards and committees, Mr. Hadden is particularly
well qualified to serve on our Board.
Richard A. Navarre
58
2018
Business Experience: Mr. Navarre has been the Chairman of our Board since
June 2018. Mr. Navarre has more than 35 years of diverse international business
and finance experience, including 19 years with Peabody Energy Corporation,
serving as its President, Chief Commercial Officer, Chief Financial Officer and
Executive Vice President of Corporate Development. He is currently a director
of Natural Resource Partners LP (NYSE: NRP) (where he serves as a member of
the audit committee and as chairman of the conflicts committee), Arch Coal
(NYSE: ARCH) (where he serves as the chair of the compensation committee
and a member of the nominating and governance committee), and Civeo
Corporation (NYSE: CVEO) (where he is the Chairman of the Board and serves
as a member of the nominating and governance committee).
Committee Memberships: Audit Committee (Chair); Executive Committee
(Chair); Chairman of the Board
Director Qualifications: Due to his significant experience in the energy and
mining industries, and his experience serving on public company boards and
committees, Mr. Navarre is particularly well qualified to serve on our Board.
10
Name
Director
Since
Age
Business Experience, Current Positions on the Board’s Committees,
and Specific Qualifications for Service on the Board
Jeffrey B. Scofield
41
2018
Business Experience: Mr. Scofield has been a director of Covia since June 2018.
Mr. Scofield currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director
at Lime Rock Partners, where he has held positions of increasing responsibility
over the last 14 years. Before that, Mr. Scofield was Vice President and Senior
Associate at Harrison Lovegrove LP, an acquisition, merger and divestiture
advisory firm sold to Standard Chartered, and prior to that an associate and
analyst in the investment banking division of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and
following its acquisition, Credit Suisse.
Committee Memberships: Compensation Committee
Director Qualifications: Due to his significant experience in the oil and gas
industry, as well as his thorough understanding of mergers and acquisitions and
direct energy investing, Mr. Scofield is particularly well qualified to serve on our
Board.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH NOMINEE LISTED ABOVE.
GOVERNANCE
Preliminary Note
The Annual Meeting will be Covia’s first Annual Meeting of Stockholders as a publicly traded company. On June 1, 2018
(“Merger Date”), Unimin Corporation (“Unimin”) completed a business combination (“Merger”) whereby Fairmount Santrol
Holdings Inc. (“Fairmount Santrol”) merged into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unimin and ceased to exist as a separate
corporate entity. Immediately following the consummation of the Merger, Unimin changed its name to Covia Holdings
Corporation and began operating under that name. The common stock of Fairmount Santrol was delisted from the NYSE prior
to the market opening on June 1, 2018, and Covia commenced trading under the ticker symbol “CVIA” on that date. Upon the
consummation of the Merger, the former stockholders of Fairmount Santrol (including holders of certain Fairmount Santrol
equity awards) received, in the aggregate, $170 million in cash consideration and approximately 35% of the common stock of
Covia. Approximately 65% of the outstanding shares of Covia common stock are owned by SCR-Sibelco NV (“Sibelco”),
previously the parent company of Unimin.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
We have adopted written Corporate Governance Guidelines (the “Governance Guidelines”) to assist us in fulfilling our
corporate governance responsibilities. The Governance Guidelines provide a structure within which our directors and
management may monitor the effectiveness of policy and decision making both at the Board and management level, with a
view to enhancing stockholder value over the long term. The Governance Guidelines are available in the Corporate
Governance section of our website (ir.coviacorp.com/corporate-governance).
Board Leadership Structure
Our business is managed under the direction of the Board. The Board is currently comprised of 13 directors who are identified
in Item 1. Members of the Board are kept informed of our business through discussions with our CEO and other members of
management and by reviewing materials provided to them, visiting our facilities, and participating in meetings of the Board
and its committees.
As set forth in our Governance Guidelines, it is the policy of the Board that the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO
should be separate. We believe that separating the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO is the appropriate leadership
structure for us because, while it allows the CEO to speak for and lead us and communicate with other members of executive
management, it provides for effective oversight by the Board, as each of our directors is highly qualified and experienced and
exercises a strong oversight function. The Chairman sets the agendas for meetings of the Board, chairs the Board meetings,
and is responsible for briefing our CEO, as needed, concerning executive sessions of the non-management and independent
members of the Board. The Chairman also determines when additional meetings of the Board are needed.
11
In addition to regularly scheduled meetings of our full Board, our Governance Guidelines require that non-management
directors must have regularly scheduled meetings in executive session. In the event that the non-management directors include
directors who are not independent under the listing requirements of the NYSE, then at least once a year the independent
directors must meet in executive session.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Financial Code of Ethics
We have adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code of Ethics”) to serve as the basic set of policies and
procedures governing the behavior of our directors, executive officers and other employees in accordance with applicable SEC
rules and NYSE rules. The Code of Ethics reinforces our commitment to adhere to the highest standards of business ethics in
all our business activities.
We have also adopted a Financial Code of Ethics (“Financial Code”) that establishes ethical principles by which our principal
executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller or persons performing similar functions are
expected to conduct themselves in carrying out their duties and responsibilities. The Financial Code embodies principles
regarding individual and peer responsibilities, as well as responsibilities to our stockholders and others who have a stake in our
continued success.
The Code of Ethics and the Financial Code are each available in the Corporate Governance section of our website
(ir.coviacorp.com/corporate-governance). We intend to disclose any amendments to, or any waivers from, a provision of our
Code of Ethics or our Financial Code, that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal
accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and relates to Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K, by
posting such information in the Corporate Governance section of our website (ir.coviacorp.com/corporate-governance). As of
the date of this Proxy Statement, there have been no such amendments or waivers.
Director Independence
NYSE listing standards generally require listed companies to maintain a majority of independent directors; however, as
discussed under the “Role of the Board’s Committees” section below, any listed company that is a “controlled company”
within the meaning of the NYSE’s listing standards need not meet the majority independent board requirement.
Notwithstanding that exception, we have opted to conduct an annual assessment of director independence.
The Board undertook its most recent annual review of director independence in February 2019. During its review, the Board,
consistent with NYSE rules, broadly considered all relevant facts and circumstances to determine whether any director has a
material relationship with us, either directly or indirectly, other than serving as one of our directors, including all transactions,
relationships and arrangements between each director, his or her affiliates, and any member of his or her immediate family, on
one hand, and Covia, its subsidiaries and members of management, on the other hand. The purpose of this review was to
determine whether any such transactions, relationships or arrangements were inconsistent with a determination that the director
is independent in accordance with NYSE rules.
As a result of the review, the Board affirmatively determined that, with the exception of Mr. Decat, Ms. Deckard, Mr.
Deleersnyder and Mr. Lambrechts, all of the current directors, each of whom is nominated for election at the Annual Meeting,
are independent of Covia, its subsidiaries and management under the standards set forth in the NYSE rules, and no other
director or director nominee has a material relationship with Covia, its subsidiaries or management aside from his or her
service as a director. Ms. Deckard was deemed not independent due to her employment as our President and CEO. Messrs.
Decat, Deleersnyder and Lambrechts were deemed not independent due to their roles as executive officers of Sibelco.
All members of the Board’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance Committee are independent
directors. Members of the Audit Committee also satisfy a separate SEC independence requirement, which provides that they
may not accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from us or our subsidiary other than
their directors’ compensation. Members of the Compensation Committee also satisfy separate NYSE independence
requirements to ensure independence from management.
Related Party Transactions
The Board, with the assistance of the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee, monitors compliance with our
corporate governance policies, practices and guidelines applicable to our directors, director nominees, officers and employees.
Our Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics and human resources policies address governance matters and prohibit, without
the consent of the Board or its designee, directors, officers and other employees from engaging in transactions that conflict with
our interests or that otherwise usurp corporate opportunities.
Pursuant to our written Related Party Transaction Policy, the Board also evaluates “related party transactions.” Consistent with
SEC rules, we consider a related person transaction to be any transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar
transactions, arrangements or relationships): (1) involving more than $120,000 in which we and any of our directors, director
12
nominees, executive officers, holders of more than five percent of our shares of common stock, or their respective immediate
family members were or are to be a participant; and (2) in which such related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect
material interest. Under our Related Party Transaction Policy, our management is responsible for bringing to the Board all
transactions, whether proposed or existing, of which they have knowledge and which they believe may constitute a related
party transaction. The Board will review the related person transaction, considering all factors and information it deems
relevant, and the disinterested directors will approve or disapprove the transaction in light of what they believe to be the best
interests of Covia. If advance approval is not practicable or if a related party transaction that has not been approved is
discovered, the Board will promptly consider whether to ratify the transaction. In such event, if the disinterested directors
decline to ratify the transaction, they will, taking into account all of the factors and information they deem relevant (including
the rights available to us under the transaction), determine whether we should amend, rescind or terminate the transaction in
light of what it believes to be the best interests of Covia. In addition, the Stockholders Agreement entered into by Unimin,
Sibelco and certain other Covia stockholders (“Stockholders Agreement”) pursuant to the Merger Agreement specifies
additional requirements for approval of transactions involving Sibelco, which are described in further detail below under the
“Stockholders Agreement” section. We do not intend to engage in related party transactions not approved or ratified by the
disinterested directors or not otherwise approved pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement.
In addition, on an annual basis, each director, director nominee and executive officer must complete a questionnaire that
requires written disclosure of any related party transaction. The responses to these questionnaires are reviewed by our General
Counsel to identify any potential conflicts of interest or potential related party transactions.
Based on our most recent review conducted in the first quarter of 2019, Covia has not been a participant in any related party
transaction (as defined above) since the beginning of 2018, except as follows:
Cash Redemption
Prior to the consummation of the Merger, Unimin entered into a redemption agreement (“Stock Redemption Agreement”) and
an intercompany note (“Intercompany Note”) with Sibelco, pursuant to which Unimin redeemed 208,089 shares of its common
stock held by Sibelco in exchange for an obligation of Unimin to pay Sibelco approximately $520,377,361 on June 1, 2018.
This obligation was satisfied in connection with the closing of the Merger on June 1, 2018.
Contribution Agreement and Redemption Agreement
In connection with the Merger, Unimin, Sibelco and Sibelco North America, Inc. (“HPQ Co”), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Unimin, entered into a Business Contribution Agreement (“Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which Unimin contributed
assets relating to its global high purity quartz mining and production business to HPQ Co in exchange for 100% of the issued
and outstanding shares of common stock of HPQ Co and the assumption by HPQ Co of certain liabilities relating to the
transferred assets.
Unimin also entered into the Redemption Agreement with Sibelco, pursuant to which, following the contribution of the HPQ
business to HPQ Co, Unimin distributed 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of HPQ Co common stock to Sibelco in
exchange for the redemption by Unimin of 169,550 shares of Unimin common stock held by Sibelco. As a result of the
transactions consummated pursuant to the Contribution Agreement and the Redemption Agreement (collectively, the “HPQ
Carveout”), Sibelco acquired ownership of 100% of the shares of HPQ Co common stock and maintains control over the HPQ
business.
Transition Services Agreements
In connection with the Merger, we entered into a transition services agreement with HPQ Co (“HPQ Transition Services
Agreement”) pursuant to which HPQ Co provides information technology transition services to us, and we provide certain
transition services to HPQ Co, including operations, information technology, consulting, supply chain, procurement, finance,
communications and human resources services. The recipient of the transition services pays a fee to the provider of such
transition services, which fee is generally intended to allow the provider to recover all of its direct and indirect costs, generally
without profit. The initial term of the transition services provided by HPQ Co to us was seven months. The initial term of the
transition services to be provided by us to HPQ Co is up to 24 months, varying by the type of service being provided. The
initial term may be extended. Under the HPQ Transition Services Agreement, HPQ Co paid us $0.6 million in 2018.
Also in connection with the Merger, we entered into a transition services agreement with Sibelco (“Sibelco Transition Services
Agreement” and, together with the HPQ Transition Services Agreement, the “Transition Services Agreements”) pursuant to
which Sibelco will provide certain information technology transition services to us. In exchange, we pay a fee to Sibelco
intended to allow Sibelco to recover all of its direct and indirect costs, generally without profit. The initial term of the Sibelco
Transition Services Agreement is up to 24 months, varying by the type of service being provided. The initial term may be
extended. Under the Sibelco Transition Services Agreement, we paid Sibelco $0.4 million in 2018.
13
The Transition Services Agreements provide for indemnification obligations by each of the parties with the maximum
aggregate liability for each transition service not exceeding the total amount paid by the recipient with respect to such
transition service as of the date the indemnification claim is submitted to the indemnifying party.
Tax Matters Agreement
In connection with the HPQ Carveout, Unimin, Sibelco and HPQ Co entered into the Tax Matters Agreement (“Tax Matters
Agreement”) governing their respective rights, responsibilities and obligations relating to tax liabilities, the filing of tax
returns, the control of tax contests and other tax matters.
The Tax Matters Agreement allocates responsibility for federal, state and local taxes and certain transaction taxes, and for filing
the related tax returns, to Unimin or HPQ Co generally based upon whether such party would be required to report such taxes
under applicable law, except for certain taxes related to the business contributed by Unimin to HPQ Co in connection with the
HPQ Carveout for which Unimin retained responsibility to the extent such taxes related to periods prior to the redemption
consummated pursuant to the Redemption Agreement. The Tax Matters Agreement requires that Unimin indemnify Sibelco
and HPQ Co from liability with respect to taxes for which it has been allocated responsibility and provides for similar
indemnification obligations of Sibelco and HPQ Co with respect to taxes for which HPQ Co has been allocated responsibility.
The Tax Matters Agreement also gives the right to control tax contests and audits to the party or parties allocated responsibility
for any such taxes under the Tax Matters Agreement.
Stockholders Agreement
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Unimin entered into the Stockholders Agreement with Sibelco and certain other Covia
stockholders. The Stockholders Agreement, which became effective as of the closing of the Merger (“effective time”), sets
forth certain governance arrangements and contains various provisions relating to, among other things, representation on our
Board, certain matters involving Sibelco requiring approval of Fairmount Santrol-nominated independent directors, preemptive
rights, certain limitations on the disposal or transfer of shares of our common stock by Sibelco, certain standstill limitations and
ownership caps and certain information rights.
Board Composition
From the effective time of the Stockholders Agreement until the day following the third annual meeting of our stockholders
following the effective time, Sibelco and the other Covia stockholders who are parties to the Stockholders Agreement will vote
all voting shares of our stock owned by them, and take all other necessary actions within his, her or its control (including in his,
her or its capacity as a stockholder, director, member of a board committee, officer of Covia or otherwise), and Covia and its
directors will take all necessary actions within its and their control:
•
•
to ensure that the number of directors constituting our Board is fixed at 13 directors, subject to the right of Sibelco to
reduce the number of directors to 11 by removal of one Unimin-nominated director and one Fairmount Santrol-
nominated director at certain specified times;
prior to the earlier of the close of business on (i) the tenth business day following the date on which Sibelco and its
affiliates no longer beneficially own more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Covia’s common stock and (ii) the
business day following public announcement that Sibelco has made an election that the “Trigger Date” has occurred
(the earlier of which is the “Trigger Date”), to nominate and vote to elect as directors:
•
•
•
the seven Unimin-nominated directors;
the five Fairmount Santrol-nominated directors; and
our CEO; and
•
from and after the Trigger Date,
•
to cause the number of Unimin-nominated directors to be reduced so that the number of Unimin-nominated
directors is at all times equal to the product of (x) Sibelco’s percentage ownership of outstanding shares of
our common stock and (y) the total number of directors authorized to serve on our Board (rounded down to
the nearest whole number); and
•
to nominate and vote to elect as directors:
•
•
the number of Unimin-nominated directors calculated as described above (reflecting Sibelco’s percentage
ownership of outstanding shares of our common stock);
the number of individuals equal to the difference between 12 (or 10, if Sibelco has elected to reduce the size
of the Board as permitted prior to the Trigger Date) and the number of Unimin-nominated directors
14
nominated by the Fairmount Santrol-nominated directors then in office in accordance with the Stockholders
Agreement (including the provisions regarding filling vacancies described below); and
•
our CEO.
The “Trigger Date” means the earlier of (1) the close of business on the tenth business day following the date on which Sibelco
and its affiliates no longer beneficially own more than 50% of our outstanding shares of common stock and (ii) the close of
business on the business day following public announcement by Sibelco that it has made an election that the Trigger Date has
occurred.
The sole and exclusive right of Sibelco or any Sibelco-related party to nominate any director is limited to the provisions
described above. From and after the third annual meeting date, the size and composition of our Board may be adjusted by our
Board in accordance with our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, subject to the applicable NYSE listing rules.
Board Vacancies
From the effective time until the third annual meeting date, if a vacancy is created on our Board at any time due to the death,
disability, retirement, resignation or removal of a director, then:
•
•
•
•
if such director is a Unimin-nominated director, the remaining Unimin-nominated directors have the right to designate
an individual to fill such vacancy;
if such director is a Fairmount Santrol-nominated director, then the remaining Fairmount Santrol-nominated directors
have the right to designate an individual to fill such vacancy;
prior to the Trigger Date, if the vacancy is caused by the death, disability, retirement, resignation or removal of a
Fairmount Santrol-nominated director, and the Fairmount Santrol-nominated directors do not fill such vacancy for
more than 30 days after notice from Covia of such failure to fill the vacancy, then the vacant position will be filled by
an individual designated by the Unimin-nominated directors then in office, but any such individual will be removed if
the remaining Fairmount Santrol-nominated directors so direct and simultaneously designate a new director; and
if a vacancy is created on our Board because of the removal of a Unimin-nominated director due to a decrease in
Sibelco’s percentage ownership of outstanding shares of our common stock as described above, then the remaining
directors will have the right to immediately designate a replacement for the removed director to fill such vacancy,
provided that any such replacement must be an independent director as determined pursuant to the applicable NYSE
listing rules.
In addition, from the effective time until the third annual meeting date, if our CEO is removed or resigns as our CEO pursuant
to the terms of such officer’s employment agreement, then such individual will also be removed as a director, and our successor
CEO will be appointed to our Board in accordance with our organizational documents.
Transactions Involving Sibelco Requiring Approval of Fairmount Santrol-Nominated Directors
For a period of three years beginning at the effective time, the following transactions involving Sibelco require the approval of
a majority of the Fairmount Santrol-nominated independent directors:
•
•
•
•
the issuance of additional classes of capital stock or series of equity securities either (1) to Sibelco or any Sibelco-
related party in whole or in part or (2) as the Fairmount Santrol-nominated independent directors otherwise determine
may involve an actual or potential conflict of interest between Sibelco and the other Covia stockholders;
the entry into any transaction (including any amendment, modification or supplement to any agreement existing on or
prior to the effective time) between us or any of our subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Sibelco or any Sibelco-related
party, on the other hand, (1) requiring annual payments in excess of $2 million or with respect to which aggregate
consideration exceeds $10 million, (2) which is otherwise material to us or (3) which is not on arm’s length terms
(provided that this provision does not apply to any transactions entered into pursuant to any agreements existing at or
prior to the effective time);
the commencement, enforcement, waiver, release, assignment, settlement or compromise of any claims or causes of
action held by us or any of our subsidiaries, on the one hand, against Sibelco or any Sibelco-related party, on the other
hand (and during such three year period, the conduct, defense and management of the claim must be delegated to the
Fairmount Santrol-nominated independent directors or a committee composed of such directors); and
any transaction pursuant to which Sibelco would be entitled to more or different consideration, on a per share of our
common stock basis, compared to all other Covia stockholders (and the definitive agreements for such transaction
must also contain a non-waivable condition that the transaction has been approved by the majority of our
stockholders, excluding Sibelco and any Sibelco-related party).
15
In addition, any amendment, modification, supplement or restatement to our Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (1) made
during such three-year period must be approved by a majority of the Fairmount Santrol-nominated independent directors and
(2) made after such three-year period, if such amendment, modification, supplement or restatement is inconsistent with the
rights of any stockholder party to the Stockholders Agreement under the Stockholders Agreement, must be approved by a
majority of the Fairmount Santrol-nominated independent directors. Any amendment or modification of the Stockholders
Agreement requires the agreement of all of the parties thereto (including, if applicable, approval by such party’s board of
directors or a duly authorized committee thereof) and (1) for the three years following the effective time, a majority of the
Fairmount Santrol-nominated independent directors and (2) thereafter, a majority of the independent directors.
Preemptive Rights
We have granted to Sibelco a right to purchase its pro rata portion of any shares of our capital stock that we may from time to
time propose to issue or sell to any person, other than any such shares issued in connection with:
•
•
•
•
a grant to any existing or prospective consultants, employees, officers or directors pursuant to any stock option,
employee stock purchase or similar equity-based plans or other compensation agreements;
any acquisition by us of the stock, assets, properties or business of any person;
a stock split, stock dividend or any similar recapitalization; or
any issuance of warrants or other similar rights to purchase our common stock to lenders or other institutional
investors in any arm’s length transaction providing debt financing to us or any of our subsidiaries approved by our
Board.
Ownership Cap
Unless approved by a majority of the independent directors, Sibelco will not, and will cause Sibelco-related parties not to,
acquire any shares of our capital stock if such acquisition would result in Sibelco and Sibelco-related parties beneficially
owning more than either (1) 70% of the outstanding shares of our common stock during the three years following the effective
time or (2) 80.1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock after three years following the effective time.
Registration Rights Agreement
Upon the closing of the Merger, we entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with the Sibelco Stockholders. Pursuant to
the Registration Right Agreement, we are obligated to register the sale of our shares of common stock owned by the Sibelco
Stockholders upon demand of the Sibelco Stockholders under certain circumstances. In addition, the Registration Rights
Agreement grants to the Sibelco Stockholders certain piggyback rights to include their shares in registration by us of an
offering of our common stock, subject to customary limitations. We would be required under the Registration Rights
Agreement to pay all registration expenses in connection with our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement,
regardless of whether a registration statement becomes effective or the offering is consummated, including the fees and
expenses of counsel for the Sibelco Stockholders. However, the Sibelco Stockholders must pay all underwriting discounts and
commissions in connection with sales by them of any of their shares of our common stock. The Registration Rights Agreement
contains customary indemnification and contribution provisions.
Distribution Agreements
Upon the closing of the Merger, Covia and Sibelco entered into the Distribution Agreements, pursuant to which we are the
exclusive distributor in North America and Mexico with respect to Sibelco’s products for the tiles and engobes industry
(sodium feldspar chips and shredded/blended ball clay), while Sibelco is the exclusive distributor throughout the world with
respect to our products for the performance coatings and polymer solutions industries (nepheline syenite flour, microcrystalline
silica flour and ground kaolin). Each distributor purchases the respective products and resells them in its own name, for its
own account, and at its own risk and does not act as an agent, partner or franchisee of the producer of the products. Under the
distribution agreement in which we are the distributor, we paid Sibelco $12.4 million in 2018. Under the Distribution
Agreement pursuant to which Sibelco is the distributor, Sibelco paid us $8.8 million in 2018.
Agency Agreements
Upon the closing of the Merger, Covia and Sibelco entered into the Exclusive Agency Agreements (each, an “Agency
Agreement”), pursuant to which each party provides exclusive agency services with respect to the other party’s products within
the applicable industry and the applicable agency areas, as specified in the Agency Agreements. In particular, we are the
exclusive sales agent in North America and Mexico with respect to Sibelco’s products for the casting steel and HT alloys,
display glass, foundry, feed amendments, tiles and engobes and welding (electronics) industries. Sibelco is the exclusive sales
16
agent in North America and Mexico with respect to our products for the coating and polymers industries and throughout the
world with respect to our products for the sanitary ware, ceramic ware, industrial ceramics and feed amendments industries.
As compensation for its services, each agent receives a commission equal to five percent of the net sales of the products
generated by the agent for which the producer received payment from a customer. Under the Agency Agreement pursuant to
which Sibelco is the agent, Sibelco earned commissions of $2.2 million in 2018. Under the Agency Agreement pursuant to
which we are the agent, we earned commissions of $0.3 million in 2018.
Non-Compete Agreement
Upon the closing of the Merger, Covia and Sibelco entered into the Non-Compete Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed
during the Restricted Period (as defined below), to refrain from, and to cause our controlled affiliates to refrain from, directly
or indirectly, managing, owning, operating, controlling, participating in, acquiring (or having the right to acquire) voting
securities of, performing services for or otherwise carrying on any business involved with activities other than the following
activities:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
sell, market or distribute: (1) silica sand, calcium carbonate, lime, feldspathics, clay (including ball clay and kaolin),
nepheline syenite, coated materials, phenolic resins and coated materials, and Black Lab materials and services, or
other energy focused minerals (including API Barite and API Bentonite) (collectively, the “Covia Products”); (2)
recycled materials (other than recycled glass or as otherwise agreed between Covia and Sibelco); or (3) any product
that is not a Covia Product ((2) and (3) being referred to herein as the “Sibelco Products”) to customers in the energy,
foundry, glass, construction and building, sports and recreation, retail and DIY, biomass, ceramics, chemicals and
agriculture industries (“Covia Markets”) in the U.S. and its overseas territories, Canada or Mexico (collectively, the
“Covia Territories”);
sell, market or distribute the Covia Products to customers in the energy market anywhere in the world;
sell, market or distribute silica sand and coated silica sand to customers in the water treatment market in the Covia
Territories;
sell, market or distribute the Covia Products for foundry applications outside of the Covia Territories to customers that
were foundry customers of Fairmount Santrol at the effective time of the Non-Compete Agreement;
sell, market, distribute or produce coated products to or for customers in the energy market anywhere in the world;
sell, market or distribute Black Lab products in existing markets as of the effective time of the Non-Compete
Agreement; and
produce any Covia Products in any of the Covia Territories.
However, as an exclusion to the foregoing limitations, the Non-Compete Agreement permits any activities by us or any of our
controlled affiliates pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Distribution Agreement or Agency Agreement with Sibelco or any
joint venture, joint development or other agreement with us or any of our controlled affiliates, on the one hand, and Sibelco or
any of its controlled affiliates, on the other hand.
In addition, under the Non-Compete Agreement, Sibelco has agreed, during the Restricted Period (as defined below), to refrain
from, and to cause its controlled affiliates (other than us and our controlled affiliates) to refrain from, directly or indirectly,
managing, operating, controlling, participating in, acquiring (or having the right to acquire) voting securities of, performing
services for or otherwise carrying on any business involved with activities other than the following activities:
•
•
•
sell, market or distribute the Covia Products or Sibelco Products to customers in the Covia Markets (other than the
energy market) anywhere outside of the Covia Territories;
sell, market or distribute the Covia Products or Sibelco Products or provide any services to customers in markets other
than the Covia Markets anywhere in the world;
produce the Covia Products (other than coated products for energy markets) anywhere outside of the Covia Territories,
except for raw frac sand in any jurisdiction where Unimin or its controlled affiliates engaged in an acquisition or
investment opportunity for raw frac sand with respect to which Sibelco and its controlled affiliates failed to exercise
their ROFO Opportunity (as defined below) in accordance with the Non-Compete Agreement; and
•
produce the Sibelco Products or provide any services anywhere in the world.
However, as an exclusion to the foregoing limitations, the Non-Compete Agreement permits any activities by Sibelco or any of
its controlled affiliates pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Distribution Agreement or Agency Agreement with us or any
joint venture, joint development or other agreement with Sibelco or any of its controlled affiliates, on the one hand, and us or
any of our controlled affiliates, on the other hand.
17
ROFO Opportunities
The Non-Compete Agreement further provides that we and our controlled affiliates are permitted to pursue acquisitions or
investment opportunities with respect to the production of (1) Covia Products in the Covia Territories, (2) coated products for
customers in the energy market outside of the Covia Territories, (3) raw frac sand outside of the Covia Territories and (4) any
mineral that is not a Covia Product in the Covia Territories; provided that, if we wish to pursue any acquisition or investment
opportunity with respect to items (3) or (4) above (each, a “ROFO Opportunity”) during the Restricted Period (as defined
below), we are required to first serve a written notice on Sibelco offering Sibelco or a controlled affiliate thereof the right to
pursue such ROFO Opportunity. The offer must remain open for acceptance by Sibelco for a period of 30 business days
following service of such notice. Sibelco and its controlled affiliates will be permitted to pursue any acquisitions or investment
opportunities except for those referred to in items (1) and (2) of this paragraph.
Restricted Period and Termination
The Non-Compete Agreement will automatically terminate when Sibelco, together with its controlled affiliates, ceases to own
more than 50% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock (such time until the Non-Compete Agreement
automatically terminates, the “Restricted Period”).
Other Related Party Transactions
We sell minerals to and purchase minerals from Sibelco and certain of its affiliates under a number of sales agreements. Sales
to these parties amounted to $6.7 million in 2018, and purchases from these parties amounted to $5.3 million in 2018. As of
December 31, 2018, we had accounts receivables from these parties of $0.8 million, and accounts payable to these parties of
$0.5 million.
Our Code of Ethics provides that no director or executive officer may seek, or accept from us, credit, an extension of credit or
the arrangement of an extension of credit in the form of a personal loan.
Loans to Directors and Executive Officers Prohibited
Attendance at Board, Committee and Stockholder Meetings
The Board held four meetings during 2018. During 2018, each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total
number of meetings of the Board and the committees on which he or she served (in each case, held during the periods that he
or she served). In accordance with the NYSE rules, the Governance Guidelines provide that non-management directors will
meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions of the Board without employees present. Under the Governance Guidelines, if
the non-management directors include directors who are not independent under the NYSE listing standards, then the
independent directors will also meet at least annually in executive sessions of the Board without employees and non-
independent directors present. The Chairman of the Board presides at all executive sessions of the Board. During 2018
following the Merger, the non-management directors held one executive session of the Board without employees and non-
independent directors present. The Governance Guidelines provide that each director is encouraged to attend the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. The Annual Meeting will be our first Annual Meeting of Stockholders since the Merger, which is
discussed in further detail under the “Preliminary Note” section above.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
The Board has the primary role in overseeing risk management and administers this responsibility directly through its standing
committees. Each committee’s role in risk oversight is more fully described in the “Role of the Board’s Committees” section
below. The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the integrity of our financial
statements, the performance of our system of internal controls, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, our audit,
accounting and financial reporting processes, the qualifications, independence and work of our independent registered public
accounting firm, business conduct and ethics, and the evaluation of enterprise risk issues, particularly those risk issues not
overseen by other committees. The Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to
our compensation programs, policies and practices. The Governance Committee manages risks associated with corporate
governance, succession planning, and the performance of the Board, its committees and directors.
While each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of those risks, the entire
Board is regularly informed about those risks through committee reports or by attending committee meetings. The reports
presented to the Board include discussions of committee agenda topics, including matters involving risk oversight. The Board
also directly considers specific topics, including risks associated with our strategic plan, capital structure, information/cyber
security and development activities. Members of management who supervise the day-to-day risk management responsibilities
periodically provide reports to the Board as a whole and to the committees as requested.
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Role of the Board’s Committees
The Board has four standing committees – Audit, Compensation, Governance, and Executive – that assist and report their
activities to the Board. In accordance with the applicable rules of the NYSE and SEC, each committee is organized and
operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. The Audit, Compensation and Governance Committees annually review
and assess the adequacy of the charters and recommend changes to the Board as necessary to reflect changes in regulatory
requirements, authoritative guidance and evolving practices. Pursuant to its respective charter, each committee has the
authority to engage, at our expense, advisors as it deems necessary to carry out its duties. The function and authority of each
committee are further described below and in each committee’s respective charter. These committee charters are available in
the Corporate Governance section of our website (ir.coviacorp.com/corporate-governance).
With the assistance of the Governance Committee, the Board and the Audit, Compensation and Governance Committees
annually conduct performance self-evaluations. In order to continuously improve Board governance, the results of the self-
evaluations are reported to the full Board.
As a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE rules, we may elect not to comply with certain corporate
governance standards imposed under the NYSE rules, including standards requiring that the boards of listed companies have a
majority of independent directors, a fully independent nominating and corporate governance committee and a fully independent
compensation committee. As defined in the NYSE rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power for the
election of directors is held by an individual, a group or another company is a “controlled company.” Because more than 50%
of our outstanding shares of common stock are held by Sibelco, we may choose to be exempt from these and other
requirements of the NYSE corporate governance rules.
Despite these available exemptions for controlled companies, in the interest of adhering to good corporate governance, we have
chosen to forego such exemptions by maintaining a Board composed of a majority of independent directors and constituting
our Compensation Committee and our Governance Committee entirely of independent directors that meet the applicable
independence standards set forth under the NYSE rules. In addition, our Audit Committee is comprised entirely of independent
directors who meet the heightened independence standards for audit committee members set forth in the NYSE rules and the
SEC rules. The following table reflects the current membership of each committee:
Audit
Committee
Compensation
Committee
Governance
Committee
C
Executive
Committee
Director
Mr. Conway
Mr. Decat
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Deleersnyder
Mr. Delloye
Mr. Fowler
Mr. Hadden
Mr. Kelly
Mr. Labroue
Mr. Lambrechts
Mr. LeBaron
Mr. Navarre
Mr. Scofield
__________
M
M
C
M Denotes a member of the committee.
C Denotes the chair of the committee.
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
C
M
C
M
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Audit Committee
The primary purposes of the Audit Committee are to: (1) assist the Board in its oversight of (a) the integrity of our financial
statements, (b) the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, (c) our compliance with legal and regulatory
requirements, (d) the qualifications and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm, and (e) the
effectiveness and performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm; and (2) prepare
the Audit Committee Report disclosure required by Item 407(d)(3) of Regulation S-K. The Board has determined that each
member of the Audit Committee is “financially literate,” as required by the NYSE rules, and is an “audit committee financial
expert,” as that term is defined under the applicable SEC rules. The Audit Committee met five times during 2018.
Compensation Committee
The primary purposes of the Compensation Committee are to: (1) review, evaluate and recommend to the Board for approval
the agreements, plans, policies and programs to compensate our executive officers and directors; (2) review and discuss with
management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) to be included in our annual proxy statements, and to
determine whether to recommend to the Board that the CD&A be included in the proxy statement; and (3) produce the
Compensation Committee Report as required by Item 407(e)(5) of Regulation S-K for inclusion in the annual proxy statement.
Additional information regarding our executive compensation program, including our processes and procedures for the
consideration and determination of executive officer compensation, is described in the “Executive Compensation” section of
this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee met five times during 2018.
Executive Compensation Consultants
The Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of compensation consultants to review our
executive officer and director compensation programs. The Compensation Committee is directly responsible for the
appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant retained by the Compensation
Committee. We provide appropriate funding, as determined by the Compensation Committee, for payment of reasonable
compensation to any compensation consultant retained by the Compensation Committee.
In connection the transition forward as a publicly-traded company, and in order to obtain a better understanding of the market
practices of its peers, Unimin engaged Aon Hewitt to conduct a peer group analysis of compensation practices at peer
competitors. In establishing executive compensation for 2018, the Committee considered the work performed by Aon Hewitt
for Unimin. During 2018, Aon Hewitt did not provide any services to Unimin or us other than conducting a peer group
compensation analysis.
For 2019, the Compensation Committee selected and retained Pay Governance LLC as its independent compensation
consultant to advise it on executive compensation matters for 2019. The Compensation Committee assessed the independence
of Pay Governance LLC pursuant to NYSE and SEC rules and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent it
from independently advising the Compensation Committee during 2019.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of our Compensation Committee serves, or has served at any time, as one of our officers or employees or has,
during 2018, had a material interest in any related party transaction, as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K. During 2018
and as of the date of this Proxy Statement, none of our executive officers served as a member of the board of directors or
compensation committee of any other entity that had an executive officer serving as a member of the Board or the
Compensation Committee.
Governance Committee
The primary purposes of the Governance Committee are to: (1) advise the Board and make recommendations regarding
appropriate corporate governance practices and assist the Board in implementing those practices; (2) lead the annual evaluation
of the performance of the Board and its committees; and (3) direct all matters relating to the succession of our CEO. As
discussed below under the “Nominating Procedures” section, the Governance Committee does not exercise responsibility for
evaluating and recommending individuals as nominees for election as directors. The Governance Committee met once during
2018.
Executive Committee
The primary purposes of the Executive Committee are to: (1) exercise the powers and authority of the Board to direct our
business in between meetings of the Board; (2) take the necessary action for and on behalf of the Board in situations where the
matter requires Board approval, but where a quorum of the Board cannot be assembled in time, or is not deemed prudent by the
20
Chairman of the Board to convene a special Board meeting, to take such actions; and (3) take action on such other matters as
may be delegated to the Committee from time to time by the Board. The Executive Committee met four times during 2018.
Nominating Procedures
As discussed above in the “Related Party Transactions – Stockholders Agreement” section, until the day following the third
annual meeting of our stockholders occurring after the effective time of the Stockholders Agreement, the Board may only
nominate individuals for election as directors in accordance with the Stockholders Agreement. Accordingly, as permitted by
the applicable NYSE rules, the Board has not delegated the selection and nomination of directors to the Governance
Committee. In addition, because the Board is currently obligated to maintain the composition of the Board specified in the
Stockholders Agreement, the Board has not established a policy with regard to the consideration of any director candidates
recommended by stockholders. From and after the third annual meeting of our stockholders, the size and composition of the
Board may be adjusted by the Board in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, subject to the applicable
NYSE listing standards.
Although the Board may not consider for nomination as a director any persons other than those specified in the Stockholders
Agreement until after the third annual meeting of our stockholders, stockholders who wish to nominate persons for election as
directors may do so, provided that they comply with the nomination procedures set forth in our Bylaws and the applicable SEC
rules. To nominate one or more persons for election as a director at an annual meeting, our Bylaws require that a stockholder
provide written notice of such stockholder’s intention to make such nomination by delivering such notice to our Secretary at
our principal offices at 3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700, Independence, Ohio 44131 no earlier than the close of business on the
120th day and no later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual
meeting (or in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such
anniversary date or with respect to a special meeting, notice by the stockholder must be delivered no earlier than the close of
business on the 120th day prior to the date of the annual or special meeting and no later than the close of business on the later of
the 90th day prior to such annual or special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which we first publicly announced
such annual or special meeting). Such notice must set forth:
•
•
•
•
•
•
the name and address of the stockholder intending to make such nomination;
the class or series and number of our shares of common stock which are directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and
of record by such stockholder and any of the following: (1) any Derivative Instrument (as such term is defined in our
Bylaws) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder, (2) any other direct or indirect opportunity to
profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of our shares of common stock directly
or indirectly owned by such stockholder, (3) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or
relationship pursuant to which such stockholder, if any, has a right to vote any shares of any of our securities, (4) any
short interest (as such term is defined in our Bylaws) in any of our securities directly or indirectly owned by such
stockholder, (5) any rights to dividends on our shares owned beneficially by such stockholder that are separate or
separable from the underlying shares of Covia, (6) any proportionate interest in our shares or any Derivative
Instruments held directly or indirectly by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder is a general
partner or directly or indirectly owns an interest as a general partner and (7) any performance-related fees (other than
an asset-based fee) that such stockholder is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of our shares or
any Derivative Instruments as of the date of the notice;
any other information relating to the proposed nominee that would be disclosed in proxy solicitations under applicable
SEC rules, including the individual’s written consent to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as
a director, if elected;
a representation that the stockholder was a holder of record of our stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to
appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination before the meeting;
a representation as to whether such stockholder intends to, or is part of a group that intends to, deliver a proxy
statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of voting power of Covia required to elect the nominee
and/or otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination; and
disclosure of all direct or indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and
understandings during the past three years and any other material relationships between such stockholder and its
affiliates or associates, or any others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his
or her affiliates and associates, or any others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information
that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K if the nominating stockholder, or any
affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of Item 404 and
the nominee were a director or executive officer of the registrant.
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In addition, to be eligible as a director nominee, the nominee or nominating stockholder must deliver, within the time periods
applicable to the written notice of intention to nominate such individual, to our Secretary at our principal offices (1) a written
questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such nominee and the background of any other person or
entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made and (2) a written representation and agreement that such person (i) is not
and will not become a party to any agreement (other than the Stockholders Agreement), arrangement or understanding with,
and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of Covia
will act or vote on any issue or question, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with any person or entity other than Covia with respect to direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or
indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein and (iii) in such person’s
individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in
compliance, if elected as a director of Covia, and will comply with all of our applicable publicly disclosed corporate
governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading polices and guidelines. Only those persons
nominated by stockholders in accordance with the procedures described above or otherwise nominated by the Board or any
committee to which the Board has delegated such authority will be eligible to serve as directors. Except as otherwise provided
under law, the chairman of the annual meeting or the special meeting, as applicable, may determine whether a nomination was
proposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Bylaws and may disregard any nomination not in compliance with
such procedures.
Communications with the Board
Stockholders and other interested parties may send written communications to the Board and, if applicable, to the Chairman of
the Board and other individual directors by mail or courier to our corporate office. Our Secretary will forward all such
correspondence that we receive to the Board or, if applicable, to the Chairman of the Board or other individual director.
Communications should be addressed to the Board or applicable director at: Covia Holdings Corporation, Attn: General
Counsel and Secretary, 3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700, Independence, Ohio 44131.
Our Audit Committee has established procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting,
internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and the receipt, retention and treatment of concerns regarding potential
violations of applicable laws, rules and regulations or our codes, policies and procedures. These procedures (1) set forth a
statement about our commitment to comply with laws, (2) encourage employees to inform us of conduct amounting to a
violation of applicable standards, (3) describe prohibited conduct, (4) include procedures for making confidential, anonymous
complaints, and (5) provide assurances that there will be no retaliation for reporting suspected violations.
Supervisors and managers are required to report questionable accounting matters and compliance matters to our General
Counsel. Upon receipt of a concern, our General Counsel will determine whether the concern actually pertains to accounting
matters or compliance matters. Concerns relating to accounting matters will be reviewed under the Audit Committee’s
oversight by our General Counsel, internal audit department or such other persons as the Audit Committee determines to be
appropriate. Concerns relating to compliance matters will be reviewed under the Audit Committee’s oversight by our General
Counsel or such other persons as the Audit Committee determines to be appropriate.
We have also established procedures to enable anyone who has a concern accounting matters or compliance matters to report
that concern through our normal company channels or anonymously. An anonymous ethics hotline is maintained by an
independent third party and is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table provides information regarding beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock by each person or
entity known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our outstanding shares of common stock. The
assessment of holders of more than five percent of our shares of common stock is based on a review of and in reliance upon
their respective filings with the SEC, and all information is as of December 31, 2018 as reported in such filings, except as
otherwise noted.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
SCR-Sibelco NV (1)
Plantin en Moretuslei 1A
B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium
SailingStone Capital Partners LLC (2)
One California Street, 30th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
ASP FML Holdings, LLC (3)
c/o American Securities LLC
299 Park Avenue, 34th Floor
New York, NY 10171
__________
Number of Shares of
Common Stock
86,019,653
Percent of Class
65.6%
12,997,906
9.91%
9,631,325
7.2%
(1)
(2)
(3)
The information is based on the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 4, 2019 by Sibelco reporting on
beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2018. According to the filing, Sibelco has sole voting power and sole
dispositive power with respect to 86,019,653 shares of common stock.
The information is based on the Schedule 13G/A (Amendment No. 1) filed with the SEC on February 8, 2019 by
SailingStone Capital Partners LLC (“SailingStone”) reporting on beneficial ownership as of December 31, 2018.
According to the filing, SailingStone has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to 12,997,906 shares
of common stock. The filing indicates that SailingStone Holdings LLC, MacKenzie B. Davis, and Kenneth L. Settles Jr.
share voting and dispositive power with respect to all such shares.
The information is based on the Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on June 11, 2018 by ASP FML Holdings, LLC (“ASP
FML”) reporting on beneficial ownership as of June 1, 2018. According to the filing, ASP FML has shared voting
power and shared dispositive power with respect to 9,631,325 shares of common stock. Furthermore, according to this
filing, (i) ASP FML Investco, LLC (“ASPFML Investco”), the owner of a majority of the membership interests in
ASPFML Holdings, has shared voting power and shared dispositive power with respect to 8,576,406 shares of common
stock, (ii) each of American Securities Partners V, L.P., American Securities Partners V(B), L.P., and American
Securities Partners V(C), L.P. (together, the “Sponsors”), and ASP FML Co-Invest I, LLC (“ASPFML Coinvest”), the
owners of a majority of the membership interests in ASPFML Investco, has shared voting power and shared dispositive
power with respect to 6,152,064, 79,490, 96,177 and 2,246,955 shares of common stock, respectively, (iii) American
Securities Associates V, LLC (“GP”), the general partner of each Sponsor, has shared voting power and shared
dispositive power with respect to 6,327,731 shares of common stock, (iv) American Securities LLC (“ASLLC”), which
provides investment advisory services to each Sponsor and to the GP, has shared voting power and shared dispositive
power with respect to 6,327,731 shares of common stock and (v) ASP Manager Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of
ASLLC and the manager of ASPFML Holdings, ASPFML Investco, and ASPFML Coinvest has shared voting power
and shared dispositive power with respect to 9,631,325 shares of common stock.
Security Ownership of Management and the Board
The following table provides information regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock by each of our
named executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table, each of our directors, each of our director nominees and
all of our current directors and executive officers as a group, in each case as of the Record Date. Unless otherwise indicated by
footnote, individuals have sole voting power and sole investment (dispositive) power over the reported shares of common
stock. The address of each individual named below is c/o Covia Holdings Corporation, 3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700,
Independence, Ohio 44131.
23
Name of Beneficial Owner
Jenniffer D. Deckard (2)
Andrew D. Eich
Campbell Jones
Gerald L. Clancey (3)
Chadwick P. Reynolds
Brian J. Richardson (4)
Richard M. Solazzo
Mark B. Oskam (5)
William E. Conway (6)
Kurt Decat
Jean-Luc Deleersnyder
Michel Delloye
Charles D. Fowler (7)
Stephen J. Hadden
William P. Kelly (8)
Jean-Pierre Labroue
Olivier Lambrechts
Matthew F. LeBaron
Richard A. Navarre
Jeffrey B. Scofield
Number of Shares of
Common Stock
Percent of Class (1)
992,597
─
─
955,261
─
56,467
─
─
192,204
─
─
─
1,915,468
13,998
34,166
─
─
12,582
─
─
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1.46%
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
All directors and executive officers as a group (21 persons)
4,172,743
3.18%
__________
*
(1)
(2)
Represents less than 1.0% of our outstanding common stock.
The percentage identified in the “Percent of Class” column is based on the number of our shares of common stock
outstanding as of the Record Date, as disclosed on page 1 of this Proxy Statement.
Includes (i) 117,857 shares held f/b/o Abbey Jo Deckard Trust, (ii) 117,857 shares held f/b/o Connor John Deckard
Trust, (iii) 419,653 shares held under the Jenniffer D. Deckard Family Trust U/A/D dated February 28, 2010 and
(iv) 20,400 shares held under the Daryl K. Deckard Irrevocable Trust dated August 29, 2014 (collectively, the “Deckard
Trusts”). Given Ms. Deckard’s position as trustee of each of the Deckard Trusts, Ms. Deckard is deemed to have sole
voting power and investment power over the shares held by the Deckard Trusts. The reported amount also includes
70,720 shares held under the Jenniffer D. Deckard Irrevocable Trust dated December 27, 2012 (“JDD Trust”). Given
Ms. Deckard’s spouse’s position as trustee of the JDD Trust, Ms. Deckard may be deemed to have shared voting power
and investment power over the shares held by the JDD Trust. In addition, the reported amount includes 77,306 shares of
common stock held by the 401(k) Plan with respect to which Ms. Deckard has sole voting power and investment power,
and 801 shares of common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Deckard’s spouse. The reported amount also includes
options to purchase 141,655 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date, and options
to purchase 4,911 shares of common stock that are exercisable by Ms. Deckard’s spouse within 60 days of the Record
Date.
(3)
Includes 505,811 shares held under the Gerald L. Clancey Trust No. 1 and 20,087 shares held under the Gerald L.
Clancey Grantor Retained Annuity Trust No. 1. (together, the “Clancey Trusts”). Given Mr. Clancey’s position as
trustee of the Clancey Trusts, Mr. Clancey has sole voting power and investment power over the shares held by the
Clancey Trusts. The reported amount also includes 88,400 shares held under the Gerald L. Clancey Irrevocable Trust
dated December 13, 2012 (“GLC Trust”), and 88,400 shares held under The Connie J. Clancey Irrevocable Trust for the
24
benefit of Gerald L. Clancey (“CLC Trust”). Given Mr. Clancey’s spouse’s position as Trustee of the CLC Trust,
Mr. Clancey may be deemed to have shared voting power and investment power over the shares held by the CLC Trust.
Given Mr. Clancey’s position as trustee of the GLC Trust, Mr. Clancey has sole voting power and investment power
over the shares held in the GLC Trust. The reported amount also includes 65,286 shares of common stock held in the
401(k) Plan over which Mr. Clancey has sole voting power and investment power, and options to purchase 167,322
shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.
(4)
Includes 1,554 shares of common stock held by the 401(k) Plan with respect to which Mr. Richardson has sole voting
power and investment power, and options to purchase 16,970 shares of common stock that are exercisable within
60 days of the Record Date.
(5) Mr. Oskam’s employment with us terminated on January 19, 2019.
(6)
(7)
Includes 39,916 shares held under the Mary F. Conway Declaration of Trust dated December 13, 1980 (“Mary Conway
Trust”), 98,290 shares held under the Under Trust Agreement dated March 10, 1992 (“Conway UTA”), and 40,000
shares held under the William E. Conway IRA Standard – Traditional IRA. Given Mr. Conway’s spouse’s position as
trustee under the Mary Conway Trust, Mr. Conway may be deemed to have shared voting power and investment power
over the shares held by the Mary Conway Trust. Given Mr. Conway’s position as trustee under the Conway UTA, Mr.
Conway has sole voting power and investment power over the shares held by the Conway UTA.
Includes 33,200 shares held under the Charles D. Fowler Grantor Retained Annuity Trust dated May 18, 2018. Given
Mr. Fowler’s position as trustee under the Charles D. Fowler Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, Mr. Fowler is deemed to
have voting power and investment power over the shares held by the trust. Includes 1,534,937 shares held under the
Charles D. Fowler Declaration of Trust dated September 26, 1991, as amended to date (“Fowler Trust”). Given the
revocable nature of the Fowler Trust, Mr. Fowler is deemed to have sole voting power and investment power over the
shares held by the Fowler Trust.
(8)
Includes options to purchase 11,900 shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires our directors and executive
officers, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our outstanding shares of common stock, to file with the SEC
initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our shares of common stock. Directors, executive officers
and greater than 10% stockholders are required by the SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.
Based solely upon our review of filings with the SEC and written representations that no other reports were required, we
believe that, during 2018, all of our directors, executive officers and greater than 10% stockholders complied with the reporting
requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
Hedging Prohibited
Hedging or monetization transactions may be accomplished through a number of possible mechanisms, including through the
use of financial instruments such as prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds. Those hedging
transactions may permit a person to continue to own our securities without the full risks and rewards of ownership. When that
occurs, the person may no longer have the same objectives as our other stockholders. Therefore, the Board prohibits our
directors, officers and other employees from all hedging or monetization transactions involving shares of our commons stock
or other securities.
Pledging Prohibited
Securities pledged (or hypothecated) as collateral for a loan may be sold in foreclosure if the borrower defaults on the loan.
Similarly, securities held in a margin account as collateral for a margin loan may be sold by the broker without the customer’s
consent if the customer fails to meet a margin call. Because a foreclosure sale or margin sale may occur at a time when the
pledgor is aware of material nonpublic information or otherwise is not permitted to trade in our securities, the Board prohibits
our directors, officers and other employees from holding shares of our common stock or other securities in a margin account or
otherwise pledging shares of our common stock or other securities as collateral for a loan.
25
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed the following CD&A with our management. Based on that review and
discussion, the Compensation Committee (which we refer to as the “Committee” in the CD&A) recommended to our Board
that the CD&A be included in this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December
31, 2018.
Members of the Compensation Committee
William P. Kelly
Jean-Pierre Labroue, Chairman
Jeffrey B. Scofield
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Executive Summary
This CD&A describes the objectives and principles underlying our executive compensation policies and decisions as well as
the elements of the compensation of our named executive officers for 2018.
Merger of Fairmount Santrol and Unimin
On June 1, 2018, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unimin merged with and into Fairmount Santrol, with Fairmount Santrol
continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unimin (“Merger”). Unimin changed its name to
Covia immediately following the consummation of the Merger. Unimin was determined to be the accounting acquirer in the
Merger. As a result, in accordance with SEC rules and interpretative guidance, this CD&A: (i) describes all compensation paid
in 2018 to Covia’s named executive officers who served as executive officers of Unimin before the Merger; and (ii) describes
only the compensation paid after the consummation of the Merger (i.e., from June 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018) to
named executive officers of Covia who served as executive officers of Fairmount Santrol before the Merger. In other sections
of this Proxy Statement, however, we have identified references made on the basis of full-year, annualized compensation for
our named executive officers.
For 2018, our named executive officers were:
Executive
Title
Jenniffer D. Deckard
President and CEO
Campbell Jones
Andrew D. Eich
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
(and former CEO of Unimin)
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(and former Chief Commercial Officer and Principal Financial Officer of Unimin)
Gerald L. Clancey
Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer
Brian J. Richardson
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
Chadwick P. Reynolds
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Richard M. Solazzo
Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Unimin
Mark B. Oskam
Former Senior Vice President, Corporate Development of Unimin
Overview of 2018 Executive Compensation
For the seven-month period of 2018 following the Merger, the Committee considered the work performed by Aon Hewitt for
Unimin to develop an executive compensation program for our named executive officers to focus on maximizing the combined
company’s results as well as recognizing and implementing cost savings from the Merger. For 2018, the executive
compensation program for our named executive officers consisted of three components: (i) base salaries; (ii) short-term cash
incentive plan opportunities; and (iii) long-term equity incentive plan opportunities. With this structure, a significant portion of
26
each named executive officer’s compensation is dependent upon our performance. Accordingly, we believe our executive
compensation program demonstrates strong pay-for-performance alignment.
Approximately 76% and 67% of the target total compensation awarded to Ms. Deckard and our other named executive officers
in 2018, respectively, was variable compensation tied to our performance and the price performance of our common stock. We
believe that tying a majority of each named executive officer’s target total compensation to our performance aligns the interests
of our named executive officers and our stockholders. See the “Pay for Performance” section of this CD&A for more
information regarding our commitment to a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy.
Beginning in 2019, we will review annually the total direct compensation for each named executive officer based on market
data provided by the Committee’s independent compensation consultant, contributions to corporate performance, internal pay
equity and each executive’s performance, expertise, responsibility and experience.
Base Salaries
In 2018, the Committee recommended and the non-management directors approved the following annual base salary amounts
for our current named executive officers: Ms. Deckard, $800,000; Mr. Jones, $725,000; Mr. Eich, $500,000; Mr. Clancey,
$450,000; Mr. Richardson, $415,000; and Mr. Reynolds, $415,000. The 2018 base salaries of Mr. Solazzo and Mr. Oskam,
neither of whom continued as executive officers upon the Merger, were $350,000 and $359,100, respectively.
In establishing initial pay levels of our executive officers in connection with the Merger, the Committee and the Board
reviewed competitive market data provided by Aon Hewitt as part of its work for Unimin, including the base salaries of
similarly situated executives in our compensation Peer Group (as described in the “Comparative Compensation Data; 2018
Peer Group” section of this CD&A). The pre-Merger base salaries of Ms. Deckard, Mr. Eich, Mr. Clancey and Mr. Richardson
were below the median for their comparable position within the Peer Group. As a result, Aon Hewitt recommended that we
move over time toward bases salaries and total direct compensation (i.e., base salary, short-term and long-term incentive
compensation at targeted levels) near the 50th percentile of market compensation to ensure that we attract and retain the
appropriate level of executive talent for a company of our size and complexity. For 2018, the Committee set the base salaries
of our named executive officers below the median for the Peer Group, except with respect to Mr. Jones, whose base salary
exceeds the median of the Peer Group in recognition of the experience and expertise he provides as a result of his pre-Merger
role as the CEO of Unimin and the scope of his current role, and the Committee expects to continue evaluating opportunities to
migrate base salaries of our other named executive officers to near the Peer Group median.
Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation
Our named executive officers were eligible to earn short-term incentive compensation awards for the seven-month period of
2018 following the Merger based on: (i) our adjusted EBITDA (60% weighting); (ii) our adjusted cash flow (20% weighting);
and (iii) Merger-related synergy savings (20% weighting). Short-term incentive compensation awards are paid in cash if and to
the extent they are earned.
For the seven-month period of 2018 following the Merger, the target levels of performance for adjusted EBITDA, adjusted
cash flow and synergy savings were $413.5 million, $285.9 million and $35.1 million, respectively. A threshold level of
performance had to be achieved to earn an award under each component, and a maximum level of performance limited the
amount that could be earned under each component. For the seven-month period of 2018 following the Merger, our adjusted
EBITDA, adjusted cash flow and synergy savings were $193.7 million, $31.4 million and $53.5 million, respectively.
Threshold levels of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted cash flow were not achieved for 2018, but as a result of attaining the
maximum level of performance under the synergy savings component, each of our named executive officers earned short-term
incentive awards equal to 40% of their target opportunity for the seven-month period of 2018 following the Merger.
Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards
The Committee believes that awarding long-term equity incentive compensation is critical for aligning the interests of our
executives with the creation of long-term stockholder value. Following the Merger, the Committee awarded restricted stock
units under our 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan (“Omnibus Plan”) to our named executive officers employed by us on the grant
date. The restricted stock units awarded in 2018 vest ratably in one-third increments over three years (i.e., 33% per year).
27
Significant Executive Compensation Policies and Practices
We have implemented the following executive compensation policies and practices that we believe align our policies and
practices with industry-leading standards.
Independent Compensation Committee
Although not required due to our status as a “controlled company” under NYSE rules, the Committee is composed entirely of
independent directors who oversee our executive compensation program.
Pay-for-Performance
The majority of each named executive officer’s compensation is based on our financial performance and/or the value of our
common stock, putting the value of each named executive officer’s variable compensation at risk if we do not perform to
targeted levels established by the Committee and/or the value of our common stock declines.
Hedging Prohibited
We prohibit our directors, named executive officers and other employees from engaging in hedging or monetization
transactions with respect to our securities (see the “Hedging Prohibited” section of this Proxy Statement).
Pledging Prohibited
We prohibit our directors, named executive officers and other employees from pledging our securities as collateral for a loan
(see the “Pledging Prohibited” section of this Proxy Statement).
No Tax Gross-Up Payments
Our named executive officers are not entitled to tax gross-up payments as part of their short-term and long-term compensation
arrangements or with respect to any termination or change-in-control arrangements. In order to make whole those named
executive officers who we recruit and seek to relocate, we may provide a reimbursement of taxes related to certain relocation-
related compensation and expenses.
No Repricing
Consistent with the terms of our Omnibus Plan, it is the policy of our Board that we will not reprice or swap stock options
without stockholder approval.
Reasonable Perquisites
Our executive compensation program offers perquisites that we believe are reasonable and customary in our industry. In 2018,
those perquisites comprised 1% or less of our named executive officers’ total compensation, except in the case of Mr. Jones,
who received expatriate and housing benefits in connection with his prior relocation from Australia to the U.S. to lead the
legacy Unimin business, and Mr. Eich, who received relocation benefits in connection with our request that he relocate from
Connecticut to our principal office in Ohio. For 2019, we have eliminated the automobile usage and related expenses
perquisite previously provided to Mr. Jones and Mr. Eich.
Clawback Policy
Our named executive officers are subject to a compensation recovery or “clawback” policy (see the “Clawback Policy” section
in this CD&A).
Compensation Objectives and Principles
The objectives of our executive compensation program are to:
•
enable us to attract, motivate and retain the executive talent required to successfully manage and grow our business
and to achieve our short-term and long-term business objectives;
• maximize our executive officers’ long-term commitment to our success by providing compensation elements that align
their interests with the interests of our stockholders by linking compensation elements directly to financial metrics that
the Committee believes influence the creation of long-term stockholder value; and
•
reward our executive officers upon the achievement of short-term and long-term business objectives and the creation
of stockholder value.
28
The principles of and important processes in our executive compensation program are as follows:
•
emphasize pay-for-performance and encourage retention of executive officers who contribute to our performance;
• maintain an appropriate balance between base salary and short-term and long-term incentive compensation;
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
link incentive compensation to the achievement of goals recommended by the Committee and set by all non-employee
directors;
align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders;
evaluate CEO performance against short-term and long-term performance goals;
require the achievement of threshold performance levels to earn payouts under short-term and long-term performance-
based incentives;
convene an executive session of the Committee (without management) at least once annually;
recuse our CEO from deliberations and voting regarding his or her compensation;
consult our CEO, on an advisory basis only, on the compensation awarded to our other named executive officers;
conduct a thorough annual review and analysis of the recent compensation history of each named executive officer
and all forms of compensation to which the executive may be entitled;
•
consider executive compensation data from peers; and
• make recommendations on named executive officer compensation to the non-management directors of our Board after
the Committee completes a thorough review and analysis.
Key Considerations in Setting Compensation
Based on these objectives and principles, the Committee has structured our executive compensation program to motivate our
named executive officers to achieve the business goals set by our Board and to reward them for achieving those goals. The
following is a summary of the key considerations that the Committee takes into account in setting the compensation of our
named executive officers.
Significance of Overall Corporate Performance
The Committee primarily evaluates our named executive officers’ contributions to our overall performance rather than focusing
only on their individual function. The Committee believes that each named executive officer shares the responsibility to
support our goals and performance as key members of our leadership team.
Evaluation of Individual Performance
The Committee does not rely on formulas in determining the amount and mix of each named executive officer’s total direct
compensation. Rather, in establishing compensation, the Committee exercises its judgment to evaluate a broad range of both
quantitative and qualitative factors, including reliability in achieving financial targets, performance in the context of the
economic environment relative to other companies, and possessing the characteristics, such as integrity, good judgment and
vision, needed to create further growth and effectively lead others. For long-term incentive awards, the Committee primarily
considers a named executive officer’s potential for future successful performance and leadership as part of our executive
management team, taking into account past performance as a key indicator. The Committee may also take into account
extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items incurred or anticipated by us that the Committee deems appropriate in
determining compensation.
Pay-for-Performance and Alignment with Stockholder Interests
Aligning executive compensation with our performance and the price performance of our common stock is a key principle of
our executive compensation philosophy. Incentive compensation is designed to drive our performance by rewarding executives
if we exceed our targeted performance levels. Similarly, if we fail to meet threshold levels tied to our performance, executives
will not earn compensation for the applicable incentive-based award. We believe our executive compensation program
effectively implements the pay-for-performance principle by tying the value of incentive opportunities and equity awards to our
financial and stock price performance.
The key metrics we used to evaluate the performance of our named executive officers in 2018 were adjusted EBITDA, adjusted
cash flow, and Merger-related synergy savings. We believe our adjusted EBITDA is an important financial measure as it
reflects the success of our efforts to increase revenue and profitability. Adjusted cash flow is an important metric relative to
our ability to service and reduce our debt. Synergy savings are important to gauge our progress in integrating Fairmount
29
Santrol and Unimin together into Covia. In addition, the value of the incentive equity compensation that we award is
significantly impacted by the price of our common stock.
Total Direct Compensation
To evaluate consistency with the key principle that a significant portion of our executive compensation program align with our
financial and/or stock price performance, we monitor the variable portion of our named executive officers’ “total direct
compensation,” which we define as the sum of base salary, short-term incentive bonus opportunity at the target level, and long-
term incentive opportunity at the target level. The following graphs show the annualized 2018 variable compensation (i.e.,
compensation that is impacted by our performance) for our CEO and other named executive officers as a percentage of their
respective total direct compensation. As the graphs illustrate, 76% of Ms. Deckard’s and 67% of our other current named
executive officers’ total direct compensation was dependent on our financial and/or stock price performance.
CEO
All Other NEOs
24%
Base
48%
28%
Target Bonus
Target LTI
33%
Base
Target Bonus
Target LTI
44%
23%
Mix of Compensation Elements
The Committee strives to provide a mix of compensation elements that balances current, short-term and long-term
compensation as well as cash and equity compensation. Cash payments primarily reward more recent performance while
equity awards encourage our named executive officers to deliver long-term results and serve as a retention tool. The
Committee believes that executive compensation should be appropriately weighted on both our long-term and short-term
performance.
Comparative Compensation Data; 2018 Peer Group
In making compensation decisions, the Committee considered executive compensation data from a peer group of companies
(“Peer Group”). The Peer Group, which was developed in connection with services provided by Aon Hewitt in connection
with the Merger and approved by the Committee and the Board, generally consists of companies (1) in the industrial, materials,
energy and consumer discretionary sectors, (2) with annual revenues between $1.2 billion and $6.2 billion, and (3) with which
we compete for business and talent. The members of the Peer Group used in making compensation decisions in 2018 were:
Albemarle Corporation
Eagle Materials Inc.
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
Summit Materials, Inc.
U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.
Cabot Corporation
Granite Construction Incorporated
Minerals Technologies Inc.
Tronox Limited
USG Corporation
Compass Minerals International, Inc.
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
Olin Corporation
U.S. Concrete, Inc.
Vulcan Materials Company
Role of Independent Compensation Consultant
The Committee may retain independent compensation consultants as it deems necessary. In connection with the Merger and
the transition forward as a publicly-traded company, and in order to obtain a better understanding of the market practices of its
peers, Aon Hewitt conducted an analysis of compensation practices at peer competitors. In establishing executive
compensation for 2018, the Committee considered the work performed by Aon Hewitt. The Committee has retained Pay
Governance LLC as its independent compensation consultant for 2019 to provide peer group compensation data, financial
information from the public filings of those companies and compensation design recommendations.
30
Role of Management
Our executive compensation program is designed and administered by the Committee in consultation with its independent
compensation consultant, with all non-management directors considering the recommendations of the Committee and
approving executive compensation decisions. In formulating its recommendations, the Committee solicits the input of
management on the overall effectiveness of our executive compensation program and the establishment of appropriate
performance metrics and goals in light of then-current business conditions and expectations. At the invitation of the
Committee, our CEO, our Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, and our Vice President, Compensation
and Benefits, attend Committee meetings and provide management’s perspective on these compensation issues. Our CEO and
the Committee also consult with additional management from our human resources, finance and legal departments regarding
the administration of our compensation program for executives and independent directors.
Our CEO annually reviews and evaluates the performance of the other named executive officers and presents recommendations
regarding their compensation to the Committee. The Committee has the discretion to accept, reject or modify these
recommendations. Our CEO and management do not participate in executive sessions of the Committee or when executive
compensation determinations are made by the Committee and the other independent directors. The Committee presents its
recommendation on executive compensation to the non-management members of our Board, who have the final decision on the
compensation for our named executive officers.
Compensation Risk Management
Our Board, the Committee and management do not believe that there are any significant risks arising from our compensation
policies and practices for our directors and employees that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. We
believe that our compensation programs are balanced and emphasize pay-for-performance. A significant percentage of
compensation is tied to the price of our common stock, which we believe provides strong incentives to manage for the long-
term, and avoid excessive risk taking in the short-term. Additionally, goals and objectives reflect a balanced mix of
quantitative and qualitative performance measures to avoid excessive weight on a single performance measure. The elements
of compensation are balanced between cash payments and equity awards. The Committee retains discretion to adjust
compensation for quality of performance and adherence to our values. Our Board, the Committee and management, with the
assistance of the Committee’s independent compensation consultant, monitor our compensation policies and practices on an
ongoing basis to determine whether our risk management objectives are being met with respect to rewarding our employees for
performance.
Say-on-Pay Vote
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, contains a provision that is
commonly known as “Say-on-Pay.” Say-on-Pay gives our stockholders an opportunity to vote, on an advisory, non-binding
basis, to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement. We are holding our
first Say-on-Pay vote at this year’s Annual Meeting (see Item 2 of this Proxy Statement). This vote is not intended to address
any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the executive
compensation program and practices described in this Proxy Statement. Although this vote is advisory and not binding, we
will consider the outcome of the Say-on-Pay vote in determining future executive compensation.
Say-on-Frequency Vote
The Dodd-Frank Act also contains a provision enabling our stockholders to indicate how frequently we should hold future Say-
on-Pay votes. At least once every six years, we are required to hold an advisory vote on the frequency of Say-on-Pay votes
(commonly referred to as “Say-on-Frequency”). We are holding our first Say-on-Frequency vote at this year’s Annual Meeting
(see Item 3 of this Proxy Statement). Although this vote is advisory and not binding, we will consider the outcome of the Say-
on-Frequency vote when determining the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes.
Clawback Policy
Our named executive officers are subject to the Clawback Policy adopted by our Board. Under the Clawback Policy, if we are
required to prepare an accounting restatement due to our material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement
under U.S. securities laws, we will recover from current or former executives who received incentive-based compensation
(including any type of equity compensation) during the three-year period preceding the date on which we are required to
prepare an accounting restatement, the amount of compensation in excess of what would have been paid to the executive based
upon the accounting restatement.
31
Compensation Elements
We believe that the elements of our executive compensation program advance our objectives and principles, as previously
described, including the achievement of our short-term and long-term business objectives. The total compensation awarded to
each named executive officer, as well as each element of compensation, is intended to foster our pay-for-performance
philosophy and provide a competitive compensation package as compared to executives in similar positions at our competitors.
Although the Committee does not have any specific formula for establishing the amount and mix of base salary and variable
compensation, it does reference the Peer Group compensation data as a market check in making these determinations. The
Committee also considers factors relating to each named executive officer’s individual position, performance versus objectives,
professional history and experience, relevant skill set, scope of duties and the internal relationship of pay across all executive
positions as it establishes compensation.
Base Salary
The Committee believes a competitive base salary serves an important role in attracting and retaining executive talent. Base
salary is not intended to represent the primary method of rewarding performance. After receiving input from our CEO
regarding the performance of the other named executive officers, the Committee and other non-management directors use
judgment regarding individual performance, market competitiveness, internal pay equity, length of service, job responsibilities
and other factors to determine the appropriate base salary for each named executive officer.
Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation
The Committee believes that short-term cash incentive compensation opportunities are an important tool to focus our named
executive officers on annual objectives designed to drive performance, such as earnings, cash flow, debt reduction, safety and
other operating results. For 2018, the Committee established a short-term incentive for our named executive officers for the
post-Merger seven-month period from June 1, 2018 until December 31, 2018 based upon the achievement of an adjusted
EBITDA goal (constituting 60% of the total opportunity), an adjusted cash flow goal (constituting 20% of the total
opportunity), and Merger-related synergy savings (constituting 20% of the total opportunity). For each of the three metrics, a
threshold had to be achieved before any portion of the opportunity relating to such metric would be awarded, 100% of the
portion of the opportunity relating to such metric would be awarded if the metric met plan, and up to 200% of the portion of the
opportunity relating to such metric would be awarded if a maximum amount was achieved. Actual award payments, if any, are
made in cash and prorated for results between threshold and maximum levels. The Committee believes the targeted
performance levels provided challenging, but reasonable, levels of performance that were appropriate in light of our objective
to motivate our executives.
For additional information on the short-term incentive plan opportunity for 2018, see the “Executive Compensation for 2018”
section of this CD&A.
Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation
The Committee believes that long-term equity incentive compensation is critical for aligning executive compensation with the
creation of long-term stockholder value. In July 2018, the Committee made an initial grant of restricted stock units under our
Omnibus Plan to our then-current named executive officers, but no other long-term incentive compensation was awarded to our
named executive officers in 2018, as the Committee developed and implemented its strategy for long-term incentive
compensation in the first quarter of 2019 for implementation during the 2019 calendar year.
The Committee views restricted stock units as excellent mechanisms to align the interests of executives with those of
stockholders by supporting a focus on stockholder value. Restricted stock units are also an effective retention tool as a result of
the vesting schedule which occurs over a period of several years.
The restricted stock units awarded in 2018 vest ratably in one-third increments over three years (i.e., 33% per year).
