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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.
OR
☐☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 001-38066
Select Energy Services, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
81-4561945
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1233 W. Loop South, Suite 1400
Houston, Texas
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
77027
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (713) 235-9500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol(s)
WTTR
Name of each exchange on which registered
New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
NONE
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
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 ☑
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.
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 ☐
Yes ☑ No ☐
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
☐ Accelerated Filer
☐ Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth 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 by Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes ☐ No ☑
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☑
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant computed as of June 30, 2020 (the last business day of the
registrant’s most recent completed second fiscal quarter) based on the closing price of the Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $284.2 million. There
were 86,437,630 and 16,221,101 shares of the registrant’s Class A and Class B common stock, respectively, outstanding as of February 22, 2021.
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, to be filed no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year, are
incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Documents Incorporated by Reference:
Table of Contents
PART I
Table of Contents
Item 1.
Business
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 2.
Properties
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosure
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity
Securities
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Item 9B.
Other Information
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
PART III
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Item 15.
Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules
PART IV
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
PART I
The information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this Annual Report
regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and
objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report, the words “could,” “believe,”
“anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “preliminary,” “forecast,” and similar expressions or variations are
intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.
These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on
currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. When considering forward-looking statements, you
should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading “Risk Factors” included
elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as those set forth from time to time in our other filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current belief, based on
currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, those summarized below:
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following his inauguration on January 20, 2021, President Biden issued several executive orders and made other
announcements which may negatively impact the future production of oil and natural gas in the United States
(“U.S.”) and may adversely affect our future operations;
the severity and duration of world health events, including the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, which
has caused a sharp decline in economic activity in the U.S. and around the world, resulting in lower demand for oil
and gas, oversupply and therefore lower oil and gas prices, to which our exploration and production (“E&P”)
customers have responded by cutting capital spending, leading to fewer oil and gas well completions and thus
reduced demand for our services, all of which has had, and will likely continue to have, a negative impact on our
financial results;
actions taken by the members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and Russia
(together with OPEC and other allied producing countries, “OPEC+”) with respect to oil production levels and
announcements of potential changes in such levels, including the ability of the OPEC+ countries to agree on and
comply with announced supply limitations;
the potential deterioration of our customers’ financial condition, including defaults resulting from actual or
potential insolvencies;
the level of capital spending and access to capital markets by oil and gas companies, including significant recent
reductions and potential additional reductions in capital expenditures by oil and gas producers in response to
commodity prices and reduced demand;
operational challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, including
logistical challenges, measures taken to protect the health and well-being of our employees, remote work
arrangements, performance of contracts and supply chain disruptions;
the degree to which consolidation among our customers may affect spending on U.S. drilling and completions in
the near-term;
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trends and volatility in oil and gas prices, and our ability to manage through such volatility;
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our customers’ ability to complete and produce new wells;
the impact of current and future laws, rulings and governmental regulations, including those related to hydraulic
fracturing, accessing water, disposing of wastewater, transferring produced water, interstate freshwater transfer,
chemicals, carbon pricing, pipeline construction, taxation or emissions, leasing, permitting or drilling on federal
lands and various other environmental matters;
regional impacts to our business, including our key infrastructure assets within the Bakken and the Northern
Delaware portion of the Permian Basin;
capacity constraints on regional oil, natural gas and water gathering, processing and pipeline systems that result in a
slowdown or delay in drilling and completion activity, and thus a slowdown or delay in the demand for our services
in our core markets;
regulatory and related policy actions intended by federal, state and/or local governments to reduce fossil fuel use
and associated carbon emissions, or to drive the substitution of renewable forms of energy for oil and gas, may over
time reduce demand for oil and gas and therefore the demand for our services;
new or expanded regulations that materially limit our customers’ access to federal and state lands for oil and gas
development, thereby reducing demand for our services in the affected areas;
growing demand for electric vehicles that result in reduced demand for gasoline;
our ability to retain key management and employees;
our ability to hire and retain skilled labor;
our access to capital to fund expansions, acquisitions and our working capital needs and our ability to obtain debt or
equity financing on satisfactory terms;
our health, safety and environmental performance;
the impact of competition on our operations;
the degree to which our E&P customers may elect to operate their water-management services in-house rather than
source these services from companies like us;
our level of indebtedness and our ability to comply with covenants contained in our Credit Agreement (as defined
herein) or future debt instruments;
delays or restrictions in obtaining permits by us or our customers;
constraints in supply or availability of equipment used in our business;
the impact of advances or changes in well-completion technologies or practices that result in reduced demand for
our services, either on a volumetric or time basis;
changes in global political or economic conditions, generally, and in the markets we serve;
acts of terrorism, war or political or civil unrest in the United States or elsewhere;
the ability to source certain raw materials globally from economically advantaged sources;
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accidents, weather, seasonality or other events affecting our business; and
the other risks identified in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including, without limitation, those under the
headings “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” “Item 1. Business,” “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (“MD&A”) and “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions, and Director Independence.”
These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material
adverse effects on our future results. Our future results will depend upon various other risks and uncertainties, including those
described elsewhere in this Annual Report. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements after the
date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements
attributable to us are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary note.
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Risk Factor Summary
Risks Related to Business Operations
● Reductions in capital spending by the oil and gas industry in the U.S., including due to the impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic and reduced prices resulting from the current oversupply of oil, could negatively impact our business.
The widespread outbreak of any communicable disease, such as COVID-19, could reduce the demand for oil, ultimately
reducing demand for our services.
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● Continued volatility in oil and/or natural gas prices may adversely affect the demand for our services.
● Our key infrastructure assets in North Dakota and in New Mexico make us vulnerable to risks associated with
conducting business in these regions.
● Restrictions on the ability to procure water or changes in sourcing requirements could decrease demand for some of our
services.
● Regulatory and societal efforts to reduce fossil fuel use and associated carbon emissions could reduce demand for oil
and natural gas, and thereby the demand for our services.
● We have operated at a loss in the past, including in 2020, and there is no assurance of profitability in the future.
● We may be subject to claims for personal injury and property damage.
● We are subject to cybersecurity risks.
● We may be adversely affected by uncertainty in the global financial markets and a worldwide economic downturn.
● Disruptions in the transportation services of trucking companies transporting wastewater.
● A significant increase in fuel prices may adversely affect our transportation costs.
Risks Related to Customers and Suppliers
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Significant price volatility or interruptions in supply of our raw materials for our chemicals business may result in
increased costs and negatively impact our financial results.
Risks Related to Compliance with Regulations
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Legislative and regulatory initiatives in the U.S. relating to hydraulic fracturing could result in operating restrictions,
delays or cancellations in our customers’ operations, reducing demand for our services.
● Our and our customers' operations are subject to a number of regulatory risks as a result of climate change initiatives.
● Our chemical products are subject to regulations that tend to become more onerous over time, that could result in
increased costs.
Risks Related to Personnel and Related Parties
● Our industry typically experiences a high rate of employee turnover.
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Transactions with related parties present possible conflicts of interest.
Risks Related to Our Capital Structure
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Failure to maintain and enhance an effective system of internal controls could reduce the trading price of our common
stock.
● We may incur indebtedness or issue additional equity securities to execute our long-term growth strategy.
● Our Credit Agreement subjects us to various financial and other restrictive covenants.
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● Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may limit certain corporate opportunities.
Future sales of our equity securities may depress our share price or dilute your ownership.
Provisions in our governing documents and Delaware law may discourage takeover attempts.
SES Legacy Holdings, LLC (“Legacy Owner Holdco”) controls a significant percentage of our voting power.
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● Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the
sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings.
Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure
● We are a holding company and our sole material asset consists of common units (“SES Holdings LLC Units”) in SES
Holdings, LLC (“SES Holdings”), which we are dependent upon for distributions and payments.
● We are party to two tax receivable agreements (the “Tax Receivable Agreements”) that require payments for certain tax
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benefits, and such payment amounts could be significant.
In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the
actual benefits.
If SES Holdings were to become a publicly-traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, we could experience tax inefficiencies.
Legacy Owner Holdco and existing and former owners of outstanding membership interests in SES Holdings prior to
the December 2016 private placement of 16,100,000 shares of our Class A-1 common stock at $20.00 per share (the
“Select 144A Offering”) and the related reorganization (“Legacy Owners”) may have interests that conflict with the
interests of holders of the Class A common stock.
● Our ability to use Rockwater’s U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) may be limited.
General Risks
● We may not be able to finance future growth of our operations or future acquisitions.
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The growth of our business through acquisitions may expose us to various risks.
● Our success depends on key members of our management.
● We may be required to take write-downs of the carrying values of our long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible
assets.
● We may be required to take a write-down of the carrying value of goodwill.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Select Energy Services, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “Select,” the “Company,” “we,”
“us,” or “our”) is a leading provider of comprehensive water-management and chemical solutions to the oil and gas industry in
the United States (“U.S.”). We also develop, manufacture and deliver a full suite of chemical products for use in oil and gas well
completion and production operations. As a leader in the water solutions industry, we place the utmost importance on safe,
environmentally responsible management of oilfield water throughout the lifecycle of a well. Additionally, we believe that
responsibly managing water resources through our operations to help conserve and protect the environment in the communities in
which we operate is paramount to our continued success.
Within the major shale plays in the U.S., we operate through three primary segments: Water Services, Water
Infrastructure and Oilfield Chemicals.
Our Water Services segment, which contributed approximately 53% of our 2020 revenue and 60% of our 2019 revenue,
provides the complex services needed to support new oil and gas well completions as well as ongoing production over the life of
the well, including water transfer, flowback and well testing, water containment, fluids hauling, water monitoring and water
network automation, as well as various on-site rental equipment and accommodation offerings. Through our patented
WaterONE™ automation services and our AquaView® software platform, our Water Services segment also provides extensive
technology solutions that enable 24/7 monitoring and visibility for our customers into all of their water-related operations,
including hydrographic mapping, water volume and quality monitoring, remote pit and tank monitoring, leak detection, asset and
fuel tracking and automated-equipment services. We believe these technologies help our customers lower their operating costs,
increase safety and reduce the environmental footprint of their operations.
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Our Water Infrastructure segment, which contributed approximately 21% of our 2020 revenue and 17% of our 2019
revenue, develops, builds and operates semi-permanent and permanent infrastructure solutions to support both new oil and gas
well development as well as ongoing production activity, including water sourcing, recycling and disposal of water as well as the
associated logistics. As our customers transition from appraisal to full-field development, our fixed infrastructure offerings can
provide economies of scale that help reduce their capital expenditures and lease operating expenses over the life of the field.
Water Infrastructure operations provide for both the delivery of and the takeaway and reuse of water enabled by a network of
water sources, permanent pipeline infrastructure, semi-permanent pipeline infrastructure, fixed and mobile treatment and
recycling facilities, earthen pits and saltwater disposal wells (“SWDs”).
Our Oilfield Chemicals segment, which contributed approximately 26% of our 2020 revenue and 21% of our 2019
revenue, develops, manufactures and provides a full suite of completion and production chemical products, water treatment
solutions and services utilized in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing and related well completion and production
processes. Our completion chemicals are sold primarily to leading pressure-pumping service companies and E&P companies in
the U.S., to support well stimulation and completion. Our production chemicals are used by oil and gas companies to enhance
well performance and reduce production costs throughout the life of a well. Our well chemical services provide customized water
treatment and flow assurance solutions across the completion and production lifecycle. Additionally, through our FluidMatch™
solutions, we provide comprehensive testing and analysis of our customer’s application conditions, product chemistry and key
performance requirements for oil and gas well completion fluid-system design. This process may include water profiling,
application and fluid assessment, treatment assessment, product selection, optimization and customization.
Industry and Company Overview
Over the past two decades, advancements in horizontal drilling and completions technologies have led to a significant
and sustained growth in oil and natural gas production in the U.S. Advances in drilling and completion technology have propelled
U.S. shale-oil production from about 500,000 barrels per day in 2010 to more than seven million barrels per day currently. While
U.S. shale oil production has declined from the peak levels of more than nine million barrels per day seen before the COVID-19
pandemic, U.S. shale oil production has increased as a percentage of total global oil supply in the past year to approximately 8%
of total global oil supply. Additionally, U.S. shale gas production has increased from about 15 billion cubic feet per day in 2010
to about 70 billion cubic feet per day currently, or more than 18% of global supply. This growth has dramatically impacted
fundamental global supply and demand dynamics and has resulted in a generally balanced to over-supplied market in recent
years. While demand for oil and natural gas has increased over the last ten years, demand is cyclical and subject to many factors.
Over the course of 2020, the market was significantly impacted by demand declines driven by the economic disruption resulting
from the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for our services is largely influenced by the level of drilling and completion activity by
E&P companies, which in turn depends largely on the current and anticipated profitability of developing oil and natural gas
reserves. More specifically, demand for most of our services is driven primarily by the number of new well completions and the
timing and type of well completions.
Water is essential to the development and completion of unconventional oil and gas wells, where producers rely on
hydraulic fracturing to stimulate the production of oil and gas from low permeability subsurface rock formations. The modern
hydraulic fracturing process involves the injection of large volumes of water and proppant (typically sand) together with
chemicals, under high pressure, through a cased and cemented wellbore into targeted subsurface formations thousands of feet
below ground to fracture the surrounding rock. Modern hydraulic fracturing involves complex, engineered, environmentally
conscious solutions to produce oil and gas from tight geological formations in a cost effective manner.
The volume of water required to economically produce tight oil and gas reserves in the U.S. has grown dramatically in
recent years and water and water-related services now comprise a meaningful portion of our customers’ drilling and completion
budgets. For example, in 2010, the completion of a typical horizontal well could require roughly 75,000 barrels of water, but
today, current horizontal well completion designs can call for in excess of 500,000 barrels for a single well. Our customers’
current, state-of-the-art multi-well pad development plans can require in excess of five million barrels to complete all of the wells
on the pad. Significant mechanical, logistical, environmental and safety issues related to the transfer, blending and subsequent
containment of such large volumes of water have increased both the total cost of water and related services and the complexity
and importance of the services required. This trend has
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shifted many of our customers’ operational focus away from traditional small, local water service providers, to larger regional
and national players like us, who have the expertise, technology and scale to provide high-quality, reliable, comprehensive and
environmentally sound water-management solutions for the full extent of the water lifecycle.
These logistical challenges are typically met through a combination of temporary and permanent solutions utilizing pipe
and hose infrastructure, combined with the development of a large-scale portfolio of water rights and impoundments, which
significantly reduces the cost and environmental footprint compared to legacy solutions such as tank truck and frac tank
operations. For a single representative multi-well pad that requires five million barrels of water, we can utilize our pipe and hose
infrastructure solutions and eliminate the rough equivalent of 38,500 tank truck loads from the roads. This significantly reduces
the capital expenditure costs for our customers while dramatically improving the safety of our operations, and reduces the
environmental impact of our customers’ operations by limiting spills and diesel exhaust emissions, as well as the community
impact of heavy vehicle traffic.
We also develop and source completion chemicals that are a key part of the U.S. production growth story. Completion
chemicals are blended with water to improve the transport and placement of proppant in targeted zones within the producing
formation. The induced fractures near the wellbore allow hydrocarbons to flow into the wellbore for extraction. Our team of
chemists and research and development personnel work directly with our customers to support the optimization of their fracturing
fluid systems through our FluidMatch™ solutions. Through laboratory and application experience, we apply our expertise in
fracturing chemistry to develop, manufacture and supply a wide range of specialized and customizable products to our customers
for their fracturing fluid systems.
Further, up to fifty percent of the water pumped into the well during the hydraulic fracturing process returns as
“flowback” during the first several weeks following the well completion process, and a large percentage of the remainder, plus
pre-existing water in the formation, is recovered as produced water over the life of the well. The total volumes of flowback and
produced water are even greater than the volumes used for new well completions―by some estimates, the U.S. oil and gas
industry today produces over 20 billion barrels of water per year and this volume is likely to grow. This flowback and produced
water must be captured, contained and then either treated and recycled for reuse in subsequent fracturing jobs or disposed of in an
environmentally sound manner. We provide services that support the operator’s management of flowback and produced water for
either reuse or disposal. Additionally, our customized chemical treatment programs help improve well productivity and reduce
production costs, thereby extending the economic life of our customers’ oil and gas wells.
As produced water volumes have significantly grown in recent years, logistical advancements similar to those seen in
the delivery of source water volumes for new well completions have been developed for managing these produced water
volumes. Increasingly, the transportation of these produced water volumes has shifted away from traditional tank truck operations
and onto gathering pipeline infrastructure for disposal or reuse. This significantly reduces the lease operating costs for our
customers over the life of a well, while also reducing the environmental impact of our customers’ operations by limiting spills
and diesel exhaust emissions and reducing truck traffic in our local communities. We believe the industry will increasingly turn
to specialized water solutions companies like us to help cost-effectively manage produced water in an environmentally
responsible way.
Recent Developments
COVID-19 Pandemic
The U.S. oil and gas industry has been and continues to be significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beginning during the latter stages of the first quarter of 2020 and through the second quarter of 2020, demand for our services
significantly declined, followed by a modest and gradual increase in demand in the second half of 2020, although still
significantly below 2019 levels.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response by governments and businesses worldwide to
contain its spread, including quarantines, facility closures, travel and logistics restrictions, border controls, and stay-at-home and
social distancing orders, have adversely impacted oil and gas prices and ultimately demand for our services.
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While we have seen a recent increase in oil prices, we cannot predict how long these increases will last or when the negative
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to demand for new oil and gas production will end.
The degree to which the pandemic impacts our financial condition and results of operations and the global economy
depends on developments beyond our control, which are highly uncertain and difficult to predict, including the severity and
duration of the pandemic, the extent and effectiveness of containment actions, the availability and application of effective
vaccines against COVID-19, effectiveness of government stimulus programs, potential future resurgence of COVID-19 or related
strains, how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating activity can resume, and the severity and duration of the
global economic downturn that has resulted from the pandemic. See Item 15, Note 4—Impairments and Other Costs for
additional discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on our operations and financial condition.
Permian Basin Recycling Facility Projects
We were recently awarded two new produced water recycling facility contracts serving key customers in the Permian
Basin. Once completed, these state-of-the-art facilities will allow us to leverage our expertise in frac chemistry and fluid
optimization to provide customers with a consistent water quality standard for use in completion activities. These investments
will bring our total centralized produced water recycling capacity in the Permian Basin to approximately 250,000 barrels of water
per day, which is supplemented by our mobile recycling technologies and capabilities that are currently supporting nearly
150,000 barrels per day of active produced water recycling projects.
We have commenced construction on the first facility, a new fixed infrastructure produced water recycling facility
project serving the core of the Midland Basin in both Martin and Midland Counties, Texas. The Company expects to invest
approximately $5 million in this facility, which should be fully operational by the end of the first quarter of 2021. This project is
supported by a long-term contract with a leading, large independent operator in the Midland Basin for the purchase and delivery
of recycled produced water. This facility will support the recycling of up to 50,000 barrels of water per day while providing 2
million barrels of recycled water storage capacity. Additional incremental capacity beyond the contracted volumes creates an
additional opportunity for growth with the contracted customer, as well as the opportunity to further commercialize the facility to
support the needs of other operators in the area.
We are also developing a centralized produced water recycling facility for a major integrated operator in Loving
County, Texas in the Delaware Basin. This facility is designed to recycle up to 30,000 barrels of produced water per day and will
be supported by 1 million barrels of adjacent recycled water storage capacity. We expect this facility to also be fully operational
by the end of the first quarter of 2021. This project supplements the Company's sizable existing footprint of water storage,
distribution and recycling infrastructure in the Delaware Basin.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2020, we had approximately 2,000 employees and no unionized labor. We believe we have good
relations with our employees.
We consider our employees vital to our success and are focused on attracting, developing and retaining the most qualified
employees at all levels of our business. In particular, the quality of our customer service depends significantly on employee
satisfaction and retention. We strive to create a productive and collaborative work environment for our employees.
To attract talent and meet the needs of our employees, we offer a competitive benefits package for regular, full-time
employees including health benefits such as medical, dental and vision, welfare benefits such as life and accident insurance, and a
qualified defined contribution plan to all eligible employees. We also provide our employees with resources for professional
development including training, feedback and performance reviews from supervisors. Our human capital measures and objectives
focus on several areas including, but not limited to, human rights and social responsibility, safety of our employees, employee
development and training, and operational execution.
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● Human Rights: Select is committed to conducting business in a manner that respects all human rights. Select is
committed to promoting and encouraging respect for people and fundamental freedoms for all without distinctions of
any kind such as race, color, sex, language, religion, or political or other opinions. We are committed to partnering with
personnel, business parties and other stakeholders directly linked to our operations that share our commitment to these
same principles. We demonstrate this commitment in our employment practices, including through our Code of
Conduct, our Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Policy, and our Anti-Harassment Policy, as well as through our
policies on safety and security for our employees. Select supports diversity and inclusion by regularly reviewing its
organizational culture with an eye towards instituting policies, procedures and practices to support such efforts.
Additionally, our human resource department tracks and reviews metrics on the sex, age, and ethnicity of our employees
to help ensure that current employees and prospective employees are treated fairly. Select provides several ways for
individuals to raise concerns anonymously, including the 24-hour Employee Hotline, Whistleblower Hotline and Health
Safety Security & Environment (“HSSE”) Hotline, which promotes quick and confidential remediation without fear of
retaliation.
Safety: Select maintains a culture of safety, which we believe preserves the environment and our relationships with the
communities in which we operate. We place a strong emphasis on the safe execution of our operations, including safety
training for our employees and the development of a variety of safety programs designed to make us a market leader in
safety standards and performance. In addition, our safety recognition program incentivizes employees throughout our
organization to focus on conducting operations in accordance with our strict safety standards. Further, we work closely
with federal, state, local and tribal governments and community organizations to help ensure that our operations comply
with legal requirements and community standards. Lastly, when our employees identify a heightened safety risk, we
respond quickly to mitigate the risk through communication, coordination and, if appropriate, a change in policy,
procedures and training. We believe that our customers select their operational partners based in part on the quality of
their safety and compliance records, and therefore, we will continue to make investments to be a market leader in this
area. Select also empowers operational personnel with stop work authority (“SWA”) as a tool for helping ensure safety.
Our SWA policy empowers our employees to stop work whenever they identify unsafe work conditions. When SWA is
employed, operations cease until the risk is addressed and both the employee and management agree that it is safe to
resume work.
●
●
● COVID-19: To protect Select’s workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken steps to support our people
who are affected by the disease, manage work-from-home scheduling as appropriate, limit on-site visitors, and monitor
and consistently communicate with those who are required to be at a work location, while also providing these
employees with additional personal protective equipment. We empaneled a COVID-19 task force and created a COVID-
19 rules of engagement instructional job aid that provides guidance on facemasks, social distancing, personal hygiene,
engineering controls, administrative controls, specific rules for facilities and vehicles and a reporting mechanism.
Employee Development: Select encourages managers and supervisors at all levels to have frequent, open and
constructive dialogue with their direct reports about job performance and performance improvement. In addition,
managers and employees are directed to connect on employee well-being, performance, development and growth
opportunities utilizing our informal feedback program in which twice a year, each of our employees answer four simple
questions relating to their recent performance in relation to our core values and then have a one-on-one meeting with
their direct supervisor to discuss such performance. With these and related practices, we strive for a culture of
continuous improvement. During 2020, we had both mid-year and year-end employee performance improvement
reviews with a completion rate of 93%, despite challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
● Operational Execution: It is critical that all Select employees that serve our customers are qualified and trained for their
roles, understand our policies and work procedures, and receive the work direction necessary to operate safely. Site
managers create daily, weekly and monthly plans for coordination of tasks and personnel. Our employees use standard
operating procedures and best practices to standardize effective and consistent execution. Further, we employ a
comprehensive mentor program, where more experienced employees provide guidance and instruction to less
experienced employees and use videos to train and develop our operational personnel.
Competitive Strengths
We believe our ability to combine and integrate the complexities of our water and chemical-related services through
both temporary, job-specific services and longer-term solutions that include investments in infrastructure gives
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us a competitive advantage and is the foundation of our business. We believe our broad geographic footprint, comprehensive
suite of water services, inventory of water sources, advanced technology and semi-permanent and permanent pipeline
infrastructure position us to be a leading provider of water solutions in all of the oil and gas plays that we serve. We have well-
established field operations in what we believe to be core areas of many of the most active shale plays, basins and regions in the
U.S., including the Permian, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Marcellus, Utica, Rockies and Mid-Continent (“MidCon”)
regions. Our broad footprint enables us to service the majority of current domestic unconventional drilling and completion
activity. We estimate that over 80% of all currently active U.S. onshore horizontal rigs are operating in our primary service areas.
We believe that the vast majority of rigs that will be deployed in the near- to medium-term will be situated in these areas. In
particular, we have established a strong position in the Permian Basin, which is presently our largest operating region, accounting
for approximately 46% of our revenue in 2020 and 47% of our revenue in 2019.
Our Water Services segment focuses on supplying the services and customized, job-specific solutions needed as our
customers’ completion activities move from location to location across the geographic footprint of their acreage over time. These
services include the transportation, logistics and storage solutions needed to support the delivery of water to the wellsite for new
well completions, the flowback and well testing services needed to manage the initial production phases of the well and the
logistics services needed to manage the long-term produced water volumes associated with oil and gas production over the life of
the well. We believe we are a market leader in providing comprehensive water-related services to the industry and we have
dedicated significant resources to developing technology solutions to manage the needs of the increasingly complex needs of our
customers across the water lifecycle.
We have invested significantly in our patented WaterONE™ and AquaView® suite of proprietary hardware and
software applications for measuring, monitoring and automating our water services throughout the well lifecycle. Our suite of
automated solutions include automated water transfer pumps, manifolds, proportioning systems and telemetry meter trailers.
WaterONE™ provides true automation to gather, analyze and act on data in real-time – all without human intervention – giving
operators the ability to remotely set and maintain or improve the operational control of their frac and produced water-related
requirements. When our monitoring systems detect that certain defined thresholds set by our customers are out of desired range,
our equipment sends out an alert and then, through dynamic machine learning, takes action to keep operations running safely and
smoothly. This can include actions such as raising a pump’s RPM to maintain desired flow rates, adjusting valves in a
proportioning system to maintain the desired water quality in real time while blending fresh, brackish, produced or otherwise
impaired water sources or shutting down the system and valves completely in the event of a detected failure. In addition to
reducing the risk of spills and injuries, our automated operations increase efficiency across the water transfer supply chain,
reducing the risk of pressure spikes and increasing associated fuel efficiency, thereby significantly reducing overall fuel
emissions. Our automation capabilities provide a safer, more efficient and cost-effective transfer, treatment and containment of
produced or other lower quality water sources.
Within our AquaView® monitoring software systems, our solar-powered cellular and satellite-based remote-monitoring
telemetry systems give our customers the ability to gain precise and accurate volumetric analyses of water sources and provide
real-time data to our customers that is accessible 24/7 via computer, smart phone or tablet. Our Hydrographic Mapping Vessels
(“HMVs”) use sonar, satellite, and compass technology to provide precise volumetric analyses of water sources. The HMVs are
rapidly deployed, durable enough to handle flowback pits, and can navigate through tight spaces in natural ponds. Additionally,
our AquaView® sensors give timely information about acid levels, water quality, temperature and flow rate to assure there is
sufficient water at the right quality levels required by our customers and provide alarm notifications to prevent problems during
the well completion. We believe that our investments in technology provide a significant competitive advantage for us relative to
our smaller, regionally-focused competitors by delivering more reliable, efficient, and environmentally sound solutions, often at a
lower overall cost.
Our Water Infrastructure segment develops water sources and the associated semi-permanent and permanent pipeline
infrastructure to both meet our customers’ needs for source water for new well completions as well as their requirements for the
gathering of flowback and produced water for either recycling for reuse or disposal. We believe that investments in infrastructure
that serve multiple customers, when underwritten by longer-term contracts, lowers the cost of development for our customers,
while reducing the overall environmental footprint and impact on the local communities. Additionally, the development of water
infrastructure networks to serve multiple customers can improve
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the economics of produced water recycling and therefore reduce the demand for fresh water required in oil and gas operations
while also reducing required disposal volumes.
To meet the water demands of our customers, we have secured access to significant volumes of water in key
unconventional development areas. Water sources are often difficult to locate, acquire and permit, particularly in the quantities
and at the locations needed for multi-well pad development programs. We have secured permits or long-term access rights to
more than two billion barrels of water annually from hundreds of sources, including surface, subsurface, municipal and industrial
sources, including produced water. We have also invested in significant pipeline infrastructure to support the delivery of water
from our water sources, consisting of over 1,300 miles of both above-ground and buried pipeline, including key systems in the
Delaware Basin in New Mexico and Texas and the Bakken shale in the Williston Basin in North Dakota. We continue to focus
our efforts on the development of non-potable sources as well as the infrastructure and solutions required for the treatment and
reuse of produced water. We have developed and maintained extensive relationships with landowners as well as local, state, tribal
and federal authorities to ensure that we can sustainably meet both the economic and operational needs of our customers while
responding to the concerns of the local communities in which we operate. We believe that our extensive relationships and
regulatory expertise will continue to constitute a competitive advantage in identifying and securing additional sources of water in
a responsible and sustainable manner.
Water is vital to the health, economic, and social well-being of the communities where we live and work. In support of
industry-wide efforts to reduce the demand for fresh water for hydraulic fracturing, we have a dedicated team of specialists
focused on developing and deploying innovative water treatment and reuse services for our customers. We strive to fully
understand local water issues, and to develop sustainable solutions with a shared commitment to conservation. Working
collaboratively with our customers, we are actively building recycling facilities in the Delaware and Midland basins and will
continue to focus on recycling opportunities in all of the areas that we operate. Longer term, we believe our focus on
commercialized solutions that connect multiple operators to strategic infrastructure that provides for greater use of treated
produced water for new well completions will reduce the use of fresh water for hydraulic fracturing. By doing so, we also strive
to both reduce the portion of produced water being reinjected into SWD’s over time and to reduce the industry’s need for fresh
water.
We believe that greater use of produced water to reduce fresh water consumption will require collaboration with all
stakeholders as we together develop water infrastructure networks to meet the needs of multiple operators. In addition to
investing in pipelines and related infrastructure, Select offers mechanical and chemical solutions for treatment of produced water,
and other non-potable water sources customized for our E&P customers’ complex fracturing fluid systems. We believe our
expertise in utilizing chemical technologies in the water reclamation and conditioning process, combined with our chemical
expertise in fracturing fluid system design, gives us a competitive advantage. For example, we offer a wide spectrum of bacterial
control, aeration, proportioning and recycling technologies to condition source water or reuse flowback and produced water for
hydraulic fracturing.
Additionally, we invest in gathering infrastructure to collect produced water, and we operate produced water disposal
facilities in major U.S. shale plays with a permitted capacity of approximately 200,000 barrels/day (“bbl/d”) with an additional
850,000 bbl/d of permitted capacity available for development to support the disposal of produced water that cannot be reused for
new well completions. This disposal capacity is critical to support reuse capabilities, as it provides an alternative outlet during
times when limited completions activity in an area may not support additional water reuse demand.
In short, Select intends to play an important role in the advancement of sustainable water solutions that are designed to
align the needs of the oil and gas industry with the sustainability goals of all stakeholders.
On November 1, 2017, the Company completed a merger with Rockwater (the “Rockwater Merger”) and the Oilfield
Chemicals segment continues to operate primarily under our subsidiary, Rockwater Energy Solutions, LLC (“Rockwater LLC”).
Our Oilfield Chemicals segment develops, manufactures and delivers a full suite of completion chemical products utilized in
hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing and related well completion processes. Our Completion Chemicals product lines
support the fluid systems utilized primarily in the completion and development of unconventional resources. These products
include polymers that create viscosity, crosslinkers, friction reducers,
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surfactants, buffers, breakers and other chemical technologies, and are provided to leading pressure pumping service companies
and E&P operators in the U.S. The use of automated communications systems combined with direct-to-wellsite delivery ensures
seamless product availability for our customers, while our chemical expertise enables us to deliver a customized suite of products
to meet customers’ technical and economical product needs.
With our wide range of manufactured products and our expertise in fracturing chemistry, we believe we are well
positioned to support our customers as fracturing chemistry evolves in the coming years in response to changes in technology and
the evolution of frac water fluid systems. In addition to our chemical product offerings, we provide inventory management
services, including procurement, warehousing and delivery services as well as a full suite of laboratory technologies and
FluidMatch™ consultation services, including water analysis, quality control and assurance, additive compatibility analysis,
solids analysis and stimulation recommendations. We have two primary manufacturing facilities in Texas, regional distribution
centers and a logistics fleet supporting geographic regions in the Permian, MidCon, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville and
Rockies. We introduced the first in-basin manufacturing facility of emulsion polymers (friction reducers) in our industry,
strategically located in the Permian Basin, which provides the advantage of reducing our overall transportation costs of delivering
finished goods to our customers within the basin.