Benefits and Perquisites
Our named executive officers participate in employee benefit plans that are generally available to all employees on the same
terms and conditions as other similarly situated employees. These include customary programs for life insurance, health
insurance, prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, short and long term disability insurance and matching gifts for
charitable contributions. While these benefits are considered to be an important and appropriate employment benefit for all
employees, they are not considered to be a material component of a named executive officer’s annual compensation program.
Because the named executive officers receive these benefits on the same basis as other employees, these benefits are not
established or determined by the Compensation Committee separately for each named executive officer as part of the named
executive officer’s annual compensation package. In addition, we provide minimal perquisites to our named executive officers.
The perquisites and other benefits we provide to our named executive officers are summarized in the Summary Compensation
32
Table. For 2019, we have eliminated the automobile usage and related expenses perquisite previously provided to Mr. Jones
and Mr. Eich.
Retirement Plans
Fairmount Santrol and Unimin sponsored retirement plans in which their respective employees, including our named executive
officers, were eligible to participate. We maintained those retirement plans during 2018 as we worked to harmonize the plans
during our post-Merger integration process. Additional details regarding the retirement plans are provided below and in the
“Executive Compensation – Retirement Plans” section following this CD&A.
Fairmount Santrol
• The Fairmount Santrol Retirement Savings Plan (“Fairmount 401(k) Plan”) provides benefits under Section 401(k) of
the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) to employees, including Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Mr.
Reynolds, who are permitted to contribute a portion of their base compensation and bonus to a tax-qualified retirement
account. The Fairmount 401(k) Plan also includes a defined contribution profit sharing provision in which our
employees may participate. Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey and Mr. Richardson participate in the profit sharing provision
of the Fairmount 401(k) Plan.
• The Fairmount Minerals Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“Fairmount SERP”) provides employees,
including Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Reynolds, with non-qualified deferred compensation
benefits intended to restore the benefits that are reduced under the Fairmount 401(k) Plan due to contribution
limitations imposed by the Code. Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey and Mr. Richardson participate in the Fairmount SERP.
Unimin
• The Unimin Corporation Pension Plan (“Unimin Pension Plan”) is a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan in
which Mr. Jones and Mr. Solazzo are the only of our named executive officers who participate.
• The Unimin Pension Restoration Plan ensures that employees whose benefits under the Unimin Pension Plan,
including Mr. Jones and Mr. Solazzo, would otherwise be limited by the Code receive the full benefit anticipated
under the Unimin Pension Plan.
• The Unimin Corporation Savings Plan (“Unimin 401(k) Plan”) provides benefits under Section 401(k) of the Code to
employees, including Mr. Jones, Mr. Eich, Mr. Solazzo and Mr. Oskam, who are permitted to contribute a portion of
their base compensation and bonus to a tax-qualified retirement account. The Unimin 401(k) Plan also includes an
annual non-elective company contribution, except for those individuals that continue to accrue benefits under the
Unimin Pension Plan, including Mr. Jones and Mr. Solazzo.
Employment Agreements, Retention Agreements and Other Arrangements
We are a party to agreements and arrangements with our named executive officers which were intended to attract and retain key
talent to manage our business, and to provide us with continuity of management and the continued focus of our executive team
before and after the Merger. For additional details regarding these agreements and arrangements, including the retention
agreements provided by Unimin and the FSCIC Plan (as defined below), please see the following descriptions and the
“Executive Compensation – Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change In Control – Payments Upon Various Triggering
Events at 2018 Fiscal Year-End – Change in Control – Termination Without Good Cause or Termination by Executive For
Good Reason” section following this CD&A.
Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey and Mr. Richardson
We have not entered into employment agreements with Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey or Mr. Richardson, each of whom
participate in the FSCIC Plan.
Mr. Jones
Mr. Jones was a party to an employment agreement with Unimin dated May 1, 2015 that terminated on April 30, 2018. Under
his employment agreement, Unimin employed Mr. Jones as its CEO and paid Mr. Jones his base salary in U.S. dollars,
provided that Mr. Jones could elect to receive up to 50% of his base salary in Australian dollars. During the term of his
employment, Mr. Jones was entitled to participate in Sibelco’s short term cash incentive plan, with the opportunity set at 65%
of base salary. In connection with Mr. Jones’s relocation from Australia to the U.S. to become Unimin’s CEO in 2015, his
employment agreement included typical expatriate provisions, including tax equalization, tax return preparation, a housing
allowance (including utility reimbursement), relocation costs and the cost of airfare for Mr. Jones and his family for one round
33
trip visit per year between the U.S. and Australia. Mr. Jones was also entitled, at his election, to a company car or the
equivalent value in cash.
In April 2018, in connection with the Merger, Unimin entered into a retention agreement with Mr. Jones. Pursuant to the
retention agreement, if we terminate Mr. Jones’ employment with us without cause within five years following the closing date
of the Merger or if Mr. Jones terminates his employment with us for good reason between the 25th and 60th months following
the closing date of the Merger, Mr. Jones shall be entitled to receive (1) a lump-sum payment equal to two years of his total
base package (which is comprised of his base salary and an additional 9.5% which is equivalent to the mandatory employer
contributions Mr. Jones gave up upon his localization from Australia to the U.S. to work for us) in effect on the date of the
agreement or the date of termination of his employment, whichever is greater, (2) two years of continued healthcare coverage
for Mr. Jones and his dependents, (3) a pro-rata portion of his target bonus for the year in which the qualifying termination or
resignation occurs, (4) reimbursement of the actual cost to complete his tax returns in Australia and the U.S. for two years after
the qualifying termination, and (5) reimbursement of the costs to relocate Mr. Jones and his family to Australia.
Mr. Eich and Mr. Oskam
In November 2017, in anticipation with the Merger, Unimin entered into retention agreements with Mr. Eich and Mr. Oskam.
Pursuant to each of the retention agreements, if we terminate the named executive officer’s employment with us without cause
within three years following the closing date of the Merger or if the named executive officer terminates his employment with
us for good reason, the executive shall be entitled to receive (1) a lump-sum payment equal to 18 months of his base salary as
in effect on the date of the agreement or the date of termination of his employment, whichever is greater, (2) 18 months of
continued healthcare coverage for the executive and his dependents, and (3) a pro-rata portion of the executive’s target bonus
for the year in which the qualifying termination or resignation occurs.
In April 2018, Unimin also agreed to pay certain expenses incurred by Mr. Eich as part of his relocation from Connecticut to
near our corporate headquarters in Ohio. The total relocation package, including a relocation bonus of $50,000, was not to
exceed an initial amount of $250,000 plus an additional $130,000 approved by our Board, each on a pre-tax basis.
Mr. Reynolds
In August 2018, we entered into an offer letter with Mr. Reynolds, which provides him with severance benefits pursuant to the
FSCIC Plan discussed in the following section. Additionally, following the lapse of the protection period provided by the
FSCIC Plan, if we terminate Mr. Reynolds’ employment with us without cause or if Mr. Reynolds terminates his employment
with us for good reason, he will receive one year base salary, a prorated short-term incentive payment at the target level,
continuation in our health insurance plans for one year, and outplacement services for no longer than one year.
Mr. Solazzo
In May 2018, in connection with the Merger, Mr. Solazzo and Unimin entered into a retention agreement as part of his
transition out of the role as Unimin’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Under the agreement, Unimin
agreed to provide Mr. Solazzo (1) a lump-sum transition payment equal to $799,336 following the hiring of our new General
Counsel, (2) the completion bonus discussed below, (3) a temporary increase in salary of $5,000 per month for the period
between June 1, 2018 and the commencement date of our new General Counsel, (4) continued participation under our
healthcare coverage until reaching age 65 in 2023, and (5) a lump-sum severance payment equal to 18 months of his base
salary as of the date of the agreement or the date of termination of his employment, whichever is greater if such termination is
other than for cause or his voluntary resignation and subject to his execution of a release in our favor. For two years following
his termination, Mr. Solazzo will be subject to non-competition restrictions.
Fairmount Santrol Change in Control Plan
Prior to the Merger, Fairmount Santrol maintained the Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. Executive Change in Control
Severance Plan (“FSCIC Plan”) which provides certain payments and benefits in connection with a change in control that are
intended to help provide continuity of management and continued focus on the business by management in the event of a
change in control. As a result of the Merger, a change in control was deemed to have occurred under the FSCIC Plan.
Accordingly, Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Reynolds will receive the benefits of the FSCIC Plan if,
during the protection period between the closing date of the Merger (June 1, 2018) and two years thereafter, we terminate their
employment with us other than for cause or they terminate their employment with us for good reason. For additional details
regarding the FSCIC Plan, please see the “Executive Compensation – Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change In
Control – Payments Upon Various Triggering Events at 2018 Fiscal Year-End – Change in Control – Termination Without
Good Cause or Termination by Executive For Good Reason” section following this CD&A.
34
Unimin Completion Bonus Agreements
In November 2017, Unimin entered into completion bonus agreements with Mr. Jones, Mr. Eich, Mr. Solazzo and Mr. Oskam.
Pursuant to each completion bonus agreement, so long as (1) the executive remained continuously employed by us until
December 31, 2018 and (2) the transactions contemplated by the Merger were consummated prior to December 31, 2018, Mr.
Jones, Mr. Eich, Mr. Solazzo and Mr. Oskam would receive a lump sum payment of 450,000AUD, $200,000, $101,000 and
$150,000, respectively.
Executive Compensation for 2018
Base Salaries for 2018
For 2018, following a review of the analysis and recommendations of its compensation consultant in connection with the
Merger, the Committee recommended and the other non-employee directors approved the following annual base salary
amounts for our current named executive officers: Ms. Deckard, $800,000; Mr. Jones, $725,000; Mr. Eich, $500,000; Mr.
Clancey, $450,000; Mr. Richardson, $415,000; and Mr. Reynolds, $415,000. The 2018 base salaries of Mr. Solazzo and Mr.
Oskam, neither of whom continued as executive officers of Covia following the Merger, were $350,000 and $359,100,
respectively.
In establishing initial pay levels of our executive officers in connection with the Merger, the Committee and the Board
reviewed competitive market data provided by Aon Hewitt as part of its work for Unimin, including the base salaries of
similarly situated executives in our compensation Peer Group. The pre-Merger base salaries of Ms. Deckard, Mr. Eich, Mr.
Clancey and Mr. Richardson were below the median for their comparable position within the Peer Group. As a result, Aon
Hewitt recommended that we move over time toward base salaries and total direct compensation (i.e., base salary, short-term
and long-term incentive compensation at targeted levels) near the 50th percentile of market compensation to ensure that we
attract and retain the appropriate level of executive talent for a company of our size and complexity. For 2018, the Committee
set our executive officers’ base salaries below the median for the Peer Group, except with respect to Mr. Jones, whose base
salary exceeds the median of the Peer Group in recognition of the experience and expertise he provides as a result of his pre-
Merger role as the CEO of Unimin and the scope of his current role, and the Committee expects to continue evaluating
opportunities to migrate base salaries of our other named executive officers to near the Peer Group median.
Short-Term Cash Incentive Compensation for 2018
Our named executive officers were eligible to earn short-term cash incentive compensation for the seven-month period from
June 1, 2018 until December 31, 2018 based on our: (1) adjusted EBITDA (constituting 60% of the total opportunity); (2)
adjusted cash flow (constituting 20% of the total opportunity); and (3) Merger-related synergy savings (constituting 20% of the
total opportunity). For each performance measure: (1) none of the opportunity relating to the performance measure would be
earned unless we achieved the threshold performance goal; (2) 100% of the opportunity relating to the performance measure
would be earned if we achieved the target performance goal; and (3) 200% of the opportunity relating to the performance
measure would be earned if we achieved the maximum performance goal. Actual award payments, if any, are paid in cash and
prorated for results between threshold and maximum levels. The Committee believes the performance goals provided
challenging, but reasonable, levels of performance that were appropriate in light of our objective to motivate our executives.
The following table shows the threshold, target and maximum payout percentages and performance goals established for each
performance measure for the seven-month period of the 2018 short-term cash incentive opportunity:
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted Cash Flow
Synergy Savings
Performance
Goal
Payout as (%)
of Target
Threshold
$277.1 million
Target
$413.5 million
Maximum
$537.6 million
0
100
200
Performance
Goal
$191.5 million
$285.9 million
$371.6 million
Payout as (%)
of Target
0
100
200
Performance
Goal
$23.6 million
$35.1 million
$45.7 million
Payout as (%)
of Target
0
100
200
The following table shows the: (1) threshold, target and maximum amounts of the 2018 short-term cash incentive opportunity
for each named executive officer, both as a percentage of the named executive officer’s annual base salary and as a dollar
amount; and (2) total short-term cash incentive earned by each named executive officer based on our achievement in final
seven months of 2018 of (a) adjusted EBITDA of $193.7 million (0% of the opportunity earned), (b) adjusted cash flow of
35
$31.4 million (0% of the opportunity earned), and (c) Merger-related synergy savings of $53.5 million (200% of the
opportunity earned):
Threshold
% of
Salary
Potential
Payout ($)
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
537
219
317
197
182
56
92
126
Target
Potential
Payout ($)
Maximum
% of
Salary
Potential
Payout ($)
2018 Award Earned
Actual
% of
Payout ($)
Salary
536,667
218,750
317,188
196,875
181,563
95,769
91,875
125,685
230.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
150.0
90.0
120.0
1,073,333
437,500
634,375
393,750
363,125
191,538
183,750
251,370
46.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
30.0
18.0
24.0
214,667
87,500
126,875
78,750
72,625
38,308
36,750
50,274
% of
Salary
115.0
75.0
75.0
75.0
75.0
75.0
45.0
60.0
Executive
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Mr. Reynolds (1)
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
__________
(1) The 2018 award earned by Mr. Reynolds was prorated based on his commencing employment with us on September 10,
2018.
For named executive officers who are legacy Unimin executives (i.e., Mr. Eich, Mr. Jones, Mr. Solazzo and Mr. Oskam), the
five-month pre-Merger 2018 short-term incentive opportunity was based upon adjusted EBITDA and free operating cash flow
goals. However, it was determined that free operating cash flow could not be considered because it was consolidated into
Sibelco’s performance and was not calculable at the Unimin level. Accordingly, the legacy Unimin adjusted EBITDA
component was the sole metric used to determine the amounts earned. For the five-month pre-Merger 2018 period, the target
for adjusted EBITDA was $161.2 million. A threshold level of performance had to be achieved to earn an award under this
measure, and a maximum level of performance limited the awards that could be earned. For the five-month pre-Merger 2018
period, legacy Unimin adjusted EBITDA was $187.3 million. As a result, named executive officers who are legacy Unimin
executives received 130% of their target short-term incentive plan awards for the five-month period of 2018 preceding the
Merger.
Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation for 2018
The Committee believes that awarding long-term equity incentive compensation is critical for aligning the interests of our
executives with the creation of long-term stockholder value. In July 2018, the Committee recommended and the non-
management directors approved an award of restricted stock units under our Omnibus Plan to each of the named executive
officers employed by us on the grant date.
Recipients of restricted stock units awarded in 2018 do not have the rights of a stockholder. If the executive’s employment is
terminated before vesting for any reason other than retirement, change in control, death or disability, the unvested portion of
the restricted stock unit award will be forfeited. If the executive dies or becomes disabled, any restricted stock units that would
have vested during the year following death or disability will fully vest on the date of death or disability. If the executive
retires, any restricted stock units will continue to vest for the one-year period following retirement. If a change in control
occurs, all restricted stock units will fully vest immediately unless the recipient receives a replacement award of equal value to
replace the original award. If a replacement award is received, but the recipient incurs an involuntary termination without
cause or a voluntary termination for good reason with the two-year period following the change in control, the restricted stock
units will fully vest upon such termination.
In determining the long-term equity incentive awards for 2018, however, compensation that the named executive officers had
received from Fairmount Santrol (in the case of Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey and Mr. Richardson) or would receive on December
31, 2018 in the form of certain completion bonuses (in the case of Mr. Jones and Mr. Eich) was taken into account.
Specifically, the value of the long-term equity incentive plan awards for Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey and Mr. Richardson was
based on the difference between the value of the annual long-term equity incentive opportunity recommended by the
independent compensation consultant and the value of the long-term incentive plan awards granted to them by Fairmount
Santrol in March 2018. The value of the long-term equity incentive awards for Mr. Jones and Mr. Eich was based on the
difference between the value of the annual long-term equity incentive opportunity recommended by the executive
compensation consultant and the value of the completion bonuses payable to Mr. Jones and Mr. Eich on December 31, 2018.
36
The following table reflects the value (using $21.17, the 30-day trailing average price of our common stock, as opposed to the
$18.56 grant date fair value reflected in the Summary Compensation Table of this Proxy Statement) of the long-term equity
incentive awards recommend by the independent compensation consultant, the adjustments made to those awards based on
other compensation awarded to the executives, and the value of the long-term equity incentive awards granted to our then-
current named executive officers on July 2, 2018 in recognition of the critical roles they play in our future success and long-
term growth:
Executive
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Mr. Reynolds (1)
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
__________
Recommended Value of Annual
Long-Term Incentive Award ($)
Adjustment to Long-Term
Incentive Award ($)
Actual Value of Long-Term
Incentive Award Granted ($)
1,600,000
875,000
1,087,500
787,500
622,500
0
0
0
1,030,000
200,000
423,000
454,616
392,500
0
0
0
570,000
675,000
664,500
332,884
230,000
0
0
0
(1) Mr. Reynolds commenced employment with us on September 10, 2018.
Executive Compensation for 2019
Considerations
At its November 2018 meeting, the Committee reviewed the market data and analyses provided by its independent
compensation consultant and determined that our overall compensation program was generally competitive and consistent with
the Committee’s compensation objectives. In determining 2019 compensation for our named executive officers, the
Committee considered many factors, including:
• our performance in 2018 and how our performance compared to our goals;
•
•
•
assessments of the executive’s individual performance and leadership in 2018, and the potential for future
contributions to our business and operations;
achievement of long-term strategic and short-term business goals;
the nature and scope of the executive’s responsibilities and effectiveness in leading our initiatives to improve cash
flow, reduce net debt, improve profitability and promote safety;
• desired competitive positioning of compensation;
•
•
retention needs; and
the compensation practices of our Peer Group.
The Committee places particular focus on aligning executive compensation with corporate and individual performance. In
evaluating 2018 performance, the Committee recognized our named executive officers’ achievements as well as the challenging
economic and market conditions, and the executives’ contributions in integrating the legacy Fairmount Santrol and Unimin
businesses. The Committee sought to advance our compensation objectives and principles, particularly to motivate our
executives and foster a pay-for-performance culture, and set objectives for the short-term incentive plan opportunity and long-
term incentive plan opportunity that were deemed aggressive yet achievable.
37
As a result of that review and discussion with our other non-management directors, the Committee and our other non-
management directors approved the following 2019 compensation for our current named executive officers, which included no
base salary increases:
Executive
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Mr. Reynolds
2019
Base Salary
($)
2019 Target Short-Term
Incentive Opportunity
(% of Salary)
2019 Target Long-Term
Incentive Opportunity
(% of Salary)
Total 2019 Target Direct
Compensation
($)
800,000
500,000
725,000
450,000
415,000
415,000
115
75
75
75
75
75
200
175
150
175
150
125
3,320,000
1,750,000
2,356,250
1,575,000
1,348,750
1,245,000
Tax and Accounting Considerations
While the Committee strives to compensate our named executive officers in a manner that produces favorable tax and
accounting treatments, its main objective is to develop fair, equitable and competitive compensation arrangements that
appropriately motivate, reward and retain those executives.
Previously, Code Section 162(m) (“Section 162(m)”) imposed a $1 million limit on the amount that a public company could
deduct for compensation paid to its CEO or any of its three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than the
chief financial officer) who were employed as of the end of the year. This limitation did not apply to compensation that met the
requirements under Section 162(m) for “qualified performance-based compensation” (i.e., compensation paid only if the
individual’s performance met pre-established objective goals based on performance criteria approved by the stockholders). As
a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Section 162(m) was significantly modified.
Beginning with 2018, the performance-based compensation exception to the Section 162(m) deduction limitation was repealed
(subject to a transition rule for written binding contracts which were in effect on November 2, 2017 and are not modified in any
material respect on or after such date). Additionally, the $1 million deduction limitation for public companies now applies to
the CEO, chief financial officer and three other most highly compensated executive officers who are employed at any time
during the taxable year, and those individuals will continue to be included in that group of “covered employees” so long as they
remain employed by the public company. Due to these changes, we are unable to deduct compensation paid to a named
executive officer in excess of $1 million regardless of whether all or a portion of such excess is “qualified performance-based
compensation.”
38
The following table sets forth the compensation earned by or paid to our named executive officers as defined by SEC rules for
2018 and, where required, for 2017.
Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position
Jenniffer D. Deckard (6)
President and Chief Executive
Officer of Covia
Andrew D. Eich
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of Covia
(former Chief Commercial Officer
and Principal Financial Officer of
Unimin)
Campbell Jones
Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer
(former Chief Executive Officer of
Unimin)
Gerald L. Clancey (6)
Executive Vice President and
Chief Commercial Officer of Covia
Brian J. Richardson (6)
Executive Vice President and
Chief Administrative Officer of
Covia
Chadwick P. Reynolds (7)
Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary of Covia
Richard M. Solazzo
Former Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary of
Unimin
Year
2018
Salary
($)
466,667
Bonus
($) (1)
400
Stock
Awards
($) (2)
499,765
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($) (3)
214,667
2018
467,100
250,000
591,841
229,233
2017
408,250
76,500
─
320,600
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($) (4)
─
─
─
All Other
Compensation
($) (5)
4,068
Total
($)
1,185,566
350,817
1,888,991
32,963
838,286
2018
752,277
423,000
582,636
405,185
2017
751,319
101,500
─
584,736
37,466
38,928
769,656
2,970,219
396,903
1,873,386
2018
262,500
400
291,875
78,750
2018
242,083
400
201,654
72,625
2018
129,022
225,000
2018
368,600
101,750
38,308
─
─
─
4,983
638,508
2,573
519,335
11,582
403,911
─
─
─
─
93,150
31,907
849,144
1,444,551
157,256
244,600
─
─
36,104
698,203
33,309
692,809
Mark B. Oskam (8)
Former Senior Vice President,
Corporate Development of Unimin
2018
354,825
150,000
2017
338,400
76,500
_____
(1) The amounts in this column for 2018 reflect: (a) safety incentives for Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey and Mr. Richardson; (b)
Merger completion bonuses for Mr. Jones and Mr. Oskam; (c) a Merger completion bonus ($200,000) and a relocation
bonus ($50,000) for Mr. Eich; (d) a Merger completion bonus ($101,000) and long-service award ($750) for Mr. Solazzo;
and (e) a sign-on bonus ($200,000) and discretionary performance bonus ($25,000) for Mr. Reynolds. The amounts in this
column for 2017 reflect discretionary performance bonuses for Mr. Jones, Mr. Eich and Mr. Oskam that were not awarded
pursuant to the terms of a non-equity incentive plan.
(2) The amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value for restricted stock units for the named executive officers with
respect to the fiscal year in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. These amounts do not represent the actual amounts
that will be realized by the named executive officers with respect to such awards. The grant date fair value of the restricted
stock units was determined by multiplying the closing price of our common stock on the NYSE on the date of grant
($18.56) by the number of shares of restricted stock units granted. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts
are included in Note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2018.
39
(3) The amounts in this column reflect the non-equity incentive plan awards earned by the named executive officers for 2018
and 2017.
(4) The amounts in this column represent the year-over-year increase in the present value of the accumulated benefit for Mr.
Jones and Mr. Solazzo under Unimin’s pension plan.
(5) For 2018, the amounts in this column include the following compensation for the executives, as more fully described in the
table included with this footnote:
a. Matching and non-elective contributions made by us pursuant to our 401(k) plan;
b. Pension benefit allocation made by us pursuant to the Unimin Pension Restoration Plan;
c. Life insurance premium payments;
d. Long-term disability insurance premium payments;
e. The cost to us associated with the executive’s use of an automobile or the cash allowance provided in lieu of an
automobile;
f. Other personal benefits in the form of (i) relocation benefits in connection with our request that Mr. Eich relocate from
Connecticut to our principal office in Ohio, (ii) expatriate benefits and housing allowance pursuant to Mr. Jones’
employment agreement with Unimin in connection with his prior relocation from Australia to the U.S. to lead the
legacy Unimin business, (iii) a charitable matching gift provided by us at Mr. Richardson’s request, and (iv) the
transition payment associated with Mr. Solazzo’s retention agreement with Unimin; and
g. Tax gross-up payments on the other personal benefits related to Mr. Eich’s relocation bonus and expenses and Mr.
Jones’ expatriate and housing allowance.
401(k) Plan
Matching
Contributions
($)
401(k) Plan
Non-Elective
Contributions
($)
─
9,625
9,625
─
─
─
9,625
9,625
─
10,800
─
─
─
─
─
10,800
Unimin
Pension
Restoration
Plan
Allocation
($)
─
─
66,954
─
─
─
24,098
─
Name
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Mr. Reynolds
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
Life
Insurance
Premiums
($)
Long-Term
Disability
Insurance
Premiums ($)
Automobile
Use or
Allowance
($)
Other Personal
Benefits
($)
Tax Gross-Up
Payments
($)
3,442
3,051
3,066
2,033
473
318
2,274
2,331
625
869
869
755
1,260
264
869
869
─
13,072
12,561
2,195
─
─
12,942
12,479
─
154,425
375,561
─
1,000
─
799,336
─
─
159,155
301,020
─
─
─
─
─
(6) Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey and Mr. Richardson began employment with us on June 1, 2018, in connection with the closing
of the Merger.
(7) Mr. Reynolds began his employment with us on September 10, 2018.
(8) Mr. Oskam’s employment with us terminated on January 18, 2019.
40
Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2018
The following table sets forth the short-term incentive compensation awards and the restricted stock unit awards made to our
named executive officers in 2018 (1) for the seven-month post-Merger period under our Omnibus Plan (for all named executive
officers) and (2) for the five-month pre-Merger period under the Unimin short-term incentive plan (for Mr. Eich, Mr. Jones, Mr.
Solazzo and Mr. Oskam). Additional information regarding the short-term incentive compensation awards granted in 2018 is
set forth in the “Compensation Elements – Short-Term Incentive Compensation” section of the CD&A. Additional information
regarding the restricted stock units granted in 2018 is set forth in the “Compensation Elements – Long-Term Incentive
Compensation” section of the CD&A.
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-
Equity Incentive Plan Awards
(1)
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity
Incentive Plan Awards
Grant
Date
Threshold
($)
Target
($)
Maximum
($)
Threshold
(#)
Target
(#)
Maximum
(#)
─
437,500
141,733
─
634,375
279,310
─
Name
Ms. Deckard
─
07/02/2018
537
536,667
1,073,333
─
─
Mr. Eich
─
219
218,750
─
07/02/2018
1,090
109,025
─
─
Mr. Jones
─
317
317,188
Mr. Clancey
─
07/02/2018
─
07/02/2018
2,141
214,084
─
─
197
196,875
393,750
─
─
─
Mr. Richardson
─
182
181,563
363,125
07/02/2018
─
─
─
─
─
Mr. Reynolds
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
________
─
56
92
433
126
823
─
─
95,769
191,538
91,875
183,750
43,338
56,339
125,685
251,370
82,294
106,982
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
(#) (2)
Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
Awards
($) (3)
─
─
26,927
499,765
─
─
─
─
31,888
591,841
─
─
─
─
31,392
582,636
─
─
15,726
291,875
─
─
10,865
201,654
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
(1) The amounts in these columns represent the threshold, target and maximum payouts that each named executive officer was
eligible to receive under our 2018 short-term incentive plan awards (1) for the seven-month post-Merger period for all
named executive officers and (2) for the five-month pre-Merger period for Mr. Eich, Mr. Jones, Mr. Solazzo and Mr.
Oskam). The amount of these awards actually earned are included for 2018 in the Summary Compensation Table as non-
equity incentive plan compensation. Further detail regarding the 2018 short-term incentive plan awards may be found in
“Executive Compensation for 2018 – Short-Term Incentive Compensation for 2018” section of the CD&A.
(2) This amounts in this column reflect restricted stock unit awards that vest ratably over a three-year period in one-third
increments beginning on July 2, 2019, subject to the named executive officer’s continued employment on the applicable
vesting date. A recipient of restricted stock units does not have the rights of a stockholder, but is entitled to a dividend
equivalent payment equal to any cash dividends paid by us while the recipient holds unvested restricted stock units.
Further detail regarding the 2018 restricted stock unit awards may be found in “Executive Compensation for 2018 – Long-
Term Equity Incentive Compensation for 2018” section of the CD&A.
(3) The amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value for the restricted stock units awarded to the named executive
officers in 2018 calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these
amounts are included in Note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
41
The following table sets forth, as of the end of 2018, all equity awards outstanding under our equity compensation plans for
each named executive officer.
Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal Year-End
Option/SARs Awards
Stock Awards
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested
($)
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested
(#)
Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#) (2)
Market
Value of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
($) (3)
Name
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
(#)
66,763
20,400
17,000
7,140
0
15,716
3,376
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
74,800
51,000
17,000
7,140
0
9,590
1,491
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
0
9,590
1,285
─
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercis-
able
(#) (1)
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
0
0
0
0
8,800
7,884
6,764
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
0
0
0
0
8,800
4,810
2,989
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
20,000
4,810
2,575
─
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
0
0
0
─
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
7.15
Option
Expiration
Date
10/1/2019
17.85
12/7/2020
52.30
12/10/2023
80.00
44.15
10.20
50.15
10/2/2024
5/15/2025
3/1/2026
3/1/2027
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
7.15
10/1/2019
17.85
12/7/2020
52.30
12/10/2023
80.00
44.15
10.20
50.15
10/2/2024
5/15/2025
3/1/2026
3/1/2027
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
6/1/2025
3/1/2026
3/1/2027
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
44.75
10.20
50.15
─
42
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
877
2,999
1,640
5,609
16,400
56,088
12,001
41,043
37,460
128,113
26,927
92,090
31,888 109,057
31,392 107,361
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
877
2,999
1,640
5,609
10,200
34,884
8,700
29,754
6,489
22,192
16,540
56,567
15,726
53,783
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
3,000
10,260
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
10,200
34,884
2,800
9,576
5,021
17,172
14,260
48,769
10,865
37,158
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
Mr. Reynolds
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
_________
(1) The stock options reported in this column have a 10-year term, and the vesting dates for each unexercisable stock option as
of the end of 2018 is as follows (with a prorated portion of each award scheduled to vest annually):
Name
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options Unexercisable
(#)
8,800
7,884
6,764
8,800
4,810
2,989
20,000
4,810
2,575
Vesting Dates
12/31/2019
3/1/2019
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020
12/31/2019
3/1/2019
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020
12/31/2019
3/1/2019
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020
(2) Shares of common stock reported in this column underlie unvested restricted stock unit awards as of the end of 2018. The
vesting dates following the end of 2018 for each award of restricted stock units are as follows (with a prorated portion of
each award scheduled to vest annually):
Name
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Number of Shares of Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Units That Have Not Vested
(#)
877
1,640
16,400
12,001
37,460
26,927
31,888
31,392
877
1,640
10,200
8,700
6,489
16,540
15,726
3,000
10,200
2,800
5,021
14,260
10,865
Vesting Dates
12/31/2019
12/31/2020
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020, 3/1/2021
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020, 3/1/2021, 3/1/2022
7/2/2019, 7/2/2020, 7/2/2021
7/2/2019, 7/2/2020, 7/2/2021
7/2/2019, 7/2/2020, 7/2/2021
12/31/2019
12/31/2020
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020
3/7/2019, 3/7/2020
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020, 3/1/2021
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020, 3/1/2021, 3/1/2022
7/2/2019, 7/2/2020, 7/2/2021
12/31/2020
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020
3/7/2019, 3/7/2020
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020, 3/1/2021
3/1/2019, 3/1/2020, 3/1/2021, 3/1/2022
7/2/2019, 7/2/2020, 7/2/2021
(4) The market value reflected in this column is computed based on the closing market price of our common stock on the
NYSE of $3.42 on December 31, 2018, the final trading day of our last completed fiscal year.
43
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2018
The named executive officers did not realize any amounts from compensation-related equity awards (including through the
exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted stock units) during 2018 (in the case of Mr. Eich, Mr. Jones, Mr. Solazzo
and Mr. Oskam) or during the seven-month period of 2018 after the Merger (in the case of Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr.
Richardson and Mr. Reynolds).
Retirement Plans
Fairmount Santrol and Unimin sponsored retirement plans in which their respective employees, including our named executive
officers, were eligible to participate. We maintained those retirement plans during 2018 as we worked to harmonize the plans
during our post-Merger integration process.
Fairmount Santrol
The Fairmount 401(k) Plan provides our employees, including Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Reynolds,
benefits under Section 401(k) of the Code. The Fairmount 401(k) Plan allows participants to contribute a portion of their base
compensation and bonus to a tax-qualified retirement account, with us providing matching contributions equal to 100% of the
first 4% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions. Amounts deposited in the Fairmount
401(k) Plan, including our matching contributions, are fully vested upon deposit.
Under the Fairmount 401(k) Plan, we also maintain a defined contribution profit sharing component for the benefit of all of our
employees. Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey and Mr. Richardson participate in the profit sharing component of the Fairmount 401(k)
Plan. We hold discretion over the annual profit sharing contribution rate, which is the same for every participant, and such
amounts are subject to the limits established by the Code. The defined contribution profit sharing benefit cliff vests three years
following the date the contribution is made by us.
Under the Fairmount SERP, certain employees, including Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Reynolds, may
elect to defer up to 15% of their base compensation and bonus. The deferral amount under the Fairmount SERP is equal to the
base compensation and bonus deferral elected by the employee minus the salary and bonus deferrals credited to the
participant’s Fairmount 401(k) Plan account. We provide contributions under the Fairmount SERP equal to the excess of the
full contribution that we would have made to the participant’s Fairmount 401(k) Plan account, if not for the limitations under
the Code, over what we actually contributed to the participant’s Fairmount 401(k) Plan account. Any amount that we
contribute to the Fairmount SERP on behalf of the participant, is fully vested upon deposit.
Unimin
The Unimin Pension Plan is a tax-qualified defined benefit pension plan in which Mr. Jones and Mr. Solazzo are the only of
our named executive officers who participate. The annual retirement income formula under the Unimin Pension Plan takes into
consideration the average of the highest five consecutive calendar years of the last 10 years of covered earnings, as limited by
the Code, and the employee’s years of benefit service. Mr. Jones and Mr. Solazzo have 3.58 and 15.25 years of benefit service,
respectively.
The Unimin Pension Restoration Plan ensures that employees whose benefit under the Unimin Pension Plan would otherwise
be limited by the Code receive the level of benefits anticipated under the Pension Plan. Of our named executive officers, only
Mr. Jones and Mr. Solazzo participate in the Unimin Pension Restoration Plan. The retirement benefit under the Unimin
Pension Restoration Plan is the excess amount over that which is limited under that Pension Plan.
The Unimin Pension Plan and Unimin Pension Restoration Plan were frozen on December 31, 2018.
The Unimin 401(k) Plan is a retirement savings plan that provides employees, including Mr. Eich, Mr. Jones, Mr. Solazzo and
Mr. Oskam, benefits under Section 401(k) of the Code. The Unimin 401(k) Plan allows participants to contribute a portion of
their eligible compensation to a tax-qualified retirement account. We provide matching contributions equal to 100% of the first
1% and 50% on the next 5% of employees’ contributions to the Unimin 401(k) Plan. Employee contributions to the Unimin
401(k) Plan are fully vested upon deposit and our matching contributions cliff vest after two years. The Unimin 401(k) Plan
also includes an annual non-elective company contribution component pursuant to Section 401(a) of the Code for employees
not accruing benefits under the Unimin Pension Plan, including Mr. Eich and Mr. Oskam. The annual non-elective company
contribution on eligible earnings is equal to 4% of participant contributions for salaried employees. The non-elective company
contribution cliff vests after three years.
44
Pension Benefits in 2018
The table below shows the present value of the accumulated benefit at year-end for Mr. Jones and Mr. Solazzo under the
Unimin Pension Plan, as calculated based upon the assumptions described below. Although SEC rules require us to show this
present value, Mr. Jones and Mr. Solazzo are not entitled to receive the amounts shown below in a lump sum until their
employment with us terminates. Neither Mr. Jones nor Mr. Solazzo received a payment under Unimin’s plan in 2018.
Name
Mr. Jones
Mr. Solazzo
Plan Name
Unimin Corporation Pension Plan
Number of Years
Credited Service
(#)
3
Present Value of
Accumulated Benefit
($)
157,066
Payments During Last
Fiscal Year
($)
0
Unimin Corporation Pension Plan
15
770,603
0
The accumulated benefit is based on years of service and base salary considered by the plans for the period through
December 31, 2018. The material assumptions used in determining the present value of the plan benefits are (1) the IRS three-
segment interest rates used for distributions occurring January 2018 and (2) the 2018 IRS applicable mortality table for
Section 417(e)(3) of the Code. Fairmount Santrol maintained two defined benefit pension plans, but none of our named
executive officers were eligible to participate in such plans.
The following table reflects the contributions to the Fairmount SERP and pension benefit allocations to the Unimin Pension
Restoration Plan, as well as the earnings in and balance of each named executive officer’s account held each such plan in 2018.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in 2018
Executive
Contributions in Last
Fiscal Year
($) (1)
Registrant
Contributions in Last
Fiscal Year
($) (2)
Aggregate Earnings
in Last Fiscal Year
($) (3)
37,365
─
─
13,145
─
─
─
─
─
─
66,954
─
─
─
24,098
─
(44,073)
─
─
(18,942)
(569)
─
─
─
Aggregate
Withdrawals /
Distributions
($)
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
Aggregate Balance
at Last Fiscal Year
End
($)
536,122
─
237,688
229,682
13,622
─
195,028
─
Name
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Mr. Reynolds
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
________
(1) The amounts in this column are included in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table for 2018.
(2) The amounts in this column are included in the All Other Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table for
2018.
(3) The amounts in this column are not included in the Summary Compensation Table as they reflect only the earnings on the
investments designated by the named executive officer in his or her account (i.e., appreciation or decline in account value).
The amounts in this column do not include any above-market or preferential earnings, as defined by Item 402(c)(2)(viii) of
Regulation S-K and the instructions thereto. The December 2018 long-term Applicable Federal Rate, compounded
monthly, was 3.26%. Overall losses for the Fairmount SERP during 2018 were -7.81%.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change In Control
This section addresses the rights of our named executive officers upon a termination of their employment with us and/or a
change in control. The payments that a named executive officer would be entitled to receive upon termination or a change in
control are not considered by the Compensation Committee when making annual compensation decisions for the named
executive officers and do not factor into decisions made by us regarding other compensation elements. The actual amounts that
would be payable in connection with the termination of a named executive officer or a change in control may only be
determined at the time of the actual termination event or change in control.
The narrative discussion and tables below summarize the potential payments to our named executive officers upon a
termination of employment and/or a change in control of the Company, assuming that the termination or change in control
occurred on December 31, 2018. Upon the closing of the Merger on June 1, 2018, the first trigger under the FSCIC Plan (with
respect to Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Reynolds) and our retention agreements (with respect to Mr. Eich,
45
Mr. Jones, Mr. Solazzo and Mr. Oskam) was deemed to have occurred. Consequently, if we had terminated the employment of
the named executive officers or they terminated their employment with us for good reason on December 31, 2018, the named
executive officers would have received the enhanced severance benefits under the FSCIC Plan or retention agreement, as
applicable.
The closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2018, the final trading day of 2018, was $3.42.
Payments Upon Various Triggering Events at 2018 Fiscal Year-End
Termination by Us For Good Cause or Termination by Executive Without Good Reason
If we terminated a named executive officer for good cause or a named executive officer terminated his or her employment with
us without good reason at December 31, 2018, the executive would have been entitled to receive any earned and unpaid base
salary, and certain accrued and unpaid benefits, through the date of termination and would have automatically forfeited any
unvested equity awards as of the date of termination. The named executive officer would have had 90 days from the date of
termination to exercise any vested stock options.
Termination by Reason of Death or Disability
If a named executive officer’s employment with us terminated as a result of his or her death or disability at December 31, 2018,
the executive would have been entitled to receive any earned and unpaid base salary, and certain accrued and unpaid benefits,
through the date of termination. Pursuant to Mr. Solazzo’s retention agreement, in the event of his death or disability, all
payments and benefits provided by his retention severance agreement would have been paid to his designated beneficiary. If a
named executive officer died or became disabled at December 31, 2018, any portion of the named executive officer’s stock
options that would have vested during the one-year period following such death or disability will vest and become exercisable
and all vested stock options will be exercisable for one year following the death or disability. Further, any restricted stock units
that would have vested during the one-year period following such death or disability will vest. The amounts in the table below
reflect those restricted stock units that would vest in the one-year period immediately following December 31, 2018, at the
closing market price of our common stock on such date ($3.42).
Name
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Mr. Reynolds
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
Severance
($)
Completion
Bonus
($)
Healthcare
Benefits
($)
Vesting of Stock
Options
($)
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
525,000
101,000
140,163
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
Vesting of
Restricted Stock
Units
($)
Total
($)
117,723
117,723
36,351
35,787
83,034
61,324
─
─
─
36,351
35,787
83,034
61,324
─
766,163
─
Termination by Reason of Retirement
If a named executive officer’s employment with us terminated as a result of his or her retirement at December 31, 2018, the
executive would have been entitled to receive any earned and unpaid base salary, and certain accrued and unpaid benefits,
through the date of termination. In the event of the retirement of a named executive officer upon having reached age 55 and
completing 10 years of service with us, the named executive officer’s stock options will continue to vest and the named
executive officer will be able to exercise the stock option for the remaining term of the option. Further, any restricted stock
units that would have vested during the one-year period following such retirement will continue to vest as if he or she remained
employed until the vesting date. The amounts in the table below reflect those restricted stock units that would vest in the one-
year period immediately following December 31, 2018, at the closing market price of our common stock on such date ($3.42).
46
Name
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Mr. Reynolds
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
Vesting of
Stock Options
($)
Vesting of
Restricted
Stock Units
($)
Total
($)
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
117,723
117,723
36,351
35,787
83,034
61,324
─
─
─
36,351
35,787
83,034
61,324
─
─
─
Termination by Us Without Cause or for Good Reason
As a result of the Merger, the first trigger under the FSCIC Plan (with respect to Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson
and Reynolds) and our retention agreements (with respect to Mr. Eich, Mr. Jones, Mr. Solazzo and Mr. Oskam) was deemed to
have occurred on June 1, 2018. Consequently, if we had terminated a named executive officer’s employment with us without
cause or a named executive officer terminated his or her employment with us for good reason at December 31, 2018, the named
executive officer would have received the enhanced severance benefits under the FSCIC Plan or retention agreement, as
applicable, as described in the “Change in Control – Termination Without Good Cause or Termination by Executive For Good
Reason” section below, except that the restricted stock unit awards granted to Ms. Deckard, Mr. Eich, Mr. Jones, Mr. Clancey
and Mr. Richardson in July 2018 would have been forfeited without vesting.
Short-Term
Incentive
Bonus and
Completion
Bonus
($) (1)
Vesting of
Stock
Options
($)
Name
Severance
($)
Ms. Deckard
5,160,000
920,000
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
750,000
575,000
1,587,750
966,750
Mr. Clancey
1,800,00
450,000
Mr. Richardson
1,452,500
311,250
Mr. Reynolds
1,452,500
311,250
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
_________
525,000
101,000
538,650
365,460
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
Vesting of
Restricted
Stock Units
($)
233,853
─
─
152,005
120,661
─
─
─
Healthcare
Benefits
($) (2)
Tax
Preparation
($) (3)
Relocation
Benefits
($) (4)
─
─
─
─
Total
($)
6,355,155
1,366,598
1,000
112,000
2,709,467
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
2,442,387
1,923,573
1,807,249
766,163
797,609
41,302
41,598
41,967
40,382
39,162
43,499
140,163
43,499
(1) For Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Reynolds this amount is for their target short term incentive plan
entitlement for 2018. For Mr. Eich, this amount includes $375,000 for his target short term incentive plan entitlement for
2018 plus a lump sum payment of $200,000 pursuant to his completion bonus letter agreement. For Mr. Jones, this
amount includes $543,750 for his target short term incentive plan entitlement for 2018 plus a lump sum payment of
450,000AUD pursuant to his completion bonus letter agreement (which was converted to $423,000 using a fixed currency
conversion rate of 1AUD equals $0.94, as provided for in Mr. Jones’ employment agreement with Unimin that was in
effect at the time the completion bonus letter agreement was entered into). For Mr. Solazzo, this amount includes a lump
sum payment of $101,000 pursuant to his completion bonus letter agreement. For Mr. Oskam, this amount includes
$215,460 for his target short term incentive plan entitlement for 2018 plus a lump sum payment of $150,000 pursuant to
his completion bonus letter agreement.
(2) Represents the estimated premiums to be paid by us on behalf of the named executive officer for continued healthcare
coverage.
47
(3) Represents reimbursement of the estimated cost of support to complete tax returns in Australia and the U.S. for two years
after termination.
(4) Represents reimbursement for the estimated cost of relocating Mr. Jones and his family from the U.S. to Australia.
(5) Represents the cost of executive outplacement services for 12 months.
Change in Control – Termination Without Good Cause or Termination by Executive For Good Reason
Through arrangements entered into by Unimin and Fairmount Santrol prior to the Merger, we provide certain payments and
benefits in connection with a change in control that are intended to help provide us with continuity of management and
continued focus on the business by our management in the event of a change in control. Fairmount Santrol and Unimin
provided for different change in control payments and benefits which are described in this section, assuming the occurrence of
a change in control and termination of employment on December 31, 2018.
In addition to the arrangements described below, each named executive officer would have been entitled to receive any earned
and unpaid base salary, and certain accrued and unpaid benefits, through the date of the change in control or termination. In
addition, all unvested restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options or similar rights will fully vest as of the date of the
change in control.
Fairmount Santrol Change in Control Plan
In 2016, Fairmount Santrol adopted the FSCIC Plan which provides certain payments and benefits if a participant experiences
a separation from service as a result of an involuntary termination of employment without cause or resignation for good reason,
in either case within 60 days immediately preceding a change in control or two years immediately following a change in
control. If such events occur and a participant has signed a general release of claims and a non-competition and non-solicit
agreement with us, the FSCIC Plan provides the following benefits to such participant:
•
•
•
a lump sum severance payment equal to two times (three times in the case of Ms. Deckard) the sum of (i) the named
executive officer’s base salary as of the termination date (or, if greater, salary in effect on the first occurrence of the
change in control) and (ii) the named executive officer’s target annual cash bonus for the year in which the
termination occurs (or, if greater, in effect as of the occurrence of the change in control);
a prorated annual bonus that the named executive officer would have earned for the entire fiscal year in which the
termination of employment occurs at target level based on the number of days the named executive officer was
employed during the year; and
a lump sum payment equal to the projected cost of the continuation of group health insurance coverage for 18 months
for the participant and his or her eligible dependents pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 1985 (“COBRA”).
If the severance payments under the FSCIC Plan trigger an excise tax under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code, the
severance payments will be reduced to a level at which the excise tax is not triggered, unless the named executive officer
would receive a greater amount without such reduction after taking into account the excise tax and other federal and state taxes.
Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Reynolds are participants in the FSCIC Plan. As a result of the Merger, a
change in control was deemed to have occurred under the FSCIC Plan and the FSCIC Plan will terminate on May 31, 2020.
Accordingly, Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Reynolds will receive the benefits of the FSCIC Plan if,
during the protection period between the closing date of the Merger (June 1, 2018) and two years thereafter, we terminate their
employment with us other than for cause or they terminate their employment with us for good reason.
Unimin Retention Agreements
Mr. Jones (in April 2018), Mr. Eich (in December 2017), Mr. Solazzo (in May 2018) and Mr. Oskam (in November 2017) each
entered into a retention agreement (each, a “Retention Agreement”) with Unimin that was approved by the Sibelco
Remuneration Committee.
Pursuant to Mr. Jones’ Retention Agreement, if we terminate Mr. Jones’ employment with us without cause within 60 months
following the closing date of the Merger or if Mr. Jones resigns his employment with us for good reason between the 25th and
60th months following the closing date of the Merger, Mr. Jones shall be entitled to receive (1) a lump-sum payment equal to
two years of his total base package (which is comprised of his base salary and an additional 9.5% which is equivalent to the
mandatory employer contributions Mr. Jones gave up upon his localization from Australia to the U.S. to work for us) in effect
on the date of the agreement or the date of termination of his employment, whichever is greater, (2) 24 months of continued
healthcare coverage for Mr. Jones and his dependents, (3) a pro-rata portion of his target bonus for the year in which the
qualifying termination or resignation occurs, (4) reimbursement of the actual cost to complete his tax returns in Australia and
48
the U.S. for two years after the qualifying termination, and (5) reimbursement of the costs to relocate Mr. Jones and his family
to Australia.
Under the Retention Agreements with Mr. Eich and Mr. Oskam, if we terminate the named executive officer’s employment
with us without cause within 36 months following the closing date of the Merger or if the named executive officer terminates
his employment with us for good reason, the executive shall be entitled to receive (1) a lump-sum payment equal to 18 months
of his base salary as in effect on the date of the agreement or the date of termination of his employment, whichever is greater,
(2) 18 months of continued healthcare coverage for the executive and his dependents, and (3) a pro-rata portion of the
executive’s target bonus for the year in which the qualifying termination or resignation occurs.
Pursuant to Mr. Solazzo’s Retention Agreement, he was entitled to a lump-sum transition payment equal to $799,336 following
the hiring of our new General Counsel and, if we terminate his employment other than for cause, or if he voluntarily terminates
his employment, in either case, from the date of the agreement until December 31, 2020, then Mr. Solazzo will also be entitled
to receive (1) the completion bonus discussed below, (2) a temporary increase in salary of $5,000 per month for the period
between June 1, 2018 and the commencement of our new General Counsel, (3) continued participation under our healthcare
coverage until reaching age 65 in 2023, and (4) a lump-sum severance payment equal to 18 months of his base salary as of the
date of the agreement or the date of termination of his employment, whichever is greater
As a condition to receiving the benefits under the Retention Agreements, each named executive officer must execute and not
revoke a release of claims relating to his employment. If the executive has any other agreement with Unimin that provides for
severance payments and/or continued health benefits program coverage, the executive will be entitled to receive the greater of
the benefits under the other agreement or those under the Retention Agreement, but not both.
Summary of Amounts for all Named Executive Officers if Terminated in Connection with a Change in Control
Short-Term
Incentive
and
Completion
Bonus
($) (1)
Name
Severance
($)
Ms. Deckard
5,160,000
920,000
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
750,000
575,000
1,587,750
966,750
Mr. Clancey
1,800,000
450,000
Mr. Richardson
1,452,500
311,250
Mr. Reynolds
1,452,500
311,250
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
_________
525,000
101,000
538,650
365,460
Vesting of
Stock
Options
($) (2)
Vesting of
Restricted
Stock Units
($) (2)
Healthcare
Benefits
($) (3)
Tax
Preparation
($) (4)
Relocation
Benefits
($) (5)
Total
($)
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
325,943
109,056
107,361
205,788
157,819
─
─
─
41,302
41,598
41,967
40,382
39,162
43,499
140,163
43,499
─
─
─
─
6,447,245
1,475,655
1,000
112,000
2,709,467
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
2,496,170
1,960,731
1,807,249
766,163
797,609
(1) For Ms. Deckard, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Reynolds this amount is for their target short term incentive plan
entitlement for 2018. For Mr. Eich, this amount includes $375,000 for his target short term incentive plan entitlement for
2018 plus a lump sum payment of $200,000 pursuant to his completion bonus letter agreement. For Mr. Jones, this
amount includes $543,750 for his target short term incentive plan entitlement for 2018 plus a lump sum payment of
450,000AUD pursuant to his completion bonus letter agreement (which was converted to $423,000 using a fixed currency
conversion rate of 1AUD equals $0.94, as provided for in Mr. Jones’ employment agreement with Unimin that was in
effect at the time the completion bonus letter agreement was entered into). For Mr. Solazzo, this amount includes a lump
sum payment of $101,000 pursuant to his completion bonus letter agreement. For Mr. Oskam, this amount includes
$215,460 for his target short term incentive plan entitlement for 2018 plus a lump sum payment of $150,000 pursuant to
his completion bonus letter agreement.
(2) The amounts in these columns reflect the amounts our named executive officers would have received if a change in control
occurred as of December 31, 2018 and our Compensation Committee used its discretion to accelerate the vesting of any
outstanding stock options (each of which were under water at December 31, 2018) or restricted stock units held by the
executives as of that date. Due to the number of factors that affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon
the events discussed in this section, any actual amounts paid or distributed may differ materially. Factors that could affect
these amounts include the timing during the year of such change in control and the amount of future non-equity incentive
compensation.
49
(3) For Ms. Deckard, Mr. Eich, Mr. Clancey, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Oskam, these amounts represent the
estimated premiums to be paid by us on behalf of the named executive officer for continued healthcare coverage for 18
months. For Mr. Jones, this amount represents the estimated premiums to be paid by us for continued healthcare coverage
for 24 months. For Mr. Solazzo this amount represents the estimated premiums to be paid by us for continued healthcare
coverage until he attains age 65 in 2023.
(4) Represents reimbursement of the estimated cost of support to complete tax returns in Australia and the U.S. for two years
after termination.
(5) Represents reimbursement for the estimated cost of relocating Mr. Jones and his family from the U.S. to Australia.
Change in Control – Without Termination
Under the terms of the Omnibus Plan, if a change in control had occurred and a replacement award was not provided, all
unvested restricted stock, restricted stock units, SARs, stock options or similar rights would have fully vested and all unvested
performance share units would have vested at the target level as of the date of the change in control. Under the terms of the
legacy Fairmont Santrol equity plans, the Board has the discretion to provide replacement awards or vest a portion or all of the
awards outstanding at the time of a change in control.
Vesting of
Stock Options
($) (1)
Vesting of
Restricted
Stock Units
($) (1)
Total
($)
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
325,943
109,057
107,361
205,788
157,819
─
─
─
325,943
109,057
107,361
205,788
157,819
─
─
─
Name
Ms. Deckard
Mr. Eich
Mr. Jones
Mr. Clancey
Mr. Richardson
Mr. Reynolds
Mr. Solazzo
Mr. Oskam
_________
(1) The amounts in these columns reflect the amounts our named executive officers would have received if a change in control
occurred as of December 31, 2018 and our Compensation Committee used its discretion to accelerate the vesting of any
outstanding stock options or restricted stock units held by the executives as of that date. Due to the number of factors that
affect the nature and amount of any benefits provided upon the events discussed in this section, any actual amounts paid or
distributed may differ materially. Factors that could affect these amounts include the timing during the year of such
change in control and the amount of future non-equity incentive compensation.
Change in Control Defined
As used in this discussion, a “change in control” under the Fairmount Santrol plans and agreements shall have the following
definition:
(a) A “change in the ownership of the Bison Merger Sub I, LLC f/k/a Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. (“Company”)”
which shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of
stock in the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total
fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company; however, if any one person or more than one
person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of
the stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons will not be considered a
“change in the ownership of the Company” (or to cause a “change in the effective control of the Company” within the
meaning of clause (b) below) and an increase of the effective percentage of stock owned by any one person, or
persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for
property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this paragraph; provided, further, however, that for
purposes of this clause (a), any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by
the Company or any entity controlled by the Company shall not constitute a Change in Control. This clause (a) applies
50
only when there is a transfer of the stock of the Company (or issuance of stock) and stock in the Company remains
outstanding after the transaction;
(b) A “change in the effective control of the Company” which shall occur on the date that either (i) any one person, or
more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve month period ending on the date
of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of stock of the Company possessing 30% or more
of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, except for any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or
related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any entity controlled by the Company; or (ii) a majority of
the members of the Board are replaced during any twelve-month period by directors whose appointment or election is
not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes
of a “change in the effective control of the Company,” if any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is
considered to effectively control the Company within the meaning of this clause (b), the acquisition of additional
control of the Company by the same person or persons is not considered a “change in the effective control of the
Company,” or to cause a “change in the ownership of the Company” within the meaning of clause (a) above; or
(c) A “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets” which shall occur on the date that any
one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires (or has acquired during the twelve month period
ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets of the Company that have a total
gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all the assets of the Company
immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the
assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities
associated with such assets. Any transfer of assets to an entity that is controlled by the stockholders of the Company
immediately after the transfer, as provided in guidance issued pursuant to Section 409A of the Code and the guidance
and regulations promulgated thereunder, shall not constitute a Change in Control.
For purposes of this definition of “change in control,” the provisions of Section 318(a) of the Code regarding the constructive
ownership of stock will apply to determine stock ownership; provided, that, stock underlying unvested options (including
options exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested) will not be treated as owned by the individual who holds the
option. In addition, for purposes of this definition, “Company” includes (x) the Company, (y) the entity for whom a participant
performs services, and (z) an entity that is a stockholder owning more than 50% of the total fair market value and total voting
power (“Majority Shareholder”) of the Company or the entity identified in (y) above, or any entity in a chain of entities in
which each entity is a Majority Shareholder of another entity in the chain, ending in the Company or the entity identified in (y)
above.
Cause and Good Reason Defined
For Fairmount Santrol Plans and Agreements
As used in this discussion, “cause” and “good reason” under the Fairmount Santrol plans and agreements have the following
meanings:
•
“Cause” means that, prior to any termination of employment, the participant has:
(a) committed and been convicted of a criminal violation involving fraud, embezzlement or theft in connection
with his or her duties or in the course of his or her employment with the Company, an affiliate or any
subsidiary;
(b) committed intentional wrongful damage to property of the Company, an affiliate or any subsidiary;
(c) committed intentional wrongful disclosure of secret processes or confidential information of the Company,
an affiliate or any subsidiary;
(d) violated the terms of any non-competition, non-solicitation or non-disparagement agreement with the
Company, an affiliate or any subsidiary; or
(e) committed gross negligence in the performance of his or her material duties to the Company, an affiliate or
any subsidiary;
(f) violated the terms of the Company’s code of ethics policy;
and any such act or omission shall have been demonstrably and materially harmful to the Company, an affiliate or any
subsidiary.
However, no act or failure to act on the participant’s part shall be deemed intentional if it was due primarily to an error
in judgment or negligence, but shall be deemed intentional only if done or omitted to be done by the participant not in
good faith and without reasonable belief that his or her action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. A
51
participant shall not be deemed to have been terminated for cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to
the participant a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three quarters of the Board,
after reasonable notice to the participant and an opportunity for him or her to be heard before the Board, finding that,
in the good faith opinion of the Board, the participant had committed an act constituting cause.
•
“Good reason” means:
(a) a material reduction in the participant’s base salary;
(b) a material reduction in the participant’s target annual bonus opportunity;
(c) a relocation of the participant’s principal place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles;
(d) the Company’s failure to obtain an agreement from any successor to the Company to assume and agree to
perform the obligations under the plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
required to perform, except where such assumption occurs by operation of law; or
(e) a material, adverse change in the participant’s title, reporting relationship, authority, duties or responsibilities
(other than temporarily while the Participant is physically or mentally incapacitated or as required by
applicable law).
A participant may not terminate his or her employment for good reason unless he or she has provided written notice to
the Company of the existence of the circumstances providing grounds for termination for good reason within 30 days
of the initial existence of such grounds and the Company has had at least 30 days from the date on which such notice
is provided to cure such circumstances, if curable. If the participant does not terminate his or her employment for
good reason within 90 days after the first occurrence of the applicable grounds, then the participant will be deemed to
have waived his or her right to terminate for good reason with respect to such grounds.
For Unimin Plans and Agreements
As used in this discussion, “cause” and “good reason” under the Unimin plans and agreements have the following meanings:
•
“Cause” means:
(a) a material, intentional refusal or willful failure to perform stated duties, or to carry out the reasonable
instructions of the CEO, the Board or their designees, and the failure to cure such refusal or failure to
perform within 10 business days following written notice of such failure;
(b) commission of a material act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty against us;
(c) conviction of, guilty plea or no contest plea to a felony (other than motor vehicle offenses the effect of which
does not impair the performance of employment duties);
(d) gross misconduct in connection with the performance of employment duties;
(e) knowing and willful improper disclosure of confidential information or violation of a material policy or our
code of sustainable conduct;
(f) breach of a fiduciary duty owed to us;
(g) willful failure to cooperate in any investigation or formal proceeding or investigation by a governmental
authority; or
(h) being found liable in an SEC enforcement action related to any transaction.
•
“Good reason” means any of the following that actually occur without the executive’s express written consent:
(a) reduction in the amount of the executive’s base salary or target bonus;
(b) failure to provide reasonable alternative employment or maintain the executive in a position performing a
substantially similar role and function as the executive performed for us;
(c) requiring you to relocate to a location that is more than twenty (20) miles from your current office location as
of the date of your acceptance of the terms of the severance agreement;
(d) a material violation by us of any material term of the retention agreement or any employment agreement
between the executive and us; or
(e) failure by any successor to us to assume the retention agreement.
52
Timing of Payments
The Unimin arrangements do not specify the timing of payments required thereunder. The payments provided in connection
with the termination events provided for in Fairmount Santrol arrangements will be paid as follows:
• Severance payments will be made to the executive in a single lump sum on the 61st day following the qualifying
event;
• Prorated annual bonus payments will be made to the executive in a lump sum on the 61st day following the qualifying
termination;
• COBRA premium payments will be made to the executive in a lump sum on the 61st day following the qualifying
termination;
• Benefits will be provided in accordance with our standard policies and practices; and
• Deferred compensation payments will be made in accordance with the provisions of the applicable plan.
We became a public reporting company in 2018. As such, we expect the initial disclosure of the ratio of our CEO’s total
compensation to the total compensation of our median employee, as such term is defined in Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K,
will be required to be included in the proxy statement for our 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.
Pay Ratio Disclosure
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The compensation of our non-employee directors is established by the Board at the recommendation of the Compensation
Committee. In developing its recommendations, the Compensation Committee is guided by the following objectives: (1)
independent, non-employee directors should receive competitive compensation for the services they provide to a company of
our size and complexity to ensure that we attract and retain qualified non-employee directors; and (2) the compensation of our
non-employee directors should include a combination of cash and equity-based compensation to align the interests of the
directors with the long-term interests of our stockholders. The Board does not have a pre-established policy or target for the
allocation between cash and equity-based compensation and, instead, determines the mix of compensation based on what it
believes is most appropriate under the circumstances. With the assistance of Aon-Hewitt, the Compensation Committee first
reviewed and recommended compensation for our non-employee directors in June 2018. The Compensation Committee
intends to conduct regular reviews of director compensation every two years, with the next such review to occur in May 2020.
Accordingly, for 2019, we currently intend for the compensation program for our non-employee directors to be the same as the
compensation program for our non-employee directors for 2018. Directors who are also our full-time employees receive no
additional compensation for serving on the Board.
Board Cash Retainer
Non-employee directors receive a $100,000 annual cash retainer for service on the Board. The cash retainer went into effect on
June 1, 2018 and is paid quarterly.
Chairman Cash Retainer
In addition to the annual cash retainer for non-employee directors, the Chairman of the Board receives a $100,000 retainer,
which also went into effect on June 1, 2018 and is paid quarterly.
Committee Chair Cash Retainer
The Chair of the Audit Committee receives an additional committee chair fee of $20,000, and each of the Chair of the
Compensation Committee and the Chair of the Governance Committee receives an additional committee chair fee of $15,000.
These cash retainers also went into effect on June 1, 2018 and are paid quarterly. Members of the Audit Committee, the
Compensation Committee and the Governance Committee who do not serve as chair do not receive any additional fees for their
service on such committees.
Annual Grant of Restricted Stock Units
Non-employee directors receive a grant of restricted stock units under the Omnibus Plan with a targeted value of $120,000 that
are scheduled to vest on the first anniversary of the grant date subject to continued service conditions. The targeted value of
restricted stock units granted was based on $21.17, the trailing 30-day average of the closing price of our common stock on the
NYSE. As a result, the ASC 718 grant date fair value reported in the table below differs (i.e., $105,215), as the closing price of
our common stock on the NYSE on the grant date of the restricted stock units was $18.56.
53
Subject to the terms of the restricted stock unit agreements, the units will vest upon death, disability and (in the case of
employees) retirement of a participant or the occurrence of specified events in connection with a change in control of the
Company. Any restricted stock unit that vests will be settled in shares of our common stock. Restricted stock units are granted
with dividend equivalent rights, which will be paid in cash (without interest) if we declare dividends on our common stock and
to the extent the underlying units vest. Except as otherwise provided in the restricted stock unit agreements, participants will
have no rights of ownership in and no right to vote the shares of our common stock covered by units until the date on which
such shares of our common stock are issued or transferred to the participant. The Board generally awards the restricted stock
units at its meeting held immediately following our annual meeting of stockholders (however, in 2018, the awards were granted
in July), and we do not have any program, plan or practice to time the grant of equity-based awards with the release of material
non-public information.
Director Compensation Table for 2018
The following table summarizes the total compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 for each person who
served as a non-employee director during 2018. Ms. Deckard is not included in this table because she was an employee during
2018 and received no additional compensation for her service as a director. The compensation received by Ms. Deckard as an
employee of the Company is set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table. Mr. Decat, Mr. Deleersnyder and Mr.
Lambrechts are not included in this table because they were employees of Sibelco during 2018 and received no compensation
for their service as a director.
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($) (1)
Stock
Awards
($) (2)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
Name
Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
All Other
Compensation
($)
Mr. Conway
Mr. Delloye
Mr. Fowler
Mr. Hadden
Mr. Kelly
Mr. Labroue
Mr. LeBaron
Mr. Navarre
Mr. Scofield
_________
67,083
58,333
58,333
58,333
58,333
67,083
58,333
128,333
58,333
105,215
105,215
105,215
105,215
105,215
105,215
105,215
105,215
105,215
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total
($)
172,298
163,548
163,548
163,548
163,548
172,298
163,548
233,548
163,548
(1) The amounts shown in this column reflect the annual retainers earned by our non-employee directors during 2018 for
Board and committee service.
(2) The amounts shown in the column reflect the grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted to our non-employee
directors under the Omnibus Plan during 2018 computed in accordance with FASB Topic 718. Assumptions used in the
calculation of these amounts are included in Note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018, included in our 2018 Form 10-K. The 5,669 restricted stock units granted to each of the non-
employee directors on July 2, 2018 (which were the only equity awards granted to the non-employee directors during
2018) had a grant date fair value of $18.56 per unit (based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant).
54
ITEM 2: SAY-ON-PAY VOTE (ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION)
The Dodd-Frank Act contains a provision that is commonly known as “Say-on-Pay.” Say-on-Pay gives our stockholders an
opportunity to vote on an advisory basis to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this
Proxy Statement. We are holding our first Say-on-Pay vote at this year’s Annual Meeting. This vote is not intended to address
any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the executive
compensation program and practices described in this Proxy Statement. Please read the CD&A of this Proxy Statement and the
related executive compensation tables and narrative disclosure for a detailed explanation of our executive compensation
program and practices. Accordingly, we are asking our stockholders to vote “FOR” the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that Covia Holdings Corporation’s stockholders hereby approve, on
an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers of Covia
Holdings Corporation, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of
SEC Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the
compensation tables and related narrative discussion.
We urge our stockholders to read the CD&A, which describes in greater detail how our executive compensation policies and
procedures operate and are designed to achieve our compensation objectives, as well as the Summary Compensation Table and
other related compensation tables and narrative included in the “Executive Compensation” section of this Proxy Statement,
which provide detailed information on the compensation of our named executive officers. The Compensation Committee and
the Board believe that the policies and procedures articulated in the CD&A are effective in achieving the goals of our
compensation program.
Say-on-Pay Vote Recommendation
This vote on executive compensation is advisory, which means that the vote is not binding on the Board, the Compensation
Committee or us. Although non-binding, the Board and the Compensation Committee will continue to consider the results of
Say-on-Pay votes in determining future executive compensation.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote
is required to approve this advisory resolution. Broker discretionary voting of uninstructed shares is not permitted for a
stockholder vote on executive compensation.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ABOVE ADVISORY RESOLUTION ON EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION.
ITEM 3: SAY-ON-FREQUENCY VOTE (ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF THE SAY-ON-PAY VOTE)
The Dodd-Frank Act also contains a provision enabling our stockholders to indicate how frequently we should hold future Say-
on-Pay votes. This “frequency” vote (commonly known as “Say-on-Frequency”) is required to be held at least once every six
years. We are holding our first Say-on-Frequency vote at this year’s Annual Meeting.
The Board acknowledges the prevailing view supporting an annual advisory Say-on-Pay Vote, and it has determined that an
annual Say-on-Pay Vote is the most appropriate alternative for us. Therefore, the Board recommends that our stockholders
vote to hold the Say-on-Pay Vote annually.
In reaching its recommendation, the Board believes that an annual vote allows our stockholders to provide us with timely input
on our executive compensation philosophy, policies and programs. Although this vote is advisory and not binding, the Board
and the Company value the opinions of our stockholders, and will consider the outcome of this vote when determining the
frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes.
The option of every one, two or three years that receives the most votes cast by stockholders will be considered the advisory
vote of the stockholders.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE TO HOLD THE SAY-ON-PAY VOTE EVERY YEAR.
55
ITEM 4: RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2019
The Audit Committee appointed Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019. This
selection is being presented to the stockholders for their ratification. Proxies solicited by the Board will, unless otherwise
directed, be voted to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for
2019.
Ernst & Young LLP has been our independent registered public accounting firm since 2013. The Audit Committee has been
advised by Ernst & Young LLP that it is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to us within the
meaning of the Exchange Act.
A representative of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and to make
a statement if so desired.
The Audit Committee engages in an annual evaluation of the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications,
performance and independence and periodically considers the advisability and potential impact of selecting a different
independent registered public accounting firm. In accordance with SEC rules and Ernst & Young LLP’s policies, audit partners
are subject to rotation requirements to limit the number of consecutive years an individual partner may provide service to us.
For lead and concurring audit partners, the maximum number of consecutive years of service in that capacity is five years. We
select our lead audit partner pursuant to this rotation policy following meetings between the Audit Committee Chair and
candidates for that role, as well as discussion by the full Audit Committee and with management. The members of the Audit
Committee believe that the continued retention of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as our independent registered public accounting
firm is in the best interests of Covia and our stockholders.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote
on Item 4 is required to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP. In the event that the stockholders do not ratify the
appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, the Audit Committee will reconsider its appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, but may
maintain that firm or retain another firm without resubmitting this matter to our stockholders.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION RATIFYING OUR
APPOINTMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM:
RESOLVED, that the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, as the independent
registered public accounting firm for Covia Holdings Corporation for 2019, is
hereby RATIFIED.
AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS
Policy for Pre-Approval of Independent Auditor Services
The Audit Committee has direct responsibility to select, retain, terminate, determine compensation and oversee the work of our
independent registered public accounting firm. Consistent with applicable SEC rules, pre-approval by the Audit Committee is
required for any engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, the Audit Committee has
established a policy for pre-approval of independent auditor services to prevent the provision of services that would impair the
independence of our independent registered public accounting firm. Under the policy, the Audit Committee annually pre-
approves the audit and any non-audit services proposed to be provided by our independent registered public accounting
firm. Requests to provide services that require pre-approval by the Audit Committee are submitted to the Audit Committee by
our Chief Financial Officer and our independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, to provide for efficiency in
addressing unexpected matters, the Audit Committee has delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee the authority to
grant pre-approvals to our independent registered public accounting firm, provided that such approvals are consistent with the
pre-approval policy of the Audit Committee and are presented to the Audit Committee at a subsequent committee meeting. In
determining whether to approve any engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee
considers whether such services are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.
56
The fees billed to us by Ernst & Young LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, during the two most recently
completed fiscal years, were as follows:
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
($ in thousands)
Audit Fees (1)
Audit-Related Fees (2)
Tax Fees (3)
All Other Fees (4)
Total Fees
__________
2018
($)
3,325,000
159,998
73,093
0
3,558,091
2017
($)
1,904,706
1,060,257
0
0
2,964,963
(1) Audit fees for 2018 consisted of fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements, the audit of discrete matters,
including business combinations, statutory audits of foreign subsidiaries, and other services related to our SEC filings.