Our production chemicals solutions are used by oil and gas companies to enhance well performance and reduce
production costs throughout the life of a well. Our complete line of production enhancement and treating chemicals includes
demulsification products, clay stabilizers, paraffin treating chemicals, pour point depressants, corrosion inhibitors, scale
inhibitors, scale solvents, H2S scavengers, water treating chemicals, and bactericides. Our production enhancement capabilities
include both products and problem well analysis and consultation, and custom formulation is available for any treating
requirement.
Additionally, through our 2019 acquisition of a well chemical services business (“WCS”), we provide advanced water
treatment solutions throughout the water lifecycle, as well as specialized stimulation flow assurance and integrity management,
and post-treatment monitoring services. We deliver customized programs using proven chemical technologies and mobile
equipment to treat virtually any oilfield water for reuse. Following our treatment applications, fluid samples are analyzed again to
ensure the treatment is optimized to reduce overall chemical investment. We provide disinfection treatment with a smaller
environmental footprint, lower power costs and manpower needs than alternative solutions. Our expertise allows us to advise our
customers on the best economic and operational solutions to manage their water quality and chemical solutions needs across
water qualities and fracturing fluid systems.
As mentioned under “⸺Human Capital” above, we maintain a culture focused on safety. With approximately 2,000
employees and operations spanning the U.S., we believe our commitment to foster a culture of safety and corporate responsibility
is essential. Our employee base is made up of dedicated operational and technical professionals, including many with advanced
degrees, professional licenses and project development experience, and diverse backgrounds in geology, geography, land
management, petroleum, chemical and electrical engineering, computer science, environmental science, geographic information
systems and regulatory affairs. In addition, we emphasize preserving the environment and our relationships with the communities
in which we operate. We work closely with federal, state, local and tribal governments and community organizations to help
ensure that our operations comply with legal requirements and community standards. Further, we believe being a good corporate
steward is strategic to our leadership in the oil and gas industry, and will better allow us to develop solutions that both address the
needs of our customers and contribute to sustainable business practices. Our solutions significantly decrease the quantity of
trucks on the road, thereby reducing fuel use and emissions and limiting the traffic footprint in the communities in which we
operate. We believe that our customers will select their service providers based in part on the quality of their safety and
compliance records and their ability to support their long-term Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) goals and
therefore, we will continue to make investments to be a market leader in these areas.
We offer our services through the following three reportable segments: (i) Water Services, (ii) Water Infrastructure and
(iii) Oilfield Chemicals.
Description of Business Segments
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Water Services Segment
Our Water Services segment consists of our services businesses, including water transfer, flowback and well testing,
fluids hauling, water containment and water network automation, primarily serving E&P companies. Additionally, this segment
includes the operations of our accommodations and rentals business.
● Water Transfer. We believe we are the largest provider of water transfer services to the industry. Our Water
Transfer service line installs temporary above-ground pipeline systems that can be equipped with full automation to
deliver water autonomously at high volumes and rates from a water source to water containment facilities (tanks
and pits), or directly to the well. Our assets include more than 1,300 miles of layflat hose and temporary pipe and
more than 1,000 high-rate water-transfer pumps and related equipment.
We install layflat hose as part of a flexible water transfer solution that can be customized to fit a specific project.
Our layflat hose allows for quick, cost-effective deployment and removal of transfer assets with limited
environmental disturbance and can be quickly redeployed for new projects, including projects in different
geographic regions. Layflat hose has a significantly lower risk of spills than most other types of temporary jointed
pipe as a result of the strength and durability of the hose as well as the secure nature of any coupling joints used to
connect multiple sections of hose. Our layflat hose consists primarily of 10-inch and 12-inch diameter segments.
Depending on the requirements of a project, layflat hose may run from a water source directly to a containment
area, such as an above-ground pit or storage tank, or to a wellsite. Water can also be transferred from one
containment area to another as part of managing a larger supply network. Our customers generally prefer layflat
hose to alternative temporary piping options due to the cost-effectiveness, limited environmental impact,
customizability and reduced risk of spills.
o Water Network Automation. Our proprietary and industry leading automation technologies provide
integrated water transfer solutions with automated pump operation, automated valve control, automated
blending and proportioning capabilities, automated manifolds, level monitoring and data collection with
analytics. We are able to provide our customers with increased visibility into their water inventories and
usage, improving their efficiency and decreasing their costs. Our technology also provides us with the
unique ability to detect potential issues and prevent them from occurring, as well as to reduce manpower
and equipment on certain jobs, in turn mitigating safety and environmental risks while reducing overall
fuel emissions.
●
Flowback and Well Testing. Our flowback and well testing services add value for our customers by providing well
productivity data associated with our services, which include fracturing support, fracturing plug drill out, flaring
operations, ventless flowback operations, sand management and production testing. We believe we are one of the
largest providers of flowback and well testing services to the U.S. land industry and we are a seasoned operator
within Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) emissions regulations, offering green completions through our
mobile production facilities and electronic iron certifications through our proprietary Radio Frequency
Identification System (“RFID”) system. Our green completions services utilize specialized, closed-loop tank
ventilation combustion units that prevent the release of methane and vapors into the air during operations. This
process safely contains and combusts flare gas, reducing the amount of emissions at the wellsite, going well beyond
current EPA emissions regulations. These services require highly-trained personnel that specialize in our cutting-
edge technologies and equipment.
To support these specialized services, our in-house, state-of-the-art well testing training facility provides hands-on,
field-simulated stimulation training with our equipment in a controlled environment, reducing the potential for
training errors and related safety incidents. Our specialized well testing equipment is outfitted with pressure
transducers, Coriolis meters, and guided wave radars for efficient and accurate testing. Using our online reporting
system, our customers can view real-time data for well pressures, differentials, and fluid levels. This allows for
immediate changes to be made during production, better optimizing oil and gas production, reducing oil and gas
reservoir damage and enabling operators to
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quantify oil and gas reserves more effectively. Our traditional well testing and hydraulic equipment is also
deployable in an extensive range of operational conditions: high and low temperature, high and low pressure, high
hydrogen sulfide concentration, and high volume.
● Water Containment. We believe we are the largest provider of high-capacity aboveground water storage tanks
(“ASTs”) in the U.S. We offer ASTs ranging in size from 4,500 to 60,000 barrels per tank, with remote monitoring
capability in every major U.S. basin. Our ASTs provide a low-cost containment alternative to fracturing tanks.
ASTs can be set up as part of our Water Treatment and Recycling service offerings, which can be bundled with our
Water Transfer services. A 40,000 barrel AST can be delivered by three trucks and installed in one day, replacing
the equivalent of eighty 500-barrel fracturing tanks and the associated truck traffic and emissions from the
transportation of those fracturing tanks. Our modular tank design allows for twenty different tank configurations to
meet each customer’s individual needs. We can also offer nested tanks for complete secondary containment.
●
Fluids Hauling. Our Fluids Hauling group operates as Tidal Logistics Inc. (“Tidal Logistics”), our subsidiary. This
business transports and stores water and various drilling, completion, and production fluids, utilizing our fleet of
vacuum, winch and hydrovac trucks and related assets, such as fracturing tanks. Currently, we own and lease
approximately 200 tractor trailers and body load trucks with operations across the Permian, MidCon, Eagle Ford,
Haynesville, and Rockies regions.
● Water Monitoring. Our Water Monitoring services support the full scope of our Water Services offerings and
include hydrographic mapping services, remote pit and tank monitoring, generator monitoring, leak detection and
automation-equipment monitoring services, including transfer pumps, manifolds, blending and proportioning
systems and telemetry meter trailers. These services securely track water assets and measure information such as
flow rates, temperature, pressure and water qualities such as acidity and salinity, providing real-time data through
our customized portals and alert systems which are accessible 24/7 via computer, smart phone or tablet.
●
Accommodations and Rentals. Our accommodations and rentals service line, operating under our subsidiary, Peak
Oilfield Services, LLC, provides workforce accommodations and surface rental equipment supporting drilling,
completion and production operations in the U.S. onshore oil and gas industry. The services provided include fully
furnished office and living quarters, freshwater supply and wastewater removal, portable power generation and light
plants, internet, phone, intercom, surveillance and monitoring services and other long-term rentals supporting field
personnel.
Water Services Geographic Areas of Operation
We provide our Water Services offerings in most of the major unconventional shale plays in the continental U.S., as
illustrated by a “✓” in the chart below.
Services Provided
Water Transfer
Flowback and Well Testing
Water Containment
Fluids Hauling
Water Monitoring
Accommodations and Rentals
Permian MidCon
Bakken
Eagle Ford
Marcellus /
Utica
Geographic Region
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
—
✓
—
✓
—
15
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
—
✓
✓
Haynesville
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Rockies
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Table of Contents
Water Services Customers
Our Water Services customers primarily include major integrated and independent U.S. and international oil and gas
producers.
Water Services Competition
Our industry is highly competitive. Our customers typically award contracts after a competitive bidding process.
Operational track record, the skill and competency of our people, pricing, safety, technology and environmental performance are
key factors in the bid evaluation. Equipment availability, location, service breadth and technical specifications can also be
significant considerations.
Certain large domestic and international oilfield services companies offer some water-oriented and environmental
services, though these are generally ancillary to their core businesses. As a result, the water solutions industry is highly
fragmented and our main competitors are typically smaller and often private service providers that focus on water solutions and
logistical services across a narrow geographic area or service offering. We seek to differentiate ourselves from our competitors by
delivering comprehensive, high-quality services and equipment, coupled with well-trained people and a commitment to superior
execution and a safe working environment.
Water Infrastructure Segment
Our Water Infrastructure segment is operated primarily under our subsidiary, Select Energy Services, LLC
(“Select LLC”), and provides water sourcing, recycling, gathering, transferring and disposal of water. Water Infrastructure
operations are provided through or enabled by a network of permanent pipeline infrastructure, semi-permanent pipeline
infrastructure, earthen pits, water sources and SWDs.
Water Infrastructure Service Lines
Our Water Infrastructure segment is divided into the following service lines:
● Water Sourcing. Our Water Sourcing service line provides water, permitting and, in some instances,
necessary logistics required by our E&P customers to support their drilling and completion operations.
Our sourcing efforts include identifying, developing and obtaining the right to use water from a variety of
sources, including surface, subsurface, industrial, municipal and produced water. Through a portfolio of
contracts with and permits from regulatory bodies, corporations and individual landowners, we have
secured rights in excess of two billion barrels of water annually from hundreds of strategically-located
sources.
o Water Treatment & Recycling. Our Water Treatment & Recycling business provides tailored
solutions to fit specific customer water quality and delivery needs. We utilize both standard and
proprietary processes and technology, including mechanical and chemical technologies, that
provide high-quality, large volume throughput and cost-optimized solutions for our E&P
customers. These solutions are largely designed for the recycling and reuse of flowback and
produced water to meet a customer’s well completion water needs. We provide our customers
with high-quality completion water volumes while reducing the need to source fresh water as
well as reducing the need for disposal into SWDs. Our recycling operations consist of temporary,
semi-permanent and permanent infrastructure, including above-ground and in-ground
containment along with treatment processing assets and facilities, capable of recycling large
volumes of produced water for reuse in the hydraulic fracturing process.
●
Pipelines & Logistics. We have developed some of our larger, strategic water sources into comprehensive,
permanent pipeline systems designed to provide water used for drilling, completion and production
activity across a wide geography. In many instances, we also provide the associated logistics needed to
deliver the water directly to our customers’ wellsites. We have
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developed pipeline systems in the Northern Delaware Basin of the Permian Basin in Texas and New
Mexico, the Bakken in North Dakota and the Haynesville in northern Louisiana.
o
o
Permian: We have significant Permian Basin infrastructure, primarily in the Northern Delaware
Basin in New Mexico, but also in the Southern Delaware Basin and the Midland Basin in Texas.
The acquisition in March 2017 of Gregory Rockhouse Ranch, Inc. (the “GRR Acquisition”) and
certain other affiliated entities and assets (collectively, the “GRR Entities”), added a vast array of
brackish and effluent water sources and significant water transport infrastructure, including over
1,000 miles of temporary and permanent pipeline infrastructure and related storage facilities and
pumps, all located in the Northern Delaware Basin portion of the Permian Basin. In 2019, we
expanded our Northern Delaware Basin water infrastructure with the construction of a large
diameter, 40-mile pipeline system that delivers drilling and completion water required by our
customers in New Mexico’s Lea and Eddy Counties, as well as provides the ability to transport
produced water resulting from oil and gas production to recycling facilities or to disposal wells.
This new system expansion is supported by a five-year take-or-pay contract with a major
international integrated oil company for the purchase and delivery of 75 million barrels of water
in total beginning in December 2019.
Bakken: We have three permits that enable us to withdraw up to 192 million barrels of water
annually from the Missouri River and Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota. Water access cannot be
easily replicated on Lake Sakakawea today as there are multiple environmental and regulatory
conditions that must be met before an industrial water intake location can be built. New permits
will also not be granted within 25 miles of an intake location associated with an existing permit.
We have three of the five existing permits off Lake Sakakawea. To develop these water rights,
we constructed, own and operate two large diameter pipeline systems that provide drilling and
completion water to support oil and gas activity in McKenzie County, North Dakota. These two
systems consist of pump stations and approximately 88 miles of underground pipe, of which we
own 38 miles and have contractual rights to access the remaining 50 miles. We are evaluating the
development of a third pipeline system that would serve Williams County and western Mountrail
County. The development of the third permit would allow us to better utilize our full annual
allotment of water across the three pipeline systems.
●
Fluid Disposal. We currently operate eight SWDs with total daily maximum permitted disposal capacity
of approximately 200,000 bpd. Our active SWDs are located in the Eagle Ford (4), Permian (1),
Haynesville (1), MidCon (1) and Rockies (1) regions. Additionally, we have over 850,000 bpd of
additional permitted, undeveloped disposal capacity as well as a significant backlog of pending permits.
We dispose of both flowback water produced from hydraulic fracturing operations as well as naturally-
occurring produced water that is extracted during the oil and natural gas production process. Volumes are
transported to our SWDs for disposal by means of both owned and third-party gathering pipelines, as well
as through owned and third-party fluid-hauling trucks.
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Water Infrastructure Geographic Areas of Operation
We provide our Water Infrastructure offerings in most of the major unconventional shale plays in the continental U.S.,
as illustrated by a “✓” in the chart below.
Services Provided
Water Sourcing
Pipelines Systems & Associated
Logistics
Fluid Disposal
Permian MidCon Bakken Eagle Ford
✓
✓
✓
✓
—
✓
✓
✓
—
✓
—
✓
Marcellus /
Utica
✓
—
—
Haynesville Rockies
✓
✓
✓
✓
—
✓
Geographic Region
Water Infrastructure Customers
Our Water Infrastructure customers primarily include major integrated and independent U.S. and international oil and
gas producers.
Water Infrastructure Competition
Our industry is highly competitive. Our customers typically award contracts after a competitive bidding process. Track
record, the skill and competency of our people, pricing, safety and environmental performance and location and are key factors in
the bid evaluation. Equipment availability, location, and technical specifications can also be significant considerations. While a
significant portion of our work is awarded on a short term basis, we have a successful track record of utilizing our infrastructure
to obtain various long term contracts such as areas-of-mutual-interest, acreage dedications, well bore dedications and take-or-pay
agreements.
Certain large midstream companies offer some water-oriented and infrastructure services, though these are generally
ancillary to their core businesses of gathering and transporting oil and gas volumes. Additionally, certain of our customers have
invested in water infrastructure for their own operations. As a result, the water infrastructure competitive landscape is highly
fragmented and our main competitors, aside from oil and gas companies, are typically private water midstream companies and
smaller water service providers that focus on a more limited geographic area or service offering. We seek to differentiate
ourselves from our competitors through our expansive scale and by delivering high-quality solutions, coupled with extensive
regulatory expertise, well-trained people and a commitment to superior execution and a safe working environment. Additionally,
we believe our ability to couple our water infrastructure with our water services and oilfield chemicals expertise provides an
advantage relative to our competition.
Oilfield Chemicals Segment
Our Oilfield Chemicals segment is operated primarily under our subsidiary, Rockwater LLC. We develop,
manufacture and provide a full suite of completion and production chemical products utilized in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation,
cementing and related well completion processes. We sell completion chemicals primarily to leading pressure-pumping service
companies and E&P operators in the U.S. Our production chemicals are used by oil and gas companies to enhance well
performance and reduce production costs throughout the life of a well. Our well chemical services service line provides
customized water treatment and flow assurance solutions to our customers.
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Oilfield Chemicals Service Lines
Our Oilfield Chemicals segment is divided into the following services lines:
● Completion Chemicals. Through our Completion Chemicals service line we develop, manufacture and provide a
full suite of chemicals utilized in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation and cementing, including polymers that create
viscosity, crosslinkers, friction reducers, surfactants, buffers, breakers and other chemical technologies. Our
product lines support the three major types of well completions used in shale oil and gas development today (cross-
linked gel frac, linear fracs and slickwater fracs). We can provide 24/7/365 time-critical logistical support to our
customers. Our warehousing and service includes inventory management with computerized tracking and monthly
reporting. We use automated communications systems combined with direct-to-wellsite delivery to ensure seamless
product availability for our customers. With our expertise in fracturing chemistry, we can develop customized
products to meet customers’ frac-fluid system requirements. We have one primary manufacturing facility in the
Permian Basin of Texas, four regional distribution centers, approximately 35 heavy chemical transport trucks and
approximately 221 on-site storage and transport trailers.
●
Production Chemicals. Through our Production Chemicals service line, we help our customers analyze well
performance issues and develop engineered chemical solutions to enhance production and well performance and
reduce production costs. We have one primary manufacturing facility in the Permian Basin in Texas. We serve the
Permian, Eagle Ford, MidCon and Rockies markets and we offer analytical services as well as lab and field support
through 15 field locations. Our products include production-enhancing chemicals, ancillary oilfield services,
including corrosion and scale monitoring, chemical inventory management, well failure analysis, and lab services.
In the Permian, our centrally located lab provides complete water and bacteria analysis through the well lifecycle
beginning with fracturing water through the production cycle. Our strategy is to provide basin-specific production
chemicals solutions that lower our customers’ costs and increase their production. Our products help our customers
mitigate scaling, corrosion, hydrogen sulfide and paraffin build-up problems. This service line allows us to help our
customers manage well performance and costs over the lifecycle of a well. We believe our Production Chemicals
service line complements our Water Services and Water Infrastructure segments by expanding our relationships
with key customers and pulling through other services. Our Production Chemicals business works closely with our
Completions Chemicals service line, for example, when advising customers on the fluid systems best suited for a
particular well when it transitions from completion to production.
● Well Chemical Services. Through our Well Chemical Services service line, we provide advanced water treatment
solutions throughout the water lifecycle, as well as specialized stimulation flow assurance and integrity
management, and post-treatment monitoring services in the U.S. land market. Our chemical experts provide pre-
treatment water sampling, analysis and testing to determine a water’s chemistry, then design the most effective
fracturing fluid system. The WCS team delivers customized programs using proven chemical technologies and
mobile equipment to treat virtually any oilfield water for reuse. Following our treatment applications, fluid samples
are analyzed again to ensure the treatment is optimized to reduce overall chemical investment. WCS provides
disinfection treatment based on proven chlorine dioxide (ClO2) technology, with a smaller environmental footprint,
lower power costs and manpower needs than alternative solutions. This service neutralizes microorganisms,
hydrogen sulfide (H2S), iron sulfide, phenols, mercaptans, and polymers in the surface water. Our highly mobile
solids removal units offer a flexible, economic solution compared to permanently installed equipment, which may
not be ideal for every application. These units, which can treat up to 10,000 barrels of water per day, are simple to
set up, have low energy consumption rates, and have a small operating footprint, making them suitable for nearly
any wellsite. WCS provides optimized flow assurance solutions through patented solid inhibitors, which prevent
downhole deposition and tubular damage while increasing production and decreasing non-productive time. These
products inhibit scale, paraffin, asphaltenes, iron sulfide and salt while also
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counteracting bacteria and corrosion. Our WCS team works closely with both our Completions Chemicals and
Production Chemicals service lines as well as our water treatment and recycling teams within our Water Services
and Water Infrastructure segments to advise our customers on the best economic and operational solutions to
manage their water quality and chemical solutions needs.
Oilfield Chemicals Geographic Areas of Operation
We provide Oilfield Chemicals services in most of the major unconventional shale plays in the continental U.S. In the
chart below, a “✓” indicates that we offer the service line in the indicated geographic region.
Services Provided
Completion Chemicals
Production Chemicals
Well Chemical Services
Oilfield Chemicals Customers
Geographic Region
Permian
✓
✓
✓
MidCon
✓
✓
✓
Bakken
✓
—
✓
Eagle Ford Haynesville
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
—
Rockies
✓
—
✓
Our Oilfield Chemicals customers primarily include pressure pumpers, along with major integrated and independent
U.S. and international oil and gas producers.
Oilfield Chemicals Competition
The Oilfield Chemicals business is highly competitive. Our competitors include both large manufacturers and
companies that are pure distributors of commodities and specialty chemicals. We believe that the principal competitive factors in
the markets we serve are technical expertise, manufacturing capacity, workforce competency, efficiency, safety record,
reputation, experience and price. Additionally, projects are often awarded on a bid basis, which tends to create a highly
competitive environment. We seek to differentiate ourselves from our competitors by delivering high-quality services and
solutions, coupled with superior execution and operating efficiency in a safe working environment. Additionally, many of our
competitors focus on serving multiple industries outside of oil and gas, and therefore we believe our dedicated focus on the oil
and gas industry and in-basin manufacturing capabilities provides a competitive advantage. We also believe our expertise in
water management provides a competitive advantage that allows us to assess and optimize our chemical solutions in a unique
manner.
Significant Customers
There were no customers that accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31,
2020.
Sales and Marketing
We direct our sales activities through a network of sales representatives and business development personnel, which
allows us to support our customers at both the corporate and field level. Our sales representatives work closely with local
operations managers to target potential opportunities through strategic focus and regular customer interaction. We track the
drilling and completion activities of our current and potential new customers. Our operations managers meet with our sales team
several times a week, and monitor sales activity via daily reporting. To support our sales strategy, we have developed a
proprietary database that integrates market information such as current rig, fracturing crew and permit activity and the location of
our strategic water sources.
Our marketing activities are performed by an internal marketing group with input from key executives. We intend to
build and maintain a well-recognized brand in the oil and gas industry through multiple media outlets including our website, blog
and social media accounts, radio, print and billboard advertisements, and various industry-specific conferences, publications and
lectures.
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Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters
Our water-related operations in support of oil and gas exploration, development and production activities pursued by our
customers are subject to stringent and comprehensive federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations in the U.S.
governing occupational safety and health, the discharge of materials into the environment and environmental protection.
Numerous governmental entities, including the EPA, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) and
analogous state agencies, have the power to enforce compliance with these laws and regulations and the permits issued under
them, often requiring difficult and costly actions. These laws and regulations may, among other things (i) require the acquisition
of permits to take fresh water from surface water and groundwater, construct pipelines or containment facilities, drill wells and
other regulated activities; (ii) restrict the types, quantities and concentration of various substances that can be released into the
environment or injected into non-producing belowground formations; (iii) limit or prohibit our operations on certain lands lying
within wilderness, wetlands and other protected areas; (iv) require remedial measures to mitigate pollution from former and
ongoing operations; (v) impose specific safety and health criteria addressing worker protection; and (vi) impose substantial
liabilities for pollution resulting from our operations. Any failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the
assessment of sanctions, including administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory, remedial or
corrective action obligations or the incurrence of capital expenditures; the occurrence of restrictions, delays or cancellations in
the permitting, performance or expansion of projects; and the issuance of orders enjoining performance of some or all of our
operations in a particular area.
Our business activities present risks of incurring significant environmental costs and liabilities, including costs and
liabilities resulting from our handling of oilfield and other wastes, because of air emissions and wastewater discharges related to
our operations, and due to historical oilfield industry operations and waste disposal practices. Our businesses include the
operation of oilfield waste disposal injection wells that pose risks of environmental liability, including leakage from the wells to
surface or subsurface soils, surface water or groundwater. In addition, private parties, including the owners of properties upon
which we perform services and facilities where our wastes are taken for reclamation or disposal, also may have the right to
pursue legal actions to enforce compliance as well as to seek damages for non-compliance with environmental laws and
regulations or for personal injury or property or natural resource damages. Some environmental laws and regulations may impose
strict liability, which means that in some situations we could be exposed to liability as a result of our conduct that was lawful at
the time it occurred or the conduct of, or conditions caused by, prior operators or other third parties. Remedial costs and other
damages arising as a result of environmental laws and costs associated with changes in environmental laws and regulations could
be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
The trend in U.S. environmental regulation, which regulation is expected to be bolstered by the recent change in
presidential administration, is typically to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment,
and thus any new laws and regulations, amendment of existing laws and regulations, reinterpretation of legal requirements or
increased governmental enforcement that result in more stringent and costly construction, completion or water-management
activities, or waste handling, storage transport, disposal, or remediation requirements could have a material adverse effect on our
financial position and results of operations. We may be unable to pass on such increased compliance costs to our customers.
Moreover, accidental releases or spills may occur in the course of our operations, and we cannot assure you that we will not incur
significant costs and liabilities as a result of such releases or spills, including any third-party claims for damage to property,
natural resources or persons. Historically, our environmental compliance costs in the U.S. have not had a material adverse effect
on our results of operations; however, there can be no assurance that such costs will not be material in the future or that such
future compliance will not have a material adverse effect on our business and operational results. Our customers may also incur
increased costs or restrictions, delays or cancellations in permitting or operating activities as a result of more stringent
environmental laws and regulations, which may result in a curtailment of exploration, development or production activities that
would reduce the demand for our services.
The following is a summary of the more significant existing environmental and occupational safety and health laws in
the U.S., as amended from time to time, to which our operations are subject and for which compliance may have a material
adverse impact on our capital expenditures, results of operations or financial position.
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Hazardous substances and wastes. The federal 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. Pursuant to rules issued by the EPA, the individual states administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA, sometimes in
conjunction with their own, more stringent requirements. Drilling fluids, produced waters, and most of the other wastes
associated with the exploration, development, and production of oil or gas, if properly handled, are currently exempt from
regulation as hazardous waste under RCRA, and instead are regulated under RCRA’s less stringent non-hazardous waste
provisions, state laws or other federal laws. However, it is possible that certain oil and gas drilling and production wastes now
classified as non-hazardous could be classified as hazardous wastes in the future. Any loss of the RCRA exclusion for drilling
fluids, produced waters and related wastes could result in an increase in our and our oil and gas producing customers’ costs to
manage and dispose of generated wastes, which could have a material adverse effect on our and our customers’ results of
operations and financial position. In the course of our operations, we generate some amounts of ordinary industrial wastes, such
as paint wastes, waste solvents and waste oils that may be regulated as hazardous wastes.
Wastes containing naturally occurring radioactive materials (“NORM”) may also be generated in connection with our
operations. Certain processes used to produce oil and gas may enhance the radioactivity of NORM, which may be present in
oilfield wastes. NORM is subject primarily to individual state radiation control regulations. In addition, NORM handling and
management activities are governed by regulations promulgated by the OSHA. These state and OSHA regulations impose certain
requirements concerning worker protection, the treatment, storage and disposal of NORM waste, the management of waste piles,
containers and tanks containing NORM, as well as restrictions on the uses of land with NORM contamination.
The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as the
Superfund law, and comparable state laws impose liability, without regard to fault or legality of conduct, on classes of persons
considered to be responsible for the release of a “hazardous substance” into the environment. These persons include the current
and past owner or operator of the site where the hazardous substance 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 joint and several,
strict liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to
natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA and, in some instances, third
parties to act in response to threats to the public health or the environment and to seek to recover from the responsible classes of
persons the costs they incur. In addition, neighboring landowners and other third parties may file claims for personal injury and
property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous substances released into the environment. We generate materials in the
course of our operations that may be regulated as hazardous substances.
We currently own, lease, or operate numerous properties that have been used for activities supporting oil and gas
exploration, development and production for a number of years. Although we believe that we have utilized operating and waste
disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hazardous substances, wastes, or petroleum hydrocarbons may
have been released on, under or from the properties owned or leased by us, or on, under or from other locations, including off-site
locations, where we conduct services for our customers or where such substances have been taken for treatment or disposal. In
addition, some of our properties have been operated by third parties or by previous owners or operators whose treatment and
disposal of hazardous substances, wastes, or petroleum hydrocarbons was not under our control. These properties and the
substances disposed or released on, under or from them may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws. Under
such laws, we could be required to undertake response actions or corrective measures, which could include removal of previously
disposed substances and wastes, cleanup of contaminated property or performance of remedial operations to prevent future
contamination, the costs of which could be material.
Water discharges and use. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), and
analogous state laws, impose restrictions and strict controls with respect to the discharge of pollutants, including spills and leaks
of oil and hazardous substances, into state waters and waters of the U.S. The discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is
prohibited, except in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an analogous state agency. Spill prevention,
control and countermeasure plan requirements imposed under the CWA require appropriate containment berms and similar
structures to help prevent the contamination of navigable waters in the event
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of a petroleum hydrocarbon tank spill, rupture or leak. In addition, the CWA and analogous state laws require individual permits
or coverage under general permits for discharges of stormwater runoff from certain types of facilities.
The CWA also prohibits the discharge of dredge and fill material in regulated waters, including wetlands, unless
authorized by permit. In 2015, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) under the Obama Administration
published a final rule that would significantly expand the scope of the CWA’s jurisdiction over waters of the U.S. However, the
EPA and the Corps under the Trump Administration issued a final rule, made effective in December 2019, that repealed the 2015
rule and they also published a final rule in April 2020 re-defining the term “waters of the United States” as applied under the
Clean Water Act and narrowing the scope of waters subject to federal regulation. The April 2020 final rule is subject to various
pending legal challenges; moreover, there is an expectation that the Biden Administration will review and may reconsider this
April 2020 final rule. If the EPA and the Corps under the Biden Administration revises the April 2020 final rule in a manner
similar to or more stringent than the original 2015 final rule, or if any challenge to the April 2020 final rule is successful, the
scope of the CWA’s jurisdiction in areas where we or our customers conduct operations could again be expanded. Any such
developments could delay, restrict or halt permitting or development of projects, result in longer permitting timelines, or
increased compliance expenditures or mitigation costs for our and our oil and natural gas customers’ operations. These results
may consequently reduce the rate of production of natural gas or crude oil from operators with whom we have a business
relationship and, in turn, have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows. Federal and state
regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with discharge permits or other
requirements of the CWA and analogous state laws and regulations.
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”) amends the CWA and sets minimum standards for prevention, containment and
cleanup of oil spills in waters of the U.S. The OPA applies to vessels, offshore facilities, and onshore facilities, including E&P
facilities that may affect waters of the U.S. Under OPA, responsible parties including owners and operators of onshore facilities
may be held strictly liable for oil cleanup costs and natural resource damages as well as a variety of public and private damages
that may result from oil spills. The OPA also currently limits the liability of a responsible party for economic damages, excluding
all oil spill response costs, to $137.7 million; although this limit does not apply if the spill was caused by gross negligence or
willful misconduct, resulted from violation of a federal safety, construction or operating regulation, or if the party failed to report
a spill or cooperate fully in the cleanup. The OPA also requires owners or operators of certain onshore facilities to prepare
Facility Response Plans for responding to a worst-case discharge of oil into waters of the U.S.
Saltwater disposal wells and induced seismicity. Saltwater disposal via underground injection is regulated pursuant to
the Underground Injection Control (“UIC”) program established under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (the “SDWA”) and
analogous state and local laws and regulations. The UIC program includes requirements for permitting, testing, monitoring,
recordkeeping and reporting of injection well activities, as well as a prohibition against the migration of fluid containing any
contaminant into underground sources of drinking water. State regulations require a permit from the applicable regulatory
agencies to operate underground injection wells. Although we monitor the injection process of our wells, any leakage from the
subsurface portions of the injection wells could cause degradation of fresh groundwater resources, potentially resulting in
suspension of our UIC permit, issuance of fines and penalties from governmental agencies, incurrence of expenditures for
remediation of the affected resource and imposition of liability by third-parties claiming damages for alternative water supplies,
property and personal injuries. A change in UIC disposal well regulations or the inability to obtain permits for new disposal wells
in the future may affect our ability to dispose of produced waters and other substances, which could affect our business.