Audit fees for 2017 consisted of fees for the audit of our consolidated financial statements, statutory audits of foreign
subsidiaries, and work related to International Financial Reporting Standards.
(2) Audit-related fees for 2018 consisted of fees for services related to employee benefit plan audits and financial due
diligence. Audit-related fees for 2017 consisted of fees for services related to employee benefit plan audits and Merger-
related due diligence.
(3) Tax fees for 2018 consisted of fees for services related to U.S. federal income tax return compliance.
Audit Committee Report
The primary purposes of the Audit Committee are to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities regarding (1) the
integrity of our financial statements, (2) the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, (3) our compliance
with legal and regulatory requirements, (4) the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent registered
public accounting firm and (5) the performance of our internal audit function. The specific duties of the Audit Committee are
specified in its charter.
The responsibilities of the Audit Committee are limited to oversight and, notwithstanding the foregoing and the responsibilities
set forth in the Audit Committee charter, the charter clarifies that it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct
audits or to determine that Covia’s financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Our management is responsible for our financial reporting process, planning and
conducting audits, and for determining that our financial statements and disclosures are complete and accurate and in
accordance with GAAP and applicable laws, rules and regulations. Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst &
Young LLP, is responsible for auditing our annual financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K in
accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and issuing
Ernst & Young LLP’s report thereon based on such audit and for reviewing the unaudited interim financial statements included
in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed our audit financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2018 with our management and Ernst & Young LLP. Our management has represented to the Audit Committee that our audit
financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 were prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The Audit Committee has also discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard
No. 1301, “Communications with Audit Committees,” as adopted by the PCAOB. The Audit Committee has received the
written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young LLP required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Ernst
& Young LLP’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with Ernst & Young
LLP its independence.
Based on the foregoing reviews and discussions, the undersigned members of the Audit Committee recommended to the Board
that our audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 be included in our 2018 Form 10-K
for filing with the SEC.
Members of the Audit Committee
Michel Delloye
Stephen J. Hadden
Richard A. Navarre, Chairman
57
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Annual Report on Form 10-K
A copy of our 2018 Form 10-K will be furnished without charge to stockholders, upon written request to Covia Holdings
Corporation, Attn: Investor Relations, 3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700, Independence, Ohio 44131. Our 2018 Form 10-K may
also be accessed in the Investor Relations section of our website (ir.coviacorp.com/home).
Electronic Access to Proxy Statement and Annual Report
This Proxy Statement, our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders and our 2018 Form 10-K are available to review at
www.proxyvote.com for registered and beneficial stockholders. This Proxy Statement and our 2018 Form 10-K are also
available on the SEC’s EDGAR database located at www.sec.gov.
Documents Available in Print
In addition to being posted with printer friendly versions in the Corporate Governance section of our website
(ir.coviacorp.com/corporate-governance), the charters of our Audit Committee, Governance Committee, Compensation
Committee and Executive Committee, our Governance Guidelines, our Code of Ethics, and our Financial Code are available in
print to any stockholder who requests them. Written requests should be made to Covia Holdings Corporation, Attn: Secretary,
3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700, Independence, Ohio 44131.
Solicitation of Proxies
This solicitation of proxies is made by and on behalf of the Board. In addition to mailing the Notice of Internet Availability (or,
if applicable, paper or email copies of this Proxy Statement, the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proxy card and
our 2018 Annual Report to Stockholders) to stockholders of record on the Record Date, the brokers, banks and other nominees
holding our shares of common stock for beneficial holders must provide our proxy materials to persons for whom they hold our
shares of common stock. Solicitation may also be made by our officers and other employees personally or by telephone, mail
or electronic mail. Any of our officers or employees who assist with solicitation will not receive any additional compensation.
The cost of the solicitation will be borne by us. Accordingly, we will reimburse brokers, banks and other nominees who are
record holders of shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting for their reasonable costs in providing our
proxy materials to the beneficial holders of such shares of common stock. In addition, we have retained Georgeson to assist in
soliciting proxies at an estimated fee of $7,500, plus reasonable expenses.
Stockholder Proposals for 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Stockholder proposals intended to be presented at our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by our Secretary
at our corporate office on or before December 14, 2019 to be eligible for inclusion in our 2020 Proxy Statement and form of
proxy. Such proposals must be submitted in accordance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. Any stockholder intending to
present a proposal at our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders without inclusion of that proposal in our 2020 proxy materials,
must provide written notice of the proposal to our Secretary at our corporate office not earlier than January 24, 2020 and not
later than the close of business on February 24, 2020. Such proposals must be submitted in accordance with the provisions of
our Bylaws applicable thereto. If we do not receive such notice within such deadline, the notice will be considered untimely.
Proxies solicited by the Board for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will confer discretionary authority on the proxy
holders named therein to vote on stockholder proposals presented at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders that were not
included in our 2020 proxy statement and form of proxy. Written notice of all stockholders proposals should be addressed to
our Secretary as follows: Covia Holdings Corporation, Attn: Secretary, 3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700, Independence, Ohio
44131.
Stockholders may also nominate one or more persons for election as director at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders by
complying with the nomination procedures set forth in our Bylaws. Our Bylaws require that a stockholder given written notice
of such stockholder’s intention to make such nomination to our Secretary at our principal offices at 3 Summit Park Drive, Suite
700, Independence, Ohio 44131 not earlier than January 24, 2020 and not later than the close of business on February 24, 2020.
See the “Nominating Procedures” section above for more information regarding the process for director nominations by
stockholders.
58
OTHER MATTERS
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board knows of no other matters that will be presented for consideration at the
Annual Meeting other than Item 1, Item 2, Item 3 and Item 4 described above. If any other matter is properly brought before
the Annual Meeting, including any adjournment thereof, the persons named as the proxy holders on the accompanying proxy
card will vote and act in accordance with their best judgment in light of the conditions then prevailing, to the extent permitted
under applicable law.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
Chadwick P. Reynolds
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
59
n
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(cid:1800)(cid:1800) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018
or
(cid:1798) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number 001-38510
COVIA HOLDINGS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization)
13-2656671
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700
Independence, Ohio 44131
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(800) 255-7263
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities 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 Securities 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 ☐ No ☒
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 ☐ No ☒
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 ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will
not be contained, to the best of the 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
Non-accelerated filer
Emerging growth company
☐
☒
☐
Accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
☐
☐
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. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant computed by reference to the last sales price, $18.56 as reported on the
New York Stock Exchange, of such common stock as of the closing of trading on June 29, 2018: $765,759,783
Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, par value $0.01 per share, as of March 19, 2019: 131,419,651
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive proxy statement relating to the registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 23, 2019, which will be filed within
120 days of the end of the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (“Proxy Statement”), are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K
to the extent described therein.
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Annual Report on Form 10-K
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2018
Table of Contents
Part I
Item 1
Item 1A
Item 1B
Item 2
Item 3
Item 4
Part II
Business
Risk Factors
Unresolved Staff Comments
Properties
Legal Proceedings
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Item 6
Item 7
Item 7A
Item 8
Item 9
Item 9A
Item 9B
Selected Financial Data
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
Other Information
Part III
Item 10
Item 11
Item 12
Item 13
Item 14
Part IV
Item 15
Item 16
Signatures
Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance
Executive Compensation
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
Form 10-K Summary
Page
4
15
39
40
64
64
65
67
68
86
87
135
135
135
136
137
137
138
138
138
138
144
2
PART I
Various terms used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Report”) are defined to simplify the presentation of information.
Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Covia,” and “Company” refer to Covia
Holdings Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. In addition, “Unimin” refers to Unimin Corporation, which is now known as
Covia Holdings Corporation, and “Fairmount Santrol” refers to Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc., which is now known as Bison
Merger Sub I, LLC.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We present certain financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA, in portions of this Report that are not prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). See further discussion of non-GAAP
financial measures, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable financial measure
calculated in accordance with GAAP, at Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis.
Special Note of Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information included in this Report or in other materials we have filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) (as well as information included in oral statements or other written statements made or to be made by us)
contains or may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our future financial
performance and financial condition. Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “objective,” “goal,” “project,” “intend,”
“plan,” “believe,” “assume,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “can have,” “likely,” “target,” “forecast,” “guide,” “guidance,”
“outlook,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These
statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statements that we make herein and in future reports and
statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in such forward-looking
statements as a result of various risk factors. Please see “Item 1A – Risk Factors” in Part I of this Report for more information
regarding those risk factors.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date made. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to
publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, any
further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K should be consulted. This
discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and all of our forward-looking statements
are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referenced in this section.
3
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Our Company
Business Overview
We are a leading provider of diversified mineral-based and material solutions for the Industrial and Energy markets. We produce a
wide range of specialized silica sand, feldspar, nepheline syenite, calcium carbonate, clay, kaolin, lime, and lime products for use in
the glass, ceramics, coatings, foundry, polymers, construction, water filtration, sports and recreation, and oil and gas markets in North
America and around the world. We currently have 44 active mining facilities with over 50 million tons of annual mineral processing
capacity and six active coating facilities with more than two million tons of annual coating capacity. Our mining and coating facilities
span North America and also include operations in China and Denmark. Our U.S., Mexico, and Canada operations are among the
largest, most flexible, and cost-efficient facilities in the industry with many sites in close proximity to our customer base.
Our operations are organized into two segments based on the primary end markets we serve – Energy and Industrial. Our Energy
segment offers the oil and gas industry a comprehensive portfolio of raw frac sand, value-added proppants, well-cementing additives,
gravel-packing media and drilling mud additives that meet or exceed the standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (“API”).
Our products serve hydraulic fracturing operations in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Mexico, China, and northern Europe. The Energy
segment represented approximately 60% of our total revenues for 2018.
Our Industrial segment provides raw, value-added, and custom-blended products to the glass, construction, ceramics, foundry,
coatings, polymers, sports and recreation, filtration and various other industries, primarily in North America. The Industrial segment
represented approximately 40% of total revenues for 2018.
We believe our segments are complementary. Our ability to sell to a wide range of customers across multiple end markets allows us
to maximize the recovery of our reserve base within our mining operations and to mitigate the cyclicality of our earnings.
Corporate Information
We are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “CVIA.” Our corporate headquarters is
located at 3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700, Independence, Ohio 44131. Our telephone number is (800) 255-7263. Our website is
located at www.coviacorp.com. We make available free of charge our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q,
current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), as well as our proxy materials filed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange
Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such reports or materials with, or furnish such reports or materials, to the SEC.
The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in or considered to be a part of this Report. The SEC maintains a
website, www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file
electronically with the SEC.
The Merger
On June 1, 2018 (“Merger Date”), Unimin completed a business combination (“Merger”) whereby Fairmount Santrol merged into a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Unimin and ceased to exist as a separate corporate entity. Immediately following the consummation of
the Merger, Unimin changed its name to Covia Holdings Corporation and began operating under that name. The common stock of
Fairmount Santrol was delisted from the NYSE prior to the market opening on June 1, 2018, and Covia commenced trading under the
ticker symbol “CVIA” on that date. Upon the consummation of the Merger, the former stockholders of Fairmount Santrol (including
holders of certain Fairmount Santrol equity awards) received, in the aggregate, $170 million in cash consideration and approximately
35% of the common stock of Covia. Approximately 65% of the outstanding shares of Covia common stock was owned by SCR-
Sibelco NV (“Sibelco”), previously the parent company of Unimin, as of December 31, 2018.
In connection with the Merger, we redeemed approximately 18.5 million shares of Unimin common stock from Sibelco in exchange
for an amount in cash equal to approximately (i) $660 million plus interest accruing at 5.0% per annum for the period from September
30, 2017 through June 1, 2018 less (ii) $170 million in cash paid to Fairmount Santrol stockholders.
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In connection with the Merger, we also completed a debt refinancing transaction, with Barclays Bank PLC as administrative agent, by
entering into a $1.65 billion senior secured term loan (“Term Loan”) and a $200 million revolving credit facility (“Revolver”). The
proceeds of the Term Loan were used to repay the indebtedness of Unimin and Fairmount Santrol and to pay the cash portion of the
Merger consideration and expenses related to the Merger.
As a condition to the Merger, Unimin contributed assets of its Electronics segment, including $31.0 million of cash to Sibelco North
America, Inc. (“HPQ Co.”), a newly-formed wholly owned subsidiary of Unimin, in exchange for all of the stock of HPQ Co. and the
assumption by HPQ Co. of certain liabilities. Unimin distributed all of the stock of HPQ Co. to Sibelco in exchange for 170 shares (or
15,097 shares subsequent to the stock split, see Note 6 in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements) of Unimin common
stock held by Sibelco.
Costs and expenses incurred related to the Merger are recorded in Other non-operating expense, net in the accompanying Consolidated
Statements of Income and include legal, accounting, valuation and financial advisory services, integration and other costs totaling
$51.1 million and $19.3 million for years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Unimin was determined to be the acquirer in the Merger for accounting purposes, and the historical financial statements and the
historical amounts included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements relate to Unimin. The Consolidated Statements of
Income for the year ended December 31, 2018 includes the results of Fairmount Santrol from the Merger Date. The Consolidated
Balance Sheet at December 31, 2018 reflects Covia; however, the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2017 reflects Unimin
only. The presentation of information for periods prior to the Merger Date are not fully comparable to the presentation of information
for periods presented after the Merger Date because the results of operations for Fairmount Santrol are not included in such
information prior to the Merger Date.
Discontinued Operations
On May 31, 2018, prior to and as a condition to the closing of the Merger, Unimin contributed certain assets, comprising its global
high purity quartz business in exchange for all of the stock of HPQ Co. and the assumption by HPQ Co. of certain liabilities. Unimin
distributed 100% of the stock of HPQ Co. to Sibelco in exchange for certain shares of Unimin common stock held by Sibelco. HPQ
Co. is presented as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements.
As part of the disposition of HPQ Co., Covia and HPQ Co. entered into an agreement detailing tax-related matters governing their
respective rights, responsibilities, and obligations relating to tax liabilities, the filing of tax returns, the control of tax contests, and
other tax matters (the “Tax Matters Agreement”). Under the Tax Matters Agreement, Covia and HPQ Co. (and their affiliates) are
responsible for income taxes required to be reported on their respective separate and group tax returns; however, HPQ Co. is
responsible for any unpaid income taxes attributable to the HPQ Co. business prior to May 31, 2018, as well as any unpaid non-
income taxes as of May 31, 2018 attributable to the HPQ Co. business (whether arising prior to May 31, 2018 or not). Covia is
responsible for all other non-income taxes. Covia and HPQ Co. will equally bear any transfer taxes imposed in this transaction.
Rights to refunds in respect of taxes will be allocated in the same manner as the responsibility for tax liabilities.
Foreign Operations
We operate facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, China and Denmark and sell products in North America and to several countries
around the world. Although our sales are geographically diverse, with significant sales in Mexico, particularly in the glass and
ceramics industries, none of our segments are solely dependent upon foreign operations. Our international operations are subject to
various risks attendant to doing business abroad. For a discussion of these risks, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this Report.
For additional information about our operations outside of the U.S. for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, see Note
23 in our consolidated financial statements in this Report.
Seasonality
Our business is affected to some extent by seasonal fluctuations that impact our production levels and our customers’ business needs.
For example, demand for many of the products we sell in the construction and coatings sectors tends to correlate with construction
activity, which is lowest in the fourth quarter. Additional volumes sold into the Energy markets tend to be slower in the first and
fourth quarter compared to the second and third quarter. Inclement weather may also cause temporary slowdowns for our customers,
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which may impact our sales volumes. A majority of our facilities are all-weather facilities capable of providing a consistent supply
source to customers.
Employees
As of December 31, 2018, we had approximately 3,384 employees. We believe that we maintain good relations with our workforce
and maintain an active dialogue with employees. We provide salaried and hourly employees a comprehensive benefits package,
including medical, life and accident insurance, incentive bonus programs and a 401(k) plan with an employer match and discretionary
employer contribution, company pension (for certain employees) as well as various employee training and development programs that
have been developed internally or through a third party.
As of December 31, 2018, approximately 34% of our employees were parties to collective bargaining contracts. We believe we have
strong relationships with and maintain an active dialogue with union representatives. We have historically been able to successfully
extend and renegotiate collective bargaining agreements as they expire. We have not experienced a significant work stoppage or
strike at any of our facilities in nearly 20 years.
Energy Segment Overview
Advances in oil and gas extraction techniques, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, have allowed for significantly
greater extraction of oil and gas trapped within shale formations. The hydraulic fracturing process consists of pumping fluids down a
well at pressures sufficient to create fractures in the targeted hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation in order to increase the flow rate of
hydrocarbons from the well. 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 may flow more freely from the formation into the wellbore and then to the surface. Proppants therefore perform the
vital function of promoting the flow, or conductivity, of hydrocarbons over the productive life of a well. In fracturing a well,
operators select a proppant that is transportable into the fracture, is compatible with frac and wellbore fluids, permits acceptable
cleanup of frac fluids and can resist proppant flowback. In addition, the proppant must be resistant to crushing under the earth’s
closure stress and reservoir temperature. Our Energy segment serves customers in the oil and gas industry, providing a variety of
proppants and other oilfield minerals for use in hydraulic fracturing in, primarily, the U.S. and Canada. The oil and natural gas
proppant industry is comprised of businesses involved in the mining or manufacturing, distribution and sale of the propping agents
used in hydraulic fracturing, the most widely used method for stimulating increased production from lower permeability oil and
natural gas reservoirs.
Frac Sand Extraction, Processing, and Distribution
Raw frac sand is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined and processed. While the specific extraction method utilized depends
primarily on the geologic conditions, most raw frac sand is mined using conventional open-pit extraction methods. The composition,
depth, and chemical purity of the sand also dictate the processing method and equipment utilized. After extraction, raw frac sand is
washed with water to remove fine impurities such as clay and organic particles, with additional procedures used when contaminants
are not easily removable. The final steps in the production process involve the drying and screening of the raw frac sand according to
mesh size.
Most frac sand is shipped in bulk from the processing facility to customers by truck, rail or barge. Because transportation costs may
represent a significant portion of the overall delivered product cost, shipping in large quantities, particularly when shipping over long
distances, provides a significant cost advantage to the suppliers, which highlights the importance of rail or barge access for low cost
delivery. As a result, facility location and logistics capabilities are an important consideration for suppliers and customers.
Energy Proppant Market
There are three primary types of proppant that are utilized in the hydraulic fracturing process: raw frac sand, coated sand and
manufactured ceramic beads. Customers choose among these proppant types based on the geology of the reservoir, expected well
pressures, proppant flowback concerns, and product cost. Given the price differences between the various proppant products and well-
specific considerations, oil and natural gas exploration and production (“E&P”) and oilfield service (“OFS”) companies are continually
evaluating the cost and conductivity of the various proppants in order to best address the geology of the well and to maximize well
productivity and economic returns.
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Energy Proppant Trends
Demand for proppant is significantly influenced by the level of drilling and well completions by E&P and OFS companies, which
depends largely on the current and anticipated profitability of developing oil and natural gas reserves. Drilling and completions
activity increased substantially in the first half of 2018 as a result of rising oil prices, but declined in the second half of 2018 relative to
the first half of the year as a result of operator budgetary constraints and lower oil prices. West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) crude oil
prices averaged nearly $65 per barrel in 2018 versus $51 per barrel in 2017. However, the WTI benchmark was approximately $45
per barrel at the end of 2018 and was approximately $58 per barrel as of March 15, 2019.
Proppant supply grew throughout 2018, particularly as a result of the opening of new “local” plants in the Permian and Mid-Con
basins. The geology of local supply differs from Northern White Sand with lower crush strength, less sphericity and less roundness,
however this proppant may be fit for purpose in certain well applications, and given their lower costs, demand for these products has
strengthened considerably. Most local plants were developed to supply local basins in which they are located and lack the logistical
infrastructure to economically ship product to other basins. We have commissioned two new facilitate in Crane and Kermit, Texas in
the Permian in the third quarter 2018, each with three million tons of annual production capacity, and a two million ton annual
production capacity facility in Seiling, Oklahoma in the Mid-Con basin in the fourth quarter 2018.
As a result of these new sources of supply and sequentially slower proppant demand in the second half of 2018, supply for proppants
exceeded demand in the second half of 2018, resulting in significantly lower proppant pricing. This trend is expected to continue in
2019 as additional new supply enters the marketplace, particularly in West Texas, South Texas and Oklahoma.
In response to changing market demands, through March 2019, we idled operations at mines in Shakopee, Minnesota, Brewer,
Missouri, Voca, Texas and Wexford, Michigan and at our resin coating facility in Cutler, Missouri. Additionally, we have reduced
production capacity at certain of our Northern White sand plants. In total, we have reduced our Energy segment nameplate annual
capacity by 6.9 million tons through these capacity reduction measures allowing us to lower fixed plant costs and consolidate volumes
into lower cost operations.
Our Energy Products
We offer a broad suite of proppant products designed to address nearly all well environments and related down-hole challenges faced
by our customers. Revenues in our Energy segment are generally derived from the sale of raw sand plus the sale of certain value-
added products.
Northern White Frac Sand. Our Northern White frac sand is produced from geologically mature quartz arenite sands mined from
deposits located primarily in the northern half of the U.S. These reserves are generally characterized by high purity, structural
integrity, significant roundness and sphericity, and low turbidity. All of our Northern White frac sand proppant products meet API
standards.
In-Basin “Local” Frac Sand. Our in-basin “local” reserves are located in West Texas and Oklahoma. Our local frac sand has less
crush strength, less sphericity, and lower silica content relative to our Northern White products, and is suitable in certain well
environments. These reserves are in close proximity to the Permian and Mid-Continental basins, which provides them with a
significant transportation cost advantage relative to Northern White frac sand sourced from more distant locations.
Value-Added Products. We coat a portion of our sand with resin to enhance certain performance characteristics as a proppant using
proprietary resin formulations and coating technologies. Our value-added proppants are generally used in higher temperature and
higher pressure well environments and are marketed to end users who require increased conductivity in higher pressure wells, high
crush resistance, and/or enhanced flow back control in order to enhance the productivity of their wells.
Our resin coated sand products are sold as both tempered (or pre-cured) and curable (or bonding) products. Curable coated sand
bonds down hole as the formation heat causes neighboring coated sand grains to polymerize with one another locking proppant into
place. This mitigates the risk of proppant from flowing back out of the fracture when the oil or natural gas well commences
production. For certain resin products, the resin’s chemical properties are triggered by the introduction of an activator into the frac
fluid. We formulate, manufacture, and sell activators, which work with the specific chemistry of our resins. Tempered products do
not require activation because they are not intended to bond, rather they are designed to bring additional strength to the proppant.
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Our patented Propel SSP® product utilizes a polymer coating applied to a proppant substrate. Upon contact with water, the coating
hydrates and swells to create a hydrogel around the proppant substrate. The hydrogel layer, which is primarily water, is attached to
the proppant particle and provides an increase in the hydrostatic radius of the proppant.
Our DST™ Dust Suppression Technology is a coating applied to sand, which results in reduced respirable crystalline silica exposure
(RCS). Tests have shown that using DST can reduce average RCS by over 95% when compared to untreated sand. DST was
developed to help customers reduce worker exposure to RCS and comply with new OSHA standards.
Our silica-based well cementing additives keep cement strong, bonding cement together even under acidic conditions, and prevent
strength retrogression in well temperatures greater than 230°F. We market these additives as SilverBond®.
Our silica-based gravel packing sands are high quality monocrystalline and prevent the production of reservoir sands while still
producing hydrocarbons. We market these sands as Accupack®.
Industrial Segment Overview
Our Industrial segment sells products to the glass, ceramics, construction, coatings, polymers, foundry and various other industries.
Our sales to these industries correlate strongly with overall economic activity levels as reflected in the gross domestic product, vehicle
production and growth in the housing market. We believe that overall activity across our Industrial segment remains solid with certain
sectors providing above-GDP level growth due to consumer, regulatory and/or manufacturing trends.
Industrial Markets and Products
Glass. The glass market includes four primary sub-markets: container glass; flat glass; fiberglass; and specialty display glass.
The main products we supply for container glass production are whole grain silica, feldspar and nepheline syenite. Container glass is
primarily comprised of bottles and demand in the U.S. tends to follow U.S. gross domestic product growth and has driven stable
volumes for suppliers of silica, feldspar and nepheline syenite. In Mexico, growth in the worldwide consumption of beer produced
and bottled in Mexico has increased the demand by Mexican breweries for glass bottles, which has increased demand for high-quality
low-iron silica sand.
The flat glass sub-market is primarily comprised of automotive glass and windows for both residential and commercial applications.
The main product we supply into the flat glass industry is whole grain silica.
The fiberglass sub-market produces fine filament fiber used in fiberglass reinforced plastic, which is used in boats, automobiles and
other industrial applications as well as the production of fiberglass for home and business insulation. The main products we supply to
the fiberglass industry include ground silica and fiberglass grade kaolin.
We offer one of the largest multi-facility and multi-product mineral portfolios serving the North American glass market. We believe
that our longstanding customer relationships and reputation for quality provide us a competitive advantage. We also have a broad-
based multi-facility capability that is able to service large multi-plant glass customers. Our primary product for sale to the glass
market is produced from high silica content sand deposits throughout North America, however we also supply the glass industry with
nepheline syenite and other mineral additives. Glass batch formulations determine the raw material requirements of the glass
manufacturer and differ based upon the requirements of the end-use product.
Ceramics. The ceramics manufacturing market includes a diverse mix of products. Among the main types of ceramics produced are
sanitaryware (e.g., toilets, wash basins, pedestals, bidets, urinals, sinks and bathtubs), clay brick and tiles (frequently used in
residential construction). Sanitaryware is made primarily with clay (ball clay or China clay), quartz and feldspar. The majority of
sanitaryware sold in the U.S. is produced in Mexico, while the ceramic tile industry has continued to grow as Italian manufacturers
have established production facilities in the U.S.
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We supply the ceramics market with nepheline syenite, granular silica, potassium feldspar, pressing clays, ceramic casting clays,
refractory grade clays, plastic forming clays and sodium feldspar. Additionally, we distribute Ukrainian ball clay, potassium feldspar
from India and French pebbles used as grinding media. These products are used in the production of white wares (tableware and/or
sanitary ware) and tiles. We believe that our low cost production and geographic proximity to many of our customers, combined with
a broad product offering, are major factors contributing to our successful position in the ceramics market.
Construction. The construction market, driven by urbanization, new home construction, remodeling and repair, and commercial
buildings, drives demand for many of our products. Customers in the construction market seek suppliers who can offer multi-product
mineral offerings, multi-plant production capabilities, diversified and low-cost logistics solutions and superior customer and technical
service. Understanding the features of our products and the benefits they deliver to our customers’ processes and products are key
characteristics that have made us a leading minerals supplier to the construction market. Customers also seek reliable and consistent
suppliers of minerals, which vary by size, shape, chemistry or other physical characteristics. We believe we are well-situated to serve
customers in the construction industry due to our mine locations and manufacturing footprint, which we believe provide broad
geographic coverage and access to customers either by truck or rail.
Coatings. The architectural and industrial coatings market includes coatings and specialty materials for customers in a wide array of
end uses, including industrial equipment and components, packaging material, aircraft and marine equipment and automotive original
equipment. Paint and coatings manufacturers also serve commercial and residential new build and maintenance customers by
supplying coatings to painting and maintenance contractors and directly to consumers for decoration and maintenance. The
architectural coatings industry is highly competitive and consists of several large firms with global presence and many smaller firms
serving local or regional customers. Price, product performance, technology, cost effectiveness, quality and technical and customer
service are major competitive factors in the industrial, automotive OEM, packaging coatings and coatings services businesses. Our
coatings products in North America include nepheline syenite, microcrystalline silica, kaolin and silica.
Polymers. Polymers are chemical compounds or a mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of
repeating structural units. Because of their low density and their ability to be shaped and molded at relatively low temperatures
compared to traditional materials such as metals, polymers are widely used across several industrial markets. Parts and components
that have traditionally been made of wood, metal, ceramic or glass are now being redesigned with polymers.
Packaging, construction, transportation and electrical & electronic (“E&E”) are the four largest polymer sub-markets. While
packaging is the largest application in terms of volume, applications such as construction, transportation and E&E offer more value
with intense use of additives and fillers.
The usage of our products, particularly nepheline syenite, in polymer markets has been growing due to a number of factors, including
an expanded customer base as a result of approval of food-contact applications by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and
development of new products in composites, color concentrates and building and construction products (window and door frames,
vinyl sidings and fencing). Our products for the polymers market include nepheline syenite, calcium carbonate, crystalline silica and
kaolin.
Foundry and Metallurgical. We currently supply the foundry market with multiple grades of sands for molding and core-making
applications, with products sold primarily in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, and China. Foundry sands are characterized by high
purity, round and sub-angular sands precisely screened to perform under a variety of metal casting conditions. These factors dictate
the refractory level and physical characteristics of the mold and core, which have a significant effect on the quality of the castings
produced in the foundry. We also supply resin binders which provide the necessary bonding of molds and cores in casting
applications and are designed to improve overall productivity and environment conditions in the workplace. We supply foundries
with metallurgical consumables, which are required by all metal refining and casting operations. Our quicklime additions are an
essential component in the refining process to control slag chemistry and protect and extend furnace refractory life.
Our silica sand foundry activities are typically local by nature and developed in conjunction with other industries to maximize
productivity and profitability of existing assets. Foundry sand availability in North America is strongly influenced by heavy
industries, including glass, automotive, equipment and oil and gas. We serve the foundry market through multiple product offerings,
including our silica, resin coated sand, Alpha Resin Systems, lime, and refractory grade clays.
Sports and Recreation. We are a leading supplier of various turf and landscape infill products to contractors, municipalities, nurseries,
and mass merchandisers. Our turf-related products are used in multiple major sporting facilities, including First Energy Stadium and
Progressive Field in Ohio, PNC Park in Pennsylvania, Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana, and ADPRO Sports Training Center
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Fieldhouse in New York. In addition, we are a significant supplier of bunker sand, top dressing sands, and all-purpose sands to golf
courses and landscape contractors throughout North America. Our sands are also supplied to horse tracks and training facilities. We
also provide colored sand to a variety of major retailers for use as play sand and arts and crafts.
Other Industrial Applications. We market a diverse mineral portfolio for an equally diverse group of industrial and commercial
applications, including water filtration and treatment, soil stabilization and neutralization applications.
Product Delivery
Among the most important purchasing criteria of our customers is the ability to deliver products upon demand at the desired time and
location at the lowest possible cost. We have a comprehensive and diversified supply chain network, which we believe provides us a
competitive advantage. In 2018, we shipped products via rail, barge and truck to approximately 2,000 customers in North America.
Our size and scale provide broad supply chain flexibility, which we optimize on a weekly basis using leading technology. Our
logistics network includes distribution terminals in all major oil and gas basins, as well as selected locations to serve Industrial
customers. We serve these locations with a fleet of approximately 20,200 railcars (which includes approximately 4,000 customer
railcars).
Many of our facilities are situated on five Class 1 railroads providing direct service to every major oil and gas basin in the U.S. as well
as transport significant industrial volumes longer distances to customers. We also own and operate the Winchester & Western
railroad, a private railroad in New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. We use the Winchester & Western railroad to move
minerals from our Dividing Creek and Gore facilities to customers via access to the Norfolk Southern and CSX railroads.
We believe that our private rail fleet enables us to maximize efficiency and reduce costs in our supply chain. We are one of the few
North American mineral producers capable of Class 1 railroad deliveries in each of North America’s major oil and gas producing
basins. We generally ship products to either a customer-owned terminal location or a Covia owned or operated terminal, where
products are stored until provided to a customer, or to one of our processing facilities for value-added processing. The direct rail
access of our processing and distribution facilities significantly reduces handling costs and lead-times while enhancing production
throughput, resulting in improved responsiveness to our customers.
Last Mile Logistics Solutions. In response to requests from some customers we have recently entered into partnerships with last mile
logistics (LML) providers to offer this service. Through these partnerships, we lease systems from these LML providers, and then
offer our customers an integrated mine to well site solution. The partnerships also allow us to offer multiple LML options to our
customers, such as silos or boxes, based on their preferences.
In selecting LML partners, we have focused on those that can provide high volume of proppant per truck load, minimized well pad
footprint, fast unloading times and strong safety records.
Raw Materials
Our products depend on the availability of certain raw materials, including natural gas or propane, resins and additives, bagging
supplies, and other raw materials. These raw materials are readily available from a variety of sources and we are not dependent on
any one supplier of raw materials. See “Part I, Item 2 – Properties” of this Report for additional information regarding the sources of
our mineral products.
Our Customers
Our strategy has been to partner with the largest and most advanced companies in the markets they serve. The strength of our
customer base is driven by our collaborative approach to product innovation and development, reputation for high quality, the
consistency and reliability of our products and the scale of our operations and logistics network. We currently serve approximately
2,000 customers across a variety of industries in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the rest of the world. A significant portion of our sales
by volume is derived from customers with whom we have long-term relationships. In the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017,
one customer exceeded 10% of our revenues. This customer accounted for 13% of our revenues in each of 2018 and 2017. A large
portion of our Energy segment sales are generated by a limited number of customers, and the loss of, or a significant reduction in
purchases by, our largest customers could adversely affect our operations. Top customers may not continue to purchase the same
levels of product in the future due to a variety of reasons, notwithstanding any contract requirements.
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We primarily sell products under supply agreements with terms that vary by customer. Certain of our supply agreements require the
customer to purchase a specified percentage of its product requirements from us. Other agreements require the customer to purchase a
minimum volume from us. These minimum volume contracts often require the customer to pay us specified amounts if the purchased
volume does not meet the required minimums. Specific custom orders are generally filled upon request, and backlog is not a material
factor.
Intellectual Property
Our intellectual property consists primarily of patents, trade secrets, know-how, and trademarks. Our trademarks include, but are not
limited to, our name Covia™ and products such as Unifrac®, Minex®, Glassil®, Propstar®, Imsil®, Granusil®, Puresil®, PowerProp®,
Propel SSP®, HyperProp®, and CoolSet®. We hold numerous U.S. and foreign-granted patents that are still in force as well as many
U.S. and foreign patent applications that are pending. The majority of our patents have an expiration date after 2025. Since 2016, we
received several patents on Propel SSP® proppant technology and have additional patents pending.
We believe that our extensive experience, trade secrets and know-how with a variety of different products enables us to offer our
customers a wide range of proppants for their particular application. We operate laboratories in the U.S. and Mexico, which provide
mineral processing, analytics and materials research for product and application development across the oil and gas, glass, ceramics,
coatings and polymers industries. Staffing across these laboratories comprises professionals in analytical chemistry, mineral
processing, mineralogy, inorganic chemistry, material science, coatings science, polymer science and related fields. We also employ
technical sales personnel covering our core target industries.
Competition
In our Energy segment, we compete with numerous large and small producers in all of the sand producing regions of North America.
Our main competitors in the raw frac sand industry include Badger Mining Corporation (which owns Atlas Resin Proppants LLC),
CARBO Ceramics, Inc., Emerge Energy Services LP, Hi-Crush Partners LP, Preferred Sands LLC, Smart Sand Inc., Superior Silica
and U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. Our main competitors in the coated products industry include Atlas Resin Proppants LLC, CARBO
Ceramics, Inc., Momentive Performance Materials Inc., Preferred Sands LLC, Vista Sands and U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. Beyond
these competitors, there are a number of other competitors who operate production facilities and compete in the oil and gas industry.
With the emergence of local sand, we have concentrated competition in West Texas, which has resulted in new competitors emerging,
including Alpine Silica, Black Mountain Silica and High Roller in addition to competitors from our existing products. The most
important competitive factors in our Energy segment are product quality, performance, sand and proppant characteristics,
transportation capabilities, proximity of supply to well site, reliability of supply, price and customer relationships.
In our Industrial segment, we compete with large diversified companies but also with smaller, local or regional producers on product
quality, product consistency and reliably delivering products at a competitive price. Competitors may produce minerals similar to
those sold by us or they may produce substitute products that offer similar functionality. In our Industrial segment, we compete
primarily against U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc., Short Mountain Silica, J.R. Simplot, A.F. Gelhar Co., Inc., Badger Mining Corporation,
The Nugent Sand Co., Inc., Manley Bros. of Indiana, Inc., G3 Enterprises, Lane Mountain Company, Florida Rock Industries, Whibco
of New Jersey, Inc., Sierra Silica, Mavisa, Astra, Imerys, Active Minerals, Old Hickory, Minerali, 3M, Carmeuse Lime, Lhoist,
Granite Mountain, J.M. Huber, Cimbar, Omya and Custom Grinders.
Regulation and Legislation
Mining and Workplace Safety
Federal Regulation
MSHA is the primary regulatory organization governing the commercial silica industry. Accordingly, MSHA regulates quarries,
surface mines, underground mines, and the industrial mineral processing facilities associated with quarries and mines. The mission of
MSHA is to administer the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and to enforce compliance with mandatory
safety and health standards. MSHA works closely with the Industrial Minerals Association, a trade association, in pursuing this
mission. As part of MSHA’s oversight, representatives perform at least two unannounced inspections annually for each above-ground
facility. To date these inspections have not resulted in any citations for material violations of MSHA standards.
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We also are subject to the requirements of OSHA and comparable state statutes that regulate the protection of the health and safety of
workers. In addition, the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requires that information be maintained about hazardous materials
used or produced in operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and the
public. OSHA regulates users of commercial silica and provides detailed regulations requiring employers to protect employees from
overexposure to silica through the enforcement of permissible exposure limits.
We adhere to a strict occupational health program aimed at controlling exposure to silica dust, which includes dust sampling, a
respiratory protection program, medical surveillance, training, and other components. Our safety program is designed to ensure
compliance with the standards of our Occupational Health and Safety Manual and MSHA regulations. For both health and safety
issues, extensive training is provided to employees. We have safety committees at our plants made up of salaried and hourly
employees. We perform annual internal health and safety audits and conduct annual crisis management drills to test our plants’
abilities to respond to various situations. Health and safety programs are administered by our corporate health and safety department
with the assistance of plant local environmental, health and safety coordinators.
Environmental Matters
We and our competitors are subject to extensive governmental regulation on, among other things, matters such as permitting and
licensing requirements, plant and wildlife protection, hazardous materials, air and water emissions, and environmental contamination
and reclamation. A variety of federal, state, and local agencies implement and enforce these regulations.
Federal Regulation
At the federal level, we may be required to obtain permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S., including wetlands and streams, in connection with our
operations. We also may be required to obtain permits under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act from the EPA (or the relevant state
environmental agency in states where the permit program has been delegated to the state) for discharges of pollutants into waters of
the U.S., including discharges of wastewater or storm water runoff associated with construction activities. Failure to obtain these
required permits or to comply with their terms could subject us to administrative, civil and criminal penalties as well as injunctive
relief.
The U.S. Clean Air Act (the “CAA”) and comparable state laws regulate emissions of various air pollutants through air emissions
permitting programs and the imposition of other requirements, such as monitoring and reporting requirements. These regulatory
programs may require us to install expensive emissions abatement equipment, modify our operational practices and obtain permits for
our existing operations, and before commencing construction on a new or modified source of air emissions, such laws may require us
to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities extended to produce or significantly increase
air emissions. In addition, air permits are required for our processing and terminal operations, and our frac sand mining operations
that result in the emission of regulated air contaminants. Obtaining air emissions permits has the potential to delay the development or
continued performance of our operations. As a result, we may be required to incur increased capital and operating costs because of
these regulations. We could be subject to administrative, civil, and criminal penalties as well as injunctive relief for noncompliance
with air permits or other requirements of the CAA and comparable state laws and regulations.
Methane, a primary component of natural gas, and carbon dioxide, a byproduct of the burning of natural gas, are examples of
greenhouse gases (“GHGs”). In recent years, the U.S. Congress has considered legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs.
Independent of the U.S. Congress, the EPA has adopted regulations controlling GHG emissions under its existing authority under the
CAA. In 2009, the EPA officially published its findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other GHGs present an
endangerment to human health and the environment because emissions of such gases are, according to the EPA, contributing to
warming of the earth’s atmosphere and other climatic changes. These findings by the EPA allow the agency to proceed with the
adoption and implementation of regulations that would restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the CAA. In 2010, the
EPA published a final rule expanding its existing GHG emissions reporting rule for certain petroleum and natural gas facilities that
emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. We are subject to annual GHG reporting obligations for our
operations in Wedron, Illinois, Calera, Alabama and Ontario, Canada locations.
Although it is not currently possible to predict how any proposed or future GHG legislation or regulation by the U.S. Congress, the
EPA, the states, or multi-state regions will impact our business, any legislation or regulation of GHG emissions that may be imposed
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in areas in which we conduct business could result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions or reduced
demand for our services, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
As part of our operations, we utilize or store petroleum products and other substances such as diesel fuel, lubricating oils, and
hydraulic fluid. We are subject to regulatory programs pertaining to the storage, use, transportation, and disposal of these substances,
including Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure planning requirements. Spills or releases may occur in the course of our
operations, and we could incur substantial costs and liabilities as a result of such spills or releases, including those relating to claims
for damage or injury to property and persons. Additionally, some of our operations are located on properties that historically have
been used in ways that resulted in the release of contaminants, including hazardous substances, into the environment, and we could be
held liable for the remediation of such historical contamination. CERCLA and comparable state laws impose joint and several
liability, without regard to fault or legality of conduct, on classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release of
hazardous substances into the environment. These persons include the owner or operator of the site where the release occurred and
anyone who disposed or arranged for the disposal of a hazardous substance released at the site. Under CERCLA, such persons may be
subject to liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances, for damages to natural resources, and for the costs of certain
health studies. In addition, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury
and property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released into the environment.
In the course of our operations, we generate industrial solid wastes that may be regulated as hazardous wastes. The Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) and comparable state statutes regulate the generation, transportation, treatment, storage,
disposal, and cleanup of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. The EPA and the individual states, to which the EPA has delegated
portions of the RCRA program for local implementation, administer the RCRA program.
In September 2013, the EPA issued RCRA consent orders to several companies, including us, in connection with historic
contamination of residential drinking water wells near our Wedron, Illinois facility. The EPA identified benzene and other volatile
organic compounds in some drinking water wells, some (including benzene) in excess of established standards. The consent orders
required the companies to analyze conditions at their sites to determine whether operations at their sites are potential sources of
groundwater contamination. We completed the study for our site, and our consultant submitted a site conditions report to the EPA in
August 2014, which report concluded that our operations at the site are not a source of groundwater impacts in the Wedron
community. The report recommended that no further work should be required under the consent order. In March 2015, the EPA
issued a letter to us stating that we have completed all work required under the consent order to the EPA’s satisfaction, and our
obligations under the consent order have now been satisfied. We have also performed environmental investigation and remediation
activities under oversight of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) at a removed underground storage tank (UST)
system at the Wedron facility south of residential areas of the community. The investigation report approved by the IEPA concluded
that the petroleum constituents reported in the groundwater in the Wedron community are not related to the former UST system. We
have performed limited soil removal at the location of the former UST system pursuant to a Corrective Action Plan approved by the
IEPA. The IEPA has approved the closure of this site, which is documented through a No Further Remediation Letter issued by the
Agency. The No Further Remediation Letter has been recorded with the local County Recorder of Deeds and includes deed
restrictions which will limit this portion of the Wedron property to industrial use in perpetuity.
Although we do not directly engage in hydraulic fracturing activities, we supply sand-based proppants to hydraulic fracturing
operators in the oil and natural gas industry. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand, and chemicals, under pressure,
into the formation to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production. The hydraulic fracturing process is typically regulated
by state or local governmental authorities. However, the practice of hydraulic fracturing has become controversial in some areas and
is undergoing increased scrutiny. Several federal agencies and regulatory authorities are investigating the potential environmental
impacts of hydraulic fracturing and whether additional regulation may be necessary. The EPA has asserted limited federal regulatory
authority over hydraulic fracturing and has indicated it may seek to further expand its regulation of hydraulic fracturing. The Bureau
of Land Management has proposed regulations applicable to hydraulic fracturing conducted on federal and Indian oil and gas leases.
The U.S. Congress has from time to time considered the adoption of legislation to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic
fracturing. In addition, various state, local, and foreign governments have implemented, or are considering, increased regulatory
oversight of hydraulic fracturing through additional permitting requirements, operational restrictions, disclosure requirements, and
temporary or permanent bans on hydraulic fracturing in certain areas such as environmentally sensitive watersheds. Numerous states
have imposed disclosure requirements on hydraulic fracturing well owners and operators. Some local governments have adopted and
others may seek to adopt ordinances prohibiting or regulating the time, place, and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic
fracturing activities within their jurisdictions.
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The adoption of new laws, regulations, or enforcement policies at the federal, state, local, or foreign levels imposing reporting obligations
on, or otherwise limiting or delaying, the hydraulic fracturing process could make it more difficult to complete oil and natural gas wells,
increase our customers’ costs of compliance and doing business, and otherwise adversely affect the hydraulic fracturing services they
perform, which could negatively impact demand for our sand-based proppants.
Our operations may also be subject to broad environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). NEPA
requires federal agencies to evaluate the environmental impact of all “major federal actions” significantly affecting the quality of the
human environment. The granting of a federal permit for a major development project, such as a mining operation, may be considered
a “major federal action” that requires review under NEPA. Therefore, our projects may require review and evaluation under NEPA.
As part of this evaluation, the federal agency considers a broad array of environmental impacts, including, among other things,
impacts on air quality, water quality, wildlife (including threatened and endangered species), historical and archeological resources,
geology, socioeconomics and aesthetics. NEPA also requires the consideration of alternatives to the project. The NEPA review
process, especially the preparation of a full environmental impact statement, can be time consuming and expensive. The purpose of
the NEPA review process is to inform federal agencies’ decision-making on whether federal approval should be granted for a project
and to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of a proposed project. Though NEPA
requires only that an environmental evaluation be conducted and does not mandate a result, a federal agency could decide to deny a
permit, or impose certain conditions on its approval, based on its environmental review under NEPA, or a third party may challenge
the adequacy of a NEPA review and thereby delay the issuance of a federal permit or approval.
Federal agencies granting permits for our operations also must consider impacts to endangered and threatened species and their habitat
under the Endangered Species Act. We also must comply with and are subject to liability under the Endangered Species Act, which
prohibits and imposes stringent penalties for the harming of endangered or threatened species and their habitat. Some of our
operations are conducted in areas where protected species or their habitats are known to exist. In these areas, we may be obligated to
develop and implement plans to avoid potential adverse effects to protected species and their habitats, and we may be prohibited from
conducting operations in certain locations or during certain times, such as breeding and nesting seasons, when our operations could
have an adverse effect on the species. Federal agencies also must consider a project’s impacts on historic or archeological resources
under the National Historic Preservation Act, and we may be required to conduct archeological surveys of project sites and to avoid or
preserve historical areas or artifacts.
State and Local Regulation
Because our operations are located in numerous states, we are also subject to a variety of different state and local environmental
review and permitting requirements. Some states in which our projects are located or are being developed have state laws similar to
NEPA; thus our development of new sites or the expansion of existing sites may be subject to comprehensive state environmental
reviews even if it is not subject to NEPA. In some cases, the state environmental review may be more stringent than the federal
review. Our operations may require state law-based permits in addition to federal or local permits, requiring state agencies to consider
a range of issues, many the same as federal agencies, including, among other things, a project’s impact on wildlife and their habitats,
historic and archaeological sites, aesthetics, agricultural operations, and scenic areas. Some states also have specific permitting and
review processes for commercial silica mining operations, and states may impose different or additional monitoring or mitigation
requirements than federal agencies. The development of new sites and our existing operations also are subject to a variety of local
environmental and regulatory requirements, including land use, zoning, building, and transportation requirements.
Some local communities have expressed concern regarding silica sand mining operations. These concerns have generally included
exposure to ambient silica sand dust, truck traffic, water usage, and blasting. In response, certain state and local communities have
developed or are in the process of developing regulations or zoning restrictions intended to minimize dust from getting airborne, control
the flow of truck traffic, significantly curtail the amount of practicable area for mining activities, require compensation to local residents
for potential impacts of mining activities and, in some cases, ban issuance of new permits for mining activities. To date, we have not
experienced any material impact to our existing mining operations or planned capacity expansions as a result of these types of concerns.
Planned expansion of our mining and production capacity or construction and operation of related facilities in new communities could
be more significantly impacted by increased regulatory activity. Difficulty or delays in obtaining or inability to obtain new mining
permits or increased costs of compliance with future state and local regulatory requirements could have a material negative impact on
our ability to grow our business. In an effort to minimize these risks, we continue to be engaged with local communities in order to
grow and maintain strong relationships with residents and regulators.
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Costs of Compliance
We may incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of environmental, health, and safety requirements applicable to our activities.
Failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties,
imposition of investigatory, cleanup and site restoration costs and liens, the denial or revocation of permits or other authorizations, and
the issuance of injunctions to limit or cease operations. Compliance with these laws and regulations may also increase the cost of the
development, construction and operation of our projects and may prevent or delay the commencement or continuance of a given
project. In addition, claims for damages to persons or property may result from environmental and other impacts of our activities. In
addition, the clear trend in environmental regulation is to place more restrictions on activities that may affect the environment, and
thus, any changes in, or more stringent enforcement of, these laws and regulations that result in more stringent and costly pollution
control equipment, waste handling, storage, transport, disposal, or remediation requirements could have a material adverse effect on
our operations and financial position.
The process for performing environmental impact studies and reviews for federal, state, and local permits for our operations involves a
significant investment of time and monetary resources. We cannot control the permit approval process. We cannot predict whether all
permits required for a given project will be granted or whether such permits will be the subject of significant opposition. The denial of
a permit essential to a project or the imposition of conditions with which it is not practicable or feasible to comply could impair or
prevent our ability to develop a project. Significant opposition by neighboring property owners, members of the public or other third
parties, as well as any delay in the environmental review and permitting process, could impair or delay our ability to develop or
expand a project. Additionally, the passage of more stringent environmental laws could impair our ability to develop new operations
and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, prospects and the market value of our securities are subject to
numerous risks, many of which are driven by factors that we cannot control. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our
business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, prospects and the market value of our securities may be materially and
adversely affected. Other factors beyond those listed below, including factors unknown to us and factors known to us which we have
not currently determined to be material, could also adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash
flows, prospects and the market value of our securities. Also see “Special Note of Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”
above.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our business and financial performance depend in part on the level of activity in the oil and gas industries.
Approximately 60% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018 were derived from sales to companies in the oil and gas
industries. As a result, our operations depend, in part, on the levels of activity in oil and gas exploration, development and production.
More specifically, the demand for the proppants we produce is closely related to the number of oil and gas wells completed in
geological formations where sand-based proppants are used in hydraulic fracturing activities. These activity levels are affected by
both short- and long-term trends in oil and gas prices, among other factors.
Industry conditions that impact the activity levels of oil and natural gas producers are influenced by numerous factors over which we
have no control, including:
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governmental regulations, including the policies of governments regarding the exploration for and production and
development of their oil and natural gas reserves;
global weather conditions and natural disasters;
worldwide political, military and economic conditions;
the cost of producing and delivering oil and natural gas;
commodity prices;
development of alternative energy sources;
changes in demand for proppants; and
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the ability of the oil and gas industry to comply with U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”)
standards for respirable dust.
In recent years, oil and 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 the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and other large non-OPEC producers have
contributed, and are likely to continue to contribute, to price and volume volatility. 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. Reduction in demand for natural gas to generate electricity could also adversely impact the demand for frac sand.
Any significant reduction in oil and natural gas prices would generally depress the level of oil and natural gas exploration,
development, production and well completion activity, which could result in a corresponding decline in the demand for the frac sand
we produce. Such a decline could result in Covia selling fewer tons of frac sand at lower prices or selling lower priced products,
which would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. When demand for frac sand
increases, there may not be a corresponding increase in the prices for our products or our customers may not switch back to higher-
priced products, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The commercial
development of economically-viable alternative energy sources could have a similar effect. In addition, the price we receive for sales
of frac sand may be impacted by short-term fluctuations in the demand for frac sand, and any negative fluctuations in this demand
could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows.
Any future decreases in the rate at which oil and natural gas reserves are discovered or developed may have a material adverse effect
on our business and financial condition, even in a stronger oil and natural gas price environment.
Our operations are subject to the seasonal and/or cyclical nature of our customers’ businesses, which could adversely affect our
results of operations.
The substantial majority of our sales are to customers in industries that have historically been seasonal, such as glassmaking,
construction and foundry, and/or cyclical, such as the oil and natural gas industry. During periods of economic slowdown, such
customers often reduce their production rates and also reduce capital expenditures and defer or cancel pending projects. Such
developments occur even among customers that are not experiencing financial difficulties.
Demand for industrial minerals is driven to a large extent by the construction and automotive industries. For example, demand for flat
glass depends on the automotive and commercial and residential construction and remodeling industries, demand for commercial
silica used to manufacture building products is driven primarily by demand in the construction industry and demand for foundry silica
substantially depends on the rate of automobile, light truck and heavy equipment production as well as construction. Other factors
influencing the demand for industrial minerals include (i) the substitution of plastic or other materials for glass, (ii) competition from
offshore producers of glass products, (iii) changes in demand for our products due to technological innovations and (iv) prices,
availability and other factors relating to our products.
We cannot predict or control the factors that affect demand for our products. Negative developments in the above factors, among
others, could cause the demand for industrial and recreational sand to decline, which could adversely affect our business, financial
condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects.
In addition, transportation costs represent one of the largest costs for our customers and, if in response to economic pressures, such
customers choose to move their production offshore, the increased logistics costs could reduce demand for our products. Continued
weakness in the industries we serve has had, and may in the future have, an adverse effect on sales of our products and our results of
operations. A continued or renewed economic downturn in one or more of the industries or geographic regions that we serve, or in the
worldwide economy, could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from historical and expected results.
A lack of dependable or available transportation services or infrastructure could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We have contracts with rail, truck, ship and barge services to move materials from our mines to our production facilities and to move
products on to our customers. Any significant delays, disruptions or the non-availability of transportation systems and services caused
by, among other things, labor disputes, strikes, lock-outs, lack of maintenance, human error or malfeasance, accidents, transportation
delays, mechanical difficulties, shortages of railcars, trucks, ships or barges, train derailments, bottlenecks, adverse weather
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conditions, earthquakes, storms, flooding, drought, other natural disasters or environmental events, increased railcar congestion or
other events could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, these events could temporarily impair our ability to
supply customers through our logistics network of rail-based terminals or, if our customers are not using our rail transportation
services, the ability of customers to take delivery and, in certain circumstances, constitute a force majeure event under our customer
contracts, permitting customers to suspend taking delivery of and paying for our products. As we continue to expand our production,
we will need to increase our investment in transportation infrastructure, including most significantly, additional terminals and railcars.
We depend on rail transportation to transport our products.
Our business depends significantly on rail transportation. A significant disruption of the rail transportation services utilized by us or
our customers could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Rail traffic congestion has increased throughout the U.S. in recent years, primarily due to overall growth in railroad volumes and a
delayed response from the railroads to adjust to the increased demand for rail transportation. From time to time, high demand and
unusually adverse weather conditions may cause rail congestion, delays and logistical problems. Rail congestion or shortages may
affect our ability to supply our products to customers in a timely or cost-effective manner, particularly in situations where our facilities
are not located close to customer locations.
Railcar availability may also affect our ability to transport our products. In addition to the products we supply, railcars transport many
types of products across various industries. If railcar owners sell or lease railcars to our competitors or to companies operating in
other industries, we may not have enough railcars to transport our products. Alternatively, if we experience a decline in sales, we may
have railcar overcapacity, which could cause us to incur both railcar storage fees and lease costs for railcars in storage.
We invest significantly in maintaining and upgrading our railcar fleet to meet customers’ needs and to compete effectively with
alternative suppliers. Our failure to properly anticipate our customers’ rail transportation needs or to effectively expend capital could
result in us losing business to our competitors.
In many cases, we rely on third parties to maintain the rail lines from our facilities to the national rail network, and any failure by
those third parties to maintain the lines could impede our delivery of products, impose additional costs on Covia and have a material
adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We depend on trucking to transport a significant portion of our products, particularly in areas of increasing demand for our
products. A shortage of available truck drivers and difficulty in truck driver recruitment and retention may have a material
adverse effect on our business.
In addition to our rail network, we depend on trucking services, particularly in areas in which our customers’ activity has rapidly
increased resulting in spikes in demand for transportation. For example, we have recently experienced a significant increase in
demand from the Permian Basin in West Texas. As a result, there is high demand for qualified truck drivers to supply the goods
necessary to support the increased activity in West Texas at a time when unemployment in the region is low, putting significant
pressure on the supply of available qualified truck drivers. Any delay or inability to secure the personnel and services necessary to
deliver our products to customers in high activity areas in a timely and cost-effective manner could cause customers to use a
competitor and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The U.S. trucking industry as a whole periodically experiences a shortage of qualified drivers, sometimes during periods of economic
expansion in which alternative employment opportunities are more plentiful and freight demand increases, or alternatively during
periods of economic downturns, in which unemployment benefits might be extended and financing may be limited for independent
contractors who seek to purchase equipment or for students who seek financial aid for driving school. Our independent contractors
are responsible for paying for their own equipment, fuel and other operating costs, and significant increases in these costs could cause
them to seek higher compensation from us or seek other opportunities within or outside the trucking industry.
The U.S. trucking industry also suffers from a high driver turnover rate. If we are unable to attract qualified independent contractors,
we could be forced to, among other things, limit our growth, decrease the number of tractors in service, adjust independent contractor
compensation, or pay higher rates to third-party truckload carriers, which could adversely affect our profitability and results of
operations if not offset by a corresponding increase in customer rates.
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We are subject to the risks of owning and operating the Winchester & Western railroad.
We own and operate the Winchester & Western railroad, a private railroad in New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. We
use the Winchester & Western railroad to move minerals from our Dividing Creek and Gore facilities to customers via access to the
Norfolk Southern and CSX railroads. Operating a railroad is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including potential public
safety concerns, claims for personal injury and property damage, accidents involving trespassers on the railway, railroad crossing
accidents, failure of information technology, severe weather conditions, access to a limited number of suppliers of locomotives and
railway equipment, and significant government regulation of health, safety, labor, environmental and other matters. In addition, due to
the nature of the railroad business, our railroad operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental laws and
regulations concerning, among other things, emissions to the air, discharges to waters and, to the extent we utilize the railroad to
transport hazardous waste, risks in the handling, storage, transportation and disposal of waste and other materials. Any of these risks
could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and results.
Increasing logistics and transportation costs could reduce our revenues by causing our customers to reduce production or by
impairing our ability to deliver products to customers.
Transportation, handling and related costs, including freight charges, fuel surcharges, transloading fees, switching fees, railcar lease
costs, demurrage costs and storage fees, tend to be a significant component of our total delivered cost of sales. In many instances,
transportation costs can represent up to 70% of the delivered cost of our products. As a result, the cost of transportation is a critical
factor in a customer’s purchasing decision. The high relative cost of transportation related expense tends to favor manufacturers
located closely to the customer. Increased costs that cannot be passed on to customers could impair our ability to deliver products
economically to customers or to expand our customer base. In addition, our competitors may be able to deliver products to our
customers with lower transportation costs, which, in certain cases, may result in us losing business.
We transport significant volumes of minerals across long distances and international borders. Any increases in our logistics costs, as a
result of increases in the price of oil or otherwise, would increase our costs and the prices of our products. In addition, any increases
in customs or tariffs, as a result of changes to existing trade agreements between countries or otherwise, could increase our costs, the
prices of our products to customers or decrease our margins. Such increases could harm our competitive position and could have a
material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Geographic shifts in demand could negatively impact our business.
A significant portion of our distribution infrastructure is located in or near oil and gas producing areas. However, a significant portion
of our frac sand processing facilities are located significant distances from our customers. Similarly, in our Industrial segment, a
portion of our sales benefit from having facilities in close proximity to customer locations. A shift in demand away from areas where
we have significant distribution infrastructure or the relocation of our customers’ businesses to areas farther from our facilities or
distribution infrastructure could increase our costs for delivering products or result in our inability to supply certain customers, which
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business could be adversely affected by strikes or work stoppages by railroad workers, truckers and port workers.
There has been labor unrest, including strikes and work stoppages, among workers at various transportation providers and in industries
affecting the transportation industry. We could lose business due to any significant work stoppage or slowdown and, if labor unrest
results in increased rates for transportation providers such as truckers or railroad workers, we may not be able to pass these cost
increases on to our customers. Future strikes by railroad workers in the U.S., Canada or anywhere else where our customers’ freight
travels by railroad would impact our operations. Any significant work stoppage, slowdown or other disruption involving railroads,
truckers, ports or draymen could have a material adverse effect our business and results of operations.
Our operations are dependent on our rights and ability to mine properties and on having renewed or received the required permits
and approvals from governmental authorities and other third parties.
We hold numerous governmental, environmental, mining and other permits, water rights and approvals authorizing operations at each
of our facilities. A decision by a governmental agency or other third party to deny or delay issuing a new or renewed permit or
approval, or to revoke or substantially modify an existing permit or approval, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to
continue operations at the affected facility. Furthermore, federal, state and local governments could impose a moratorium on mining
operations in certain areas. Expansion of our existing operations is also predicated on securing the necessary environmental or other
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permits, and water rights or approvals, which we may not receive in a timely manner or at all. In addition, certain of our facilities are
located near existing and proposed third-party industrial operations, which could affect our ability to fully extract, or the manner in
which we extract, the mineral reserves to which we have mining rights.
In some instances, we have received access rights or easements from third parties, which allow for a more efficient operation than
would exist without the access or easement. A third party could take action to suspend the access or easement, and any such action
could have a materially adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Changes in product mix can have an adverse effect on our gross margins and could cause our results of operations to fluctuate.
We produce many different products from the minerals we extract. Customers in the same industry may use different products for
similar purposes, some of which may require more processing than others and subsequently may be more expensive for us to produce.
The costs we experience at our manufacturing locations depend significantly on the mix of products produced, not all of which we
may be able to pass along to customers, which can reduce our margins and which may fluctuate from period to period for a number of
reasons. Furthermore, if one or more industries that we supply experience a significant shift in products, we could be forced to
undertake significant expenditures to upgrade our operations to supply the products or to acquire or build additional production
capacity in order to meet this demand to the extent our current operations cannot be retrofitted to supply such demand.
We may be adversely affected by decreased, or shifts in, demand for frac sand or the development of effective alternative proppants
or new processes that replace hydraulic fracturing.
Frac sand and coated sand are proppants used in the completion and re-completion of oil and natural gas wells through the process of
hydraulic fracturing. Frac sand is the most commonly used proppant and is less expensive than ceramic proppant. A significant shift
in demand from sand-based proppants to other proppants, such as ceramic proppants, or a shift in demand from higher-margin sand-
based proppants to lower-margin sand-based proppants, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations. The hydraulic fracturing industry is not fully mature and is still subject to technological change (for example,
horizontal drilling and fracturing is currently less than 10 years old). The development and use of new technologies for effective
alternative proppants, new technologies allowing for improved placement of proppants at reduced volumes, or the development of
new processes to replace hydraulic fracturing altogether, could also cause a decline in demand for the sand-based proppants we
produce and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, the increase
in supply of in-basin sand, which may be of lower cost, in the Permian and Eagle Ford basins, could adversely affect our business,
particularly at locations where we sell Northern White sand. In addition, the discovery by competitors of minerals in locations which
are closer to our customers could provide competitors with a geographic advantage. Any significant reduction in demand for products
sold from our facilities could have an adverse effect on our profitability, results of operations and financial condition.
A large percentage of our sales are subject to fluctuations in market pricing.
A large percentage of our supply agreements have market-based pricing mechanisms. Accordingly, in periods with decreasing prices,
our results of operations may be lower than if our supply agreements had fixed prices. In periods with increasing prices, our supply
agreements permit us to increase prices; however, our customers may elect to cease purchasing our products if they do not agree with
the price increases or are able to find alternative, cheaper sources of supply. Furthermore, certain volume-based supply agreements
may influence our ability to fully capture current market pricing as such agreement may fix pricing. These pricing provisions may
result in significant variability in our results of operations and cash flows from period to period.
A significant percentage of our volumes are also supplied under fixed price contracts. Over the life of such contracts, the contracted
price for such minerals may be below the current market price, at times, significantly so. During such periods, this dynamic may
depress our profit margins as compared to industry peers.
Changes in supply and demand dynamics could also impact market pricing for our products. A number of existing frac sand providers
and new industry entrants have recently announced reserve acquisitions, processing capacity expansions and greenfield projects. In
periods where sources of supply of raw frac sand exceed demand, prices for frac sand may decline and our results of operations and
cash flows may decline, be volatile or otherwise be adversely affected. For example, several new and current sand suppliers have
developed new in-basin facilities in the Permian, Mid-Continental, and Eagle Ford basins. While the quality and type of proppants
produced in-basin are not always the same as those produced in Northern White locations, the cost of this in-basin sand could be lower
and the increase in supply of in-basin sand could become a suitable replacement for all or a portion of the Northern White sands
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particularly if customers change their sizing and quality specifications to favor in-basin sands. These factors could adversely affect
our business, particularly at locations where we sell Northern White sand.
We may not be able to complete capital expansion projects, the actual costs of any capacity expansion may exceed estimated costs,
and we may not be able to secure demand for the incremental production capacity. In addition, actual operating costs for the new
capacity may be higher than anticipated.
We undertake projects from time to time to expand our production capacity and distribution network and to modernize operations.
For example, we are currently constructing a new facility in the Permian and basin and are modernizing our nepheline syenite
operations in Canada.
Capital expansion projects are subject to numerous regulatory, environmental, political and legal risks and uncertainties beyond our
control that could delay the expansion, construction or optimization of our facilities, including but not limited to:
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our ability to timely obtain necessary authorizations, approvals and permits from regulatory agencies (including
environmental agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agency, where our current operations or future
expansion plans in West Texas could be slowed or halted due to conservation efforts targeted at the habitat of the dunes
sagebrush lizard) on terms acceptable to us;
potential changes in applicable federal, state and local statutes and regulations, including environmental requirements, that
prevent a project from proceeding or increase the anticipated cost of the project;
the inability to acquire rights-of-way or land or water rights on a timely basis on terms acceptable to us;
the inability to acquire necessary energy supplies, including electricity, natural gas and diesel fuel;
labor shortage risks, safety issues and work stoppages;
engineering issues;
contamination problems;
equipment or raw material supply constraints; and
unexpected equipment maintenance requirements.
Any capital expansion will require us to spend substantial capital. If the assumptions on which our estimated capital expenditures are
based change or are inaccurate, we may require additional funding. Such funding may not be available on acceptable terms or at all.
Moreover, actual operating costs after we complete a capacity expansion project may be higher than initially anticipated. We also
may not secure off-take commitments for the incremental production from the incremental capacity and may not be able to secure
adequate demand for the incremental production.
If we undertake capital expansion projects, they may not be completed on schedule or at the budgeted cost or at all. Moreover, upon
the expenditure of future funds on a particular project, our revenues may not increase immediately, or as anticipated, or at all. For
instance, we may construct new facilities over an extended period of time and will not receive any material increases in revenues until
the projects are completed. Moreover, we may construct facilities to capture anticipated future growth in a location in which such
growth does not materialize or for which we are unable to acquire new customers. We may also rely on estimates of proved, probable
or possible reserves in our decision to undertake expansion projects, which may prove to be inaccurate. As a result, our new facilities
and infrastructure may be unable to achieve our expected investment return, which could materially and adversely affect our results of
operations and financial position. Furthermore, substantial investments in our transportation infrastructure may be required to
effectively execute the capacity expansion, and we may not be successful in expanding our logistical capabilities to accommodate the
additional production capacity.
Any failure to successfully implement any capacity expansion plans or realize the anticipated benefits of our capacity expansion plans
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We rely upon trade secrets, contractual restrictions and patents to protect our proprietary rights. Failure to protect our intellectual
property rights may undermine our competitive position, and protecting our rights or defending against third-party allegations of
infringement may be costly.
Our commercial success depends on our proprietary information and technologies, know-how and other intellectual property. Because
of the technical nature of our business, we rely on patents, trade secrets, trademarks and contractual restrictions to protect our
intellectual property rights. The measures we take to protect our trade secrets and other intellectual property rights may be
insufficient. If we fail to protect, monitor and control the use of existing intellectual property rights, we could lose our competitive
advantage and incur significant expenses. Our competitors or others could independently develop the same or similar technologies or
otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technologies. In such case, our trade secrets would not prevent third parties from competing
with us and our results of operations may be adversely affected. Furthermore, third parties or our employees may infringe or
misappropriate our proprietary technologies or other intellectual property rights, which could also harm our business and results of
operations. Policing unauthorized use of intellectual property rights can be difficult and expensive, and adequate remedies may not be
available.
In addition, third parties may claim that our products infringe or otherwise violate their patents or other proprietary rights and seek
corresponding damages or injunctive relief. Defending against such claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming and
result in costly litigation. An adverse outcome in any such litigation could subject us to significant liability to third parties (potentially
including treble damages) or temporary or permanent injunctions prohibiting the manufacture or sale of our products, the use of our
technologies or the conduct of our business. Any adverse outcome could also require us to seek licenses from third parties (which
may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all) or to make substantial one-time or ongoing royalty payments. Protracted litigation
could also result in our customers or potential customers deferring or limiting their purchase or use of our products until resolution of
such litigation. In addition, we may not have insurance coverage in connection with such litigation and may have to bear all costs
arising from any such litigation to the extent we are unable to recover them from other parties. Any of these outcomes could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our future performance will depend on our ability to succeed in competitive industries and to appropriately react to potential
fluctuations in demand for and supply of our products.
We operate in highly competitive industries involving a number of large, national producers and a larger number of small, regional or
local producers. Competition in the industries in which we operate is based on price, consistency and quality of product, site location,
distribution and logistics capabilities, customer service, reliability of supply, breadth of product offering, availability of economic
substitutes and technical support. Certain of our large competitors may have greater financial and other resources than we do, may
develop superior technology or may have production facilities that are located closer to key customers than our facilities.
Furthermore, competitors may choose to consolidate, which could provide them with greater financial and other resources and
negatively impact demand for our products.
We also compete with smaller, regional or local producers. For instance, prior to 2015, there had been an increasing number of small
producers servicing frac sand customers due to increased demand for hydraulic fracturing services. If demand for hydraulic fracturing
services decreases and the supply of frac sand increases, prices for frac sand could continue to materially decrease as less-efficient
producers exit the industry, causing frac sand to sell at below market prices. In addition, oil and natural gas exploration and
production companies and other providers of hydraulic fracturing services could acquire their own frac sand reserves, expand their
existing frac sand production capacity or otherwise fulfill their own proppant requirements and existing or new frac sand producers
could add to or expand their frac sand production capacity, which may negatively impact demand for our frac sand products.
We may not be able to compete successfully against either larger or smaller competitors in the future, and competition could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Certain of our products may be susceptible to displacement by alternative products.
Our customers have limited alternatives currently available for certain of our products. For example, we are one of the world’s
leading producers of low-iron nepheline syenite used in glass, ceramics, paint and plastics. However, while there are currently limited
alternatives available to our nepheline syenite customers, other minerals can provide similar functional benefits. If these alternative
products can be processed to provide a more cost-effective solution, the nature of the business presents an increased risk of an
industry-wide switch to such alternative product, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
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The initial and sustained commercialization of our products may prove to be unsuccessful.
The products we develop may or may not be technically viable, and those that are technically viable may not be or remain
commercially viable. For example, a return to or a prolonged decline in the oil and gas market may make the adoption of higher-value
products, such as Propel SSP® products, more difficult. Additionally, competitive products could be developed and marketed. A
failure to capitalize on Propel SSP® products in commercial application would result in a significant unrecouped investment and the
failure to realize certain anticipated benefits, each of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
and results of operations.