Furthermore, in response to seismic events in the past several years near underground disposal wells used for the
disposal by injection of produced water resulting from oil and gas activities, federal and some state agencies are investigating
whether such wells have caused increased seismic activity, and some states have restricted, suspended or shut down the use of
such disposal wells. Developing research suggests that the link between seismic activity and wastewater disposal may vary by
region and that only a very small fraction of the tens of thousands of injection wells have been suspected to be, or have been, the
likely cause of induced seismicity. In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey identified six states with the most significant hazards
from induced seismicity, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Arkansas.
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In response to these concerns, regulators in some states have imposed, or are considering imposing, additional
requirements in the permitting of produced water disposal wells or otherwise to assess any relationship between seismicity and
the use of such wells. For example, Oklahoma has issued rules for wastewater disposal wells that imposed certain permitting and
operating restrictions and reporting requirements on disposal wells in proximity to faults and also, from time to time, has
developed and implemented plans directing certain wells where seismic incidents have occurred to restrict or suspend disposal
well operations. In particular, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission released well completions seismicity guidelines in late
2016 for operators in the SCOOP and STACK that call for hydraulic fracturing operations to be suspended following earthquakes
of certain magnitudes in the vicinity. The Texas Railroad Commission adopted similar rules in Texas. In addition, the Oklahoma
Corporation Commission’s Oil and Gas Conservation Division has, from time to time, issued orders limiting future increases in
the volume of oil and gas wastewater injected below ground into the Arbuckle formation in an effort to reduce the number of
earthquakes in the state. An additional consequence of this seismic activity is lawsuits alleging that disposal well operations have
caused damage to neighboring properties or otherwise violated state and federal rules regulating waste disposal. The adoption and
implementation of any new laws, regulations or directives that restrict our ability to dispose of wastewater gathered from our
customers by limiting volumes, disposal rates, disposal well locations or otherwise, or requiring us to shut down disposal wells,
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Hydraulic fracturing activities. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of water, sand or other proppants and
chemical additives under pressure into targeted geological formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate production.
Hydraulic fracturing is an important and common practice that is typically regulated by state oil and natural gas commissions or
similar agencies. However, the practice continues to be controversial in certain parts of the country, resulting in increased
scrutiny and regulation of the hydraulic fracturing process, including by federal agencies that have asserted regulatory authority
or pursued investigations over certain aspects of the hydraulic fracturing process. For example, the EPA has asserted regulatory
authority pursuant to the SDWA UIC program over hydraulic fracturing activities involving the use of diesel and issued guidance
covering such activities, as well as published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Toxic Substances Control
Act (“TSCA”) reporting of the chemical substances and mixtures used in hydraulic fracturing.
Additionally, the EPA published an effluent limit guideline final rule prohibiting the discharge of wastewater from
onshore unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants. Moreover, in 2016, the
federal Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) under the Obama Administration published a final rule imposing more stringent
standards on hydraulic fracturing activities on federal lands, including requirements for chemical disclosure, well bore integrity,
and handling of flowback water. However, in late 2018, the BLM under the Trump Administration published a final rule
rescinding the 2016 final rule. Litigation challenging the BLM's 2016 final rule as well as its 2018 final rule rescinding the 2016
rule has been pursued by various states and industry and environmental groups. While a California federal court vacated the 2018
final rule in July 2020, a Wyoming federal court subsequently vacated the 2016 final rule in October 2020 and, accordingly, the
2016 final rule is no longer in effect but the Wyoming decision is expected to be appealed. Moreover, it is expected that the BLM
under the Biden Administration will seek to pursue regulatory initiatives that regulate hydraulic fracturing activities on federal
lands. Also, in late 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water
resources, concluding that “water cycle” activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources
under some circumstances.
While the U.S. Congress has from time to time considered but refused to adopt federal regulation of hydraulic
fracturing, with President Biden taking office and the shift in party control of the U.S. Senate in January 2021, there is a
possibility that a Biden Administration will pursue such legislation. In addition to proposed revisions of existing laws and
regulations, President Biden has issued, and may continue to issue, executive orders that reflect a regulatory agenda targeting the
industry’s hydraulic fracturing activities. Moreover, some state and local governments have adopted, and other governmental
entities are considering adopting, regulations that could impose more stringent permitting, disclosure and well-construction
requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations, including states where we or our customers operate. For example, Texas,
Oklahoma, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Dakota, among others, have adopted regulations that impose stringent
permitting, disclosure, disposal and well-construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. States could also elect to
place certain prohibitions on hydraulic fracturing. In addition to state laws, local land use restrictions, such as city ordinances,
may restrict drilling in general and/or hydraulic fracturing in
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particular, as certain local governments in California have done. Other states, such as Texas, Oklahoma and Ohio have taken
steps to limit the authority of local governments to regulate oil and gas development.
In the event that new federal, state or local restrictions or bans on the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas
where we or our customers conduct business, we or our customers may incur additional costs or permitting requirements to
comply with such requirements that may be significant in nature and our customers could experience added restrictions, delays or
cancellations in their exploration, development, or production activities, which would in turn reduce the demand for our services
and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, consolidated results of operations, and consolidated financial condition.
Air Emissions. The U.S. Clean Air Act (“CAA”) and comparable state laws restrict the emission of air pollutants from
many sources through air emissions standards, construction and operating permit programs and the imposition of other
compliance standards. These laws and regulations may require us to obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of
certain projects or facilities expected to produce or significantly increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with stringent
air permit requirements or utilize specific equipment or technologies to control emissions of certain pollutants. The need to obtain
permits has the potential to delay our projects as well as our customers’ development of oil and gas projects. Over the next
several years, we or our customers may incur certain capital expenditures for air pollution control equipment or other air
emissions-related issues. For example, in 2015, the EPA issued a final rule under the CAA, making the National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (“NAAQS”) for ground-level ozone more stringent. Since that time, the EPA has issued
attainment/nonattainment designations and, more recently in August 2020, the EPA under the Trump Administration published
notice of a proposed action that, upon conducting a periodic review of the ozone standard in accord with CAA requirements,
elected to retain the 2015 ozone NAAQS without revision on a going-forward basis. State implementation of the revised NAAQS
could also result in the imposition of more stringent requirements. Compliance with the NAAQS requirements or other air
pollution control and permitting requirements has the potential to delay the development of oil and gas projects and increase our
or our customers’ costs of development and production, which costs could reduce demand for our services and have a material
adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
Climate Change. The threat of climate change continues to attract considerable attention from the public and
policymakers in the United States and around the world. As a result, numerous proposals have been made, and more are likely
forthcoming at the international, national, regional and state levels of government to monitor and limit existing emissions of
GHGs as well as to restrict or eliminate such future emissions. As a result, our operations as well as the operations of our oil and
natural gas exploration and production customers are subject to a series of executive, regulatory, political, litigation, and financial
risks associated with the production and processing of fossil fuels and emission of GHGs.
In the United States, no comprehensive climate change legislation has been implemented at the federal level, but
President Biden has announced plans to take action with regards to climate change, has already signed several executive orders to
this effect in January 2021 and, with control of Congress shifting in January 2021, is expected to pursue legislative as well as
other executive and regulatory initiatives in the future to limit GHG emissions. Moreover, because the U.S. Supreme Court has
held that GHG emissions constitute a pollutant under the CAA, the EPA has adopted rules that, among other things, establish
construction and operating permit reviews for GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources, require the monitoring and
annual reporting of GHG emissions from certain petroleum and natural gas system sources, implement New Source Performance
Standards directing the reduction of methane from certain new, modified, or reconstructed facilities in the oil and natural gas
sector, and together with the DOT, implement GHG emissions limits on vehicles manufactured for operation in the United States.
In recent years, there has been considerable uncertainty surrounding regulation of the emissions of methane, which may be
released during hydraulic fracturing. The EPA under the Obama Administration published final regulations under the CAA
establishing performance standards in 2016, but since that time the EPA under the Trump Administration had undertaken several
measures to delay implementation of the methane standards, including issuing final policy amendments to the final 2016 rule in
September 2020 that, among other things, rescinded the methane standards previously applicable to sources in the production and
processing segments. Various industry and environmental groups are separately challenging both the 2016 standards and the
September 2020 final policy amendments. Separate from those regulatory efforts, President Biden issued an executive order on
January 20, 2021 that, among other things, called for issuance of proposed rules by no later than September 2021 that would
restore Obama-era rules for methane standards applicable to new, modified,
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and reconstructed sources by suspending, revising or rescinding the EPA’s September 2020 final rule and that would establish
new methane and volatile organic compound standards applicable to existing oil and gas operations, including the production,
transmission, processing and storage segments.
Separately, various states and groups of states have adopted or are considering adopting legislation, regulations or other
regulatory initiatives that are focused on such areas as GHG cap and trade programs, carbon taxes, reporting and tracking
programs, and restriction of emissions. At the international level, there is a non-binding agreement, the United Nations-sponsored
“Paris Agreement,” for nations to limit their GHG emissions through individually-determined reduction goals every five years
after 2020. While the United States withdrew from the Paris Agreement under the Trump Administration, effective November 4,
2020, President Biden issued an executive order on January 20, 2021 recommitting the United States to the Paris Agreement.
With the United States recommitting to the Paris Agreement, executive orders may be issued or federal legislation or regulatory
initiatives may be adopted to achieve the agreement’s goals, which could require us or our customers to incur increased,
potentially significant, costs to comply with such requirements.
Governmental, scientific, and public concern over the threat of climate change arising from GHG emissions has resulted
in increasing political risks in the United States. Beyond the Biden Administration’s recommitting the United States to the Paris
Agreement and proposing to re-instate the Obama methane standards, on January 20, 2021, the Acting Secretary of the U.S.
Department of the Interior issued an order, effective immediately, that suspends new oil and gas leases and drilling permits on
non-Indian federal lands and waters for a period of 60 days. Building on this suspension, President Biden issued an executive
order on January 27, 2021 that suspends new leasing activities for oil and gas exploration and production on non-Indian federal
lands and offshore waters pending completion of a comprehensive review and reconsideration of federal oil and gas permitting
and leasing practices that take into consideration potential climate and other impacts associated with oil and gas activities on such
lands and waters. The January 20, 2021 and January 27, 2021 orders do not apply to existing leases and the January 27, 2021
order further directs applicable agencies to take measures to ensure, to the extent consistent with applicable law, that federal
funding is not directly subsidizing fossil fuels, with a further objective of eliminating fossil fuel subsidies from federal budget
requests beginning in federal Fiscal Year 2022. In response, one industry group has already challenged President Biden’s January
27, 2021 order for “indefinitely suspending the federal oil and gas leasing program” in a federal court in Wyoming.
Litigation risks are also increasing, as a number of states, municipalities and other plaintiffs have sought to bring suit
against the largest oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in state or federal court, alleging, among other
things, that such companies created public nuisances by producing fuels that contributed to global warming effects, such as rising
sea levels, and therefore are responsible for roadway and infrastructure damages as a result, or alleging that the companies have
been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but defrauded their investors by failing to adequately disclose
those impacts. There are also increasing financial risks for fossil fuel producers as well as other companies handling fossil fuels,
including owners of terminals, pipelines and refineries, as stockholders and bondholders currently invested in fossil fuel energy
companies concerned about the potential effects of climate change may elect in the future to shift some or all of their investments
into non-fossil fuel energy related sectors. Institutional investors who provide financing to fossil fuel energy companies also have
become more attentive to sustainability lending practices and some of them may elect not to provide funding for fossil fuel
energy companies.
Finally, increasing concentrations of GHG in the Earth's atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant
physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, floods, rising sea levels and other climatic events.
If any such climate changes were to occur, they could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of
operations and the financial condition and operations of our customers.
Endangered Species. The federal Endangered Species Act (the “ESA”) restricts activities that may affect endangered or
threatened species or their habitats. Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act
(the “MBTA”). To the degree that species listed under the ESA or similar state laws, or are protected under the MBTA, live in
the areas where we or our oil and gas producing customers operate, our and our customers’ abilities to conduct or expand
operations and construct facilities could be limited or be forced to incur material additional costs. Moreover, our customers’
drilling activities may be delayed, restricted, or cancelled in protected habitat areas or during certain seasons, such as breeding
and nesting seasons. Some of our operations and the operations of our customers are located in areas that are designated as
habitats for protected species. In addition, the U.S.
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Fish & Wildlife Service (the “FWS”) may make determinations on the listing of unlisted species as endangered or threatened
under the ESA. The designation of previously unidentified endangered or threatened species could indirectly cause us to incur
additional costs, cause our or our oil and gas producing customers’ operations to become subject to operating restrictions or bans
and limit future development activity in affected areas. The FWS and similar state agencies may designate critical or suitable
habitat areas that they believe are necessary for the survival of threatened or endangered species. Such a designation could
materially restrict use of or access to federal, state, and private lands.
Chemical Safety. We are subject to a wide array of laws and regulations governing chemicals, including the regulation
of chemical substances and inventories, such as TSCA in the U.S. These laws and regulations change frequently and have the
potential to limit or ban altogether the types of chemicals we may use in our products, as well as result in increased costs related
to testing, storing, and transporting our products prior to providing them to our customers. For example, in 2016, President
Obama signed into law the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (the “Lautenberg Act”), which
substantially revised TSCA. Amongst other items, the Lautenberg Act eliminated the cost-benefit approach to analyzing chemical
safety concerns with a health-based safety standard and requires all chemicals in commerce, including those “grandfathered”
under TSCA, to undergo a safety review. The Lautenberg Act also requires safety findings before a new chemical can enter the
market. Although it is not possible at this time to predict how EPA will implement and interpret the new provisions of the
Lautenberg Act, or how legislation or new regulations that may be adopted pursuant to these regulatory and legislative efforts
would impact our business, any new restrictions on the development of new products, increases in regulation, or disclosure of
confidential, competitive information could have an adverse effect on our operations and our cost of doing business.
Furthermore, governmental, regulatory and societal demands for increasing levels of product safety and environmental
protection could result in increased pressure for more stringent regulatory control with respect to the chemical industry. These
concerns could influence public perceptions regarding our products and operations, the viability of certain products, our
reputation, the cost to comply with regulations, and the ability to attract and retain employees. Moreover, changes in
environmental, health and safety regulations could inhibit or interrupt our operations, or require us to modify our facilities or
operations. Accordingly, environmental or regulatory matters may cause us to incur significant unanticipated losses, costs or
liabilities, which could reduce our profitability.
Occupational Safety and Health and other legal requirements. We are subject to the requirements of the federal
Occupational Safety and Health Act and comparable state statutes whose purpose is to protect the health and safety of workers. In
addition, the OSHA’s hazard communication standard, the EPA’s Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and
comparable state regulations and any implementing regulations require that we organize and/or disclose information about
hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local
governmental authorities and citizens. We have an internal program of inspection designed to monitor and enforce compliance
with worker safety requirements.
In addition, as part of the services we provide, we operate as a motor carrier and therefore are subject to regulation by
the U.S. Department of Transportation (“U.S. DOT”) and analogous state agencies. These regulatory authorities exercise broad
powers, governing activities such as the authorization to engage in motor carrier operations, regulatory safety, and hazardous
materials labeling, placarding and marking. There are additional regulations specifically relating to the trucking industry,
including testing and specification of equipment and product handling requirements. The trucking industry is subject to possible
regulatory and legislative changes that may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or by
changing the demand for common or contract carrier services or the cost of providing truckload services. From time to time,
various legislative proposals are introduced, including proposals to increase federal, state or local taxes on motor fuels, among
other things, which may increase our costs or adversely impact the recruitment of drivers. We cannot predict whether, or in what
form, any increase in such taxes applicable to us will be enacted.
Seasonality
Our results of operations have historically been adversely affected by seasonal declines in the activity levels of our
customers, typically in the fourth quarter, related to holidays, inclement winter weather and in some years the exhaustion of our
customers’ annual drilling and completions capital expenditure budgets.
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Intellectual Property
Protection of our products and processes is important to our businesses. We own numerous patents and, where
appropriate, we file patent applications for new products and technologies. For example, we use our AquaView® technology to
quantify volumes and flow rates to verify current and potential water availability and volumes when analyzing a new water
source. We also currently own multiple U.S. patents relating to completions technology including borate cross-linkers, slurry
monitoring systems and others. We also have a robust program to seek patents on new developments. We have a meaningful
backlog of pending patents, including a proprietary water analytics and automation tool, as well as creating fracturing fluids with
produced water, evaporation methodologies, cross-linker/breaker mechanisms and liquid distribution metering systems. While a
presumption of validity exists with respect to issued U.S. patents, we cannot assure that any of our patents will not be challenged,
invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable. Furthermore, we cannot assure the issuance of any pending patent
application, or that if patents do issue, that these patents will provide meaningful protection against competitors or against
competitive technologies. Additionally, our competitors or other third parties may obtain patents that restrict or preclude our
ability to lawfully produce or sell our products in a competitive manner.
We also rely upon continuing technological innovation and trade secrets to develop and maintain our competitive
position. There can be no assurance that confidentiality and other agreements into which we enter and have entered will not be
breached, that these agreements will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets or proprietary know-how, or that
adequate remedies will be available in the event of an unauthorized use or disclosure of such trade secrets and know-how. In
addition, there can be no assurance that others will not obtain knowledge of these trade secrets through independent development
or other access by legal means.
We also own a number of trademarks, which we use in connection with our businesses. In addition to protections
through federal registration, we also rely on state common law protections to protect our brand. There can be no assurance that
the trademark registrations will provide meaningful protection against the use of similar trademarks by competitors, or that the
value of our trademarks will not be diluted.
Because of the breadth and nature of our intellectual property rights and our business, we do not believe that any single
intellectual property right (other than certain trademarks for which we intend to maintain the applicable registrations) is material
to our business. Moreover, we do not believe that the termination of intellectual property rights expected to occur over the next
several years, either individually or in the aggregate, will materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results
of operations.
Risk Management and Insurance
Our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the oil and gas industry, including accidents, blowouts, explosions,
craterings, fires, oil spills and hazardous materials spills. These conditions can cause:
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personal injury or loss of life;
damage to, or destruction of, property, the environment and wildlife; and
the suspension of our or our customers’ operations.
In addition, claims for loss of oil and gas production and damage to formations can occur in the well services industry.
If a serious accident were to occur at a location where our equipment and services are being used, it could result in us being
named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting large claims.
Because our business involves the transportation of heavy equipment and materials, we may also experience traffic
accidents, which may result in spills, property damage and personal injury.
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Despite our efforts to maintain high safety standards, from time to time we have suffered accidents, and there is a risk
that we will experience accidents in the future. In addition to the property and personal losses from these accidents, the frequency
and severity of these incidents affect our operating costs and insurability, and our relationship with customers, employees and
regulatory agencies. In particular, in recent years many of our large customers have placed an increased emphasis on the safety
records of their service providers. Any significant increase in the frequency or severity of these incidents, or the general level of
compensatory payments, could adversely affect the cost of, or our ability to obtain, workers’ compensation and other forms of
insurance, and could have other material adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations.
We maintain insurance coverage of types and amounts that we believe to be customary in the industry including
workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, sudden & accidental pollution, umbrella, comprehensive commercial general
liability, business automobile and property and equipment physical damage insurance. Our insurance coverage may be inadequate
to cover our liabilities. In addition, we may not be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider
reasonable and commercially justifiable or on terms as favorable as our current arrangements.
We enter into master service agreements (“MSAs”) with most of our customers. Our MSAs delineate our and our
customer’s respective indemnification obligations with respect to the services we provide. Generally, under our MSAs, including
those relating to our Water Services, Water Infrastructure, Oilfield Chemical product sales, accommodations and rentals and
completion and construction services, we assume responsibility for pollution or contamination originating above the surface from
our equipment or handling of the equipment of others. However, our customers generally assume responsibility for all other
pollution or contamination that may occur during operations, including that which may generally result from seepage or any other
uncontrolled flow of drilling fluids. The assumed responsibilities include the control, removal and cleanup of any pollution or
contamination. In such cases, we may be exposed to additional liability if we are grossly negligent or commit willful acts causing
the pollution or contamination. Generally, our customers also agree to indemnify us against claims arising from the personal
injury or death of the customers’ employees or those of the customers’ other contractors, in the case of our hydraulic fracturing
operations, to the extent that such employees are injured by such operations, unless the loss is a result of our gross negligence or
willful misconduct. Similarly, we generally agree to indemnify our customers for liabilities arising from personal injury to or
death of any of our employees or employees of any of our subcontractors, unless resulting from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of our customer. The same principals apply to mutual indemnification for loss or destruction of customer-owned
property or equipment, except such indemnification is not limited in an instance of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Losses arising from catastrophic events, such as blowouts, are generally the responsibility of the customer. However, despite this
general allocation of risk, we may be unsuccessful in enforcing contractual terms, incur an unforeseen liability that is not
addressed by the scope of the contractual provisions or be required to enter into an MSA with terms that vary from our standard
allocations of risk, as described above. Consequently, we may incur substantial losses that could materially and adversely affect
our financial condition and results of operations.
Available Information
We file or furnish annual, quarterly and current reports and other documents with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The
SEC also maintains an internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC.
We also make available free of charge through our website, www.selectenergyservices.com, electronic copies of certain
documents that we file with the SEC, including our Annual Reports 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(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information on our
website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The following risks could affect our financial performance or could cause actual results to differ materially from
estimates contained in our forward-looking statements. We may encounter risks in addition to those described
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below. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, may also impair
or adversely affect our business, results of operation, financial condition and prospects.
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Risks Related to Our Business Operations
Our business depends on capital spending by the oil and gas industry in the U.S. and reductions in capital spending could
have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition. Capital spending by our
customers decreased during 2020, relative to prior year levels, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on demand for
oil and reduced prices resulting from the current oversupply of oil[, and we expect such decreased levels to continue in 2021.
Demand for our services is directly affected by current and anticipated oil and natural gas prices and related capital
spending by our customers to explore for, develop and produce oil and gas in the U.S. Prices for oil and gas historically have
been extremely volatile and are expected to continue to be volatile, particularly in light of the impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic. In March 2020, Saudi Arabia and Russia failed to reach a decision to cut production of oil and gas along with OPEC.
Subsequently, Saudi Arabia significantly reduced the prices at which it sells oil and announced plans to increase production.
These events, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to a sharp drop in prices for oil in the first quarter of 2020
continuing into the second quarter of 2020. In April 2020, OPEC+ agreed to curtail oil production by approximately 10 million
barrels per day in a coordinated effort to bring supply into better alignment with demand and thereby support the price of oil.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the average WTI spot price was $39.16, versus an average price of $56.99 for the year
ended December 31, 2019. While oil prices have increased significantly since their lows in April 2020, the continued impact of
the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated impacts to global oil demand will result in continued uncertainty around the near-
term price of oil.
Volatility in or sub-economic oil prices or natural gas prices (or the perception that oil prices or natural gas prices will
decrease) affects the spending patterns of our customers and may result in the drilling or completion of fewer new wells or lower
spending on existing wells. This, in turn, could lead to lower demand for our services and may cause lower rates and lower
utilization of our assets. For example, multiple leading international and national oil companies, as well as public and private
independent oil and gas producers, reduced capital expenditures in 2020, and many of our customers have reduced their capital
expenditures budget for 2021. Even in an environment of stronger oil and gas prices, fewer oil and gas well completions in our
market areas as a result of decreased capital spending may have a negative long-term impact on our business. Any of these
conditions or events could adversely affect our operating results, as they did in 2020 and may continue to do so into 2021. If the
demand for our services does not recover to pre-pandemic levels, our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition may
be adversely affected.
Industry conditions are influenced by numerous factors over which we have no control, including:
the severity and duration of world health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, related economic repercussions
and the resulting severe disruption in the oil and gas industry and negative impact on demand for oil and gas, which is
negatively impacting our business;
domestic and foreign economic conditions and supply of and demand for oil and gas;
the level of prices, and expectations regarding future prices, of oil and gas;
the level of global oil and gas exploration and production and storage capacity;
operational challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, including
logistical challenges resulting from limited worksite access, remote work arrangements, performance of contracts and
supply chain disruption;
recommendations of, or restrictions imposed by, government and health authorities, including travel bans, quarantines,
and shelter-in-place orders to address the COVID-19 pandemic;
actions by the members of OPEC+ with respect to oil production levels and announcements of potential changes in such
levels, including the ability of the OPEC+ countries to agree on and comply with supply limitations;
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governmental regulations, including the policies of governments regarding the exploration for and production and
development of their oil and gas reserves;
taxation and royalty charges;
political and economic conditions in oil and gas producing countries;
global weather conditions, pandemics and natural disasters;
● worldwide political, military and economic conditions;
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political or civil unrest in the United States or elsewhere;
the cost of producing and delivering oil and gas;
the discovery rates of new oil and gas reserves;
activities by non-governmental organizations to limit certain sources of funding for the energy sector or restrict the
exploration, development and production of oil and gas;
the ability of oil and gas producers to access capital;
technical advances affecting production efficiencies and overall energy consumption; and
the potential acceleration of the development of alternative fuels.
The widespread outbreak of an illness or any other communicable disease, or any other public health crisis, such as the
COVID-19 pandemic, could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The global or national outbreak of an illness or any other communicable disease, or any other public health crisis, such
as the COVID-19 pandemic, may cause disruptions to our business and operational plans, which may include (i) shortages of
qualified employees in a given area, (ii) unavailability of contractors and subcontractors, (iii) interruption of supplies from third
parties upon which we rely, (iv) recommendations of, or restrictions imposed by, government and health authorities, including
quarantines, to address the COVID-19 pandemic and (v) restrictions that we and our contractors and subcontractors impose,
including facility shutdowns or access restrictions, to ensure the safety of employees and (vi) reductions, delays or cancellations
of planned operations by our customers. Additionally, these disruptions could negatively impact our financial results. For
example, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we temporarily closed our corporate offices and restricted all non-critical
personnel to work remotely for a period of time, reduced headcount and employee salaries both temporarily and permanently,
closed certain yard locations, reduced third-party expenses, streamlined operations, reduced capital expenditures and recorded
impairment expenses.
Further, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns regarding its global spread have negatively impacted the
global economy, reduced global oil demand, disrupted global supply chains and created significant volatility and disruption of
financial and commodities markets, which could lead to our customers curtailing existing production due to lack of downstream
demand or storage capacity as well as reducing or eliminating the number of wells completed in the near to medium term.
Additionally, a significant majority of states as well as local jurisdictions have imposed, and others in the future may impose,
"stay-at-home" orders, quarantines, executive orders and similar government orders and restrictions for their residents to control
the spread of COVID-19. Such orders or restrictions, and the perception that such orders or restrictions could occur, have resulted
in business closures, work stoppages, slowdowns and delays, work-from-home policies, travel restrictions and cancellation of
events, among other effects.
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The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operational and financial performance, including our ability
to execute our business strategies and initiatives, will depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of
COVID-19 and related restrictions on travel and general mobility, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. An
extended period of global supply chain and economic disruption, as well as significantly decreased demand for oil and gas, could
materially affect our business, results of operations, access to sources of liquidity and financial condition, and we have
experienced the negative impacts of such disruption since March 2020.
If volatility in oil prices or natural gas prices continues, the demand for our services could be adversely affected.
The demand for our services is primarily determined by current and anticipated oil and natural gas prices and the related
levels of capital spending and drilling activity in the areas in which we have operations. Volatility or weakness in oil prices or
natural gas prices (or the perception that oil prices or natural gas prices will decrease) affects the spending patterns of our
customers and may result in the drilling or completion of fewer new wells or lower production spending on existing wells. This,
in turn, could lead to lower demand for our services and may cause lower rates and lower utilization of our assets. If oil prices or
natural gas prices decline, or if completions activity is reduced, the demand for our services and our results of operations could be
materially and adversely affected.
Prices for oil and gas historically have been extremely volatile and are expected to continue to be volatile. During 2020,
the West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) price for oil has ranged from less than zero to $63.27 per Bbl. If the prices of oil and
natural gas decline, our operations, financial condition, cash flows and level of expenditures may be materially and adversely
affected.
Recent volatility in oil and gas prices and pressure from investors has led, and may continue to lead, our customers to
implement a more disciplined capital spending strategy. This disciplined approach has led to, and could continue to result in,
reduced demand for our services and cause our customers to demand lower rates for our services, which could materially and
adversely affect our results of operation.
We have developed certain key infrastructure assets in the Bakken area of North Dakota and in the Northern Delaware Basin
region of the Permian Basin in New Mexico, making us vulnerable to risks associated with conducting business in these
regions.
We have secured three governmental permits that enable us to withdraw water from the Missouri River and Lake
Sakakawea in North Dakota and have developed and expect to develop in the future significant water infrastructure related to
these permits.
Because of the key nature of these permits and water infrastructure within the Bakken, the success and profitability of
our business may be disproportionately exposed to factors impacting this region. These factors include, among others: (i) the
prices of, and associated costs to produce, crude oil and gas from wells in the Bakken and other regional supply and demand
factors (including the generally higher cost nature of production in the Bakken compared to other major shale plays and the
pricing differentials that exist in the Bakken because of transportation constraints); (ii) the amount of exploration, development
and production activities of our Bakken customers and their spending on our services; (iii) our ability to keep and maintain our
governmental water permits; (iv) the cost of operations and the prices we can charge our customers in this region; and (v) the
availability of equipment, supplies, and labor. Although we currently have secured key permits for water in this region, if we
were to lose our water rights for any reason, including termination by the government upon the occurrence of a material breach,
including nonpayment and default in performance, unexpected adverse environmental impacts, or our competitors were able to
secure equivalent rights, our business could be materially harmed. In addition, our operations in the Bakken field may be
adversely affected by severe weather events such as floods, blizzards, ice storms and tornadoes. For the years ended
December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, our Bakken operations represented 6.4%, 7.1% and 9.9%, respectively, of our revenues. The
concentration of our water permits and significant infrastructure assets in North Dakota also increases our exposure to changes in
local laws and regulations, including those designed to protect wildlife and unexpected events that may occur in this region such
as seismic events, industrial accidents or labor difficulties. Any of the risks described above could have an adverse effect on our
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
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Additionally, with the acquisition of Gregory Rockhouse Ranch, Inc. in March 2017 and the completion of our New
Mexico pipeline in November 2019, we have bolstered our water and water-related services to our customers in New Mexico. We
expect to further develop those water and water-related services in the state in the future but the future availability of, and/or
access to, water in New Mexico will be affected by the results of a case, Texas v. New Mexico and Colorado, for which
discovery is continuing in January 2021 and is expected to be tried by a special master in 2021. In this lawsuit, Texas is alleging
that New Mexico is unlawfully allowing diversion of Rio Grande surface water, including groundwater hydrologically connected
to the Rio Grande, and thereby depriving Texas of the full amount of Rio Grande water it is due under the Rio Grande Compact,
which agreement was created in 1938 to ensure that the two states and the state of Colorado would get their fair share of water
from the river. To the extent that this lawsuit is adversely decided against New Mexico, the state could, among other things, be
required to provide more water downstream to Texas, which could reduce the availability of and/or access to water to existing or
new water rights holders in New Mexico. The risk of such adverse development could reduce our ability to obtain or maintain
access to water for our customers’ operations in the vicinity of our assets in New Mexico and have a corresponding adverse effect
on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Restrictions on the ability to procure water or changes in water sourcing requirements could decrease the demand for our
water-related services.
Our business includes water transfer for use in our customers’ oil and gas E&P activities. Our access to the water we
supply may be limited due to prolonged drought or our inability to acquire or maintain water sourcing permits or other rights. In
addition, some state and local governmental authorities have begun to monitor or restrict the use of water subject to their
jurisdiction for hydraulic fracturing to ensure adequate local water supply. For instance, some states require E&P companies to
report certain information regarding the water they use for hydraulic fracturing and to monitor the quality of groundwater
surrounding some wells stimulated by hydraulic fracturing. Any such decrease in the availability of water, or demand for water
services, could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Fuel conservation measures could reduce demand for oil and natural gas which would, in turn, reduce the demand for our
services.
Fuel conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements and increasing consumer demand for alternatives to oil and
natural gas could reduce demand for oil and natural gas. The impact of declining demand for oil and natural gas may have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, the
increased competitiveness of alternative energy sources (such as wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, fuel cells and biofuels) could
reduce demand for hydrocarbons and therefore for our services, which would lead to a reduction in our revenues.
We may be unable to implement price increases or maintain existing prices on our core services.