If our customers delay or fail to pay a significant amount of their outstanding receivables, it could have a material adverse effect
on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our credit procedures and policies may not be adequate to fully eliminate customer credit risk. Our customers may delay or fail to pay
their invoices or may experience financial difficulties, including insolvency. In weak economic environments, we may experience
increased delays or failures due to, among other reasons, a reduction in customers’ cash flow from operations and their access to the
credit markets. We may not be able to collect sums owed customers who file for bankruptcy protection, and also may be required to
refund pre-petition amounts paid during the preference period (typically 90 days) prior to the bankruptcy filing. If our customers
delay or fail to pay a significant amount of their outstanding receivables, it could have a material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
A large portion of our sales is generated by a limited number of customers, and the loss of, or a significant reduction in purchases
by, our largest customers could adversely affect our operations.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 44% of our sales, and our largest
customer accounted for approximately 13% of our sales. These customers may not continue to purchase the same level of our
products in the future due to a variety of reasons. For example, some of our top customers could go out of business or, alternatively,
be acquired by other companies that purchase the same products and services provided by us from other third-party providers. Our
customers could also seek to capture and develop their own sources of minerals they purchase from us.
We have sold product to our largest customers on both a purchase order basis and pursuant to supply agreements. We currently have
supply agreements with certain of our top customers that contain customary termination provisions for bankruptcy related events and
uncured breaches of the applicable agreement. Upon the expiration of our current supply agreements, we may choose to renegotiate
existing contracts on less favorable terms or at reduced volumes in order to preserve relationships with our customers. Upon the
expiration of our current contract terms, we may be unable to renew existing contracts or enter into new contracts on terms favorable
to us, or at all. The demand for our products or prevailing prices at the time our current supply agreements expire may render entry
into new long-term supply agreements difficult or impossible. Any renegotiation of our contracts on less favorable terms, or inability
to enter into new contracts on economically acceptable terms upon the expiration of our current contracts, could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If any of our major customers substantially reduces or altogether ceases purchasing our products and we are not able to generate
replacement sales, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Certain of our contracts contain provisions requiring us to deliver minimum amounts of minerals or purchase minimum amounts
of services. Noncompliance with these contractual obligations may result in fees or termination of the agreement.
In certain instances, we commit to deliver products or purchase services under threat of nonperformance. If we are unable to meet the
minimum contract requirements, the counterparty may be permitted to terminate the agreement or require us to pay a fee. The amount
of the fee may be based on the difference between the minimum amount contracted for and the amount delivered or purchased. In
such events, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
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Our operations are subject to operating risks that are often beyond our control and could adversely affect production levels and
costs, and such risks may not be covered by insurance.
Our mining, processing and production facilities are subject to risks normally encountered by such facilities in the industries in which
we operate. In addition to the risks described elsewhere in this item, these risks include:
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changes in the price and availability of natural gas, propane, fuel oil or electricity;
changes in the costs of producing various products;
cave-ins, pit wall failures, stockpile sloughs or rock falls, particularly in underground mines;
unanticipated ground, grade, sinkhole or water conditions;
industrial accidents, including injuries to key personnel;
physical facility security breaches;
changes in laws and regulations (or the interpretation thereof) or increased public scrutiny related to the mining, drilling,
well completion and hydraulic fracturing industries, silica dust exposure or the environment;
nonperformance of contractual obligations;
restrictions on blasting and mining operations, including potential moratoriums on mining as a result of local activism or
complaints;
inability to obtain necessary production equipment or replacement parts in a timely manner;
labor disputes;
technical difficulties or key equipment failures;
fires, explosions or other accidents;
facility shutdowns in response to environmental regulatory actions;
facility shutdowns or losses due to community restrictions; and
Any of these risks could result in damage to, or destruction of, our mining properties or production facilities, personal injury,
environmental damage, delays in mining or processing, losses or possible legal liability. Any prolonged downtime or shutdowns at
our mining properties or production facilities could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, not all of these risks are
reasonably insurable, and our insurance coverage contains limits, deductibles, exclusions and endorsements. Our insurance coverage
may not be sufficient to meet our needs in the event of loss, and any such loss may have a material adverse effect on Covia.
A significant portion of our volume is generated from our Utica, Kasota, Wedron and Tunnel City production facilities.
Additionally, a significant portion of our energy sales are generated at terminals located in various shale plays. Any adverse
developments at any of these production facilities and terminals or in the industries they serve could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
A significant portion of our volumes are generated from our Utica, Illinois, Kasota, Minnesota, Wedron, Illinois, and Tunnel City,
Wisconsin production facilities. For the year ended December 31, 2018, approximately 50% of our total volumes were shipped from
these facilities. In addition, a significant portion of our energy sales are generated at terminals located in various shale plays. Any
adverse developments at these production facilities and terminals or in the industries these facilities serve, including adverse
developments due to catastrophic events or weather (including floods, windstorms, ice storms or tornadoes), adverse government
regulatory impacts, private actions by residents of the local or surrounding communities, or transportation-related constraints, could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, any adverse development at our production facilities that would cause us to curtail, suspend or terminate operations at the
production facilities could result in being unable to meet contracted deliveries. If we are unable to deliver contracted volumes within
the required time frame, or otherwise arrange for delivery from a third party, we could be required to pay make-whole payments to
customers that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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The manufacture of our products is dependent on the availability of raw materials and feedstocks.
We depend on suppliers for the raw materials and feedstocks necessary to produce many of our products. If we are unable to secure
adequate, cost effective supply commitments for the raw materials and feedstocks associated with our products, our ability to produce
and sell various products at profitable margins may be adversely impacted. Many raw materials and feedstocks are not sold pursuant
to long-term contracts and we cannot guarantee that our suppliers will continue to provide necessary raw materials or feedstocks at
reasonable prices or at all. The loss of key suppliers could have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
Reduced access, lack of or inability to obtain access to water may adversely affect our operations or the operations of our
customers.
The mining and processing activities in which we engage at a number of our facilities require significant amounts of water, and some
of our facilities are located in areas that are water-constrained. Additionally, the development of oil and gas properties through
fracture stimulation likewise requires significant water use. We have obtained water rights that we currently use to service the
activities on various properties, and we plan to obtain all required water rights to service other properties we may develop or acquire
in the future. However, the amount of water that we and our customers are entitled to use pursuant to our water rights must be
determined by the appropriate regulatory authorities in the jurisdictions in which we and our customers operate. Such regulatory
authorities may amend the regulations regarding such water rights, increase the cost of maintaining such water rights or eliminate our
current water rights, and we and our customers may be unable to retain all or a portion of such water rights. These new regulations,
which could also affect local municipalities and other industrial operations, could have a material adverse effect on our operating costs
and effectiveness if implemented. Such changes in laws, regulations or government policy and related interpretations pertaining to
water rights may alter the environment in which we and our customers do business, which may negatively affect our financial
condition and results of operations. Additionally, a water discharge permit may be required to properly dispose of water at our
processing sites. The water discharge permitting process is also subject to regulatory discretion, and any inability to obtain the
necessary permits could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Title to our mineral properties and water rights, and royalties related to our production, may be disputed.
Title to, and the area of, mineral properties and water rights, and royalties related to our production of sand and other minerals, may be
disputed. A successful claim that we lack appropriate mineral and water rights on one or more of our properties could cause us to lose
any rights to explore, develop and operate mines on that property. Any decrease or disruption in our mineral rights may adversely
affect our operations. In some instances, we have received access rights or easements from third parties, which allow for a more
efficient operation than would exist without the access or easement. A third party could take action to suspend the access or easement,
and any such action could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
We do not own the land on which the majority of our terminal facilities are located and in some cases do not own the related
terminal assets and, as a result, we rely on long term leases or access agreements with third parties, including customers, with
respect to certain of our terminal facilities and related assets, the loss or renegotiation which could disrupt our operations.
We do not own the land on which the majority of our terminals are located and instead own leasehold interests and rights-of-way for
the operation of these facilities. Upon expiration, termination or other lapse of our current leasehold terms, we may be unable to
renew our existing leases or rights-of-way on terms favorable to us, or at all. Any renegotiation on less favorable terms or inability to
enter into new leases on economically acceptable terms upon the expiration, termination or other lapse of our current leases or rights-
of-way could cause us to cease operations on the affected land, increase costs related to continuing operations elsewhere and have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, operating a terminal under a lease
can involve escalating costs to us and additional operational difficulties, including with regard to hiring and retaining skilled
personnel.
In addition, with respect to certain terminals, we do not own the terminal assets themselves. With respect to these terminals, we have
negotiated either long term leases with third parties or, in the case of certain customer-owned terminals, exclusive access agreements
to the terminal. Any leases are subject to the risks of renegotiation at less favorable terms or the risk of failure to enter into new leases
on economically acceptable terms. In certain circumstances, the terminals we use are owned by customers and our terminal access
agreements are tied to supply agreements with these customers. In these cases, it is possible that our ability to continue operating
these terminals could be impeded if the customer’s volume needs diverge from our ability to supply those needs and the customer no
longer allows us access to or use of the terminals.
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If we cannot successfully complete acquisitions or integrate acquired businesses, our growth may be limited and our financial
condition may be adversely affected.
One element of our business strategy includes supplementing internal growth by pursuing acquisitions. Any acquisition may involve
potential risks, including, among other things:
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the validity of our assumptions about mineral reserves and future production, sales, capital expenditures, operating
expenses and costs, including synergies;
difficulties and delays in realizing anticipated benefits from the acquired businesses;
an inability to successfully integrate the businesses that are acquired;
the use of a significant portion of our available cash or borrowing capacity to finance acquisitions and the subsequent
decrease in our liquidity;
a significant increase in our interest expense or financial leverage if we incur additional debt to finance acquisitions;
the assumption of unknown liabilities, losses or costs for which we are not indemnified or for which the indemnity we
obtained is inadequate;
the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;
an inability to hire, train or retain qualified personnel both to manage and to operate our growing business and assets;
the incurrence of other significant charges, such as impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, asset devaluation or
restructuring charges;
unforeseen difficulties encountered in operating in new geographic areas;
the loss of customers or key employees at the acquired businesses; and
the accuracy of data obtained from production reports and engineering studies, geophysical and geological analyses, and
other information used when deciding to acquire a property, the results of which are often inconclusive and subject to
various interpretations.
If we cannot successfully complete acquisitions, realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions or integrate acquired businesses,
our growth or financial condition may be adversely affected.
Inaccuracies in our estimates of mineral reserves could result in lower than expected sales and higher than expected costs.
We base our mineral reserve estimates on engineering, economic and geological data assembled and analyzed by our engineers and
geologists, which are reviewed by outside firms. However, estimates of the quantities and qualities of mineral reserves and costs to
mine recoverable reserves are imprecise because they are based on a number of factors and assumptions, all of which may vary
considerably from actual results, such as:
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statistical inferences drawn from available drilling data;
products, operating costs, mining technology improvements, development costs and reclamation costs;
assumptions concerning future effects of regulation, including the issuance of required permits and taxes by governmental
agencies; and
changes in product mix.
Any inaccuracy in our estimates related to our mineral reserves could result in lower than expected sales and higher than expected
costs.
Mine closures entail substantial costs, and if we close one or more of our mines sooner than anticipated, our results of operations
and financial condition may be adversely affected.
We base our assumptions regarding the life of our mines on detailed studies that we perform from time to time, but these studies and
the underlying assumptions are not always accurate. If we close any of our mines sooner than expected, sales will decline unless we
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are able to increase production at other mines, which may not be possible. The closure of a mine also involves significant fixed
closure costs, including accelerated employment legacy costs, severance-related obligations, reclamation and other environmental
costs and the costs of terminating long-term obligations, including energy contracts and equipment leases. We accrue for the costs of
reclaiming open pits, stockpiles, tailings ponds, roads and other mining support areas over the estimated mining life of our property.
If we reduce the estimated life of any of our mines, the fixed mine closure costs would be applied to a shorter period of production,
which would increase production costs per ton produced and could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and
financial condition.
Applicable statutes and regulations require that mining property be reclaimed following a mine closure in accordance with specified
standards and an approved reclamation plan. The reclamation plan must address matters such as removal of facilities and equipment,
regrading, prevention of erosion and other forms of water pollution, re-vegetation and post-mining land use. We may be required to
post a surety bond or other form of financial assurance equal to the cost of reclamation as set forth in the approved reclamation plan.
The establishment of the final mine closure reclamation liability is based on permit requirements and requires various estimates and
assumptions, principally associated with reclamation costs and production levels. If our accruals for expected reclamation and other
costs associated with mine closures for which we will be responsible are determined to be insufficient, our business, results of
operations and financial condition would be adversely affected.
Our production processes consume large amounts of natural gas and electricity. An increase in the price or a significant
interruption in the supply of these or any other significant raw material costs could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition or results of operations.
Energy costs, primarily natural gas and electricity, are among our highest costs of goods sold. Natural gas is the primary fuel source
used for drying sand in the commercial silica production process and, as such, our profitability is impacted by the price and
availability of natural gas we purchase from third parties. 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 our control, such as changes
in supply and demand due to weather conditions, actions by OPEC and other oil and natural gas producers, regional production
patterns and environmental concerns. Furthermore, utility companies could enforce natural gas curtailments that affect our operations.
In addition, potential climate change regulations or carbon or emissions taxes could result in higher production costs for energy, which
may be passed on to us in whole or in part. In the past, the price of natural gas has been extremely volatile, and we expect that this
volatility may continue. For example, during the year ended December 31, 2018, the monthly closing price of natural gas on the New
York Mercantile Exchange ranged from a high of $4.72 per million British Thermal Units (“BTUs”) to a low of $2.64 per million
BTUs. In order to manage the volatility risk, we may hedge natural gas prices through the use of derivative financial instruments,
such as forwards, swaps and futures. However, these measures carry risk (including nonperformance by counterparties) and do not
eliminate the risk of decreased margins as a result of natural gas price increases. A significant increase in the price of energy that is
not recovered through an increase in the price of our products or an extended interruption in the supply of natural gas or electricity to
our production facilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and
prospects.
Increases in the price of diesel fuel may adversely affect our results of operations.
Diesel fuel costs generally fluctuate with increasing and decreasing global crude oil prices and accordingly are subject to political,
economic and market factors that are outside of our control. Our operations are dependent on earthmoving equipment, railcars and
tractor trailers, and diesel fuel costs are a significant component of the operating expense of these vehicles. We use earthmoving
equipment in our mining operations, and we ship the vast majority of our products by either railcar or tractor trailer. To the extent that
we perform these services with equipment that we own, we are responsible for buying and supplying the diesel fuel needed to operate
these vehicles. To the extent that these services are provided by independent contractors, we may be subject to fuel surcharges that
attempt to recoup increased diesel fuel expenses. To the extent that we are unable to pass along increased diesel fuel costs to our
customers, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Phenol is the primary component of the resins we buy, and our resin supply agreements contain market-based pricing provisions
based on the cost of phenol. As a result, we are exposed to fluctuations in the prices for phenol.
A significant increase in the price of phenol that is not recovered through an increase in the price of our resin products could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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A shortage of skilled labor together with rising labor costs in the mining industry may further increase operating costs, which
could adversely affect our results of operations.
Efficient mining using modern techniques and equipment requires skilled laborers, preferably with several years of experience and
proficiency in multiple mining tasks, including processing of mined minerals. If the shortage of experienced labor continues or
worsens or if we are unable to train the necessary number of skilled laborers, there could be an adverse impact on our labor
productivity and costs and our ability to expand production.
Our business may suffer if we lose, or are unable to attract and retain, key personnel.
Our success depends, to a large extent, on the services of our key personnel and on our ability to attract, employ and retain highly-
skilled personnel. Our key employees have extensive experience and expertise in evaluating and analyzing industrial mineral
properties, building new processing facilities, maximizing production from such properties, marketing industrial mineral production,
transportation, distribution and developing and executing financing and hedging strategies, as well as substantial experience and
relationships with participants in the industries that we serve. Competition for management and key personnel is intense, and the pool
of qualified candidates is limited. Further, most of our key employees are not employed pursuant to employment agreements. The
loss of any of our key employees or the failure to attract additional personnel, as needed, could have a material adverse effect on our
operations and could lead to higher labor costs or the use of less-qualified personnel. If any of our key employees join a competitor,
or form a competing company, the company could lose customers, suppliers, know-how and key personnel. We do not maintain key-
man life insurance with respect to any of our employees.
Our profitability could be negatively affected if we fail to maintain satisfactory labor relations.
As of December 31, 2018, approximately 34% of our labor force was covered under 28 union agreements in the U.S., Canada and
Mexico. These agreements are renegotiated when their terms expire. There are three agreements that are due to be renegotiated in
2019 for the U.S. and Canada. The nine agreements in Mexico are renegotiated annually. If we are unable to renegotiate acceptable
collective bargaining agreements with these labor unions in the future, we could experience, among other things, strikes, work
stoppages or other slowdowns by our workers and increased operating costs as a result of higher wages, health care costs or benefits
paid to our employees. An inability to maintain good relations with our workforce could cause a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to maintain effective quality control systems at our mining, processing and production facilities could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operations.
The performance, quality and safety of our products are critical to the success of our business. These factors depend significantly on
the effectiveness of our quality control systems, which, in turn, depends on a number of factors, including the design of our quality
control systems, our quality-training program and our ability to ensure that our employees adhere to the quality control policies and
guidelines. Any significant failure or deterioration of our quality control systems could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and reputation.
Severe weather conditions could have a material adverse impact on our business.
Our business could be materially adversely affected by weather conditions. Severe weather conditions may affect our customers’
operations, thus reducing their need for our products. Weather conditions may impact our operations, resulting in weather-related
damage to facilities and equipment or an inability to deliver equipment, personnel and products to job sites in accordance with
contract schedules. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) has stated that climate change may lead to the
increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Any such interference with our operations could force the company to
delay or curtail services and potentially breach our contractual obligations or result in a loss of productivity and an increase in
operating costs.
In addition, severe winter weather conditions impact our operations by causing us to halt our excavation and wet plant related
production activities at many of our facilities during the winter months. At such facilities, during non-winter months, we excavate
excess sand to build a washed sand stockpile that feeds the dry plant, which continues to operate during the winter months.
Unexpected winter conditions (e.g., if winter conditions arrive earlier or last longer than expected) may result in us not having a
sufficient sand stockpile to supply feedstock for our dry plant during winter months, which could result in us being unable to meet our
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contracted sand deliveries during such time and lead to a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations and reputation.
Our sales and profitability fluctuate on a seasonal basis and are affected by a variety of other factors.
Our sales and profitability are affected by a variety of factors, including actions of competitors, changes in general economic
conditions, weather conditions, variability of demand impacting fixed cost leverage and seasonal periods. As a result, our results of
operations may fluctuate on a quarterly basis and relative to corresponding periods in prior years, and any of these factors could
adversely affect our business and cause our results of operations to decline. For example, we sell more of our products in the second
and third quarters to customers who operate in the Industrial segment due to the seasonal rise in construction driven by more favorable
weather conditions. We sell fewer of our products in the first and fourth quarters due to reduced construction and recreational activity
largely as a result of adverse weather conditions. Any unanticipated decrease in demand for our products during the second and third
quarters could have a material adverse effect on our sales and profitability.
We may be subject to interruptions or failures in our information technology systems. A cyber incident could occur and result in
information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We rely on sophisticated information technology systems and infrastructure to process transactions, summarize our operating results
and manage our business. Our information technology systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer
and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, cyber-attack or other security breaches, catastrophic events, such as fires, floods,
earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, acts of war or terrorism and usage errors by our employees. If our information technology systems
are damaged or cease to function properly, we may have to make a significant investment to fix or replace them, and we may suffer
loss of critical data, interruptions or delays in our operations and become subject to negative publicity. The reliability and capacity of
our information technology systems is critical to our operations and the implementation of our growth initiatives. Any material
disruption in our information technology systems, or delays or difficulties in implementing or integrating new systems or enhancing
current systems, could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our information technologies, systems and networks, and those of our vendors, suppliers and other business partners, may become the
target of cyber-attacks or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse,
loss or destruction of proprietary and other information (including information we collect and retain in connection with our business
about our business partners and employees), or other disruption of business operations, and require us to incur significant expense
(that we may not be able to recover in whole or in part from our service providers or responsible parties, or their or our insurers) to
address and remediate or otherwise resolve. In addition, certain cyber incidents, such as surveillance, may remain undetected for an
extended period. Our systems and insurance coverage for protecting against cyber security risks may not be sufficient. The
unintended and/or unauthorized public disclosure or the misappropriation of proprietary, personal identifying or confidential
information may also lead to litigation or other proceedings against us by affected individuals and/or business partners and/or by
regulators, and the outcome of such proceedings, which could include losses, penalties, fines, injunctions, expenses and charges
recorded against our earnings, could have a material and adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows
and harm our reputation. In addition, the costs of maintaining adequate protection against such threats, based on considerations of their
evolution, increasing sophistication, pervasiveness and frequency and/or increasingly demanding government-mandated standards or
obligations regarding information security and privacy, could be material to our consolidated financial statements in a particular
period or over various periods.
We believe that there is a significant risk that we will be considered a “United States Real Property Holding Corporation” for U.S.
federal income tax purposes.
We believe there is a significant risk that we will be considered a “United States Real Property Holding Corporation” (a “USRPHC”)
within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code.
If we are a USRPHC, a non-U.S. holder may be subject to the FIRPTA Tax (as defined herein) on a future sale or other disposition of
our common stock. For a detailed discussion of the FIRPTA Tax, non-U.S. holders should read the discussion in the section entitled
“Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Transaction” in our Amendment No. 2 to Form S-4 Registration
Statement as filed with the SEC on April 23, 2018 (the “Form S-4”), particularly the section entitled “U.S. Federal Income Taxation
of Holding Combined Company Common Stock – FIRPTA Tax in respect of combined company common stock.”
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Our international operations expose us to risks inherent in doing business abroad.
We conduct business in many parts of the world, including Argentina, Mexico and Canada. Our international operations are subject to
the various laws and regulations of those respective countries as well as various risks peculiar to each country, which may include, but
are not limited to:
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global economic conditions;
political actions and requirements of national governments, including trade restrictions, embargoes, seizure, detention,
nationalization and expropriations of assets;
changes in and interpretation of tax statutes and requirements of taxing authorities worldwide, routine examination by
taxing authorities and assessment of additional taxes, penalties and/or interest;
war, civil unrest, riots and insurrections;
acts of terrorism;
criminal activities, including activities of drug cartels;
the potential for the expropriation and nationalization of mines and other assets;
devaluations and other fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
the impact of inflation;
changes in trade agreements, tariffs and other trade protection measures;
restrictions on foreign investments;
limitations on our ability to enforce legal rights and remedies;
difficulty in repatriating foreign currency received in excess of the local currency requirements; and
weak intellectual property protection.
We are currently subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (“FCPA”) and other antibribery legislation and regulations
applicable in other countries. Our ability to comply with the FCPA and other anti-bribery legislation is dependent on the success of
our ongoing compliance program, including our ability to continue to manage agents and business partners, and supervise, train and
retain competent employees. We could be subject to sanctions and civil and criminal prosecution as well as fines and penalties in the
event of a finding of a violation of the FCPA by us or any of our employees.
A terrorist attack or armed conflict could harm our business.
Terrorist activities, anti-terrorist efforts and other armed conflicts involving the U.S. or other countries in which we operate could
adversely affect the U.S. and global economies and could prevent us from meeting financial and other obligations. We could
experience loss of business, delays or defaults in payments from payors or disruptions of fuel supplies and markets if pipelines,
production facilities, processing facilities or refineries are direct targets or indirect casualties of an act of terror or war. Such activities
could reduce the overall demand for oil and gas, which, in turn, could also reduce the demand for our products and services. Terrorist
activities and the threat of potential terrorist activities and any resulting economic downturn could adversely affect our results of
operations, impair our ability to raise capital or otherwise adversely impact our ability to realize certain business strategies.
We may incur substantial product liability exposure due to the use or misuse of our products, and product liability insurance may
be insufficient to cover claims against us.
Our business exposes us to potential liability risks as a result of the use or misuse of our products. We may face liability to
distributors and customers and could also face substantial liability for damages if the ultimate end use of our products causes harm to
consumers and other users. Any such failures or defects could affect our relationships with distributors and customers, harm our
reputation in the market and have an adverse effect on our business. In addition, if any judgments or liabilities are material in size, we
may be unable to satisfy such liabilities. It is possible that widespread product liability claims could increase our costs and adversely
affect revenues and operating income. Moreover, liability claims arising from a serious adverse event may increase our costs through
higher insurance premiums and deductibles and may make it more difficult to secure adequate insurance coverage in the future. In
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addition, our product liability insurance may fail to cover future product liability claims, thereby requiring us to pay substantial
monetary damages and adversely affecting our business.
The increasing cost of employee healthcare may have an adverse effect on our profitability.
The cost of providing healthcare coverage for employees is becoming an increasingly significant operating cost for many companies.
If healthcare costs continue to increase at a rapid pace, we may not pass on these costs to employees. Therefore, if we are unable to
offset rising healthcare costs through improved operating efficiencies and reduced expenditures, the increased costs of employee
healthcare may have an adverse effect on our profitability and operating results.
Risks Related to Environmental, Mining, and Other Regulation
We and our customers are subject to extensive environmental and health and safety regulations that impose, and will continue to
impose, significant costs and liabilities. In addition, future regulations, or more stringent enforcement of existing regulations,
could increase those costs and liabilities, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to a variety of federal, state, provincial and local environmental laws and regulations applicable to the mining and
mineral processing industry, including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to employee health and safety, environmental
permitting and licensing, air and water emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, waste management, remediation of soil
and groundwater contamination, land use, reclamation and restoration of properties, hazardous materials and natural resources. Some
environmental laws impose substantial penalties for noncompliance, and others, such as the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA” or the “Superfund Law”), impose strict, retroactive and joint and several
liability for the remediation of releases of hazardous substances. Liability under CERCLA, or similar state, provincial and local laws
in the jurisdictions where we operate, may be imposed as a result of conduct that was lawful at the time it occurred or for the conduct
of, or conditions caused by, prior operators or other third parties. Failure to properly handle, transport, store or dispose of hazardous
materials or otherwise conduct operations in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations could expose us to
liability for governmental penalties, cleanup costs and civil or criminal liability associated with releases of such materials into the
environment, damages to property or natural resources and other damages, as well as potentially impair our ability to conduct our
operations. In addition, future environmental laws and regulations could restrict our ability to expand our facilities or extract mineral
reserves or could require us to modify operations, acquire costly equipment or incur other significant expenses in connection with our
business. Future events, including changes in any environmental laws or regulations (or their interpretation or enforcement) and the
costs associated with complying with such requirements, could have a material adverse effect on us.
Our failure to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations may cause governmental authorities to take actions that
could adversely impact our operations and financial condition, including:
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issuance of administrative, civil and criminal penalties;
denial, modification or revocation of permits or other authorizations;
imposition of injunctive obligations or other limitations on our operations, including cessation of operations; and
requirements to perform site investigatory, remedial or other corrective actions.
Moreover, environmental requirements, and the interpretation and enforcement thereof, change frequently and have tended to become
more stringent over time. For example, greenhouse gas emission regulation is becoming more rigorous. We are currently subject to
greenhouse gas reporting obligations with respect to operations in Calera, Alabama and expect to be required to report annual
greenhouse gas emissions from operations at other facilities to the EPA, and additional greenhouse gas emission related requirements
at the supranational, federal, state, regional, provincial and local levels are in various stages of development. In addition, we are
required to annually calculate greenhouse gas emissions for operations in Nephton, Ontario and St. Canut, Quebec in Canada and
Canoitas and Jaltiplan in Mexico. The U.S. Congress has considered, and may adopt in the future, various legislative proposals to
address climate change, including a nationwide limit on greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the EPA has issued regulations,
including the “Tailoring Rule,” that subject greenhouse gas emissions from certain stationary sources to the Prevention of Significant
Deterioration and Title V provisions of the federal Clean Air Act. Any such regulations in the U.S., Canada or Mexico could require
us to modify existing permits or obtain new permits, implement additional pollution control technology, curtail operations or
significantly increase operating costs. Any regulation of greenhouse gas emissions, including, for example, through a cap-and trade
system, technology mandate, emissions tax, reporting requirement or other program, could adversely affect our business, financial
condition, reputation, operating performance and product demand.
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We may not be able to comply with any new laws and regulations that are adopted, and any new laws and regulations could have a
material adverse effect on our operating results by requiring us to modify our operations or equipment or shut down some or all of our
facilities. Additionally, our customers may not be able to comply with any new laws and regulations, and any new laws and
regulations could have a material adverse effect on our customers by requiring them to shut down old facilities or to relocate facilities
to locations with less stringent regulations farther away from our facilities. We cannot, at this time, reasonably estimate our costs of
compliance or the timing of any costs associated with any new laws and regulations or any material adverse effect that any new
standards will have on our customers and, consequently, on our operations.
We are subject to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and other laws
and regulations which impose stringent health and safety standards on numerous aspects of our operations.
Our operations are subject to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended by the Mine Improvement and New
Emergency Response Act of 2006, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. These statutes and the regulations adopted
pursuant thereto impose stringent health and safety standards on numerous aspects of mineral extraction and processing operations,
including the training of personnel, operating procedures, operating equipment and other matters. We are subject to laws and
regulations relating to human exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Several federal and state regulatory authorities, including the
U.S. Mining Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) and OSHA, may continue to propose changes in their regulations regarding
workplace exposure to respirable crystalline silica, such as permissible exposure limits and required controls and personal protective
equipment. For example, in June 2016, OSHA adopted regulations that reduced permissible exposure limits to 50 micrograms of
respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour day. Both the North American Industrial Minerals
Association and the National Industrial Sand Association track silicosis related issues and work with government policymakers in
crafting such regulations. Our failure to comply with such laws, regulations and standards, or changes in such laws, regulations and
standards or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations or otherwise impose significant restrictions on our ability to conduct mineral extraction and processing
operations.
Silica-related health issues and litigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation or results of operations.
The inhalation of respirable crystalline silica can lead to the lung disease silicosis. There is evidence of an association between
respirable silica exposure and lung cancer as well as a possible association with other diseases, including immune system disorders
such as scleroderma. These health risks have been, and may continue to be, a significant issue confronting the silica industry.
Concerns over silicosis and other potential adverse health effects, as well as concerns regarding potential liability from the use of
silica, may have the effect of discouraging our customers’ use of silica products. The actual or perceived health risks of mining,
processing and handling silica could materially and adversely affect silica producers, including us, through reduced use of silica
products, the threat of product liability or employee lawsuits, increased scrutiny by federal, state and local regulatory authorities of us
and our customers, or reduced financing sources available to the silica industry.
We and/or our predecessors have been named as a defendant, usually among many defendants, in numerous products liability lawsuits
alleging damages caused by silica exposure, mostly brought by or on behalf of current or former employees of their customers. As of
December 31, 2018, there were 76 active silica-related products liability claims pending in which we are a defendant. During the year
ended December 31, 2018, 13 plaintiffs’ claims against us were dismissed. Many of the claims pending against us arise out of the
alleged use of silica products in foundries or as an abrasive blast media and have been filed in the states of Ohio and Mississippi,
although cases have been brought in many other jurisdictions over the years. In accordance with our insurance obligations, these
claims are being defended by our subsidiaries’ insurance carriers, subject to our payment of a percentage of the defense costs. We
cannot predict with certainty the outcomes of these legal proceedings and other contingencies, and the costs incurred in litigation can
be substantial, regardless of the outcome. Substantial unanticipated verdicts, fines and rulings do sometimes occur. As a result, we
could from time to time incur judgments, enter into settlements or revise our expectations regarding the outcome of certain matters,
and such developments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the period in which the amounts are
accrued and/or our cash flows in the period in which the amounts are paid.
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Federal, state and local legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing and the potential for related litigation
could result in increased costs and additional operating restrictions or delays for our customers, which could cause a decline in the
demand for sand-based proppants and negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
A significant portion of our business supplies frac sand to hydraulic fracturing operators in the oil and natural gas industry. Although
we do not directly engage in hydraulic fracturing activities, our customers purchase frac sand from us for use in their hydraulic
fracturing operations. Hydraulic fracturing is a widely used industry production technique that is used to recover natural gas and/or oil
from dense subsurface rock formations. The process involves the injection of water, sand and chemicals, under pressure, into the
formation to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production.
The hydraulic fracturing process has historically been regulated by state or local governmental authorities. However, the practice of
hydraulic fracturing has become controversial in some areas and is undergoing increased scrutiny. Several federal agencies,
regulatory authorities and legislative entities are investigating the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing and whether
additional regulation may be necessary. The EPA has asserted limited federal regulatory authority over hydraulic fracturing and has
indicated it may seek to further expand its regulation of hydraulic fracturing. The Bureau of Land Management has proposed
regulations applicable to hydraulic fracturing conducted on federal and Indian oil and gas leases. The U.S. Congress has from time to
time considered the adoption of legislation to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing.
In addition, various state, local and foreign governments have implemented, or are considering, increased regulatory oversight of
hydraulic fracturing through additional permitting requirements, operational restrictions, disclosure requirements and temporary or
permanent bans on hydraulic fracturing in certain areas such as environmentally sensitive watersheds. For example, Vermont and
New York banned hydraulic fracturing in 2012 and 2015, respectively. A number of local municipalities across the U.S. have
instituted measures temporarily or permanently banning or otherwise limiting or delaying hydraulic fracturing in their jurisdictions.
Such moratoriums and bans could make it more difficult to conduct hydraulic fracturing operations and increase our customers’ cost
of doing business, which could negatively impact demand for our frac sand products. In addition, new OSHA rules regulating certain
aspects of the use of silica in the hydraulic fracturing industry and becoming effective in 2021 will increase costs for companies in the
hydraulic fracturing industry by compelling them to meet the same standards for employees that we currently satisfy. A number of
states, including the major oil and gas producing states of North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia,
have also enacted legislation or issued regulations that impose various disclosure requirements on hydraulic fracturing operators. The
availability of information regarding the constituents of hydraulic fracturing fluids could make it easier for third parties opposing the
hydraulic fracturing process to initiate individual or class action legal proceedings based on allegations that specific chemicals used in
the hydraulic fracturing process could adversely affect groundwater and drinking water supplies or otherwise cause harm to human
health or the environment. Moreover, disclosure to third parties or to the public, even if inadvertent, of our customers’ proprietary
chemical formulas could diminish the value of those formulas and result in competitive harm to such customers, which could
indirectly impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Although we do not conduct hydraulic fracturing, the adoption of new laws or regulations at the federal, state, local or foreign levels
imposing reporting obligations on, or otherwise limiting or delaying, the hydraulic fracturing process could make it more difficult to
complete oil and natural gas wells, increase our customers’ costs of compliance and doing business and otherwise adversely affect the
hydraulic fracturing services they perform, which could negatively impact demand for our sand-based proppants. In addition,
heightened political, regulatory and public scrutiny of hydraulic fracturing practices, including nuisance lawsuits, could expose us or
our customers to increased legal and regulatory proceedings, which could be time-consuming, costly or result in substantial legal
liability or significant reputational harm. We could be directly affected by adverse litigation involving the company or indirectly
affected if the cost of compliance limits the ability of its customers to operate. Such costs and scrutiny could directly or indirectly,
through reduced demand for our sand-based proppants, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
We and our customers are subject to other extensive regulations, including licensing, plant and wildlife protection and reclamation
regulations that impose, and will continue to impose, significant costs and liabilities. In addition, future regulations, or more
stringent enforcement of existing regulations, could increase those costs and liabilities, which could adversely affect our results of
operations.
In addition to the regulatory matters described above, we and our customers are subject to extensive governmental regulation on
matters such as permitting and licensing requirements, plant and wildlife protection, wetlands protection, reclamation and restoration
of mining properties after mining is completed. Our future success depends, among other things, on the quantity of our mineral
reserves and our ability to extract these reserves profitably and customers being able to operate their businesses as they currently do.
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In order to obtain permits and renewals of permits in the future, we may be required to prepare and present data to governmental
authorities pertaining to the impact that any proposed exploration or production activities, individually or in the aggregate, may have
on the environment. Certain approval procedures may require preparation of archaeological surveys, endangered species studies and
other studies to assess the environmental impact of new sites or the expansion of existing sites. Compliance with these regulatory
requirements is expensive and significantly lengthens the time needed to develop a site. Finally, obtaining or renewing required
permits is sometimes delayed or prevented due to community opposition, including nuisance lawsuits, and other factors beyond our
control. The denial of a permit essential to our operations or the imposition of conditions with which it is not practicable or feasible to
comply could impair or prevent our ability to develop or expand a site. New legal requirements, including those related to the
protection of the environment, or the identification of certain species as “threatened” or “endangered” could be adopted that could
materially adversely affect our mining operations (including our ability to extract mineral reserves), our cost structure or our
customers’ ability to use sand-based proppants. Such current or future regulations could have a material adverse effect on our
business and we may not be able to obtain or renew permits in the future.
Our inability to acquire, maintain or renew financial assurances related to the reclamation and restoration of mining property
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are generally obligated to restore property in accordance with regulatory standards and our approved reclamation plan after it has
been mined. We are required under federal, state and local laws to maintain financial assurances, such as surety bonds, to secure such
obligations. The inability to acquire, maintain or renew such assurances, as required by federal, state and local laws, could subject
Covia to fines and penalties as well as the revocation of operating permits. Such inability could result from a variety of factors,
including:
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the lack of availability, higher expense or unreasonable terms of such financial assurances;
the ability of current and future financial assurance counterparties to increase required collateral; and
the exercise by financial assurance counterparties of any rights to refuse to renew the financial assurance instruments.
Our inability to acquire, maintain or renew necessary financial assurances related to the reclamation and restoration of mining
property could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Indebtedness
Our substantial indebtedness and pension obligations could adversely affect our financial flexibility and competitive position.
In connection with the Merger, we completed a debt refinancing transaction, with Barclays Bank PLC as administrative agent, by
entering into the Term Loan”) the Revolver. The proceeds of the Term Loan were used to repay the indebtedness of Unimin and
Fairmount Santrol and to pay the cash portion of the Merger consideration and expenses related to the Merger. As of December 31,
2018, we had approximately $1.64 billion outstanding on the Term Loan and $188.3 million of borrowing capacity on the Revolver.
See Note 11 in our consolidated financial statements included in this Report for further detail.
We also have significant pension obligations. As of December 31, 2018, the underfunded amount of our pension plans was
approximately $41.5 million. We also contribute to several multi-employer pension plans based on obligations arising under
collective bargaining agreements with unions representing employees covered by those agreements. Approximately 7% of our current
U.S. employees participate in such multiemployer plans. In 2018, our total contributions to our pension plans were approximately
$11.5 million. Fairmount Santrol previously participated in a multiemployer defined benefit pension plan. Fairmount Santrol
withdrew from the plan in October 2015 and recorded a liability of approximately $9.3 million as of December 31, 2016, which is
payable in annual installments until November 2035, and has a net present value of $4.4 million at December 31, 2018.
Our indebtedness and pension obligations could have important consequences and significant effects on our business. For example, it
could:
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increase our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions;
require us to dedicate a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to making payments on our indebtedness and
pension obligations, thereby reducing the availability of cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other
general corporate purposes;
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industries in which we operate;
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restrict us from exploiting business opportunities;
make it more difficult to satisfy our financial obligations, including payments on our indebtedness;
place us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt and fewer pension obligations; and
limit our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, capital expenditures, railcar or other future purchase
commitments, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy or other general corporate
purposes.
In addition, we have exposure to increases in interest rates under our debt, which will accrue interest at variable rates. As a result of
this variable interest rate debt, our financial condition could be adversely affected by increases in interest rates.
The agreements governing our indebtedness contain covenants and substantial restrictions that may restrict our business and
financing activities.
The agreements that govern our indebtedness contain, and any future financing agreements we may enter into will likely contain,
operating and financial restrictions and covenants that may restrict our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage
in, expand or pursue business activities. These covenants include, among other things, limitations on the incurrence of indebtedness,
the incurrence of liens, investments, asset sales, affiliate transactions, repurchases of equity securities, the declaration and payment of
dividends, and mergers, consolidations and other fundamental transactions. In addition, the Revolver includes a total net debt
covenant, to be tested on a quarterly basis, of no more than 4.0:1:0.
Our ability to comply with these restrictions and covenants is uncertain and will be affected by the levels of cash flow from operations
and events or circumstances beyond our control. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, our ability to comply with these
covenants may be impaired. If we violate any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests the debt agreements, a significant portion of
our indebtedness may become immediately due and payable and the lenders’ commitment to make further loans to us may terminate.
We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. Even if we could obtain alternative
financing, that financing may not be on terms that are favorable or acceptable to us. In addition, our obligations under the agreements
governing our indebtedness will be secured by substantially all of our assets, and if we are unable to repay our indebtedness under
these agreements, the lenders could seek to foreclose on our assets and could initiate a bankruptcy proceeding or liquidation
proceeding against the collateral.
Changes in the method by which LIBOR rates are determined could impact our interest payments for loans under our Term Loan
and our Revolver.
Actions by the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration (“ICE”), regulators or law enforcement agencies may result in
changes to the manner in which London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) is determined or the establishment of alternative reference
rates. For example, on July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced that it will no longer compel or
persuade banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. The FCA announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current
basis is not guaranteed after 2021. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of any such changes, any establishment of
alternative reference rates or any other reforms to LIBOR that may be enacted in the United Kingdom, the U.S., or elsewhere. Any
changes announced by the ICE, the FCA, other regulators or any other successor governance or oversight body, or future changes
adopted by such body, in the method pursuant to which the LIBOR rates are determined may result in a sudden or prolonged increase
or decrease in the reported LIBOR rates. Loans under our Term Loan and Revolver bear interest at either LIBOR or a base rate, at the
borrower’s election, plus a spread determined by our leverage ratio. If a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in the reported
LIBOR rates were to occur, the level of interest payments for loans under our Term Loan or Revolver may be affected.
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We may need to incur substantial additional debt in the future in order to maintain or increase production levels and to otherwise
pursue our business plan. We may not be able to borrow funds successfully or, if we can, this debt may impair our ability to
operate our business.
A significant amount of capital expenditures will be required to grow our production capacity. If prices for the products we produce
decline for an extended period of time, the costs of acquisition and development opportunities increase substantially or other events
occur which reduce our sales or increase our costs, we may be required to borrow in the future to enable us to finance anticipated
capital expenditures and other growth opportunities. The cost of the borrowings and our obligations to repay the borrowings could
have important consequences because:
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our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other
purposes may be impaired or such financing may not be available on favorable terms, or at all;
covenants contained in our existing and future credit and debt arrangements may require us to meet financial tests that
may affect flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in business, including possible acquisition opportunities;
we will need to dedicate a substantial portion of cash flow to make principal and interest payments on indebtedness,
reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for operations and future business opportunities; and
our debt level makes us more vulnerable than less leveraged competitors to competitive pressures or a downturn in
business or the economy generally.
Our ability to service our indebtedness will depend on, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will
be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our
control. If our operating results are not sufficient to generate cash flows in order to service current or future indebtedness, we would
be forced to take actions such as reducing or delaying business activities, acquisitions, investments and/or capital expenditures, selling
assets, restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness or seeking additional equity capital or bankruptcy protection. We may not be
able to effect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms or at all.
Risks Related to the Merger
We will incur substantial transaction fees and costs in connection with the Merger and the integration of businesses.
We have incurred material non-recurring expenses in connection with the Merger. We many incur additional unanticipated costs in
integrating the businesses of Unimin and Fairmount Santrol. We cannot be certain that the elimination of duplicative costs or the
realization of other efficiencies related to the integration of the two businesses will offset the transaction and coordination costs in the
near term or at all.
There are a large number of processes, policies, procedures, operations, technologies and systems that are being integrated in
connection with the Merger. While we have assumed that a certain level of expenses would be incurred in connection with the
Merger, there are many factors beyond our control that could affect the total amount of, or the timing of, anticipated expenses with
respect to the integration and implementation of the combined businesses.
There may also be additional unanticipated significant costs in connection with the Merger that we may not recoup. These costs and
expenses could reduce the benefits and additional income we expect to achieve from the Merger. Although we expect that the benefits
of the Merger will offset the transaction expenses and integration costs over time, no assurance can be given that any benefits will be
achieved in the near term, if at all.
We may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger.
The success of the Merger depends on, among other things, our ability to combine the Unimin and Fairmount Santrol businesses in a
manner that realizes anticipated synergies and meets or exceeds the projected stand-alone cost savings and revenue growth trends
anticipated by each company. We expect to benefit from significant synergies, including integrating and optimizing supply chains in
order to reduce logistics costs, improve mine yields, decrease cycle times of the combined rail fleet and optimize our footprint. In the
longer term, we will evaluate applying Fairmount Santrol’s coating technologies to other minerals and applications in industries we
serve, advancing our collective dust control technologies, growing Fairmount Santrol’s blending businesses across Unimin’s assets
and geographies and leveraging the best operational and commercial excellence programs. If we are not able to successfully achieve
35
these objectives, or the cost to achieve these synergies is greater than expected, then the anticipated benefits of the Merger may not be
realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected.
If we are not able to realize the anticipated savings and synergies in a timely manner without adversely affecting current revenues and
investments in future growth, the anticipated benefits of the Merger may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize
than expected. A variety of factors may adversely affect our ability to realize the currently expected operating synergies, savings and
other benefits of the Merger, including failing to successfully optimize our facilities footprint, take advantage of our supply chain,
identify and eliminate duplicative programs and otherwise integrate Fairmount Santrol’s and Unimin’s respective businesses.
As a result of the Merger, branding or rebranding initiatives may involve substantial costs and may not be favorably received by
customers.
We may incur substantial costs in rebranding our products and services, and we may not be able to achieve or maintain brand name
recognition or status under the Covia brand that is comparable to the recognition and status previously enjoyed by Unimin and
Fairmount Santrol separately. The failure of any such rebranding initiative could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain
customers, which could cause us not to realize some or all of the expected benefits of the Merger.
An impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We recorded goodwill as a result of the Merger, and other intangible assets were recorded as a result of the purchase price allocation
performed in connection with the Merger. Under U.S. GAAP, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized
but are tested for impairment annually, or more often if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been
incurred. Other intangible assets with a finite life are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and reviewed
for impairment whenever there is an indication of impairment. Impairment charges may be incurred in the future, which could be
significant and which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Investing in and Ownership of Our Common Stock
Future sales or issuances of our common stock, including sales by Sibelco, could have a negative impact on our common stock
price.
Sibelco owns, directly or indirectly, approximately 66% of our common stock. Sales of our common stock by Sibelco or the
perception that sales may be made by Sibelco could significantly reduce the market price of our common stock. In addition, even if
Sibelco does not sell a large number of shares of our common stock into the market, its right to transfer such shares may depress the
stock price of our common stock.
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Registration Rights Agreement, Sibelco is entitled to registration rights with respect to the
shares of our common stock it owns. These registration rights include the right to demand that its shares be registered, the right to
choose the method by which its shares of common stock are distributed, a choice as to the underwriter and registration rights in
conjunction with other registered offerings by us. Expenses incident to our performance of or compliance with a demand registration
made by Sibelco will be borne by us. If Sibelco exercises its registration rights, the market price of shares of our common stock may
be adversely affected.
Additionally, Sibelco is party to the Stockholders Agreement that was effective upon the closing of the Merger by and among Sibelco,
Unimin and the other stockholders named therein (“Stockholders Agreement”) pursuant to which Sibelco is subject to certain transfer
restrictions. In particular, for three years following the effective time, Sibelco will not, and will cause its controlled affiliates not to,
transfer or agree to transfer any of our common stock or other shares of capital stock to any person (other than an affiliate of Sibelco)
or group if such person or group would, following such transfer, beneficially own in excess of (i) 15% of the voting power of the
outstanding shares of our voting stock or (ii) 50% of the voting power of our outstanding shares of voting stock, unless such person
agrees to make an offer to purchase all shares of our common stock held by our stockholders for the same consideration and on
substantially the same terms and conditions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sibelco can transfer shares of our common stock at any time (i) to any wholly owned affiliate of
Sibelco who signs a joinder to the Stockholders Agreement, (ii) pursuant to a public offering of shares of our common stock
(including pursuant to spin-off or split-off transactions or related actions involving a person holding Sibelco’s interest in us) or (iii) in
connection with a change of control of Sibelco. A change of control of Sibelco means (i) the acquisition by any other person, directly
36
or indirectly, of record or beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the total voting securities of Sibelco, (ii) the acquisition by any
other person of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of Sibelco or (iii) the acquisition by any other person of the ability to
vote or direct the voting securities of Sibelco for the election of a majority of Sibelco’s directors.
Sibelco will exercise significant influence over us, and its interests in us may be different than yours.
Sibelco beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, approximately 66% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. In addition,
pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, Sibelco has certain preemptive rights pursuant to which it will be able to purchase its pro rata
portion of any new securities that we may, from time to time, propose to issue or sell to any person, with certain exceptions.
Accordingly, subject to applicable law and the limitations set forth in our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Stockholders
Agreement, Sibelco is able to exercise significant influence over our business policies and affairs, including any action requiring the
approval of our stockholders, including the adoption of amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the approval of
a merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
Subject to the limitations included in our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Stockholders Agreement, the directors nominated
by Unimin in connection with the Merger will have significant authority to effect decisions affecting our capital structure, including
the issuance of additional capital stock, the incurrence of additional indebtedness, the implementation of stock repurchase programs
and the decision of whether or not to declare dividends. In addition, we entered into a Contribution Agreement, Tax Matters
Agreement, Distribution Agreements, Agency Agreements and Non-Compete Agreement with Sibelco, which are discussed in the
section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions – Relationship with Sibelco” in the Form S-4.
The interests of Sibelco may conflict with the interests of our other stockholders. For example, Sibelco may support certain long-term
strategies or objectives for us that may not be accretive to our stockholders in the short term. The concentration of ownership may
also delay, defer or even prevent a change in control of us, even if such a change in control would benefit our other stockholders, and
may make some transactions more difficult or impossible without the support of Sibelco. This significant concentration of share
ownership may adversely affect the trading price for our common stock because investors may perceive disadvantages in owning
stock in companies with stockholders who own significant percentages of a company’s outstanding stock. In addition, sales by
Sibelco of shares of our common stock in the market, or the perception that Sibelco might sell shares in the market, or the fact that a
large portion of our common stock is not part of the public float, could have an adverse effect on the trading market for our common
stock.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE and, as a result, qualify for, and may rely on,
exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
In addition to the consequences of the concentration of share ownership and possible conflicts between the interests of Sibelco and
your interests discussed above, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE. Under these rules, a
company in which over 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, a group or another company is a “controlled company” and
is not required to have:
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
a majority of its board of directors be independent directors;
a nominating/corporate governance committee or a compensation committee, or to have such committees be composed
entirely of independent directors; and
the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for
determination, either by a compensation committee comprised of independent directors or by a majority of the
independent directors on the board of directors.
We may rely on certain of these exemptions. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of
companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE without regard to the exemptions available for
“controlled companies,” and our status as a “controlled company” may adversely affect the trading price for our common stock.
37
We currently do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock, and our debt agreements place certain restrictions on our
ability to do so. Consequently, unless there is a change to our dividend policy, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your
investment is if the price of our common stock appreciates.
We do not plan to declare dividends on shares of our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any determination to pay dividends
will be at the discretion of our Board and will be dependent on then-existing conditions, including our financial condition, earnings,
legal requirements, including limitations under Delaware law, restrictions in our debt agreements that limit our ability to pay dividends
to stockholders and other factors our Board deems relevant. If our Board decides to declare dividends in the future, it may, in its sole
discretion, change the amount or frequency of dividends or discontinue the payment of dividends entirely. For these reasons, you will
not be able to rely on dividends to receive a return on your investment. Accordingly, realization of a gain on your shares of our
common stock will likely depend solely on the appreciation of the price of our common stock, which may never occur.
Our certificate of incorporation contains a provision renouncing our interest and expectancy in certain corporate opportunities.
Our certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we renounce any interest or expectancy
we may have in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business opportunities that are from time to time presented to
Sibelco or any of Sibelco’s officers, directors, agents, members, affiliates and subsidiaries (other than us) (each, a “Specified Party”),
or business opportunities in which a Specified Party participates or desires to participate, even if the opportunity is one that we might
reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. In addition, each such
Specified Party has no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to us and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, will
not be liable to us or any of our stockholders for a breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or controlling
stockholder or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Specified Party pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such
business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business
opportunity, to us.
As a result of this provision, any of our directors who also serves as a director, officer or employee of Sibelco or any of Sibelco’s
subsidiaries or affiliates may pursue certain acquisitions or other opportunities that may be complementary to our business and, as a
result, such acquisition or other opportunities may not be available to us. These potential conflicts of interest could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations if attractive corporate opportunities are allocated by
Sibelco to itself or its subsidiaries or affiliates instead of us.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as Delaware law, contain provisions that could discourage acquisition bids or
merger proposals, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may delay or discourage transactions involving an actual or
potential change in control or a change in management, including transactions in which our stockholders might otherwise receive a
premium for their shares or transactions that our stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests. Therefore, these
provisions could adversely affect the price of our common stock. Among other things, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws:
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
permit our Board to issue up to 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with any rights, preferences and privileges as it may
designate (including preferences over our common stock);
provide that, except as otherwise provided in the Stockholders Agreement, the authorized number of directors may be
changed only by resolution adopted by a majority of our Board, subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred
stock;
provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise provided in the Stockholders
Agreement or required by law and subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock as designated from time to time, be filled
by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum;
38
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
require that any action to be taken by our stockholders following the Trigger Date (as defined therein) must be effected at a
duly called annual or special meeting of our stockholders and not be taken by written consent;
provide that any of our stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of our stockholders or to nominate
candidates for election as directors at a meeting of our stockholders must provide notice in writing in a timely manner and
also specify requirements as to the form and content of such stockholder’s notice;
provide that special meetings of our stockholders following the Trigger Date may be called only by our Board pursuant to a
resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors that we would have if there were no vacancies;
provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain legal
proceedings; and
provide that our Board always has the power to make, rescind, alter, amend and repeal our bylaws and that, following the
Trigger Date, the bylaws may be adopted, altered, amended or repealed by the holders of our common stock only upon the
approval of at least 662/3% of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of our common stock.
Additionally, Delaware General Corporation Law provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulative votes in the
election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our certificate of incorporation does not
provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
39
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our Reserves
We control one of the largest bases of industrial mineral reserves in North America. From our reserves, we are able to produce a
broad range of specialized silica sand, micro crystalline silica, feldspar, nepheline syenite, calcium carbonate, clay, kaolin, lime and
limestone for use by our Energy segment and Industrial segment customers in North America and around the world.
According to SEC Industry Guide 7, reserves are defined as that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally
extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination. Reserves are categorized into proven (measured) reserves and probable
(indicated) reserves, which are defined as follows:
(cid:120) Proven (measured) reserves. Reserves for which (i) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches,
workings or drill holes; grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling and (ii) the sites for
inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape,
depth and mineral content of reserves are well-established.
(cid:120) Probable (indicated) reserves. Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar
to that used for proven (measured) reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are farther apart or are
otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven (measured) reserves, is high
enough to assume continuity between points of observation.
Our reserves meet the definition of proven or probable reserves in accordance with SEC Industry Guide 7. We estimate that we have
approximately 1.7 billion tons of proven or probable recoverable mineral reserves as of December 31, 2018. Mineral reserve
estimated quantities and characteristics at our properties are overseen by our internal geologists and engineers and validated by an
independent third party consulting company, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
We assesses the economic viability of our minerals reserves for each operation primarily by evaluating the following key criteria for
mining feasibility: estimate of saleable quality reserves; percent recovery following processing; overburden stripping and other
operational costs and annual production volumes. These factors are considered in preparation of a mine plan that ultimately estimates
the tons of product to be sold per year and the estimated life of the mine. Historical mineral prices are considered in the context of
market supply and demand dynamics to further assess the long term economic viability of the mineral reserve assets. The underlying
FOB mining facilities considered a range of average sales price assumptions to estimate proven and probable reserves in accordance
with the Commission’s definitions, which were $30 to $40 for our Energy segment and $25 to $40 for our Industrial segment. The
reserve estimates are updated annually based on sales, changes to reserve boundaries, new physical or chemical information on the
reserve deposit or overburden, changes in the mine plan, changes in customer demand, current pricing forecasts and other business
strategies.
Summary of Reserves
The following table provides information on each of our mining facilities with mineral reserves. Included is the location and area of
the facility; the type, amount and ownership status of the location’s reserves and whether or not they meet API standards; the primary
minerals produced; and the primary industries served:
40
1,306 L
583 O
62 L
2,075 O
7,769 L
169 O
1,969 L
2,495 O
1,367 L
7,748 M
377 O
423 M
937 O
173 L
3,835 O
348 L
32 M
1,481 O
302 L
10 O
81 L
851 L
3,791 O
3,313 L
1,811 L
842 O
1,002 L
2,107 O
363 L
587 O
1,310 L
215 M
10 O
363 L
805 O
Non-API
API
Non-API
Non-API
Non-API
Non-API
Non-API
Non-API
Non-API
API
API
Non-API
API
Non-API
Non-API
API
API
606 O
856 O
2,841 O
320 L
102 O
382 L
402 O
2,243 L
2,171 O
345 L
2,888 O
2,511 O
API
API
API
Non-API
Non-API
Non-API
API
Non-API
API
API
Mine/Facility(1)
U.S. Operations
Camden
Chardon
Cleburne
Crane
Dividing Creek
Elco
Emmett
Gore
Guion
Hephzibah
Huntingburg
Junction City
Kasota
Kermit
Lugoff
Maiden Rock
Marston
McIntyre
Menomonie
Oregon
Ottawa
Pevely
Portage
Roff
Seiling
Southern
Troup
Tunnel City
Tuscaloosa
Utica
Wedron
Canada Operations
Nephton/Blue
Mountain
Saint Canut
Mexico Operations
Ahuazotepec
Canoitas
Jaltipan
San Juan
Inactive Operations
Acres(A)
API
Designation(B)
Proven
Reserves(2)
Probable
Reserves(2)
Proven &
Probable
Reserves(2)
Estimated
Recovery
Percentage
Primary
Mineral(s)
Principal Industries Served
715 O
Non-API
7,802
1,442
9,244
77%(6)
Silica Sand
Glass, Commercial
Non-API
28,583
-
28,583
80%
Silica Sand
10,063
5,983
16,046
81%
Silica Sand
-
-
-
6,117
-
34,913
11,645
2,976
3,427
4,305
API
15,654
18,426
Glass, Construction, Non
Renewable Energy
Glass, Construction, Non
Renewable Energy
Non Renewable Energy
Glass, Construction
34,913
11,645
75%
55%
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
2,976
98%(3)
Microcrystalline
Silica
Coatings & Polymers, Ceramics
9,544
60%
Feldspathic Sand
Glass, Construction
4,305
83%
Silica Sand
Glass, Construction
34,080
57%(4)
Silica Sand
Non Renewable Energy,
Construction
4,251
5,953
10,204
68%
Kaolin Clay
Glass, Ceramics
-
61
61
90%
Ball Clay
11,003
37,861
165,129
5,423
21,796
-
11,003
102,735
-
9,499
-
140,596
165,129
14,922
21,796
36%(5)
72%
70%
74%
72%(7)
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Ceramics, Commercial, Coatings &
Polymers
Glass, Construction, Other minor
Markets
Non Renewable Energy
Non Renewable Energy
Glass, Commercial, Construction
Non Renewable Energy, Glass,
Foundry
21,020
2,265
23,285
55%
Silica Sand
Glass, Construction, Ceramics
671
12,926
-
-
671
73%
Kaolin Clay
Glass, Coatings & Polymers,
Ceramics
12,926
70%
Silica Sand
31,825
-
31,825
80%
Silica Sand
9,891
2,852
7,705
30,907
12,368
-
14,405
1,876
-
-
32,992
50%(9)
9,891
17,257
9,581
30,907
12,368
82%
87%
85%
74%
60%
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Industrial Sand
Non Renewable Energy, Glass,
Foundry
Glass, Metals & Mining, Non
Renewable Energy
Construction, Glass, Metals &
Mining
Glass, Metals & Mining
Glass, Metals & Mining
Glass, Non Renewable Energy,
Metals & Mining
Non Renewable Energy
Construction
2,868
4,153
7,021
90%
Ball Clay
Ceramics
40,287
3,646
64,067
282,012
118,832
-
7,505
-
159,119
3,646
71,572
282,012
47%
65%
60%
75%
Silica Sand
Industrial Sand
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Non Renewable Energy
Metals & Mining, Construction
Non Renewable Energy, Glass
Non Renewable Energy, Glass,
Foundry
2,655 O
API
12,235
20,757
4,302 L
Non-API
5,872
18,468
24,340
74%
539 L
613 M
Non-API
9,669
-
9,669
97%
Nepheline Syenite Coatings & Polymers, Glass,
Ceramics, Metals & Mining
Glass, Construction
Silica Sand
1,148 O
4,967 O
1,147 O
682 O
Non-API
Non-API
Non-API
Non-API
12,523
31,081
21,194
4,926
1,007
-
15,097
-
13,530
31,081
36,291
4,926
38%
60%
52%
35%
Sodium Feldspar
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Ceramics, Glass
Glass, Ceramics
Glass, Metals & Mining
Glass, Metals & Mining
41
Proven
Reserves(2)
Probable
Reserves(2)
Mine/Facility(1) Acres(A)
Bay City
62 O
API
Designation(B)
API
Brewer
Grand Haven
Green
Mountain
Shakopee
Voca (East)
Voca (West)
1,431 L
343 O
API
143 O
192 O
Non-API
Non-API
88 O
API
161 L
634 O
2,044 O
API
API
18,715
31,997
6,555
-
22,026
-
185,290
Wexford
401 O
Non-API
10,915
Development Sites
Cawood
988 M Non-API
Diamond Bluff
10 O
API
Hixton
Katemcy
Magdalena Del
Kino
Torreon
Wedeen River
Total
2,674 L
228 O
778 O
4,455 O
API
API
Non-API
Non-API
361 O
201 M Non-API
-
-
-
113,278
-
-
-
1,323,003
__________
(A) Acres owned ("O") indicates combined surface and mineral rights acreage
Acres leased ("L") indicates leased acreage
Mineral ("M") indicates mineral rights only and mineral claims acreage
Proven &
Probable
Reserves(2)
18,715
Estimated
Recovery
Percentage
72%(7)
Primary
Mineral(s)
Silica Sand
31,997
79%
Silica Sand
6,555
-
85%
72%
Industrial Sand
Olivine
22,026
50%
Silica Sand
-
185,290
42%
50%
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
10,915
72%
Industrial Sand
Principal Industries Served
Non Renewable Energy
Non Renewable Energy, Glass,
Foundry
Foundry, Construction
—
Non Renewable Energy, Glass,
Foundry
Non Renewable Energy
Non Renewable Energy, Glass,
Foundry
Foundry, Construction
-
-
50%
70%(8)
Nepheline Syenite Coatings & Polymers, Glass,
Ceramics, Metals & Mining
Non Renewable Energy
Silica Sand
-
113,278
-
-
-
60%
50%
11%
75%
22%
1,728,733
Silica Sand
Silica Sand
Borate
Non Renewable Energy
Non Renewable Energy
Glass, Ceramics
Calcium Carbonate Paints - Fillers and extenders
Magnetite
—
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
405,730
(B) Designated as "API" if reserves meet API RC 19C and "Non-API" if reserves do not meet API RC 19C.
(1) Delineated Facility Mineral Resources (Measured, Indicated, Inferred) are not included.
(2) Reserves reported in U.S. Short Tons.
(3) Elco product recovery derived from high and blend grade tripoli ore intervals is presented only. Insitu cement grade tripoli is excluded.
(4) Guion plant recovery is 57%. Underground mine extraction recovery is 70%. Guion has both underground and open-pit mining sites.
(5) Junction City projects a combined Glassil / Puresil product yield of 36% in 2019.
(6) Camden recovery based on the primary B2 Mine product (77%). B1 Mine product recovery is 60%.
(7) Bay City and Maiden Rock yield is based on a 38.7% Underground Mine extraction and 72.4% Process Plant recovery.
(8) Diamond Bluff yield is based on a 35% Underground Mine extraction and 70% Process Plant recovery.
(9) Ottawa currently mines from the plant's tailings cells at a recovery of 90%. Insitu Jordan Sandstone recovery is estimated at 50%.
42
Facilities
We currently have 44 mining facilities with reserves, six active coating facilities, 15 inactive facilities (including seven development
sites), and approximately 1.7 billion tons of proven and probable mineral reserves in North America, making us one of North
America’s leading industrial mineral producers.
Mining Facilities with Reserves
The mineral rights and access to mineral reserves for the majority of our facilities are secured through land that is owned. There are
no underlying agreements and/or royalties associated with the owned properties. For leased properties where there are associated
agreements and/or royalties, we have provided more information in the facility descriptions below. We are required to pay production
royalties on a per ton basis pursuant to our mineral reserve leases. For the year ended December 31, 2018, total royalty expense
associated with these agreements was $6.3 million in royalty payments, representing approximately 0.3% of our revenues.
Ahuazotepec, Puebla, Mexico. We acquired our Ahuazotepec facility in 1997 from Vitro, the leading Mexican glass manufacturer.
The facility was built in 1958. The Ahuazotepec facility produces sodium feldspar for sanitary ware, floor tiles and glass markets.
The facility is in Ahuazotepec County, Puebla, and consists of approximately 1,100 acres of owned real property. It is about 25 miles
from the city of Tulancingo, Hidalgo. The facility uses natural gas and electricity to process feldspar and has an annual capacity of
approximately 412,000 short tons. The average utilization rate over the past three years was 71%. The net book value of
Ahuazotepec’s real property and fixed assets was $15.2 million at December 31, 2018. The processed dry material is shipped via
truck to customers.
The mine is an open-pit, the overburden consists of an altered basalt that is removed with an excavator and hydraulic hammer. A
bulldozer is then used to extract the non-compact crystalline tuff. This material is loaded and hauled to a nearby washing plant, where
it is processed by screening and washing. The processed wet feldspar is then loaded and hauled to the nearby Ahuazotepec facility
where the drying, screening and magnetic separation processes are applied. A portion of the coarse feldspar is ground in the
Ahuazotepec facility and a portion is sent in bulk by truck to our Benito Juárez grinding facility, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, for
further particle size reduction for ceramic applications.
The Ahuazotepec mine extracts a Tertiary volcanic tuff, which is characterized by containing sub-angular grains, with a size of
medium to coarse of anorthoclase feldspar and iron oxide staining. The mining sequence must focus on the selection of three types of
quality intended for markets in ceramic glazes, sanitary ware bodies and floor tiles. The main quality parameters are: (i) the product
contents of iron oxide and (ii) aluminum oxide. Also, ore is selected based on the color that is defined by the Cielab L index. The
facility has a dedicated ceramic process circuit, where the plant produces a material that is separated into two ranges of grain sizes:
coarse feldspar-6+20 mesh that it is used for the ceramic market and fine-20 mesh that is used for the glass applications.
Beaver (Southern), Ohio. Our Beaver, Ohio facility, acquired in 1994 from Schrader Sand and Gravel, is located in Jackson
Township, Pike County, Ohio and consists of owned and leased real property. The mineral reserves at this facility are secured under
mineral leases that, with the exercise of renewal options, expire in 2024. The facility, which is approximately six miles northeast of
Beaver, Ohio, is accessible via County Road 521. The facility utilizes electricity to process sand. Mining methods include the
mechanical removal of glacial overburden followed by drilling, blasting and mechanical mining. The total net book value of the
Beaver facility’s real property and fixed assets was $5.6 million at December 31, 2018.
The sand reserve mined from the open-pit mine at the Beaver facility is the Sharon Conglomerate. The Beaver facility produces high
purity, sub-angular grain silica sand and gravel. Mining at the Beaver facility is completed on a seasonal basis. Existing equipment
dates to the 1960’s and is repaired as needed during the winter months; in addition, equipment (dating to 2013 or newer) has been
acquired. The annual mining capacity is approximately 150,000 tons and the average utilization rate over the past three years was
36%. The surface deposit at the Beaver facility is a high purity, sub-angular grain silica sand/gravel. The deposit has a minimum
silica content of 99% and is ideal for turf/landscaping and industrial applications. The controlling attribute is cleanliness. Cleanliness
is controlled through wet processing.
Camden, Tennessee. We acquired the Camden facility from the Morie Company in 1996, Morie purchased the plant in the late 1970’s
from Hardy Sand Company, and Hardy Sand operated the plant for approximately 20 years prior. The facility is located in Camden,
Benton County, Tennessee, off U.S. Highway 70, 90 miles west of Nashville. The site utilizes natural gas for drying and electricity to
process sand. The facility consists of approximately 900 acres of owned and approximately 1,100 acres of leased real property. The
leased property consists of pipeline right of ways and sand reserves. The lease for the pipeline, with the exercise of renewal options of
five to 10 years, expires in 2035. The remaining lease has unlimited renewal options. The total net book value of the Camden
facility’s real property and fixed assets was $8.7 million at December 31, 2018.
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The Camden facility mines sand via load and carry operations. The facility operations consist of washing, flotation, drying and
screening processes to make finished product. Since its acquisition, Covia has made several upgrades to the facility, including safety,
operational and rail loading improvements. Currently, annual capacity is approximately 837,000 tons and the average utilization rate
over the past three years was 56%. Additional capacity expansions are possible depending on market conditions.
The Camden facility utilizes approximately 4,100 linear feet of rail. The sand mined at the Camden facility is sub-angular sand, which
is suitable for glass, mineral fillers, foundry and general industrial use. Final product is shipped from the facility via bulk truck or
bulk rail via the CSX railroad.
The site mines in an open-pit manner in the McNairy Sand. The local sand section is medium to fine grained in the upper part of the
deposit (B2 grade sand) and is fine grained in the lower section (B1 grade sand). Mining is conducted from two independent pits to
obtain feed from both the B2 and B1 sections of the deposit to support glass and foundry sand production. The primary key quality
parameters controlling mine sequence development are: (i) the percentage of product iron oxide; (ii) the percentage of retained
product-140 mesh sand; and (iii) the percentage of product-140 mesh fines fraction.
Canoitas, Coahuila, Mexico. The Canoitas facility was constructed in 1988, and was acquired by Covia in 1997 from Vitro, the
Mexican glass manufacturer. The Canoitas facility mainly produces glass sand. It is in Hidalgo County, Coahuila, Mexico,
approximately 55 miles northwest of Nuevo Laredo City, and is accessible via State Highway 2. The Canoitas facility utilizes diesel,
heavy oil and electricity to process sand. Annual capacity at the Canoitas facility is approximately 1.238 million short tons and the
average utilization rate over the past three years was 85%. The processed material is shipped via bulk truck to customers. The total
net book value of the Canoitas facility’s real property and fixed assets was $47.5 million at December 31, 2018.
The facility’s open-pit operations require drilling and blasting to fragment the silica cemented sand. The material is loaded and hauled
with wheel front end loaders and rigid frame haul trucks for feeding the crushing system. The material is processed by primary and
secondary crushing, screening, milling, attrition, hydro sizing, drying and magnetic separation.
The Canoitas facility extracts silica sand ore from the Carrizo Sand. The sandstone section is mined in two benches to optimize
blending capabilities to support the production of glass, ceramic and foundry sand products. Mine development is focused on
optimizing extraction of glass grade sand with an iron oxide content of less than 0.065%. Sand containing an iron oxide content above
0.065% is directed to the production of colored glass and float glass grade products. The primary key quality parameters controlling
mine sequence development are (i) the percentage of product iron oxide and (ii) the percentage of product aluminum oxide.
Beneficiated wet sand from the Canoitas facility is shipped via trucks to our Lampazos facility for further processing. The Lampazos
facility produces flint glass grade by leaching, drying and magnetic separation processes of the Canoitas sand material. The wet sand
is also dried and ground to produce ceramic grade materials. The products produced at the Lampazos facility are shipped via trucks to
customers in northeastern Mexico.