We periodically seek to increase the prices on our services to offset rising costs and to improve returns on investment
for our stockholders. However, we operate in a very competitive industry and as a result, we are not always successful in raising,
or maintaining, our existing prices. Additionally, during periods of increased market demand, a significant amount of new service
capacity, including new water transfer equipment, fluid hauling trucks and pipelines, may enter the market, which also puts
pressure on the pricing of our services and limits our ability to increase prices.
Even when we are able to increase our prices, we may not be able to do so at a rate that is sufficient to offset rising
costs. In periods of high demand for oilfield services, a tighter labor market may result in higher labor costs. During such periods,
our labor costs could increase at a greater rate than our ability to raise prices for our services. Also, we may not be able to
successfully increase prices without adversely affecting our activity levels. The inability to maintain our pricing and to increase
our pricing as costs increase could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.
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We have operated at a loss in the past, including in 2020, and there is no assurance of our profitability in the future.
Historically, we have experienced periods of low demand for our services and have incurred operating losses, including
in 2020. In the future, we may not be able to reduce our costs, increase our revenues or reduce our debt service obligations
sufficient to achieve or maintain profitability and generate positive operating income. Under such circumstances, we may incur
further operating losses and experience negative operating cash flow.
We may be subject to claims for personal injury and property damage, which could materially adversely affect our financial
condition and results of operations.
We operate with most of our customers under MSAs. We endeavor to allocate potential liabilities and risks between the
parties in the MSAs. Generally, under our MSAs, including those relating to our services, we assume responsibility for, including
control and removal of, pollution or contamination which originates above the surface and originates from our equipment or
services. Our customers generally assume responsibility for, including control and removal of, all other pollution or
contamination which may occur during operations, including that which may result from seepage or any other uncontrolled flow
of drilling fluids. We may have liability in such cases if we are negligent or commit willful acts. Generally, our customers also
agree to indemnify us against claims arising from their employees’ personal injury or death to the extent that, in the case of our
operations, their employees are injured or their properties are damaged by such operations unless resulting from our gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Similarly, we generally agree to indemnify our customers for liabilities arising from personal
injury to or death of any of our employees, unless resulting from gross negligence or willful misconduct of the customer. In
addition, our customers generally agree to indemnify us for loss or destruction of customer-owned property or equipment and in
turn, we agree to indemnify our customers for loss or destruction of property or equipment we own. Losses due to catastrophic
events, such as blowouts, are generally the responsibility of the customer. However, despite this general allocation of risk, we
might not succeed in enforcing such contractual allocation, might incur an unforeseen liability falling outside the scope of such
allocation or may be required to enter into an MSA with terms that vary from the above allocations of risk. As a result, we may
incur substantial losses which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We operate in a highly competitive industry, which may intensify as our competitors expand their operations, thereby causing
us to lose market share, and which could negatively affect our ability to expand our operations.
The oilfield water management business is highly competitive and includes numerous small companies capable of
competing effectively in our markets on a local basis. Some of our larger diversified competitors have a similarly broad
geographic scope, as well as greater financial and other resources than us, while others focus on specific basins only and may
have locally competitive cost efficiencies as a result. Additionally, there may be new companies that enter our markets, or our
existing and potential customers may choose to develop their own water management solutions. Our ability to maintain current
revenue and cash flows, and our ability to expand our operations, could be adversely affected by the activities of our competitors
and our customers. We may be unable to effectively compete if our competitors substantially increase the resources they devote
to the development and marketing of the services that we offer, or substantially decrease the prices at which they offer their
services. If our existing and potential customers develop their own water solutions, we may not be able to effectively replace that
revenue. All of these competitive pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and
financial condition.
The oil and gas services industry is intensely competitive, and in certain businesses we compete with other companies
that have greater resources than us. Many of our larger competitors provide a broader base of services on a regional, national or
worldwide basis. These companies may have a greater ability to continue oilfield service activities during periods of low
commodity prices, to contract for equipment, to secure trained personnel, to secure contracts and permits and to absorb the
burden of present and future federal, state, provincial, local and other laws and regulations (as applicable). Any inability to
compete effectively with larger companies could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of
operations.
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Our operations involve risks that may increase our operating costs, which could reduce our profitability.
Although we take precautions to enhance the safety of our operations and minimize the risk of disruptions, our
operations are subject to hazards inherent in the manufacturing and marketing of chemical and other products. These hazards
include chemical spills, pipeline leaks and ruptures, storage tank leaks, discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or
gases and other hazards incident to the manufacturing, processing, handling, transportation and storage of hazardous chemicals.
We are also potentially subject to other hazards, including natural disasters and severe weather; explosions and fires;
transportation problems, including interruptions, spills and leaks; mechanical failures; unscheduled downtimes; labor difficulties;
remediation complications; and other risks. Many potential hazards can cause bodily injury and loss of life, severe damage to or
destruction of property and equipment and environmental damage, and may result in suspension of operations and the imposition
of civil or criminal penalties and liabilities. Furthermore, we are subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace
exposure, exposure of contractors on our premises as well as other persons located nearby, workers’ compensation and other
matters.
We maintain property, business interruption, products liability and casualty insurance policies which we believe are in
accordance with customary industry practices, as well as insurance policies covering other types of risks, including pollution
legal liability insurance, but we are not fully insured against all potential hazards and risks incident to our business. Each of these
insurance policies is subject to customary exclusions, deductibles and coverage limits, in accordance with industry standards and
practices. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies can increase substantially
and, in some instances, certain insurance may become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. If we were
to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results
of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
In addition, we are subject to various claims and litigation in the ordinary course of business. We are a party to various
pending lawsuits and proceedings. For more information, see “Item 3. Legal Proceedings.”
Delays or restrictions in obtaining permits by us for our operations or by our E&P customers for their operations could impair
our business.
Our operations and the operations of our E&P customers in most states require permits from one or more governmental
agencies in order to perform drilling and completion activities, secure water rights, construct impoundment tanks and operate
pipelines or trucking services. Such permits are typically issued by state agencies, but federal and local governmental permits
may also be required. In addition, some of our customers’ drilling and completion activities in the U.S. may take place on federal
land or Native American lands, requiring leases and other approvals from the federal government or Native American tribes to
conduct such drilling and completion activities. Under certain circumstances, federal agencies may cancel proposed leases for
federal lands and refuse to grant or delay required approvals. Moreover, President Biden has indicated his intent to restrict
hydraulic fracturing on federal lands through delays or bans on issuance of drilling permits on such lands and his administration
may pursue regulatory initiatives, executive actions and legislation in support of his regulatory agenda. See Part I, Item 1.
“Business – Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on possible actions under the Biden
Administration that may adversely affect oil and natural gas leasing and permitting activities.
We are subject to cybersecurity risks. A cyber incident could occur and result in information theft, data corruption,
operational disruption and/or financial loss.
The oil and gas services industry has become increasingly dependent on digital technologies to conduct certain
processing activities. For example, we depend on digital technologies to perform many of our services and to process and record
financial and operating data. At the same time, cyber incidents, including deliberate attacks or unintentional events, have
increased. The U.S. government has issued public warnings that indicate that energy assets might be specific targets of
cybersecurity threats. Our 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, or other disruption of business operations. In
addition, certain cyber incidents, such as surveillance, may remain undetected for an extended period. Our systems for protecting
against cybersecurity risks may not be sufficient. As cyber incidents
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continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures
or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to cyber incidents. Our insurance coverage for cyber attacks may not be
sufficient to cover all the losses we may experience as a result of such cyber attacks.
If we are unable to fully protect our intellectual property rights, we may suffer a loss in our competitive advantage or market
share.
We do not have patents or patent applications relating to many of our proprietary chemicals. If we are not able to
maintain the confidentiality of our trade secrets, or if our competitors are able to replicate our technology or services, our
competitive advantage would be diminished. We also cannot assure you that any patents we may obtain in the future would
provide us with any significant commercial benefit or would allow us to prevent our competitors from employing comparable
technologies or processes.
Technology advancements in well service technologies, including those involving the replacement of water in fracturing fluid,
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The oilfield services industry is characterized by rapid and significant technological advancements and introductions of
new products and services using new technologies. As competitors and others use or develop new technologies or technologies
comparable to ours in the future, we may lose market share or be placed at a competitive disadvantage. For example, some oil
and gas producers are focusing on developing and utilizing non-water fracturing techniques, including those utilizing propane,
carbon dioxide or nitrogen instead of water. Further, we may face competitive pressure to implement or acquire certain new
technologies at a substantial cost. Some of our competitors may have greater financial, technical and personnel resources than we
do, which may allow them to gain technological advantages or implement new technologies before we can. Additionally, we may
be unable to implement new technologies or products at all, on a timely basis or at an acceptable cost. New technology could also
make it easier for our customers to vertically integrate their operations or reduce the amount of waste produced in oil and gas
drilling and production activities, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for third-party disposal. Limits on our ability to
effectively use or implement new technologies may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
We may be adversely affected by uncertainty in the global financial markets and a worldwide economic downturn.
Our future results may be impacted by uncertainty caused by a worldwide economic downturn, continued volatility or
deterioration in the debt and equity capital markets, inflation, deflation or other adverse economic conditions that may negatively
affect us or parties with whom we do business resulting in a reduction in our customers’ spending and their non-payment or
inability to perform obligations owed to us, such as the failure of customers to honor their commitments or the failure of major
suppliers to complete orders. The COVID-19 pandemic has created global uncertainty that has negatively affected our business
and industry and will continue to do so. Additionally, credit market conditions may change, slowing our collection efforts as
customers may experience increased difficulty in obtaining requisite financing, potentially leading to lost revenue and higher than
normal accounts receivable. In the event of the financial distress or bankruptcy of a customer, we could lose all or a portion of
such outstanding accounts receivable associated with that customer. Further, all or a portion of our service contracts could be
cancelled at significant expense or loss of expected revenues to us if a customer was to enter into bankruptcy.
The current global economic environment may adversely impact our ability to issue debt. Any economic uncertainty
may cause institutional investors to respond to their borrowers by increasing interest rates, enacting tighter lending standards or
refusing to refinance existing debt upon its maturity or on terms similar to the expiring debt. Due to the above-listed factors, we
cannot be certain that additional funding will be available if needed and, to the extent required, on acceptable terms.
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Our operations are subject to inherent risks, some of which are beyond our control. These risks may be self-insured, or may
not be fully covered under our insurance policies.
Our operations are subject to hazards inherent in the oil and gas industry, such as, but not limited to, accidents,
blowouts, explosions, craterings, fires, oil spills and releases of drilling, completion or fracturing fluids or wastewater into the
environment. These conditions can cause:
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disruption in operations;
substantial repair or remediate costs;
personal injury or loss of human life;
significant damage to or destruction of property, plant and equipment;
environmental pollution, including groundwater contamination;
impairment or suspension of operations; and
substantial revenue loss.
The occurrence of a significant event or adverse claim in excess of the insurance coverage that we maintain or that is not
covered by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition. Any
interruption in our services due to pipeline breakdowns or necessary maintenance or repairs could reduce sales revenues and
earnings. In addition, claims for loss of oil and gas production and damage to formations can occur in the well services industry.
Litigation arising from a catastrophic occurrence at a location where our equipment and services are being used may result in our
being named as a defendant in lawsuits asserting large claims.
We do not have insurance against all foreseeable risks, either because insurance is not available or because of the high
premium costs. The occurrence of an event not fully insured against or the failure of an insurer to meet its insurance obligations
could result in substantial losses. In addition, we may not be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider
reasonable. Insurance may not be available to cover any or all of the risks to which we are subject, or, even if available, it may be
inadequate, or insurance premiums or other costs could rise significantly in the future so as to make such insurance prohibitively
expensive.
Seasonal weather conditions and natural disasters could severely disrupt normal operations and harm our business.
Our water solutions operations are located primarily in the southern, mid-western and eastern U.S. Certain of these areas
are adversely affected by seasonal weather conditions, primarily in the winter and spring. During periods of heavy snow, ice or
rain, we may be unable to move our equipment between locations, thereby reducing our ability to provide services and generate
revenues. Additionally, extended drought conditions in our operating regions could impact our ability to source sufficient water
for our customers or increase the cost for such water. As a result, a natural disaster or inclement weather conditions could
severely disrupt the normal operation of our business and adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.
A terrorist attack, armed conflict or unrest could harm our business.
The occurrence or threat of terrorist attacks in the U.S. or other countries, anti-terrorist efforts and other armed conflicts
involving the U.S. or other countries, including continued hostilities in the Middle East, and political or civil unrest in the U.S.
may adversely affect the U.S. and global economies and could prevent us from meeting our financial and other obligations.
Additionally, destructive forms of protest and opposition by extremists and other disruptions, including acts of sabotage or eco-
terrorism, against oil and natural gas development and production activities could potentially result in personal injury to persons,
damages to property, natural resources or the environment, or lead to
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extended interruptions of our or our customers’ operations. If any of these events occur, the resulting political instability and
societal disruption could reduce overall demand for oil and gas, potentially putting downward pressure on demand for our
services and causing a reduction in our revenues. Oil and gas related facilities could be direct targets of such terrorist attacks or
unrest, and our operations could be adversely impacted if infrastructure integral to our customers’ operations is destroyed or
damaged. Costs for insurance and other security may increase as a result of these threats, and some insurance coverage may
become more difficult to obtain, if available at all.
The adoption of more stringent trucking legislation or regulations may increase our costs and could have an adverse effect on
our liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition.
In connection with the services we provide, we operate as a motor carrier and therefore are subject to regulation by the
U.S. DOT and analogous state agencies, which govern such activities as the authorization to engage in motor carrier operations
and regulatory safety. The trucking industry is subject to possible legislative and regulatory changes that may affect the
economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or by changing the demand for common or contract carrier
services or the cost of providing truckload services.
Moreover, from time to time, various legislative proposals are introduced, including proposals to increase federal, state
or local taxes, including taxes on motor fuels, which may increase our costs or adversely affect the recruitment of drivers.
Management cannot predict whether, or in what form, any increase in such taxes applicable to us will be enacted. We may be
required to increase operating expenses or capital expenditures in order to comply with any new laws, regulations or other
restrictions. See Part I, Item 1. “Business – Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on
the DOT and associated trucking matters.
Disruptions in the transportation services of trucking companies transporting wastewater and other oilfield products could
have an adverse effect on our results.
We use trucks to transport some produced water to our wastewater disposal facilities. In recent years, certain states, such
as North Dakota and Texas, and certain state counties have increased enforcement of weight limits on trucks used to transport
raw materials on their public roads. It is possible that the states, counties and municipalities in which we operate our business
may modify their laws or regulations to further reduce truck weight limits or impose curfews or other restrictions on the use of
roadways. Such legislation and regulations and associated enforcement efforts could result in delays, and increased costs, with
respect to the transport of produced water to our wastewater disposal facilities, which may either increase our operating costs or
reduce the amount of produced water transported to our facilities. Such developments could decrease our operating margins or
amounts of produced water and thereby have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
A significant increase in fuel prices may adversely affect our transportation costs, which could have a material adverse effect
on our results of operations and financial condition.
Fuel is one of our significant operating expenses, and a significant increase in fuel prices could result in increased
transportation costs. The price and supply of fuel is unpredictable and fluctuates based on events such as geopolitical
developments, supply and demand for oil and gas, actions by oil and gas producers, war and unrest in oil producing countries and
regions, regional production patterns and weather concerns. A significant increase in fuel prices could increase the price of, and
therefore reduce demand for, our services, which could affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to Customers and Suppliers
The deterioration of the financial condition of our customers could adversely affect our business.
During times when the gas or crude oil markets weaken, including during 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
and other factors, our customers are more likely to experience financial difficulties, including being unable to access debt or
equity financing, which could result in a reduction in our customers’ spending for our services. In addition, in the course of our
business we hold accounts receivable from our customers. In the event of the financial
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distress or bankruptcy of a customer, we could lose all or a portion of such outstanding accounts receivable associated with that
customer. Further, all or a portion of our service contracts could be cancelled at significant expense or loss of expected revenues
to us if a customer was to enter into bankruptcy.
Disruptions in production at our chemical manufacturing facilities may have a material adverse impact on our business,
results of operations and/or financial condition.
Chemical manufacturing facilities in our industry are subject to outages and other disruptions. Serious disruptions at any
of our facilities could impair our ability to use our facilities and have a material adverse impact on our revenue and increase our
costs and expenses. Unplanned production disruptions may occur for external reasons including natural disasters, weather,
disease, strikes, transportation interruption, government regulation, political or civil unrest or terrorism, or internal reasons, such
as fire, unplanned maintenance or other manufacturing problems. Moreover, alternative facilities with sufficient capacity may not
be available, may cost substantially more or may take a significant time to increase production or qualify with our customers, any
of which could negatively impact our business, results of operations and/or financial condition. Long-term production disruptions
may cause our customers to seek alternative supply, which could further adversely affect our profitability.
Unplanned production disruptions may occur for external reasons including natural disasters, world health events, such
as the COVID-19 pandemic, weather, disease, strikes, transportation interruption, government regulation, political or civil unrest
or terrorism, or internal reasons, such as fire, unplanned maintenance or other manufacturing problems. Any such production
disruption could have a material impact on our operations, operating results and financial condition.
Additionally, we rely on a number of vendors, suppliers, and in some cases sole-source suppliers, service providers, toll
manufacturers and collaborations with other industry participants to provide us with chemicals, feedstocks and other raw
materials, along with energy sources and, in certain cases, facilities that we need to operate our business. If the business of these
third parties is disrupted, some of these companies could be forced to reduce their output, shut down their operations or file for
bankruptcy protection. If this were to occur, it could adversely affect their ability to provide us with the raw materials, energy
sources or facilities that we need, which could materially disrupt our operations, including the production of certain of our
chemical products. Moreover, it could be difficult to find replacements for certain of our business partners without incurring
significant delays or cost increases. All of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations,
financial condition and liquidity.
While we maintain business recovery plans that are intended to allow us to recover from natural disasters or other events
that could disrupt our business, we cannot provide assurances that our plans would fully protect us from the effects of all such
disasters or from events that might increase in frequency or intensity due to climate change. In addition, insurance may not
adequately compensate us for any losses incurred as a result of natural or other disasters. In areas prone to frequent natural or
other disasters, insurance may become increasingly expensive or not available at all.
Constraints in the supply of equipment used in providing services to our customers and replacement parts for such could
affect our ability to execute our growth strategies.
Equipment used in providing services to our customers is normally readily available. Market conditions could trigger
constraints in the supply chain of certain equipment or replacement parts for such equipment, which could have a material
adverse effect on our business. The majority of our risk associated with supply chain constraints occurs in those situations where
we have a relationship with a single supplier for a particular resource.
Unsatisfactory safety performance may negatively affect our E&P customer relationships and, to the extent we fail to retain
existing customers or attract new customers, adversely impact our revenues.
Our ability to retain existing E&P customers and attract new business is dependent on many factors, including our
ability to demonstrate that we can reliably and safely operate our business and stay current on constantly changing rules,
regulations, training and laws. Existing and potential customers consider the safety record of their service providers to be of high
importance in their decision to engage third-party services. If one or more accidents were to
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occur at one of our operating sites, the affected customer may seek to terminate or cancel its use of our facilities or services and
may be less likely to continue to use our services, which could cause us to lose substantial revenues. Further, our ability to attract
new customers may be impaired if they elect not to purchase our third-party services because they view our safety record as
unacceptable. In addition, it is possible that we will experience numerous or particularly severe accidents in the future, causing
our safety record to deteriorate. This may be more likely as we continue to grow, if we experience high employee turnover or
labor shortage, or add inexperienced personnel. See Part I, Item 1. “Business – Environmental and Occupational Safety and
Health Matters” for more discussion on worker safety matters.
Significant price volatility or interruptions in supply of our raw materials for our chemicals business may result in increased
costs that we may be unable to pass on to our customers, which could reduce profitability.
We purchase a substantial portion of our raw materials for our chemicals business from third-party suppliers and the
cost of these raw materials represents a substantial portion of our operating expenses. The prices of the raw materials that we
purchase from third parties are cyclical and volatile. Our supply agreements provide us only limited protection against price
volatility because they are entered into either on a short-term basis or are longer-term volume contracts, which provide for
market-based pricing renegotiated several times per year. While we attempt to match cost increases with corresponding product
price increases, we are not always able to raise product prices immediately or at all. Timing differences between raw material
prices, which may change daily, and contractual product prices, which in many cases are negotiated only monthly or less often,
have had and may continue to have a negative effect on our cash flow. Any cost increase that we are not able to pass on to our
customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
There are several raw materials for which there are only a limited number of suppliers or a single supplier. To mitigate
potential supply constraints, we enter into supply agreements with particular suppliers, evaluate alternative sources of supply and
evaluate alternative technologies to avoid reliance on limited or sole-source suppliers. Where supply relationships are
concentrated, particular attention is paid by the parties to ensure strategic intentions are aligned to facilitate long-term planning. If
certain of our suppliers are unable to meet their obligations under present supply agreements, we may be forced to pay higher
prices to obtain the necessary raw materials from other sources and we may not be able to increase prices for our finished
products to recoup the higher raw materials costs. Any interruption in the supply of raw materials could increase our costs or
decrease our revenue, which could reduce our cash flow. The inability of a supplier to meet our raw material needs could have a
material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The number of sources for and availability of certain raw materials is also specific to the particular geographical region
in which a facility is located. Political and economic instability in the countries from which we purchase our raw material
supplies could adversely affect their availability. In addition, if raw materials become unavailable within a geographic area from
which they are now sourced, we may not be able to obtain suitable or cost-effective substitutes. We may also experience higher
operating costs such as energy or transportation costs, which could affect our profitability. We may not always be able to increase
our selling prices to offset the impact of any higher production costs or reduced production levels, which could reduce our
earnings and decrease our liquidity.
Risks Related to Compliance with Regulations
Laws, regulations, executive actions and other regulatory initiatives in the U.S. relating to hydraulic fracturing could increase
our costs of doing business and result in additional operating restrictions, delays or cancellations in the drilling and
completion of oil and gas wells, or possible restrictions on the performance of hydraulic fracturing that may reduce demand
for our services and could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
Although we do not directly engage in hydraulic fracturing, our operations support many of our E&P customers in such
activities. The practice continues to be controversial in certain parts of the country, resulting in increased scrutiny and regulation
of the hydraulic fracturing process, including by federal and state agencies and local municipalities. Additionally, with concerns
about seismic activity being triggered by the injection of produced wastewaters into
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underground disposal wells, certain regulators are also considering additional requirements related to seismic safety for hydraulic
fracturing activities. See Part I, Item 1. “Business – Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more
discussion on these hydraulic fracturing and seismicity matters.
The adoption of any federal, state or local laws or the implementation of regulations or issuance of executive orders
regarding hydraulic fracturing, seismic activities or leasing activities on federal properties could potentially cause a decrease in
the completion of new oil and gas wells and an associated decrease in demand for our services and increased compliance costs
and time, which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our and our E&P customers' operations are subject to a number of risks arising out of the threat of climate change,
including regulatory, political, litigation, and financial risks, which could result in increased operating and capital costs for
our customers and reduced demand for the products and services we provide.
The threat of climate change continues to attract considerable attention in the U.S. and foreign countries. As a result,
numerous proposals have been made and are likely to continue to be made at the international, national, regional and state levels
of government to monitor and limit emissions of GHGs as well as to eliminate such future emissions. As a result, our operations
as well as the operations of our E&P customers are subject to a series of regulatory, political, litigation and financial risks
associated with the production and processing of fossil fuels and emission of GHGs. See Part I, Item 1. “Business –
Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on the threat of climate and restriction of GHG
emissions. The adoption and implementation of any international, federal, regional or state legislation, executive actions,
regulations or other regulatory initiatives that impose more stringent standards for GHG emissions from the oil and natural gas
sector or otherwise restrict the areas in which this sector may produce oil and natural gas or generate GHG emissions could result
in increased compliance costs or costs of consuming fossil fuels. Such legislation, executive actions or regulations could result in
increased costs of compliance or costs of consuming, and thereby reduce demand for oil and natural gas, which could reduce
demand for our products and services. Additionally, political, financial and litigation risks may result in our customers restricting,
delaying or canceling production activities, incurring liability for infrastructure damages as a result of climatic changes, or
impairing the ability to continue to operate in an economic manner, which also could reduce demand for our products and
services. The occurrence of one or more of these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows. Moreover, the increased competitiveness of alternative energy sources (such as
wind, solar geothermal, tidal and biofuels) could reduce demand for hydrocarbons, and therefore for our products and services,
which would lead to a reduction in our revenues.
Our chemical products are subject to stringent chemical control laws that could result in increased costs on our business.
We are subject to a wide array of laws and regulations governing chemicals, including the regulation of chemical
substances and inventories, such as the TSCA. These laws and regulations change frequently and have the potential to limit or
ban altogether the types of chemicals we may use in our products, as well as result in increased costs related to testing, storing,
and transporting our products prior to providing them to our customers. Any new restrictions on the development of new products
or use of existing products, increases in regulation of those products, or disclosure of confidential, competitive information
relating to the products could have an adverse effect on our operations and our cost of doing business. Furthermore,
governmental, regulatory and societal demands for increasing levels of product safety and environmental protection could result
in increased pressure for more stringent regulatory control with respect to the chemical industry. See Part I, Item 1. “Business –
Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on chemical product use and safety.
In the future, we may face increased obligations relating to the closing of our wastewater disposal facilities and may be
required to provide an increased level of financial assurance to guarantee that the appropriate closure activities will occur for
a wastewater disposal facility.
Our ability to obtain permits to own or operate wastewater disposal facilities generally requires us to establish
performance bonds, letters of credit or other forms of financial assurance to address remediation and closure obligations.
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As we acquire additional wastewater disposal facilities or expand our existing wastewater disposal facilities, these obligations
will increase. Additionally, in the future, regulatory agencies may require us to increase the amount of our closure bonds at
existing wastewater disposal facilities. Moreover, actual costs could exceed our current expectations, as a result of, among other
things, federal, state or local government regulatory action, increased costs charged by service providers that assist in closing
wastewater disposal facilities and additional environmental remediation requirements. Increased regulatory requirements
regarding our existing or future wastewater disposal facilities, including the requirement to pay increased closure and post-
closure costs or to establish increased financial assurance for such activities could substantially increase our operating costs and
adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in U.S. and international trade policies, particularly involving China, may adversely impact our business and
operating results.
Though a comprehensive trade agreement was signed in 2020, the U.S. government has previously imposed tariffs
affecting certain goods produced in China. A portion of the chemicals we use originate in China and are sold to us by our supplier
partners. As a result, tariffs incurred by our supplier partners could increase our costs and reduce profitability. Additionally,
delays or interruptions in the supply of some chemicals for any reason could impact our ability to generate chemicals revenue. If
we are forced to source chemicals currently originating in China from other countries, such compounds might be more expensive,
inferior in quality, or take longer to source. If we incur higher costs that we cannot pass on to our customers or if we are unable to
adequately replace the chemicals we currently source with chemicals produced elsewhere, our business could be adversely
affected.
Legislation or regulatory initiatives intended to address seismic activity associated with oilfield wastewater disposal wells could
restrict our ability to dispose of produced water gathered from our E&P customers and, accordingly, could have a material
adverse effect on our business.
We dispose of wastewater gathered from oil and gas producing E&P customers that result from their drilling and
production operations pursuant to permits issued to us by government authorities overseeing such disposal activities. While these
permits are issued pursuant to existing laws and regulations, these legal requirements are subject to change, which could result in
increased costs of operation, the imposition of more stringent permitting or operating constraints or new monitoring and reporting
requirements owing to, among other things, concerns of the public or governmental authorities regarding such disposal activities.
See Part I, Item 1. “Business – Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on these
seismicity matters. Increased regulation and attention given to induced seismicity could lead to greater opposition to oil and gas
activities utilizing injection wells for waste disposal. The adoption and implementation of any new laws, regulations or directives
that restrict our ability to dispose of wastewater gathered from our customers by limiting, volumes, disposal rates, disposal well
locations or otherwise, or requiring us to shut down disposal wells, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
We are subject to environmental and occupational health and safety laws and regulations that may expose us to significant
liabilities for penalties, damages or costs of remediation or compliance.
Our operations and the operations of our E&P customers are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations in
the U.S. relating to protection of natural resources and the environment, health and safety aspects of our operations and waste
management, including the transportation and disposal of waste and other materials. These laws and regulations may take the
form of laws, regulations, executive actions and various other legal initiatives and result in the imposition of numerous
obligations on our operations and the operations of our customers. See Part I, Item 1. “Business – Environmental and
Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion on these matters. Compliance with these regulations and other
regulatory initiatives, or any other new environmental laws, regulations and executive actions could, among other things, require
us or our customers to install new or modified emission controls on equipment or processes, incur longer permitting timelines,
and incur significantly increased capital or operating expenditures, which costs may be significant. One or more of these
developments that impact our customers could reduce demand for our services, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition.
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The Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act govern both our and our E&P customers’ operations and
additional restrictions may be imposed in the future, which constraints could have an adverse impact on our ability to expand
some of our existing operations or limit our customers’ ability to develop new oil and gas wells.
The ESA and comparable state laws restrict activities that may affect endangered or threatened species or their habitats.
Similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the MBTA. To the degree that species listed under the ESA or similar
state laws, or are protected under the MBTA, live in the areas where we or our E&P customers’ operate, both our and our
customers’ abilities to conduct or expand operations and construct facilities could be limited or be forced to incur additional
material costs. Additionally, the FWS may make determinations on the listing of unlisted species as endangered or threatened
under the ESA. See Part I, Item 1. “Business – Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health Matters” for more discussion
on ESA and MBTA matters. The designation of previously unidentified endangered or threatened species could indirectly cause
us to incur additional costs, cause our or our E&P customers’ operations to become subject to operating restrictions or bans and
limit future development activity in affected areas, which developments could have a material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
Increasing investor attention to ESG matters may impact our business.
To an increasing extent, many institutional investors have announced plans to transition their portfolios to net-zero
greenhouse gas emissions over the next 2-3 decades as part of a commitment to combat climate change. This has, and will likely
continue to result in some (and perhaps a growing number of) institutions removing from their portfolios the shares of companies
that do not meet their minimum investment standards. Further, banks and other capital providers are reassessing their capital
allocation to our industry or making their participation conditional. This trend towards the divestment or limitation of future
investment in companies involved in the development, production, transportation and utilization of fossil fuels, may adversely
affect the price of our stock and limit our access to the debt and equity markets for capital to fund our growth.
In addition, organizations that provide proxy advisory services to investors on corporate governance and related matters
have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to ESG matters. Such ratings are used by some
investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. Unfavorable ESG ratings may lead to increased negative investor
sentiment toward us or our customers and to the diversion of investment to other industries, which could have a negative impact
on our stock price and/or our access to and costs of capital.
Risks Related to Personnel and Related Parties
Our industry typically experiences a high rate of employee turnover. Any difficulty we experience replacing or adding
personnel could have a material adverse effect on our operational performance, customer satisfaction, ability to retain
existing business or secure new business, and therefore liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
We are dependent upon the available labor pool of skilled employees and may not be able to find enough skilled labor to
meet our needs, which could have a negative effect on our growth. We are also subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act, which
governs such matters as minimum wage, overtime and other working conditions. Our services require skilled workers who can
perform physically demanding work. As a result of our industry volatility, pronounced declines in drilling and completions
activity, as well as the demanding nature of the work, many workers have left the oilfield services section to pursue employment
in different fields. If we are unable to retain or meet the growing demand for skilled technical personnel, our operating results and
our ability to execute our growth strategies may be adversely affected. A national minimum wage increase to $15/hour, as
proposed in the U.S. Congress, would increase our labor costs and potentially increase our turnover.
We engage in transactions with related parties and such transactions present possible conflicts of interest that could have an
adverse effect on us.
We have historically entered into a number of transactions with related parties. Related party transactions create the
possibility of conflicts of interest with regard to our management. Such a conflict could cause an individual in our
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management to seek to advance his or her economic interests above ours. Further, the appearance of conflicts of interest created
by related party transactions could impair the confidence of our investors. While our board of directors regularly reviews these
transactions, in accordance with our Related Party Transactions policy, a related party transaction presenting a conflict of interest
could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
Risks Related to Our Capital Structure
We do not currently pay any dividends to the holders of the Class A common stock and the availability and timing of future
dividends, if any, is uncertain.
We do not currently pay dividends on our Class A common stock, and consequently, in the near term, your only
opportunity to achieve a return on your investment in us will be if you sell your Class A common stock at a price greater than you
paid for it. There is no guarantee that the price of our Class A common stock that will prevail in the market will ever exceed the
price that you pay. Additionally, our Credit Agreement places certain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. We may amend
our Credit Agreement or enter into new debt arrangements that also prohibit or restrict our ability to pay dividends on our Class
A common stock.
Subject to such restrictions, our board of directors will periodically review the amount and timing of stockholder
dividends, if any, that we may pay in future periods. In making this determination, our directors will consider all relevant factors,
including the amount of cash available for dividends, capital expenditures, covenants, prohibitions or limitations with respect to
dividends, applicable law, general operational requirements and other variables. We cannot predict the amount or timing of any
future dividends you may receive, and if we do commence the payment of dividends, we may be unable to pay, maintain or
increase dividends over time. Therefore, you may not be able to realize any return on your investment in our Class A common
stock for an extended period of time, if at all. Please read “Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder
Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities—Dividend Policy.”
If we fail to maintain and enhance an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our
financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial
reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our Class A common stock.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, prevent fraud and operate
successfully as a public company. We are subject to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”) and
therefore are required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting for that
purpose. We cannot be certain that our efforts to maintain and enhance our internal controls will be successful, that we will be
able to maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future or that we will be able to comply with
our obligations under Sections 302 and 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley. Any failure to maintain effective internal controls, or difficulties
encountered in implementing or improving our internal controls, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our
reporting obligations. Ineffective internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial
information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our Class A common stock.
We may incur indebtedness or issue additional equity securities to execute our long-term growth strategy, which may reduce
our profitability or result in significant dilution to our stockholders.
Constructing and maintaining water infrastructure used in the oil and gas industry requires significant capital. We may
require additional capital in the future to develop and construct water sourcing, transfer and other related infrastructure to execute
our growth strategy. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, we spent $21.2 million, $110.1 million and
$165.4 million, respectively, in capital expenditures (excluding expenditures connected with business combinations).
Historically, we have financed these investments through cash flows from operations, external borrowings, capital contributions
and proceeds from the issuance of equity securities. These sources of capital may not be available to us in the future. If we are
unable to fund capital expenditures for any reason, we may not be able to capture available growth opportunities or effectively
maintain our existing assets and any such failure could have a
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material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. If we incur additional indebtedness or issue additional
equity securities, our profitability may be reduced and our stockholders may experience significant dilution.
Our Credit Agreement subjects us to various financial and other restrictive covenants. These restrictions may limit our
operational or financial flexibility and could subject us to potential defaults under our Credit Agreement.
Our Credit Agreement subjects us to significant financial and other restrictive covenants, including restrictions on our
ability to consolidate or merge with other companies, conduct asset sales, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, issue
guarantees, make investments, loans or advances, pay dividends and enter into certain transactions with affiliates.
Our Credit Agreement contains certain financial covenants, including the maintenance of a fixed charge coverage ratio
of at least 1.0 to 1.0 at any time availability under the Credit Agreement is less than the greater of (i) 10% of the lesser of (A) the
maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective borrowing base and (ii) $15.0 million and continuing through and including
the first day after such time that availability under the Credit Agreement has equaled or exceeded the greater of (i) 10% of the
lesser of (A) the maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective borrowing base and (ii) $15.0 million for 60 consecutive
calendar days. Our ability to comply with such financial condition tests can be affected by events beyond our control and we may
not be able to do so. The scheduled maturity date for our Credit Agreement is November 1, 2022. In addition, the Credit
Agreement restricts SES Holdings’ and Select LLC’s ability to make distributions on, or redeem or repurchase, its respective
equity interests, except for certain distributions, including distributions of cash so long as, both at the time of the distribution and
after giving effect to the distribution, no default exists under the Credit Agreement and either (a) excess availability at all times
during the preceding 30 consecutive days, on a pro forma basis and after giving effect to such distribution, is not less than the
greater of (1) 25% of the lesser of (A) the maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective borrowing base and
(2) $37.5 million or (b) if SES Holdings’ fixed charge coverage ratio is at least 1.0 to 1.0 on a pro forma basis, and excess
availability at all times during the preceding 30 consecutive days, on a pro forma basis and after giving effect to such distribution,
is not less than the greater of (1) 20% of the lesser of (A) the maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective borrowing
base and (2) $30.0 million. For additional information regarding our Credit Agreement, please read “Item 7. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Credit
Agreement.”
If we are unable to remain in compliance with the covenants of our Credit Agreement, then the lenders may declare all
amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement to be immediately due and payable. Any such acceleration could have a
material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Future sales of our equity securities, or the perception that such sales may occur, may depress our share price, and any
additional capital raised through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute your ownership in us.
Subject to certain limitations and exceptions, Legacy Owner Holdco and its permitted transferees may exchange their
SES Holdings LLC Units (together with a corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock) for shares of Class A
common stock (on a one-for-one basis, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassification
and other similar transactions) and then sell those shares of Class A common stock. Additionally, we may in the future issue our
previously authorized and unissued securities. We are authorized to issue 350 million shares of Class A common stock, 40
million shares of Class A-2 common stock, 150 million shares of Class B common stock and 50 million shares of preferred stock
with such designations, preferences and rights as determined by our board of directors. The potential issuance of such additional
shares of equity securities will result in the dilution of the ownership interests of the holders of our Class A common stock and
may create downward pressure on the trading price, if any, of our Class A common stock.
In addition, Legacy Owner Holdco, Crestview Partners II SES Investment B, LLC, the SCF Group (as defined below)
and WDC Aggregate LLC (collectively, the “Registration Rights Holders”), who collectively own in excess of 30 million shares
of our common stock, are party to a registration rights agreement which provides, among other things, for parties to that
agreement to initiate or participate in an underwritten public offering of all or a portion of their shares.
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The Registration Rights Holders may exercise their rights under such agreement in their sole discretion, and sales pursuant to
such rights may be material in amount and occur at any time.
The sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock following the effectiveness of registration statements for
the benefit of such holders, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our Class A common
stock to decline and impair our ability to raise capital. We also may grant additional registration rights in connection with any
future issuance of our capital stock.
We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our Class A common stock or securities convertible into Class A
common stock or the effect, if any, that future issuances and sales of shares of our Class A common stock will have on the market
price of our Class A common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock (including shares issued in
connection with an acquisition), or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices of
our Class A common stock.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, if they adversely change their
recommendations regarding our Class A common stock or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, the share
price for our Class A common stock could decline.
The trading market for our Class A common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or
securities analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports
on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the price or trading volume of our
Class A common stock to decline. Moreover, if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our Class A common stock
or if our operating results do not meet their expectations, the share price of our Class A common stock could decline.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law may
discourage a takeover attempt even if a takeover might be beneficial to our stockholders.
Provisions contained in our Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Second Amended and
Restated Bylaws, which we refer to herein as our “amended and restated certificate of incorporation” and “amended and restated
bylaws,” respectively, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us. Provisions of our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws impose various procedural and other requirements, which could
make it more difficult for stockholders to effect certain corporate actions. For example, our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation authorizes our board of directors to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of unissued series
of preferred stock without any vote or action by our stockholders. Thus, our board of directors can authorize and issue shares of
preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting or other rights of holders of our capital
stock. These rights may have the effect of delaying or deterring a change of control of our company. Additionally, our amended
and restated bylaws establish limitations on the removal of directors and on the ability of our stockholders to call special
meetings and include advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our board of directors and for proposing
matters that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings. These provisions could limit the price that certain investors might be
willing to pay in the future for shares of our Class A common stock.
In addition, certain change of control events have the effect of accelerating the payment due under our Tax Receivable
Agreements (as defined herein), which could be substantial and accordingly serve as a disincentive to a potential acquirer of our
company. See “—Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure—In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable
Agreements may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits, if any, we realize in respect of the tax attributes
subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements.”
Legacy Owner Holdco controls a significant percentage of our voting power.
Legacy Owner Holdco beneficially owns 100% of our Class B common stock which represents approximately 15.7% of
our outstanding voting capital stock. In addition, one of our directors is currently employed by Crestview Advisors, L.L.C.
(“Crestview Partners”), our private equity sponsor and, through Crestview Partners II GP, L.P.
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(“Crestview GP”), the manager of funds that hold the largest equity interest in Legacy Owner Holdco. Other funds controlled by
Crestview GP also have an interest in our currently outstanding shares of our Class A common stock, representing an additional
3.7% of our outstanding voting capital. Collectively, these holders control approximately 19.4% of our voting shares. Holders of
Class A common stock and Class B common stock generally will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our
stockholders for their vote or approval. Consequently, Legacy Owner Holdco will be able to significantly influence all matters
that require approval by our stockholders, including the election and removal of directors, changes to our organizational
documents and approval of acquisition offers and other significant corporate transactions, regardless of whether other
stockholders believe that a transaction is in their own best interests. This concentration of ownership will limit your ability to
influence corporate matters, and as a result, actions may be taken that you may not view as beneficial.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains a provision renouncing our interest and expectancy in certain
corporate opportunities, which could adversely affect our business or prospects.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we
renounce any interest or expectancy in any business opportunity that involves any aspect of the energy business or industry and
that may be from time to time presented to any member of (i) Legacy Owner Holdco; Crestview Partners II SES Investment, LLC
(“Crestview Holdings A”); any funds, limited partnerships or other investment entities or vehicles managed by Crestview
Partners or controlled by Crestview GP; B-29 Investments, LP; Sunray Capital, LP; Proactive Investments, LP and their
respective affiliates, other than us (collectively, the “SES Group”); (ii) SCF-VI, L.P., SCF-VII, L.P. and SCF-VII(A), L.P. and
their respective affiliates, other than us (collectively, the “SCF Group”); (iii) the other entities (existing and future) that
participate in the energy industry and in which the SES Group and SCF Group own substantial equity interests (the “Portfolio
Companies”) or (iv) any director or officer of the corporation who is also an employee, partner, member, manager, officer or
director of any member of the SES Group, the SCF Group or the Portfolio Companies, including our Chairman, President and
CEO , John D. Schmitz, our director, David C. Baldwin, and our Executive Vice President, Business Strategy, Cody Ortowski,
even if the opportunity is one that we might reasonably have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the
opportunity to do so. Mr. Schmitz controls both B-29 Investments, LP and Sunray Capital, LP and is a direct and indirect
beneficiary of these provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation further provides that no such person or party shall be liable to us by reason of the fact that such person pursues any
such business opportunity, or fails to offer any such business opportunity to us.
As a result, any member of the SES Group, SCF Group or the Portfolio Companies or any director or officer of the
corporation who is also an employee, partner, member, manager, officer or director of any member of the SES Group, SCF
Group or the Portfolio Companies may become aware, from time to time, of certain business opportunities, such as acquisition
opportunities, and may direct such opportunities to other businesses in which they have invested, in which case we may not
become aware of or otherwise have the ability to pursue such opportunity. Further, such businesses may choose to compete with
us for these opportunities. As a result, by renouncing our interest and expectancy in any business opportunity that may be from
time to time presented to any member of the SES Group, SCF Group or the Portfolio Companies or any director or officer of the
corporation who is also an employee, partner, member, manager, officer or director of any member of the SES Group, SCF
Group or the Portfolio Companies, our business or prospects could be adversely affected if attractive business opportunities are
procured by such parties for their own benefit rather than for ours. See “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,
and Director Independence.”
A significant reduction by Crestview GP or the SCF Group of either of their respective ownership interests in us could
adversely affect us.
We believe that Crestview GP’s and the SCF Group’s beneficial ownership interests in us provides each with an
economic incentive to assist us to be successful. Neither Crestview GP nor the SCF Group is subject to any obligation to maintain
its ownership interest in us and either may elect at any time to sell all or a substantial portion of or otherwise reduce its ownership
interest in us. If either Crestview GP or the SCF Group sells all or a substantial portion of its ownership interest in us, it may have
less incentive to assist in our success and its affiliate(s) that are expected to serve as
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members of our board of directors may resign. Such actions could adversely affect our ability to successfully implement our
business strategies, which could adversely affect our cash flows or results of operations.
We may issue preferred stock whose terms could adversely affect the voting power or value of our Class A common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue, without the approval of our stockholders,
one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, including
preferences over our Class A common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as our board of directors may determine. The
terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could adversely impact the voting power or value of our Class A
common stock. For example, we might grant holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of our directors in all
events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption
rights or liquidation preferences we might assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of the Class A
common stock.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole
and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit
our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or
agents.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an
alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the
sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of
breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action
asserting a claim against us or any director or officer or other employee or agent of ours arising pursuant to any provision of the
Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws,
or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us or any director or officer or other employee or agent of ours that is governed by the
internal affairs doctrine, in each such case subject to such Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable
parties named as defendants therein.
The exclusive forum provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. To the extent that any such
claims may be based upon federal law claims, Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits
brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore,
Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any
duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation or similar
governing documents has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find the choice of forum
provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable, including with
respect to claims arising under the U.S. federal securities laws.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of
our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of, and consented to, the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation described in the preceding sentence. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a
claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may
discourage such lawsuits against us and such persons. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and
restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions
or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely
affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure
We are a holding company. Our sole material asset consists of SES Holdings LLC Units, and accordingly, we are dependent
upon distributions and payments from SES Holdings to pay taxes, make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements and
cover our corporate and other overhead expenses.
We are a holding company and have no material assets other than our equity interest in SES Holdings. We have no
independent means of generating revenue. To the extent SES Holdings has available cash, we intend to cause SES Holdings to
make (i) generally pro rata distributions to its unitholders, including us, in an amount at least sufficient to allow us to pay our
taxes and to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements that we entered into in connection with our restructuring at
the Select 144A Offering and any subsequent tax receivable agreements that we may enter into in connection with future
acquisitions and (ii) non-pro rata payments to us to reimburse us for our corporate and other overhead expenses. We will be
limited, however, in our ability to cause SES Holdings and its subsidiaries to make these and other distributions or payments to us
due to certain limitations, including the restrictions under our Credit Agreement and the cash requirements and financial
condition of SES Holdings. To the extent that we need funds and SES Holdings or its subsidiaries are restricted from making
such distributions or payments under applicable law or regulations or under the terms of their financing arrangements or are
otherwise unable to provide such funds, our liquidity and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We will be required to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements for certain tax benefits we may claim, and the
amounts of such payments could be significant.
In connection with our restructuring at the Select 144A Offering, we entered into the Tax Receivable Agreements with
certain affiliates of the then-holders of SES Holdings LLC Units (each such person and any permitted transferee thereof, a “TRA
Holder,” and together, the “TRA Holders”) which generally provide for the payment by us to the TRA Holders of 85% of the net
cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax that we actually realize (computed using simplifying
assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) or are deemed to realize in certain circumstances as a result of certain
tax basis increases, net operating losses available to us as a result of certain reorganization transactions entered into in connection
with the Select 144A Offering, and certain tax benefits attributable to imputed interest. We will retain the benefit of the
remaining 15% of these cash savings.
The term of each Tax Receivable Agreement commenced upon the completion of the Select 144A Offering and will
continue until all tax benefits that are subject to such Tax Receivable Agreement have been utilized or expired, unless we
exercise our right to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreements (or the Tax Receivable Agreements are terminated due to other
circumstances, including our breach of a material obligation thereunder or certain mergers or other changes of control) and we
make the termination payment specified in the Tax Receivable Agreements. In addition, payments we make under the Tax
Receivable Agreements will be increased by any interest accrued from the due date (without extensions) of the corresponding tax
return. In the event that the Tax Receivable Agreements are not terminated and we have sufficient taxable income to utilize all of
the tax benefits subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements, the payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement entered into
with Legacy Owner Holdco and Crestview GP are expected to commence at a yet to be determined future date, and until the
benefits of the last exchange of SES Holdings LLC Units are realized or expire, and the payments due under the Tax Receivable
Agreement entered into with certain Legacy Owners are expected to commence at a yet to be determined future date, and to
continue until the benefits of the exchanges are realized or expire.
The payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreements are our obligations and not obligations of SES
Holdings, and we expect that the payments we will be required to make under the Tax Receivable Agreements will be substantial.
Estimating the amount and timing of payments that may become due under the Tax Receivable Agreements is by its nature
imprecise. For purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreements, cash savings in tax generally will be calculated by comparing our
actual tax liability (using the actual applicable U.S. federal income tax rate and an assumed combined state and local income and
franchise tax rate) to the amount we would have been required to pay had we not been able to utilize any of the tax benefits
subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements. The amounts payable, as well as the timing of any payments, under the Tax
Receivable Agreements are dependent upon future events and significant assumptions, including the timing of the exchanges of
SES Holdings LLC Units, the market price of our Class A
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common stock at the time of each exchange (since such market price will determine the amount of tax basis increases resulting
from the exchange), the extent to which such exchanges are taxable transactions, the amount of the exchanging unitholder’s tax
basis in its SES Holdings LLC Units at the time of the relevant exchange, the depreciation and amortization periods that apply to
the increase in tax basis, the amount of net operating losses available to us as a result of reorganization transactions entered into
in connection with the Select 144A Offering, the amount and timing of taxable income we generate in the future, the U.S. federal
income tax rate then applicable, and the portion of our payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements that constitute imputed
interest or give rise to depreciable or amortizable tax basis.
Certain of the TRA Holders’ rights under the Tax Receivable Agreements are transferable in connection with a
permitted transfer of SES Holdings LLC Units or if the TRA Holder no longer holds SES Holdings LLC Units. The payments
under the Tax Receivable Agreements are not conditioned upon the continued ownership interest in either SES Holdings or us of
any holder of rights under the Tax Receivable Agreements. See “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and
Director Independence.”
In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual
benefits, if any, we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements.
If we elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreements early or they are terminated early due to our failure to honor a
material obligation thereunder or due to certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of
control, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreements would accelerate and we would be required to make an immediate
payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future payments to be made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreements
(determined by applying a discount rate of the lesser of 6.50% per annum, compounded annually, or one-year London Interbank
Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 100 basis points); and such payment is expected to be substantial. The calculation of anticipated
future payments will be based upon certain assumptions and deemed events set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreements,
including (i) the assumption that we have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable
Agreements, (ii) the assumption that any SES Holdings LLC Units (other than those held by us) outstanding on the termination
date are exchanged on the termination date and (iii) certain loss or credit carryovers will be utilized in the taxable year that
includes the termination date. Any early termination payment may be made significantly in advance of the actual realization, if
any, of the future tax benefits to which the termination payment relates.
As a result of either an early termination or a “change of control” (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreements, as
amended), we could be required to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements that exceed our actual cash tax savings
under the Tax Receivable Agreements. In these situations, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreements could have a
substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset
sales or other forms of business combinations or changes of control. For example, if the Tax Receivable Agreements were
terminated on December 31, 2020, the estimated termination payments would have been approximately $69.8 million (calculated
using a discount rate equal to the lesser of 6.50% per annum, compounded annually, or one-year LIBOR plus 100 basis points,
applied against an undiscounted liability of $77.0 million, based upon the last reported closing sale price of our Class A common
stock on December 31, 2020) in the aggregate. The foregoing number is merely an estimate and the actual payment could differ
materially. There can be no assurance that we will be able to finance our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreements.
Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements will be based on the tax reporting positions that we will determine. The
TRA Holders will not reimburse us for any payments previously made under the Tax Receivable Agreements if any tax benefits
that have given rise to payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements are subsequently disallowed, except that excess payments
made to the TRA Holders will be netted against payments that would otherwise be made to the TRA Holders, if any, after our
determination of such excess. As a result, in such circumstances, we could make payments that are greater than our actual cash
tax savings, if any, and may not be able to recoup those payments, which could adversely affect our liquidity. See “Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
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If SES Holdings were to become a publicly-traded partnership taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
we and SES Holdings might be subject to potentially significant tax inefficiencies, and we would not be able to recover
payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreements even if the corresponding tax benefits were
subsequently determined to have been unavailable due to such status.
We intend to operate such that SES Holdings does not become a publicly-traded partnership taxable as a corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. A “publicly-traded partnership” is a partnership, the interests of which are traded on an
established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. Under certain
circumstances, exchanges of SES Holdings LLC Units for shares of our Class A common stock or cash pursuant to the Eighth
Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SES Holdings (the “SES Holdings LLC Agreement”) or other
transfers of SES Holdings LLC Units could cause SES Holdings to be treated as a publicly-traded partnership. Applicable U.S.
Treasury regulations provide for certain safe harbors from treatment as a publicly-traded partnership, and we intend to operate
such that exchanges or other transfers of SES Holdings LLC Units qualify for one or more such safe harbors. For example, we
intend to limit the number of unitholders of SES Holdings and Legacy Owner Holdco, and the SES Holdings LLC Agreement
provides for limitations on the ability of unitholders of SES Holdings to transfer their SES Holdings LLC Units and will provide
us, as managing member of SES Holdings, with the right to impose restrictions (in addition to those already in place) on the
ability of unitholders of SES Holdings to exchange their SES Holdings LLC Units pursuant to the SES Holdings LLC Agreement
to the extent we believe it is necessary to ensure that SES Holdings will continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. If SES Holdings were to become a publicly-traded partnership, significant tax inefficiencies might result for
us and for SES Holdings. In addition, we may not be able to realize tax benefits covered under the Tax Receivable Agreements,
and we would not be able to recover any payments previously made by us under the Tax Receivable Agreements, even if the
corresponding tax benefits (including any claimed increase in the tax basis of SES Holdings’ assets) were subsequently
determined to have been unavailable.
Legacy Owner Holdco and the Legacy Owners may have interests that conflict with the interests of holders of the Class A
common stock.
Legacy Owner Holdco owns approximately 15.7% of the outstanding SES Holdings LLC Units. Because it holds a
portion of its ownership interest in our business in the form of direct ownership interests in SES Holdings rather than through us,
Legacy Owner Holdco may have conflicting interests with holders of shares of Class A common stock. For example, Legacy
Owner Holdco may have different tax positions from us, and decisions we make in the course of running our business, such as
with respect to mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes in control, may affect the timing and
amount of payments that are received by the TRA Holders under the Tax Receivable Agreements. See “Item 13. Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.”
Our ability to use Rockwater’s net operating loss carryforwards may be limited.
As of December 31, 2020, Rockwater had approximately $105.1 million of NOLs, which will begin to expire in 2035,
approximately $62.6 million of state NOLs which will begin to expire in 2023, and approximately $6.5 million of foreign NOLs,
which will begin to expire in 2037. Utilization of these NOLs depends on many factors, including our future income, which
cannot be assured. In addition, Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), generally imposes
an annual limitation on the amount of NOLs that may be used to offset taxable income when a corporation has undergone an
“ownership change” (as determined under Section 382 of the Code). An ownership change generally occurs if one or more
stockholders (or groups of stockholders) who are each deemed to own at least 5% of the relevant corporation’s stock change their
ownership by more than 50 percentage points over their lowest ownership percentage within a rolling three-year period. In the
event that an ownership change has occurred, or were to occur, utilization of the NOLs would be subject to an annual limitation
under Section 382 of the Code, determined by multiplying the value of the relevant corporation’s stock at the time of the
ownership change by the applicable long-term tax-exempt rate as defined in Section 382 of the Code, and potentially increased
for certain gains recognized within five years after the ownership change if we have a net built-in gain in our assets at the time of
the ownership change. Any unused annual limitation may be carried over to later years until they expire. Rockwater experienced
an ownership change in connection with the Rockwater Merger. As a result, some or all of our U.S. federal, state or foreign
NOLs could expire before they can be used. In addition, future ownership changes or changes to the U.S. tax laws could limit
52
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our ability to utilize our NOLs. To the extent we are not able to offset our future income with our NOLs, this would adversely
affect our operating results and cash flows if we attain profitability.
General Risks
We may not be able to finance future growth of our operations or future acquisitions, which could adversely affect our
operations and financial position.
The successful execution of our growth strategy depends on our ability to generate sufficient cash flows and our access
to capital, both of which are impacted by numerous factors beyond our control, including financial, business, economic and other
factors, such as volatility in commodity prices and pressure from competitors. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows
or obtain additional capital on favorable terms or at all, we may be unable to continue growing our business, conduct necessary
corporate activities, take advantage of business opportunities that arise or engage in activities that may be in our long-term best
interest, which may adversely impact our ability to sustain or improve our current level of profitability.
The growth of our business through acquisitions may expose us to various risks, including those relating to difficulties in
identifying suitable, accretive acquisition opportunities and integrating businesses, assets and personnel, as well as difficulties
in obtaining financing for targeted acquisitions and the potential for increased leverage or debt service requirements.
As a component of our business strategy, we intend to pursue selected, accretive acquisitions of complementary assets,
businesses and technologies. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including:
●
●
●
●
●
●
unanticipated costs and assumption of liabilities and exposure to unforeseen liabilities of the acquired business,
including but not limited to environmental liabilities;
difficulties in integrating the operations and assets of the acquired business and the acquired personnel;
limitations on our ability to properly assess and maintain an effective internal control environment over an acquired
business;
potential losses of key employees and customers of the acquired business;
risks of entering markets in which we have limited prior experience; and
increases in our expenses and working capital requirements.
In evaluating acquisitions, we generally prepare one or more financial cases based on a number of business, industry,
economic, legal, regulatory and other assumptions applicable to the proposed transaction. Although we expect a reasonable basis
will exist for those assumptions, the assumptions will generally involve current estimates of future conditions. Realization of
many of the assumptions will be beyond our control. Moreover, the uncertainty and risk of inaccuracy associated with any
financial projection will increase with the length of the forecasted period. Some acquisitions may not be accretive in the near term
and will be accretive in the long term only if we are able to timely and effectively integrate the underlying assets and such assets
perform at or near the levels anticipated in our acquisition projections.
The process of integrating an acquired business may involve unforeseen costs and delays or other operational, technical
and financial difficulties and may require a significant amount of time and resources. Our failure to successfully incorporate the
acquired business and assets into our existing operations or to minimize any unforeseen operational difficulties could have a
material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, there is intense competition for
acquisition opportunities in our industry. Competition for acquisitions may increase the cost of, or cause us to refrain from,
completing acquisitions.
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In addition, we may not have sufficient capital resources to complete any additional acquisitions. We may incur
substantial indebtedness to finance future acquisitions and also may issue equity, debt or convertible securities in connection with
such acquisitions. Debt service requirements could represent a significant burden on our results of operations and financial
condition and the issuance of additional equity or convertible securities could be dilutive to our existing stockholders.
Furthermore, we may not be able to obtain additional financing on satisfactory terms. Even if we have access to the necessary
capital, we may be unable to continue to identify suitable acquisition opportunities, negotiate acceptable terms or successfully
acquire identified targets.
Our success depends on key members of our management, the loss of any of whom could disrupt our business operations.
We depend to a large extent on the services of some of our executive officers. The loss of the services of one or more of
our key executives could increase our exposure to the other risks described in this “Risk Factors” section. We do not maintain
key person insurance on any of our personnel.
We may be required to take write-downs of the carrying values of our long-lived assets and finite-lived intangible assets.
We evaluate our long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, and finite-lived intangible assets for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. Recoverability is
measured by a comparison of their carrying amount to the estimated undiscounted cash flows to be generated by those assets.
Based on specific market factors and circumstances at the time of prospective impairment reviews and the continuing evaluation
of development plans, economics and other factors, we may be required to write down the carrying value of our long-lived and
finite-lived intangible assets. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we recorded $7.9 million of abandonment charges to write
down the carrying value of our long-lived assets and $9.1 million of impairment charges to write down the carrying value of our
trademarks. We did not record an impairment on our definite-lived intangible assets.
We may be required to take a write-down of the carrying value of goodwill.
We had no goodwill as of December 31, 2020, but we could add goodwill in the future in connection with business
combinations. We conduct our annual goodwill impairment assessment during the fourth quarter of each year, or more frequently
if an event or circumstance indicates that the carrying value of a reporting unit may exceed the fair value. When possible
impairment is indicated, we value the implied goodwill to compare it with the carrying amount of goodwill. If the carrying
amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment charge is recorded. The fair value of goodwill is based on
estimates and assumptions applied by us such as revenue growth rates, operating margins, weighted-average costs of capital,
market multiples, and future market conditions and as affected by numerous factors, including the general economic environment
and levels of exploration and production activity of oil and gas companies, our financial performance and trends, and our
strategies and business plans, among others. As a result of this annual impairment assessment, we may be required to write down
the carrying value of goodwill. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we recorded $4.4 million of goodwill impairment in
connection with the Affirm reporting unit based on the then-expected proceeds from the sale of our Affirm business. For the year
ended December 31, 2020, we impaired $266.9 million of goodwill in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We lease space for our principal executive offices in Houston and Gainesville, Texas and we also lease local office
space in the regions in which we operate. Additionally, we own and lease numerous storage facilities, trucking
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facilities and sales and administrative offices throughout the geographic areas in which we operate. In connection with our
Oilfield Chemicals segment, we own one primary manufacturing facility in Texas and two regional distribution centers, and we
lease two regional distribution centers through which we provide products to our customers in all major U.S. shale basins. Our
leased properties are subject to various lease terms and expirations.
We believe all the properties that we currently occupy are suitable for their intended uses. We believe that our current
facilities are sufficient to conduct our operations. However, we continue to evaluate the purchase or lease of additional properties
or the sale or consolidation of our properties, as our business requires.
The following table shows our active leased and owned properties categorized by segment as of December 31, 2020:
Region
Leased
Owned
Water
Services
Water
Infrastructure
Oilfield
Chemicals
Corporate
& Other
Total
42
12
54
—
4
4
6
9
15
3
—
3
51
25
76
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely against us, individually or in the
aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We are, however,
named defendants in certain lawsuits, investigations and claims arising in the ordinary course of conducting our business,
including certain environmental claims and employee-related matters, and we expect that we will be named defendants in similar
lawsuits, investigations and claims in the future. While the outcome of these lawsuits, investigations and claims cannot be
predicted with certainty, we do not expect these matters to have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations,
cash flows or financial condition. We have not assumed any liabilities arising out of these existing lawsuits, investigations and
claims.
As previously disclosed, certain subsidiaries acquired in the Rockwater Merger are under investigation by the U.S.
Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is alleged that certain
employees at some of the facilities altered emissions controls systems on less than 5% of the vehicles in the fleet in violation of
the Clean Air Act. The Company is continuing to cooperate with the relevant authorities to resolve the matter, and while at this
time no administrative, civil or criminal charges have been brought against the Company, the Company accrued $4.3 million
related to the settlement of this investigation and made payments of $1.7 million related to this accrual during 2020. The
Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of this matter will be material to the Company’s financial statements.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “WTTR.”
As of February 22, 2021 there were 131 stockholders of record of our Class A common stock.
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Dividend Policy
We have not previously paid dividends to holders of our Class A common stock. We currently intend to retain future
earnings, if any, to finance the expansion of our business and repay any debt we may incur. While we have no current intention of
declaring or paying any cash dividends to holders of our Class A common stock in the near future, our dividend policy is
periodically reviewed. Our future dividend policy is within the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon then-
existing conditions, including our results of operations and financial condition, capital requirements, business prospects, statutory
and contractual restrictions on our ability to pay dividends, including restrictions contained in our Credit Agreement and other
factors our board of directors may deem relevant.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
Our only equity compensation plans are the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2016
Plan”) and the Select Energy Services, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"). The 2016 Plan was approved by our
stockholders prior to our initial public offering but has not been approved by our public stockholders; however, the first
amendment to the 2016 Plan was approved by our public stockholders in October 2017 and the second amendment to the 2016
Plan was approved by our public stockholders in May 2020. The ESPP was approved by our stockholders on May 4, 2018. See
Note 12—Equity-Based Compensation for a description of our equity compensation plans.
The following table provides information about our Class A common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation
plans as of December 31, 2020.
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights(1)
Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance
under equity compensation
plans (excluding securities
reflected in column (a))(2)
(a)
(b)
(c)
3,519,159
$16.11
—
3,519,159
—
$16.11
3,810,684
—
3,810,684
Plan Category
Equity compensation plans
approved by security holders
Equity compensation plans not
approved by security holders
Total
(1)
(2)
Only stock options have an exercise price.
This column reflects the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock (i) subject to outstanding rights under the
ESPP and (ii) remaining available for issuance under the 2016 Plan and the ESPP. Shares remaining available under the
2016 Plan may be issued other than with respect to options, warrants or rights.
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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
October 1 through October 31, 2020
November 1 through November 30, 2020
December 1 through December 31, 2020
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
Average Price
Paid per Share(1)
Approximate Dollar Value of
Shares that May Yet be Purchased
Under the Plans or Programs(2)
— $
— $
— $
— $
— $
— $
2,377,345
2,377,345
2,377,345
(1) The average price paid per share includes commissions.