Chardon, Ohio. Our Chardon, Ohio facility is located in Geauga County, Ohio and consists of owned real property. The facility,
which is approximately two miles south of Chardon, is accessible via State Route 44. The site utilizes natural gas and electricity to
process sand. Mining methods include the mechanical removal of glacial overburden followed by drilling, blasting and mechanical
mining.
The mine was opened in 1938 and acquired by Best Sand in 1978. We acquired the mine as a result of the merger of Wedron Silica
and Best Sand in 1986. Upgrades were made to the wash plant in 2009, the fluid bed dryer in 2012 and the rotary dryer circuit in
2012. The reserve base was increased by 950,000 tons in 2014 and 1.2 million tons in 2015. The total net book value of the Chardon
facility’s real property and fixed assets was $62.1 million at December 31, 2018.
The sand reserve mined from the open-pit mine at the Chardon facility is the Sharon Conglomerate formation. This plant produces
high purity, sub-angular grain silica sand and gravel used for industrial and recreational markets. The mining capacity is
approximately 1.1 million tons per year and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 55%. The surface deposit at the
Chardon facility is a high purity, sub-round grain silica sand/gravel. The deposit has a minimum silica content of 99% ideal for glass
and foundry applications. The contributing attributes are iron and grain size distribution. The mine’s iron averages 0.084%.
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Cleburne, Texas. We acquired our Cleburne facility in 1983 from Martin Marietta, but the facility has been in operation since 1976.
The facility is located near Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, approximately 50 miles southwest of Fort Worth, Texas and is
accessible via State Highway 67 via U.S. Interstate Highway 35W. The site consists of 2,075 acres of owned real property and utilizes
natural gas and electricity to process sand. Annual capacity at the Cleburne facility is approximately 1.4 million tons of sand and the
average utilization rate over the past three years was 81%. The total net book value of the Cleburne facility’s real property and fixed
assets was $11.0 million at December 31, 2018. Processed material is shipped via truck and is also transloaded onto the Fort Worth &
Western Railroad.
The mine is an open-pit operation where silica sand is mined and transported to the facility via trucks. Mine operations are completed
on a year-round basis. The whole grain material is then washed, dried and screened and sold for proppant, glass, commercial and
industrial applications. The Cleburne facility also has a grinding facility for producing products servicing fiberglass, construction and
ceramics.
The Cleburne facility derives its silica sand ore from the Paluxy Formation. The sand section is mined in a single bench. Dozer and
excavators are used to mine ore from multiple sections of the stripped mining cuts to support optimizing production of glass and frac
sand products. End users are the frac sand, glass/industrial, and ground product businesses. The Cleburne plant meets or exceeds all
frac sand and industrial customer specifications.
Crane, Texas. We began construction on our Crane location in December 2017. The facility is located near the town of Crane, Crane
County, Texas, and consists of approximately 7,600 acres of leased real property. The Crane deposit was a greenfield discovery in
2017. The reserves are secured by lease agreements. The facility is located approximately 50 miles southwest of Odessa and is
accessible via U.S. Highway 385 & FM 1233. The facility commenced shipments and final processing refinements in late July 2018.
Upon final completion, the facility will have an annual capacity of approximately 3 million tons. Although production was only
within the last half of 2018, utilization was 16% of annual capacity. The total net book value of the Crane facility’s real property and
fixed assets was $101.3 million at December 31, 2018.
The mining process at Crane is open-pit and carried out by excavators and articulated haul trucks capable of operating around the
clock on a daily basis. Run of mine material will not require crushing but will be washed, dried, and screened for size before being
loaded into five silos, each with a 4,000 ton capacity. The Crane facility derives its raw feed from Quaternary eolian sand dunes. The
deposit is mined for frac sand and meets or exceeds all customer API specifications.
Dividing Creek, New Jersey. Our Dividing Creek facility is located near Dividing Creek, Cumberland County, New Jersey and
consists of over 2,100 acres of owned and leased real property. The mineral reserves at the Dividing Creek facility are secured under
a mineral lease that expires in 2035 and has a renewal option through 2065. The facility is located approximately 30 miles south of
Philadelphia and is accessible via State Highway 55 as well as State Highway 77. The facility utilizes natural gas and electricity to
process sand. Annual capacity is approximately 971,600 and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 69%. The total
net book value of the Dividing Creek facility’s real property and fixed assets was $9.3 million at December 31, 2018. Finished
product is shipped via truck and rail with over 7,600 linear feet of rail. We use the Winchester & Western railroad, which we own, to
move minerals from the Dividing Creek and Gore facilities to customers via access to the Norfolk Southern and CSX railroads.
Materials are pumped from the mine location to the processing facility. The processing facility has distinct circuits to produce glass
and construction products as well as frac sand. The glass circuits utilize beneficiation techniques to remove iron and other impurities
that are detrimental to glass and construction customers. The frac circuits rely upon wet sizing to produce 100 mesh frac sand. The
facility utilizes stock pile towers for the draining of materials prior to drying. The Dividing Creek facility was upgraded over the last
five years with frac sand capacity additions and a new fluid bed dryer.
The Dividing Creek facility derives its silica sand ore from the Cohansey Formation. Mining is completed on a year-round basis. The
facility utilizes dredge mining and is completed using two dredges operating in separate ponds. Products are sold into the glass,
construction, and frac sand businesses. The Dividing Creek plant meets or exceeds all API and industrial customer specifications.
Elco, Illinois. We acquired our Elco facility in 1989 from The Illinois Minerals Company. The facility is located in Tamms,
Alexander County, Illinois and consists of over 11,000 acres of owned and leased real property and mineral rights. The majority of
the reserves are owned and approximately 10% are secured under mineral leases that, with the exercise of renewal options, expire
between 2023 and 2034. The Elco facility is approximately 130 miles southeast of St. Louis and is accessible via major highways,
including U.S. Interstate Highway 57. The site utilizes natural gas and electricity to process silica. The facility’s capacity is
approximately 60,000 tons annually and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 65%. The total net book value of the
Elco facility’s real property and fixed assets was $2.6 million at December 31, 2018.
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The Elco facility performs an initial size reduction of the ore prior to drying. From the dryer, the material is then deagglomerated and
classified and conveyed to silos for shipping or packaging. Material from Elco is sold into the coatings, ceramics, rubber and
cementing industries. The Elco facility derives its microcrystalline silica (tripoli) ore from the Clear Creek Chert. The deposit is
mined in an open pit utilizing multiple benches to optimize blending capabilities and allow for more efficient segregation of primary
tripoli ore and cement grade tripoli (chert).
Emmett, Idaho. We acquired our Emmett facility in 1983 from Martin Marietta, but the facility has been in operation since 1953. The
facility is located in Emmett, Gem County, Idaho, approximately 30 miles northwest of Boise, Idaho, and is accessible via State
Highway 52. The site consists of 723 acres of owned real property and utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand. Annual
capacity at the Emmett facility is approximately 253,000 tons of sand. The average utilization rate over the past three years was 39%.
The total net book value of the Emmett facility’s real property and fixed assets was $2.4 million at December 31, 2018. Processed
material is shipped via truck and rail using the Idaho Northern Pacific railroad with access to the Union Pacific railroad.
The mine is an open-pit operation where feldspathic silica sand is mined and transported to the facility via trucks. Mining, wet
processing and grinding operations are scheduled ten months out of the year to avoid cool weather. Drying and screening operations
are performed all year long from damp stockpiles. The whole grain material is then washed, ground, dried and screened and sold for
glass, fiberglass, construction, golf, and industrial applications. The Emmett facility also has a packaging facility for producing
bagged products servicing construction, filtration, as well as, the sports and leisure industries. The Emmett facility derives its
feldspathic sand ore from the Idaho Group. The deposit is mined in multiple benches. The Emmett plant meets or exceeds all
industrial customer specifications.
Gore, Virginia. We acquired our Gore facility in 1972 from Virginia Glass Sand. The facility is located in Gore, Frederick County,
Virginia, approximately 12 miles west of Winchester, Virginia. The site consists of approximately 1,100 combined acres of owned
and leased real property and utilizes propane and electricity to process sand. The facility’s mineral reserves are secured by a lease that
expires in 2033. Annual capacity at the Gore facility is approximately 750,000 tons of sand and the average utilization rate over the
past three years was 85%. The total net book value of the Gore facility’s real property and fixed assets was $6.0 million at December
31, 2018. Processed material is shipped via truck or rail. Our railroad, Winchester and Western, transports rail deliveries from Gore.
Mining operations consist of two open-pit quarries where sandstone ore is mined and transported to the facility via haul trucks. Mine
operations are completed on a year-round basis. The material is crushed, ground, sized, floated, dried, screened, and sold for flat
glass, container glass, grouts, foundries, and insulation. Byproducts are used on golf courses, horse farms and at cement plants.
The facility derives its silica sand ore from the Oriskany Sandstone. The consolidated sandstone section occurs within two limbs of an
anticlinal structure trending across the property. Mining is occurring on the Cove Ridge (northwest limb) and the South Quarry
(southeast limb) sections of the deposit. Overburden shale and poor-quality sandstone are selectively removed as part of stripping
operations to uncover the targeted economic portion of the sandstone section. Stripping operations are performed by regional
excavation contractors. Mining is conducted in multiple benches on each limb to optimize ore blending capabilities. The primary key
quality parameters controlling mine sequence development are: (i) the percentage of iron oxide to support glass product production;
and (ii) the percentage of +40 mesh agglomerated sand clusters remaining after crushing.
Guion, Arkansas. We acquired our Guion facility from Silica Products in 1988. The facility has been in operation since 1917. It is
located in Guion, Izard County, Arkansas, approximately 95 miles west of Jonesboro, Arkansas and is accessible via County Highway
58 off County Highway 9 via U.S. Interstate Highway 40. The property consists of approximately 3,000 acres of owned real property
and 300 acres of leased property (the lease is perpetual as long as we are transporting over it, mining it, sand is being shipped from our
mill, and we are paying the royalty). The site utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand. The Guion facility utilizes
approximately 6,900 linear feet of rail, including 4,500 linear feet for raw sand and 2,400 linear feet for a resin-coated sand product.
Annual capacity is approximately 1.2 million tons of sand and approximately 180,000 tons of resin-coated sand. The average
utilization rate over the past three years was 87%. The total net book value of the Guion facility’s real property and fixed assets was
$66.4 million at December 31, 2018. Processed material is shipped via truck or rail using the Missouri Northern Arkansas railroad
connecting with the Union Pacific railroad.
The sand reserve is mined from the St. Peter Sandstone. Covia utilizes both open-pit and underground mining, with the reserves
located at depths of up to 200 feet. The underground mine utilizes a “room-and-pillar” mining method with both horizontal and
vertical blasting. The facility utilizes multiple stages of crushing and washing to produce materials that meet API standards for
proppant products as well as glass and foundry sand products. Mining operations are completed on a year-round basis.
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The Guion facility has an integrated resin coating sand facility that can receive materials from the adjacent Guion silica sand facility
or substrate from our other facilities. The resin coating facility has two processing lines, each with the capacity to coat 180 million
pounds, or 90,000 tons, per year of substrate. The facility has the flexibility to coat various substrates using novolac or resole
technology.
The silica sand product contains a minimum silica content of 99% and meets API standards for proppant applications. The sandstone
section is mined in both open-pit and underground mining operations with approximately 40% of the facility feed derived from the
open-pit operation and approximately 60% from the underground mine. The deposit typically contains varying degrees of calcite
cementation in the upper part of the section and increased silica cementation in the lower part of the section. The ore control process
is optimized by blending feed from multiple underground workings and from the open pit. The primary key quality parameter
controlling mine sequence development is the percentage of the -40/+70 mesh sand fraction.
Hephzibah, Georgia. We acquired our Hephzibah facility in 2000 from Albion Kaolin Company. The facility is located in
Hephzibah, Richmond County, Georgia and consists of over 1,700 acres of owned and leased real property. The mineral reserves at
the Hephzibah facility not owned by us are secured under a mineral leases that expires in 2022. The facility is located approximately
15 miles southwest of Augusta and is accessible via State Highway 88. It utilizes methane, natural gas, and electricity in its
production processes. Annual capacity is approximately 236,000 tons and the average utilization rate over the past three years was
94%. The total net book value of the Hephzibah facility’s real property and fixed assets was $4.4 million at December 31, 2018.
Finished material is shipped via truck and via rail using the Norfolk Southern railroad with approximately 6,400 linear feet of rail.
The Hephzibah property also produces construction grade sand which is mined, processed, and marketed by a regional materials
contractor. This sand is produced from the overburden above the clay. Production of this material reduces the volume of overburden
removal that the plant must perform to access the clay.
The Hephzibah facility utilizes open-pit mining methods to feed the facility. Overburden removal, and clay mining are both
performed by a regional excavating contractor, who specializes in kaolin. After mining, the material is then shredded and sent to one
of two processing lines or fed directly in a continuous blunger for producing slurry products. One of the processing lines produces
materials primarily for ceramics utilizing deagglomerating systems with classifiers. The second system utilizes milling and
classifying circuits to produce materials for the fiberglass industry. The final product is shipped via bulk truck and rail or via
Intermediate Bulk Containers (“IBCs”).
The Hephzibah facility derives its kaolin clay ore from the Buffalo Creek Formation. At the Hephzibah operation the mineable clay
ranges in thickness from 0-24 feet. The clay ore section is subdivided into three mining units (Form, Sperse and Bond) to facilitate
blending to formulate the facility’s ceramic and fiberglass grade products. The primary key quality parameters controlling mine
sequence development are: (i) the percentage of +325 mesh “grit” fraction; (ii) the percentage of product iron oxide; (iii) the
percentage of product titanium oxide; and (iv) the specific surface area (“SSA”) of the clay product.
Huntingburg, Indiana. We acquired the Huntingburg facility in 1999 from United Clays, but the facility has been in operation since
1981. The facility is located in Huntingburg, Dubois County, Indiana, approximately 40 miles east of Evansville, Indiana, and is
accessible via State Highway 231 North to State Highway 64 West from U.S. Interstate Highway 64. The site consists of 10.3 acres of
owned real property and utilizes natural gas and electricity to process calcium carbonate and clays. Annual capacity at the
Huntingburg facility is approximately 79,000 tons of processed calcium and clay minerals and the average utilization rate over the past
three years was 34%. The total net book value of the Huntingburg facility’s real property and fixed assets was $0.2 million at
December 31, 2018. Processed material is shipped via truck in bulk or bagged quantities.
The mine is an open-pit operation where two Indiana Fire Clays are mined. The mine is located approximately 6 miles from the plant
site. The mining process is campaigned annually, where a large stockpile of the clays is staged. The clays are transported to the plant
processing facility throughout the year. The clays are shredded, ground, dried and packaged for brick, chemical stoneware, ceramics,
sealants, rubber, and other commercial and industrial applications. The calcium carbonate is purchased from a third party and is
ground, dried, packaged for rubber, anti-stick, ceramic glaze and other commercial and industrial applications.
The Huntingburg facility derives its fire clay ore primarily from the Brazil Formation. The clay ore section is derived from
“underclays” associated with overlying organic-rich coal and lignite seams. Overburden shale and limestone are selectively removed
to expose the target economic portion of the ball clay section. The primary clay ore unit is termed “WT” or white clay. Within the
overburden section, a second clay seam, termed “RD” or red clay, is mined as a byproduct to WT clay production. The extent of
overburden stripping is controlled by the thickness of consolidated limestone occurring within the section. The key quality parameters
defining clay ore quality and controlling mine sequence development are: (i) the percentage of iron oxide; (ii) the percentage of
carbon; and (iii) the percentage of sulfur.
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Jaltipan, Veracruz, Mexico. The Jaltipan facility was constructed in 1955 and was acquired by us in 1997 from Vitro. The facility is
located at Jaltipan, Veracruz State, Mexico and is approximately 19 miles southwest from the Minatitlan City airport. The Jaltipan
facility utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand. Its annual capacity is approximately 1.291 million short tons and the
average utilization rate over the past three years was 80%. The total net book value of the Jaltipan facility’s real property and fixed
assets was $21.8 million at December 31, 2018. The processed material is shipped via truck and rail using Ferrocarril del Sureste,
commonly known as Ferrosur. The Jaltipan facility ships directly to the glass and foundry industries in central Mexico via trucks and
the Ferromex railway.
The Jaltipan facility extracts silica sand ore in an open-pit operation from the Filisola Formation. The unconsolidated sand section is
mined in multiple benches to produce glass and foundry sand products. The primary key quality parameters controlling mine
sequence development are: (i) the percentage of product iron oxide and (ii) the percentage of total -140 mesh fine waste.
We utilize excavators and trucks in an open-pit environment to produce feed for the Jaltipan facility. The mine operation requires the
extraction of interburden plastic clays as waste material that are disposed in dumps or employed in the construction of pond dikes.
The mine also needs an effective dewatering operation because the water table is as shallow as 66 feet above sea level. The mining
operation is carried out between minus 16 feet to 100 feet above sea level. The material is preprocessed on a pre-washing stage with
mud hog, screening and dewatering processes. The preprocessed material is pumped via slurry pumping for 1.6 miles to the Jaltipan
facility. The final processes applied at the Jaltipan facility are hydraulic sizing, flotation, drying and magnetic separation.
A portion of beneficiated dry sand from the Jaltipan facility is shipped via trucks to our Tlaxcala facility, which produces glass fiber
grade product. Tlaxcala utilizes grinding and high efficiency classifier processes. The Tlaxcala facility ships its product to customers
in glass and foundry industries in central Mexico via trucks.
Junction City, Georgia. We acquired our Junction City location from the Morie Company in 1996. The facility is located in Mauk,
Marion County, Georgia and consists of leased real property. The mineral reserves are secured by a lease that expires in 2033, which
Unimin has the option to extend through 2053. The facility is approximately 50 miles east of Columbus, Georgia and accessible via
State Highway 90. Annual capacity at the Junction City facility is approximately 887,000 tons and the average utilization rate over
the past three years was 65%. The total net book value of the Junction City facility’s real property and fixed assets was $10.1 million
at December 31, 2018. Finished product is shipped via truck and via rail using the CSX railroad. The Junction City facility uses
approximately 3,000 linear feet of rail. The facility utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand.
The Junction City facility receives ore from open-pit hydraulic mining systems. It produces low iron and ultra-low iron sand products
as well as coarse products. The low iron process involves washing the materials and classifying them into glass grade and industrial
grades. Materials are sent to drainage areas to reduce moisture prior to being fed to the drying and screening circuit. The ultra-low
iron products utilize the washing process as well as a beneficiation process to lower finished product iron values. Product from the
beneficiation process is stored in a covered storage area to maintain quality control prior to being fed to the drying and screening
circuit. End products are shipped via bulk rail, truck, IBCs and bags.
The operations at the Junction City facility have recently undergone a capital investment to upgrade the water conservation circuit that
will allow increased operating time for the washing and beneficiation circuits. The facility currently services the glass, ceramics,
concrete, industrial, and fiberglass industries.
The Junction City facility derives its silica sand ore from the Cusseta–Blufftown Sands. The sand section is mined in a single bench.
The primary key quality parameters controlling mine sequence development are: (i) the percentage of product iron oxide; and (ii) the
percentage of retained product +40 mesh sand fraction.
Kasota, Minnesota. We completed initial greenfield construction of our Kasota site in 1982. The facility is located in Kasota, Le
Sueur County, Minnesota, approximately 75 miles southwest of Minneapolis. It consists of approximately 3,700 acres of owned real
property and is accessible by using major highways, including U.S. Interstate 35. The site utilizes natural gas and electricity to
process sand. The site has grown through two capacity expansions, one in 2009, when 1.2 million tons of capacity per year was added
to produce all grades of API grade silica sand proppant, and another in 2014, when 800,000 tons per year were added to produce 40/70
and 100 mesh grade silica sand proppants. Currently, annual capacity of the Kasota facility is approximately 3.0 million tons per year
and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 70%. The total net book value of the Kasota facility’s real property and
fixed assets was $129.0 million at December 31, 2018. Processed material is shipped via rail using the Union Pacific railroad. The
Kasota facility is unit train capable and utilizes approximately 25,000 linear feet of rail.
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The sand reserve mined from the open-pit mine is from the Jordan Sandstone. Dolomite cap rock ranging from 0-30 feet in thickness
is removed to expose the silica reserves. The open-pit operations require drilling and blasting to fragment the sandstone. The facility
is a load and carry operation with wheel loaders feeding conveyors to the in-pit crushing system. The mining operations occur on a
year-round basis. The silica sand is processed via multiple steps of crushing and then is wet sized, dried, and screened.
The silica sand product contains a minimum silica content of 99% and meets API standards for proppant applications. The sandstone
section is mined in two benches to optimize production of frac sand products. The upper bench ore is medium to coarse grained and
the underlying bench is largely fine to medium grained. Mine production has been augmented with the extraction of medium to fine
grained sand previously disposed of in the facility’s tailings cells.
Kermit, Texas. Our Kermit, Texas reserves are located eight miles east of Kermit, Winkler County, Texas and consists of
approximately 3,250 acres of leased property. The Kermit deposit was a greenfield discovery in 2017. The location is accessible via
Highway 115 with access to the Delaware and Midland basins. The facility mines sand through the excavation method and uses
natural gas and electricity to process sand. The sand will be transported by slurry to the processing plant where it will be washed,
screened, and dried. The finished product will be shipped via truck. The plant began commercial production in mid-2018. The
mining capacity is approximately 3.0 million tons with a 2018 utilization at 15% of annual capacity due commencing operations in the
third quarter of 2018. The total net book value of the Kermit facility’s real property and fixed assets was $223.6 million at December
31, 2018. The Kermit facility derives its raw feed from Quaternary eolian sand dunes. The deposit is open-pit mined for frac sand
and meets or exceeds all customer API specifications.
Maiden Rock, Wisconsin. Our Maiden Rock, Wisconsin facility is located in Maiden Rock, Pierce County, Wisconsin and consists of
owned and leased real property. The mineral reserves at the Maiden Rock facility are secured under mineral leases that, with the
exercise of renewal options, expire between 2021 and 2046. The facility is within the Village and Township of Maiden Rock along
State Highway 35. The Maiden Rock facility utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand. Maiden Rock produces from an
underground mine utilizing a “room-and-pillar” mining method which includes horizontal drilling and blasting. The reserves are
located at a maximum depth of 230 feet. After blasting, the sand is removed from the face of the tunnels with a front-end-loader and
deposited into a hopper where it is combined with water to form a slurry. The slurry is pumped to the surface wash plant to be
hydraulically sized and sent to the plant where it is dried and screened.
The Maiden Rock facility and its predecessors have operated since the 1920s. We acquired a 50% equity interest in the facility from
Wisconsin Industrial Sand in 1997 and acquired the remaining equity interest in 1999. The washing and drying operations at the
Maiden Rock facility were upgraded in 2012 in conjunction with a significant capacity increase. Processed sand is shipped from the
Maiden Rock facility via truck or rail on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (“BNSF”) Railway. The Maiden Rock facility has a rail
loadout facility that has approximately 5,000 linear feet of rail. This plant is unit train capable utilizing the new unit train railyard,
approximately 16,000 linear feet at the Hager City facility.
The sand reserve mined from the underground mine at the Maiden Rock facility is the Jordan Sandstone. The Maiden Rock facility
produces high purity, round grain silica that meets API requirements for proppant application. The mining capacity is approximately
1.3 million tons per year and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 43%. The total net book value of the Maiden
Rock facility’s real property and fixed assets was $29.2 million at December 31, 2018. The sandstone deposit at this facility is a high
purity, round grain sand with a minimum silica content of 99%, which meets API requirements for proppant application. The
controlling attributes are turbidity, acid solubility, and grain size. The deposit tends to exhibit a coarser grain size distribution near the
top of the deposit. Grain size distribution is maintained through control of mine horizon. Turbidity and acid solubility are controlled
though the use of hydrosizers during wet processing.
Marston, North Carolina. We acquired our Marston operation in 1983 from Carolina Silica. The facility is located in Marston,
Richmond County, North Carolina and consists of over 2,400 acres of owned and leased real property. The Marston facility is
approximately 50 miles west of Fayetteville, NC and is accessible via U.S. Highway 1. Annual capacity at Marston is approximately
1.1 million tons and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 84%. The total net book value of the Marston facility’s
real property and fixed assets was $8.0 million at December 31, 2018.
Processed material is shipped via bulk truck or by bulk rail using the CSX railroad. The facility operations consist of washing,
beneficiation, drying, screening, grinding, and classifying processes to make finished product servicing the concrete, ceramic,
industrial, glass, fiberglass, foundry and sport and leisure industries. Marston derives its silica sand ore from the Pinehurst Sand. The
sand section primarily is mined in a single bench. Open-pit mining is conducted using loaders to excavate sand from the
unconsolidated above water mining face.
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McIntyre, Georgia. We acquired our McIntyre facility in 2000 from Albion Kaolin, but the facility has been in continuous operation
since the early 1900s. The facility is located in McIntyre, Wilkinson County, Georgia, and consists of approximately 2,100 acres of
owned and leased real property and mineral rights. The reserves are secured by lease agreements that expire between 2021 and 2036.
The facility is approximately 30 miles east of Macon, Georgia and 20 miles south of Milledgeville, Georgia, and is accessible via U.S.
Highway 441. The site utilizes natural gas and electricity to process kaolin clay. Annual capacity at the McIntyre facility is
approximately 238,000 tons and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 51%. The total net book value of the
McIntyre facility’s real property and fixed assets was $8.7 million at December 31, 2018. Processed material is shipped in bulk or bag
via truck. Shipment by rail is also available via the Norfolk Southern railroad.
The kaolin clay reserves are mined from multiple open-pits within a 35-mile radius of McIntyre. Overburden ranges from 50 to 120
feet with clay seams ranging between 15 and 40 feet. Crude clay is delivered to a covered crude shed at the plant via dump trucks on a
year-round basis. The milling operation is fed from the crude shed via front-end loaders. Crude clay is processed via drying and
milling/classifying equipment into a minus 325-mesh powder and stored in concrete silos until bagged or loaded into bulk trucks or
railcars for shipment.
The McIntyre facility derives its kaolin clay ore from the Huber Formation. The operation extracts its ore feed from multiple mining
pits. The clay is subsequently blended to formulate the plant’s fiberglass, ceramic and functional filler products. Mining is completed
by a third-party contractor working under an established mining supply agreement. The primary key quality parameters controlling
mine sequence development are: (i) GEB Brightness; (ii) the percentage of Residue (+325 mesh); (iii) SSA; (iv) the percentage of clay
passing 2 micron particle size; and (v) the percentage of iron oxide.
Menomonie, Wisconsin. Our Menomonie, Wisconsin facility is located in Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin and consists
primarily of leased real property. The mineral reserves at our Menomonie facility are secured under mineral subleases that expire in
2044. We constructed the Menomonie facility in 2007 approximately two miles east of Menomonie and it is accessible via US
Highway 12 / State Highway 16. The Menomonie facility utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand. Mining methods include
the mechanical removal of glacial overburden followed by drilling, blasting, and mechanical mining. Mined sand is processed and
shipped by truck or rail. A remote transload facility adjacent to the Union Pacific (“UP”) Railroad is located approximately one mile
north of the site.
The sand reserve mined from the open-pit at the Menomonie facility is derived from the Wonewoc Sandstone. The ore deposit at the
Menomonie facility is a high purity, round grain sand with a minimum silica content of 99%, which meets API requirements for
proppant applications. Both hydraulic fracturing sand proppants and industrial sands for glass manufacturing are produced by the
operation. In 2018, a total of 230,000 net tons of proppant sand and 167,000 net tons of industrial sand were shipped. The three year
average utilization rate is 46% based on an operational capacity of approximately 750,000 net tons per year. The total net book value
of the Menomonie facility’s real property and fixed assets was $13.3 million at December 31, 2018. The controlling attributes are
grain size, iron oxide, and turbidity. Maximum average full face iron content is 0.080%. The deposit tends to exhibit a coarser grain
size distribution in top half of deposit. Turbidity is controlled though the use of attrition scrubbers during wet processing. Iron is
controlled during processing through the use of magnetic separators.
Nephton, Ontario, Canada. We acquired our Nephton and Blue Mountain facilities in 1990 from Indusmin LTD. The facilities are
located in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township in central-eastern Ontario, Canada. They are located approximately 60 kilometers
north of Peterborough and consist of over 4,300 acres of leased real property. These facilities use propane and electricity to process
nepheline syenite. Annual capacity at the Nephton and Blue Mountain facilities is approximately 1.1 million tons and the average
utilization rate over the past three years was 62%. The total net book value of the Nephton facility’s real property and fixed assets was
$69.5 million at December 31, 2018. The facilities have over 30,000 linear feet of rail. Processed material is shipped via truck and
rail using the Canadian Pacific railroad.
The facilities derive nepheline syenite ore from igneous intrusives metamorphosed during the Grenville Orogeny. The nepheline
syenite ore section is open-pit mined in multiple benches to optimize blending capabilities and to allow for the more efficient removal
of inner burden waste. Deposit definition employs both core and more tightly spaced percussion drilling to provide adequate grade
control information to support the facility’s mining operations. The primary key quality parameters controlling mine sequence
development are: (i) the percentage of iron oxide; (ii) the percentage of aluminum oxide; (iii) the percentage of sodium oxide; and (iv)
the percentage of calcium oxide.
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We utilize drill and blast processes in an open-pit environment to produce feed for the facility. Material is transported from the mine
to the facility utilizing rigid frame haul trucks. The material is sent through drying, crushing, screening and beneficiation steps for
producing products for the glass and ceramics industries and feed for grinding operations. Grinding operations for the coatings and
polymers industries utilizes high efficiency classifiers for producing products that have distinct size distributions meeting customer
requirements. Products are packaged in gravity and positive displacement railcars, bulk pneumatic trucks, IBCs and bags. The
facility services customers in the abrasives, cement, ceramic, industrial, glass, fiberglass, coatings and polymer industries.
Beneficiated dry sand material from nepheline syenite operations in Nephton is shipped to our Tamms and Troy Grove facilities in
Illinois for further processing. The Tamms facility receives nepheline syenite for grinding in circuits specifically designed for
supplying the polymer industry. The facility utilizes grid electricity and finished material is packaged in IBCs and bags. The Troy
Grove facility receives nepheline syenite for grinding in a dedicated circuit designed for supplying the coatings industry. The material
is only produced for bulk customers. In order to produce products for the coatings industry at the Troy Grove facility, Covia installed
a high efficiency classifier at the facility in order to produce products that have the necessary particle size distribution for coatings.
The Troy Grove facility utilizes grid electricity.
Oregon, Illinois. We acquired our Oregon facility in 1983 from Martin Marietta. The facility is located in Oregon, Ogle County,
Illinois and consists of owned real property. It is located approximately 30 miles southwest of Rockford and is accessible via State
Highway 2. The Oregon facility utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand.
Annual capacity at the Oregon facility is approximately 1.7 million tons and the average utilization rate over the past three years was
70%. The total net book value of the Oregon facility’s real property and fixed assets was $15.7 million at December 31, 2018.
Processed sand is shipped via truck or rail. The Oregon facility has unit train capabilities using the BNSF Railway and over 15,000
linear feet of rail.
We utilize drill and blast processes in an open-pit environment to produce feed for the facility. In-pit crushing, screening and
secondary crushing are utilized to generate hydraulic classifier feed. The crushing and hydraulic classification operations are seasonal
and large stockpiles are created to feed the facility during winter months. From the classified material piles, the facility utilizes drying
and screening operations to produce frac, foundry, glass and construction products. Products are shipped via bulk rail, bulk truck, via
IBCs and bags. Over the last five years, we have invested in projects to increase frac sand capacity at the Oregon facility as well as its
reserve base.
The Oregon facility derives its silica sand ore from the St. Peter Sandstone. The silica sand product contains a minimum silica content
of 99% and meets API standards for proppant applications. The sandstone section is mined in two benches to optimize blending
capabilities to support the production of glass and frac sand products. Occurrences of iron oxide in the deposit tend to be higher in
the lower mining bench. The primary key quality parameters controlling mine sequence development are: (i) the percentage of iron
oxide, aluminum oxide and magnesium oxide to support glass grade product production; and (ii) the percentage of retained product
140 mesh sand fraction.
Ottawa, Minnesota. We acquired our Ottawa location in 1971 from Gopher State Silica and in 1978 completed brownfield
construction of its current Ottawa facility. The facility is located in Le Sueur, Le Sueur County, Minnesota, approximately 65 miles
southwest of Minneapolis. It consists of approximately 2,650 acres of owned real property and is accessible by using major highways,
including U.S. Interstate 169. The facility uses natural gas and electricity to process sand. Processed material is shipped via rail using
the Union Pacific railroad utilizing the site’s 10,000 linear feet of rail. Currently, annual capacity is approximately 800,000 tons and
the average utilization rate over the past three years was 71%. The total net book value of the Ottawa facility’s real property and fixed
assets was $54.7 million at December 31, 2018.
The sand reserve mined from the open-pit mine is from the Jordan Sandstone. The mine has overburden ranging from 10 to 100 feet
that needs to be removed to access the silica sand reserves. The facility is a load and carry operation with wheel loaders feeding
conveyors to the in-pit crushing system. The mining operations are completed on a year-round basis. The silica sand is processed via
multiple steps of crushing and then is dried and screened to produce API grade silica sand proppant, glass sand, foundry sand and
products for the construction industry.
The silica sand product contains a minimum silica content of 99% and meets API standards for proppant applications. The sandstone
section is mined in two benches to optimize production of glass, foundry and frac sand products. The upper bench ore is medium to
coarse grained and the underlying bench is largely fine to medium grained. The primary key quality parameters controlling mine
sequence development are: (i) the percentage of iron oxide; (ii) the percentage of aluminum oxide; and (iii) the percentage of -40/+140
mesh sand fraction distribution. Mine production recently has been augmented with the extraction of sand previously disposed of in
the facility’s tailings cells.
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Pevely, Missouri. We acquired the Pevely facility from Bussen Quarries and the Masters Brothers Silica Sand Co in 1991. The
Pevely facility is located in Pevely, Jefferson County, Missouri and consists of entirely owned real property. It is located
approximately 30 miles southwest of St. Louis and is accessible via U.S. Interstate Highway 55. The Pevely facility utilizes natural
gas, propane and electricity to process sand. The facility’s capacity is approximately 627,000 tons annually and the average utilization
rate over the past three years was 71%. The total net book value of the Pevely facility’s real property and fixed assets was $16.7
million at December 31, 2018. We ship processed sand via truck, and barge and railcars on the Union Pacific railroad utilizing a local
third party transloading facility.
We utilize drill and blast processes in an open-pit environment to produce feed for the facility. Mining operations are performed year-
round. Overburden removal to access sandstone is typically performed under contract by a regional excavating contractor. Crushing,
screening, deagglomeration, dewatering, drying and screening are utilized to produce final products. During the last five years, the
Pevely facility has undergone a frac sand expansion and a crushing upgrade as well as an extension of the reserve base. The Pevely
facility services the concrete, glass, foundry, frac sand and ceramics industries.
The Pevely facility derives its silica sand ore from the St. Peter Sandstone and mines from a single bench. The silica sand product
contains a minimum silica content of 99% and meets API standards for proppant applications. The primary key quality parameters
controlling mine sequence development are the percentages of calcium oxide, iron oxide, and acid demand value (“ADV”) to support
glass and foundry product production.
Portage, Wisconsin. We acquired the Portage facility from Martin Marietta in 1983. The facility is located in Pardeeville, Columbia
County, Wisconsin and consists of owned real property. It is located approximately 30 miles north of Madison and is accessible via
State Highway 51. The facility utilizes natural gas, propane and electricity to process sand. The facility’s capacity is approximately
660,000 tons annually and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 63%. The total net book value of the Portage
facility’s real property and fixed assets was $3.7 million at December 31, 2018. The facility utilizes approximately 3,500 linear feet of
rail. Processed material is shipped via truck and rail using the Canadian Pacific railroad.
Mining at the Portage facility is completed on a seasonal basis. Material from the open-pit dredging operation is hydraulically
transported to the facility. The facility creates a large stockpile for operations to utilize during the winter months. The facility utilizes
wet screening and classifying circuits to prepare material for its drying and screening operations. During the last eight years, Covia
has replaced the dredge at the Portage facility and completed upgrades to the drying, screening and packaging circuits. The facility
produces products for the concrete, glass, foundry and frac sand industries. Materials are packaged in bulk rail, bulk truck, IBCs and
bags.
The Portage facility derives its silica sand ore from the Wonewoc Sandstone. The silica sand product contains a minimum silica
content of 99% and meets API standards for proppant applications. The sandstone is mined by dredge. The primary below-water
dredge mining process is augmented by sand feed derived from the above water sandstone section. Dozers are used to rip and push
above-water sandstone into the dredge pond for follow-on extraction. The primary key quality parameters controlling mine sequence
development are (i) the percentage of iron oxide, aluminum oxide, and calcium oxide to support glass product production; (ii) the
percentage of total -140 mesh fines; and (iii) deposit -20/+140 mesh fraction sieve distributions and associated grain fineness (“GFN”)
numbers.
Roff, Oklahoma. We acquired our Roff facility in 1980 from Mid Continent Glass Co. The facility is located in Roff, Pontotoc
County, Oklahoma and consists of over 3,200 acres of owned real property. It is located approximately 90 miles south of Oklahoma
City and is accessible via U.S. Interstate Highway 35. The Roff facility utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand and has an
annual capacity of approximately 1.2 million tons. The average utilization rate over the past three years was 82%. The total net book
value of the Roff facility’s real property and fixed assets was $23.9 million at December 31, 2018. The facility has approximately
5,000 linear feet of rail. Processed sand is shipped via truck and rail via the BNSF Railway.
The open-pit operations at the Roff facility utilize some surface equipment to transport material to a hydraulic mining and screening
system for feed to the facility. The facility hydraulically transports the material to the plant for further wet screening, beneficiation,
drying and final product screening. The facility produces material for the frac, glass, foundry and fiberglass industries. Products are
only shipped in bulk containers via truck and or rail. Over the last five years, Covia has invested in infrastructure improvements (rail)
at the Roff facility, production capacity for frac and glass and land acquisitions to improve the resource base.
The Roff facility derives its silica sand ore from the Oil Creek Formation. As a local facility, the Roff facility has a built-in cost
advantage against sand that is shipped in from outside the basin. The silica sand product contains a minimum silica content of 99%
and meets API standards for proppant applications. The sandstone section is mined in multiple benches to optimize blending
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capabilities and allow for more efficient removal of inner burden waste. The sandstone ore sections are commonly associated with
fault structures that necessitate infill drilling to adequately delineate ore and waste boundaries and support pit design development.
The primary key quality parameters controlling mine sequence development are: (i) the percentage of -40/+70 mesh sand fraction; and
(ii) the percentage of iron oxide, aluminum oxide and calcium oxide to support glass product production.
San Juan, Veracruz, Mexico. The San Juan facility was acquired in 2003 from Silices San Juan, whose initial business was the
extraction of gravel. The plant process and capacity were improved to produce glass sand for the float glass, and to a lesser extent for
foundry and construction. The facility is in the San Juan Evangelista County, Veracruz, Mexico, and consists of 457 acres of owned
real property. It is approximately 49 miles from the international airport of Minatitlán, Veracruz, and is accessible by the road 145
Tierra Blanca–Sayula de Alemán. The San Juan facility uses electricity to process sand and has an annual capacity of approximately
320,000 short tons. The average utilization rate over the past three years was 58%. The total net book value of the San Juan facility’s
real property and fixed assets was $2.4 million at December 31, 2018. The processed material is shipped via trucks in bulk to
customers.
The mine operation uses excavators and trucks in an open-pit environment to generate feed for the San Juan facility. The mine
overburden is formed by soil, clays and gravels which are disposed of or used in the construction of dams for tailings ponds. The ore
body transitions in depth from coarse to medium grain sand. The processes that are used at San Juan are screening, hydro sizing,
washing, separation by gravity (spiral) and hydrocyclone classification. The final product is damp sand.
The operation of the mine in San Juan extracts silica sand from Filisola formation of the upper Miocene. The non-consolidated sand
section is mined in multiple benches to provide the product mix for glass and foundry sand products. The main key quality parameters
which control the development of the mining sequence are: (i) the percentage of product iron oxide; (ii) the percentage of product
aluminum oxide; and (iii) the percentage of product oxide of titanium. The specifications of the products also require controls of the
coarse grains and fine material passing the 140 mesh.
Seiling, Oklahoma. We completed greenfield construction of the Seiling facility in 2019. The facility is located 10 miles west of
Canton, Dewey County, Oklahoma and consists of owned real property. It is approximately 11 miles southeast of Seiling and is
accessible via State Highway 51. The Seiling facility utilizes natural gas to process. Annual capacity at the Seiling facility is
approximately 2,000,000 tons. The total net book value of the Seiling facility’s real property and fixed assets was $177.3 million at
December 31, 2018.
Mining operations consist of an open-pit where sand is mined and transported to the facility stockpile via haul trucks. Stockpiled sand
is fed into a hopper where water is added to produce a slurry for transport into the plant. A small volume of sand and organic material
is removed as stripping to reduce root contamination. Mine operations are completed on a year-round basis.
The Seiling facility derives its frac sand ore from Quaternary aged eolian sand deposits. The silica sand product contains a minimum
silica content of 90% and meets API standards for proppant applications. The unconsolidated sandstone section is mined in a single
bench to support production of frac sand products. The primary key quality parameter controlling mine sequence development is the
percentage of the -30/+140 mesh sand fraction.
St. Canut, Quebec, Canada. We acquired the St. Canut facility in 1990 from Indusmin LTD. The facility is located approximately 60
kilometers northwest of Montreal. It is accessible via Quebec Route 158 and consists of owned real property. The facility uses
natural gas and electricity to process sand. Annual capacity at the St. Canut facility is approximately 450,000 tons and the average
utilization rate over the past three years was 45%. The total net book value of the St. Canut facility’s real property and fixed assets
was $1.7 million at December 31, 2018.
We use drill and blast processes in an open-pit environment to produce feed for the facility. The material is sent through primary and
secondary crushing to stockpiles for feeding to the drying system. From the drying system, the sand material is sent through tertiary
crushing, screening and beneficiation steps for producing products for the glass and construction industries. Products are shipped via
the Quebec Gatineau Railway with access to both the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National Railway and truck.
Product is packaged in bulk rail, bulk trucks, IBCs and bags.
The St. Canut facility derives its silica sand ore from the Cairnside Sandstone. The sandstone is a high purity, with minimum silica
content of 99.4% ideal for glass industries. The sandstone section is mined in two benches to optimize blending capabilities to support
production of glass and construction sand products. Local elevated occurrences of high iron and calcium oxide bearing sandstone are
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present in the deposit, which requires adequate grade control monitoring and blending. The primary key quality parameters
controlling mine sequence development are: (i) the percentage of product iron oxide; (ii) the percentage of aluminum oxide; and (iii)
the percentage of calcium oxide.
Troup, Texas. We acquired the Troup facility in 1999 from United Clays. The facility is located in Troup, Cherokee County, Texas
and consists of over 2,600 acres of owned and leased real property. The facility’s mineral reserves are secured by either leases that
expire between 2019 and 2036 or by perpetual leases that remain valid for so long as annual minimum royalties are paid. The Troup
facility is located approximately 120 miles southeast of Dallas and is accessible via U.S. Interstate Highway 20. The Troup facility
utilizes natural gas and electricity to process ball clay. Annual capacity at the Troup facility is approximately 400,000 tons and the
average utilization rate over the past three years was 74%. The total net book value of the Troup facility’s real property and fixed
assets was $2.7 million at December 31, 2018. The facility has approximately 3,200 linear feet of rail. Processed material is shipped
via truck and rail via the Union Pacific railroad.
The facility transports ore from the open-pit mining operations via over-the-road trucks. Material is deposited in drying sheds for
preparation for processing. The material is shredded and placed in sheds for shipment or for feeding to the drying circuit for further
processing. The original Shredding and Dryer processes were constructed in 1986 with additional shredded clay and crude clay
storage being added later. The plant continues to use relay logic controls for all plant processes. The plant maintains a fleet of 3 front
end loaders to move clay through the shredding and loadout processes. Additionally, the plant maintains two tracked excavators
which are used to mine clay and miscellaneous ancillary mobile equipment to support mining and processing ball clay.
The Troup facility derives its ball clay ore from the Wilcox Formation. We extract crude clay ore feed from multiple mining pits to
optimize blending capabilities. Crude clay grades are primarily delineated using water loss and loss on ignition testing (LOI). These
clay grades are subsequently mined and blended to formulate the facility’s ceramic clay products. The primary key quality parameters
controlling mine sequence development are: (i) the percentage of loss on ignition (LOI); (ii) the percentage of carbon; (iii) the
percentage of clay shrinkage; and (iv) the percentage of sulfur.
Tunnel City, Wisconsin. We completed greenfield construction of our Tunnel City facility in 2014. The facility is located in Tomah,
Monroe County, Wisconsin, approximately 45 miles east of La Crosse. It consists of over 2,000 acres of owned real property and is
accessible by using major highways, including U.S. Interstate 90. The facility utilizes natural gas, propane and electricity to process
sand. Processed material is shipped via rail using the Canadian Pacific railroad. The Tunnel City facility is unit train capable with
over 42,000 linear feet of rail. Annual capacity is approximately 3.2 million tons per year and the average utilization rate over the past
three years was 70%. The total net book value of the Tunnel City facility’s real property and fixed assets was $133.3 million at
December 31, 2018.
The sand reserve is mined from the open-pit mine with ripping and dozing to feed the crushing facility. The mine operations are
completed on a year-round basis. The silica sand is processed via two steps of crushing and is then wet sized, dried and screened to
produce API grade silica sand proppants. The Tunnel City facility is the most modern proppant facility among all of our facilities. It
utilizes “advanced technologies” to minimize water and energy consumption, implemented process and design controls to help
minimize impacts to the surrounding environment and is working to re-establish pine barren habitat, oak savannah habitat and native
prairie plants to the landscape. Through its Tunnel City facility, Covia is also a Wisconsin DNR Habitat Conservation Partner for the
Karner Blue Butterfly and is helping to re-establish a bat hibernaculum as a partner in the Wisconsin DNR’s Bat Habitat Program.
The sand reserve mined from the open-pit is the Ironton and Galesville members of the Wonewoc Sandstone. The silica sand product
contains a minimum silica content of 99% and meets API standards for proppant applications. The sandstone section is mined in two
benches to optimize production of frac sand products. The upper bench derives sand feed primarily from the medium to coarse to fine
grained sandstone section (Ironton–upper Galesville) and the underlying bench is comprised largely of medium to fine grained
sandstone (Galesville). The primary key quality parameters controlling mine sequence development are: (i) the percentage of -20/+40
mesh sand fraction; (ii) the percentage of -40/+70 mesh sand fraction; and (iii) the percentage of silt and clay fraction to support
optimizing filter press plant waste disposal operations.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We acquired our Tuscaloosa facility in 1996 from the Morie Company. The facility was originally opened in
1968 by Hardy Sand and has been in continuous operation ever since. It is located on the southern side of the city of Tuscaloosa in
Tuscaloosa County off Highway 69 and consists of approximately 350 acres of leased real property. The mineral reserves at
Tuscaloosa are secured under mineral leases that expire between 2020 and 2035. Annual capacity is approximately 270,000 tons and
the average utilization rate over the past three years was 36%. The total net book value of the Tuscaloosa facility’s real property and
fixed assets was $1.9 million at December 31, 2018.
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Materials produced at Tuscaloosa are sold both dry and damp and are shipped via truck. The mine is a dredging operation where
gravel, silica sand and clay is dredged. The dredge then pumps the mixture to the plant where the gravel is scalped off and sand is
passed through a classifier, dried and placed into silos for load out. Damp sand is sold from the stockpiles. The Tuscaloosa facility
derives its industrial sand ore from the Cottondale Formation. Oversize gravel is also sold as a byproduct as market demands warrant
Utica, Illinois. We acquired our Utica operation in 1980 from Bellrose Silica. The facility is located in Utica, La Salle County,
Illinois and consists of over 2,800 acres of owned real property. It is approximately 10 miles west of Ottawa and is accessible from
Interstate 80 via Illinois State Highway 178. The facility is unit train capable and has over 33,000 linear feet of rail. Processed sand
is shipped via truck and rail using the CSX railroad. Product can also be shipped via barge at a transload facility within 10 miles of
the Utica facility. The facility’s mining operations are completed year-round in an open-pit environment to produce its plant feed.
There are three operating facilities on site that utilize the ore body (Utica 1, Utica 2 and Utica 3).
The facility’s total site capacity is approximately 2.3 million tons per year and the average utilization rate over the past three years was
73%. The total net book value of the Utica facility’s real property and fixed assets was $212.8 million at December 31, 2018. Utica
derives its silica sand ore from the St. Peter Sandstone. The silica sand product contains a minimum silica content of 99% and meets
API standards for proppant applications.
Wedron, Illinois. Our Wedron, Illinois facility is located in Wedron, LaSalle County, Illinois and consists of owned real property.
The facility, which is approximately 6 miles northeast of Ottawa, Illinois, is accessible via County Highway 21 off of State Highway
71 and State Highway 23. The site utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand. Mining methods include mechanical removal
of glacial overburden followed by drilling, blasting, and hydraulic mining. Hydraulically mined sand is pumped to the wash plant to
be hydraulically sized and sent to the dry plant where it is dried and screened.
Our Wedron facility and its predecessors have operated since 1890. The washing and drying operations at our Wedron facility were
upgraded in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 in conjunction with significant capacity and reserve base increases. Significant railyard
expansions in 2014 and 2015 facilitated greater flexibility and provided for unit train capabilities. Processed sand is shipped from the
facility via truck or rail on the BNSF and CSX Railroads via the Illinois Railnet. Our Wedron facility utilizes approximately 50,000
linear feet of rail. A portion of the sand is transferred by conveyor or trucked from our Wedron facility and is coated at our
Technisand Wedron and/or Troy Grove, Illinois resin-coating facilities. The total net book value of the Wedron facility’s real
property and fixed assets was $909.9 million at December 31, 2018.
The sand reserve mined from the open-pit mine at the Wedron facility is the St. Peter Sandstone formation. The Wedron facility
produces high purity, round grain silica sand that meets the API requirements for proppant application. The Wedron facility
production capacity is approximately 9.0 million tons per year. The surface deposit at the Wedron facility is a high purity, round grain
sand with a minimum silica content of 99%, which meets API requirements for proppant application. The controlling attributes are
iron and grain size. Iron is concentrated near the surface, where orange iron staining is evident and also increases where the bottom
contact becomes concentrated in iron pyrite. Maximum average full face iron content is 0.020%. The deposit tends to exhibit a
coarser grain size distribution in the top half of the deposit.
Processing Facilities
Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. We acquired our Apodaca facility, then known as Molinos del Norte, from Quinsa Company in 2002.
The facility is in Apodaca County, Apodaca, Nuevo Leon and consists of owned real property. The facility is 12 miles from
Monterrey and is accessible via the Apodaca-Huinala road. The main process at the facility is grinding and it utilizes electricity.
Annual capacity of the Apodaca facility is approximately 115,700 short tons and the average utilization rate over the past three years
was 40%. The total net book value of the Apodaca facility’s real property and fixed assets was $3.8 million at December 31, 2018.
The main product produced at the Apodaca facility is calcium carbonate which is ground from 45 to less than 5 microns. Calcium
carbonate is used as a functional filler in the ceramics as well as the coatings and polymers industries. Materials needed for
processing (white marble, talc and barite) are externally sourced and transported in via bulk truck and rail. The products produced at
the Apodaca facility are shipped via bulk truck or in 50-pound paper bags by truck.
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Benito Juarez, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Greenfield construction of our Benito Juarez facility was completed in 2001. This facility is in
Benito Juarez County, Nuevo Leon and consists of owned real property. The facility is located 17.5 miles east of Monterrey and is
accessed via Monterrey-Reynosa highway 40. The facility uses electricity to process its material and has an annual capacity of
approximately 138,900 short tons. The average utilization rate over the past three years was 88%. The total net book value of the
Benito Juarez facility’s real property and fixed assets was $1.7 million at December 31, 2018.
The Benito Juarez facility produces sodium feldspar, which is supplied to ceramics, sanitary-ware and tiles manufacturers who are in
the same industrial area as the facility. Feldspar for the facility is supplied from the Ahuazotepec facility via truck. The Benito Juarez
facility produces ground products with particle sizes less than 75 microns and they are shipped via bulk trucks over short distances to
end users.
Calera, Alabama. We acquired the Calera facility, then known as Southern Lime, from Peak Investments, LLC in 2008. This facility,
which has been in operation since the 1940’s, consists of owned real property and is located in Calera, Shelby County, Alabama, along
State Highway 25W, 35 miles south of Birmingham and is accessible via U.S. Interstate 65. The site utilizes coal, natural gas and
electricity to process limestone into lime. Annual capacity of our facility is approximately 422,500 tons and the average utilization
rate over the past three years was 93%. The total net book value of the Calera facility’s real property and fixed assets was $23.4
million at December 31, 2018.
We supply lime produced at the Calera facility to the paper, environmental, chemical, iron and steel industries. The facility sources
limestone from a third party pursuant to a long-term supply agreement and has a kiln capable of producing 1,200 tons per day of high
calcium quicklime. The facility produces three sizes of high calcium quicklime, 7/8 x 1/2 inch (#2), 1/2 x 1/8 inch (#3) and -1/8 inch
(Fines). The facility also produces two grades of hydrated lime (Type N and S). Quicklime products are shipped via bulk rail and
truck. Hydrate is shipped bulk and in 50 pound paper bags. Processed material is shipped directly via the Norfolk Southern railroad
or through intermediaries with the CSX railroad, utilizing approximately 9,500 linear feet of rail.
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We acquired our Lakeshore facility in 2000, but it has been in operation since 1963. It is located in
Hamilton, Ontario and is accessible via the QEW highway and consists of leased real property and fixed assets. The facility processes
lake sand GFN 50-80 (dried) and silica sand (damp) and serves the foundry, sports and recreation, building products, and glass
industries. Lake sand is received from a supplier via vessel and product is dried, screen, and stored in silos. Products can be shipped
to customers via bulk truck or bulk bag methods. Annual capacity of Lakeshore is approximately 336,000 tons and the average
utilization rate over the past three years was 45%. The total net book value of the Lakeshore facility’s real property and fixed assets
was $0.6 million at December 31, 2018.
Lampazos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. We acquired our Lampazos facility from Mexican glass producer Vitro in 1997, but the facility has
been operating since 1970. The facility is in Lampazos County, Nuevo Leon and consists of owned real property. The facility is
located 98 miles north of Monterrey and is accessed via Interstate NL1 road. The Lampazos facility utilizes heavy fuel oil and
electricity to process its material. The processes at the facility are leaching, drying, magnetic separation and grinding. The annual
capacity is approximately 441,600 short tons and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 73%. The total net book
value of the Lampazos facility’s real property and fixed assets was $10.3 million at December 31, 2018.
The Lampazos facility produces silica sands for tableware glass, ceramics and, to a lesser extent, foundry markets. The facility’s
supply comes from the Canoitas facility, where it is transported as wet sand. The Lampazos facility mainly produces silica sand with
low iron oxide content for the tableware glass market. It also generates ground products from 75 to 45 microns for ceramics industry
manufacturers mainly located in the city of Monterrey. Finished material is shipped either in bulk or large bags via truck.
San Jose, Guanajuato, Mexico. We acquired our San Jose facility from Vitro in 1997, but the facility has been in operation for more
than 40 years. The facility is located in San Jose Iturbide County, Guanajuato and consists of owned real property. It is located 35
miles north of Queretaro and is accessed via Highway 57 Queretaro-San Luis Potosi. The San Jose facility generates two main
products: silica sand and potassium feldspar. The facility utilizes electricity to process its material. The current primary process at the
San Jose facility is grinding and its annual production capacity is approximately 55,000 tons. The average utilization rate over the
past three years was 23%. The total net book value of the San Jose facility’s real property and fixed assets was $0.1 million at
December 31, 2018.
Ground silica sand and feldspar produced at the San Jose facility are supplied mainly to the electric ceramics industry. The potassium
feldspar is supplied by a third party and silica sand as raw material is supplied by the Jaltipan facility. The products produced at the
San Jose facility are shipped via bulk truck.
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Tamms, Illinois. We acquired the Tamms facility from Tammsco, Inc. in 1986. This facility has been in operation since the early
1900’s and consists of owned real property located in Tamms, Alexander County, Illinois, just off State Highway 127, 20 miles north
of Cairo, Illinois, the southernmost tip of the state. The site is currently a nepheline syenite milling/sizing operation utilizing
electricity with an annual capacity of approximately 26,000 tons. The average utilization rate over the past three years was 89%. The
total net book value of the Tamms facility’s real property and fixed assets was $1.2 million at December 31, 2018.
We supply products produced at the Tamms facility to the coatings and polymer industries. The site receives partially processed
nepheline syenite feedstock from the Nephton facility and subsequently processes the material to produce several grades of finished
products, primarily less than 15 microns in size. The products are then bagged and shipped on van or container trucks.
Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico. We completed greenfield construction of its Tlaxcala milling facility in 2010. This facility is in Tetla
County, Tlaxcala and consists of owned real property. It is located 25 miles northeast of the city of Tlaxcala and is accessed via the
road 119 Apizaco-Ciudad de Mexico. The facility utilizes electricity to produce ground products of silica sand. The annual capacity
is approximately 105,000 tons and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 91%. The total net book value of the
Tlaxcala facility’s real property and fixed assets was $1.7 million at December 31, 2018.
The Tlaxcala facility produces ground silica for the fiberglass industry. The silica sand is supplied from the Jaltipan facility. The
Tlaxcala facility generates ground products with particle sizes from 75 to 45 microns and its processed material is shipped via bulk
truck.
Troy Grove, Illinois. We acquired its Troy Grove facility from Martin Marietta in 1983, but the facility has been in operation since
1960. The facility is located in Troy Grove, La Salle County, Illinois and consists of approximately 60 acres of owned real property.
It is approximately 20 miles from Ottawa and is accessible via U.S. Interstate Highway 52. The facility uses electricity to process its
material and has an annual capacity of approximately 34,000 tons. The average utilization rate over the past three years was 15%.
The total net book value of the Troy Grove facility’s real property and fixed assets was $1.6 million at December 31, 2018.
The Troy Grove facility supplies nepheline syenite to the coatings and polymers industries. The facility receives its feed stock from
the Nephton facility. The facility then grinds and classifies the material into bins for sale via bulk truck or rail.
Inactive Facilities
Bay City, Wisconsin. Our Bay City, Wisconsin facility is located in Isabelle and Hartland Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin and
consists of owned and leased real property. The mineral reserves at the Bay City facility are secured under mineral leases that, with
the exercise of renewal terms, expire between 2045 and 2106. The Bay City facility was opened in 1919 and operated continuously
until 1989. We acquired the mine through the acquisition of Wisconsin Specialty Sand and constructed the associated Hager City
processing (drying) plant in 2007. This underground mine is approximately 1.5 miles northeast of Bay City on State Highway 35.
The reserves are located at a depth of 230 feet. The mine utilizes electricity to process sand. Mining methods include drilling and
blasting. As a result of the challenging conditions in the global oil and gas markets, these operations were idled in 2015. Although
the processing facility was idled, the railyard remains active and provides unit train capabilities for the Maiden Rock facility.
Mined sand is shipped approximately five miles to the Hager City plant for further processing and eventual shipment via truck or rail
on the BNSF Railroad. The Hager City plant, constructed by Wisconsin Industrial Sand Company, LLC in 2007, was expanded in
2013 and 2014 with the addition of a new rail yard containing approximately 19,000 linear feet of rail for assembling unit trains.
The sand reserve mined from the underground mine at the Bay City facility is the Jordan Sandstone. The Bay City facility produces
high purity, round grain silica that meets API requirements for proppant application. The mining capacity is approximately 780,000
tons per year. The total net book value of the Bay City facility’s real property and fixed assets was $12.0 million at December 31,
2018. The underground deposit at the Bay City facility is a high purity, round grain sand with a minimum silica content of 99% which
meets API requirements for proppant application. The controlling attributes are turbidity, acid solubility, and grain size. The deposit
tends to exhibit a coarser grain size distribution near the top of the deposit. Grain size distributions are maintained through control of
mine horizon. Turbidity and acid solubility are controlled though the use of hydrosizers during wet processing.
Brewer, Missouri. Our Brewer, Missouri mine is located in Brewer, Perry County, Missouri and consists of owned real property. The
facility, approximately one-half mile northwest of Brewer, Missouri, is accessible via State Highway M. We acquired the inactive
mine in 2013. The operation was reactivated and began production in December 2014 but was idled in 2015 due to the challenging
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conditions in the global oil and gas markets. In January 2017, the decision was made to return Brewer to full production due to an
increase in demand for proppants. The mine resumed production in the first quarter of 2017. In September 2018, the decision was
made to idle the Brewer site due to reduced customer demand. Mining methods include the mechanical removal of overburden
followed by drilling, blasting and mechanical mining.
The sand reserve mined from the open-pit mine at the Brewer facility is the St. Peter Sandstone. The deposit produces high purity,
round grain silica that meets API requirements for proppant application. The mining capacity is approximately 1.3 million tons per
year and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 37%. The total net book value of the Brewer facility’s real property
and fixed assets was $4.6 million at December 31, 2018. The surface deposit at the Brewer facility is a high purity, round grain sand
with a minimum silica content of 99% which meets API requirements for proppant application. The controlling attributes are turbidity
and grain size. The deposit tends to exhibit a coarser grain size distribution in top half of deposit. Turbidity is controlled through the
use of hydrosizers and attrition scrubbers during wet processing.
Grand Haven, Michigan. Our Grand Haven, Michigan facility is located in Grand Haven, Ottawa County, Michigan. The mine and
facility consist of owned real property that is subject to a reverter to the prior property owner in 2021. The mine and facility have
been closed since 2014. There is no net book value assigned to the Grand Haven facility. The facility, which is approximately two
miles south of Grand Haven, Michigan, is accessible via Lakeshore drive and US Highway 31.
The sand resource historically mined from the open-pit mine at the facility is a dune sand deposit. This surface dune deposit is a high
purity, sub-round grain sand with minimum silica content of 96% ideal for foundry metal casting applications. The controlling
attribute is ADV. The mine’s ADV ranges from 30-50. ADV is controlled through floatation during wet processing. The grain size
distribution averages greater than 50% plus 50 mesh.
Shakopee, Minnesota. Our Shakopee, Minnesota facility is located in Shakopee, Scott County, Minnesota and consists of owned and
leased real property. The mineral reserves at our mine are secured by fee ownership and a lease agreement that, with the exercise of
renewal options, expires in 2030. The facility is approximately four miles south of Shakopee, Minnesota and is accessible via US
Highway 169. The Shakopee facility utilizes natural gas and electricity to process sand. Mining methods include the mechanical
removal of glacial overburden followed by drilling, blasting, and mechanical mining.
Mining occurred at the Shakopee facility for a short time in the 1980s by others until the property was reclaimed. The mine was
permitted by Great Plains Sand in 2012 and acquired by us in 2013, at which time we changed the name to Shakopee Sand LLC. The
washing and drying operations were upgraded at the facility following the acquisition. Processed sand is shipped from the Shakopee
facility via truck or by rail on the UP. As a result of reduced customer demand, the facility was idled in 2018 after being re-opened in
2017. The 2018 utilization percentage was 41%, based on an operational capacity of approximately 718,000 net tons per year. The
total net book value of the Shakopee facility’s real property and fixed assets was $7.6 million at December 31, 2018.
The sand reserve mined from the open-pit mine at the Shakopee facility is derived from the Jordan Sandstone. The ore deposit is a
high purity, round grain sand with a minimum silica content of 99%, which meets API requirements for proppant applications. The
controlling attributes are turbidity and grain size. The deposit tends to exhibit a coarser grain size distribution in the top half of
deposit. Turbidity is controlled through the use of hydrosizers and attrition scrubbers (scrubbers idled in 2018) during wet processing.
Sibley, Louisiana. Covia purchased the resin coated sand processing facility in Sibley, Louisiana, in 2013 from Patriot Proppants.
The Sibley facility has two process lines, with a total capacity to coat approximately 400 million pounds, or 200,000 tons, of substrate.
The facility has the flexibility to coat numerous substrates using phenolic novolac or resole resin coating technology. Sand can be
received and shipped both by truck and rail in order to help meet customer requirements. The facility has the capability to ship via the
Kansas City Southern interconnected to the Union Pacific railroad to many key locations throughout the United States. There is no net
book value assigned to the Sibley facility.
Voca (East), Texas. We completed greenfield construction of the Voca facility in 1996. The facility is located in Voca, McCulloch
County, Texas and consists of owned real property. It is approximately 110 miles west of Austin and is accessible via State Highway
71. The Voca East facility utilizes natural gas and electricity to process. Annual capacity at the Voca facility is approximately
419,000 tons and the average utilization rate over the past three years was 56%. The total net book value of the Voca (East) facility’s
real property and fixed assets was $3.4 million at December 31, 2018.
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We use drill and blast processes in an open-pit environment to produce feed for the Voca East facility. Mine operations are year-
round. Material is transported to the facility via rigid frame trucks. Material is processed through three stages of crushing for
preparation to the hydraulic classification circuits and beneficiation circuits. Product from the wet processing circuits is stockpiled to
reduce moisture and then fed to a natural gas fired dryer prior to finished product screening. Products produced from the Voca facility
are utilized for frac sand. Product is shipped via bulk truck.
The Voca East facility derives its silica sand ore from the Hickory Sandstone Member of the Riley Formation. The silica sand product
contains a minimum silica content of 96% and meets API standards for proppant applications. The sandstone section is mined in
multiple benches to support production of frac sand products. The facility’s mine production recently has shifted to focus on the
extraction of sand previously disposed of in the facility’s tailings cells. The primary key quality parameter controlling mine sequence
development is the percentage of the -30/+140 mesh sand fraction.
Voca (West), Texas. Our Voca West, Texas facility is located in Voca, Mason and McCulloch Counties, Texas and consists of owned
real property. The facility, which is approximately 1.5 miles southeast of Voca, is accessible via County Highway 1851, south of
State Highway 71. Sand mining and processing operations were developed at the facility during 2008, with the construction of
existing plants completed in 2012. We acquired the operations in 2013. The Voca West facility utilizes natural gas with propane
back-up and electricity to process sand. Mining methods include the mechanical removal of thin overburden followed by drilling,
blasting, and mechanical mining. Annual capacity at the Voca West facility was 1,500,000 tons and the average utilization rate over
the past three years was 59%. The total net book value of the Voca (West) facility’s real property and fixed assets was $8.0 million at
December 31, 2018.
The sand reserve mined at our Voca property is the Hickory Sandstone Member of the Riley Formation. The Voca facility produces
high purity, round grain silica which meets API requirements for proppant application. The surface deposit at the Voca West facility
is a high purity, round grain sand with a minimum silica content of 98% which meets API requirements for proppant application. The
controlling attributes are turbidity and grain size. Turbidity is controlled through the use of hydrosizers and attrition scrubbers during
wet processing. Grain size is controlled through the use of hydrosizers and wet screening.
Wexford, Michigan. Our Harrietta, Michigan facility is located in Slagle Township, Wexford County, Michigan and consists of
owned and leased real property. The facility, which is approximately three miles northeast of Harrietta, Michigan, is accessible via
West 28th Road and State Highway 37. The facility utilizes recycled oil and electricity to process sand. Mining methods include
mechanical removal of overburden and excavation of sand.
We acquired Wexford Sand from Sargent Sand in 1998. A new screen plant was installed in 2008. The processed sand is shipped
from the Harrietta facility by bulk via truck or rail on the Great Lakes Central Railroad. The sand reserve mined from the open-pit
mine at the Harrietta facility is a glacial outwash sand deposit for proppant applications. Glacial outwash is glacial sediments
deposited by melting glacial ice at the terminus of a glacier. The mining capacity is approximately 625,000 tons per year and the
average utilization rate over the past three years was 7%. The total net book value of the Wexford facility’s real property and fixed
assets was $0.9 million at December 31, 2018. This surface deposit at the Harrietta facility is sub-round grain sand with minimum
silica content of 96% ideal for foundry applications. The controlling attributes are ADV and grain size distribution.
As a result of challenging conditions in end markets, the Wexford plant was idled from 2014 to 2018. The plant reopened briefly in
March 2018 but was idled in September 2018 due to reduced customer demand.
Development Sites
Cawood, Quebec, Canada. Our Cawood nepheline syenite prospect is located approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Ottawa,
Ontario in the Cawood Township of southwestern Quebec. The Cawood property consists of 10 mineral claims (5112689 through
5112698). Covia is required to maintain these mineral claims by completing geologic work, or paying in lieu of geologic work, every
two years. In 2018, geologic work was completed (diamond core drilling) that will maintain these mineral claims to approximately
2027, continent upon Quebec Ministry review and approval.
The region lies within the Proterozoic Grenville Province of the Central Meta-Sedimentary Belt. The rock is characterized by upper
amphibolite-granulite facies metamorphism and includes Grenvillian paragneiss, marble and orthogneiss with intrusions of late
Proterozoic plutons and Phanerozoic easterly trending diabase dikes. The Cawood complex was identified as the only principal pluton
within the property area by regional mapping and is bounded within our mineral claim block. The area has been geologically mapped.
Qualitative evaluation has been completed through bulk sampling and diamond core drilling. Diamond core drilling was completed
by us in 2001, 2015 and 2018.
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The nepheline syenite is typically white to grey, medium grained and containing hornblende, biotite, magnetite and aegirine as mafic
minerals. Grain size varies from fine to very coarse with the core of the complex having pegmatitic bands. Nepheline content varies
from 10 to 25%.
There was no net book value assigned to the Cawood location’s real property and fixed assets at December 31, 2018.
Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin. Our Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin resources are located in Diamond Bluff and Oak Grove Townships, Pierce
County, Wisconsin and consist of 2674 acres of leased and 10 acres of owned property. The mineral resources were secured under
leases that expire between 2063 and 2064. The mine access property was purchased in 2014 and is undeveloped. The mine was
permitted by the Diamond Bluff Township in 2012 and by the Oak Grove Township in 2014. The facility, which is located
approximately one mile northwest of the unincorporated community of Diamond Bluff, is accessible off of 1005 th Street via State
Highway 35.
The proposed underground mine site was planned at a depth of 230 feet and will utilize electricity to process sand through drilling,
blasting, mechanical, and hydraulic mining methods. Mined sand will be shipped approximately eight miles to the Hager City plant
for further processing and eventual shipment via truck or rail on the BNSF Railroad.
The ore resources at this proposed underground mine are derived from the Jordan Sandstone. This deposit is capable of producing
high purity, round grain silica sand which meets API requirements for proppant applications. This underground resource is a high
purity, round grain sand with a minimum silica content of 99% which meets API requirements for proppant applications. The
controlling attributes are turbidity, acid solubility, and grain size. The deposit tends to exhibit a coarser grain size distribution near the
top of the deposit.
The total net book value of the Diamond Bluff location’s real property and fixed assets is included in the net book value of the Bay
City facility.
Hixton, Wisconsin. We completed greenfield exploration of its Hixton facility in 2014. The facility is located near Hixton, Jackson
County, Wisconsin, approximately 40 miles northeast of La Crosse. The original 2014 land package consisted of approximately 1,800
acres of leased and owned real property and is accessible by using major highways, including U.S. Interstate 94. Processed proppant
sands were planned to be shipped via rail using the Canadian National Railway (“CN”).
The sandstone resource targeted to be mined is derived from the Ironton and Galesville members of the Wonewoc Sandstone. The
planned silica sand product contains a minimum silica content of 99% and meets API standards for proppant applications.
The total net book value of the Hixton location’s real property and fixed assets was $0.2 million at December 31, 2018.
Katemcy, Texas. Our Katemcy, Texas resources are located in Katemcy, Mason County, Texas and consist of owned real property.
The mine property was purchased in September 2013 and is accessed via County Road 1222 and State Highway 87. The prospective
mining area has not been developed and the property is currently used as agricultural land. Plans to develop the mine property are
under review.