(2) During 2019 and 2018, our board of directors approved programs permitting the Company to repurchase a portion of its
outstanding shares of Class A common stock in the open market not to exceed $45.0 million in the aggregate.
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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table presents our selected historical data for the periods and as of the dates indicated. The statement of
operations data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 and balance sheet data as of December 31,
2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 were derived from our audited historical consolidated financial statements. The historical
selected financial data should be read in conjunction with “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in
“Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
2020
2019
Year Ended December 31,
2018
(in thousands)
2017
2016
Revenue
Water services
Water infrastructure
Oilfield chemicals
Other
Total revenue
Costs of revenue
Water services
Water infrastructure
Oilfield chemicals
Other
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs of revenue
Gross (loss) profit
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Impairment of goodwill and trademark
Impairment and abandonment of property
and equipment
Impairment of cost-method investment
Lease abandonment costs
Total operating expenses
(Loss) income from operations
Other (expense) income
(Losses) gains on sales of property and
equipment and divestitures, net
Interest expense, net
Foreign currency gain (loss), net
Other (expense) income, net
(Loss) income before income tax benefit
(expense)
Income tax benefit (expense)
Net (loss) income
Less: net loss attributable to SES Holdings
Less: net loss (income) attributable to
noncontrolling interests
Net (loss) income attributable to Select Energy
Services, Inc.
Allocation of net (loss) income attributable to:
Class A stockholders
Class A-1 stockholders
Class A-2 stockholders
Class B stockholders
$
$
$
$
$
319,766
125,356
159,983
—
605,105
291,734
99,546
143,550
740
98,800
634,370
(29,265)
74,364
2,872
276,016
7,910
—
4,350
365,512
(394,777)
(2,815)
(2,136)
39
(3,519)
(403,208)
1,476
(401,732)
$
772,311
221,593
268,614
29,071
1,291,589
598,405
166,962
230,434
30,239
116,809
1,142,849
148,740
111,622
3,860
4,396
3,715
—
2,073
125,666
23,074
(11,626)
(2,688)
273
(2,948)
6,085
(1,949)
4,136
$
896,783
230,115
259,791
142,241
1,528,930
681,546
160,072
233,454
124,839
130,537
1,330,448
198,482
103,156
3,176
17,894
6,657
2,000
3,925
136,808
61,674
3,804
(5,311)
(1,292)
(2,872)
56,003
(1,704)
54,299
$
418,869
163,328
41,586
68,708
692,491
317,262
120,510
37,024
58,270
101,645
634,711
57,780
82,403
1,804
—
—
—
3,572
87,779
(29,999)
2,726
(6,629)
281
(2,357)
(35,978)
851
(35,127)
216,550
52,054
—
33,795
302,399
176,954
45,455
—
29,098
95,020
346,527
(44,128)
34,643
2,087
138,666
60,026
—
19,423
254,845
(298,973)
97
(16,128)
—
532
(314,472)
524
(313,948)
306,481
—
—
—
—
63,048
(1,352)
(17,787)
18,311
6,424
(338,684)
$
2,784
$
36,512
$
(16,816)
$
(1,043)
2,784
$
—
—
—
$
2,784
35,720
—
792
—
36,512
$
(12,560)
(3,691)
(565)
—
(16,816)
$
(199)
(844)
—
—
(1,043)
$
(338,684)
—
—
—
$
(338,684)
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Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Class A—Basic
Class A-1—Basic
Class A-2—Basic
Class B—Basic
Class A—Diluted
Class A-1—Diluted
Class A-2—Diluted
Class B—Diluted
Net (loss) income per share attributable to
common stockholders:
Class A—Basic
Class A-1—Basic
Class A-2—Basic
Class B—Basic
Class A—Diluted
Class A-1—Diluted
Class A-2—Diluted
Class B—Diluted
Statement of Cash Flow Data:
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
Balance Sheet Data (at period end):
Cash and cash equivalents
Total assets
Long-term liabilities
Other Financial Data:
EBITDA(1)
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2020
2019
Year Ended December 31,
2018
(in thousands)
2017
2016
85,158,764
80,176,323
72,403,318
24,612,853
—
—
—
—
—
1,604,575
7,233,973
1,106,605
16,221,101
23,806,646
31,986,438
38,768,156
85,158,764
80,671,329
72,642,147
24,612,853
—
—
16,221,101
—
—
—
23,806,646
1,604,575
31,986,438
7,233,973
1,106,605
38,768,156
3,802,972
16,100,000
—
38,462,541
3,802,972
16,100,000
—
38,462,541
(3.98)
$
— $
— $
— $
(3.98)
$
— $
— $
— $
0.03
$
— $
— $
— $
0.03
$
— $
— $
— $
0.49
$
— $
0.49
$
— $
0.49
$
— $
$
0.49
— $
(0.51)
(0.51)
$
$
(0.51)
$
— $
(0.51)
(0.51)
(0.51)
$
$
$
— $
(0.05)
(0.05)
—
—
(0.05)
(0.05)
—
—
105,810
(5,393)
(10,710)
169,039
875,359
80,719
(299,400)
20,905
$
$
$
$
$
203,948
(77,357)
(64,690)
79,268
1,347,620
82,927
232,409
(168,361)
(49,293)
17,237
1,360,605
70,113
(unaudited)
129,442
182,732
$
195,027
257,619
$
$
$
(2,899)
(156,731)
122,397
2,774
1,356,368
107,806
74,100
117,262
$
$
$
5,131
(26,955)
45,560
40,041
405,066
23,974
(201,237)
16,944
(1) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP (as defined below) financial measures. We define EBITDA as net
income/(loss), plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as
EBITDA plus/(minus) loss/(income) from discontinued operations, plus any impairment charges or asset write-offs pursuant
to accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”), plus non-cash losses on the sale of assets or subsidiaries,
non-recurring compensation expense, non-cash compensation expense, and non-recurring or unusual expenses or charges,
including severance expenses, transaction costs, or facilities-related exit and disposal-related expenditures and plus/(minus)
foreign currency losses/(gains). The adjustments to EBITDA are generally consistent with such adjustments described in our
Credit Facility. Our board of directors, management and investors use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to assess our
financial performance because it allows them to compare our operating performance on a consistent basis across periods by
removing the effects of our capital structure (such as varying levels of interest expense), asset base (such as depreciation and
amortization) and non-recurring items outside the control of our management team. We present EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA
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because we believe they provide useful information regarding the factors and trends affecting our business in addition to
measures calculated under GAAP.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA each have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered as alternatives to
net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented
in accordance with GAAP. Other companies in our industry may calculate EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA differently,
limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
The following table shows a reconciliation of (i) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as applicable, to the most directly
comparable GAAP measure, net loss.
Net (loss) income
Interest expense, net
Income tax (benefit) expense
Depreciation and amortization
EBITDA
Impairment of goodwill and trademark(1)
Non-cash loss on sale of assets or subsidiaries(2)
Impairment and abandonment of property and
equipment(1)
Non-recurring severance expenses(1)
Non-cash compensation expenses
Non-recurring transaction costs(3)
Lease abandonment costs(1)
Yard closure costs related to consolidating operations(1)
Other non-recurring charges(3)
Foreign currency (gain) loss, net
Non-recurring change in vacation policy(4)
Impairment of cost-method investment
Non-recurring phantom equity and IPO-related
compensation
Adjusted EBITDA
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2017
2016
2020
$ (401,732)
2,136
(1,476)
101,672
(299,400)
276,016
9,767
2019
(in thousands)
4,136
$
2,688
1,949
120,669
129,442
4,396
21,679
$ 54,299
5,311
1,704
133,713
195,027
17,894
3,775
$ (35,127) $ (313,948)
16,128
(524)
97,107
(201,237)
138,666
(97)
6,629
(851)
103,449
74,100
—
1,740
7,910
7,168
5,764
4,439
4,350
2,961
1,969
(39)
—
—
3,715
1,691
15,485
4,697
2,073
—
(173)
(273)
—
—
6,657
1,220
10,371
7,809
3,925
—
4,755
1,292
2,894
2,000
—
4,161
7,691
10,179
3,572
—
3,563
(281)
—
—
60,026
886
(487)
(236)
19,423
—
—
—
—
—
—
20,905
—
$ 182,732
—
$ 257,619
12,537
$ 117,262
$
$
—
16,944
(1) For 2020, these costs were due to the significant adverse change to the demand for the Company’s services in connection
with a sharp decline in the price of oil. For 2019, these costs were due primarily to the dissolution of our divested service
lines. For 2018, these costs are associated with severance incurred in connection with the retirement of our former Chief
Administrative Officer as well as the termination of certain Canadian employees. For 2017, these costs are associated with
severance incurred in connection with the Rockwater Merger. For 2016, these costs are associated with the reduction in
headcount as a result of an industry downturn.
(2) For 2020, the losses were primarily due to sales of underutilized or obsolete property and equipment. For 2019, these costs
primarily related to losses on divestitures and related sales of property and equipment in connection with the wind-down of
former services lines. For 2018 and 2017, losses were in connection with sales of property and equipment.
(3) For 2020, these costs were primarily related to certain subsidiaries acquired in the Rockwater Merger as well as legal related
due diligence costs. For 2019, these costs primarily related to the dissolution of our divested service lines as well as certain
rebranding costs. For 2018, these costs are primarily related to the Rockwater Merger. For 2017, these costs are primarily
associated with the Rockwater Merger and GRR Acquisition. For 2016, these transaction costs are associated with our
evaluation and negotiation of various transactions that never materialized.
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(4) For 2018, these costs represent a one-time accrual to allow for carryover of unused vacation. Previously, any unused
vacation was forfeited at year-end.
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction
with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based on our current expectations that involve risks and
uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of
various factors as described under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors.” We
assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
Overview
We are a leading provider of comprehensive water-management and chemical solutions to the oil and gas industry in the
United States (“U.S.”). We also develop, manufacture and deliver a full suite of chemical products for use in oil and gas well
completion and production operations. As a leader in the water solutions industry, we place the utmost importance on safe,
environmentally responsible management of oilfield water throughout the lifecycle of a well. Additionally, we believe that
responsibly managing water resources through our operations to help conserve and protect the environment in the communities in
which we operate is paramount to our continued success.
In many regions of the country, there has been growing concern about the volumes of water required for new oil and gas
well completions. Working with our customers and local communities, we strive to be an industry leader in the development of
cost-effective alternatives to fresh water. Specifically, we offer services that enable our E&P customers to treat and reuse
produced water, thereby reducing the demand for fresh water while also reducing the volumes of saltwater that must be disposed
by injection. In many areas, we have also acquired sources of non-potable water, such as brackish water or municipal or industrial
effluent. Through our expertise in chemical technologies and our FluidMatch™ design solutions, we provide water profiling and
fluid assessment services for our customers to support the optimization of their fluid systems, enabling the economic use of these
alternative sources. We also work with our E&P customers to reduce the environmental footprint of their operations through the
use of temporary hose and permanent pipeline systems, which are supported by extensive monitoring and automation technology
solutions that provide safer and more efficient water resource management. These solutions significantly reduce the demand for
trucking operations, thereby reducing gasoline and diesel exhaust emissions, increasing safety and decreasing traffic congestion
in nearby communities.
Recent Trends and Outlook
Significant challenges that emerged during the year ended December 31, 2020, and that are expected to continue, have
had and will likely continue to have a negative impact on our results of operations. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused
significant disruptions in global oil demand and impacted economic growth in the U.S. as well as internationally. In response,
volatility in financial markets has also significantly increased, making it more difficult for companies to access capital at a
reasonable cost. As a result of these market disruptions, oilfield activity has declined significantly, and our 2020 results have
been negatively impacted. With continued production cuts from OPEC, combined with some recovery in oil demand during the
second half of 2020, the average West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) price per barrel increased from $36.58 during the first half of
2020 to an average price of $41.70 per barrel in the second half of 2020 and $48.35 at 2020 year-end. In conjunction with
improved oil prices, we began to see improving activity levels throughout the second half of 2020 and anticipate continued
activity improvements in 2021 relative to the levels seen in the second half of 2020. However, we do not anticipate an immediate
recovery to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and can make no assurance that any further recovery will continue into the future.
We believe the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations have had, and will likely continue to
have, a material negative impact on our financial results, and such negative impact may continue well beyond the containment of
the pandemic until economies, associated oil demand and resulting oilfield activity recovers. We believe global oil demand is
expected to remain challenged at least until the COVID-19 pandemic can be contained, and any material increases to oil supply in
the near-term could further challenge oil prices and subsequently the activity
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levels of our customers and the resulting demand for our services. We cannot provide assurance that our assumptions used to
estimate our future financial results will be correct given the unpredictable nature of the current market environment after the
rapid decline in the demand for oil and demand for our services. As a consequence, our ability to accurately forecast our activity
and profitability is uncertain.
The magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic is also uncertain. Therefore, we cannot estimate the impact on
our business, financial condition or near- or longer-term financial or operational results with reasonable certainty. We have taken
further actions to protect our balance sheet and maintain our liquidity, including significantly decreasing our operating expenses
by reducing headcount, reducing salaries and director compensation, closing yard locations, idling facilities, reducing third-party
expenses and streamlining operations, as well as reducing capital expenditures. We are also deferring employer payroll tax
payments in accordance with the provisions of the CARES Act, and may take advantage of future legislation passed by the
United States Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this environment, the duration of which remains uncertain, the
Company has planned for a range of scenarios and has taken a number of actions. To protect our workforce during the COVID-
19 pandemic, we have taken steps to support our people who are affected by the disease, manage work-from-home scheduling as
appropriate, limit on-site visitors, and monitor and consistently communicate with those who are required to be at a work
location, while also providing these employees with additional personal protective equipment.
Based on our current cash and cash equivalents balance, operating cash flow, available borrowings under our Credit
Agreement and the ongoing actions discussed above, we believe that we will be able to maintain sufficient liquidity to satisfy our
obligations and remain in compliance with our existing debt covenants for the next twelve months, prior to giving effect to any
future financing that may occur.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the average spot price of WTI crude oil was $39.16 versus an average price
of $56.98 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The average Henry Hub natural gas spot price during the year ended December
31, 2020, was $2.04 versus an average of $2.57 for the year ended December 31, 2019. The significant decline in oil and gas
prices in 2020 relative to 2019, as well as the oil pricing volatility driven by market dislocation, has been driven largely by
decreased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as increased utilization of existing storage capacity, which has
resulted in many of our E&P customers being forced to shut-in production for some time period. Much of this shut-in production
has since come back online during the second half of 2020.
Many of our customers have also pledged to prioritize managing their capital spending to within cash flow from
operations, with some targeting reinvestment rates below 80% of their 2019 budgets, and this trend may extend beyond 2020.
Consolidation among our customers and decreases in our customers’ capital budgeting can impact the size of our market in the
near term and the resulting demand for our services. In light of these factors, combined with the downward revisions made to
many of our customers’ respective annual capital budgets and financial outlooks, this has led to decreased activity for us relative
to prior-year levels. Additionally, the current market environment may make it challenging for distressed oil and gas companies
to resolve their debt covenant and liquidity challenges in the near-term, potentially resulting in a number of restructuring
activities, including bankruptcies, in the industry. While we see no immediate need for additional capital given our liquidity
position, this difficulty in accessing capital markets may negatively impact some of our highly leveraged customers and
competitors.
Outside of the macroeconomic challenges, from an operational standpoint, many of the recent trends still apply to
ongoing unconventional oil and gas development. For example, while we believe leading-edge lateral lengths and proppant use
are plateauing, the average operator continues to catch up to this leading edge and many smaller operators with less robust
completion designs may be challenged in this environment. The continued trend towards multi-well pad development, executed
within a limited time frame, has increased the overall complexity of well completions, while increasing frac efficiency and the
use of lower-cost in-basin sand, all of which has decreased total costs for our customers.
This multi-well pad development, combined with recent upstream acreage consolidation and the emerging trends around
the reuse applications of produced water, particularly in the Permian Basin, provides significant opportunity for companies like
us that can deliver increasingly complex solutions for our E&P customers across the full
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completion and production lifecycle of wells. However, we note the continued efficiency gains in the well completions process
can limit the days we spend on the wellsite and therefore, negatively impact the total revenue opportunity for certain of our
services utilizing day-rate pricing models.
The trend of increased use of produced water will require additional chemical treatment solutions, which we are well
positioned to provide given our water treatment capabilities, our WCS team and our knowledge base within our Oilfield
Chemicals segment. This trend also supports more complex “on the fly” solutions that treat, proportion, and blend various
streams of water and chemicals at the wellsite. This complexity favors service companies able to provide advanced technology
solutions that are able to economically compete with alternative historical solutions.
Regardless of these operational trends, the current environment is one of the most challenging in decades for the oilfield
services industry due to the large and sudden decline in oil demand and consequent decline in oil prices. Many operators are
prioritizing decreases in their activity levels and pursuing near-term cost savings, which negatively impacts the demand and
pricing for our services.
Our Segments
Our services are offered through three reportable segments: (i) Water Services; (ii) Water Infrastructure; and (iii)
Oilfield Chemicals.
● Water Services. The Water Services segment consists of the Company’s services businesses, including water
transfer, flowback and well testing, fluids hauling, water containment and water network automation, primarily
serving E&P companies. Additionally, this segment includes the operations of our accommodations and rentals
business.
● Water Infrastructure. The Water Infrastructure segment consists of the Company’s infrastructure assets, including
operations associated with our water sourcing and pipeline infrastructure, our water recycling solutions and
infrastructure, and our produced water gathering systems and saltwater disposal wells, primarily serving E&P
companies.
● Oilfield Chemicals. The Oilfield Chemicals segment provides technical solutions and expertise related to chemical
applications in the oil and gas industry. We also have significant capabilities in supplying logistics for chemical
applications. We develop, manufacture and provide a full suite of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing,
stimulation, cementing, production, pipelines and well completions. Given the breadth of chemicals and application
expertise we provide, our customers range from pressure pumpers to major integrated and independent U.S. and
international oil and gas producers. This segment also utilizes its chemical experience and lab testing capabilities to
customize tailored water treatment solutions designed to maximize the effectiveness of and optimize the
efficiencies of the fracturing fluid system in conjunction with the quality of water used in well completions.
The results of our divested service lines that were previously a part of our former Wellsite Services segment, including
the operations of our Affirm subsidiary, our sand hauling operations and our Canadian operations are combined in the “Other”
category. As of December 31, 2019, these operations have ceased.
How We Generate Revenue
We currently generate the majority of our revenue through our water-management services associated with hydraulic
fracturing, provided through our Water Services and Water Infrastructure segments. The majority of this revenue is realized
through customer agreements with fixed pricing terms and is recognized when delivery of services is provided, generally at our
customers’ sites. While we have some long-term pricing arrangements, particularly in our Water Infrastructure segment, most of
our water and water-related services are priced based on prevailing market conditions, giving due consideration to the specific
requirements of the customer.
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We also generate revenue by providing completion, specialty chemicals and production chemicals through our Oilfield
Chemicals segment. We invoice the majority of our Oilfield Chemicals customers for services provided based on the quantity of
chemicals used or pursuant to short-term contracts as the customers’ needs arise.
Costs of Conducting Our Business
The principal expenses involved in conducting our business are labor costs, vehicle and equipment costs (including
depreciation, repair, rental and maintenance and leasing costs), raw materials and water sourcing costs and fuel costs. Our fixed
costs are relatively low. Most of the costs of serving our customers are variable, i.e., they are only incurred when we provide
water and water-related services or chemicals and chemical-related services to our customers.
Labor costs associated with our employees and contract labor comprise the largest portion of our cost of doing business.
We incurred labor and labor-related costs of $243.6 million, $477.9 million and $545.0 million for the years ended December 31,
2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The majority of our recurring labor costs are variable and are incurred only while we are
providing operational services. We also incur costs to employ personnel to sell and supervise our services and perform
maintenance on our assets, which is not directly tied to our level of business activity. Additionally, we incur selling, general and
administrative costs for compensation of our administrative personnel at our field sites and in our operational and corporate
headquarters. In light of the challenging activity and pricing trends, management took direct action during the year ended
December 31, 2020, to reduce operating and equipment costs, as well as selling, general and administrative costs, in order to
proactively manage these expenses as a percentage of revenue.
We incur significant vehicle and equipment costs in connection with the services we provide, including depreciation,
repair and maintenance, rental and leasing costs. We incurred vehicle and equipment costs of $157.6 million, $245.9 million and
$284.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Due to current market conditions and the
decreased demand for our services, we took significant direct action during the year ended December 31, 2020 to reduce ongoing
rental and leasing costs.
We incur raw material costs in manufacturing our chemical products, as well as for water that we source for our
customers. We incurred raw material costs of $154.2 million, $274.1 million and $283.2 million for the years ended December
31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
We incur variable transportation costs associated with our service lines, predominately fuel and freight. We incurred
fuel and freight costs of $35.6 million, $81.3 million and $97.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018,
respectively. Fuel prices impact our transportation costs, which affect the pricing and demand for our services and therefore our
results of operations.
Public Company Costs
General and administrative expenses related to being a publicly-traded company include: Exchange Act reporting
expenses; expenses associated with compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley; expenses associated with maintaining our listing on the
NYSE; incremental independent auditor fees; incremental legal fees; investor relations expenses; registrar and transfer agent fees;
incremental director and officer liability insurance costs; and director compensation. We expect that general and administrative
expenses related to being a publicly-traded company will remain generally consistent with costs incurred during 2020. Costs
incurred by us for corporate and other overhead expenses will be reimbursed by SES Holdings pursuant to the SES
Holdings LLC Agreement.
How We Evaluate Our Operations
We use a variety of operational and financial metrics to assess our performance. Among other measures, management
considers each of the following:
● Revenue;
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● Gross Profit;
● Gross Margins;
●
EBITDA; and
● Adjusted EBITDA.
Revenue
We analyze our revenue and assess our performance by comparing actual monthly revenue to our internal projections
and across periods. We also assess incremental changes in revenue compared to incremental changes in direct operating costs and
selling, general and administrative expenses across our reportable segments to identify potential areas for improvement, as well
as to determine whether segment performance is meeting management’s expectations.
Gross Profit
To measure our financial performance, we analyze our gross profit, which we define as revenues less direct operating
expenses (including depreciation and amortization expenses). We believe gross profit provides insight into profitability and true
operating performance of our assets. We also compare gross profit to prior periods and across segments to identify trends as well
as underperforming segments.
Gross Margins
Gross margins provide an important gauge of how effective we are at converting revenue into profits. This metric works
in tandem with gross profit to ensure that we do not increase gross profit at the expense of lower margins, nor pursue higher gross
margins at the expense of declining gross profits. We track gross margins by segment and service line and compare them across
prior periods and across segments and service lines to identify trends as well as underperforming segments.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
We view EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as important indicators of performance. We define EBITDA as net
income/(loss), plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA
plus/(minus) loss/(income) from discontinued operations, plus any impairment charges or asset write-offs pursuant to GAAP,
plus non-cash losses on the sale of assets or subsidiaries, non-recurring compensation expense, non-cash compensation expense,
and non-recurring or unusual expenses or charges, including severance expenses, transaction costs, or facilities-related exit and
disposal-related expenditures and plus/(minus) foreign currency losses/(gains). The adjustments to EBITDA are generally
consistent with such adjustments described in our Credit Facility. See “—Comparison of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for
more information and a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable
financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations to Our Historical Results of Operations
Our future results of operations may not be comparable to our historical results of operations for the periods presented,
primarily for the reasons described below.
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Acquisition and Divestiture Activity
As described above, we are continuously evaluating potential investments. To the extent we consummate acquisitions,
any incremental revenues or expenses from such transactions are not included in our historical results of operations.
Well Chemical Services Acquisition
On September 30, 2019, we completed our acquisition of WCS. Our historical financial statements for periods prior to
September 30, 2019, do not include the results of operations of WCS.
Pro Well Acquisition
On November 20, 2018, we completed our acquisition of the assets of Pro Well. Our historical financial statements for
periods prior to November 20, 2018, do not include the results of operations of Pro Well.
Affirm Divestitures
We sold the Affirm crane and field services businesses on February 26, 2019 and June 28, 2019, respectively. Affirm
accounted for $21.8 million and $58.9 million of revenue during 2019 and 2018, respectively. Following the two divestitures, the
divested operations were not included in the consolidated results of operations.
Canadian Operations Divestitures
On March 19, 2019, we sold over half of our Canadian operations and on April 1, 2019, we sold and wound down the
rest of the Canadian operations. Canadian operations accounted for $8.2 million and $48.6 million of revenue during 2019 and
2018, respectively. Following the divestitures, the divested Canadian operations were not included in the consolidated results of
operations.
Sand Hauling Wind Down
During 2019, we wound down our sand hauling operations and sold certain of our sand hauling property and equipment.
Sand hauling accounted for $3.3 million and $37.0 million of revenue during 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Proceeds received from Divestitures and Wind Down
During 2019, we received $30.1 million from divestitures and fixed asset sales activity in connection with the sale and
wind down of our Affirm subsidiary and the sand hauling and Canadian operations.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our results of operations, including revenue by segment, for the year ended December 31,
2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019. The results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared
to the year ended December 31, 2018 is set forth in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2019 under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.”
Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2019
Year ended December 31,
2019
2020
(in thousands)
Change
Dollars
Percentage
Revenue
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Total revenue
Costs of revenue
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs of revenue
Gross (loss) profit
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Impairment of goodwill and trademark
Impairment and abandonment of property and
equipment
Lease abandonment costs
Total operating expenses
(Loss) income from operations
Other (expense) income
Losses on sales of property and equipment and
divestitures, net
Interest expense, net
Foreign currency gain, net
Other expense, net
(Loss) income before income tax benefit (expense)
Income tax benefit (expense)
Net (loss) income
$
$
$
319,766
125,356
159,983
—
605,105
$
772,311
221,593
268,614
29,071
1,291,589
291,734
99,546
143,550
740
98,800
634,370
(29,265)
74,364
2,872
276,016
7,910
4,350
365,512
(394,777)
598,405
166,962
230,434
30,239
116,809
1,142,849
148,740
111,622
3,860
4,396
3,715
2,073
125,666
23,074
(2,815)
(2,136)
39
(3,519)
(403,208)
1,476
(401,732)
$
(11,626)
(2,688)
273
(2,948)
6,085
(1,949)
4,136
$
68
(452,545)
(96,237)
(108,631)
(29,071)
(686,484)
(306,671)
(67,416)
(86,884)
(29,499)
(18,009)
(508,479)
(178,005)
(37,258)
(988)
271,620
4,195
2,277
239,846
(417,851)
8,811
552
(234)
(571)
(409,293)
3,425
(405,868)
(58.6)%
(43.4)%
(40.4)%
(100.0)%
(53.2)%
(51.2)%
(40.4)%
(37.7)%
(97.6)%
(15.4)%
(44.5)%
(119.7)%
(33.4)%
(25.6)%
NM
112.9 %
109.8 %
NM
NM
(75.8)%
(20.5)%
(85.7)%
19.4 %
NM
NM
NM
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Revenue
Our revenue decreased $686.5 million, or 53.2%, to $605.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to
$1.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was driven by a $452.5 million decline in Water Services
revenue, a $96.2 million decline in Water Infrastructure revenue, and a $108.6 million decline in Oilfield Chemicals revenue.
These declines were primarily due to lower demand for our services resulting from a reduction in drilling and completions
activity, lower oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as reduced pricing for some of our services. Also impacting the
decline was $29.1 million lower revenue from the combination of our Affirm subsidiary, sand hauling operations and Canadian
operations, all of which were fully divested and wound down during 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2020, our Water
Services, Water Infrastructure, Oilfield Chemicals and Other segments constituted 52.9%, 20.7 %, 26.4 % and 0.0% of our total
revenue, respectively, compared to 59.8%, 17.2%, 20.8% and 2.2%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2019. The
revenue changes by reportable segment are as follows:
Water Services. Revenue decreased $452.5 million, or 58.6%, to $319.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020,
compared to $772.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower demand for
our services resulting from a reduction in drilling and completions activity, lower oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well
as reduced pricing for some of our services.
Water Infrastructure. Revenue decreased by $96.2 million, or 43.4%, to $125.4 million for the year ended December
31, 2020, compared to $221.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower
demand for our services resulting from a reduction in completions activity, lower oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic,
partially offset by a full year of operations from our New Mexico pipeline.
Oilfield Chemicals. Revenue decreased $108.6 million, or 40.4%, to $160.0 million for the year ended December 31,
2020, compared to $268.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower
demand for our products and services resulting from a reduction in completions activity, lower oil prices and the COVID-19
pandemic, as well as reduced pricing for some of our services, partially offset by incremental revenue from the WCS acquisition.
Other. There was no Other revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $29.1 million in the year ended
December 31, 2019, as our Affirm subsidiary, sand hauling operations and Canadian operations were divested and wound down
during 2019.
Costs of Revenue
Costs of revenue decreased $508.5 million, or 44.5%, to $634.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020,
compared to $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily due to a $306.7 million decline in
Water Services costs, a $67.4 million decline in Water Infrastructure costs, and a $86.9 million decline in Oilfield Chemicals
costs due to lower revenue discussed above. Also contributing to the decline was $29.5 million lower combined costs from our
Affirm subsidiary, sand hauling operations and Canadian operations, all of which were divested and wound down during 2019.
Further, depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $18.0 million, primarily due to the 2019 divestitures and lower
capital expenditures in the year ended December 31, 2020.
Water Services. Cost of revenue decreased $306.7 million, or 51.2 %, to $291.7 million for the year ended December
31, 2020, compared to $598.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Cost of revenue decreased due to reduced customer
drilling and completions activity levels in the year ended December 31, 2020. Costs of revenue as a percent of revenue increased
to 91.2% from 77.5% due to significant reductions in revenue-generating activity and pricing reductions we could not fully offset
with cost reductions as well as yard closure costs in connection with our efforts to reduce and consolidate operational yards.
Additionally, in conjunction with certain cost savings measures that were implemented during the year ended December 31,
2020, in response to market conditions, costs of revenue were impacted during the year ended December 31, 2020, by certain
one-time costs totaling $5.6 million, including severance and yard closure costs.
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Water Infrastructure. Cost of revenue decreased $67.4 million, or 40.4%, to $99.5 million for the year ended December
31, 2020, compared to $167.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Cost of revenue as a percent of revenue increased
to 79.4% from 75.3% primarily due to decreased pricing on non-pipeline water sources as well as the acceleration of certain
prepaid expenses relating to water rights secured for a customer, due to the bankruptcy of such customer. Additionally, in
conjunction with certain cost savings measures that were implemented during the year ended December 31, 2020, in response to
market conditions, costs of revenue were impacted during the year ended December 31, 2020 by certain one-time costs totaling
$0.5 million, including severance and yard closure costs.
Oilfield Chemicals. Costs of revenue decreased $86.9 million, or 37.7%, to $143.6 million for the year ended December
31, 2020, compared to $230.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Cost of revenue as a percent of revenue increased
to 89.7% from 85.8% primarily due to significant reductions in revenue-generating activity we could not fully offset with cost
reductions. Additionally, in conjunction with certain cost savings measures that were implemented during the year ended
December 31, 2020, in response to market conditions, costs of revenue were impacted during the year ended December 31, 2020,
by inventory adjustments and reserve additions of $0.6 million, non-recurring severance costs of $0.6 million, and yard closure
and equipment rental return costs of $0.5 million, including costs associated with idling our Tyler, Texas manufacturing facility
to consolidate production in Midland, Texas.
Other. Other costs were nominal for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $30.2 million for the year ended
December 31, 2019, primarily due to the 2019 divestitures discussed above.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $18.0 million, or 15.4%, to $98.8
million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $116.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due
to a significant reduction in capital expenditures during recent quarters as well as a $1.7 million decrease related to the 2019
divestitures discussed above.
Gross (Loss) Profit
Gross profit decreased by $178.0 million, or 119.7%, to a gross loss of $29.3 million for the year ended December 31,
2020, compared to a gross profit of $148.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to lower revenue in all
three segments resulting from decreased activity levels combined with decreased pricing that could not be fully offset with
reductions in costs. Also impacting the decrease was $4.0 million of severance expenses and $3.0 million of yard closure costs as
a result of reduced activity levels. Gross profit decreased by $145.9 million, $28.8 million and $21.7 million in our Water
Services, Water Infrastructure and Oilfield Chemicals segments, respectively. This was partially offset by a $18.0 million
decrease in depreciation and amortization expense. Gross margin as a percent of revenue was (4.8%) and 11.5% during the years
ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $37.3 million, or 33.4%, to $74.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2020, compared to $111.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The decrease was primarily due to
reductions in wages and associated payroll taxes of $14.4 million driven by both terminations and wage reductions, plus
reductions of $9.7 million in equity-based compensation costs, $6.8 million in incentive compensation costs, $4.3 million in
travel, meals and entertainment costs, $3.6 million in professional fees and $5.5 million of other expenses from cost cutting
measures in response to lower oil prices. The decrease was partially offset by a $3.8 million increase in bad debt expense and
$3.2 million of severance expense associated with employee terminations and other cost savings measures implemented in
response to market conditions.
Impairment
Goodwill and trademark impairment costs were $276.0 million and $4.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020
and 2019, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2020, all of our goodwill was impaired due to the significant decline
in oil prices during the first quarter of 2020, coupled with the uncertainty associated with the future
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recovery. We also recorded a $9.1 million partial impairment of our Rockwater trademark. During the year ended December 31,
2019, we incurred $4.4 million of goodwill impairment in connection with divesting Affirm.
Impairment and abandonment of property and equipment costs were $7.9 million and $3.7 million for the years ended
December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2020, impairment costs were comprised of
leasehold improvements related to abandoned facilities, abandonment of certain saltwater and freshwater wells and obsolete
machinery and equipment. For the year ended December 31, 2019, impairment costs were comprised of $1.1 million of pipelines
with low utilization, $1.0 million of layflat hose considered obsolete, $0.9 million related to divested Canadian fixed assets, and
$0.6 million related to an owned facility for sale.
Lease Abandonment Costs
Lease abandonment costs were $4.4 million and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019,
respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2020, lease abandonment costs were primarily related to newly abandoned
properties associated with realignment and combining operational activity on fewer leased properties. Costs incurred in 2019
were comprised of lease terminations in connection with divesting and winding down Canadian and Affirm operations, two
facility lease abandonments and accretion of expenses for previously abandoned facilities.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense decreased by $0.6 million, or 20.5%, to $2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020,
compared to $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to lower average borrowings resulting from the
repayment of all remaining borrowings on our credit facility during 2019.
Net (Loss) Income
Net income decreased by $405.9 million to a net loss of $401.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020,
compared to net income of $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to goodwill, trademark and fixed
asset impairments and abandonments increasing $275.8 million and lower gross profit. This was partially offset by lower selling,
general and administrative costs, lower losses on sales of property and equipment and lower interest expense.
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Comparison of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We view EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as important indicators of performance. We define EBITDA as net income
(loss), plus interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA, as EBITDA
plus/(minus) loss/(income) from discontinued operations, plus any impairment charges or asset write-offs pursuant to GAAP,
plus non-cash losses on the sale of assets or subsidiaries, non-recurring compensation expense, non-cash compensation expense,
and non-recurring or unusual expenses or charges, including severance expenses, transaction costs, or facilities-related exit and
disposal-related expenditures and plus/(minus) foreign currency losses/(gains). The adjustments to EBITDA are generally
consistent with such adjustments described in our Credit Facility. See “—Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures—
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA” for more information and a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income
(loss), the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Our board of directors, management and investors use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to assess our financial
performance because it allows them to compare our operating performance on a consistent basis across periods by removing the
effects of our capital structure (such as varying levels of interest expense), asset base (such as depreciation and amortization) and
items outside the control of our management team. We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because we believe they provide
useful information regarding the factors and trends affecting our business in addition to measures calculated under GAAP.
Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe that the
presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures will provide useful information to investors in assessing our financial
performance and results of operations. Net income is the GAAP measure most directly comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA. Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measure. Each of these non-GAAP financial measures has important limitations as an analytical tool due to exclusion of
some but not all items that affect the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. You should not consider EBITDA or
Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as substitutes for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because EBITDA and
Adjusted EBITDA may be defined differently by other companies in our industry, our definitions of these non-GAAP financial
measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility. For further
discussion, please see “Item 6. Selected Financial Data.”
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The following table sets forth our reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to our net (loss) income, which is
the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The reconciliation of EBITDA
and Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is set forth in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.”
Year Ended December 31,
2020
2019
Net (loss) income
Interest expense, net
Income tax (benefit) expense
Depreciation and amortization
EBITDA
Impairment of goodwill and trademark(1)
Non-cash loss on sale of assets or subsidiaries(2)
Impairment and abandonment of property and equipment(1)
Non-recurring severance expenses(1)
Non-cash compensation expenses
Non-recurring transaction costs(3)
Lease abandonment costs(1)
Yard closure costs related to consolidating operations(1)
Other non-recurring charges(3)
Foreign currency gain, net
Adjusted EBITDA
$
$
(in thousands)
$
(401,732)
2,136
(1,476)
101,672
(299,400)
276,016
9,767
7,910
7,168
5,764
4,439
4,350
2,961
1,969
(39)
20,905
$
4,136
2,688
1,949
120,669
129,442
4,396
21,679
3,715
1,691
15,485
4,697
2,073
—
(173)
(273)
182,732
(1) For 2020, these costs were due to the significant adverse change to the demand for the Company’s services in connection
with a sharp decline in the price of oil. For 2019, these costs were due primarily to the dissolution of our divested service
lines.
(2) For 2020, the losses were primarily due to sales of underutilized or obsolete property and equipment. For 2019, these costs
primarily related to losses on divestitures and related sales of property and equipment in connection with the wind-down of
former services lines.
(3) For 2020, these costs were primarily related to certain subsidiaries acquired in the Rockwater Merger as well as legal related
due diligence costs. For 2019, these costs primarily related to the dissolution of our divested service lines as well as certain
rebranding costs.
EBITDA was ($299.4) million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $129.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2019. Adjusted EBITDA was $20.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to $182.7 million for
the year ended December 31, 2019. The decreases in EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA resulted from a decrease in our revenues
and gross profit, as discussed above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on oil prices and the resulting sharp decline in U.S. onshore drilling and
completion activity, and the uncertainty about the timing of a recovery, have had, and will likely continue to have, a negative
impact on our financial results in the coming quarters. We have taken and continue to take actions to manage costs and cash,
including but not limited to significantly reducing headcount, cutting salaries, closing operational yards,
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reducing capital expenditures, streamlining operational and back-office functions, selling excess equipment, deferring payroll tax
payments in accordance with the CARES Act and deferring applicable lease payments.
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, borrowing capacity under our current Credit Agreement and cash
flows from operations. Our primary uses of capital have been to maintain our asset base, implement technological advancements,
make capital expenditures to support organic growth, fund acquisitions, and when appropriate, repurchase shares of Class A
common stock in the open market. Depending on market conditions and other factors, we may also issue debt and equity
securities if needed.
As of December 31, 2020, we had no outstanding bank debt and a positive net cash position. We prioritize sustained
positive free cash flow and a strong balance sheet, and evaluate potential acquisitions and investments in the context of those
priorities, in addition to the economics of the opportunity. We believe this approach provides us with additional flexibility to
evaluate larger investments as well as improved resilience in a sustained downturn versus many of our peers.
We intend to finance most of our capital expenditures, contractual obligations and working capital needs with cash on
hand, cash generated from operations and borrowings under our Credit Agreement. For a discussion of the Credit Agreement, see
“—Credit Agreement” below. Although we cannot provide any assurance, we believe that our current cash balance, operating
cash flow and available borrowings under our Credit Agreement will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next
twelve months.
As of December 31, 2020, cash and cash equivalents totaled $169.0 million and we had approximately $80.8 million of
available borrowing capacity under our Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2020, the borrowing base under the Credit
Agreement was $96.4 million, we had no outstanding borrowings, and outstanding letters of credit totaled $15.6 million. The
significant reduction in our borrowing base since December 31, 2019 was primarily driven by the meaningful reductions in our
accounts receivable, which represent the primary collateral for the borrowing base, due to largely successful collections efforts
combined with significantly reduced revenue levels. As of February 22, 2021, we had no outstanding borrowings, the borrowing
base under the Credit Agreement was $121.1 million, the outstanding letters of credit totaled $15.6 million, and the available
borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement was $105.5 million.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The summary of our
cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 is set forth in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations.”
Cash Flow Changes Between the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in financing activities
Subtotal
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Year ended December 31,
Change
2020
2019
Dollars
Percentage
(in thousands)
$ 105,810
(5,393)
(10,710)
89,707
64
$ 89,771
$ 203,948
(77,357)
(64,690)
61,901
130
62,031
$
$ (98,138)
71,964
53,980
(48.1)%
93.0 %
83.4 %
(66)
NM
Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $105.8 million for the year ended December 31,
2020, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $203.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The $98.1
million decrease in net cash provided by operating activities related primarily to
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decreased net income resulting from the adverse change to the demand for the Company’s services in connection with a
significant decline in the price of oil, partially offset by increased cash inflows from reduced working capital balances.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities was $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020,
compared to $77.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The $72.0 million decrease in net cash used in investing
activities was primarily due to an $88.9 million reduction in purchases of property and equipment, a $10.0 million reduction in
acquisitions and a $1.2 million increase in proceeds received from sales of property and equipment partially offset by a $24.7
million decrease of proceeds primarily related to the divestiture and wind-down of our Affirm subsidiary and the sand hauling
and Canadian operations and a $3.0 million investment in note receivable in 2020.
Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $10.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020,
compared to net cash used in financing activities of $64.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The $54.0 million
decrease in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to $45.0 million of net debt repayments in the year ended
December 31, 2019, compared to zero in the year ended December 31, 2020, and a $7.7 million decrease in repurchases of shares
of Class A Common Stock during the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019.
Credit Agreement
On November 1, 2017, in connection with the closing of the Rockwater Merger (the “Closing”), SES Holdings and
Select LLC entered into a $300.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among SES
Holdings, as parent, Select LLC, as borrower, certain of SES Holdings’ subsidiaries, as guarantors, each of the lenders party
thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, issuing lender and swingline lender (the “Administrative Agent”).
The Credit Agreement has a sublimit of $40.0 million for letters of credit and a sublimit of $30.0 million for swingline loans. The
maturity date of the Credit Agreement is the earlier of (a) November 1, 2022, and (b) the termination in whole of the
Commitments pursuant to Section 2.1(b) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement permits extensions of credit up to the lesser of $300.0 million and a borrowing base that is
determined by calculating the amount equal to the sum of (i) 85.0% of the Eligible Billed Receivables (as defined in the Credit
Agreement), plus (ii) 75.0% of Eligible Unbilled Receivables (as defined in the Credit Agreement), provided that this amount
will not equal more than 35.0% of the borrowing base, plus (iii) the lesser of (A) the product of 70.0% multiplied by the value of
Eligible Inventory (as defined in the Credit Agreement) at such time and (B) the product of 85.0% multiplied by the Net
Recovery Percentage (as defined in the Credit Agreement) identified in the most recent Acceptable Appraisal of Inventory (as
defined in the Credit Agreement), multiplied by the value of Eligible Inventory at such time, provided that this amount will not
equal more than 30.0% of the borrowing base, minus (iv) the aggregate amount of Reserves (as defined in the Credit Agreement),
if any, established by the Administrative Agent from time to time, including, if any, the amount of the Dilution Reserve (as
defined in the Credit Agreement). The borrowing base is calculated on a monthly basis pursuant to a borrowing base certificate
delivered by Select LLC to the Administrative Agent.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at Select LLC’s election, at either the (a) one-, two-, three- or six-
month LIBOR (“Eurocurrency Rate”) or (b) the greatest of (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, (ii) the one-month Eurocurrency
Rate plus 1.0% and (iii) the Administrative Agent’s prime rate (the “Base Rate”), in each case plus an applicable margin, and
interest shall be payable monthly in arrears. The applicable margin for Eurocurrency Rate loans ranges from 1.50% to 2.00% and
the applicable margin for Base Rate loans ranges from 0.50% to 1.00%, in each case, depending on Select LLC’s average excess
availability under the Credit Agreement. During the continuance of a bankruptcy event of default, automatically and during the
continuance of any other default, upon the Administrative Agent’s or the required lenders’ election, all outstanding amounts
under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at 2.00% plus the otherwise applicable interest rate.
The obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by SES Holdings and certain subsidiaries of SES Holdings
and Select LLC and secured by a security interest in substantially all of the personal property assets of SES Holdings, Select LLC
and their domestic subsidiaries.
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The Credit Agreement contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants
and events of default. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the lenders may declare all amounts outstanding under the
Credit Agreement to be immediately due and payable.
In addition, the Credit Agreement restricts SES Holdings’ and Select LLC’s ability to make distributions on, or redeem
or repurchase, its equity interests, except for certain distributions, including distributions of cash so long as, both at the time of
the distribution and after giving effect to the distribution, no default exists under the Credit Agreement and either (a) excess
availability at all times during the preceding 30 consecutive days, on a pro forma basis and after giving effect to such distribution,
is not less than the greater of (1) 25.0% of the lesser of (A) the maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective borrowing
base and (2) $37.5 million or (b) if SES Holdings’ fixed charge coverage ratio is at least 1.0 to 1.0 on a pro forma basis, and
excess availability at all times during the preceding 30 consecutive days, on a pro forma basis and after giving effect to such
distribution, is not less than the greater of (1) 20.0% of the lesser of (A) the maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective
borrowing base and (2) $30.0 million. Additionally, the Credit Agreement generally permits Select LLC to make distributions to
allow the Company to make payments required under the existing Tax Receivable Agreements.
The Credit Agreement also requires SES Holdings to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0 at any
time availability under the Credit Agreement is less than the greater of (i) 10.0% of the lesser of (A) the maximum revolver
amount and (B) the then-effective borrowing base and (ii) $15.0 million and continuing through and including the first day after
such time that availability under the Credit Agreement has equaled or exceeded the greater of (i) 10.0% of the lesser of (A) the
maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective borrowing base and (ii) $15.0 million for 60 consecutive calendar days.
We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of December 31, 2020.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2020, we had no material off-balance sheet arrangements. As such, we are not exposed to any
material financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such financing arrangements.
Contractual Obligations
The table below provides estimates of the timing of future payments that we are obligated to make based on agreements
in place at December 31, 2020.
Contractual Obligations
Estimated interest payments
Operating lease obligations
Finance lease obligations
Total
Payments Due by Period
Year 1
Years 2-3
Years 4-5
(in thousands)
More than 5
years
Total
$
1,515
17,478
315
$ 19,308
$
$
1,262
25,814
95
27,171
$
$
— $
— $
21,494
—
21,494
22,907
—
22,907
$
$
2,777
87,693
410
90,880
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Tax Receivable Agreements
We intend to fund any obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreements with cash from operations or borrowings under
our Credit Agreement. With respect to obligations under each of our Tax Receivable Agreements (except in cases where we elect
to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreements early, the Tax Receivable Agreements are terminated early due to certain mergers or
other changes of control or we have available cash but fail to make payments when due), generally we may elect to defer
payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreements if we do not have available cash to satisfy our payment obligations under
the Tax Receivable Agreements or if our contractual obligations limit our ability to make these payments. Any such deferred
payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements generally will accrue interest.
We intend to account for any amounts payable under the Tax Receivable Agreements in accordance with Accounting
Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 450, Contingent Consideration. For further discussion regarding such an acceleration and
its potential impact, please read “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Organizational Structure—In certain cases,
payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits, if any, we
realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements.”
We have assessed the amount of any liability under the Tax Receivable Agreements required under the provisions of
ASC 450 in connection with preparing the consolidated financial statements. We determined that there was no liability related to
the Tax Receivable Agreements arising from the corporate reorganization and subsequent exchanges as of December 31, 2020,
due to there not being any payments under the Tax Receivable Agreements that are probable under the provisions of ASC 450
within the foreseeable future. The Company would generally expect to recognize the liability under the Tax Receivable
Agreements as probable in conjunction with the conclusion that deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized and,
therefore, part or all of the valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets is released. We believe this correlation is appropriate
given the relationship between the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets and the probability of utilization of certain tax
benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures about any contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our critical accounting policies are described below to provide a better
understanding of how we develop our assumptions and judgments about future events and related estimations and how they can
impact our financial statements. The following accounting policies involve critical accounting estimates because they are
dependent on our judgment and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain.
We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions we believe to be reasonable according
to the current facts and circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of
assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Estimates and assumptions about future events and their
effects are subject to uncertainty and, accordingly, these estimates may change as new events occur, as more experience is
acquired, as additional information is obtained, and as the business environment in which we operate changes. We believe the
current assumptions, judgments and estimates used to determine amounts reflected in our consolidated financial statements are
appropriate, however, actual results may differ under different conditions. This discussion and analysis should be read in
conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report.
Goodwill and other intangible assets: The purchase price of acquired businesses is allocated to its identifiable assets and
liabilities based upon estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. Goodwill and other intangible assets are initially recorded at
their fair values. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquisitions over the fair value of the net assets acquired
in a business combination. Our goodwill at December 31, 2020 and 2019, totaled zero and $266.9 million, respectively. Goodwill
and other intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested for
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impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.
Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized either on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated useful life or on a
basis that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are realized.
Impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets and intangible assets: Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and
finite-lived intangible assets, are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their
carrying value may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of their carrying amount to the estimated
undiscounted cash flows to be generated by those assets. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, we
record impairment losses for the excess of their carrying value over the estimated fair value. Fair value is determined, in part, by
the estimated cash flows to be generated by those assets. Our cash flow estimates are based upon, among other things, historical
results adjusted to reflect our best estimate of future market rates, utilization levels, and operating performance. Development of
future cash flows also requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment, including the timing of future expected
cash flows, using the appropriate discount rates and determining salvage values. The estimate of fair value represents our best
estimates of these factors based on current industry trends and reference to market transactions and is subject to variability.
Assets are generally grouped at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows. We operate within the oilfield service industry, and the
cyclical nature of the oil and gas industry that we serve and our estimates of the period over which future cash flows will be
generated, as well as the predictability of these cash flows, can have a significant impact on the estimated fair value of these
assets and, in periods of prolonged down cycles, may result in impairment charges. Changes to our key assumptions related to
future performance, market conditions and other economic factors could adversely affect our impairment valuation. During the
year ended December 31, 2020, we impaired $7.9 million of property and equipment because the carrying values were deemed
not recoverable and were comprised of leasehold improvements related to abandoned facilities, abandonment of certain saltwater
and fresh water wells and obsolete machinery and equipment. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we impaired $3.7
million of property and equipment as the carrying values were deemed not recoverable, including $1.1 million of pipelines with
low utilization, $1.0 million of layflat hose considered obsolete, $0.9 million related to divesting Canadian fixed assets, and $0.6
million related to an owned facility for sale.
We conduct our annual goodwill impairment tests in the fourth quarter of each year, and whenever impairment
indicators arise, by examining relevant events and circumstances which could have a negative impact on our goodwill, such as
macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors that have a negative effect on earnings and cash flows,
overall financial performance, acquisitions and divestitures and other relevant entity-specific events. If a qualitative assessment
indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then we would be
required to perform a quantitative impairment test for goodwill comparing the reporting unit’s carrying value to its fair value. The
Company’s reporting units are based on its organizational and reporting structure. In determining fair values for the reporting
units, the Company relies primarily on the income, market and cost approaches for valuation. In the income approach, the
Company discounts predicted future cash flows using a weighted-average cost of capital calculation based on publicly-traded
peer companies. In the market approach, valuation multiples are developed from both publicly-traded peer companies as well as
other company transactions. The cost approach considers replacement cost as the primary indicator of value.
If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, impairment is calculated based on the difference
between the fair value and carrying value in accordance with our early adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU “) 2017-
04– Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the
identification of reporting units, allocation of assets (including goodwill) and liabilities to reporting units and determining the fair
value. The determination of reporting unit fair value relies upon certain estimates and assumptions that are complex and are
affected by numerous factors, including the general economic environment and levels of E&P activity of oil and gas companies,
our financial performance and trends and our strategies and business plans, among others. Unanticipated changes, including
immaterial revisions, to these assumptions could result in a provision for impairment in a future period. Given the nature of these
evaluations and their application to specific assets and time frames, it is not possible to reasonably quantify the impact of changes
in these assumptions. During the first quarter of 2020, we recorded $266.9 million of goodwill impairment due to the significant
decline in oil prices coupled with the uncertainty associated with future recovery. This impairment brought our goodwill balance
to zero. During the first quarter of 2019, we recorded $4.4 million of goodwill impairment in connection with divesting and
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winding down our Affirm subsidiary. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the fair values of our reporting units were
greater than the carrying values resulting in no additional impairment. Although we believe the historical assumptions and
estimates we have made are reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact our reported
financial results.
Self-insurance: We self-insure, through deductibles and retentions, up to certain levels for losses related to general
liability, workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, vehicle liability, and effective June 1, 2020, health insurance. Our
exposure (i.e. the retention or deductible) per occurrence is $2.0 million for general liability, $1.0 million for workers’
compensation and employer’s liability, $2.0 million for vehicle liability and $0.2 million for health insurance. We also have an
excess loss policy over these coverages with a limit of $100.0 million in the aggregate. Management regularly reviews its
estimates of reported and unreported claims and provides for losses through reserves. We use actuarial estimates to record our
liability for future periods. If the number of claims or the costs associated with those claims were to increase significantly over
our estimates, additional charges to earnings could be necessary to cover required payments. As of December 31, 2020, we
estimate the range of exposure to be from $12.9 million to $14.9 million and have recorded liabilities of $13.9 million, which
represents management’s best estimate of probable loss related to workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, and vehicle
liability. Additionally, as of December 31, 2020, accrued health insurance and accrued general liabilities were $1.7 million and
$0.5 million, respectively.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements: In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU
2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which
amends GAAP by introducing a new impairment model for financial instruments that is based on expected credit losses rather
than incurred credit losses. The new impairment model applies to most financial assets, including trade accounts receivable. The
amendments are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and requires a modified
retrospective transition approach. After reviewing the new standard and reexamining current and prior year bad debt expense
from trade receivables, as well as updating future expectations, the adoption of the new standard in the first quarter of 2020 did
not have a material impact to the Company’s financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income
Taxes” (“ASU 2019-12”), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general
principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. We adopted ASU
2019-12 in the third quarter of 2020 and elected all aspects of this standard as of the beginning of 2020. The adoption did not
have a material impact to the Company’s financial statements.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The demand, pricing and terms for oilfield services provided by us are largely dependent upon the level of drilling and
completion activity in the U.S. oil and gas industry. The level of drilling and completion activity is influenced by numerous
factors over which we have no control, including, but not limited to: global health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic; the
supply of and demand for oil and gas; current price levels as well as expectations about future prices of oil and gas; the
magnitude and timing of capital spending by our customers; the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and delivering oil
and gas; the extent to which our E&P customers choose to drill and complete new wells to offset decline from their existing
wells; the extent to which our E&P customers choose to invest to grow production; discoveries of new oil and gas reserves;
available storage capacity and pipeline and other transportation capacity; weather conditions; domestic and worldwide economic
conditions; political instability in oil-producing countries; environmental regulations; technical advances in alternative forms of
energy (e.g. wind and solar electricity, electric vehicles) that encourage substitution for or displacement of oil and gas
consumption in end-use markets; the price and availability of alternative fuels; the ability of oil and gas producers to raise equity
capital and debt financing; merger and acquisition activity and consolidation in our industry, and other factors.
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Any combination of these factors that results in sustained low oil and gas prices and, therefore, lower capital spending
and / or reduced drilling and completion activity by our customers, would likely have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Interest Rate Risk
At December 31, 2020, we had no outstanding borrowings under our Credit Agreement. As of February 22, 2021, we
had no outstanding borrowings and $105.5 million of available borrowing capacity under our Credit Agreement. Interest is
calculated under the terms of our Credit Agreement based on our selection, from time to time, of one of the index rates available
to us plus an applicable margin that varies based on certain factors. We do not currently have or intend to enter into any
derivative arrangements to protect against fluctuations in interest rates applicable to our outstanding indebtedness.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We have been exposed to fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar with regard to the activities of
our former Canadian subsidiary, which had designated the Canadian dollar as its functional currency. With the divestitures of our
Canadian operations, we anticipate minimal future exposure to foreign currency exchange risk.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm and our consolidated financial statements and
supplementary data are included in this Annual Report beginning on page F-1.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information
required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms,
and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer ("CEO")
(principal executive officer) and chief financial officer ("CFO") (principal financial officer), as appropriate, to allow for timely
decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management
recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well-designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of
achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit
relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of
our management, including our CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31,
2020. Based on their evaluation, the Company's CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and
procedures were effective at a reasonable level of assurance as of December 31, 2020.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
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Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.
Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a
process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing
similar functions, and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting based on the framework in “Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, our management concluded that our internal
control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020. Grant Thornton LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f))
during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 which materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal
control over financial reporting.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Shareholders
Select Energy Services, Inc.
Opinion on internal control over financial reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Select Energy Services, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and
subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the
Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based
on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, and our
report dated February 24, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required
to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all
material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk
that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the
assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit
provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that
(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions
of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the
company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s
assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Dallas, Texas
February 24, 2021
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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
83
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PART III
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required in response to this Item 10 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2021
annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required in response to this Item 11 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2021
annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required in response to this Item 12 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2021
annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
The information required in response to this Item 13 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2021
annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required in response to this Item 14 will be set forth in our definitive proxy statement for the 2021
annual meeting of stockholders and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 15.
EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) and (a)(2) Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules
PART IV
Our consolidated financial statements are incorporated under Item 8 of this Annual Report. For a listing of these
statements and accompanying notes, see “Index to Financial Statements” on Page F-1 of this Annual Report.
(a)(3) Exhibits
The exhibits required to be filed or furnished under Item 15 of this Annual Report are set forth below in the Exhibit
Index included within this Annual Report.
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Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
EXHIBIT INDEX
Description
2.1
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
10.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 18, 2017, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc., SES
Holdings, LLC, Raptor Merger Sub, Inc., Raptor Merger Sub, LLC, Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc. and
Rockwater Energy Solutions, LLC (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 2.1 to Select Energy Services,
Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 19, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Select Energy Services, Inc. (incorporated by
reference herein to Exhibit 3.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 15,
2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Select Energy Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference herein to
Exhibit 3.2 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 15, 2019 (File No. 001-
38066)).
Form of Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreements, dated as of July 18, 2017, by and among Select Energy
Services, Inc., SES Legacy Holdings, LLC, Crestview Partners II SES Investment B, LLC, SCF-VI, L.P., SCF-
VII, L.P., SCF-VII(A), L.P. and WDC Aggregate LLC (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.1 to Select
Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 19, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 20, 2016, by and between Select Energy Services, Inc. and
FBR Capital Markets & Co. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.3 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
Assignment and Assumption Agreement, dated November 1, 2017, by and between Select Energy Services, Inc.
and Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.1 to Select Energy
Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 2, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 16, 2017, by and between Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc. and
FBR Capital Markets & Co. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.2 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 2, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, amended
(incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.6 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K,
filed February 25, 2020 (File No. 001-38066)).
Credit Agreement, dated November 1, 2017, by and among Select Energy Services, LLC, SES Holdings, LLC,
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders named therein (incorporated by reference
herein to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 2, 2017
(File No. 001-38066)).
85
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†10.2
†10.3
†10.4
†10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
10.10
10.11
†10.12
†10.13
†10.14
Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.3 to
Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-
216404)).
First Amendment to Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein
to Exhibit 10.2 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 11, 2017 (File
No. 001-38066)).
Second Amendment to Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference
herein to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 14, 2020 (File
No. 001-38066)).
Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.4 to Select Energy
Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
Tax Receivable Agreement, dated December 19, 2016, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc., SES Legacy
Holdings, LLC and Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.5 to Select
Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-
216404)).
Amendment No. 1 to Tax Receivable Agreement, dated July 18, 2017, by and among Select Energy Services,
Inc., SES Legacy Holdings, LLC and Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (incorporated by reference herein to
Exhibit 10.3 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 11, 2017 (File No.
001-38066)).
Tax Receivable Agreement, dated December 19, 2016, by and among Select Energy Services, Inc., Crestview
Partners II SES Investment B, LLC and Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (incorporated by reference herein to
Exhibit 10.6 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017
(Registration No. 333-216404)).
Amendment No. 1 to Tax Receivable Agreement, dated July 18, 2017, by and among Select Energy Services,
Inc., Crestview Partners II SES Investment B, LLC and Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (incorporated by
reference herein to Exhibit 10.4 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed August
11, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SES Holdings, LLC (incorporated by
reference herein to Exhibit 10.9 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, dated
March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
Amendment No. 1 to Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SES Holdings,
LLC. (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.10 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Select Energy
Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.4 to Select Energy
Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed April 28, 2017 (Registration No. 333-217561)).
Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.10 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1, dated March 2, 2017 (Registration No. 333-216404)).
Form of Restricted Stock Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Agreement under the Select Energy Services, Inc.
2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.13 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
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†10.15
†10.16
†10.17
†10.18
†10.19
†10.20
†10.21
†10.22
†10.23
†10.24
†10.25
†10.26
†10.27
†10.28
Form of Performance Share Unit Grant Notice and Performance Share Unit Agreement under the Select Energy
Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.14 to Select Energy
Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
Global Amendment to Performance Share Unit Grant Notices and Agreements (incorporated by reference herein
to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 24, 2020 (File No.
001-38066)).
Form of Stock Option Agreement for John Schmitz under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity
Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.15 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
Form of Success Bonus Agreement under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.12 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q, filed May 19, 2017 (File No. 001-38066)).
Select Energy Services, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 4.3 to
Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed February 1, 2018 (Registration No.
333-222816)).
Employment Agreement between Holli C. Ladhani and Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc., dated June 1, 2011
(incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.18 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
First Amendment to Employment Agreement between Holli Ladhani, Rockwater Energy Solutions, LLC and
Select Energy Services, LLC, dated February 21, 2020 (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.20 to
Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 25, 2020 (File No. 001-38066)).
Employment Agreement between Paul Pistono and Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc., dated September 4, 2012
(incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.20 to Select Energy Services Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
First Amendment to Employment Agreement between Paul Pistono, Rockwater Energy Solutions, LLC and
Rockwater Energy Solutions Administrative Services, LLC, dated February 21, 2020 (incorporated by reference
herein to Exhibit 10.22 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed February 25, 2020
(File No. 001-38066)).
Employment Agreement between Michael Skarke and Select Energy Services, LLC, dated January 14, 2019
(incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.22 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
Employment Agreement between Nick Swyka and Select Energy Services, LLC, dated March 1, 2019
(incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.23 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
Employment Agreement between Adam Law and Select Energy Services, LLC, dated March 1, 2019
(incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.24 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-
K, filed March 1, 2019 (File No. 001-38066)).
Separation and Consulting Agreement by and between Select Energy Services, LLC and Mitchell M. Shauf,
dated August 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed November 4, 2020 (File No. 001-38066)).
Global Amendment to Performance Share Unit Grant Notices and Agreements (incorporated by reference herein
to Exhibit 10.1 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 24, 2020 (File No.
001-38066)).
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†10.29
†10.30
†10.31
*21.1
*23.1
*31.1
*31.2
*32.1
*32.2
Form of Letter Agreement (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit 10.2 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s
Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 14, 2020 (File No. 001-38066)).
Form of Performance Share Unit Grant Notice and Performance Share Unit Agreement – Adjusted Free Cash
Flow – under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to
Exhibit 10.2 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 6, 2020 (File No. 001-
38066)).
Form of Performance Share Unit Grant Notice and Performance Share Unit Agreement – Return on Assets –
under the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference herein to Exhibit
10.3 to Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed May 6, 2020 (File No. 001-38066)).
List of subsidiaries of Select Energy Services, Inc.
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, furnished herewith.
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, furnished herewith.
*101
*101.INS
*101.SCH
*101.CAL
*101.DEF
*101.LAB
*101.PRE
*101
Interactive Data Files
iXBRL Instance Document.
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
The following materials from Select Energy Services, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2020 formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated
Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive
Income (Loss); (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows;
and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
104
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
*
Filed or furnished with this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
88
Table of Contents
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SIGNATURES
Dated: February 24, 2021
Select Energy Services, Inc.
/s/ JOHN D. SCHMITZ
John D. Schmitz
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following
persons on behalf of the Company and in the capacities indicated on February 24, 2021.
/s/ JOHN D. SCHMITZ
John D. Schmitz
/s/ NICK L. SWYKA
Nick L. Swyka
/s/ BRIAN P. SZYMANSKI
Brian P. Szymanski
/s/ ROBERT V. DELANEY
Robert V. Delaney
/s/ TROY W. THACKER
Troy W. Thacker
/s/ DAVID C. BALDWIN
David C. Baldwin
/s/ DOUGLAS J. WALL
Douglas J. Wall
/s/ RICHARD A. BURNETT
Richard A. Burnett
/s/ KEITH O. RATTIE
Keith O. Rattie
/s/ DAVID A. TRICE
David A. Trice
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President
(Principal Financial Officer)
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
89
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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SELECT ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Select Energy Services, Inc.