The sandstone resource at this proposed open-pit mine is derived from the Hickory Sandstone Member of the Riley Formation. This
deposit is capable of producing high purity, round grain silica sand with a minimum silica content of 98% which meets API
requirements for proppant applications. The controlling key quality attributes will be grain size and turbidity.
The total net book value of the Katemcy location’s real property and fixed assets is included in the net book value of the Voca (West)
facility.
Wedeen River, British Columbia, Canada. Our Wedeen River property is a magnetite prospect in British Columbia, Canada,
approximately 8 miles north of the coastal town of Kitimat. The prospect is comprised of four Crown Granted mineral claims
(Mineral Hill #1, #2, #3 and Summit). We acquired these properties during Unimin’s Indusmin acquisition. Several surrounding
previously held mineral claims have been allowed to lapse due to the magnetite deposit being shown to lie wholly within our Crown
Granted mineral claims. Geologic mapping and diamond core drilling (occurring between 1958-1962) has identified the deposit as an
iron skarn deposit with high grade magnetite lenses (40-60% Fe) separated by low grade disseminated magnetite zones (5-15% Fe).
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In 1994, a resource estimate reported “almost 6 million net tons grading to 22.009% acid soluble Fe”, equivalent to 1.3 million tons of
iron.
There was no net book value assigned to the Wedeen River location’s real property and fixed assets at December 31, 2018.
Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico. Our Terrazo, and La Chiche properties are marble deposits, approximately 33 miles northwestern of
Torreon, Coahuila Mexico. Terrazo is accessed via State Highway 40 Torreon-Cuencame, while La Chiche can be accessed via State
Highway 49 Torreon-Jimenez. These properties were acquired as calcium carbonate mineral resources for our Apodaca facility. This
commodity is used as a functional filler in the ceramics as well as the coatings and polymers industries. The mineral deposits are in
Cretaceous limestone from de Aurora Formation located in skarn zone around the quartz monzonite igneous intrusion. Geologic
mapping and diamond core drilling (occurring between 2007-2010) has identified the marble deposits. The resources of calcium
carbonate in the Terrazo property are 1,201,000 net metric tons, while resources of calcium carbonate in La Chiche property are
5,776,000 net metric tons. There was no net book value assigned to the Torreon location’s real property and fixed assets at December
31, 2018.
The mineral resource is a high concentration, marble product material. This mineral resource should define the reserves with a
minimum calcium carbonate content of 98.5%, and a minimum LCIELAB value of 96.0 which meets specification requirements for
filler and coating application.
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The following map reflects the location of our mining, manufacturing, and processing facilities in North America as of December 31,
2018, as well as the segment in which they serve. If a facility serves both the Industrial and Energy segments, we refer to them as
Hybrid facilities:
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The following table reflects the segment(s) served by significant locations:
Segment
Location
Ahuazotepec, Puebla, Mexico
Apodaca, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Bay City, WI
Beaver, OH
Benito Juarez, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Benton Harbor, MI
Brewer, MI
Bridgeton, NJ
Calera, AL
Camden, TN
Canoitas, Coahuila, Mexico
Chardon, OH
Cleburne, TX
Cornelius, NC
Crane, TX
Cutler, IL
Dividing Creek, NJ
Elco, IL
Emmett, ID
Fresno, TX
Gore, VA
Grand Haven, MI
Green Mountain, NC
Guion, AR
Hephzibah, GA
Huntersville, NC
Huntingburg, IN
Independence, OH
Jaltipan, Veracruz, Mexico
Junction City, GA
Kasota, MN
Kermit, TX
Lakeshore Sand, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Lampazos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Lugoff, SC
Magdalena de Kino, Sonora, Mexico
Maiden Rock, WI
Mankato, MN
Marston, NC
Martinsburg, WV
McIntyre, GA
Menomonie, WI
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Nephton, Ontario, Canada
New Canaan, CT
Oregon, IL
Ottawa, IL
Ottawa, MN
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Pevely, MI
Portage, WI
Roff, OK
Saint Canut, Quebec, Canada
San Jose, Guanajuato, Mexico
San Juan, Veracruz, Mexico
Seiling, OK
Serena, IL
Shakopee, MN
Sibley, LA
Sugar Land, TX
Tamms, IL
The Woodlands, TX
Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Troup, TX
Troy Grove, IL
Tunnel City, WI
Tuscaloosa, AL
Utica, IL
Voca, TX
Wedron, IL
Winchester, VA
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Product Delivery
We have established an oil and gas logistics network that we believe is highly responsive to our customers’ needs and includes
distribution terminals in all major oil and gas basins, as well as selected locations to serve Industrial customers. These terminals are a
combination of facilities that we own or lease, as well as properties that are owned and operated by third parties. They generally
consist of rail and transload operations, plus in some cases additional storage and handling facilities.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Product Liability Matters
We and/or our predecessors have been named as a defendant, usually among many defendants, in numerous product liability lawsuits
brought by or on behalf of current or former employees of our customers alleging damages caused by silica exposure. As of
December 31, 2018, we were subject to approximately 76 active silica exposure cases. Many of the claims pending against us arise
out of the alleged use of our silica products in foundries or as an abrasive blast media and have been filed in the states of Ohio and
Mississippi, although cases have been brought in many other jurisdictions over the years. In accordance with the terms of our
insurance coverage, these claims are being defended by our subsidiaries’ insurance carriers, subject to our payment of a percentage of
the defense costs. Based on information currently available, management cannot reasonably estimate a loss at this time. Although the
outcomes of these lawsuits cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not believe that the pending lawsuits, individually or
in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Stockholder Matters
Beginning on April 24, 2018, alleged stockholders of Fairmount Santrol filed class actions against Fairmount Santrol and its directors
in the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio and for the District of Delaware. The lawsuits generally alleged
that Fairmount Santrol and its directors violated the federal securities laws by issuing misleading disclosures in connection with the
Merger. The lawsuits sought, among other things, to enjoin the special meeting at which stockholders of Fairmount Santrol were
scheduled to vote on, among other items, a proposal to adopt the Merger agreement.
On May 15, 2018, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between counsel for the plaintiffs and counsel for the defendants,
Fairmount Santrol disseminated additional information to Fairmount Santrol stockholders through a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Also on May 15, 2018, the plaintiffs withdrew their pending motions for a preliminary injunction. On June 1, 2018, after the holders
of the majority of the outstanding shares of Fairmount Santrol voted to approve the Merger, the Merger was effected pursuant to the
Merger agreement. On November 9, 2018, the parties executed a stipulation of settlement and the plaintiffs filed a motion with the
Court seeking preliminary approval of the proposed settlement. The final settlement hearing, originally scheduled for March 12, 2019,
was postponed due to conflicts with the Court’s schedule. The hearing has not yet been rescheduled.
Other Matters
We are a defendant in a lawsuit seeking declaratory judgment that the Merger constitutes an event of default under certain operating
lease agreements. Although the outcome of this lawsuit cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not believe that this
matter is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
We are involved in other legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. We currently believe that each such
action and claim will be resolved without a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. However,
litigation involves an element of uncertainty. Future developments could cause these actions or claims to have a material effect on our
financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Our safety program establishes a system for promoting a safety culture that encourages incident prevention and continually strives to
improve our safety and health performance. Our safety program includes as its domain all established safety and health specific
programs and initiatives for our material compliance with all local, state and federal legislation, standards, and regulations as they
apply to a safe and healthy employee, stakeholder, and work environment.
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Our safety program has the ultimate goal of the identification, elimination or control of all risks to personnel, stakeholders, and
facilities, that can be controlled and directly managed, and those it does not control or directly manage, but can expect to have an
influence upon.
The operation of our U.S.-based mines is subject to regulation by MSHA under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the
“Mine Act”). MSHA inspects our mines on a regular basis and issues various citations and orders when it believes a violation has
occurred under the Mine Act. Following passage of The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, MSHA
significantly increased the numbers of citations and orders charged against mining operations. The dollar penalties assessed for
citations issued has also increased in recent years.
We are required to report certain mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank
Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K, and that required information is included in
Exhibit 95.1 and is incorporated by reference into this Report.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS, AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Shares of our common stock, traded under the symbol “CVIA,” have been publicly traded since June 1, 2018, when our common
stock was listed and began trading on the NYSE. Prior to that date, there was no public market for our common stock.
Holders of Record
On March 19, 2019, there were 131,419,651 shares of our common stock outstanding, which were held by 10,029 stockholders of
record. Because many of our shares of common stock are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, we are
unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
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Covia Holdings Corporation Comparative Stock Performance Graph
The graph below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock, the cumulative total return on the Russell
3000 Index, the Standard and Poor's Small Cap 600 GICS Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Sub-Industry index, and a composite
average of publicly traded proppant peer companies (U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc., Hi-Crush Partners LP, Smart Sand, and Emerge
Energy Services LP) since June 1, 2018, the first day our stock traded on the NYSE.
The graph assumes $100 was invested on June 1, 2018, the first day our stock was traded on the NYSE, in our common stock, the
Russell 3000, the Standard and Poor's Small Cap 600 GICS Oil & Gas Equipment & Services Sub-Industry Index, and a composite of
publicly-traded proppant peer companies. The cumulative total return assumes the reinvestment of all dividends. We have included a
composite of our proppant peers as their share performance tends to be more closely correlated with ours than our industrial peers at
this time.
June 1, 2018
June 30, 2018
July 31, 2018
August 31, 2018
September 30, 2018
October 31, 2018
November 30, 2018
December 31, 2018
Russell 3000
S&P Oil & Gas
Equipment & Services
Proppant Peers
Covia Holdings
Corporation
TOTAL RETURN
100.00
99.51
102.70
106.09
106.11
98.20
99.94
90.48
100.00
97.03
102.62
94.88
94.38
78.69
71.51
54.16
100.00
87.72
100.44
80.07
71.35
52.03
47.77
32.59
100.00
75.76
73.59
46.24
36.61
23.59
24.08
13.96
66
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table presents our consolidated statement of operations and certain operating data. The results of operations by segment
are discussed in further detail following the consolidated overview.
Statement of Income Data:
Revenues
Operating income (loss) from continuing
operations
Income (loss) from continuing operations before
provision (benefit) for income taxes
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income (loss) attributable to Covia Holdings
Corporation
Continuing operations earnings (loss) per share
Basic
Diluted
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic
Diluted
Cash dividends declared per share
Operating Data:
Total tons sold
Average selling price per ton
Balance Sheet Data (at period end):
Cash and cash equivalents
Total assets
Long-term debt (including current portion)
Total liabilities
Total equity
2018
2017
Year Ended December 31,
2016
(in thousands)
2015
2014
$
1,842,937 $
1,295,112 $
982,696 $
1,371,678 $
2,013,694
(163,841 )
162,704
24,457
(90,289 )
404,519
(278,995 )
(282,982 )
12,587
122,062
130,887
23,284
(31,102 )
(5,770 )
9,435
(121,506 )
(83,350 )
10,992
380,292
279,443
(70,342 )
(270,498 ) $
154,171 $
3,665 $
(72,358 ) $
209,101
(2.26 ) $
(2.26 )
(2.16 )
(2.16 )
- $
1.09 $
1.09
1.29
1.29
- $
(0.05 ) $
(0.05 )
0.03
0.03
0.42 $
(0.97 ) $
(0.97 )
(0.58 )
(0.58 )
- $
2.67
2.67
1.47
1.47
-
29,581
62.30 $
23,286
55.62 $
18,923
51.93 $
19,249
71.26 $
23,030
87.44
134,130 $
3,756,117
1,628,369
2,301,164
1,454,953 $
308,059 $
2,040,098
417,012
814,783
1,225,315 $
183,361 $
1,839,099
367,436
768,681
1,070,418 $
359,478 $
2,247,580
637,616
1,142,596
1,104,984 $
417,764
2,445,316
314,377
1,245,447
1,199,869
$
$
$
$
$
$
67
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
The following management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the
section entitled “Business” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and other financial information
appearing elsewhere in this Report. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties
and assumptions. See the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 3 of
this Annual Report. Our actual results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements as a result of many
factors, including those discussed in “Item 1A—Risk Factors” in Part I of this Report. The following discussion contains certain non-
GAAP (defined herein) financial measures, including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (defined herein). See “—Key Metrics Used to
Evaluate Covia’s Business” for a reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.
Overview
We are an application-focused minerals company providing materials solutions to customers drawing from a diversified product
portfolio. We produce a wide range of specialized silica sand, feldspar, nepheline syenite, calcium carbonate, clay, kaolin, lime, and
lime products for use in the energy and Industrial markets in North America and around the world. We have 44 sand mining facilities
with over 50 million tons of annual sand processing capacity and significant proven and probable mineral reserves that serve both the
Industrial and Energy markets and six active coating facilities with more than two million tons of annual coating capacity. Our mining
and coating facilities span North America and also include operations in China and Denmark. We believe our U.S., Mexico, and
Canada operations are among the largest, most flexible, and cost-efficient facilities in the industry with close proximity to our
customer base.
Our operations are organized into two segments based on the primary end markets we serve – Energy and Industrial. Our Energy
segment offers the oil and gas industry a comprehensive portfolio of raw frac sand, value-added proppants, well-cementing additives,
gravel-packing media and drilling mud additives that meet or exceed the API standards. Our products serve hydraulic fracturing
operations in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Mexico, China, and northern Europe.
Our Industrial segment provides raw, value-added, and custom-blended products to the glass, construction, ceramics, foundry,
coatings, polymers, sports and recreation, filtration and various other industries primarily in North America.
We believe our segments are complementary. Our ability to sell to a wide range of customers across multiple end markets allows us
to maximize the recovery of our reserve base within our mining operations and to mitigate the cyclicality of our earnings.
Recent Trends and Outlook
Energy segment market trends:
(cid:120) Volatility of drilling activity. Demand for proppant is primarily determined by the level of drilling and well completions by
E&P companies, which depends largely on the current and anticipated profitability of developing oil and natural gas
reserves. Drilling and completions activity increased in the first half of 2018 as a result of rising oil prices, but softened in
the second half of 2018 relative to the first half of the year, largely as a result of E&P budget constraints and lower oil
prices in the fourth quarter of 2018. WTI benchmark prices averaged nearly $65 per barrel in 2018 versus $51 per barrel in
2017. However, the WTI benchmark was approximately $45 per barrel at the end of 2018. In response to the improved
returns generated by higher average oil prices, E&P companies increased their capital spending on drilling and completion
in 2018 relative to 2017. In 2019, E&P capital spending on drilling and completions activity is expected to decline in
response to lower hydrocarbon prices and a desire from E&P companies to generate additional cash flow. Current WTI
pricing, as of March 15, 2019 was approximately $58 per barrel.
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(cid:120)
Shifts in drilling activity affect the mix of proppants customers require. Well design and completion trends in oil and gas
impact the demand for and the mix of proppants we sell. In 2013 and 2014, well designs centered around guar and
crosslinked gel utilizing coarse grade proppants with high conductivity. E&P companies also used ceramics and/or resin-
coated proppants for added strength and flowback control. In 2015 and 2016, lower crude oil prices caused E&P companies
to seek to reduce short-term operating costs, including experimenting with slickwater designs utilizing longer laterals and
high loading of lower priced, finer grades of proppant. Beginning in 2018, and continuing into 2019, E&P companies
began widespread usage of sand that is mined within the same basin as their well locations due to the lower transportation
costs associated with this sand, which is almost entirely fine mesh. In 2018, and several preceding years, the amount of
proppant used per well increased annually, aiding overall proppant demand. In 2019, the proppant usage per well is
expected to remain relatively consistent with 2018.
(cid:120) Volatility in selling prices for proppants. The rapid decline in oil and gas prices that occurred later in 2014 and into 2016
reduced drilling activity and demand for proppants. As a result, the proppant market became oversupplied, which caused
selling prices for all proppants to decline throughout the majority of 2016. In 2017 and the first half of 2018, the market
experienced a turnaround and proppant pricing increased across all basins as growth outpaced the ability to add idled and
new capacity back to the market. In the second half of 2018, decreased completions activity, combined with the opening of
several new mines in basins with oil activity, namely the Permian, Eagle Ford and Mid-Con, resulted in a significant
deterioration of proppant pricing in the second half of 2018. Some additional mines are expected to be commissioned in
2019, which may result in additional pricing pressure for certain products that are oversupplied.
(cid:120) Demand for in-basin delivery of proppant. A proppant vendor’s logistics capabilities have become an important
differentiating factor when competing for business, on both a spot and contract basis. In recent years, many customers have
sought to outsource proppant logistics and purchase proppant from a supplier’s own terminal (e.g., in-basin) or local mines,
allowing them to focus on their core competencies, minimize inventory costs and maximize flexibility. Our terminal
network in all major oil and gas basins and mines located within the Permian and Mid-Con basins are key differentiators for
customers and enable us to provide proppants closer to the well site.
(cid:120) Emerging in-basin supply. In 2018 and continuing in 2019, multiple sand suppliers, including Covia, commissioned new
sand mines in the Permian basin and, to a lesser extent, the Eagle Ford, and Mid-Con basins. Locating a plant in-basin
significantly reduces the logistics costs, and therefore the overall delivered product cost. In the second half of 2018, we
commissioned two plants in the Permian basin and one in the Mid-Con basin with a total added nameplate capacity of 8
million tons annually. These facilities allow us to offer a low cost local solution. At the same time in 2018, the total supply
of in-basin sands has exceeded the demand in the Permian, putting pressure on market pricing for both local and Northern
White proppants across North America.
(cid:120) Proppant intensity is expected to stablize. From 2015 through 2018 the amount of proppant used per well has increased as
well laterals have become longer, frac stages have tightened and proppant per lateral foot has increased. In 2019, the
amount of proppant used per well is expected to be relatively similar to 2018.
(cid:120)
Shift toward finer proppant grades. Slickwater frac designs, which are generally less expensive, have become the dominant
method for fracturing wells beginning in 2016 and continuing into recent periods. These designs rely on a higher
percentage of fine grade sands compared to coarse grades. Currently, we estimate the market is over 80% fine grade (40/70
and 100 mesh) compared to roughly 55% fine grade in 2014. The strong demand for finer proppants negatively impacts
production costs for facilities that have relatively coarse reserves.
(cid:120) E&P direct sales. Throughout 2018, E&P companies sourced an increasing percentage of their proppant directly from
proppant suppliers to control cost and have better visibility across the entire supply chain. This trend presents an
opportunity to work directly with the end user and provides improved communication between supplier and consumer with
respect to job or grade changes and our percentage of sales directly to E&P companies increased in 2018. Concurrently
with these direct sales, many E&P companies are looking to the supplier to coordinate the “last mile” of the supply chain, or
the moving of product from the in-basin terminal to the well site. In response to this trend, we have entered into agreements
with last mile solutions providers that allow us to provide this service to customers who desire it.
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(cid:120) Reacting to changing conditions. In response to reduced customer demand, we idled mining operations at Shakopee,
Minnesota, Brewer, Missouri, and Wexford, Michigan, and our Cutler, Missouri resin coating facility in the third quarter of
2018, adding to the previously idled mining operation at Hager Bay, Wisconsin. While we have also idled or reduced
capacity at certain of our Northern White facilities and all of our Voca, Texas facilities, we have also commissioned two
new facilities in the Permian basin in the third quarter 2018 and a facility in Oklahoma in the fourth quarter 2018. Through
March 2019, we have reduced our Energy segment nameplate annual capacity by 6.9 million tons through these capacity
reduction measures allowing us to lower fixed plant costs and consolidate volumes into lower cost operations.
Industrial segment market trends:
(cid:120) Continued stable demand in Industrial end markets. The primary end markets served by production in our Industrial
segment are glass, construction, ceramics, foundry, coatings, polymers and various other industries. Demand in our
Industrial segment’s end markets is relatively stable and is primarily influenced by key macroeconomic drivers such as
housing starts, light vehicle sales, repair and remodel activity, Industrial production as well as consumer trends. To the
extent these demand drivers continue on their current trends, we expect that demand for products will remain relatively
stable.
(cid:120) Favorable housing, commercial constructions and consumer trends. Certain submarkets and geographies within our
Industrial segment continue to grow at attractive growth rates driven by attractive housing, commercial construction and
various consumer trends which favor products that utilize our products.
(cid:120)
Inflationary pressures and severe weather events in Mexico impacted Industrial segment results. Throughout 2017 and into
2018, Mexico experienced above-average inflation in energy costs with electricity and diesel costs. In addition, Mexico
faced a number of severe weather-related events during 2017 that resulted in higher operating costs.
How We Generate Our Sales
We derive our sales from mining and processing silica sand products and other minerals that customers purchase for use in a wide
variety of applications. Covia’s sales are primarily a function of the price per ton paid by the customer and the number of tons sold to
the customer. The price invoiced reflects the cost of production, the cost of transportation to our distribution terminals or customer
site and the cost of transloading the product from railcars to trucks, as applicable. Generally, logistics costs can comprise up to 70-
80% of the delivered cost of products sold by the Energy segment, depending on the basin into which the product is delivered.
We primarily sell products under supply agreements with terms that vary by contract. Generally, the supply agreements include both
fixed prices and variable prices. Fixed price agreements have prices set for one or more years while variable price agreements are
subject to regular price adjustments generally tied to market pricing or other market-related indices. Our supply agreements have a
variety of volume provisions. While certain of our contracts have no minimum volume requirements, certain of our supply
agreements require the customer to purchase a specified percentage of its product requirements or a minimum volume of product.
Certain of these minimum volume contracts include a provision which may trigger penalties if the purchased volume does not meet
the required minimums.
Our Energy segment represented 60% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018. A large portion of our sales are
generated by our top customers, and the loss of, or significant reduction in, purchases by our largest customers could adversely affect
our operations. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, our top ten customers were Energy customers and collectively
represented 44% and 48% of our revenues, respectively. In the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, one customer exceeded
10% of revenues. This customer accounted for 13% of our revenues in each of 2018 and 2017. Our Industrial segment represented
40% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The Costs of Conducting Our Business
The principal costs involved in operating our business are logistics costs associated with transporting products from our production
facilities to our terminals; production costs; labor costs; maintenance and repair costs at our production facilities; raw material costs;
energy costs; stripping costs; and corporate costs. We own or lease most of our sand and other mineral reserves. We believe that the
combination of owned and leased reserves helps us maintain a competitive cost position.
70
Logistics Costs
Logistics costs, including freight, railcar leases, demurrage and handling, represented approximately 36% and 34% of our revenues
during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Freight costs primarily represent charges to transport our product
by rail, but we also ship product by truck and barge. In order to move product by rail, we lease a substantial number of railcars under
operating leases with durations ranging from three to 15 years. We currently have approximately 20,200 railcars (which includes
approximately 4,000 customer railcars). Demurrage costs are charged by the railroads based on the time a railcar spends on the
railroad property in excess of an allotted time which can vary significantly from period to period depending on railcar cycle times and
delivery schedules. Handling costs are incurred at our distribution and terminal facilities to move product from one mode of
transportation to another (e.g., railcar to truck) and to move product into storage facilities. Railcar storage costs are incurred when
railcars are temporarily stored at a rail yard or storage facility.
Labor Costs
Labor costs associated with employees at our processing facilities represent the most significant cost of converting raw frac sand to
finished product. Labor costs, including wages and benefits, represented approximately 11% and 12% of our revenues during the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Approximately 34% of our workforce was party to collective bargaining
contracts as of December 31, 2018.
Raw Material Additives Costs
We use a significant amount of raw material additives in the production of our products in both our Energy and Industrial segments.
We purchase these products under supply agreements that contain annual pricing adjustments based on market dynamics. We also
supply a portion of our resin requirements from our resin manufacturing facility located in Michigan. Raw material additives costs
represented approximately 5% and 4% of revenues during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Maintenance and Repair Costs
We capitalize the costs of our mining and processing equipment and depreciate them over their expected useful life. Depreciation,
depletion, and amortization costs represented approximately 11% and 8% of revenues during the years ended December 31, 2018 and
2017, respectively. Repair and maintenance costs that do not involve the replacement of major components of our equipment and
facilities are expensed through cost of goods sold as incurred. These repair and maintenance costs can be significant due to the
abrasive nature of our products and represented approximately 4% of revenues during the each of the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017.
Energy Costs
We consume energy, including natural gas, diesel and electricity, for mine and plant production. Natural gas is the primary fuel
source used for drying sand in the commercial silica production process. Energy costs are typically negotiated on an annual or multi-
year basis and certain input costs are subject to prevailing market prices for the underlying commodity (e.g., natural gas, diesel),
which can vary during the year.
Corporate Costs
Our selling, general and administrative costs, which include the wages and benefits costs noted above, represented approximately 8%
of revenues during each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. These costs are related to our corporate functions, including
costs for the sales and marketing; research and development; finance; legal; and environmental, health and safety functions of our
organization, as well as non-cash stock-based compensation expense.
Merger with Fairmount Santrol
On June 1, 2018 (“Merger Date”), Unimin completed a business combination (“Merger”) whereby Fairmount Santrol merged into a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Unimin and ceased to exist as a separate corporate entity. Immediately following the consummation of
the Merger, Unimin changed its name and began operating as Covia. The common stock of Fairmount Santrol was delisted from the
NYSE prior to the market opening on June 1, 2018, and Covia commenced trading under the ticker symbol “CVIA” on that date.
Upon the consummation of the Merger, the former stockholders of Fairmount Santrol (including holders of certain Fairmount Santrol
equity awards) received, in the aggregate, $170 million in cash consideration and approximately 35% of the common stock of Covia.
Approximately 65% of Covia common stock is owned by SCR-Sibelco NV (“Sibelco”), previously the parent company of Unimin.
71
In connection with the Merger, we redeemed approximately 18.5 million shares of Unimin common stock from Sibelco in exchange
for an amount in cash equal to (i) $660 million plus interest accruing at 5.0% per annum for the period from September 30, 2017
through June 1, 2018 less (ii) $170 million in cash paid to Fairmount Santrol stockholders.
In the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we incurred $53.0 million and $19.3 million of Merger-related expenses,
respectively.
Discontinued Operations
On May 31, 2018, prior to, and as a condition to the closing of the Merger, Unimin contributed certain assets, comprising its global
high purity quartz business in exchange for all of the stock of HPQ Co. and the assumption by HPQ Co. of certain liabilities. Unimin
distributed 100% of the stock of HPQ Co. to Sibelco in exchange for certain shares of Unimin common stock held by Sibelco. HPQ
Co. is presented as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements included in this Report.
As part of the disposition of HPQ Co., Covia and HPQ Co. entered into the Tax Matters Agreement. Under the Tax Matters
Agreement, Covia and HPQ Co. (and their affiliates) are responsible for income taxes required to be reported on their respective
separate and group tax returns; however, HPQ Co. is responsible for any unpaid income taxes attributable to the HPQ Co. business
prior to May 31, 2018, as well as any unpaid non-income taxes as of May 31, 2018 attributable to the HPQ Co. business (whether
arising prior to May 31, 2018 or not). Covia is responsible for all other non-income taxes. We and HPQ Co. will equally bear any
transfer taxes imposed as a result of the disposition of HPQ Co. Rights to refunds in respect of taxes will be allocated in the same
manner as the responsibility for tax liabilities.
How We Evaluate Our Business
Our management uses a variety of financial and operational metrics to analyze our performance across our Energy and Industrial
segments. The determination of segments is based on the primary industries we serve, our management structure and the financial
information that is reviewed by our chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. We
evaluate our performance of these segments based on their volumes sold, average selling price, and segment gross profit and
associated per ton metrics. We evaluate the performance of our business based on company-wide operating cash flows, earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the Non-GAAP Financial
Measures section below. We view these metrics as important factors in evaluating profitability and review these measurements
frequently to analyze trends and make decisions.
Segment Gross Profit
Segment gross profit is a key metric we use to evaluate our operating performance and to determine resource allocation between
segments. Segment gross profit is defined as segment revenue less segment cost of sales, excluding depreciation, depletion and
amortization expenses, selling, general, and administrative costs and corporate costs. As a result of the Merger, inventories were
written up to fair value under GAAP with certain amounts expensed through cost of sales thereby reducing segment gross profit.
Additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2018, we booked charges to our Energy segment gross profit for the impairment of
inventories located at recently idled facilities.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We define EBITDA as net income before interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), depreciation, depletion and amortization.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before non-cash stock-based compensation and certain other income or expenses, including
restructuring charges, impairments, and Merger-related expenses.
We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful because they allow management to more effectively evaluate our normalized
operations from period to period as well as provide an indication of cash flow generation from operations before investing or financing
activities. Accordingly, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not take into consideration our financing methods, capital structure or
capital expenditure needs. As previously noted, Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain non-operational income and/or costs, the removal
of which improves comparability of operating results across reporting periods. However, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have
limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in
accordance with GAAP as indicators of our operating performance. Certain items excluded from EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are
72
significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and
tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA.
Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow for management’s discretionary use, as it does not
consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments, tax payments and debt service requirements. Adjusted EBITDA
contains certain other limitations, including the failure to reflect our cash expenditures, cash requirements for working capital needs
and cash costs to replace assets being depreciated and amortized, and excludes certain non-operational charges. We compensate for
these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and by using Adjusted EBITDA only as a supplement. Non-GAAP
financial information should not be considered in isolation or viewed as a substitute for measures of performance as defined by
GAAP.
Although we attempt to determine EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in a manner that is consistent with other companies in our
industry, our computation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other
companies due to potential inconsistencies in the methods of calculation. We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are widely
followed measures of operating performance.
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDA:
Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Covia
$
Interest expense, net
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense
EBITDA
Non-cash stock compensation expense(1)
Goodwill and other asset impairments(2)
Restructuring charges(3)
Costs and expenses related to the Merger and integration(4)
Loss on sale of subsidiary(5)
Adjusted EBITDA
_____________
$
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands)
2016
(283,085 ) $
60,322
3,987
196,455
(22,321 )
5,812
267,034
27,660
52,979
-
331,164 $
130,887 $
14,653
(8,825 )
101,560
238,275
-
-
-
19,300
-
257,575 $
(5,770 )
23,999
(25,332 )
105,049
97,946
-
9,634
18,992
-
12,923
139,495
(1) Represents the non-cash expense for stock-based awards issued to our employees and outside directors. Stock compensation expense related to the accelerated awards as a result of the
Merger is included in Merger related costs and expenses. Stock compensation expenses are reported in Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses.
(2) Represents expenses associated with the impairment of goodwill in the Energy segment and the impairment of assets from recently idled facilities in 2018. Also includes charges from a
terminated project in 2018 due to post-Merger synergies and capital optimization. Goodwill and other asset impairments for 2016 represent impairment charges for a terminal that was closed
and the writedown of greenfield land.
(3) Represents expenses associated with restructuring activities as a result of the Merger and idled facilities of $22.0 million. It also includes, inventory impairments, pension and severance
expenses, in addition to other liabilities recognized. The inventory impairment charges of $6.7 million are recorded in cost of goods sold. The pension related income of $1.0 million is
recorded in Other non-operating expense, net. Restructuring and other contract termination costs for 2016 include (a) a settlement charge of $13.3 million for Unimin’s U.S. pension plan,
which resulted from a restructuring program where a significant number of employees opted to take a lump sum distribution which exceeded the sum of Unimin’s service and interest costs
for the year ended December 31, 2016, (b) $3.0 million charge related to a contract termination and (c) $2.7 million of severance and office closure costs.
(4) Costs and expenses related to the Merger include legal, accounting, financial advisory services, severance, debt extinguishment, and other expenses. Additionally, it includes stock
compensation expense related to accelerated awards as a result of the Merger.
(5) Represents the loss on the sale of Unimin Venezuela, a component of Unimin's Corporate & Other segment. All components of the Corporate & Other segment were sold or transferred
in 2016.
73
Results of Operations
The following table presents an overview of certain operating data by segment for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and
2016, which are discussed in further detail following the consolidated overview.
Operating Data
Energy
Tons sold
Revenues
Segment gross profit
Industrial
Tons sold
Revenues
Segment gross profit
Corporate & Other
Tons sold
Revenues
Segment gross profit
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands)
2016
$
$
$
$
$
$
16,101
1,114,424 $
258,996 $
13,480
728,513 $
203,175 $
-
- $
- $
11,216
655,937 $
181,715 $
12,070
639,175 $
184,738 $
-
- $
- $
6,835
348,990
37,950
12,088
625,690
188,885
549
8,016
3,125
Financial results for the year ended December 31, 2018 include our results subsequent to the Merger on June 1, 2018. Our year ended
December 31, 2018 reported financial results include legacy Unimin and legacy Fairmount Santrol for the twelve months and seven
months ended December 31, 2018, respectively. Our reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2017 and December
31, 2016 only include legacy Unimin. Our financial results, and the table above, exclude HPQ Co. (legacy Unimin’s Electronics
segment), which was distributed to Sibelco at the close of the Merger and is reported as discontinued operations in our consolidated
financial statements for 2018, 2017, and 2016.
Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2017
Revenues
Revenues increased $547.8 million, or 42%, to $1.8 billion for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $1.3 billion for the
year ended December 31, 2017. With the inclusion of legacy Fairmount Santrol revenues of $477.3 million for the five-month period
ended May 31, 2018 and $959.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, our total revenues increased $65.3 million, or 3%.
Our revenues increased due to improved pricing over the prior year period.
Revenues in the Energy segment increased $458.5 million, or 70%, to $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to
$655.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. With the inclusion of legacy Fairmount Santrol Energy revenues of $421.5
million for the five-month period ended May 31, 2018 and $834.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, Energy segment
revenues increased $45.3 million, or 3%. Energy segment revenues increased primarily due to demand-driven price increases in the
first half of 2018 as compared to a lower pricing environment throughout 2017. Volumes sold into the Energy segment were 16.1
million tons in the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to 11.2 million tons in the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of
4.9 million tons, or 44%. Legacy Fairmount Santrol Energy volumes were 4.6 million tons for the five month period ended May 31,
2018 and 10.3 million tons for the year ended December 31, 2017. With the inclusion of legacy Fairmount Santrol Energy volumes in
each respective period, Energy volumes decreased 0.8 million tons or 4% due to lower market demand in the second half of 2018.
Revenues in the Industrial segment increased $89.3 million to $728.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to
$639.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. With the inclusion of legacy Fairmount Santrol Industrial revenues of $55.8
million for the five month period ended May 31, 2018 and $125.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, Industrial segment
revenues increased $20.0 million, or 3%. Industrial revenues increased due to the annual price increase implemented at the beginning
of 2018. Volumes sold into the Industrial segment increased 1.4 million tons, or 12%, to 13.5 million tons in the year ended
December 31, 2018 compared to 12.1 million tons in the year ended December 31, 2017. Legacy Fairmount Santrol Industrial
volumes were 1.0 million tons for the five month period ended May 31, 2018 and 2.5 million tons for the year ended December 31,
74
2017. With the inclusion of legacy Fairmount Santrol Industrial volumes in each respective period, Industrial volumes were relatively
flat over the prior year.
Segment Gross Profit
Total segment gross profit was $462.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $366.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2017, an increase of $95.8 million, or 26%. With the inclusion of legacy Fairmount Santrol segment gross profit of
$158.1 million for the five months ended May 31, 2018 and $288.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, segment gross
profit decreased $34.7 million, or 5%. Total segment gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2018 includes $28.3 million of
expense related to the $30.2 million write-up of legacy Fairmount Santrol’s inventories to fair value as a result of the Merger under
GAAP, $6.7 million in inventory write-offs at facilities idled in 2018 and $21.4 million for the combined loss from our local facilities
due to start-up activities and higher costs associated with scaling production.
Energy segment gross profit was $259.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $181.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 2017, an increase of $77.3 million. With the inclusion of legacy Fairmount Santrol Energy segment gross profit of
$136.7 million for the five months ended May 31, 2018 and $234.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, Energy segment
gross profit decreased $20.6 million, or 5%. Energy segment gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2018 includes $24.6
million of expense related to the write-up of legacy Fairmount Santrol’s inventories to fair value as a result of the Merger under
GAAP, $6.7 million in inventory write-offs at recently idled facilities and $21.4 million in losses from the start up and scaling of local
sand facilities. The remaining Energy segment gross profit decrease year-over-year was primarily due to the decline in volumes sold.
Industrial segment gross profit was $203.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $184.7 million for the year
ended December 31, 2017, an increase of $18.5 million, or 10%. With the inclusion of legacy Fairmount Santrol Industrial segment
gross profit of $21.4 million for the five months ended May 31, 2018 and $54.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017,
Industrial segment gross profit decreased $14.1 million, or 6%. Industrial segment gross profit includes $3.7 million of expense
related to the write-up of legacy Fairmount Santrol’s inventories to fair value under GAAP. The remaining Industrial segment gross
profit decrease year-over-year was primarily due to higher production and energy costs in the U.S. and Mexico coupled with greater
foreign exchange impact on the Mexican-Peso denominated revenues.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) increased $46.5 million, or 47%, to $145.6 million for the year ended
December 31, 2018 compared to $99.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. SG&A includes non-cash stock compensation
expense of $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Legacy Fairmount Santrol SG&A for the five months ended May 31,
2018 was $44.2 million and included $8.5 million in non-cash stock compensation expenses. Legacy Fairmount Santrol SG&A for the
year ended December 31, 2017 was $104.9 million excluding Merger-related expenses and including $10.1 million in non-cash stock
compensation expense. With the inclusion of legacy Fairmount Santrol SG&A, SG&A decreased $14.3 million, or 7%, primarily due
to lower variable compensation in 2017 which was offset by higher stock compensation expenses in 2018.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased $94.9 million, or 93%, to $196.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018
compared to $101.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The higher expense was due to the write-up to fair value of the
legacy Fairmount Santrol property, plant, and equipment and intangibles under GAAP, as well as the effect of assets placed in service
largely due to the commissioning of the West Texas and Oklahoma mining facilities in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Other Operating Expense (Income), net
Other operating expense (income), net decreased $8.1 million to income of $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018
compared to $3.1 million of expense in the year ended December 31, 2017. The decrease in other operating expense for the year
ended December 31, 2018 was largely due to a reduction of a contingent consideration liability resulting in income to Covia. The
remaining change in other operating expense was related to foreign currency fluctuations.
75
Goodwill and Other Asset Impairments
We incurred goodwill and other asset impairments of $267.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2018. Goodwill and other asset
impairments included non-cash charges for the impairment of assets from recently idled facilities and the impairment of goodwill in
the Energy segment due to the current business conditions and the decline in our stock price over the last half 2018. There were no
impairments in the year ended December 31, 2017.
Restructuring Charges
We incurred restructuring charges of $22.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2018. Restructuring charges included expenses
associated with restructuring activities as a result of the Merger and idled plant facilities, including, severance, relocation and contract
terminations. There were no restructuring charges in the year ended December 31, 2017.
Operating Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations decreased $326.5 million to a loss of $163.8 million for the year ended December
31, 2018 compared to income of $162.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The change in operating income from
continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2018 was largely due to Energy segment goodwill and asset impairments of
$267.0 million and restructuring charges of $22.0 million.
Interest Expense, net
Interest expense increased $45.6 million, or 310%, to $60.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $14.7 million
for the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase in expense for the year ended December 31, 2018 is primarily due to the
increased debt that we placed to finance the Merger.
Other Non-Operating Expense, net
Other non-operating expense, net increased $28.8 million to $54.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $26.0
million in the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase is due to legal, accounting, and other expenses incurred in connection
with the Merger and pension charges related to settlements.
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes increased $12.8 million to $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to a benefit of
$8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. Income before income taxes decreased $401.1 million to a loss of $279.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to income of $122.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase in
tax expense recorded during the year ending December 31, 2018 was related to the non-deductibility of expense related to impairment
of goodwill and a valuation allowance set up for interest expense disallowed under IRC Section 163(j), which management believes,
more likely than not, will not be realized.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”), effective December 22, 2017, established a corporate income tax rate of 21%,
replacing the 35% rate, created a territorial tax system rather than a worldwide system, which generally eliminates the U.S. federal
income tax on dividends from foreign subsidiaries, and included provisions limiting deductibility of interest expense. The transition to
a territorial system included a one-time transition tax on certain unremitted foreign earnings. For 2017, we recognized a net
provisional tax benefit of $39.3 million consisting of a tax benefit of $42.2 million for remeasurement of deferred taxes and tax
expense of $2.9 million for the transition tax.
We applied the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Tax Act in 2017 and
throughout 2018. At December 31, 2017, we had substantially completed our provisional analysis of the income tax effects of the Tax
Act and recorded a reasonable estimate in 2017 of such effects. During 2018, we refined our calculations, evaluated changes in
interpretations and assumptions that we had made, applied additional guidance issued by the U.S. Government, and evaluated actions
and related accounting policy decisions we have made.
76
We have completed our accounting for all of the enactment-date income tax effects of the Tax Act and did not identify any material
changes to the provisional, net, one-time charge for the transition tax on certain unremitted foreign earnings or for the re-measurement
of deferred taxes for the year ended December 31, 2017, related to the Tax Act.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Covia
Net income attributable to Covia decreased $424.7 million to a loss of $270.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared
to $154.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. The change in net income attributable to Covia is due to the factors
previously noted.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA increased $73.6 million to $331.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $257.6 million for
the year ended December 31, 2017. Adjusted EBITDA for 2018 excludes the impact of $5.8 million of non-cash stock compensation
expense, $267.0 million of goodwill and other asset impairments, $27.7 million in restructuring charges, and $53.0 million in Merger-
related expenses. Adjusted EBITDA for 2018 includes $28.3 million of additional expense included in cost of goods sold related to
the write-up of legacy Fairmount Santrol’s inventories to fair value in connection with the Merger, and $24.1 million for the combined
loss from our local facilities due to start-up costs and higher costs associated with scaling production, which was partially offset by the
positive impact of $5.0 million revaluation of a contingent consideration liability. The change in Adjusted EBITDA is largely due to
the incremental EBITDA from the legacy Fairmount Santrol business which was offset by lower volumes and lower gross profit for
the reasons previously noted above.
Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2016
Revenues
Revenues were $1,295.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $982.7 million for the year ended December 31,
2016, an increase of $312.4 million, or 32%. This increase was primarily due to an increase in volumes and average selling price in
our Energy segment.
Revenues in the Energy segment were $655.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $349.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $306.9 million, or 88%. The increase in Energy segment revenues was primarily due to
growth in demand for frac sand as well as increased prices. Total volumes sold in the Energy segment were 11.2 million tons in the
year ended December 31, 2017 compared to 6.8 million tons in the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of 4.4 million tons, or
65%. In addition, the average selling prices for all proppants during 2017 increased as compared to the prior year by approximately
14% due to improving supply and demand dynamics driven by higher oil prices and corresponding increases in frac sand demand.
Revenues in the Industrial segment were $639.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $625.7 million for the
year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of $13.5 million, or 2%. Volumes sold in the Industrial segment remained consistent at
12.1 million tons for both the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. The revenues increase in the Industrial segment was driven
by an increase in average selling price during 2017, which was due to changes in product mix as well as price increases for certain
products.
There was no revenue generated in the Corporate & Other segment for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $8.0 million in
the year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $8.0 million. Revenue in this segment declined because Unimin transferred Unimin
Brazil to Sibelco in March 2016 and sold Unimin Venezuela to an unrelated third party in April 2016. There was no revenue generated
by the Corporate & Other segment subsequent to April 2016.
Segment Gross Profit
Segment gross profit was $366.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $230.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2016, an increase of $136.4 million. The increase in segment gross profit was primarily due to the increase in volumes
sold and average selling prices in our Energy segment.
77
Energy segment gross profit was $181.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $38.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2016, an increase of $143.7 million. The increase was due primarily to the increased volumes and increased selling
prices.
Industrial segment gross profit was $184.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $188.9 million for the year
ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $4.2 million. Industrial segment gross profit during the year was primarily impacted by
higher energy costs and weather-related events in Mexico, increased lease costs for mobile equipment and temporary disruptions at
certain customer facilities which impacted volumes during the year.
There was no gross profit generated in the Corporate & Other segment for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to
$3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease in gross profit in the Corporate & Other segment was driven by the
transfer of Unimin Brazil and sale of Unimin Venezuela in early 2016. Accordingly, this segment has generated no gross profit
subsequent to April 2016.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses
SG&A was $99.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $83.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an
increase of $18.0 million, or 22%. The increase in SG&A during the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended
December 31, 2016 was primarily the result of higher compensation related expense of $9.3 million, higher infrastructure and
communications technologies related costs of $3.2 million and increased bad debt expense of $3.0 million as 2016 benefitted from the
reversal of a provision for bad debt.
Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization
Depreciation, depletion and amortization remained relatively consistent for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year
ended December 31, 2016. Depreciation, depletion and amortization was $101.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and
was $105.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Goodwill and Other Asset Impairments
There were no goodwill and other asset impairments during the year ended December 31, 2017. Goodwill and other asset
impairments were $9.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The goodwill and other asset impairments of $9.6 million for
the year ended December 31, 2016 represent long-lived asset impairment charges for a terminal that was closed and the write down of
undeveloped greenfield land.
Restructuring charges
For the year ended December 31, 2016, there was a $2.7 million restructuring provision recorded for the closure of several sales
offices.
Other Operating Expense (Income), net
Other operating expense (income), net was $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and $4.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2016. Other operating expense (income), net of $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 principally
consisted of the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange. Other operating expense (income), net of $4.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2016 primarily consisted of a $3.0 million penalty to defer the delivery of railcars that were due to be delivered in 2016;
and the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange.
Operating Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations was $162.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of $138.2
million compared to $24.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 due to the factors noted above.
78
Interest Expense, net
Interest expense, net was $14.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $24.0 million for the year ended December
31, 2016, a decrease of $9.3 million, or 39%. The change in interest expense, net was due to having a lower amount of debt
outstanding during 2017 compared to 2016.
Other Non-Operating Expense, net
Other non-operating expense, net was $26.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $31.6 million for the year
ended December 31, 2016. Other non-operating expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily consisted of Merger-
related costs. Other non-operating expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2016 included the loss on the sale of Unimin
Venezuela of $12.9 million and a settlement charge of $13.3 million for our U.S. pension plan. The settlement charge resulted from a
restructuring program where a significant number of employees opted to take a lump sum distribution which exceeded the sum of our
service and interest costs for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
As a result of the enactment of the Tax Act, we were required to adjust deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 22, 2017 to
comply with ASC 740-10-25-47, which requires the effect of a change in tax laws or rates to be recognized as of the date of
enactment. Accordingly, we recorded a deferred income tax benefit of $39.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The income tax benefit was $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to an income tax benefit of $25.3 million
for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was due to increased profit before income taxes, offset primarily by the deferred
income tax benefit of the Tax Act for the year ended December 31, 2017. The tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2017 is not
predictive of future tax rates due to the deferred income tax benefit of the Tax Act. The tax rate would have been 24.9% without the
tax effects of the deferred income tax benefit of the Tax Act.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Covia
Net income attributable to Covia increased $150.5 million to net income of $154.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017
compared to $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 due to the factors noted above.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA increased $120.3 million to $257.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $139.5 million for
the year ended December 31, 2016 primarily due to increases in volumes and average selling prices within our energy segment.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Our liquidity is principally used to service our debt, meet our working capital needs, and invest in both maintenance and organic
growth capital expenditures. Historically, we have met our liquidity and capital investment needs with funds generated from
operations and the issuance of debt, if necessary.
On the Merger Date, we entered into a credit and guarantee agreement with a group of banks, financial institutions, and other entities
with Barclays Bank PLC, serving as administrative agent, and Barclays Bank PLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp., serving as joint
lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, for the $1.65 billion Term Loan and the $200 million Revolver. The Term Loan matures seven
years after the Merger Date and amortizes in equal quarterly installments in an amount equal to 1% per year beginning with the first
full fiscal quarter after the Merger Date, with the balance due at maturity. Loans under the Term Loan would be prepaid with, subject
to various exceptions, (a) 100% of the net cash proceeds of all non-ordinary course asset sales or dispositions and insurance proceeds,
(b) 100% of the net cash proceeds of issuances of indebtedness and (c) 50% of annual excess cash flow (with stepdowns to 25% and
0% based on total net leverage ratio levels). Voluntary prepayments of the Term Loan will be permitted at any time without premium
or penalty other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to LIBOR borrowings.
79
The Revolver matures five years after the Merger Date. Voluntary reductions of the unused portion of the Revolver will be allowed at
any time. The Revolver includes a total net leverage ratio covenant, tested on a quarterly basis, of no more than 4.00:1.00.
Interest on the Term Loan and Revolver accrues at a per annum rate of either (at our option) (a) LIBOR plus a spread or (b) the
alternate base rate plus a spread. The spread will vary depending on our total net leverage ratio [(defined as the ratio of debt (less up
to $150 million of cash) to EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarter period)], as follows:
Leverage Ratio
Greater than or equal to 2.50x
Greater than or equal to 2.0x and less than 2.50x
Greater than or equal to 1.50x and less than 2.0x
Less than 1.50x
Term Loan
Revolver
Applicable Margin
for Eurodollar Loans
4.00%
3.75%
3.50%
3.25%
Applicable Margin
for ABR Loans
3.00%
2.75%
2.50%
2.25%
Applicable Margin
for Eurodollar Loans
3.75%
3.50%
3.25%
3.00%
Applicable Margin
for ABR Loans
2.75%
2.50%
2.25%
2.00%
The credit agreement provides that the interest rate spreads set forth in the table above will each be reduced by 0.25% if our corporate
credit ratings issued in connection with the initial syndication of the Term Loan and Revolver are BB- (with a stable or better outlook)
or higher and Ba3 (with a stable or better outlook) or higher from S&P and Moody’s, respectively. As of the date hereof, S&P and
Moody’s have announced that our ratings are at or above such levels.
The Term Loan and Revolver are guaranteed by all of our wholly-owned material restricted subsidiaries (including Bison Merger Sub,
LLC, as successor to Fairmount Santrol, and all of the wholly-owned material restricted subsidiaries of Fairmount Santrol), subject to
certain exceptions. In addition, subject to various exceptions, the Term Loan and Revolver are secured by substantially all of our
assets and those of each guarantor, including, but not limited to (a) a perfected first-priority pledge of all of the capital stock held by us
or any guarantor of each existing or subsequently acquired or organized wholly-owned restricted subsidiary (no more than 65% of the
voting stock of any foreign subsidiary) and (b) perfected first-priority security interests in substantially all of our tangible and
intangible assets and those of each guarantor.
The Term Loan and Revolver contain customary representations and warranties, affirmative covenants, negative covenants and events
of default. Negative covenants include, among others, limitations on debt, liens, asset sales, mergers, consolidations and fundamental
changes, dividends and repurchases of equity securities, repayments or redemptions of subordinated debt, investments, transactions
with affiliates, restrictions on granting liens to secure obligations, restrictions on subsidiary distributions, changes in the conduct of the
business, amendments and waivers in organizational documents and junior debt instruments and changes in the fiscal year.
In addition, the credit agreement permits us to add one or more incremental term loan facilities and/or increase the commitments under
the Revolver in an aggregate principal amount up to the sum of (i) $250 million, plus (ii) an amount of incremental facilities so that,
after giving effect to any such incremental facility, on a pro forma basis, our total net leverage ratio would not exceed 2.75:1.00, plus
(iii) an amount equal to all voluntary prepayments of the Term Loan. In addition to incremental term loan facilities and Revolver
increases, this incremental credit capacity can be allowed to be utilized in the form of (a) senior unsecured notes or loans, subject to a
pro forma total net leverage ratio of up to 3.75:1.00, (b) senior secured notes or loans that are secured by the collateral on a junior
basis, subject to a pro forma total net leverage ratio of up to 3.25:1.00, or (c) senior secured notes that are secured by the collateral on
a pari passu basis, subject to a pro forma total net leverage ratio of up to 2.75:1.00.
The proceeds of the Term Loan were used to primarily repay certain debt of legacy Fairmount Santrol and legacy Unimin, which
included additional debt incurred to fund the Cash Redemption and to pay $170 million to Fairmount Santrol stockholders as part of
the Merger.
See Note 11 in the consolidated financial statements included in this Report for further detail regarding the credit agreement.
As of December 31, 2018, we had outstanding Term Loan borrowings of $1.64 billion and cash on-hand of $134.1 million. In
addition, our Revolver can provide additional liquidity, if needed. As of December 31, 2018, we had $200.0 million of availability
under our Revolver with $11.7 million committed to letters of credit, leaving net availability at $188.3 million.
Our operations are capital intensive and short-term capital expenditures related to certain strategic projects are expected to be
substantial. As of the date of this Report, we believe that our liquidity will be sufficient to meet cash obligations, including working
capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures, and scheduled debt service over the next 12 months.
80
Working Capital
Working capital is the amount by which current assets exceed current liabilities, excluding cash and debt, and represents a measure of
liquidity. Our working capital was $216.3 million at December 31, 2018 and $210.7 million at December 31, 2017. The increase in
working capital is primarily due to the Merger with Fairmount Santrol, whose working capital is included in December 31, 2018. This
increase was partially offset by lower working capital requirements of our Energy segment due to the downturn in the proppant
industry.
Cash Flow Analysis
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Operating activities consist primarily of net income adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation, depletion, and amortization,
and the effect of changes in working capital.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $247.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared with $232.2 million
provided in the year ended December 31, 2017. This $15.2 million variance was primarily the result of a $424.7 million decrease in
net income, partially offset by a $91.3 million increase in depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense (largely due to purchase
accounting adjustments), a $267.4 million non-cash impairment of goodwill and other assets, non-cash restructuring charges of $21.2
million, and $51.6 million in other net decreases to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities, primarily related
to the change in our deferred tax provision. Additionally, changes in working capital resulted in a source of cash of $22.6 million.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $232.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared with $93.2 million
provided in the year ended December 31, 2016. This $139.0 million increase was the result of the improved operating results in 2017
and decrease in working capital during 2017.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Investing activities consist primarily of capital expenditures for growth and maintenance. Capital expenditures generally are for
expansions of production or terminal facilities, land and reserve acquisition or maintenance related expenditures which are generally
for asset replacement and health, safety, and quality improvements.
Net cash used in investing activities was $356.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $107.4 million used for
the year ended December 31, 2017. The $249.2 million variance was primarily related to the increase in capital expenditures of
$154.8 million as well as Merger-related cash flows, including the $31.0 million transferred to HPQ Co., and $64.7 million in net
payments to Fairmount Santrol stockholders.
Capital expenditures of $264.1 million, including stripping costs, in the year ended December 31, 2018 were primarily focused on
construction of new facilities in West Texas and Seiling, Oklahoma, completion of the expansion of the Utica, Illinois, and Oregon
facilities, and expanding capacity at the Canoitas facility in Mexico, as well as our nepheline syenite operations in Canada.
Net cash used in investing activities was $107.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $71.3 million of net cash
used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016. The $36.1 million increase was primarily the result of higher
capital expenditures.
Capital expenditures were $108.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 were primarily focused on a new facility in West
Texas; completion of several expansion projects at our Utica, Illinois and Oregon, Illinois facilities to support growth in the energy
business; and to expand capacity at our Canoitas facility in Mexico.
For 2019, we expect capital expenditures to be in a range of $80 million to $100 million. This primarily includes maintenance capital
expenditures and carryover spend on our greenfield mine projects in West Texas and Oklahoma and growth spend in Canada and
Mexico.
81
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Financing activities consist primarily of borrowings under our Term Loan and repayments of debt of Unimin and Fairmount Santrol,
in addition to the Cash Redemption payment, as a result of the Merger.
Net cash used in financing activities was $66.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to $0.5 million used in the
year ended December 31, 2017. The $66.3 million variance is due to borrowing the $1.65 billion Term Loan, partially offset by $1.11
billion in payments on Unimin and Fairmount Santrol debts, a $520.4 million Cash Redemption payment, and $41.2 million in Merger
related debt refinancing fees.
Net cash used by financing activities was $0.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to $197.6 million used in the
year ended December 31, 2016. In 2016, we repaid $210 million of borrowings compared to $0.1 million in 2017.
Inflation
We conduct the majority of our business operations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. During the year ended December 31, 2018,
certain inflationary pressures in Mexico impacted costs during the period relative to year ended December 31, 2017.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no undisclosed off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect
on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or
capital resources.
Contractual Obligations
As of December 31, 2018, we have contractual obligations for long-term debt, capital leases, operating leases, terminal operating
costs, capital commitments, purchase obligations, and other long-term liabilities. Substantially all of the operating lease obligations
are for railcars. Additionally, we are obligated through 2048 for contingent consideration on Propel SSP ® and the balance of this
contingent consideration at December 31, 2018 is $4.5 million. See Note 19 in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements for
further detail regarding our commitments and contingencies.
Contractual Obligations(A)
Long-term debt(B)
Capital lease obligations
Operating lease obligations(C)
Terminal operating costs
Capital commitments
Purchase obligations(D)
Other long-term liabilities reflected on
the registrant's balance sheet under
GAAP; asset retirement obligation and other
Total contractual cash obligations
$
_____________
Payments Due by Period
(in thousands)
Total
Less than 1 Year
1-3 Years
3-5 Years
More than 5 Years
$
1,653,559 $
6,711
487,504
80,446
19,781
195,932
16,802 $
4,071
104,602
21,132
19,781
-
33,604 $
2,640
150,723
26,784
-
195,932
33,604 $
-
111,165
14,435
-
-
1,569,549
-
121,014
18,095
-
-
31,199
2,475,132 $
14,709
181,097 $
-
409,683 $
440
159,644 $
16,050
1,724,708
(A) The amounts set forth in this table exclude our minimum pension funding obligations as required by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). Our minimum
pension funding obligations depend on several factors, including the discount rate, investment returns, and any changes in applicable laws and regulations. Currently, it is not possible to
reasonably predict future contributions by year. We also have payment obligations due under the Postretirement Medical Plans, which is a pay-as-you-go plan and not required to be funded
in advance.
(B) Consists of obligations under the Term Loan, the Industrial Revenue Bond and other borrowings, all of which are described in more detail in Note 11 in the Notes to our Consolidated
Financial Statements. Interest payments on the Term Loan are calculated quarterly using variable interest rates based on market indices and, as a result, are not readily determinable for this
analysis.
(C) Our operating lease obligations are related to land, furniture and fixtures, mobile equipment, buildings, and railroad equipment. See Note 19 in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial
Statements for further detail regarding Covia’s operating lease obligations.
(D) Consists of obligations to purchase railcars in 2020 and 2021 in the amount of $144.8 million and $51.1 million, respectively.
82
Environmental Matters
We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations governing, among other things, hazardous materials, air and
water emissions, environmental contamination and reclamation and the protection of the environment and natural resources. We have
made, and expect to make in the future, expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations, but cannot predict the full amount of
such future expenditures. We may also incur fines and penalties from time to time associated with noncompliance with such laws and
regulations.
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had $31.2 million and $12.5 million, respectively, accrued for Asset Retirement Obligations,
which include future reclamation costs. The increase is primarily related to purchase accounting adjustments recorded in the third and
fourth quarter of 2018 to increase the Asset Retirement Obligations for Fairmount Santrol mines acquired in the Merger. There were
no other significant changes with respect to environmental liabilities or future reclamation costs.
We discuss certain environmental matters relating to our various production and other facilities, certain regulatory requirements
relating to human exposure to crystalline silica and our mining activity and how such matters may affect our business in the future
under the “Regulation and Legislation” section in “Item 1 – Business” and “Item 1A – Risk Factors” in Part I of this Report.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements,
which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates
of the financial statements and the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. We evaluate these estimates and
assumptions on an ongoing basis and base our estimates on historical experience, current conditions and various other assumptions
that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about
the carrying values of assets and liabilities as well as identifying and assessing the accounting treatment with respect to commitments
and contingencies. Our actual results may materially differ from these estimates. These critical accounting policies and estimates
should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements as filed in this Report.
Listed below are the accounting policies we believe are critical to our financial statements due to the degree of uncertainty regarding
the estimates or assumptions involved, and that we believe are critical to the understanding of our operations.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets, Definite-Lived Intangible Assets and Goodwill
We periodically evaluate whether current events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of our long-lived assets, including
property, plant and equipment, mineral reserves or mineral rights and definite-lived intangible assets may not be recoverable. If such
circumstances are determined to exist, an estimate of future cash flows produced by the asset group or individual assets within the
asset group is compared to the carrying value to determine whether an impairment exists. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the
loss is measured based on quoted market prices in active markets, if available. If quoted market prices are not available, the estimate
of fair value is based on various valuation techniques, including a discounted value of estimated future cash flows. A detailed
determination of the fair value may be carried forward from one year to the next if certain criteria have been met. We report an asset
to be disposed of at the lower of its carrying value or its estimated fair value.
Factors we generally consider important in our evaluation and that could trigger an impairment review of the carrying value of the
asset group or individual assets within the asset group include expected operating trends, significant changes in the way assets are
used, underutilization of our tangible assets, discontinuance of certain products by us or by our customers, and significant negative
industry or economic trends.
The recoverability of the carrying value of our development stage mineral properties is dependent upon the successful development,
start-up and commercial production of our mineral deposits and related processing facilities. Our evaluation of mineral properties for
potential impairment primarily includes assessing the existence or availability of required permits and evaluating changes in our
mineral reserves, or the underlying estimates and assumptions, including estimated production costs. Assessing the economic
feasibility requires certain estimates, including the prices of products to be produced and processing recovery rates, as well as
operating and capital costs.
83
The evaluation of goodwill for possible impairment includes a qualitative assessment of macroeconomic conditions, industry and
market environments, overall performance of the reporting unit and specific events. Goodwill is evaluated annually as of October 31
or more frequently if we believe indicators of impairment exist. If the qualitative assessment indicates it is more likely than not that
the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill, then a quantitative assessment is performed
which requires estimating fair value using one or a combination of valuation techniques, such as discounted cash flows or based on
comparable companies or transactions. These valuations require us to make estimates and assumptions regarding future operating
results, cash flows, changes in working capital and capital expenditures, selling prices, profitability, and the cost of capital.
Deviations from these assumptions and estimates could produce a materially different result.
As a result of declining market conditions in the Energy segment and a decline in our share price, our evaluation of goodwill provided
impairment charges of $217.1 million. See Note 10 in the consolidated financial statements for further detail.
Asset Retirement Obligations
Initially, we recognize a liability for asset retirement obligations, including reclamation costs at fair value, upon acquisition,
construction or development and/or through the normal operation of the asset, if sufficient information exists to reasonably estimate
the fair value of the liability. These obligations generally include the estimated net future costs of dismantling, restoring and
reclaiming operating mines and related mine sites, in accordance with federal, state, local regulatory and land lease agreement
requirements. We also factor in other assumptions, such as inflation, market risk premium, and discount rate, in estimating the fair
value of the liability. The liability is accreted over time through periodic charges to earnings. In addition, the asset retirement cost is
capitalized as part of the asset’s carrying value and amortized over the life of the related asset.
Reclamation costs are periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the estimated present value resulting from the passage of time and
revisions to the estimates of either the timing or amount of the reclamation and abandonment costs. The reclamation obligation is
based on when spending for an existing environmental disturbance will occur. If the asset retirement obligation is settled for an
amount other than the carrying amount of the liability, a gain or loss is recognized on settlement. We review, on an annual basis,
unless otherwise deemed necessary, the reclamation obligation at each mine site. Future remediation costs for inactive mines are
accrued based on management’s best estimate at the end of each period of the costs expected to be incurred at a site. Such cost
estimates include, where applicable, ongoing care, maintenance and monitoring costs. Changes in estimates at inactive mines are
reflected in earnings in the period an estimate is revised.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Trade accounts receivable are recognized at their invoiced amounts and do not bear interest. Credit is extended based on evaluation of
a customer’s financial condition and, generally, collateral is not required. Accounts receivable are generally due between 30 and 60
days, and are stated at amounts due from customers net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts outstanding longer than the
payment terms are considered past due. We determine our allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time
trade accounts receivable are past due, our previous loss history, the customer’s current ability to pay its obligation to us, and the
condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. Ongoing credit evaluations are performed. We write-off accounts
receivable when they are deemed uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance
for doubtful accounts.
Employee Benefit Plans
We provide a range of benefits to our employees and retired employees, including pensions and post-retirement healthcare and life
insurance benefits. We record annual amounts relating to these plans based on calculations specified by GAAP, which include various
actuarial assumptions, including discount rates, assumed rates of returns, compensation increases, turnover rates, mortality rates and
healthcare cost trend rates. We review the actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and makes modifications to the assumptions based
on current rates and trends when it is deemed appropriate to do so. As required by GAAP, the effect of changes in assumptions are
generally recorded or amortized over future periods. We believe that the assumptions utilized in recording our obligations under the
plans are reasonable based on advice from actuaries. In 2018, the assumptions included discount rates from 3.90% to 8.75% and rates
of return from 4.29% to 7.70%.
Equity Awards
We estimate future compensation expense related to equity-based awards through a fair value method and record the expense for
awards over the vesting period. Fair value methods use a valuation model to theoretically value stock option grants even though they
84
are not available for trading and are of longer duration. The Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model that we use includes the
input of certain variables that are dependent on future expectations, including the expected lives of our options from grant date to
exercise date, the volatility of our common stock, and our expected dividend rate of zero. Our estimates of these variables are made
for the purpose of using the valuation model to determine an expense for each reporting period and are not subsequently adjusted. We
recognize forfeitures when they occur. We value our restricted stock units at the closing price of our stock as of the date of grant.
Fair Value of Derivatives
We record derivative instruments used to hedge interest rate exposure on the variable-rate debt obligations at their fair values.
Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in other accumulated comprehensive income. For derivatives not
designated as hedges, the gain or loss is recognized in current earnings. No components of our hedging instruments were excluded
from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable
amounts from a counterparty in exchange for making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the
underlying notional value. The gain or loss on the interest rate swap is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and
subsequently reclassified into interest expense in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.
The fair values and effectiveness testing of our derivatives are based on prevailing market data and derived from proprietary models
based on well recognized financial principles and reasonable estimates about relevant future market conditions including interest rates,
counterparty risk, and credit risk. These assumptions could cause material changes in the fair value or effectiveness of our derivative
instruments.
Taxes
Deferred taxes are provided on the asset and liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary
differences and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary
differences. This approach requires recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events
that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined
based upon the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the
year in which the expenses are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided if, based on the weight of available evidence,
it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
We recognize a tax benefit associated with an uncertain tax position when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that the position
will be sustained upon examination by a taxing authority. For a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold,
we initially and subsequently measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that we judge to have a greater than 50% likelihood of
being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority. The liability associated with unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted
periodically due to changing circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law developments and new or emerging
legislation. Such adjustments are recognized entirely in the period in which they are identified. The effective tax rate includes the net
impact of changes in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and subsequent adjustments as considered appropriate by management.
We evaluate quarterly the realizability of our deferred tax assets by assessing the need for a valuation allowance and by adjusting the
amount of such allowance, if necessary. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization are our forecast of future taxable
income in the appropriate jurisdiction to utilize the asset, and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the
net deferred tax assets. Failure to achieve forecasted taxable income might affect the ultimate realization of the net deferred tax assets.
Factors that may affect our ability to achieve sufficient forecasted taxable income include, but are not limited to, the following: a
decline in sales or margins, increased competition or loss of market share.
In addition, we operate within multiple taxing jurisdictions and are subject to audit in these jurisdictions. These audits can involve
complex issues, which may require an extended time to resolve. We believe that adequate provisions for income taxes have been
made for all years.
Typically, the largest permanent item in computing both our effective rate and taxable income is the deduction for statutory depletion.
The depletion deduction is dependent upon a mine-by-mine computation of both gross income from mining and taxable income.
The Tax Act subjects us to current tax on our global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”). To the extent that tax expense is
incurred under the GILTI provisions, it will be treated as a component of income tax expense in the period incurred.
85
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Interest Rate Swaps
Due to our variable-rate indebtedness, we are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. We use fixed interest rate swaps to manage this
exposure. These derivative instruments are reported at fair value in other non-current assets and other long-term liabilities. Changes
in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in other comprehensive income. For derivatives not designated as hedges, the
gain or loss is recognized in current earnings. No components of our hedging instruments were excluded from the assessment of
hedge effectiveness. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in
exchange for making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional value. The gain
or loss on the interest rate swap is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and subsequently reclassified into interest
expense in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.
We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. By their nature, all such instruments involve risk,
including the possibility that a loss may occur from the failure of another party to perform according to the terms of a contract (credit
risk) or the possibility that future changes in market price may make a financial instrument less valuable or more onerous (market
risk). As is customary for these types of instruments, we do not require collateral or other security from other parties to these
instruments. We believe that there is no significant risk of loss in the event of nonperformance of the counterparties to these financial
instruments.
We formally designate and document instruments at inception that qualify for hedge accounting of underlying exposures in
accordance with GAAP. We assess, both at inception and for each reporting period, whether the financial instruments used in hedging
transactions are effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the related underlying exposure.
As of December 31, 2018, the fair value of the interest rate swap was a liability of $4.1 million.
A hypothetical increase or decrease in interest rates by 1.0% would have had an approximate $9.6 million impact on our interest
expense in the year ended December 31, 2018.
Market Risk
We are exposed to various market risks, including changes in interest rates. Market risk related to interest rates is the potential loss
arising from adverse changes in interest rates. We do not believe that inflation has a material impact on our financial position or
results of operations during periods covered by the financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Credit Risk
We are subject to risks of loss resulting from nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers. In the years ended December 31,
2018 and 2017, one customer exceeded 10% of our revenues. This customer accounted for 13% of our revenues in each of 2018 and
2017. At December 31, 2018, we had two customers whose accounts receivable balances exceeded 10% of total receivables.
Approximately 10% of our accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2018 was from each of these two customers. At December
31, 2017, we had one customer whose accounts receivable balance was approximately 13% of our accounts receivable balance. We
examine the creditworthiness of third-party customers to whom we extend credit and manage our exposure to credit risk through credit
analysis, credit approval, credit limits and monitoring procedures, and for certain transactions, we may request letters of credit,
prepayments or guarantees, although collateral is generally not required.
86
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The following consolidated financial statements are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
139
87
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Covia Holdings Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Covia Holdings Corporation and subsidiaries (the Company) as of
December 31, 2018 and 2017, the related consolidated statements of income (loss), comprehensive income (loss), equity and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes and financial statement schedule listed
in the Index at Item 15(b) (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, 2018 and 2017, and
the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
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 Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) (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.
The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part
of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no
such opinion.
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 2013.
Stamford, Connecticut
March 22, 2019
88
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
2016
$
1,842,937 $
1,295,112 $
982,696
1,380,766
928,659
752,736
Revenues
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation, depletion,
and amortization shown separately)
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense
Goodwill and other asset impairments
Restructuring charges
Other operating expense (income), net
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations
Interest expense, net
Other non-operating expense, net
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision (benefit) for income taxes
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
Less: Net income from continuing operations attributable to the non-controlling interest
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Covia Holdings
Corporation
145,593
196,455
267,034
21,954
(5,024 )
(163,841 )
60,322
54,832
(278,995 )
3,987
(282,982 )
103
99,087
101,560
-
-
3,102
162,704
14,653
25,989
122,062
(8,825 )
130,887
-
(283,085 )
130,887
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
12,587
23,284
Net income (loss) attributable to Covia Holdings Corporation
$
(270,498 ) $
154,171 $
Continuing operations earnings (loss) per share
Basic
Diluted
Earnings (loss) per share
Basic
Diluted
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
Basic
Diluted
$
$
(2.26 ) $
(2.26 )
1.09 $
1.09
(2.16 )
(2.16 ) $
1.29
1.29 $
125,514
125,514
119,645
119,645
119,645
119,645
83,845
105,049
9,634
2,700
4,275
24,457
23,999
31,560
(31,102 )
(25,332 )
(5,770 )
-
(5,770 )
9,435
3,665
(0.05 )
(0.05 )
0.03
0.03
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
89
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income (loss) before other comprehensive income (loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Employee benefit obligations
Amortization and change in fair value of derivative instruments
Total other comprehensive income, before tax
Provision (benefit) for income taxes related to items of other comprehensive income
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interest
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Covia Holdings Corporation
$
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands)
2016
$
$
(282,982 )
12,587
(270,395 )
$
130,887
23,284
154,171
1,182
48,321
(5,083 )
44,420
11,417
(237,392 )
103
(237,495 )
$
2,606
(1,991 )
-
615
(111 )
154,897
-
154,897
$
(5,770 )
9,435
3,665
2,100
5,823
-
7,923
2,239
9,349
-
9,349
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
90
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2018 and 2017
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
(in thousands, except par value)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,488 and $3,682
$
134,130 $
at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
Inventories, net
Other receivables
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Current assets of discontinued operations
Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Deferred tax assets, net
Goodwill
Intangibles, net
Other non-current assets
Non-current assets of discontinued operations
Total assets
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt
Employee benefit obligations
Deferred tax liabilities, net
Other non-current liabilities
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 19)
Equity
267,268
162,970
40,306
20,941
-
625,615
2,834,361
8,740
131,655
137,113
18,633
-
$
3,756,117 $
$
15,482 $
145,070
130,161
-
290,713
1,612,887
54,789
267,350
75,425
-
2,301,164
308,059
219,719
79,959
27,963
16,322
66,906
718,928
1,136,104
7,441
53,512
25,596
2,416
96,101
2,040,098
50,045
101,983
88,208
10,027
250,263
366,967
97,798
62,614
29,057
8,084
814,783
Preferred stock: $0.01 par value, 15,000 authorized shares at December 31, 2018
Shares outstanding: 0 at December 31, 2018
Common stock: $0.01 par value, 750,000 and 178,000 authorized shares
at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
Shares issued: 158,195 at December 31, 2018 and 2017
Shares outstanding: 131,188 and 119,645 at December 31, 2018
and 2017, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total equity attributable to Covia Holdings Corporation before treasury stock
Less: Treasury stock at cost
Shares in treasury: 27,007 and 38,550 at December 31, 2018
and 2017, respectively
Total equity attributable to Covia Holdings Corporation
Non-controlling interest
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity
-
-
1,777
388,027
1,647,959
(95,225 )
1,942,538
(488,141 )
1,454,397
556
1,454,953
3,756,117 $
1,777
43,941
1,918,457
(128,228 )
1,835,947
(610,632 )
1,225,315
-
1,225,315
2,040,098
$
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
91
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T
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Net income (loss) attributable to Covia Holdings Corporation
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
Amortization of deferred financing costs
Prepayment penalties on Senior Notes
Goodwill and other asset impairments
Restructuring charges
Inventory write-downs
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net
Deferred income tax benefit
Stock compensation expense
Net income from non-controlling interest
Earnings of investee companies
Loss on sale of subsidiary
Other, net
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of business combination effect:
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
Capital expenditures
Cash of HPQ Co. distributed to Sibelco prior to Merger
Payments to Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. shareholders, net of cash acquired
Other investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings on Term Loan
Payments on Term Loan
Proceeds from borrowings on term debt
Payments on term debt
Prepayment on Unimin Term Loans
Prepayment on Senior Notes
Prepayment on Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. term loan
Fees for Term Loan and Senior Notes prepayment
Payments on capital leases and other long-term debt
Fees for Revolver
Cash Redemption payment to Sibelco
Proceeds from share-based awards exercised or distributed
Tax payments for withholdings on share-based awards exercised or distributed
Dividends paid
Net cash used in financing activities
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period [including cash of Discontinued Operations (Note 4)]
End of period
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest
Income taxes paid
Non-cash investing activities:
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
(in thousands)
2016
$
(270,498 ) $
154,171 $
3,665
200,525
3,489
2,213
267,034
21,954
6,744
107
(296 )
(6,542 )
8,212
103
-
-
(7,507 )
105,850
14,653
(6,067 )
(59,062 )
(33,525 )
247,387
3,180
(264,052 )
(31,000 )
(64,697 )
-
(356,569 )
1,650,000
(8,250 )
-
-
(314,642 )
(100,000 )
(695,625 )
(36,733 )
(36,818 )
(4,500 )
(520,377 )
464
(318 )
-
(66,799 )
2,052
(173,929 )
112,705
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(47,215 )
-
-
-
-
(1,308 )
(55,554 )
(7,383 )
5,101
32,405
39,285
232,207
695
(108,854 )
-
-
770
(107,389 )
-
-
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(103 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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(461 )
341
124,698
116,259
-
-
9,634
-
-
-
-
(18,528 )
-
-
(1,022 )
12,923
3,182
(39,117 )
7,832
(10,888 )
(2,062 )
11,345
93,223
23
(73,516 )
-
-
2,239
(71,254 )
-
-
12,725
(210,331 )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(197,606 )
(480 )
(176,117 )
$
$
308,059
134,130 $
183,361
308,059 $
359,478
183,361
(67,960 ) $
(15,532 )
(17,360 ) $
(32,390 )
(23,040 )
(5,206 )
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses for additions to property, plant, and equipment $
12,222 $
(3,063 ) $
-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
93
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
1. Organization
Nature of Operations
Covia Holdings Corporation, including its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “we,” “us,” “our,” “Covia,” and “Company”), is a
leading provider of diversified mineral-based and material solutions for the Industrial and Energy markets. We provide a wide range
of specialized silica sand, nepheline syenite, feldspar, calcium carbonate, clay, kaolin, lime, and lime products for use in the glass,
ceramics, coatings, foundry, polymers, construction, water filtration, sports and recreation, and oil and gas markets in North America
and around the world. Our Industrial segment provides raw, value-added and custom-blended products to the glass, ceramics,
coatings, polymers, construction, foundry, filtration, sports and recreation and various other industries, primarily in North America.
Our Energy segment offers the oil and gas industry a comprehensive portfolio of raw frac sand, value-added-proppants, well-
cementing additives, gravel-packing media and drilling mud additives that meet or exceed the API standards. Our products serve
hydraulic fracturing operations in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Mexico, China, and northern Europe.
The Merger
On June 1, 2018 (the “Merger Date”), Unimin Corporation (“Unimin”) completed a business combination (the “Merger”) with
Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. (“Fairmount Santrol”). Upon closing of the Merger, Fairmount Santrol merged into a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Unimin and ceased to exist as a separate corporate entity. Immediately following the closing of the Merger, Unimin
changed its name and began operating as Covia. Fairmount Santrol common stock was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange
(“NYSE”) prior to the market opening on June 1, 2018 and Covia commenced trading under the ticker symbol “CVIA” on that date.
Upon the consummation of the Merger, the former stockholders of Fairmount Santrol (including holders of certain Fairmount Santrol
equity awards) received, in the aggregate, $170,000 in cash consideration and approximately 35% of the common stock of Covia.
Approximately 65% of Covia common stock is owned by SCR-Sibelco NV (“Sibelco”), previously the parent company of Unimin.
See Note 4 for further discussion of the Merger.
In connection with the Merger, the Company completed a debt refinancing transaction, with Barclays Bank PLC as administrative
agent, by entering into a $1,650,000 senior secured term loan (“Term Loan”) and a $200,000 revolving credit facility (“Revolver”).
The proceeds of the Term Loan were used to repay the indebtedness of Unimin and Fairmount Santrol and to pay the cash portion of
the Merger consideration and expenses related to the Merger. See Note 11 for further discussion of the refinancing transaction and
terms of such indebtedness.
As a condition to the Merger, Unimin contributed assets of its Electronics segment to Sibelco North America, Inc. (“HPQ Co.”), a
newly-formed wholly owned subsidiary of Unimin, in exchange for all of the stock of HPQ Co. and the assumption by HPQ Co. of
certain liabilities. Unimin distributed all of the stock of HPQ Co. to Sibelco in exchange for 170 shares (or 15,097 shares subsequent
to the stock split, see Note 6) of Unimin common stock held by Sibelco. See Note 5 for a discussion of HPQ Co. which is presented
as discontinued operations in these consolidated financial statements.
Costs and expenses incurred related to the Merger are recorded in Other non-operating expense, net in the accompanying Consolidated
Statements of Income and include legal, accounting, valuation and financial advisory services, integration and other costs totaling
$51,112 and $19,300 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Unimin was determined to be the acquirer in the Merger for accounting purposes, and the historical financial statements and the
historical amounts included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements relate to Unimin. The Consolidated Balance Sheet
at December 31, 2018 reflects Covia; however, the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2017 reflects Unimin only. The
presentation of information for periods prior to the Merger Date are not fully comparable to the presentation of information for periods
presented after the Merger Date because the results of operations for Fairmount Santrol are not included in such information prior to
the Merger Date.
2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and reflect all adjustments,
consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which management believes are necessary to fairly present the Consolidated Balance
94
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Sheet as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss), Comprehensive Income (Loss), Equity
and Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements comprise Covia Holdings Corporation and its wholly-owned and majority-owned
subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
On June 1, 2018, Unimin effected an 89:1 stock split with respect to its shares of common stock (see Note 6). Unless otherwise noted,
impacted amounts and share information included in the financial statements and notes thereto have been retroactively adjusted for the
stock split as if such stock split occurred on the first day of the first period presented. Certain amounts in the notes to the financial
statements may be slightly different than previously reported due to rounding of fractional shares as a result of the stock split.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements
and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring the use of
management estimates and assumptions relate to: business combination purchase price allocation, and the useful life of definite-lived
intangible assets; asset retirement obligations; estimates of allowance for doubtful accounts; estimates of fair value for reporting units
and asset impairments (including impairments of goodwill and other long-lived assets); adjustments of inventories to net realizable
value; post-employment, post-retirement and other employee benefit liabilities; valuation allowances for deferred tax assets; and
reserves for contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, including the use of valuation experts. Accordingly, actual results may differ
significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications of prior period presentations have been made to conform to the current period presentation.
Revenue Recognition
We derive our revenues by mining, manufacturing, and processing minerals that our customers purchase for various uses. Revenues
are primarily derived from contracts with customers with terms typically ranging from one to eight years in length, and are measured
by the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for transferring our products. The consideration we expect to receive
is based on the volumes and price of the product per ton as defined in the underlying contract. The price per ton is based on the
market value for similar products plus costs associated with transportation and transloading, as applicable. Depending on the contract,
this may also be net of discounts and rebates. The transaction price is not adjusted for the effects of a significant financing
component, as the time period between transfer of control of the goods and expected payment is one year or less. Sales, value-added,
and other similar taxes collected are excluded from revenue.
On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2014-09 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The adoption did not
require a cumulative adjustment to opening retained earnings and did not have a material impact on revenues for the year ended
December 31, 2018. Revenues are recognized as each performance obligation within the contract is satisfied; this occurs with the
transfer of control of our product in accordance with delivery methods as defined in the underlying contract. Transfer of control to
customers generally occurs when products leave our facilities or at other predetermined control transfer points. We have elected to
continue to account for shipping and handling activities that occur after control of the related good transfers, as a cost of fulfillment
instead of a separate performance obligation. Transportation costs to move product from our production facilities to our distribution
terminals are borne by us and capitalized into inventory. These costs are included in cost of goods sold as the products are sold. Our
contracts may include one or multiple distinct performance obligations. Revenues are assigned to each performance obligation based
on its relative standalone selling price, which is generally the contractually-stated price.
Our products may be sold with rebates, discounts, take-or-pay provisions, or other features which are accounted for as variable
consideration. Rebates and discounts are not material and have not been separately disclosed. Contracts that contain take-or-pay
provisions obligate customers to pay shortfall payments if the required volumes, as defined in the contracts, are not purchased.
Shortfall payments are recognized as revenues when the likelihood of the customer purchasing the minimum volume becomes remote,
95
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
subject to renegotiation of the contract and collectability. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had no revenues or accounts receivable
related to shortfall payments.
We disaggregate revenues by major source consistent with our segment reporting. See Note 21 for further detail.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of cash as well as liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Our
cash and cash equivalents are held on deposit and are available to us on demand without restriction, prior notice, or penalty. At
December 31, 2018, we had time deposits totaling $60,000 held with two U.S. banking institutions.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable as presented in the consolidated balance sheets are related to our contracts and are recorded when the right to
consideration becomes likely at the amount management expects to collect. Accounts receivable do not bear interest if paid when
contractually due, and payments are generally due within thirty to forty-five days of invoicing. We typically do not record contract
assets, as the transfer of control of our products results in an unconditional right to receive consideration.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The collectability of all outstanding receivables is reviewed and evaluated by management. This review includes consideration for the
risk profile of the receivables, customer credit quality and certain indicators such as the aging of past-due amounts and general
economic conditions. If it is determined that a receivable balance will not likely be recovered, an allowance for such outstanding
receivable balance is established.
Inventories
The cost of inventories is based on the weighted average principle, and includes expenditures incurred in acquiring the inventories,
production or conversion costs and other costs incurred in bringing inventories to their existing location and condition. In the case of
finished goods and work-in-process, cost includes an appropriate share of production overhead.
Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the estimated costs of completion and selling
costs. Inventories are written down to net realizable value when the cost of the inventories exceeds that value.
Consumables and regularly-replaced spare parts are stated at cost, less any provision for obsolescence.
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation, depletion and impairment losses (if any). Cost
includes expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. The cost of self-constructed assets includes the cost
of materials and direct labor, any other costs directly attributable to bringing the assets to a working condition for their intended use,
the present value of the costs of dismantling and removing the items and restoring the site on which they are located.
Where components of a large item have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items of property, plant and
equipment.
Gains and losses on disposal of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing the proceeds from disposal with the
carrying amount of property, plant and equipment, and are recognized net within Other operating expense, net in the Consolidated
Statements of Income (Loss).
96
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Property, plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets from the date
that they are installed and are ready for use, or with respect to internally constructed assets, from the date that the asset is completed
and ready for use. The estimated service lives of property, plant and equipment are principally as follows:
Land and improvements
Mineral rights properties
Machinery and equipment
Buildings and improvements
Railroad equipment
Furniture, fixtures, and other
15-40 years
10-20 years
2-30 years
10-40 years
10-25 years
3-10 years
Mine exploration and mine development costs include expenditures to determine the existence and quality of a mineral body, drilling,
gaining access to and preparing locations for drilling, clearing ground, drainage and building ramps and access ways. Mine
exploration and mine development costs are expensed if data shows no probable and proven reserves. We begin capitalizing mine
exploration and mine development costs at the point when proven and probable reserves are established and cease capitalization of
these costs when the production of the mine commences. Mine exploration and mine development costs are amortized over the
shorter of 10 years or the life of the mine using the units-of-production method.
Stripping costs are costs of removing overburden and waste materials to gain access to mineral reserves. Prior to the production phase
of the mine, stripping costs are capitalized. The production phase of a mine is deemed to begin when saleable materials, beyond a de
minimum amount, are produced. Stripping costs incurred during the production phase are variable production costs included in the
costs of inventory, to be recognized in cost of sales in the same period as the sale of inventory. The determination of the production
phase becomes complex when second and subsequent pits at multiple pit-mines are developed. The stripping costs of second and
subsequent pits are expensed if they are determined to be part of the integrated operations of the first pit which is in the production
phase. The stripping costs of second and subsequent pits in a mine are capitalized if the pits are not integrated operations and are
separate and distinct areas within the mine. Capitalized stripping costs are amortized on a units of production method.
Assets under construction are stated at cost, which includes the cost of construction and other direct costs attributable to the
construction. No provision for depreciation is made on assets under construction until such time as the relevant assets are completed
and put into use.
We capitalize interest costs incurred on funds used to construct property, plant, and equipment. The capitalized interest is recorded as
part of the asset to which it relates and is amortized over the asset’s estimated useful life. Interest cost capitalized was $8,640 in 2018.
Historically, we funded all construction of property, plant, and equipment through cash on hand and no interest was capitalized as part
of projects.
Depreciation and depletion expense was $171,750, $98,802, and $102,515 in the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016,
respectively.
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs are amortized over the terms of the related debt obligations. Deferred financing costs associated with terms
loans are included in long-term debt and deferred financing costs associated with the revolving credit facility are included in other
assets.
At December 31, 2017, we did not have deferred financing costs. The following table presents deferred financing costs as of
December 31, 2018:
Deferred financing costs
Accumulated amortization
Deferred financing costs, net
December 31, 2018
$
$
40,151
(3,489 )
36,662
97
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Goodwill
Goodwill is tested annually for impairment at the reporting unit level, and is tested for impairment more frequently if events and
circumstances indicate that the reporting unit might be impaired. In testing goodwill for impairment, we perform a qualitative
assessment to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more-likely-than-not that
the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. When performing a qualitative assessment, we evaluate qualitative
factors such as economic performance, industry conditions, and other factors. If the qualitative assessment indicates that it is more-
likely-than-not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then a quantitative assessment is performed to
determine the reporting unit’s fair value. If the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, then an impairment loss is
recognized for the amount of the excess of the carrying amount over the reporting unit’s fair value.
The evaluation of goodwill for possible impairment includes estimating fair value using one or a combination of valuation techniques,
such as discounted cash flows or comparable companies’ earnings multiples or transactions. These valuations require us to make
estimates and assumptions regarding future operating results, cash flows, changes in working capital and capital expenditures, selling
prices, profitability, and the cost of capital. Although we believe our assumptions and estimates are reasonable, deviations from the
assumptions and estimates could produce a materially different result. Refer to Note 10 for additional information.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Definite-Lived Intangible Assets
We periodically evaluate whether current events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of our long-lived assets, including
property, plant and equipment, mineral reserves or mineral rights and definite-lived intangible assets may not be recoverable. If such
circumstances are determined to exist, an estimate of future cash flows produced by the asset group or individual assets within the
asset group is compared to the carrying value to determine whether an impairment exists. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the
loss is measured based on quoted market prices in active markets, if available. If quoted market prices are not available, the estimate
of fair value is based on various valuation techniques, including a discounted value of estimated future cash flows. A detailed
determination of the fair value may be carried forward from one year to the next if certain criteria have been met. We report an asset
to be disposed of at the lower of its carrying value or its estimated net realizable value.
Factors we generally consider important in our evaluation and that could trigger an impairment review of the carrying value of the
asset group or individual assets within the asset group include expected operating trends, significant changes in the way assets are
used, underutilization of our tangible assets, discontinuance of certain products by us or by our customers, and significant negative
industry or economic trends.
The recoverability of the carrying value of our development stage mineral properties is dependent upon the successful development,
start-up and commercial production of our mineral deposits and related processing facilities. Our evaluation of mineral properties for
potential impairment primarily includes assessing the existence or availability of required permits and evaluating changes in our
mineral reserves, or the underlying estimates and assumptions, including estimated production costs. Assessing the economic
feasibility requires certain estimates, including the prices of products to be produced and processing recovery rates, as well as
operating and capital costs.
The evaluation of such assets for possible impairment includes a qualitative assessment of macroeconomic conditions, industry and
market environments, overall performance of the reporting segment and specific events. If the qualitative assessment indicates the
asset may be impaired, then a quantitative assessment is performed which requires estimating fair value using one or a combination of
valuation techniques, such as discounted cash flows or based on comparable companies or transactions. These valuations require us to
make estimates and assumptions regarding future operating results, cash flows, changes in working capital and capital expenditures,
selling prices, profitability, and the cost of capital. Deviations from these assumptions and estimates could produce a materially
different result.
Earnings per Share
Basic and diluted earnings per share is presented for net income (loss) attributable to us. Basic earnings per share is computed by
dividing income (loss) available to our common stockholders by the weighted-average number of outstanding common shares for the
period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by increasing the weighted-average number of outstanding shares of common stock to
include the additional shares of common stock that would be outstanding after exercise of outstanding stock options and restricted
98
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
stock units calculated using the treasury stock method. Potential shares of common stock in the diluted earnings per share calculation
are excluded to the extent that they would be anti-dilutive.
Prior to the Merger, we had no stock options, warrants, convertible securities, or other potentially dilutive financial instruments and,
therefore, there is no difference in the number basic weighted average shares outstanding and diluted weighted average shares
outstanding.
Derivatives and Hedging Activities
Due to our variable-rate indebtedness, we are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. We enter into interest rate swap agreements as
a means to partially hedge our variable interest rate risk. The derivative instruments are reported at fair value in other non-current
assets and other long-term liabilities. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in accumulated other
comprehensive loss. For derivatives not designated as hedges, the gain or loss is recognized in current earnings. No components of
our hedging instruments were excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for us
making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional value. The gain or loss on the
interest rate swap is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and subsequently reclassified into interest expense in the same
period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. See Note 13 for further information.
Foreign Currency Translation
The financial statements of subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the reporting currency are translated into U.S. dollars
using month-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities and average monthly exchange rates for income and expenses. Any
translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss within stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency
exchange gains or losses that arise from currency exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the
functional currency are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss), as applicable.
Concentration of Labor
Approximately 34% of our labor force is covered under union agreements in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. These agreements are
renegotiated when their terms expire. There are three agreements that are due to be renegotiated in 2019 for the U.S. and Canada,
which represents approximately 16% of the U.S. and Canada agreements. There are nine agreements in Mexico that are renegotiated
annually.
Concentration of Credit Risk
At December 31, 2018, we had two customers whose accounts receivable balances exceeded 10% of total receivables. These two
customers each comprised approximately 10% of our accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2017, we
had one customer whose accounts receivable balance approximated 13% of our accounts receivable balance.
Income Taxes
Deferred taxes are provided on the liability method whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences
and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. This
approach requires recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been
included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based upon the
difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which
the expenses are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more
likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
We recognize a tax benefit associated with an uncertain tax position when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that the position
will be sustained upon examination by a taxing authority. For a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold,
99
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
we initially and subsequently measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that we judge to have a greater than 50% likelihood of
being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority. The liability associated with unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted
periodically due to changing circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law developments and new or emerging
legislation. Such adjustments are recognized entirely in the period in which they are identified. The effective tax rate includes the net
impact of changes in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and subsequent adjustments as considered appropriate by management.
We evaluate quarterly the realizability of our deferred tax assets by assessing the need for a valuation allowance and by adjusting the
amount of such allowance, if necessary. The factors used to assess the likelihood of realization are our forecast of future taxable
income in the appropriate jurisdiction to utilize the asset, and available tax planning strategies that could be implemented to realize the
net deferred tax assets. Failure to achieve forecasted taxable income might affect the ultimate realization of the net deferred tax assets.
Factors that may affect our ability to achieve sufficient forecasted taxable income include, but are not limited to, the following: a
decline in sales or margins, increased competition or loss of market share.
In addition, we operate within multiple taxing jurisdictions and are subject to audit in these jurisdictions. These audits can involve
complex issues, which may require an extended time to resolve. We believe that adequate provisions for income taxes have been
made for all years.
Typically, the largest permanent item in computing both our effective rate and taxable income is the deduction for statutory depletion.
The depletion deduction is dependent upon a mine-by-mine computation of both gross income from mining and taxable income.
The Tax Act subjects us to current tax on our GILTI. To the extent that tax expense is incurred under the GILTI provisions, it will be
treated as a component of income tax expense in the period incurred.
Asset Retirement Obligation
We estimate the future cost of dismantling, restoring, and reclaiming operating excavation sites and related facilities in accordance
with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. We record the initial estimated present value of these costs as an asset
retirement obligation and increase the carrying amount of the related asset by a corresponding amount. The related asset is classified
as property, plant, and equipment and amortized over its useful life. We adjust the related asset and liability for changes resulting
from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or amount of the original present value estimate. Cost estimates are
escalated for inflation and market risk premium, then discounted at the credit adjusted risk free rate. If the asset retirement obligation
is settled for more or less than the carrying amount of the liability, a loss or gain will be recognized in the period the obligation is
settled. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, we had asset retirement obligations of $31,199 and $12,472, respectively. We
recognized accretion expense of $2,543, $1,369, and $915 in the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
These amounts are included in Other operating expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). Other than those asset
retirement obligations that were assumed and recorded in connection with the Merger and accretion expense, there were no changes in
the liability during these periods.
Research and Development (“R&D”)
Our R&D expenses consist of personnel and other direct and indirect costs for internally-funded project development. Total expenses
for R&D for the year ended December 31, 2018 were $2,210 and are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in the
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). Total R&D expenses represented 0.1% of revenues in 2018. R&D expenses in 2017 and
2016 were not material.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Accumulated other comprehensive loss is a separate line within the Consolidated Statements of Equity that reports the Company’s
cumulative income (loss) that has not been reported as part of net income (loss). Items that are included in this line are the income
(loss) from foreign currency translation, actuarial gains (losses) and prior service cost related to pension and other post-employment
100
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
liabilities and unrealized gains on interest rate hedges. The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to
Covia Holdings Corporation at December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Amounts related to employee benefit obligations
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate hedges
$
$
Gross
December 31, 2018
Tax Effect Net Amount
(53,389 )
- $
(37,922 )
14,574
(3,914 )
1,169
15,743 $
(95,225 )
(53,389 ) $
(52,496 )
(5,083 )
(110,968 ) $
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Amounts related to employee benefit obligations
Gross
December 31, 2017
Tax Effect
Net Amount
$
$
(54,571 ) $
(100,817 )
(155,388 ) $
- $
27,160
27,160 $
(54,571 )
(73,657 )
(128,228 )
The following table presents the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the year ended December 31,
2018:
Year Ended December 31, 2018
Beginning balance
Other comprehensive income
before reclassifications
Amounts reclassified from
accumulated other comprehensive loss
Ending balance
Amounts
related
Unrealized
to employee gain (loss)
Foreign
currency
translation
on interest
benefit
adjustments obligations rate hedges
$
(73,657 ) $
(54,571 ) $
- $
Total
(128,228 )
1,182
31,829
(4,714 )
28,297
-
(53,389 ) $
3,906
(37,922 ) $
800
(3,914 ) $
4,706
(95,225 )
$
Foreign
currency
translation
adjustments
Year Ended December 31, 2017
Amounts related
to employee
benefit
obligations
Total
Beginning balance
$
(57,177 ) $
(61,322 ) $
(118,499 )
Other comprehensive income
before reclassifications
Amounts reclassified from accumulated
other comprehensive loss
Ending balance
$
2,606
(7,823 )
(5,217 )
-
(54,571 ) $
(4,512 )
(73,657 ) $
(4,512 )
(128,228 )
In connection with the adoption of ASU 2018-02, we have included $10,455 in amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive loss for the reclassification of stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act. This amount has been reclassified from
accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings within Shareholders’ Equity.
101
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The following table presents the reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss during the years ended December 31,
2018, 2017, and 2016:
Year Ended December 31, 2018
Details about accumulated other comprehensive loss
Change in fair value of derivative swap agreements
Interest rate hedging contracts
Tax effect
Amortization of employee benefit obligations
Prior service costs
Actuarial losses
Tax effect
Total reclassifications for the period
Year Ended December 31, 2017
Details about accumulated other comprehensive loss
Amortization of employee benefit obligations
Prior service cost
Actuarial losses
Tax effect
Total reclassifications for the period
Year Ended December 31, 2016
Details about accumulated other comprehensive loss
Amortization of employee benefit obligations
Prior service cost
Actuarial losses
Tax effect
Total reclassifications for the period
3.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
Amount reclassified
from accumulated
other comprehensive
loss
Affected line item on
the statement of income (loss)
1,040 Interest expense, net
(240 ) Provision for income taxes
800 Net of tax
1,675 Other non-operating expense, net
3,606 Other non-operating expense, net
(1,375 ) Provision for income taxes
3,906 Net of tax
4,706 Net of tax
Amount reclassified
from accumulated
other comprehensive
loss
Affected line item on
the statement of income (loss)
552 Other non-operating expense, net
5,745 Other non-operating expense, net
(354 ) Provision for income taxes
5,943 Net of tax
Amount reclassified
from accumulated
other comprehensive
loss
Affected line item on
the statement of income (loss)
541 Other non-operating expense, net
18,577 Other non-operating expense, net
(7,347 ) Provision for income taxes
11,771 Net of tax
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09 –
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition
requirements in Topic 605 – Revenue Recognition and clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and creates common revenue
recognition guidance between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. Revenues are recognized when customers
obtain control of promised goods or services and at an amount that reflects the consideration expected to be received in exchange for
such goods or services. In addition, ASU 2014-09 requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and
cash flows arising from contracts with customers.
On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09 for all contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018 using the
modified retrospective transition method. The adoption did not require a cumulative adjustment to opening retained earnings and did
not have a material impact on revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018.
102
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09 – Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2016-09”), which
simplifies the accounting treatment for excess tax benefits and deficiencies, forfeitures, and cash flow considerations related to share-
based payment transactions. ASU 2016-09 requires all tax effects of share-based payments to be recorded through the income
statement, windfall tax benefits to be recorded when the benefit arises, and excess tax benefits-related cash flows to be reported as
operating activities in the statement of cash flows. Regarding withholding requirements, ASU 2016-09 allows entities to withhold an
amount up to the employees’ maximum individual tax rates without classifying the award as a liability. Such withholdings are to be
recorded as financing activities in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 also permits entities to make an accounting policy
election for the impact of forfeitures on expense recognition, either recognized when forfeitures are estimated or when forfeitures
occur. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-09, and elected to recognize forfeitures when they occur. The adoption
did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16 – Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets other than
Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”). ASU 2016-16 requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of
assets other than inventory when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 also eliminates the exception for an intra-entity transfer of an asset
other than inventory. On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2016-16 using the modified retrospective transition method.
The adoption did not require a cumulative adjustment to opening retained earnings and did not have a material impact on the
consolidated financial statements.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07 – Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) – Improving the Presentation
of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (“ASU 2017-07”). ASU 2017-07 requires that an
employer report the service cost component in the same line item in the income statement as other compensation costs arising from
services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period as well as appropriately described relevant line items. ASU 2017-07
also disallows capitalization of the other components of net periodic benefit costs and requires those costs to be presented in the
income statement separately from the service cost component and outside of a subtotal of income from operations. ASU 2017-07 is
effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods, with
early adoption permitted. Companies are required to retrospectively apply the requirement for a separate presentation in the income
statement of service costs and other components of net benefit cost and prospectively adopt the requirement to limit the capitalization
of benefit costs to the service component. Application of a practical expedient is allowed permitting an employer to use the amounts
disclosed in its pension and other postretirement benefit plan note for the prior comparative periods as the estimation basis for
applying the retrospective presentation requirements. The Company adopted ASU 2017-07 as of January 1, 2018 and utilized the
practical expedient to estimate the impact on the prior comparative period information presented in the interim and annual financial
statements. Previously, the Company capitalized all net periodic benefit costs incurred for plant personnel in inventory and recorded
the majority of net periodic benefit costs incurred by corporate personnel and retirees into selling, general, and administrative
expenses. After the adoption, the Company records all components of net periodic benefit costs, aside from service costs, as a
component of Other non-operating expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
The following is a reconciliation of the effect of the reclassification of the net benefit cost in the Company’s Consolidated Statements
of Income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation, depletion,
and amortization shown separately)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Other non-operating expense, net
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation, depletion,
and amortization shown separately)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Other non-operating expense, net
Other operating expense
Year Ended December 31, 2017
As Reported
Adjustments
As Revised
$
$
932,983 $
101,452
19,300 $
(4,324 ) $
(2,365 )
6,689 $
928,659
99,087
25,989
Year Ended December 31, 2016
As Reported
Adjustments
As Revised
$
$
754,465 $
100,921
15,623
5,129 $
(1,729 ) $
(17,076 )
19,659
(854 ) $
752,736
83,845
35,282
4,275
103
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12 – Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) – Targeted Improvements to Accounting
for Hedging Activities (“ASU 2017-12”). ASU 2017-12 expands and refines hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk
components and aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial
statements. Subject matters addressed include risk component hedging, accounting for the hedged item in fair value hedges of interest
rate risk, recognition and presentation of the effects of hedging instruments, amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge
effectiveness, and effectiveness testing. All transition requirements and elections should be applied to existing hedging relationships
as of the date of adoption and reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. On August 1, 2018, the Company entered
into hedge accounting for its interest rate swaps and elected to early adopt ASU 2017-12 at the date of designation. The adoption did
not result in a cumulative effect adjustment in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 13 for further detail.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 – Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which requires lessees to recognize a
right-of-use asset and lease liability on their consolidated balance sheet related to the rights and obligations created by most leases,
while continuing to recognize expense on their consolidated statements of income over the lease term. ASU 2016-02 also requires
disclosures designed to give financial statement users information regarding the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising
from leases.
The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective transition approach by applying the new
standard to all leases existing at the date of initial application. Consequently, financial information will not be updated and the
disclosures required under the new standard will not be provided for dates and periods before January 1, 2019.
The Company has elected the ‘package of practical expedients’ which permits us not to reassess under the new standard, our prior
conclusions about lease identification, lease classification, initial direct costs and the treatment of land easements. We did not elect
the use-of-hindsight practical expedient. We have elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for all of our leased assets,
including those assets in transition, such that for those leases that qualify, we will not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities.
We have also elected to not separate lease and non-lease components for all of our leases.
The Company believes the adoption will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. While we continue to assess
all of the effects of adoption, the most significant effects relate to our rail cars which are subject to operating leases. On adoption, we
expect to recognize additional lease liabilities ranging from $385,000 to $415,000 with corresponding right-of-use assets ranging from
$415,000 to $445,000.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 – Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-
13 replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and
requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. Additionally,
ASU 2016-13 requires a financial asset measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected
through the use of an allowance of expected credit losses. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years, and requires a modified retrospective approach. The Company is in the
process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-05 – Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“ASU 2018-05”). ASU 2018-05 provides guidance regarding the recording of tax impacts where
uncertainty exists, in the period of adoption of the Tax Act, which allowed companies to reflect provisional amounts for those specific
income tax effects of the Tax Act for which the accounting under ASC Topic 740 is incomplete but for which a reasonable estimate
could be determined. See Note 15 for further detail.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13 – Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the
Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). ASU 2018-13 removes and modifies existing disclosure
requirements on fair value measurement, namely regarding transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy and the valuation
processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. Additionally, ASU 2018-13 adds further disclosure requirements for Level 3 fair
value measurements, specifically changes in unrealized gains and losses and other quantitative information. ASU 2018-13 is effective
for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The
Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
104
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14 – Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General
(Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans (“ASU 2018-14”).
The amendments in ASU 2018-14 remove various disclosures that no longer are considered cost-beneficial, namely amounts in
accumulated other comprehensive loss expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year.
Further, ASU 2018-14 requires disclosure or clarification of the reasons for significant gains or losses related to changes in the benefit
obligation for the period, as well as projected and accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets. ASU 2018-14 is effective
for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020 and should be applied on a retrospective basis, with early adoption permitted. The
Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15 – Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40):
Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (“ASU
2018-15”). The amendments in ASU 2018-15 align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting
arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain
internal-use software and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license. ASU 2018-15 requires an entity in a
hosting arrangement that is a service contract to follow the guidance in Subtopic 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to
capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. ASU 2018-15 also requires the entity to expense the
capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement, which
includes reasonably certain renewals. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim
periods within those fiscal years. ASU 2018-15 should can be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation
costs incurred after its adoption. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated
financial statements and disclosures.
In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-16 – Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Inclusion of the Secured Overnight
Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting (“ASU 2018-16”).
The amendments in ASU 2018-16 allow the OIS rate based on SOFR as a U.S. benchmark interest rate and are an attempt to help
facilitate the LIBOR to SOFR transition, as well as provide sufficient lead time for entities to prepare for changes to interest rate risk
hedging strategies for both risk management and hedge accounting purposes. Since the Company early-adopted ASU 2017-12, ASU
2018-16 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. ASU 2018-16
should be applied on a prospective basis for qualifying new or re-designated hedging relationships entered into on or after the date of
adoption. As previously noted, the Company early-adopted ASU 2017-12 and will apply the new guidance of ASU 2018-16 in the
event the Company enters into new hedging relationships on or after December 15, 2018.
In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-18 – Collaborative Arrangements (Topic 808) — Clarifying the Interaction
between Topic 808 and Topic 606 (“ASU 2018-18”). The amendments in ASU 2018-18 provide guidance on whether certain
transactions between collaborative arrangement participants should be accounted for revenue under ASC 606. ASU 2018-18
specifically addresses when the participant is a customer in the context of a unit of account, adds unit-of-account guidance in ASC 808
to align with guidance with ASC 606, and precludes presenting the collaborative arrangement transaction together with revenue
recognized under ASC 606 if the collaborative arrangement participant is not a customer. ASU 2018-18 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted and should be applied
retrospectively. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements
and disclosures.
4. Merger and Purchase Accounting
As previously noted, on June 1, 2018, Fairmount Santrol was merged into a subsidiary of Unimin, after which Fairmount Santrol
ceased to exist as a separate corporate entity. Refer to Note 1 for additional information related to the Merger.
The Merger Date fair value of consideration transferred was $1,313,660, which consisted of share-based awards, cash, and Covia
common stock. The consideration transferred to Fairmount Santrol’s stockholders included cash of $170,000. The cash portion of the
Merger consideration was funded with proceeds of the Term Loan, as well as cash on Unimin’s balance sheet. See Note 11 for
additional information.
The operating results of Fairmount Santrol since the Merger Date are included in the consolidated financial statements. The Merger
qualifies as a business combination and is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.
105
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The estimates of fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were based on information available as of the Merger Date.
During the third and fourth quarter of 2018, the Company refined certain underlying inputs and assumption in its valuation models and
finalized the purchase accounting fair value assessment as of December 31, 2018. The following table summarizes the purchase price
accounting of the acquired assets and liabilities assumed as of June 1, 2018, including measurement period adjustments.
June 1, 2018
(as previously reported)
Adjustments
June 1, 2018
(as adjusted)
$
Cash and cash equivalents
Inventories, net
Accounts receivable
Property, plant, and equipment, net
Intangible assets, net
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Other non-current assets
Total identifiable assets acquired
Debt
Other current liabilities
Deferred tax liability
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities assumed
Net identifiable assets acquired
Non-controlling interest
Goodwill
Total consideration transferred
$
105,303 $
107,393
159,373
1,485,785
148,830
9,563
19,836
2,036,083
738,661
162,885
163,730
75,529
1,140,805
895,278
453
418,835
1,313,660 $
- $
612
-
164,091
(12,608 )
-
(15,654 )
136,441
10,061
(2,768 )
35,897
(30,360 )
12,830
123,611
-
(123,611 )
- $
105,303
108,005
159,373
1,649,876
136,222
9,563
4,182
2,172,524
748,722
160,117
199,627
45,169
1,153,635
1,018,889
453
295,224
1,313,660
In addition to the changes in the balances noted above, the Company recorded an adjustment to increase Depreciation, depletion, and
amortization expense of $1,994 during the year ended December 31, 2018 as a result of the adjustment to property, plant, and
equipment and certain intangible assets.
The fair values were based on management’s analysis, including work performed by third-party valuation specialists. A number of
significant assumptions and estimates were involved in the application of valuation methods, including sales volumes and prices,
royalty rates, production costs, tax rates, capital spending, discount rates, and working capital changes. Cash flow forecasts were
generally based on Fairmount Santrol’s pre-Merger forecasts. Valuation methodologies used for the identifiable assets acquired and
liabilities assumed utilize Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 inputs including quoted prices in active markets and discounted cash flows
using current interest rates.
Accounts receivable, other current liabilities, non-current assets and other long-term liabilities, excluding asset retirement obligations
and contingent consideration included in other long-term liabilities, were valued at the existing carrying values as they represented the
estimated fair value of those items at the Merger Date based on management’s judgement and estimates.
Raw material inventory was valued using the cost approach. The fair value of work-in-process inventory and finished goods inventory
is a function of the estimated selling price less the sum of any cost to complete, costs of disposal, holding costs and a reasonable profit
allowance.
The fair value of non-depletable land was determined using the market approach which arrives at an indication of value by comparing
the land being valued to land recently acquired in arm’s-length transactions or land listings for similar uses. Building and site
improvements were valued using the cost approach in which the value is established based on the cost of reproducing or replacing the
asset, less depreciation from physical deterioration, functional obsolescence and economic obsolescence, if applicable. Personal
property assets with an active and identifiable secondary market, such as mobile equipment were valued using the market approach.
Other personal property assets such as machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, leasehold improvements, laboratory
equipment and computer software, were valued using the cost approach which is based on replacement or reproduction costs of the
assets less depreciation from physical deterioration, functional obsolescence and economic obsolescence, if applicable. The fair value
of the mineral reserves, which is included in property, plant, and equipment, net, were valued using the income approach which is
predicated upon the value of the future cash flows that an asset will generate over its economic life.
106
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The fair value of the customer relationship intangible assets was determined using the With and Without Method which is an income
approach and considers the time needed to rebuild the customer base. The fair value of the railcar leasehold interest was determined
using the discounted cash flow method (“DCF Method”) which is an income approach. The fair value of the trade name and
technology intangible assets was determined using the Relief from Royalty Method which is an income approach and is based on a
search of comparable third party licensing agreements and internal discussions regarding the significance of the trade names and
technology and the profitability of the associated revenue streams.
The fair value of the acquired intangible assets and the related estimated useful lives at the Merger Date were the following:
Customer relationships
Railcar leasehold interests
Trade name
Technology
Other
$
Total approximate fair value
$
Approximate
Fair Value
73,000
40,914
17,000
5,000
308
136,222
Estimated
Useful Life
6 years
1-15 years
1 year
12 years
95 years
Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired. Goodwill represents
the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired that could not be individually identified and separately recognized.
Goodwill of $78,143 and $217,081 allocated to the Industrial and Energy reporting units respectively, is attributable to the earnings
potential of Fairmount Santrol’s product and plant portfolio, anticipated synergies, the assembled workforce of Fairmount Santrol, and
other benefits that the Company believes will result from the Merger. During the third quarter of 2018 it was determined the goodwill
allocated to the Energy reporting unit was impaired and was written off in its entirety. Refer to Note 10 for additional information.
None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.
The carrying value of the debt approximated the fair value of the debt at June 1, 2018.
The deferred tax liability relates to the tax effect of fair value adjustments of the assets and liabilities acquired, including mineral
reserves, property, plant and equipment and intangible assets.
Asset retirement obligations are included in other long-term liabilities in the table of fair values noted above. The related asset is
included in property, plant, and equipment, net in the table of fair values noted above. The asset retirement obligations assumed and
related assets acquired in connection with the Merger were adjusted to reflect revised estimates of the future cost of dismantling,
restoring, and reclaiming of certain sites and related facilities as of the Merger Date.
Included in other long-term liabilities is $9,500 for a pre-acquisition contingent consideration arrangement in the form of earnout
payments, related to the purchase of the Propel SSP technology. We entered into an amendment to the SSP purchase agreement on
June 1, 2018. Based on information and estimates at the time, we estimated the fair value of contingent consideration to be
approximately $9,500. Subsequent to the Merger Date, changes in projected cash flows were revised downward based on post-Merger
decline in the market conditions for the Energy segment and a customer supply agreement that was not renewed at December 31,
2018. These revisions gave rise to a reduction of the contingent consideration liability of approximately $5,000, which is recorded as
income in Other operating expense (income) in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). The earnout payments are based on a
fixed percentage of sales of Propel SSP® and other products incorporating the SSP technology for thirty years commencing on June 1,
2018. The amendment eliminated the threshold payments of $195,000 which were previously required in order for the Company to
retain 100% ownership of the technology. It also provides for the non-exclusive right to license the technology at a negotiated rate.
The fair value of the earnout was determined using a scenario-based method due to the linear nature of the consideration payments.
The Company assumed the outstanding stock-based equity awards (the “Award(s)”) of Fairmount Santrol at the Merger Date. Each
outstanding Award of Fairmount Santrol was converted to a Covia award with similar terms and conditions at the exchange ratio of
5:1. The Company recorded $40,414 of Merger consideration for the value of Awards earned prior to the Merger Date. The
remaining value represents post-Merger compensation expense of $10,416, which will be recognized over the remaining vesting
period of the Awards. In addition, at June 1, 2018, the Company recorded $2,400 of expense for Awards whose vesting was
107
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
accelerated upon a change in control and certain other terms pursuant to the Merger agreement and therefore considered a Merger
related expense and recorded in Other non-operating expense, net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
Refer to Note 16 for additional information.
The Company has not separately disclosed the revenue and earnings of Fairmount Santrol from the Merger Date through December
31, 2018. Due to the integration of Fairmount Santrol’s operations and customer contracts into the Covia supply chain network and
customer contracts, it is impracticable to provide a reasonable estimate of these revenue and earnings.
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information (Unaudited)
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presents the Company’s combined results as if the
Merger had occurred on January 1, 2017. The unaudited pro forma financial information was prepared to give effect to events that are
(i) directly attributable to the Merger; (ii) factually supportable; and (iii) expected to have a continuing impact on the Company’s
results. All material intercompany transactions during the periods presented have been eliminated. These pro forma results include
adjustments for interest expense that would have been incurred to finance the transaction and reflect purchase accounting adjustments
for additional depreciation, depletion and amortization on acquired property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. The pro
forma results exclude Merger related transaction costs and expenses that were incurred in conjunction with the Merger in the years
ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
Revenues
Net income
Earnings per share – basic
Earnings per share – diluted
$
$
2,320,269 $
(185,497 )
(1.48 ) $
(1.48 )
2,254,907
143,785
1.20
1.20
The unaudited pro-forma condensed combined financial information is presented for information purposes only and is not intended to
represent or to be indicative of the combined results of operations or financial position that would have been reported had the Merger
been completed as of the date and for the period presented, and should not be taken as representative of the Company’s consolidated
results of operations or financial condition following the Merger. In addition, the unaudited pro-forma condensed combined financial
information is not intended to project the future financial position or results of operations of Covia.
5.
Discontinued Operation – Disposition of Unimin’s Electronics Segment
On May 31, 2018, prior to, and as a condition to the closing of the Merger, Unimin transferred assets and liabilities of its global high
purity quartz business, HPQ Co., to Sibelco in exchange for 170 shares (or 15,097 shares subsequent to the stock split) of Unimin
common stock held by Sibelco.
The transaction was between entities under common control and therefore the Unimin common stock received from Sibelco was
recorded at the carrying value of the net assets transferred at May 31, 2018, in the amount of $165,383, in Treasury stock within
Equity. The transfer of HPQ Co. to Sibelco was a tax-free transaction.
The disposition of HPQ Co. qualified as discontinued operations, as it represented a significant strategic shift of the Company’s
operations and financial results. In addition, the operations and cash flows of HPQ Co. could be distinguished, operationally and for
financial reporting purposes, from the rest of the Company.
The historical balance sheet and statements of operations of the HPQ Co. business have been presented as discontinued operations in
the condensed consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the Merger. Discontinued operations include the results of HPQ
Co., except for certain allocated corporate overhead costs and certain costs associated with transition services provided by the
Company to HPQ Co. These previously allocated costs remain part of continuing operations.
108
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities of the Company’s discontinued operations as of December 31, 2017
were as follows:
December 31, 2017
Accounts receivable, net
Inventories, net
Other receivables
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Current assets of discontinued operations
Property, plant, and equipment, net
Intangibles, net
Total assets of discontinued operations
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
Deferred tax liabilities, net
Other noncurrent liabilities
$
$
$
Total liabilities of discontinued operations
$
23,065
24,856
17,995
990
66,906
94,536
1,565
163,007
4,510
5,517
10,027
7,648
436
18,111
Included in Other receivables is $17,296 for cash generated from July 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 due from Covia to HPQ
Co. This amount was included in Accrued expenses on Covia’s Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2017 and paid out on
the Merger Date.
The operating results of the Company’s discontinued operations up to the Merger Date are as follows:
Major line items constituting income from discontinued operations
Revenues
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation, depletion,
and amortization shown separately)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense
Other operating income
Income from discontinued operations before provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
$
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
$
74,015 $
149,375 $
110,780
46,442
8,762
4,072
(69 )
14,808
2,221
12,587 $
99,974
14,519
11,145
(155 )
23,892
608
23,284 $
72,480
11,794
11,210
642
14,654
5,219
9,435
The significant operating and investing cash and noncash items of the discontinued operations included in the Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 were as follows:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense
Capital expenditures
$
$
4,072 $
3,549 $
11,145 $
2,559 $
11,210
1,406
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
6.
Stockholders’ Equity
Prior to the consummation of the Merger, Unimin redeemed 170 shares (or 15,097 shares subsequent to the stock split) of common
stock from Sibelco in connection with the disposition of HPQ Co. Additionally, Unimin redeemed 208 shares (or 18,528 shares
subsequent to the stock split) of common stock from Sibelco in exchange for a payment of $520,377 to Sibelco (the “Cash
Redemption”). The Cash Redemption was financed with the proceeds of the Term Loan (see Note 7) and cash on hand. On June 1,
2018, the Company effected an 89:1 stock split with respect to its shares of common stock and, in connection therewith, amended and
109
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
restated its certificate of incorporation to increase the Company’s authorized capital stock to 750,000 shares of common stock and
15,000 shares of preferred stock and decreased its par value per share from $1.00 to $0.01.
As a result of the Merger, Fairmount Santrol stockholders received 45,044 shares of Covia common stock, which were issued out of
Covia treasury stock.
7.
Inventories, net
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, inventories consisted of the following:
Raw materials
Work-in-process
Finished goods
Spare parts
Inventories, net
December 31, 2018
$
December 31, 2017
30,410 $
19,886
73,628
39,046
162,970 $
16,393
1,738
35,905
25,923
79,959
$
As a result of the Merger, the Company recorded approximately $38,409 of fair value adjustments in inventory, which included
approximately $7,593 of spare parts. Of this amount, approximately $28,314 was recorded in costs of goods sold, based on inventory
turnover, during the year ended December 31, 2018.
In the third quarter of 2018, the Company recorded the write-down of inventories at four idled facilities in the amount of $6,744. The
expense is recorded in Cost of goods sold in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). All of the idled facilities are within the
Energy segment.
8.
Property, Plant, and Equipment, net
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, property, plant, and equipment consisted of the following:
Land and improvements
Mineral rights properties
Machinery and equipment
Buildings and improvements
Railroad equipment
Furniture, fixtures, and other
Assets under construction
Accumulated depletion and depreciation
Property, plant, and equipment, net
December 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
151,374
$
266,627
1,045,811
341,218
147,345
3,657
234,988
2,191,020
(1,054,916 )
1,136,104
224,894 $
1,323,090
1,607,116
544,117
155,998
5,260
184,360
4,044,835
(1,210,474 )
2,834,361 $
$
All of the Company’s capital leases are categorized as machinery and equipment. The depreciation of capital leases is recorded in
depreciation, depletion, and amortization expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). Their cost and related
accumulated depreciation in the balance sheet are as follows:
Cost
Accumulated depreciation
Net book value
$
$
December 31, 2018
19,215
(2,245 )
16,970
In June 2018, the Company wrote down $12,300 of assets under construction related to a facility expansion that was terminated. The
write-down reflects the cost of assets that could not be used or transferred to other facilities. This amount is included in Goodwill and
other asset impairments on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2018.
110
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The Company is required to evaluate the recoverability of the carrying amount of its long-lived asset groups whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset groups may not be recoverable. Based on the adverse business
conditions, the decline in the Company’s share price and the idling of certain assets within the Energy segment, the Company
performed an evaluation of all asset groups. The undiscounted cash flows to be generated from the use and eventual disposition of the
asset groups were compared to the carrying value of the asset groups and it was determined the carrying amount of Covia’s asset
groups were recoverable at December 31, 2018.
Due to the idling of certain facilities in the Energy segment, the Company has ceased to use certain long-lived assets. The Company
recorded an expense of $37,653 to adjust the carrying amount of these long-lived assets to their salvage value, if any, at December 31,
2018. This expense is recorded in Goodwill and other asset impairments on the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company closed a terminal and wrote-down greenfield land. As a result,
the Company recorded an expense of $9,634, which was recorded in Goodwill and other assets impairments on the Consolidated
Statements of Income (Loss).
9.
Accrued Expenses
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, accrued expenses consisted of the following:
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
Accrued bonus & other benefits
Accrued Merger related costs
Accrued restructuring charges
Accrued insurance
Accrued property taxes
Accrual for HPQ Co.
Accrual for capital spending
Other accrued expenses
Accrued expenses
$
$
38,445 $
502
15,819
7,026
9,120
-
19,289
39,960
130,161 $
20,427
13,030
-
8,218
1,773
17,296
2,790
24,674
88,208
10. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, goodwill was $131,655 and $53,512, respectively, and the activity within those years is as
follows:
Beginning Balance
Acquisitions
Impairment
Ending Balance
Year Ended December 31, 2018:
Energy
Industrial
Total goodwill
Year Ended December 31, 2017:
Industrial
Total goodwill
$
$
$
$
- $
53,512
53,512 $
53,512 $
53,512 $
217,081 $
78,143
295,224 $
(217,081 ) $
-
(217,081 ) $
- $
- $
- $
- $
-
131,655
131,655
53,512
53,512
Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired. The Company evaluates goodwill at the
reporting unit level on an annual basis on October 31 and also on an interim basis when indicators of impairment exist. In addition to
the annual test, the market conditions within the Company’s Energy reporting unit combined with the decline in the Company’s share
price triggered testing for goodwill impairment at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2018 using Level 3 inputs. The tests were
performed at the reporting unit level using a combination of the discounted cash flow forecast methodology using a peer-based, risk-
adjusted weighted average cost of capital and the market multiples approach. The Company believes the use of these methodologies
is the most reliable indicator of the fair values of the reporting units. Upon completion of the tests, the entire amount of goodwill in
111
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
the Energy reporting unit was determined to be impaired and an impairment charge in the amount of $217,081 was recorded in 2018.
The goodwill attributed to the Industrial reporting unit was determined to not be impaired for any of the testing periods.
Changes in the carrying amount of intangible assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
Beginning balance
Less: HPQ Co. assets
Assets acquired
Ending balance
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance
Less: HPQ Co. accumulated amortization
Amortization for the period
Accumulated amortization, ending balance
Intangible assets, net
$
$
52,196 $
-
136,222
188,418
(26,600 )
-
(24,705 )
(51,305 )
137,113 $
55,328
(3,132 )
-
52,196
(25,222 )
1,567
(2,945 )
(26,600 )
25,596
Intangible assets, net includes the following:
Supply agreements
Stream mitigation rights
Customer relationships
Railcar leasehold interests
Trade names
Technology
Intangible assets, net
Supply agreements
Stream mitigation rights
Intangible assets, net
Gross
Carrying Amount
December 31, 2018
Accumulated
Amortization
Intangible
Assets, net
$
$
48,026 $
4,170
73,000
41,222
17,000
5,000
188,418 $
(28,598 ) $
(781 )
(7,097 )
(4,669 )
(9,917 )
(243 )
(51,305 ) $
19,428
3,389
65,903
36,553
7,083
4,757
137,113
Gross
Carrying Amount
$
48,026 $
4,170
52,196 $
$
December 31, 2017
Accumulated
Amortization
Intangible
Assets, net
(26,070 ) $
(530 )
(26,600 ) $
21,956
3,640
25,596
Refer also to Note 4, which includes a discussion of the intangible assets acquired in the Merger, which are included in the balance of
Intangibles, net at December 31, 2018.
Amortization expense is recognized in Depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income
(Loss). The intangible assets had a weighted average amortization period of 7 years and 10 years at December 31, 2018 and 2017,
respectively. Amortization expense of intangible assets was $24,705, $2,945, and $2,534 in years ended December 31, 2018, 2017,
and 2016, respectively.
112
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets at December 31, 2018 is as follows:
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Total
$
$
Amortization
29,812
21,658
20,314
19,653
19,090
26,586
137,113
11. Long-Term Debt
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, long-term debt consisted of the following:
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
$
1,641,750 $
Term Loan
Series D Notes
Unimin Term Loans
Industrial Revenue Bond
Capital leases, net
Other borrowings
Term Loan deferred financing costs, net
-
-
10,000
6,417
1,809
(31,607 )
1,628,369
(15,482 )
1,612,887 $
-
100,000
314,641
-
-
2,371
-
417,012
(50,045 )
366,967
Less: current portion
Long-term debt including leases
$
Term Loan
On the Merger Date, the Company entered into the $1,650,000 Term Loan to repay the outstanding debt of each of Fairmount Santrol
and Unimin and to pay the cash portion of the Merger consideration and transaction costs related to the Merger. The Term Loan was
issued at par with a maturity date of June 1, 2025. The Term Loan requires quarterly principal payments of $4,125 and quarterly
interest payments beginning September 30, 2018 through March 31, 2025 with the balance payable at the maturity date. Interest
accrues at the rate of the three-month LIBOR plus 325 to 400 basis points depending on Total Net Leverage (as hereinafter defined)
with a LIBOR floor of 1.0% or the Base Rate (as hereinafter defined). Total Net Leverage is defined as total debt net of up to
$150,000 of non-restricted cash, divided by EBITDA. The Term Loan is secured by a first priority lien in substantially all of the
assets of Covia. The Company has the option to prepay the Term Loan without premium or penalty other than customary breakage
costs with respect to LIBOR borrowings. There are no financial covenants governing the Term Loan.
In addition, the Company is permitted to add one or more incremental term loan facilities and/or increase the commitments under a
new five-year revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”), discussed below, in an aggregate principal amount up to the sum of (x)
$250,000, plus (y) an amount of incremental facilities so that, after giving effect to any such incremental facility, on a pro-forma basis,
the Total Net Leverage would not exceed 2.75:1.0 plus (z) an amount equal to all voluntary prepayments of the Term Loan. In
addition to incremental term loan facilities and Revolver increases, this incremental credit capacity will be allowed to be utilized in the
form of (a) senior unsecured notes or loans, subject to a pro-forma Total Net Leverage ratio of up to 3.75:1.0, (b) senior secured notes
or loans that are secured by the collateral on a junior basis, subject to a pro forma Total Net Leverage of up to 3.25:1.0, or (c) senior
secured notes that are secured by the collateral on a pari passu basis, subject to a pro forma Total Net Leverage of up to 2.75:1.0.
At December 31, 2018, the Term Loan had an interest rate of 6.6%.
113
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Revolver
On the Merger Date, the Company entered into the Revolver to replace the existing Silfin credit facility (hereinafter defined). The
Revolver was subject to a 50 basis point financing fee paid at closing and has a borrowing capacity of up to $200,000. The Revolver
requires only quarterly interest payments at a rate derived from LIBOR plus 300 to 375 basis points depending on the Total Net
Leverage or from a Base Rate (selected at the option of the Company). The Base Rate is the highest of (i) Barclays’s prime rate, (ii)
the U.S. federal funds effective rate plus one half of 1.0%, and (iii) the LIBOR rate for a one month period plus 1.0%. While interest
is payable in quarterly installments, any outstanding principal balance is payable on June 1, 2023. In addition to interest charged on
the Revolver, the Company is also obligated to pay certain fees, quarterly in arrears, including letter of credit fees and unused facility
fees. The Revolver includes financial covenants requiring a 4.0:1.0 maximum Total Net Leverage ratio and is primarily secured by a
first priority lien on substantially all of the assets of Covia. Additionally, as of December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance
with all covenants in accordance with the Revolver.
At December 31, 2018, there was $200,000 of aggregate capacity on the Revolver with $11,679 committed to outstanding letters of
credit, leaving net availability at $188,321. At December 31, 2018, the Revolver had an interest rate of 6.0%. There were no
borrowings under the Revolver at December 31, 2018. See Note 25 for further details on subsequent events related to the Revolver.
The credit agreement that governs the Term Loan and the Revolver places certain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends on our
common stock.
Silfin Credit Facility
In July 2016, Unimin entered into a credit facility with Silfin NV (“Silfin”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sibelco, and had the ability
to draw upon an overdraft facility up to $20,000. At December 31, 2017, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Silfin credit
facility. Upon closing of the Merger, the Silfin credit facility was cancelled and replaced with the Revolver, as previously described.
Senior Notes
On December 16, 2009, Unimin issued $100,000 principal amount of 5.48% Senior Notes, Series D (the “Series D Notes”). Interest
on the Series D Notes was payable semiannually. The Series D Notes were scheduled to mature on December 16, 2019 unless prepaid
earlier. The note purchase agreement governing the Series D Notes contained an interest coverage ratio covenant of not less than
3.00:1.00 and a consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA ratio covenant of not greater than 3.25:1.00. Unimin had the option to
prepay the Series D Notes, in an amount not less than $5,000 principal amount of Series D Notes, at 100% of the principal amount of
Series D Notes being prepaid, plus the Make-Whole Amount. The Make-Whole Amount was the excess of (i) the discounted value of
all future principal and interest payments on the Series D Notes being prepaid, discounted from their scheduled payment dates to the
date of prepayment in accordance with accepted financial practice at a discount rate of 0.50% over the yield-to-maturity of a U.S.
Treasury security with a maturity equal to the remaining average life of the Series D Notes (based on the remaining scheduled
payments on such Series D Notes) over (ii) the principal amount being prepaid (provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no
event be less than zero). Upon closing of the Merger, the Series D Notes were repaid with the proceeds of the Term Loan.
As a result of the debt transactions on the Merger Date, the Company recognized a loss on debt modification of $1,147 in the second
quarter of 2018, which is included in Interest expense, net. The Series D Notes were subject to a prepayment penalty of $4,021, of
which the Company recognized $2,213 in Other non-operating expense, net in the second quarter of 2018. The remaining amount of
$1,809 was capitalized as deferred financing fees.
Unimin Term Loans
At December 31, 2017, Unimin had two outstanding term loans (collectively the “Unimin Term Loans”). The Unimin Term Loans
each had a maturity date of July 2019 and a fixed rate of 4.09%.
On February 1, 2017, Unimin entered into an additional term loan with Silfin for $49,600. The loan had a floating annual interest rate
of 6-month LIBOR USD plus a margin of 127 basis points and was initially payable on February 1, 2018. On February 1, 2018,
Unimin amended the term of the loan to mature on August 1, 2018. This loan had a rate of 2.73% at December 31, 2017.
Upon closing of the Merger, the Unimin Term Loans were repaid with the proceeds from the Term Loan.
114
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Industrial Revenue Bond
We hold a $10,000 Industrial Revenue Bond related to the construction of a mining facility in Wisconsin. The bond bears interest,
which is payable monthly at a variable rate. The rate was 1.75% at December 31, 2018. The bond matures on September 1, 2027 and
is collateralized by a letter of credit of $10,000.
Other Borrowings
Other borrowings at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was comprised of a promissory note with three unrelated third parties that Unimin
entered into on January 17, 2011. Two of these unrelated parties had interest rates of 1.0% and 4.11% at December 31, 2018 and
2017, respectively. The promissory note’s third unrelated party does not require any interest payments.
A subsidiary of the Company has a 2,000 Canadian dollar overdraft facility with the Bank of Montreal. The Company has guaranteed
the obligations of the subsidiary under the facility. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no borrowings outstanding under
the overdraft facility. The rates of the overdraft facility were 4.95% and 4.2% at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had $1,900 of outstanding letters of credit not backed by a credit facility.
Maturities of long-term debt are as follows:
Capital Lease Obligations
Lease
Payment
Less
Interest
Present
Value
Other Long-
Term Debt
Aggregate
Maturities of Debt
$
Year Ended:
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Subtotal
Less: unamortized discount
Total
$
12. Earnings (Loss) per Share
4,071 $
2,428
212
-
-
-
6,711
-
6,711 $
214 $
79
1
-
-
-
294
-
294 $
3,857 $
2,349
211
-
-
-
6,417
-
6,417 $
16,802 $
16,802
16,802
16,802
16,802
1,569,549
1,653,559
(31,607 )
1,621,952 $
20,659
19,151
17,013
16,802
16,802
1,569,549
1,659,976
(31,607 )
1,628,369
The table below shows the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017,
and 2016, respectively:
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
Numerators:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Covia Holdings Corporation
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income (loss) attributable to Covia Holdings Corporation
$
$
(283,085 ) $
12,587
(270,498 ) $
130,887 $
23,284
154,171 $
Denominator:
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
Dilutive effect of employee stock options and RSUs
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
Continuing operations earnings (loss) per common share – basic
Continuing operations earnings (loss) per common share – diluted
Discontinued operations earnings per common share – basic
Discontinued operations earnings per common share – diluted
Earnings (loss) per common share – basic
Earnings (loss) per common share – diluted
125,514
-
125,514
119,645
-
119,645
$
$
(2.26 ) $
(2.26 )
0.10
0.10
(2.16 )
(2.16 ) $
1.09 $
1.09
0.20
0.20
1.29
1.29 $
(5,770 )
9,435
3,665
119,645
-
119,645
(0.05 )
(0.05 )
0.08
0.08
0.03
0.03
115
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The Company effected an 89:1 stock split in May 2018. The stock split is reflected in the calculations of basic and diluted weight
average shares outstanding for all periods presented.
The calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2018 excludes 1,340 potential
common shares, respectively, because the effect of including these potential common shares would be antidilutive. The dilutive effect
of 203 shares was omitted from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding and diluted earnings per share in the
year ended December 31, 2018 because the Company was in a loss position.
13. Derivative Instruments
As previously noted, the Company adopted ASU 2017-12 in the third quarter of 2018. ASU 2017-12 requires an entity to present the
earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is
reported. Additionally, ASU 2017-12 eliminates the measurement and reporting of hedge ineffectiveness and, for cash flow hedges,
requires the entire change in fair value of the instrument to be included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness and recorded in other
comprehensive income. Further, the ASU also requires tabular disclosure related to the effect on the income statement of cash flow
hedges.
Due to our variable-rate indebtedness, we are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. We enter into interest rate swap agreements as
a means to partially hedge our variable interest rate risk. The derivative instruments are reported at fair value in other non-current
liabilities. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in other comprehensive income. For derivatives not
designated as hedges, the gain or loss is recognized in current earnings. No components of our hedging instruments were excluded
from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for us
making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional value. The gain or loss on the
interest rate swap is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and subsequently reclassified into interest expense in the same
period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. On June 1, 2018, we entered into two interest rate swap agreements and,
on December 20, 2018, we entered into three additional interest rate swap agreements as a means to partially hedge our variable
interest rate risk on the Term Loan. An additional interest rate swap held by Fairmount Santrol was assumed in conjunction with the
Merger. We did not have such variable rate debt instruments at December 31, 2017 and were not engaged in an interest rate swap
agreement. The following table summarizes our interest rate swap agreements at December 31, 2018:
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
December 31, 2018
Designated as cash flow hedge
Designated as cash flow hedge
Designated as cash flow hedge
Not designated as cash flow hedge
Not designated as cash flow hedge
Not designated as cash flow hedge
Maturity Date
Rate
Notional Value
Debt Instrument
Hedged
Percentage of Term Loan
Outstanding
June 1, 2023
June 1, 2025
September 5, 2019
June 1, 2024
June 1, 2025
June 1, 2025
2.81% $
2.87%
2.92%
2.81%
2.85%
2.87%
$
100,000
200,000
210,000
50,000
50,000
50,000
660,000
Term Loan
Term Loan
Term Loan
Term Loan
Term Loan
Term Loan
6%
12%
13%
3%
3%
3%
40%
At the Merger Date, our existing interest rate swaps qualified, but were not designated for hedge accounting until August 1, 2018. The
interest rate swaps entered into in December 2018 qualified, but were not designated for hedge accounting until January 2019.
Changes in the fair value of the undesignated interest rate swaps were included in interest expense in the related period. Amounts
reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to interest rate swaps will be reclassified to interest expense as interest
payments are made on the Term Loan. We expect $818 to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into interest
expense within the next twelve months.
116
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The following table summarizes the fair values and the respective classification in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December
31, 2018. The net amount of derivative liabilities can be reconciled to the tabular disclosure of fair value in Note 14:
Interest Rate Swap Agreements
Designated as cash flow hedges
Not designated as cash flow hedges
Balance Sheet Classification
Other non-current liabilities
Other non-current liabilities
Assets (Liabilities)
December 31, 2018
$
$
(2,846 )
(1,271 )
(4,117 )
The tables below present the effect of cash flow hedge accounting on accumulated other comprehensive loss as of December 31, 2018:
Derivatives in Hedging Relationships
Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
Interest rate swap agreements
2018
Amount of Loss Recognized in OCI
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
$
6,124
$
-
$
Derivatives in
Hedging Relationships
Designated as Cash
Flow Hedges
Location of Loss
Recognized on
Derivative
Amount of Loss Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2018
2016
Interest rate swap agreements
Interest expense, net
$
1,040 $
- $
The table below presents the effect of our derivative financial instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) in the
years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively:
-
-
Total Interest Expense presented in the Statements of
Income in which the effects of cash flow hedges are recorded
Effects of cash flow hedging:
Loss on ASC 815-20 Hedging Relationships
Interest rate swap agreements
Amount of loss reclassified
from accumulated other comprehensive
income
Location of Loss on Derivative
Interest expense, net
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2018
$
60,322 $
14,653 $
23,999
$
1,040 $
- $
-
The table below presents the effect of our derivative financial instruments that were not designated as hedging instruments in the years
ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively:
Derivatives Not Designated
as ASC 815-20 Cash Flow
Hedging Relationships
Interest rate swap agreements
Location of Gain Recognized
in Income on Derivative
Interest expense, net
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
$
1,336 $
- $
-
14. Fair Value Measurements
Financial instruments held by the Company include cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, long-term debt (including
the current portion thereof) and interest rate swaps. The Company is also obligated for contingent consideration for Propel SSP® that
is subject to fair value measurement. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a
liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company
utilizes certain assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and/or
the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique.
117
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Based on the examination of the inputs used in the valuation techniques, the Company is required to provide the following information
according to the fair value hierarchy. The fair value hierarchy ranks the quality and reliability of the information used to determine
fair values. Financial assets and liabilities at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
Level 1 Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2 Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data
Level 3 Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the
fair value measurement.
The carrying value of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are considered to be representative of their fair
values because of their short maturities. The carrying value of the Company’s long-term debt (including the current portion thereof) is
recognized at amortized cost. The fair value of the Term Loan differs from amortized cost and is valued at prices obtained from a
readily-available source for trading non-public debt, which represent quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are
not active, and therefore is considered Level 2. See Note 11 for further details on our long-term debt. The following table presents
the fair value as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, for the Company’s long-term debt:
Long-Term Debt Fair Value Measurements
December 31, 2018
Term Loan
Industrial Revenue Bond
December 31, 2017
Unimin Term Loans
Series D Notes
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
$
$
$
$
- $
-
- $
- $
-
- $
1,182,060 $
10,000
1,192,060 $
272,000 $
104,000
376,000 $
Total
1,182,060
10,000
1,192,060
272,000
104,000
376,000
- $
-
- $
- $
-
- $
The following table presents the amounts carried at fair value as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 for the Company’s other financial
instruments.
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
December 31, 2018
Interest rate swap agreements
Contingent consideration
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
$
$
- $
-
- $
4,117 $
-
4,117 $
- $
4,500
4,500 $
4,117
4,500
8,617
Fair value of interest rate swap agreements is based on the present value of the expected future cash flows, considering the risks
involved, and using discount rates appropriate for the maturity date. These are determined using Level 2 inputs. Refer to Note 13 for
additional information.
As of December 31, 2018, the Level 3 liabilities consisted of a liability related to contingent consideration which is a pre-acquisition
contingent arrangement in the form of earnout payments related to the Propel SSP technology that the company acquired as part of the
merger with Fairmount Santrol. The fair value on the Merger Date of the earnout was $9,500 and determined using the scenario-based
method due to the linear nature of the payments. Subsequent to the Merger date, changes in projected cash flows were revised
118
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
downward based on post-Merger decline in the market conditions for the Energy segment and a customer supply agreement that was
not renewed at December 31, 2018, the contingent consideration liability was valued at $4,500 and the reduction of $5,000 is recorded
as income in Other operating expense (income) in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
15.
Income Taxes
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes includes the following components:
Domestic operations
Foreign operations
$
(329,229 ) $
50,234
74,547 $
47,515
Income (loss) from continuing operations
before provision (benefit) for income taxes
$
(278,995 )
$
122,062
$
(77,899 )
46,797
(31,102 )
2018
2017
2016
The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes are as follows:
Current:
Federal
State
Foreign
Total current taxes
Deferred:
Federal
State
Foreign
Total deferred taxes
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
$
2018
2017
2016
$
(6,549 ) $
959
16,119
10,529
16,512 $
922
15,857
33,291
(22,610 )
79
15,727
(6,804 )
(3,754 )
(938 )
(1,850 )
(6,542 )
3,987 $
(40,804 )
1,072
(2,384 )
(42,116 )
(8,825 ) $
(10,940 )
(3,376 )
(4,212 )
(18,528 )
(25,332 )
Income tax provision (benefit) differs from the amount that would result from apply the statutory federal income tax rate to our
effective tax rate is as follows:
Income tax provision (benefit) using domestic corporation tax
rate
$
Effect of tax rate in foreign jurisdictions
Nondeductible expenses
U.S. statutory depletion
Production activity deduction
Provision to return adjustments
State taxes
Other foreign taxes
Transition tax
Change in valuation allowance
Foreign provisions of the Tax Act
Deferred remeasurement
Nondeductible transaction costs
Goodwill impairment
Other
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
$
2018
2017
2016
(58,589 ) $
3,476
687
(7,618 )
1,417
1,029
(2,615 )
1,442
-
13,414
2,831
-
2,566
45,741
206
3,987
$
42,721 $
(3,140 )
142
(8,306 )
(2,621 )
(310 )
1,146
1,900
2,923
-
-
(42,180 )
-
-
(1,100 )
(8,825 )
$
(10,886 )
(3,289 )
23
(9,541 )
-
(1,241 )
(759 )
1,020
-
-
-
-
-
-
(659 )
(25,332 )
The difference between the statutory U.S. tax rate of 21% and our 2018 effective tax rate of negative 1.4% is primarily due to the non-
deductibility of goodwill impairment expense; the non-deductibility of transaction costs associated with the Merger; tax depletion;
state taxes; valuation allowance adjustments; the impact of foreign taxes; and foreign provisions of the Tax Act.
119
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The Tax Act established a corporate income tax rate of 21%, replacing the 35% rate, created a territorial tax system rather than a
worldwide system, which generally eliminates the U.S. federal income tax on dividends from foreign subsidiaries, and included
provisions limiting deductibility of interest expense. The transition to a territorial system included a one-time transition tax on certain
unremitted foreign earnings. For 2017, we recognized a net provisional tax benefit of $39,257 consisting of a tax benefit of $42,180
for remeasurement of deferred taxes and tax expense of $2,923 for the transition tax.
We applied the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Tax Act in 2017 and
throughout 2018. At December 31, 2017, we had substantially completed our provisional analysis of the income tax effects of the Tax
Act and recorded a reasonable estimate in 2017 of such effects. During 2018, we refined our calculations, evaluated changes in
interpretations and assumptions that we had made, applied additional guidance issued by the U.S. Government, and evaluated actions
and related accounting policy decisions we have made.
We have completed our accounting for all of the enactment-date income tax effects of the Tax Act and did not identify any material
changes to the provisional, net, one-time charge for the transition tax on certain unremitted foreign earnings or for the re-measurement
of deferred taxes for the year ended December 31, 2017, related to the Tax Act.
The Tax Act imposes a U.S. tax on GILTI that is earned by certain foreign affiliates owned by a U.S. shareholder. GILTI is generally
intended to impose tax on the earnings of a foreign corporation that are deemed to exceed a certain threshold return relative to the
underlying business investment. For 2018, tax expense from GILTI provisions of the Tax Act is estimated at $2,831.
Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
$
Deferred tax assets:
Tax credits
Intangible assets
Inventories
Interest
Accrued expenses
Pension
Stock compensation
Other items
Loss carryforward
Total deferred tax assets
Valuation allowance
Net deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Plant, property, equipment, and mineral reserves
Intangible assets
Reclamation
Other items
Total deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax liabilities
$
2018
2017
22,985 $
-
4,001
20,359
11,780
12,892
10,199
3,286
96,745
182,247
(52,199 )
130,048
(385,800 )
(614 )
(1,558 )
(686 )
(388,658 )
(258,610 ) $
19,977
12,836
6,067
1,157
16,750
19,094
-
5,054
17,660
98,595
(29,206 )
69,389
(108,833 )
(11,559 )
(4,170 )
-
(124,562 )
(55,173 )
At December 31, 2018, we had $68,620 of federal net operating loss carryforwards. Of these losses, $34,994 expire in 2036 and
$33,626 have no expiration. Of these losses, $34,994 were acquired as part of the Merger are subject to IRC Section 382, which could
limit annual utilization of the loss carryforward. These acquired losses will expire in 2036 if not utilized. At December 31, 2018, we
had $11,822 of state net operating loss carryforwards. The majority of these losses expire between 2028 and 2038. At December 31,
2018, we had $1,813 of foreign net operating loss carryforwards. These losses expire between 2021 and 2038. At December 31,
2018, we had $14,490 of foreign capital loss carryforwards. These losses expire in 2019 and 2020.
At December 31, 2018, we had $6,893 alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards. These credits will be utilized or refunded before
2022. At December 31, 2018, we had $716 of research and development tax credit carryforwards. These credits expire between 2034
and 2037. At December 31, 2018, we had $14,687 of foreign tax credit carryforwards. These credits expire in 2025.
120
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Valuation allowances set up on certain deferred taxes were $52,199 for the year ending December 31, 2018, representing an increase
of $22,993 from the year ending December 31, 2017. Of this increase, $9,640 was acquired as part of the Merger.
A valuation allowance is set up on all or a portion of operating or capital losses carried forward or tax credits carried forward for the
portion of the loss or credit estimated as not realizable. A valuation allowance of $33,360 has been recorded on losses and credits for
the year ending December 31, 2018.
A valuation allowance is set up on deferred tax components estimated as not realizable. A valuation allowance of $17,794 has been
recorded on deferred interest expense disallowed under IRC Section 163(j) and $1,045 on deferred taxes relating to a Chinese and
certain Mexican subsidiaries for the year ending December 31, 2018.
The amount of undistributed earnings and profits of foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018 is approximately $162,215. For
subsidiaries in foreign jurisdictions where earnings are not permanently reinvested, an income and withholding tax liability of
approximately $344 has been recorded for the year ending December 31, 2018. For subsidiaries in foreign jurisdictions where
earnings are permanently reinvested, no income and withholding tax liability is recorded. An estimate of the income and withholding
tax liability were these earnings distributed is approximately $6,525 as of December 31, 2018.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at January 1
Unrecognized tax benefits acquired in Merger
Increases (decreases) for tax positions in prior years
Increases (decreases) for tax positions in current year
$
Unrecognized tax benefits balance at December 31
$
2018
2017
2016
1,460 $
2,364
(179 )
269
3,914 $
1,460 $
-
164
(164 )
1,460 $
1,586
-
-
(126 )
1,460
At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had $3,914 and $1,460, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits. If $3,914 were
recognized, $3,092 would affect the effective tax rate. The total amount of interest and penalties recognized in the Consolidated
Statements of Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $138 and $65, respectively. Interest and penalties
are included as a component of tax expense. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had $1,740 and $65, respectively, of
accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits recorded.
We file income tax returns in the United States, Canada, China, Mexico and Denmark. We are currently under examination by the
Internal Revenue Service for the tax years 2014 and 2016 and are open to examination for the 2014 through 2018 tax years.
Generally, for our remaining state and foreign jurisdictions, the years 2013 onward are open to examination.
16. Common Stock and Stock-Based Compensation
The Company has a single class of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. Each share of common stock has identical rights and
privileges and is entitled to one vote per share. The Company has authorized, but not issued, a single class of preferred stock, par
value $0.01 per share.
Stock based compensation includes time-restricted stock units (“TRSUs”) and nonqualified stock options (“Options” and, together
with the TRSUs, the “Awards”). These Awards are governed by various plans: the FMSA Holdings Inc. Long Term Incentive
Compensation Plan (the “2006 Plan”), the FMSA Holdings, Inc. Stock Option Plan (the “2010 Plan”), the FMSA Holdings Inc.
Amended and Restated 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), and the 2018 Omnibus Plan (the “2018 Plan”). Options
may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time after becoming exercisable, but not later than the date the Option expires, which is
typically ten years from the original grant date. All Options granted under the 2006 Plan and 2010 Plan became fully vested as part of
the Merger agreement. Performance-restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) granted under the 2014 Plan were converted to TRSUs as part
of the Merger agreement. In addition, the Merger agreement provides for the accelerated vesting of all Awards if the holder is
terminated without Cause or if the holder terminates employment for Good Reason during the Award Protection Period (as such terms
are defined in the related agreements), which is 12 months from the Merger Date.
121
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The 2014 Plan and 2018 Plan provide that employees who are a minimum age of 55 and have provided a minimum of 10 consecutive
years of service are deemed retirement eligible. This provides that a retirement-eligible employee can continue to vest in stock
options even after termination of employment, as though he or she were still an employee. Additionally, TRSUs for retirement-
eligible employees will continue to vest within 12 months of termination of employment. Stock compensation expense related to
Awards of retirement-eligible employees is subject to acceleration once that employee attains retirement-eligible status.
The fair values of the TRSUs and Options were estimated at the Merger Date. The fair value of the TRSUs was determined to be the
opening share price of Covia stock at the Merger Date. The fair value of Options was estimated at the Merger Date using the Black
Scholes-Merton option pricing model.
Options granted from 2014 through 2015 under the 2014 Plan vest over a four-year period under various vesting methods. Options
granted since 2016 under the 2014 Plan vest ratably over a three-year period. TRSUs granted in 2015 under the 2014 Plan vest after a
six-year period and vesting can be accelerated to four years upon attainment of certain Company performance goals as determined by
the compensation committee. TRSUs granted from 2016 through the Merger Date under the 2014 Plan vest ratably over a four-year
period. TRSUs granted in 2018 subsequent to the Merger Date under the 2018 Plan vest ratably over one to three years. PRSUs
(converted to TRSUs) granted from 2016 through the Merger Date under the 2014 Plan cliff-vest over a three-year period.
Subsequent to the Merger Date and through December 31, 2018, pursuant to the 2018 Plan, the Company issued 168 TRSUs at an
average grant date fair value of $18.56. The Company did not grant any Options to purchase shares of common stock through
December 31, 2018. All Awards activity during 2018 was as follows:
Options
Weighted
Average Exercise
Price, Options
Weighted
Average Price at
TRSU Issue Date
TRSUs
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Assumed through acquisition
Granted
Exercised or distributed
Forfeited
Expired
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
- $
2,537
-
(1 )
(8 )
(25 )
2,503 $
-
33.85
-
10.20
45.07
67.98
33.49
Exercisable at December 31, 2018
2,140 $
32.99
Our policy is to issue shares from Treasury Stock upon exercise of options or distribution of TRSUs.
- $
665
168
(76 )
(11 )
-
746 $
- $
-
28.09
18.56
26.44
28.00
-
26.12
-
The Company recorded $5,812 of stock compensation expense in the year ended December 31, 2018. The Company accounts for
forfeitures as they occur. Stock compensation expense is included in selling, general, and administrative expenses on the
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and in additional paid-in capital on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company recorded stock compensation expense of $2,400 in the second quarter of 2018 due to accelerated vesting of Awards
because of the Merger. This amount is included in other non-operating expense, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
and in additional paid-in capital on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Refer to Note 4 for additional information.
Options outstanding as of December 31, 2018 have a weighted average remaining contractual life of 3.4 years and do not have an
aggregate intrinsic value. Options that are exercisable as of December 31, 2018 have a weighted average remaining contractual life of
2.8 years and do not have an aggregate intrinsic value. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the fair value
of the Company’s shares of $3.42 per share at December 31, 2018 and the exercise price of the dilutive options, multiplied by the
number of dilutive options outstanding at that date.
The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2018 was $7.
Net cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options or distribution of TRSUs were $464 in the year ended December 31, 2018.
122
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
There was $1 of income tax benefits realized from stock option exercises in the year ended December 31, 2018.
At December 31, 2018, options to purchase 2,503 common shares were outstanding at a range of exercise prices of $7.15 to $102.60
per share. As of December 31, 2018, unrecognized compensation cost of $697 and $6,785 related to non-vested stock options and
TRSUs is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.0 and 2.4 remaining years, respectively.
17. Pension and Other Post-Employment Benefits
The Company maintains retirement, post-retirement medical and long-term benefit plans in several countries.
In the U.S., the Company sponsors the Unimin Corporation Pension Plan, a defined benefit plan for hourly and salaried employees
(the “Pension Plan”) and the Unimin Corporation Pension Restoration Plan (a non-qualified supplemental benefit plan) (the
“Restoration Plan”). The Pension Plan is a funded plan. Minimum funding and maximum tax-deductible contribution limits for the
Pension Plan are defined by the Internal Revenue Service. The Restoration Plan is unfunded. Salaried participants accrue benefits
based on service and final average pay. Hourly participants' benefits are based on service and a benefit formula. The Pension Plan
was closed to new entrants effective January 1, 2008, and union employee participation in the Pension Plan at the last three unionized
locations participating in the Pension Plan was closed to new entrants effective November 1, 2017. The Pension Plan was frozen as of
December 31, 2018 for all non-union employees. Until the Restoration Plan was amended to exclude new entrants on August 15,
2017, all salaried participants eligible for the Pension Plan were also eligible for the Restoration Plan. The Restoration Plan was
frozen for all participants as of December 31, 2018. An independent trustee has been appointed for the Pension Plan whose
responsibilities include custody of plan assets as well as recordkeeping. A pension committee consisting of members of senior
management provides oversight through quarterly meetings. In addition, an independent advisor has been engaged to provide advice
on the management of the plan assets. The primary risk of the Pension Plan is the volatility of the funded status. Liabilities are
exposed to interest rate risk and demographic risk (e.g., mortality, turnover, etc.). Assets are exposed to interest rate risk, market risk,
and credit risk. In addition to these retirement plans in the U.S., the Company offers a retiree medical plan that is exposed to risk of
increases in health care costs. The retiree medical plan covers certain salaried employees and certain groups of hourly employees.
Effective December 31, 2018, the retiree medical plan was terminated for salaried employees but remains open to certain groups of
hourly employees.
In Canada, the Company sponsors three defined benefit retirement plans. Two of the retirement plans are for hourly employees and
one is for salaried employees. Salaried employees were eligible to participate in a plan consisting of a defined benefit portion that has
been closed to new entrants since January 1, 2008 and a defined contribution portion for employees hired after January 1, 2018. In
addition, there are two post-retirement medical plans in Canada. In the case of the Canadian pension plans, minimum funding is
required under the provincial Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) and regulations and maximum funding is set in the Federal Income Tax
Act of Canada and regulations. The pension plan is administered by Unimin Canada. A pension committee exists to ensure proper
administration, management and investment review with respect to the benefits of the pension plan through implementation of
governance procedures. The medical plan is administered by an insurance company with Unimin Canada having the ultimate
responsibility for all decisions.
In Mexico, the Company sponsors four retirement plans, two of which are seniority premium plans as defined by Mexican labor law.
The remaining plans are defined benefit plans with a minimum benefit equal to severance payment by unjustified dismissal according
to Mexican labor law. Minimum funding is not required, and maximum funding is defined according to the actuarial cost method
registered with the Mexican Tax Authority. Investment decisions are made by an administrative committee of Grupo de Materias
Primas pension plans. All plans in Mexico pay lump sums on retirement and pension plans pay benefits through five annual payments
conditioned on compliance with non-compete clauses.
As part of the Merger, the Company assumed the two defined benefit pension plans of Fairmount Santrol, the Wedron pension plan
and the Troy Grove pension plan. These plans cover union employees at certain facilities and provide benefits based upon years of
service or a combination of employee earnings and length of service. Benefits under the Wedron plan were frozen effective December
31, 2012. Benefits under the Troy Grove plan were frozen effective December 31, 2016.
The Pension Plan, Restoration Plan, and the pension plans in Canada and Mexico are collectively referred to as the “Unimin Pension
Plans.” The Wedron and Troy Grove pension plans are collectively referred to as the “Fairmount Pension Plans.” The Unimin
123
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Pension Plans and the Fairmount Pension Plans are collectively referred to as the “Covia Pension Plans.” The post-retirement medical
plans in the United States and Canada are collectively referred to as the “Postretirement Medical Plans.”
In June 2018, the Company recorded a curtailment gain of $5,193 in connection with the transfer of HPQ Co. to Sibelco. The gain
was recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. In the third quarter of 2018, the
Company recognized a loss on settlement of $2,566 related to lump sum payments from the Unimin Pension Plans. In the fourth
quarter of 2018, the Company recognized an additional loss on settlement of $3,005 related to lump sum payments from the Unimin
Pension Plans and $669 for curtailment loss due to the freeze on the Unimin Pension Plans. In connection with the termination of the
retiree medical plans, the Company recognized a curtailment gain of $7,955 in the fourth quarter of 2018. These items are recorded in
Other non-operating expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
The following assumptions were used to determine the Company’s obligations under the Covia Pension Plans and the Postretirement
Medical Plans:
Assumptions for Unimin Pension Plans:
Discount rate
Rate of compensation increase
Assumptions for Postretirement Medical Plans:
U.S.
Canada
Mexico
2018
2017
2018
2017
2018
2017
4.15%
4.50%
3.50%
4.50%
3.90%
4.50%
3.40%
4.50%
8.75%
5.75%
7.70%
5.75%
Discount rate
4.10%
3.35%
3.90%
3.40%
—
—
Assumptions for Fairmount Pension Plans:
Discount rate
Wedron Pension
Troy Grove Pension
2018
4.15%
2018
4.30%
The following assumptions were used to determine the Company’s net periodic benefit costs under the Pension Plans and
Postretirement Medical Plans:
2018
U.S.
2017
2016
2018
2017
2016
2018
2017
2016
Canada
Mexico
Assumptions for Unimin Pension Plans:
Discount rate
Long-term rate of return
Rate of compensation increase
Assumptions for Postretirement Medical Plans:
3.50%
6.50%
4.50%
4.00%
6.50%
4.50%
4.15%
6.50%
4.50%
3.40%
4.29%
4.50%
3.80%
4.30%
4.50%
3.95%
4.25%
4.50%
7.70%
7.70%
5.75%
7.65%
7.70%
5.75%
6.55%
6.55%
5.75%
Discount rate
3.35%
3.75%
3.90%
3.40%
3.90%
4.05%
—
—
—
Assumptions for Fairmount Pension Plans:
Discount rate
Long-term rate of return
Wedron Pension
Troy Grove Pension
2018
3.95%
7.40%
2018
4.10%
7.40%
The difference in the discount rates used for the Covia Pension Plans is due to the differing characteristics of the plans, including
employee characteristics and plan size. The Company uses a cash flow matching approach to determine its discount rate using each
plan’s projected cash flows and actuarial yield curves.
In developing the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, the Company considered long-term historical rates of return, the
Company’s plan asset allocations as well as the opinions and outlooks of investment professionals.
The investment policy for the Unimin Pension Plans includes a target allocation of approximately 35% in equities and 65% in fixed
income investments. The written investment policy for the Fairmount Pension Plans includes a target allocation of about 70% in
equities and 30% in fixed income investments. Only high-quality diversified securities similar to stocks and bonds are used. Higher-
risk securities or strategies (such as derivatives) are not currently used but could be used incidentally by mutual funds held by the
124
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
plans. The Pension Plans’ obligations are long-term in nature and the investment policy is therefore focused on the long-term. Goals
include achieving gross returns at least equal to relevant indices. Management and the plans’ investment advisor regularly review and
discuss investment performance, adherence to the written investment policy, and the investment policy itself.
The following table summarizes the benefit obligations, assets and funded status associated with the Covia Pension Plans and
Postretirement Medical Plans:
Covia Pension Plans
Postretirement Medical Plans
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
$
Assumption of Fairmount benefit obligation
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial loss (gain)
Other movements
Settlements
Curtailments
Benefit payments
Exchange differences
Benefit obligation at end of year
$
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
$
Assumption of Fairmount plan assets
Actual return on plan assets
Employer contributions
Settlements
Benefit payments
Exchange differences
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
Unfunded status
$
$
265,380 $
8,659
7,213
9,479
(21,129 )
176
(23,078 )
(22,919 )
(6,060 )
(515 )
217,206 $
193,019 $
7,688
(6,986 )
11,509
(23,078 )
(6,060 )
(387 )
175,705 $
248,450 $
-
8,081
9,590
15,135
-
(756 )
-
(14,138 )
(982 )
265,380 $
186,316 $
-
15,528
7,289
(756 )
(14,138 )
(1,220 )
193,019 $
25,437 $
-
989
744
(1,228 )
-
-
(11,304 )
(1,323 )
(27 )
13,288 $
- $
-
-
1,323
-
(1,323 )
-
- $
25,641
-
982
873
(1,208 )
-
-
-
(851 )
-
25,437
-
-
-
851
-
(851 )
-
-
(41,501 ) $
(72,361 ) $
(13,288 ) $
(25,437 )
The unfunded balance of the Covia Pension Plans and the Postretirement Medical Plans is recorded in Employee benefit obligations in
the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The accumulated benefit obligation for the Covia Pension Plans totaled $210,689 and $229,757 at December 31, 2018 and 2017,
respectively.
The following summarizes the components of net periodic benefit costs for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016,
respectively:
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of prior service cost
Amortization of net actuarial loss
Recognized settlement loss
Recognized curtailment prior service cost
$
Net periodic benefit cost
$
Covia Pension Plans
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2018
2016
7,213 $
9,479
(10,546 )
450
4,444
6,727
1,224
18,991 $
8,081 $
9,590
(9,976 )
552
4,845
320
-
13,412 $
7,790
9,100
(9,529 )
541
4,648
13,273
-
25,823
125
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Postretirement Medical Plans
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2018
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost
Interest cost
Amortization of net actuarial loss
Recognized curtailment prior service cost
Net periodic benefit cost
$
$
989 $
744
430
(7,995 )
(5,832 ) $
982 $
873
580
-
2,435 $
974
885
656
-
2,515
The following summarizes the changes in other comprehensive (income) loss for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
that are included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Changes in other comprehensive (income) loss
Net actuarial (gain) loss
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss
Recognized settlement loss
Prior service cost
Amortization of prior service cost
Exchange differences
Deferred tax asset
$
Other comprehensive income
$
Covia Pension Plans
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2018
(26,516 ) $
(11,171 )
-
176
(1,675 )
(3,995 )
11,248
(31,933 ) $
9,583 $
(4,845 )
(320 )
-
(552 )
195
(12,955 )
(8,894 ) $
10,473
(4,648 )
(13,273 )
746
(541 )
51
2,765
(4,427 )
Postretirement Medical Plans
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
2018
Changes in other comprehensive (income) loss
Net actuarial (gain) loss
Amortization of net actuarial (gain) loss
Exchange differences
Deferred tax asset
Other comprehensive income
$
$
(12,532 ) $
7,565
(173 )
1,338
(3,802 ) $
(1,208 ) $
(580 )
(282 )
(1,371 )
(3,441 ) $
2,090
(656 )
(65 )
(526 )
843
Net periodic benefit cost totaled $13,159, $15,847, and $28,338 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
Contributions into the plans for the year ended December 31, 2019 are expected to be $3,000. Included in the 2016 net periodic
benefit cost is a settlement charge which stemmed from a restructuring program where a significant number of employees opted to
take lump sum distributions which exceeded the sum of the Company’s service and interest costs in the year ended December 31,
2016.
The actuarial loss and prior service cost that the Company expects will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into
net periodic benefit cost in the year ending December 31, 2019 is $2,503 and $273, respectively.
126
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Benefits expected to be paid out over the next ten years:
$
Year Ending
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024-2028
Expected Benefit Payments
Covia Pension Plans
Postretirement Medical Plans
$
11,386
13,658
15,009
13,605
14,745
72,943
625
725
673
753
778
3,967
The expected benefit payments to be paid are based on the same assumptions used to measure the Company’s benefit obligations as of
December 31, 2018, and include estimated future employee service.
The annual measurement date is December 31 for pension benefits and other postretirement benefits. For measurement purposes, the
assumed health care cost trend rate for the U.S. postretirement plan was 8.5% in 2018 decreasing to an ultimate trend rate of 4.75% in
2026. For measurement purposes, the assumed health care cost trend rate for the Canada postretirement plan was 6.0%, decreasing to
an ultimate trend rate of 4.5% in 2022.
The assumed health care cost trend rate assumptions can have an impact on the amounts reported for the Postretirement Medical
Plans. A one percent increase or decrease each year in the health care cost trend rate utilized would have the following effects as
December 31, 2018:
Effect on the postretirement benefit obligation
Effect on the net periodic benefit cost
$
1,804 $
137
(1,491 )
(110 )
One Percentage Point
Increase
Decrease
Fair value measurements for assets held in the benefit plans as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Balance at
December 31, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents
Common stock
Government and agency securities
Corporate bonds
Mutual funds
Total(A)
$
$
6,226 $
22,349
11,148
-
28,319
68,042 $
- $
-
-
38,742
-
38,742 $
- $
-
-
-
-
- $
6,226
22,349
11,148
38,742
28,319
106,784
_______
(A) At December 31, 2018, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value (“NAV”) per share as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value
table above. These investments of $68,921 are principally invested in commingled trust funds whose investment policy principally follows the investment strategy of the Unimin Pension
Plans.
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Balance at
December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents
Common stock
Government and agency securities
Corporate bonds
Mutual funds
Total(B)
$
$
10,120 $
17,280
12,451
-
42,539
82,390 $
- $
-
-
44,381
-
44,381 $
- $
-
-
-
-
- $
10,120
17,280
12,451
44,381
42,539
126,771
_______
(B) At December 31, 2017, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share as a practical expedient have not been categorized in the fair value table above. These
investments of $66,248 are principally invested in commingled trust funds whose investment policy principally follows the investment strategy of the Unimin Pension Plans.
127
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
18. Other Benefit Plans
Multiemployer Pension Plans
We contribute to four multiemployer defined benefit pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining agreements for union-
represented employees. A multiemployer plan is subject to collective bargaining for employees of two or more unrelated companies.
These plans allow multiple employers to pool their pension resources and realize efficiencies associated with the daily administration
of the plan. Multiemployer plans are generally governed by a board of trustees composed of management and labor representatives
and are funded through employer contributions.
The risks of participating in multiemployer plans differ from single employer plans as follows: (i) assets contributed to a
multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers, (ii) if a
participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating
employers, and (iii) if we cease to have an obligation to contribute to one or more of the multiemployer plans to which we contribute,
we may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.
A summary of each multiemployer pension plan for which we participate is presented below:
Pension Fund
EIN / Pension
Plan No.
2018
2017
FIP / RP
Status /
Pending /
Implemented
2018
2017
2016
Surcharge
Imposed
Pension Protection Act Zone
Status(A)
Company Contributions
IAM National Pension Fund
Laborers National Industrial Pension Fund
National Integrated Group Pension Plan
Steelworkers Pension Trust
51-6031295
52-6074345
22-6190618
23-6648508
Green
Red
Red
Green
Green
Red
Red
Green
No
$
Implemented
Implemented
$
No
181 $
7
12
209 $
141 $
7
12
210 $
104
6
23
137
No
Yes
Yes
No
(A) The Pension Protection Act of 2006 defines the zone status as follows: green - healthy, yellow - endangered, orange - seriously endangered, and red - critical.
CBA
Expiration
Date
Apr-2021; Jul-
2021
Oct-2020
Apr-2020
Mar-2021
Our contributions to individual multiemployer pension plans did not exceed 5% of the plan’s total contributions in any of the three
years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016. Additionally, our contributions to multiemployer post-retirement benefit plans were
immaterial for all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements
Fairmount Santrol previously participated in a multiemployer defined benefit pension plan and withdrew from the plan in October
2015 with a withdrawal liability of $9,283, which is payable in annual installments until November 2035. The present value and
balance of this withdrawal liability was $4,402 as of December 31, 2018.
Defined Contribution Plans
In the U.S., we sponsor a defined contribution plan, the Unimin Corporation Savings Plan, which provides participants with an
opportunity to defer their pay into an account that may be used for providing income during retirement. The Savings Plan is open to
all Unimin U.S. employees. We contribute to the plan in two ways, (i) for certain employees not covered by a defined benefit plan,
we make a contribution equal to 4% of salary for salaried employees and 1% for most hourly employees, (ii) we make a matching
contribution for certain employees of 100% on the first 1% and 50% on the next 5% of each dollar contributed by an employee. Also
for certain unionized employees, we match 50% on the first 1% and 25% on the next 4% of each dollar contributed by an employee.
The plan is fully funded by participants’ pay deferrals, employer matching and non-matching contributions. Our contributions were
$4,727, $4,800, and $3,700 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
In Canada, we sponsor a defined contribution plan covering employees not covered by the defined benefit plan. We make
contributions equal to 5% of the eligible employees’ salary. In addition, we participate in a group plan that covers our hourly
employees at our St. Canut location. We contribute a fixed one thousand dollars per employee per year, as well as make a matching
contribution for 65% of employee contributions up to a maximum of seven hundred seventy-five dollars per year. Our contributions
into the Canada and St. Canut defined contribution plans were $224, $199, and $173 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017
and 2016, respectively.
128
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Fairmount Santrol had a defined contribution plan (“401(k) Plan”) covering substantially all employees. Under the provisions of the
401(k) Plan, we match 50% of the first 5% of each union employee’s contribution into the 401(k) Plan and matches 100% of the first
3% and 50% of the next 2% of each non-union employee’s contribution. Company match contributions were $1,466 for the year
ended December 31, 2018. Included in these contributions are Company contributions to the 401(k) Plan for union members, which
were $413 for the year ended December 31, 2018.
We may, at our discretion, make additional contributions, which are determined in part based on our return on investable capital, to
the 401(k) Plan. Discretionary contributions accrued at December 31, 2018 were $3,697. Participant accounts in the 401(k) Plan held
1,354 of common stock shares of Covia as of December 31, 2018.
We are also self-insured for medical benefits. We have an accrued liability of $1,279 as of December 31, 2018 for anticipated future
payments on claims incurred to date. Management believes this amount is adequate to cover all required payments.
19. Commitments and Contingencies
Leases
We lease railway equipment, operating equipment, mineral properties, and buildings under a number of operating lease arrangements.
We are obligated to pay minimum annual lease payments under certain non-cancelable operating lease agreements which have
original terms that extend to 2055. Agreements for office facilities and office equipment leases are generally renewed or replaced by
similar leases upon expiration.
Future minimum annual lease payments, primarily for railcars, equipment, office leases, and terminals due under the long-term
operating lease obligations are shown below. Additionally, we are obligated for future payments of $9,000, to be paid by March 2019,
for the production and manufacture of equipment in which we are the lessee.
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Thereafter
Total
$
$
104,602
81,365
69,358
59,044
52,121
121,014
487,504
Total operating lease rental expense included in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) was $73,891, $49,212, and $39,480 for
the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.
Purchase Commitments
As of December 31, 2018, we had purchase commitments of $144,814 in 2020 and $51,118 in 2021.
Contingencies
We are involved in various legal proceedings, including as a defendant in a number of lawsuits. Although the outcomes of these
proceedings and lawsuits cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe that any of the pending legal proceedings and lawsuits
are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, we
believe that our insurance coverage will mitigate these claims.
We and/or our predecessors have been named as a defendant, usually among many defendants, in numerous product liability lawsuits
brought by or on behalf of current or former employees of our customers alleging damages caused by silica exposure. During the year
ended December 31, 2018, 13 plaintiffs’ claims against us were dismissed. As of December 31, 2018, there were 76 active silica-
related products liability lawsuits pending in which we are a defendant. Although the outcomes of these lawsuits cannot be predicted
with certainty, we do not believe that these matters are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position,
results of operations or cash flows.
129
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Fairmount Santrol, now known as Bison Merger Sub I, LLC, has been named as a defendant in several lawsuits in which alleged
stockholders claim Fairmount Santrol and its directors violated securities laws in connection with the Merger. Fairmount Santrol and
its directors believe these allegations lack merit. Although the outcomes of these lawsuits cannot be predicted with certainty, we do
not believe that these matters are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or
cash flows.
We are a defendant in a lawsuit seeking declaratory judgment that the Merger constitutes an event of default under certain operating
lease agreements. Although the outcome of this lawsuit cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe that this matter is
reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
On March 18, 2019, we received a subpoena from the SEC seeking information relating to certain value-added proppants marketed
and sold by Fairmount Santrol or Covia within the Energy segment since January 1, 2014. We are cooperating with the SEC’s
investigation. Given that the investigation is ongoing and that no civil or criminal claims have been threatened or brought to date, we
cannot predict what, if any, further action the SEC may take regarding its investigation, and cannot provide an estimate of the potential
range of loss, if any, that may result. Accordingly, no accrual has been made with respect to this matter.
Included in other long-term liabilities at December 31, 2018, is $4,500 for a pre-acquisition contingent consideration arrangement in
the form of earnout payments, related to the purchase of the Propel SSP technology. We entered into an amendment to the purchase
agreement on June 1, 2018 and, based on information and estimates at the time, estimated the fair value of contingent consideration to
be approximately $9,500. Subsequent to the Merger Date, changes in projected cash flows were revised downward based on post-
Merger decline in the market conditions for the Energy segment and a customer supply agreement that was not renewed at December
31, 2018. These revisions gave rise to a reduction of the contingent liability of approximately $5,000, which is recorded as income in
Other operating expense (income) in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). The earnout payments are based on a fixed
percentage of sales of Propel SSP® and other products incorporating the SSP technology for thirty years commencing on June 1, 2018.
The amendment eliminated the threshold payments of $195,000 which were previously required in order for us to retain 100%
ownership of the technology. It also provides for the non-exclusive right to license the technology at a negotiated rate.
Capital Commitments
As of December 31, 2018, capital commitments relating to property, plant, and equipment amount to $19,781.
Royalties
We have entered into numerous mineral rights agreements, in which payments under the agreements are expensed as incurred.
Certain agreements require annual or quarterly payments based upon annual tons mined or the average selling price of tons sold. Total
royalty expense associated with these agreements was $6,264, $3,259, and $2,528 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and
2016, respectively.
20. Transactions with Related Parties
The Company sells minerals to Sibelco and certain of its subsidiaries (“related parties”). Sales to related parties amounted to $6,705,
$7,300, and $6,800 in the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the
Company had accounts receivable from related parties of $768 and $2,878, respectively. These amounts are included in Accounts
receivable, net in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company purchases minerals from certain of its related parties. Purchases from related parties amounted to $5,276, $6,800, and
$7,500 in the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had
accounts payable to related parties of $522 and $7,692, respectively. These amounts are included in Accounts payable in the
accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Prior to the Merger, Sibelco provided certain services on behalf of Unimin, such as finance, treasury, legal, marketing, information
technology, and other infrastructure support. The cost for information technology was allocated to Unimin on a direct usage basis.
The costs for the remainder of the services were allocated to Unimin based on tons sold, revenues, gross margin, and other financial
measures for Unimin compared to the same financial measures of Sibelco. The financial information presented in these consolidated
financial statements may not reflect the combined financial position, operating results and cash flows of Unimin had it not been a
130
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
consolidated subsidiary of Sibelco. Actual costs that would have been incurred if Unimin had been a stand-alone company would
depend on multiple factors, including organizational structure and strategic decisions made in various areas, including information
technology and infrastructure. Effective on the Merger Date, Sibelco no longer provides such services to the Company. Prior to the
Merger, during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, Unimin incurred $2,500 and $2,700, respectively, for management and
administrative services from Sibelco. In the five months ended May 31, 2018, Unimin incurred $2,445 for management and
administrative services from Sibelco. These costs are reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying
Consolidated Statements of Income.
Additionally, the Company is compensated for providing transitional services, such as accounting, human resources, information
technology, mine planning, and geological services, to HPQ Co. and such compensation is recorded as a reduction of cost in selling,
general, and administrative expenses. Compensation for these transitional services was $581 for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Amounts are included in Selling, general, and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income and in Other
receivables in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
On June 1, 2018, the Company entered into an agreement with Sibelco whereby Sibelco is providing sales and marketing support for
certain products supporting the performance coatings and polymer Solutions markets in North America and Mexico, for which the
Company pays a 5% commission of revenue, and in the rest of the world, for which the Company pays a 10% commission of revenue.
Sibelco also assists with sales and marketing efforts for certain products in the ceramics and sanitary ware industries outside of North
America and Mexico for which the Company pays a 5% commission of revenue. In addition, the Company provides sales and
marketing support to Sibelco for certain products used in ceramics in North America and Mexico for which the Company earns a 10%
commission of revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded commission expense of $2,508 in Selling,
general and administration expenses.
Prior to the Merger Date, the Company had the Unimin Term Loans outstanding with Silfin. During the years ended December 31,
2018, 2017, and 2016, the Company incurred $3,181, $9,300, and $10,700, respectively, of interest expense for the Unimin Term
Loans. These costs are reflected in interest expense, net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Upon closing of
the Merger, the Unimin Term Loans were repaid with the proceeds of the Term Loan.
In the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company had purchases of $98 from an affiliated entity for freight, logistic services, and
consulting services related to its operations in China.
21. Segment Reporting
The Company organizes its business into two reportable segments, Energy and Industrial. The Energy segment serves the oil and gas
recovery industry, providing fracturing sand (“frac sand”) for pumping down oil and natural gas wells to prop open rock fissures and
increase the flow rate of oil and natural gas from the wells. The Industrial segment consists of numerous products and materials used
in a variety of applications including container glass, flat glass, fiberglass, construction, ceramics, fillers and extenders, paints and
plastics, recreation products, and filtration products.
The reportable segments are consistent with how management views the markets served by the Company and the financial information
reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
The chief operating decision maker primarily evaluates an operating segment’s performance based on segment gross profit, which
does not include any selling, general, and administrative costs or corporate costs.
131
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Revenues
Energy
Industrial
Corporate & Other
Total revenues
Segment gross profit
Energy
Industrial
Corporate & Other
Total segment gross profit
Operating expenses excluded from segment gross profit
Selling, general, and administrative
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
Goodwill and other asset impairments
Restructuring charges
Other operating expense, net
Interest expense, net
Earnings of investee companies
Other non-operating expense, net
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
$
1,114,424 $
728,513
-
1,842,937
655,937 $
639,175
-
1,295,112
258,996
203,175
-
462,171
145,593
196,455
267,034
21,954
(5,024 )
60,322
-
54,832
181,715
184,738
-
366,453
99,087
101,560
-
-
3,102
14,653
-
25,989
348,990
625,690
8,016
982,696
37,950
188,885
3,125
229,960
83,845
105,049
9,634
2,700
4,275
23,999
-
31,560
Income (loss) from continuing operations before benefit from income
taxes
$
(278,995 ) $
122,062 $
(31,102 )
On May 31, 2018, Unimin transferred certain assets, which consisted of HPQ Co., representing its Electronics segment, to Sibelco.
The disposition of the Electronics segment qualifies as discontinued operations and, therefore, the Electronics segment information
has been excluded from the above table.
Asset information, including capital expenditures and depreciation, depletion, and amortization, by segment is not included in reports
used by management in its monitoring of performance and, therefore, is not reported by segment.
In the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, one customer exceeded 10% of revenues. This customer accounted for 13%
of revenues in each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016. This customer is part of our Energy segment.
22. Restructuring Charges
In September 2018 and November 2018, we idled operations at six facilities serving the Energy segment in response to reduced
customer demand. Our activities to idle the facilities have largely been completed at December 31, 2018, and all significant
restructuring charges have been recorded. We did not allocate the restructuring costs to our Energy segment.
Additionally, in connection with the Merger, we initiated restructuring activities to achieve cost synergies from our combined
operations. We did not allocate these Merger-related restructuring costs to either of our business segments.
The following table presents a summary of restructuring charges for the year ended December 31, 2018:
Restructuring charges
Severance and relocation costs
Contract termination costs
Total restructuring charges
Merger-related
Idled facilities
Total
$
$
15,286 $
992
16,278 $
2,487 $
3,189
5,676 $
17,773
4,181
21,954
132
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
The following table presents our restructuring reserve activity during 2018:
Restructuring charges in Accrued expenses
Balances at December 31, 2017
Charges
Cash payments
Balances at December 31, 2018
Merger-related
Idled facilities
Total
$
$
- $
16,278
(700 )
15,578 $
- $
5,676
(1,702 )
3,974 $
-
21,954
(2,402 )
19,552
No restructuring charges were incurred in 2017. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we incurred a charge of $2,700 related to
employee severance and the closure of several sales offices and laboratories.
23. Geographic Information
The following tables show total revenues and long-lived assets. Revenues are attributed to geographic regions based on the selling
location. Long-lived assets are located in the respective geographic regions.
Revenues
Domestic
International
Total revenues
Long-lived assets
Domestic
International
Long-lived assets
$
$
$
$
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2017
2016
1,632,722 $
210,215
1,842,937 $
1,059,938 $
235,174
1,295,112 $
761,901
220,795
982,696
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2017
December 31, 2016
2,659,254
175,107
2,834,361
$
$
1,008,569
127,535
1,136,104
$
$
1,205,426
106,142
1,311,568
133
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
24. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following tables set forth our unaudited quarterly consolidated statements of operations for each of the last four quarters for the
periods ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. This unaudited quarterly information has been prepared on the same basis as our annual
audited financial statements and includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments that are necessary to present
fairly the financial information for the fiscal quarters presented.
2018:
Revenues
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation, depletion, and amortization)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense
Goodwill and other asset impairments
Restructuring charges
Other operating expense (income), net
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations
Interest expense, net
Other non-operating income
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the non-controlling
interest
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Covia
Holdings Corporation
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income (loss) attributable to Covia Holdings Corporation
Continuing operations earnings (loss) per share, basic
Continuing operations earnings (loss) per share, diluted
Earnings (loss) per share, basic
Earnings per share, diluted
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted
2017:
Revenues
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation, depletion, and amortization)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense
Other operating expense (income), net
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations
Interest expense, net
Other non-operating income
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the non-controlling
interest
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Covia
Holdings Corporation
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income (loss) attributable to Covia Holdings Corporation
Continuing operations earnings (loss) per share, basic
Continuing operations earnings (loss) per share, diluted
Earnings (loss) per share, basic
Earnings per share, diluted
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted
First Quarter
Second Quarter Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
$
$
$
369,821 $
260,319
25,224
27,131
-
-
-
57,147
2,298
8,193
9,870
36,786
508,418 $
355,311
31,377
36,744
12,300
-
644
72,042
9,497
38,923
6,454
17,168
523,368 $
405,602
43,164
68,584
265,343
14,750
(974 )
(273,101 )
23,530
9,043
(16,848 )
(288,826 )
441,330
359,534
45,828
63,996
(10,609 )
7,204
(4,694 )
(19,929 )
24,997
(1,327 )
4,511
(48,110 )
-
106
(32 )
29
36,786
8,757
45,543
0.31 $
0.31
0.38
0.38 $
119,645
119,645
17,062
3,830
20,892
(288,794 )
-
(288,794 )
0.14 $
0.14
0.17
0.17 $
123,460
124,166
(2.20 ) $
(2.20 )
(2.20 )
(2.20 ) $
131,154
131,154
(48,139 )
-
(48,139 )
(0.37 )
(0.37 )
(0.37 )
(0.37 )
131,182
131,182
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
$
$
$
287,312 $
218,271
20,825
23,662
1,022
23,532
2,280
3,075
4,804
13,373
324,079 $
231,145
21,220
23,896
813
47,005
5,250
-
11,566
30,189
347,808 $
244,694
24,210
24,639
(6 )
54,271
5,104
1,374
20,090
27,703
335,913
234,549
32,832
29,363
1,273
37,896
2,019
21,540
(45,285 )
59,622
-
-
-
-
13,373
3,468
16,841
0.11 $
0.11
0.14
0.14 $
119,645
119,645
30,189
6,612
36,801
0.25 $
0.25
0.31
0.31 $
119,645
119,645
27,703
2,441
30,144
0.23 $
0.23
0.25
0.25 $
119,645
119,645
59,622
10,763
70,385
0.50
0.50
0.59
0.59
119,645
119,645
134
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
25.
Subsequent Event
On March 19, 2019, we entered into an amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the credit agreement that governs the Revolver. The
First Amendment amends the financial covenants of the Revolver to a Total Net Leverage ratio of no more than 6.60:1.00 for the
fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2019 to December 31, 2019, 5.50:1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2020 to December 31,
2020, 4.50:1.00 for the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and 4.00:1.00 for fiscal quarters ending March
31, 2022 and thereafter. Additionally, the financial covenants are subject to certain covenant reset triggers (“Covenant Reset
Triggers”) where, upon the occurrence of any Covenant Reset Trigger, the maximum Total Net Leverage ratio will automatically
revert to 3.50:1.00.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures, as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. In
designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no
matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control
objectives of such controls and procedures. Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive
Officer (“CEO”) (our principal executive officer) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) (our principal financial officer), has evaluated
the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2018. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO
have each concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2018.
Report of Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
This Annual Report does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial reporting or an
attestation report of our registered public accounting firm due to a transition period established by the rules of the SEC for newly
public companies.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, that
occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
135
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Except as set forth below, the information required by Item 10 is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections of the Proxy
Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Covia to be held on May 23, 2019 (the “2019 Proxy Statement”) captioned
“ITEM 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS,” “GOVERNANCE – Role of the Board’s Committees,” “GOVERNANCE – Nominating
Procedures,” “GOVERNANCE – Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” and “GOVERNANCE – Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics and Financial Code of Ethics.”
The information set forth below is provided as required by Item 10 and the listing standards of the NYSE.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our current executive officers, including their ages, as of March 22, 2019.
There are no family relationships between any of our executive officers.
Name
Jenniffer D. Deckard
Gerald L. Clancey
Andrew D. Eich
Campbell J. Jones
Chadwick P. Reynolds
Brian J. Richardson
Age
53
49
39
58
45
46
Position
President and CEO
Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer
Executive Officers of the Registrant
Jenniffer D. Deckard, age 53, has served as our President and CEO since June 2018. Previously, Ms. Deckard served as President,
CEO and a director of Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. from 2013 until June 2018. At Fairmount Santrol, she was President from
2011 until 2013, and served as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer and in other roles in accounting and finance
from 1994 until 2011. Ms. Deckard joined the Board of Directors of RPM International Inc. (NYSE: RPM) in 2015 and currently
serves as a member of RPM’s Audit Committee, having previously served on its Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.
In her local community, Ms. Deckard serves on the boards of the Cleveland Foundation and the EDWINS Foundation. She also
serves on the Case Western Reserve Weatherhead School of Management’s Visiting Committee and the Board of Directors for the
Fairmount Santrol Foundation. Ms. Deckard received a B.S. from the University of Tulsa and a MBA from Case Western Reserve
University.
Gerald L. Clancey, age 49, has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer since June 2018. He is
responsible for our sales, marketing and logistics functions. Mr. Clancey served as Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial
Officer at Fairmount Santrol since 2015. In this role, he had responsibility for domestic and international sales into the energy and
industrial markets, as well as leadership for supply chain and logistics. Previously, Mr. Clancey served as Executive Vice President of
Supply Chain and Industrial & Recreation (I&R) Sales since 2011, Vice President of Sales for I&R from 2002 to 2011, and General
Sales Manager for the Fairmount Santrol’s TechniSand resin-coated foundry division from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Clancey received a B.S.
from Kent State University and MBA from the University of Notre Dame.
Andrew D. Eich, age 39, has served as our Executive Vice President and CFO since June 2018. He is responsible for our finance,
accounting, treasury, investor relations, strategy and M&A functions. Mr. Eich served as Senior Vice President and Chief
Commercial Officer of Unimin from June 2016 to May 2018. From 2012 to June 2016, he served as CFO of Unimin. From 2004 to
2012, Mr. Eich served in a variety of roles at Aetos Capital (private equity fund) including roles in M&A, portfolio management,
corporate finance and investor relations. He started his career at KPMG LLP (audit, tax and advisory services provider) in New York,
where he worked from 2002 to 2004 in KPMG’s assurance practice. Mr. Eich received a B.A. in Management Economics from Ohio
Wesleyan University and is a CPA (inactive) and CFA charter holder.
Campbell J. Jones, age 58, has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since June 2018. He is
responsible for our operations, engineering, environmental, health and safety, procurement, supply chain and R&D functions. Mr.
Jones served as President and CEO of Unimin from May 2015 to May 2018, and was a member of the Unimin Board since 2015. He
has also served as Group Chief Operating Officer of Sibelco (material solutions provider) from January 2016 to May 2018. Mr. Jones
was with Sibelco or its affiliates since 2000. He was Managing Director of Sibelco Australia Limited from 2006 to 2014 and
Executive General Manager/Chief Operating Officer of Sibelco Australia Limited from 2000 to 2006. Prior to joining Unimin, he was
136
Executive General Manager at Commercial Minerals from 1997 to 2000 and Managing Director at Envirotech Australia from 1992 to
1997. Mr. Jones received a B.E. in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of New South Wales
Chadwick P. Reynolds, age 45, has served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since September 2018.
He is responsible for the company’s legal and corporate governance functions. He is responsible for the company’s legal, corporate
governance, and compliance functions. Prior to joining us, Mr. Reynolds served Stage Stores, Inc. (retailer) as its Executive Vice
President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary from April 2017 to August 2018, and its Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and
Secretary from August 2014 to March 2017, where he oversaw its legal, risk management, real estate, construction and facilities
departments. Previously, he spent 16 years with Big Lots, Inc. (retailer), where he most recently served as Vice President, Deputy
General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary from March 2009 to August 2014. Mr. Reynolds received a B.A. from Indiana
State University and a J.D. from Capital University Law School.
Brian J. Richardson, age 46, has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer since June 2018. He is
responsible for the company’s human resources, information technology, risk management, sustainable development and internal
communications functions. Mr. Richardson served as Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer at Fairmount Santrol from June
2015 to May 2018. Prior to joining Fairmount Santrol, Mr. Richardson was Senior Vice President of Human Resources for the Global
Finishes Group of The Sherwin-Williams Company (manufacturer of coatings and related products). Mr. Richardson received a B.A.
in Finance from Baldwin-Wallace College and MBA from The Ohio State University.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections of the 2019 Proxy Statement captioned
“EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION,” “DIRECTOR COMPENSATION,” and “GOVERNANCE - Compensation Committee
Interlocks and Insider Participation.”
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by Item 12 is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections of the 2019 Proxy Statement captioned
“SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.”
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The table below provides information, as of December 31, 2018, with respect to compensation plans under which securities of Covia
are authorized for issuance. Please see Note 16 in our Consolidated Financial Statements for further information:
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(A)(1)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans [excluding
securities reflected in
column (A)]
(B)
(C)
2,503 $
-
2,503 $
33.49
-
33.49
13,258
-
13,258
Number of securities in thousands
Equity compensation plans approved by security
holders(2)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security
holders
Total
_________
(1) In addition, we had 746 restricted stock units outstanding under the 2014 Plan and 2018 Plan.
(2) There are 1,681 options outstanding under the 2010 Plan and 822 options outstanding under the 2014 Plan.
137
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information required by Item 13 is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections of the 2019 Proxy Statement captioned
“GOVERNANCE – Related Party Transactions” and “GOVERNANCE – Director Independence.”
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by Item 14 is hereby incorporated by reference to the sections of the 2019 Proxy Statement captioned
“AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS – Policy for Pre-Approval of Independent Auditor Services” and “AUDIT COMMITTEE
MATTERS – Principal Accountant Fees and Services.”
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The following documents are filed as part of this Report:
A) The consolidated financial statements of Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries contained in Part II, Item 8 of this
Report:
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
(cid:120)
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
B)
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016,
contained on page 139 of this Report
C) The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index beginning on page 140 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
138
Covia Holdings Corporation and Subsidiaries
Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(in thousands)
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:
Year ended December 31, 2018
Year ended December 31, 2017
Year ended December 31, 2016
Valuation Allowance for Net Deferred Tax Assets:
Year ended December 31, 2018
Year ended December 31, 2017
Year ended December 31, 2016
Beginning Balance and Expenses
Other Accounts Deductions
Ending Balance
Charged to Cost Charged to
$
$
3,682 $
2,645
7,184
871 $
806
(2,779 )
29,206 $
36,877
36,499
13,353 $
(7,671 )
378
- $
2
(473 )
9,640 $
-
-
(65 ) $
229
(1,287 )
- $
-
-
4,488
3,682
2,645
52,199
29,206
36,877
139
COVIA HOLDINGS CORPORATION
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following documents are filed or furnished as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. For convenient reference, each
exhibit is listed in the following Exhibit Index according to the number assigned to it in the Exhibit Table of Item 601 of Regulation S-
K.
(x) Filed herewith
(y) Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Exhibit No.
Description
2.1
2.2
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 11, 2017, by and among Unimin Corporation, Fairmount
Santrol Holdings Inc., SCR-Sibelco NV, Bison Merger Sub, Inc. and Bison Merger Sub I, LLC (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on
December 12, 2017) (File No. 001-36670)
Business Contribution Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2018, by and among Unimin Corporation, SCR-Sibelco NV
and Sibelco North America, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the
Company, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Covia Holdings Corporation (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2018) File No. 001-
38510).
3.2
4.1
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Covia Holdings Corporation incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510)
Stockholders Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and among Covia Holdings Corporation, SCR-Sibelco NV and
the other parties named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the
Company, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
4.2
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-
Sibelco NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with
the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.1
Redemption Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2018, by and between Unimin Corporation and SCR-Sibelco NV
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on
June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.2
Tax Matters Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2018, by and between Unimin Corporation and SCR-Sibelco NV
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on
June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.3
10.4
Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-Sibelco NV
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on
June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
Distribution Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-Sibelco NV
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on
June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.5
Exclusive Agency Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-
Sibelco NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with
the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.6
Exclusive Agency Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-
Sibelco NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with
the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
140
Exhibit No.
Description
10.7
Non-Compete Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-Sibelco
NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC
on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.8
Transition Services Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2018, by and between Unimin Corporation and Sibelco North
America, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed
with the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.9
Transition Services Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-
Sibelco NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with
the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.10
Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and among Covia Holdings Corporation, Barclays
Bank PLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. as lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and the other parties named
therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the
SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.11
Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and among Covia Holdings Corporation, Barclays Bank
PLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and the other parties named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11
to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.12
Trademark License Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-
Sibelco NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed
with the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.13
10.14
10.15
10.16
10.17
10.18
10.19
Trademark Assignment Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and
Sibelco Nederland NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the
Company, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
Patent License Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-Sibelco
NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the
SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
Patent License Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-Sibelco
NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the
SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
Patent License Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-Sibelco
NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the
SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
Patent License Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-Sibelco
NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the
SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
Patent License Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-Sibelco
NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the
SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
Patent License Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2018, by and between Covia Holdings Corporation and SCR-Sibelco
NV (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the
SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.20
Redemption Agreement, related to the Cash Redemption, by and between Unimin Corporation and SCR-Sibelco NV
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on
June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.21
Intercompany Note, dated as of May 29, 2018, by and between Unimin Corporation and SCR-Sibelco NV
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on
June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
141
Exhibit No.
Description
10.22
Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of
the Company, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.23(y)
2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan of Covia Holdings Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the
Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2018).
10.24(y)
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan of Covia Holdings Corporation
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on
July 2, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.25(y)
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Non-Employee Directors for 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan of Covia
Holdings Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company,
filed with the SEC on July 2, 2018) (File No. 001-38510).
10.26(y)
FMSA Holdings Inc. Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on September 18, 2014)
(File No. 333-198322).
10.27(y)
Form of Stock Option Agreement for FMSA Holdings Inc. Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the
SEC on September 18, 2014) (File No. 333-198322).
10.28(y)
Amendment I to the Form of Stock Option Agreement for FMSA Holdings Inc. Long Term Incentive Compensation
Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol
Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on September 18, 2014) (File No. 333-198322).
10.29(y)
FMSA Holdings Inc. Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement on
Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on September 18, 2014) (File No. 333-198322).
10.30(y)
Form of Stock Option Agreement for FMSA Holdings Inc. Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.15 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on September
18, 2014) (File No. 333-198322).
10.31(y)
Amendment I to the Form of Stock Option Agreement for FMSA Holdings Inc. Stock Option Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the
SEC on September 18, 2014) (File No. 333-198322).
10.32(y)
10.33(y)
Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Appendix
A to the Definitive Proxy Statement of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on April 6, 2017) (File No.
001-36670).
Form of Stock Option Agreement for FMSA Holdings Inc. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on
September 18, 2014) (File No. 333-198322).
10.34(y)
Form of Notice of Grant of Stock Option for FMSA Holdings Inc. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the
SEC on September 18, 2014) (File No. 333-198322).
10.35(y)
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for FMSA Holdings Inc. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the
SEC on September 18, 2014) (File No. 333-198322).
10.36(y)
Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Unit for FMSA Holdings Inc. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Fairmont Santrol Holdings
Inc., filed with the SEC on September 18, 2014) (File No. 333-198322)).
10.37(y)
Omnibus Amendment to Outstanding Stock Option Agreements under the FMSA Holdings Inc. 2014 Long Term
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Fairmont Santrol
Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on December 16, 2015) (File No. 001-36670).
142
Exhibit No.
Description
10.38(y)
Omnibus Amendment to Outstanding Restricted Stock Unit Agreements under the FMSA Holdings Inc. 2014 Long
Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Fairmont
Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on December 16, 2015) (File No. 001-36670).
10.39(y)
Omnibus Amendment to Outstanding Stock Option Agreements under FMSA Holdings Inc. 2006 Long Term
Incentive Compensatory Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of
Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on November 3, 2016) (File No. 001-36670).
10.40(y)
10.41(y)
10.42(y)
10.43(y)
21.1(x)
23.1(x)
31.1(x)
Omnibus Amendment to Outstanding Stock Option Agreements under FMSA Holdings Inc. 2010 Stock Option Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc.,
filed with the SEC on November 3, 2016) (File No. 001-36670).
Amended and Restated Omnibus Amendment to Outstanding Stock Option Agreements under FMSA Holdings Inc.
2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of
Fairmont Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on November 3, 2016) (File No. 001-36670).
Amendment No. 1 to the FMSA Holdings Inc. 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan, dated February 1, 2017, by Fairmount
Santrol Holdings Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Fairmount
Santrol Holdings Inc., filed with the SEC on March 9, 2017) (File No. 001-36670).
Performance Measures for purposes of the 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan of Covia Holdings Corporation (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2018)
(File No. 001-38510).
List of Subsidiaries of Covia Holdings Corporation.
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Ernst & Young LLP.
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2(x)
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1(x)
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2(x)
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
95.1(x)
99.1(x)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Mine Safety Disclosure Exhibit
Consent of GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
101.INS(x)
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH(x)
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL(x)
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF(x)
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB(x)
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE(x)
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
Schedules and exhibits have been omitted from Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2 in accordance with Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The
registrant agrees to furnish supplementally to the SEC a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit upon request, subject to the
registrant’s right to request confidential treatment of any requested schedule or exhibit.
143
SIGNATURES
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 on March 22, 2019.
COVIA HOLDINGS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Jenniffer D. Deckard
Jenniffer D. Deckard
President, Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the 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.
Name
/s/ Jenniffer D. Deckard
Jenniffer D. Deckard
/s/ Andrew D. Eich
Andrew D. Eich
/s/ Meghan E. DeMasi
Meghan E. DeMasi
/s/ Richard A. Navarre
Richard A. Navarre
/s/ William E. Conway
William E. Conway
/s/ Kurt Decat
Kurt Decat
/s/ Jean-Luc Deleersnyder
Jean-Luc Deleersnyder
/s/ Michel Delloye
Michel Delloye
/s/ Charles D. Fowler
Charles D. Fowler
/s/ Stephen J. Hadden
Stephen J. Hadden
/s/ William P. Kelly
William P. Kelly
/s/ Jean-Pierre Labroue
Jean-Pierre Labroue
/s/ Olivier Lambrechts
Olivier Lambrechts
/s/ Matthew F. LeBaron
Matthew F. LeBaron
/s/ Jeffrey B. Scofield
Jeffrey B. Scofield
Title
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Vice President, Accounting and Controls
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Date
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
March 22, 2019
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
144
COVIA HOLDINGS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018
Exhibit 21.1
Name of Subsidiary
Covia Holdings Corporation
Covia Specialty Minerals Inc.
Covia Lime LLC (d/b/a Southern Lime)
Winchester & Western Railroad Company
Unisil Corporation
Covia Canada Ltd.
Unimin Finance Company LLC
Grupo Materias Primas de Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V.
Grupo Materias Primas S. de R. L. de C. V.
Materias Primas Monterrey S. de R. L. de C. V.
Materias Primas Minerales de Ahuazotepec, S. de R. L. de C. V.
Servicios Integrales Lampazos S. de R. L. de C. V.
909273 Ontario Inc.
Bison Merger Sub I, LLC
FMSA Inc.
Fairmount Santrol Inc.
Fairmount Minerals Sales de Mexico, S. de R. L. de C. V.
Santrol de Mexico, S. de R. L. de C. V.
Best Sand Corporation
Best Sand of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Cheyenne Sand Corp.
Construction Aggregates Corporation of Michigan, Inc.
Standard Sand Corporation
Specialty Sands, Inc.
Lake Shore Sand Company (Ontario) Ltd.
Mineral Visions Inc.
Technisand, Inc.
Covia Europe ApS
Wisconsin Industrial Sand Company, LLC
Wisconsin Specialty Sands, Inc.
Alpha Resins, LLC
Technimat LLC (90%)
Santrol (Yixing) Proppant Co. Ltd (70%)
Wedron Silica Company
Wexford Sand Co.
Fairmount Minerals, LLC
Black Lab, LLC
Self-Suspending Proppant LLC
Shakopee Sand LLC
FML Resin, LLC
FML Sand, LLC
West Texas Housing LLC
FML Terminal Logistics, LLC
Fairmount Logistics LLC
Jurisdiction of Organization
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Virginia
New Jersey
Ontario, Canada
Delaware
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Ontario, Canada
Delaware
Delaware
Delaware
Mexico
Mexico
Ohio
Ohio
Michigan
Michigan
Michigan
Michigan
Ontario, Canada
Ohio
Delaware
Denmark
Delaware
Texas
Ohio
Ohio
China
Ohio
Michigan
Ohio
Ohio
Delaware
Minnesota
Ohio
Ohio
Delaware
Ohio
Texas
*** Percentages in parentheses indicate Covia Holdings Corporation’s ownership.
145
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Fairmount Santrol Holdings
Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan, FMSA Holdings Inc. Stock Option Plan, FMSA Holdings Inc. Long
Term Incentive Compensation Plan of Covia Holdings Corporation of our report dated March 22, 2019, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Covia Holdings Corporation included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
December 31, 2018.
Exhibit 23.1
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Stamford, Connecticut
March 22, 2019
146
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
(Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
Exhibit 31.1
I, Jenniffer D. Deckard, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for Covia Holdings Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2018;
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
with respect to the period covered by this report;
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods
presented in this report;
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and have:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under
our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is
made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-8238/34-47986 and 33-8392/34-49313);
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this
report based on such evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;
and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing
the equivalent functions):
a.
b.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial
reporting, which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: March 22, 2019
By:
/s/ Jenniffer D. Deckard
Jenniffer D. Deckard
President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
147
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
(Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
Exhibit 31.2
I, Andrew D. Eich, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for Covia Holdings Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2018;
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
with respect to the period covered by this report;
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods
presented in this report;
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and have:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under
our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is
made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-8238/34-47986 and 33-8392/34-49313);
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this
report based on such evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;
and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing
the equivalent functions):
a.
b.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial
reporting, which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date:
March 22, 2019
By:
/s/ Andrew D. Eich
Andrew D. Eich
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
148
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
(Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
Exhibit 32.1
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 of Covia Holdings Corporation (the
“Company”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jenniffer D. Deckard,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18. U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
1.
2.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company.
Date: March 22, 2019
By:
/s/ Jenniffer D. Deckard
Jenniffer D. Deckard
President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
149
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
(Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
Exhibit 32.2
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 of Covia Holdings Corporation (the
“Company”) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Andrew D. Eich, Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18. U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
1.
2.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company.
Date: March 22, 2019
By:
/s/ Andrew D. Eich
Andrew D. Eich
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
150
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Exhibit 95.1
The following disclosures are provided pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Act”) and
Item 104 of Regulation S-K, which requires certain disclosures by companies required to file periodic reports under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that operate mines regulated under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (the “Mine
Act”).
Mine Safety Information. Whenever the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) believes a violation of the Mine
Act, any health or safety standard or any regulation has occurred, it may issue a citation which describes the alleged violation and
fixes a time within which the U.S. mining operator must abate the alleged violation. In some situations, such as when MSHA believes
that conditions pose a hazard to miners, MSHA may issue an order removing miners from the area of the mine affected by the
condition until the alleged hazards are corrected. When MSHA issues a citation or order, it generally proposes a civil penalty, or fine,
as a result of the alleged violation, that the operator is ordered to pay. Citations and orders can be contested and appealed, and as part
of that process, are often reduced in severity and amount, and are sometimes dismissed. The number of citations, orders and proposed
assessments vary depending on the size and type (underground or surface) of the mine as well as by the MSHA inspector(s) assigned.
The below table reflects citations and orders issued to Covia Holdings Corporation by MSHA during the fiscal year from January 1,
2018 to December 31, 2018. The proposed assessments were obtained from the MSHA data retrieval system. The tables below do
not include any orders or citations issued to independent contractors at our mines.
Section 107(a)
Orders(6)
Mine(1)
Tuscaloosa Plant
Southern Lime
Guion Plant
McIntyre Plant
Hephzibah Plant
Junction City Plant
Emmett Plant
Oregon Plant
Utica Plant
Troy Grove Plant
Elco Plant
Tamms Plant
Huntingburg Mill
Ottawa Plant
Kasota Plant
Pevely Plant
Marston Plant
Diving Creek Plant
Roff Plant
Lugoff Plant
Cleburne Plant
Troup Plant
Voca Plant
Gore Plant
Portage Plant
Tunnel City Plant
Crane Plant
Best Sand
Best Southern
Brewer Sand
Hager City
Kermit
Maiden Rock
Menomonie
Shakopee
Voca Sand
Wedron Silica
TOTALS
Mine ID Number
01-00697
01-03227
03-00313
09-00128
09-00149
09-00726
10-00318
11-01579
11-01015
11-01580
11-01981
11-02051
12-01932
21-00790
21-02836
23-00706
31-01518
28-00605
34-00304
38-00299
41-01059
41-03483
41-03929
44-02684
47-00749
47-03699
41-05370
33-00015
33-03877
23-02364
47-03520
41-05310
47-03110
47-03512
21-03769
41-04746
11-01578
Section 104
S&S
Citations(2)
Section 104(b)
Orders(3)
Section 104(d)
Citations &
Orders(4)
-
-
3
1
-
-
-
2
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
1
1
-
-
-
-
6
4
1
2
8
-
1
-
3
3
-
-
11
5
55
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Section
110(b)(2)
Violations(5)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Proposed
Assessments(7)
(Amounts in
Dollars)
Fatalities
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
260
413
4,669
612
236
668
256
5,622
4,928
354
472
118
425
236
708
354
1,744
1,723
807
444
635
118
517
2,642
2,596
683
406
7,837
354
1,275
733
1,574
2,474
354
118
58,754
19,287
125,406
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(1)
The definition of a mine under section 3 of the Mine Act includes the mine, as well as other items used in, or to be used in, or resulting from, the work of
extracting minerals, such as land, structures, facilities, equipment, machines, tools, and minerals preparation facilities. Unless otherwise indicated, any of these
151
other items associated with a single mine have been aggregated in the totals for that mine. MSHA assigns an identification number to each mine and may or
may not assign separate identification numbers to related facilities such as preparation facilities. We are providing the information in the table by mine rather
than MSHA identification number because that is how we manage and operate our mining business and we believe this presentation will be more useful to
investors than providing information based on MSHA identification numbers.
(2) Mine Act section 104 Significant and Substantial (“S&S”) citations shown above are for alleged violations of mandatory health or safety standards that could
significantly and substantially contribute to a mine health and safety hazard. It should be noted that, for purposes of this table, S&S citations that are included in
another column, such as Section 104(d) citations, are not also included as Section 104 S&S citations in this column.
(3) Mine Act section 104(b) orders are for alleged failures to totally abate a citation within the time period specified in the citation.
(4) Mine Act section 104(d) citations and orders are for an alleged unwarrantable failure (i.e., aggravated conduct constituting more than ordinary negligence) to
comply with mandatory health or safety standards.
(5) Mine Act section 110(b)(2) violations are for an alleged “flagrant” failure (i.e., reckless or repeated) to make reasonable efforts to eliminate a known violation
of a mandatory safety or health standard that substantially and proximately caused, or reasonably could have been expected to cause, death or serious bodily
injury.
(6) Mine Act section 107(a) orders are for alleged conditions or practices which could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm before such
condition or practice can be abated and result in orders of immediate withdrawal from the area of the mine affected by the condition.
(7)
Represents the total dollar value of the proposed assessment from MSHA under the Mine Act including those citations and orders that are not required to be
included within the above chart. Specific orders and/or citations for a Mine may not have had assessments posted to the MSHA data retrieval system or made
available to the Company by MSHA.
Pending Legal Actions. The number of legal actions pending before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission as of
December 31, 2018 that fall into each of the following categories is as follows:
Mine
Mine ID Number
Mining Related
Fatalities
Junction City Plant
Oregon Plant
Voca Plant
Kermit
FML Sand Voca
Wedron Silica
TOTALS
09-00726
11-01579
41-03929
41-05310
41-04746
11-01578
Received Notice
of Pattern of
Violations under
Section 104(e)
(yes/no)(8)
No
No
No
No
No
No
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Legal Actions
Pending as of
Last Day of
Period
Legal Actions
Initiated during
Period
Legal Actions
Resolved during
Period
-
-
-
1
1
1
3
-
-
-
2
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
-
-
4
(8) Mine Act section 104(e) written notices are for an alleged pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards that could significantly and substantially
contribute to a mine safety or health hazard.
Mine
Kermit
Voca Sand
Wedron Silica
TOTALS
Mine ID Number
41-05310
41-04746
11-01578
Contests of
Citations &
Orders
Contests of
Proposed
Penalties
Complaints for
Compensation
Complaints of
Discharge/
Discrimination/
Interference
Applications
for Temporary
Relief
Appeals of
Judges Rulings
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
1
1
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
152
Exhibit 99.1
March 22, 2019
CONSENT OF: GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
The undersigned hereby consents to the references to our company’s name in the form and context in which they appear in the 2018
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Covia Holdings Corporation. We also hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the
2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Covia Holdings Corporation.
We hereby further consent to the use in such Annual Report on Form 10-K of information contained in our reports setting forth the
estimates of reserves of Covia Holdings Corporation as of December 31, 2018.
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
/s/ Mark J. Krumenacher
By:
Name: Mark J. Krumenacher
Title:
Senior Principal, Senior Vice President
153
CORPORATE INFORMATION
Corporate Headquarters
3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700
Independence, OH 44131
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
May 23, 2019 8:15 a.m CDT
Covia Holdings Corporation
2829 Technology Forest Blvd.
The Woodlands, TX 77381
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP, Stamford, CT
Stock Listing
Common stock listed on the NYSE
under ticker symbol CVIA.
Transfer Agent
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219
Phone: 718-921-8200
E-mail: info@amstock.com
Investor Relations
Matthew Schlarb
Director Investor Relations
3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700
Independence, OH 44131
Phone: 440-214-3284
E-mail: matthew.schlarb@coviacorp.com
Form 10-K
A copy of the Company's Annual Report or
Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2018, will be sent without
charge upon written request to the Company's
investor relations department at its Corporate
Headquarters address.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Richard Navarre
Chairman of the Board
William Conway
Kurt Decat
Jenniffer Deckard
Jean-Luc Deleersnyder
Michel Delloye
Charles Fowler
Stephen Hadden
William Kelly
Jean-Pierre Labroue
Olivier Lambrechts
Matthew LeBaron
Jeffrey Scofield
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Jenniffer Deckard
President and Chief Executive Officer
Gerald Clancey
Executive Vice President and
Chief Commercial Officer
Campbell Jones
Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer
Andrew Eich
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Brian Richardson
Executive Vice President and
Chief Administrative Officer
Chadwick Reynolds
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
Corporate Headquarters
3 Summit Park Drive, Suite 700
Independence, OH 44131
Phone: 440-214-3284
www.coviacorp.com