Annual Financial Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019
and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page(s)
F-2
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
F-8
F-9
F-1
Table of Contents
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Shareholders
Select Energy Services, Inc.
Opinion on the financial statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Select Energy Services, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and
subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations,
comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in
the 2013 Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated February 24, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion.
Basis for opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to
error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements,
whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a
test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the
financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical audit matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was
communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are
material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The
communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and
we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the
accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Goodwill Impairment Assessment – Water Services and Water Infrastructure Reporting Units
As described further in Note 4 and Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, during the year ended December 31, 2020, the
Company recognized goodwill impairment of $266.9 million. Management evaluates goodwill for impairment on October 1 of
each year, or more frequently to the extent events or conditions indicate a risk of possible impairment. Based on events occurring
during the three months ended March 31, 2020, management, with the assistance of a third-party valuation specialist, performed a
quantitative impairment assessment of each reporting unit to evaluate goodwill for impairment. As a result of the assessment
performed, the Company recognized goodwill impairment charges of $186.5 million related to its Water Services reporting unit
and $80.4 million related to its Water Infrastructure reporting unit,
F-2
Table of Contents
primarily due to changes in assumptions related to the projected future revenues and cash flows from the dates the goodwill was
originally recorded. We identified the goodwill impairment assessment as a critical audit matter.
The principal considerations for our determination that the goodwill impairment assessment was a critical audit matter are that
there was high estimation uncertainty due to significant judgments with respect to assumptions used to estimate the future
revenues and cash flows, including revenue growth rates, operating expenses and cash outflows necessary to support the cash
inflows, weighted-average costs of capital and future market conditions as well as the valuation methodologies applied by the
Company. This in turn led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity and effort in performing procedures and evaluating
audit evidence related to management’s forecasted future revenues and cash flows and evaluation of the reasonableness of the
valuation models used. In addition, the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge to
assist in performing these procedures and evaluating the audit evidence obtained.
Our audit procedures related to the goodwill impairment assessment included the following, among others. We tested the
effectiveness of controls relating to management’s evaluation for goodwill impairment, including controls over the determination
of the fair value of the reporting units. In addition to testing the effectiveness of controls, we also performed the following:
● Utilized a valuation specialist to evaluate:
o
o
The methodologies used and whether they were acceptable for the underlying assets or operations and being
applied correctly by performing an independent calculation,
The appropriateness of the discount rate by recalculating the weighted-average costs of capital and evaluating
future market conditions,
o Other significant assumptions, including the terminal growth rate, and
o
The qualifications of the third-party valuation specialist engaged by the Company based on their credentials
and experience.
●
Tested the reasonableness of management’s process for determining the fair value of the reporting units, including the
revenue growth rate, forecasted costs and operating margins by comparing such items to appropriate projections as well
as historical operating results of the reporting units and by assessing the likelihood or capability of the reporting unit to
undertake activities or initiatives underpinning significant drivers of growth in the forecasted period.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.
Dallas, Texas
February 24, 2021
F-3
Table of Contents
SELECT ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
Current assets
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable trade, net of allowance for credit losses of $9,157 and $5,773, respectively
Accounts receivable, related parties
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment
Accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment held-for-sale, net
Total property and equipment, net
Right-of-use assets, net
Goodwill
Other intangible assets, net
Other long-term assets, net
Total assets
Current liabilities
Liabilities and Equity
Accounts payable
Accrued accounts payable
Accounts payable and accrued expenses, related parties
Accrued salaries and benefits
Accrued insurance
Sales tax payable
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Current operating lease liabilities
Current portion of finance lease obligations
Total current liabilities
Long-term operating lease liabilities
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value; 350,000,000 shares authorized and 86,812,647 shares issued and outstanding
as of December 31, 2020; 350,000,000 shares authorized and 87,893,525 shares issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2019
Class A-2 common stock, $0.01 par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding as of
December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized and 16,221,101 shares issued and outstanding
as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated (deficit) retained earnings
Total stockholders’ equity
Noncontrolling interests
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity
As of December 31,
2020
2019
$
169,039
129,392
69
33,384
19,621
351,505
878,902
(528,537)
—
350,365
52,331
—
$
$
116,079
5,079
875,359
12,995
21,359
519
16,279
9,788
1,415
12,077
14,019
307
88,758
60,984
19,735
169,477
79,268
267,628
4,677
37,542
26,486
415,601
1,015,379
(562,986)
885
453,278
70,635
266,934
136,952
4,220
1,347,620
35,686
47,547
2,789
20,079
8,843
2,119
15,375
19,315
128
151,881
72,143
10,784
234,808
868
—
162
—
909,278
(317,247)
593,061
112,821
705,882
875,359
$
879
—
162
—
914,699
21,437
937,177
175,635
1,112,812
1,347,620
$
$
$
$
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
SELECT ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2020
2018
Table of Contents
Revenue
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Total revenue
Costs of revenue
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs of revenue
Gross (loss) profit
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative
Depreciation and amortization
Impairment of goodwill and trademark
Impairment and abandonment of property and equipment
Impairment of cost-method investment
Lease abandonment costs
Total operating expenses
(Loss) income from operations
Other (expense) income
(Losses) gains on sales of property and equipment and divestitures, net
Interest expense, net
Foreign currency gain (loss), net
Other expense, net
(Loss) income before income tax benefit (expense)
Income tax benefit (expense)
Net (loss) income
Less: net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net (loss) income attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc.
Net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders (Note 17):
Class A—Basic
Class A-2—Basic
Class B—Basic
Net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders (Note 17):
Class A—Diluted
Class A-2—Diluted
Class B—Diluted
$
$
319,766
125,356
159,983
—
605,105
291,734
99,546
143,550
740
98,800
634,370
(29,265)
74,364
2,872
276,016
7,910
772,311
221,593
268,614
29,071
1,291,589
598,405
166,962
230,434
30,239
116,809
1,142,849
148,740
111,622
3,860
4,396
3,715
—
—
4,350
365,512
(394,777)
(2,815)
(2,136)
39
(3,519)
(403,208)
1,476
(401,732)
63,048
(338,684)
$
(3.98)
$
— $
— $
(3.98)
$
— $
— $
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2,073
125,666
23,074
(11,626)
(2,688)
273
(2,948)
6,085
(1,949)
4,136
(1,352)
2,784
$
0.03
$
— $
— $
0.03
$
— $
— $
$
896,783
230,115
259,791
142,241
1,528,930
681,546
160,072
233,454
124,839
130,537
1,330,448
198,482
103,156
3,176
17,894
6,657
2,000
3,925
136,808
61,674
3,804
(5,311)
(1,292)
(2,872)
56,003
(1,704)
54,299
(17,787)
36,512
0.49
0.49
—
0.49
0.49
—
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
Table of Contents
SELECT ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
Net (loss) income
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax of $0
Comprehensive (loss) income
Less: comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc.
2020
$ (401,732)
Year Ended December 31,
2019
4,136
$
2018
$ 54,299
—
(401,732)
63,048
$ (338,684)
368
4,504
(1,472)
3,032
$
(670)
53,629
(17,568)
$ 36,061
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
Table of Contents
Balance as of December 31, 2017
Conversion of Class A-2
common stock to Class A
common stock
Exchange of SES Holdings
LLC Units and Class B
common stock for Class A
common stock
ESPP shares issued
Equity-based compensation
Issuance of restricted shares
Exercise of restricted stock
units
Stock options exercised
Repurchase of common
stock
Restricted shares forfeited
Distributions to
noncontrolling interests, net
NCI income tax adjustment
Foreign currency translation
adjustment
Net income
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Exchange of SES Holdings
LLC Units and Class B
common stock for Class A
common stock
ESPP shares issued
Equity-based compensation
Issuance of restricted shares
Exercise of restricted stock
units
Stock options exercised
Repurchase of common
stock
Restricted shares forfeited
Distributions to
noncontrolling interests, net
NCI income tax adjustment
Foreign currency translation
adjustment
Net income
Balance as of December 31, 2019
ESPP shares issued
Equity-based compensation
Issuance of restricted shares
Exercise of restricted stock
units
Repurchase of common
stock
Restricted shares forfeited
Distributions to
noncontrolling interests, net
NCI income tax adjustment
Net loss
Balance as of December 31, 2020
SELECT ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(in thousands, except share data)
Class A
Stockholders
Class A-2
Stockholders
Class B
Stockholders
Class B
Common
Stock
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
Shares
40,331,989
404
673,141
(17,859)
302
Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated
Deficit)
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
(Loss)
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
656,647
Noncontrolling
Interests
406,722
Total
1,063,369
Shares
59,182,176
Class A
Common
Stock
592
Shares
6,731,845
6,731,839
67
(6,731,839)
Class A-2
Common
Stock
67
(67)
14,305,146
9,793
—
438,182
27,860
79,333
(1,766,428)
(51,346)
—
—
—
—
$
78,956,555
9,805,742
13,178
—
1,417,458
1,250
5,282
(2,288,880)
(17,060)
—
—
—
—
$
87,893,525
15,132
—
1,477,488
625
(2,199,824)
(374,299)
144
—
—
4
—
1
(17)
(1)
—
—
—
—
790
98
—
—
14
—
—
(23)
—
—
—
—
—
879
—
—
15
—
(22)
(4)
—
—
—
—
—
—
(6)
—
—
—
—
—
— $
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
— $
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(14,305,146)
(144)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
146,865
132
7,312
2,321
104
1,018
(17,121)
(382)
—
209
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
146,865
132
7,312
2,325
104
1,019
(17,138)
(383)
—
209
(146,865)
(15)
3,059
(2,325)
(104)
(374)
576
383
(506)
(209)
—
117
10,371
—
—
645
(16,562)
—
(506)
—
—
—
$
26,026,843
—
—
$
260
—
—
$
813,599
—
36,512
18,653
$
(670)
—
$
(368)
(670)
36,512
832,934
$
(290)
17,787
277,839
(960)
54,299
$ 1,110,773
(9,805,742)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$
16,221,101
—
—
—
—
—
—
(98)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$
162
—
—
—
—
107,062
154
12,050
3,639
4
84
(21,939)
(39)
—
66
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
19
—
$
914,699
—
2,784
21,437
$
83
4,856
2,407
1
—
—
(12,270)
(544)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
368
—
— $
—
—
—
—
—
—
107,062
154
12,050
3,653
4
84
(21,962)
(39)
—
66
387
2,784
937,177
83
4,856
2,422
1
(12,292)
(548)
(107,062)
(42)
3,435
(3,653)
(4)
(54)
3,362
39
404
(66)
85
1,352
$
175,635
(7)
908
(2,422)
(1)
1,416
548
—
112
15,485
—
—
30
(18,600)
—
404
—
472
4,136
$ 1,112,812
76
5,764
—
—
(10,876)
—
(162)
—
(401,732)
705,882
$
F-7
—
—
—
$
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
—
—
(338,684)
(317,247)
—
46
(338,684)
593,061
—
—
—
$
162
—
—
—
— $
—
—
—
— $
—
—
—
$
—
46
—
$
—
—
—
868
—
—
—
—
86,812,647
16,221,101
909,278
$
$
(162)
(46)
(63,048)
112,821
Table of Contents
SELECT ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net (loss) income
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating
activities
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2019
2018
$
(401,732)
$
4,136 $
54,299
Depreciation and amortization
Net loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment
Bad debt expense
Amortization of debt issuance costs
Inventory write-downs
Equity-based compensation
Impairment of goodwill and trademark
Impairment and abandonment of property and equipment
Impairment of cost-method investment
Loss on divestitures
Unrealized gain on short-term investment
Other operating items, net
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Working capital settlement
Proceeds received from divestitures
Purchase of property and equipment
Investment in note receivable
Distribution from cost method investment
Acquisitions, net of cash received
Proceeds received from sales of property and equipment
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings from revolving line of credit
Payments on long-term debt
Payments of finance lease obligations
Proceeds from share issuance
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests
Repurchase of common stock
Contingent consideration
Net cash used in financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
Supplemental cash flow disclosure:
Cash paid for interest
Cash (refunds received) paid for income taxes, net
Supplemental disclosure of noncash operating activities:
Noncash settlement of accounts receivable
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities:
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Noncash proceeds received from sale of interest in a formerly consolidated joint
venture
101,672
2,405
6,373
688
852
5,764
276,016
7,910
—
410
(1,799)
(407)
142,873
14,886
(50,101)
105,810
—
197
(21,239)
(3,000)
200
—
18,449
(5,393)
—
—
(264)
76
354
(10,876)
—
(10,710)
64
89,771
79,268
169,039
1,838
(174)
1,578
9,322
5,733
367
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
120,669
7,950
2,553
688
250
15,485
4,396
3,715
—
3,676
—
240
57,908
11,321
(29,039)
203,948
691
24,872
(110,143)
—
—
(10,000)
17,223
(77,357)
5,000
(50,000)
(883)
142
(349)
(18,600)
—
(64,690)
130
62,031
17,237
79,268 $
2,716 $
1,793 $
— $
119,358 $
133,713
(3,803)
2,210
688
442
10,371
17,894
6,657
2,000
—
—
1,287
36,537
(9,115)
(20,771)
232,409
—
—
(165,360)
—
—
(16,999)
13,998
(168,361)
60,000
(90,000)
(1,881)
762
(506)
(16,562)
(1,106)
(49,293)
(292)
14,463
2,774
17,237
5,243
(550)
—
—
10,472 $
17,910
— $
—
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-8
Table of Contents
SELECT ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1—BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Description of the business: Select Energy Services, Inc. (“we,” “Select Inc.” or “the Company”) was incorporated as a
Delaware corporation on November 21, 2016. The Company is a holding company whose sole material asset consists of common
units (“SES Holdings LLC Units”) in SES Holdings, LLC (“SES Holdings”).
We are a leading provider of comprehensive water-management and chemical solutions to the oil and gas industry in the
United States (“U.S.”). We also develop, manufacture and deliver a full suite of chemical solutions for use in oil and gas well
completion and production operations. As a leader in the water solutions industry, we place the utmost importance on safe,
environmentally responsible management of oilfield water throughout the lifecycle of a well. Additionally, we believe that
responsibly managing water resources through our operations to help conserve and protect the environment in the communities in
which we operate is paramount to our continued success.
Rockwater Merger: On November 1, 2017, the Company completed a merger with Rockwater (the “Rockwater
Merger”).
Class A and Class B Common Stock: At December 31, 2020, the Company had both Class A and Class B common
shares issued and outstanding. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock are entitled to one
vote per share and vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval.
Exchange rights: Under the Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of SES Holdings (the
“SES Holdings LLC Agreement”), SES Legacy Holdings LLC (“Legacy Owner Holdco”) and its permitted transferees have the
right (an “Exchange Right”) to cause SES Holdings to acquire all or a portion of its SES Holdings LLC Units for, at SES
Holdings’ election, (i) shares of Class A Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Class A Common Stock for each
SES Holdings LLC Unit exchanged, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and
other similar transactions or (ii) cash in an amount equal to the Cash Election Value (as defined within the SES Holdings LLC
Agreement) of such Class A Common Stock. Alternatively, upon the exercise of any Exchange Right, Select Inc. has the right
(the “Call Right”) to acquire the tendered SES Holdings LLC Units from the exchanging unitholder for, at its election, (i) the
number of shares of Class A Common Stock the exchanging unitholder would have received under the Exchange Right or
(ii) cash in an amount equal to the Cash Election Value of such Class A Common Stock. In connection with any exchange of SES
Holdings LLC Units pursuant to an Exchange Right or Call Right, the corresponding number of shares of Class B Common Stock
will be cancelled.
Basis of presentation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
SEC. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its majority-owned or controlled
subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
For investments in subsidiaries that are not wholly owned, but where the Company exercises control, the equity held by
the minority owners and their portion of net income or loss are reflected as noncontrolling interests. Investments in entities in
which the Company exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies are accounted for using the equity
method, and investments in entities for which the Company does not have significant control or influence are accounted for using
the cost-method or other appropriate basis as applicable. As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, the Company had no equity
method investees and one cost-method investee. As of December 31, 2020, the Company also had one investment in notes
receivable accounted for using the amortized cost basis and one investment in publicly-traded securities accounted for using the
fair value option. The Company’s investments are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the
carrying value may not be recoverable. When
F-9
Table of Contents
circumstances indicate that the fair value of its investment is less than its carrying value and the reduction in value is other than
temporary, the reduction in value is recognized in earnings. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company determined that its
cost-method investee was no longer fully recoverable and was written down to its then estimated fair value of $0.5 million. The
impairment expense of $2.0 million is included in impairment of cost-method investment within the consolidated statements of
operations.
Segment reporting: The Company has three reportable segments. Reportable segments are defined as components of an
enterprise for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in
deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s current reportable segments are Water Services,
Water Infrastructure, and Oilfield Chemicals.
The Water Services segment consists of the Company’s services businesses, including water transfer, flowback and well
testing, fluids hauling, water containment and water network automation, primarily serving exploration and production (“E&P”)
companies. Additionally, this segment includes the operations of our accommodations and rentals business.
The Water Infrastructure segment consists of the Company’s infrastructure assets, including operations associated with
our water sourcing and pipeline infrastructure, our water recycling solutions and infrastructure, and our produced water gathering
systems and saltwater disposal wells, primarily serving E&P companies.
The Oilfield Chemicals segment provides technical solutions and expertise related to chemical applications in the oil
and gas industry. We also have significant capabilities in supplying logistics for chemical applications. We develop, manufacture
and provide a full suite of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing, production, pipelines and well
completions. With our broad chemicals product line, combined with our expertise in oilfield chemicals application, we serve
pressure pumpers and major integrated and independent U.S. and international oil and gas producers. We further utilize our
chemicals experience and lab testing capabilities to customize water treatment solutions tailored to the customer’s water quality
and other fluid system design objectives.
The results of service lines divested during 2019, including the operations of our Affirm Oilfield Services, LLC
subsidiary (“Affirm”), our sand hauling operations and our Canadian operations, are combined in the “Other” category.
Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made to the Company’s prior period consolidated financial
information to conform to the current year presentation. These presentation changes did not impact the Company’s consolidated
net income, consolidated cash flows, total assets, total liabilities or total stockholders’ equity.
Substantially complete liquidation: During 2019, the Company substantially completed liquidating our Canadian
subsidiary and reclassified $0.4 million of cumulative translation adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income to
(losses)/gains on sales of property and equipment and divestitures, net.
NOTE 2—SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use of estimates: The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to the recoverability of long-lived
assets and intangibles, useful lives used in depreciation and amortization, uncollectible accounts receivable, inventory reserve,
income taxes, self-insurance liabilities, share-based compensation, contingent liabilities and the incremental borrowing rate for
leases. The Company bases its estimates on historical and other pertinent information that are believed to be reasonable under the
circumstances. The accounting estimates used in the preparation of the
F-10
Table of Contents
consolidated financial statements may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is
obtained and as the Company’s operating environment changes.
Cash and cash equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of
three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts receivable: Accounts receivable are stated at the invoiced amount, or the earned but not yet invoiced amount,
net of an allowance for credit losses.
Allowance for credit losses: The Company’s allowance for credit losses primarily relates to trade accounts receivable.
The Company treats trade accounts receivable as one portfolio and records an initial allowance calculated as a percentage of
revenue recognized based on a combination of historical information and future expectations. Additionally, the Company adjusts
this allowance based on specific information in connection with aged receivables. Historically, most bad debt has been incurred
where a customer’s financial condition significantly deteriorates, which in some cases leads to bankruptcy. The duration and
severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued market volatility is highly uncertain, and, as such, the impact on expected
losses is subject to significant judgment and may cause variability in the Company’s allowance for credit losses in future periods.
The change in the allowance for credit losses is as follows:
Balance at beginning of year
Increase to allowance based on a percent of revenue
Adjustment based on aged receivable analysis
Charge-offs
Recoveries
Balance at end of year
For the year ended December 31,
2018
2020
2019
(in thousands)
$
$
5,773 $
1,212
5,161
(3,003)
14
9,157 $
5,329 $
2,641
(88)
(2,504)
395
5,773 $
2,979
2,253
(43)
(23)
163
5,329
The Company also has a $3.0 million note receivable resulting from an investment in the fourth quarter of 2020, with no
allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2020. See Note 14 – Related Party Transactions for additional information.
Concentrations of credit and customer risk: Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. The amounts held in
financial institutions periodically exceed the federally insured limit. Management believes that the financial institutions are
financially sound and the risk of loss is minimal. The Company minimizes its exposure to counterparty credit risk by performing
credit evaluations and ongoing monitoring of the financial stability of its customers. There were no customers that accounted for
more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenues or receivables for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018,
respectively.
Inventories: The Company values its inventories at lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory costs are determined
under the weighted-average method. Inventory costs primarily consist of chemicals and materials available for resale and parts
and consumables used in operations.
Property and equipment: Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.
Depreciation (and amortization of finance lease assets) is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life
of each asset as noted below:
F-11
Table of Contents
Asset Classification
Land
Buildings and leasehold improvements
Vehicles and equipment
Machinery and equipment
Computer equipment and software
Office furniture and equipment
Disposal wells
Useful Life (years)
Indefinite
30 or lease term
4 - 7 or lease term
2 - 15
3 - 4 or lease term
7
7 - 10
Depreciation expense related to the Company’s property and equipment, including amortization of property under
finance leases, was $90.2 million, $108.7 million and $120.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018,
respectively.
Change in depreciable lives of property and equipment: In accordance with its policy, the Company reviews the
estimated useful lives and estimated salvage values of its fixed assets on an ongoing basis. A review conducted in the first quarter
of 2018, indicated that the economic lives of certain assets were longer than the historic asset lives previously used. This increase
was positively supported by effective use, care and custody of the assets. Also, this review indicated increased salvage value
estimates for certain assets within vehicles and equipment, which was supported by vehicle sales data, and is expected to continue
prospectively. As a result, effective January 1, 2018, the Company changed its estimates of the useful lives of certain assets
included in vehicles and equipment and machinery and equipment, and increased salvage value estimates for certain assets within
vehicles and equipment, to better reflect the estimated periods and depreciable amounts during which these assets will remain in
service.
The average estimated useful lives of the assets impacted in the vehicles and equipment category increased from 6.0 to
8.1 years, while the average estimated useful lives of assets impacted in machinery and equipment increased from 5.5 years to 6.9
years. The impact of the increase of useful lives was to defer and extend out depreciation expense, including lower expense in
2018. The impact of the increase in salvage values was to permanently lower current and future depreciation expense. The fixed
assets obtained in 2017 through mergers and acquisitions had consistent useful life and salvage value estimates with the rest of
the Company’s fixed assets.
The change in the estimated useful lives of fixed assets and change in salvage value estimates was implemented on a
prospective basis starting January 1, 2018. Excluding fixed assets attained through mergers and acquisitions during 2017, the
impact of the change in useful life estimate of fixed assets purchased on or before December 31, 2017, was to reduce and defer
depreciation expense by $12.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2018. Also, the increase in estimated vehicle salvage
value produced a permanent depreciation expense reduction of $3.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2018. For the
year ended December 31, 2018, the changes in useful life estimate and increased salvage value produced an increase to net
income of $10.9 million (including the impact of noncontrolling interests) and increased both basic and diluted earnings per share
attributable to our stockholders by $0.15.
Business Combinations: The Company records business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting.
Under the acquisition method of accounting, identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their acquisition-
date fair values. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value is recorded as goodwill. Changes in the estimated
fair values of net assets recorded for acquisitions prior to the finalization of more detailed analysis, but not to exceed one year
from the date of acquisition, will adjust the amount of the purchase price allocable to goodwill. Measurement period adjustments
are reflected in the period in which they occur.
Goodwill and other intangible assets: Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of acquisitions over the fair
value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill and other intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment
annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Intangible assets with
finite useful lives are amortized either on a straight-line basis over the asset’s estimated useful life or on a basis that reflects the
pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets are realized.
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Impairment of goodwill, long-lived assets and intangible assets: Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and
finite-lived intangible assets, are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying
value may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of its carrying amount to the estimated undiscounted
cash flows to be generated by those assets. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, the Company
records impairment losses for the excess of its carrying value over the estimated fair value. The development of future cash flows
and the estimate of fair value represent its best estimates based on industry trends and reference to market transactions and are
subject to variability. The Company considers the factors within the fair value analysis to be Level 3 inputs within the fair value
hierarchy. See Note 4—Impairments and Other Costs for further discussion.
The Company conducts its annual goodwill impairment tests in the fourth quarter of each year, and whenever
impairment indicators arise, by examining relevant events and circumstances which could have a negative impact on its goodwill
such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors that have a negative effect on earnings and cash
flows, overall financial performance, acquisitions and divestitures and other relevant entity-specific events. If a qualitative
assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the
Company is required to perform a quantitative impairment test for goodwill comparing the reporting unit’s carrying value to its
fair value. The Company’s reporting units are based on its organizational and reporting structure. In determining fair values for
the reporting units, the Company relies primarily on the income and market approaches for valuation. In the income approach, the
Company discounts predicted future cash flows using a weighted-average cost of capital calculation based on publicly-traded
peer companies. In the market approach, valuation multiples are developed from both publicly-traded peer companies as well as
other company transactions. The cost approach, when used, considers replacement cost as the primary indicator of value.
If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, goodwill impairment is calculated by subtracting the
fair value of the reporting unit from the carrying value. Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including
the identification of reporting units, allocation of assets (including goodwill) and liabilities to reporting units and determining the
fair value. The determination of reporting unit fair value relies upon certain estimates and assumptions that are complex and are
affected by numerous factors, including the general economic environment and levels of exploration and production (“E&P”)
activity of oil and gas companies, the Company’s financial performance and trends and the Company’s strategies and business
plans, among others. Unanticipated changes, including immaterial revisions, to these assumptions, could result in a provision for
impairment in a future period. Given the nature of these evaluations and their application to specific assets and time frames, it is
not possible to reasonably quantify the impact of changes in these assumptions. See Note 4—Impairments and Other Costs for
further discussion.
Asset retirement obligations: The asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) liability reflects the present value of estimated
costs of plugging, site reclamation and similar activities associated with the Company’s saltwater disposal wells. The Company
utilizes current retirement costs to estimate the expected cash outflows for retirement obligations. The Company also estimates
the productive life of the disposal wells, a credit-adjusted risk-free discount rate and an inflation factor in order to determine the
current present value of this obligation. The Company’s ARO liabilities are included in accrued expenses and other current
liabilities and other long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2020, and 2019.
The change in asset retirement obligations is as follows:
Balance at December 31, 2019
Accretion expense, included in depreciation and amortization expense
Disposals, included in depreciation and amortization expense
Payments
Balance at December 31, 2020
For the year ended December 31,
2020
2019
(in thousands)
$
$
1,527
121
(272)
(377)
999
$
$
1,898
115
—
(486)
1,527
F-13
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In addition to the obligations described above, the Company may be obligated to remove facilities or perform other
remediation upon retirement of certain other assets. However, the fair value of the asset retirement obligation cannot currently be
reasonably estimated because the settlement dates are indeterminable. If applicable, the Company will record an asset retirement
obligation for these assets in the periods in which settlement dates are reasonably determinable.
Self-insurance: The Company self-insures, through deductibles and retentions, up to certain levels for losses related to
general liability, workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, vehicle liability, and effective June 1, 2020, health insurance.
The Company’s exposure (i.e. the retention or deductible) per occurrence is $2.0 million for general liability, $1.0 million for
workers’ compensation and employer’s liability, $2.0 million for vehicle liability and $0.2 million for health insurance. We also
have an excess loss policy over these coverages with a limit of $100.0 million in the aggregate. Management regularly reviews its
estimates of reported and unreported claims and provide for losses through reserves. As of December 31, 2020, the Company
estimated the range of exposure to be from $12.9 million to $14.9 million for worker’s compensation and vehicle liability claims
and have recorded liabilities of $13.9 million, which represents management’s best estimate of probable loss related to these
claims. Additionally, accrued health insurance and accrued general liabilities were $1.7 million and $0.5 million as of December
31, 2020, respectively. These liabilities are included in accrued insurance and other long-term liabilities depending on whether
they are short or long-term in nature.
Defined Contribution Plan: The Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the
“401(k) Plan”) for the benefit of substantially all employees of the Company. The 401(k) Plan allows eligible employees to make
tax-deferred contributions, not to exceed annual limits established by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company formerly
matched contributions of 100% of employee contributions, up to 4% of compensation with immediate vesting for existing
employees. The vesting schedule for new hires is 25% for the first year, 50% for the second year, 75% for the third year and
100% for the fourth year.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, due to worsening economic conditions, the Company suspended the match
to the 401(k) Plan and incurred no match expense in 2020. The Company’s contributions to the 401(k) Plan were $4.2 million
and $3.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Payroll Tax Deferral: During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company took advantage of the employer payroll
tax deferral provision in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act and has deferred the payment of
$6.0 million of payroll taxes as of December 31, 2020. The amounts being deferred during 2020, must be repaid half by
December 31, 2021, and half by December 31, 2022. The deferral is split evenly between accrued salaries and benefits and other
long-term liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020.
Revenue recognition: The Company follows ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). See
Note 5—Revenue for further detail on applying this standard. The Company uses the five step process to recognize revenue
which entails (i) identifying contracts with customers; (ii) identifying the performance obligations in each contract; (iii)
determining the transaction price; (iv) allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognizing revenue
as we satisfy performance obligations. The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the
Company will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services transferred to the customer. Revenue
from the Company’s Water Services and Water Infrastructure segments is typically recognized over the course of time, whereas
revenue from the Company’s Chemicals segment is typically recognized upon change in control. Revenue generated by each of
the Company’s revenue streams are outlined as follows:
Water Services and Water Infrastructure—The Company provides water-related services to customers, including the
sourcing and transfer of water, the containment of fluids, measuring and monitoring of water, the filtering and treatment
of fluids, well testing and handling, transportation and recycling or disposal of fluids. Revenue is primarily based on a
per-barrel price or other throughput metrics as specified in the contract. The Company recognizes revenue as services
are performed.
F-14
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The Company’s agreements with its customers are often referred to as “price sheets” and sometimes provide pricing for
multiple services. However, these agreements generally do not authorize the performance of specific services or provide
for guaranteed throughput amounts. As customers are free to choose which services, if any, to use based on the
Company’s price sheet, the Company prices its separate services on the basis of their standalone selling prices.
Customer agreements generally do not provide for performance-, cancellation-, termination-, or refund-type provisions.
Services based on price sheets with customers are generally performed under separately-issued “work orders” or “field
tickets” as services are requested. Of the Company’s Water Services and Water Infrastructure service lines, only
sourcing and transfer of water are consistently provided as part of the same arrangement. In these instances, revenue for
both sourcing and transfer are recognized concurrently when delivered. Additionally, asset rentals are recognized on a
straight-line basis.
Oilfield Chemical Product Sales—The Company develops, manufactures and markets a full suite of chemicals utilized
in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, cementing and well completions, including polymers that create viscosity,
crosslinkers, friction reducers, surfactants, buffers, breakers and other chemical technologies, to leading pressure
pumping service companies in the U.S. The Company also provides production chemicals solutions, which are applied
to underperforming wells in order to enhance well performance and reduce production costs through the use of
production treating chemicals, corrosion and scale monitoring, chemical inventory management, well failure analysis
and lab services.
Oilfield Chemicals products are generally sold under sales agreements based upon purchase orders or contracts with
customers that do not include right of return provisions or other significant post-delivery obligations. The Company’s
products are produced in a standard manufacturing operation, even if produced to the customer’s specifications. The
prices of products are fixed and determinable and are established in price lists or customer purchase orders. The
Company recognizes revenue from product sales when title passes to the customer, the customer assumes risks and
rewards of ownership, collectability is reasonably assured and delivery occurs as directed by the customer.
Equity-based compensation: The Company accounts for equity-based awards for restricted stock awards, restricted stock
units, and stock-settled appreciation awards by measuring the awards at the date of grant and recognizing the grant-date fair value
as an expense using either straight-line or accelerated attribution, depending on the specific terms of the award agreements over
the requisite service period, which is usually equivalent to the vesting period. The Company expenses awards with graded-vesting
service conditions on a straight-line basis and accounts for forfeitures as they occur. The Company accounts for performance
share units by remeasuring the awards at the end of each reporting period based on the period-end closing share price, factoring
in the percentage expected to vest, and the percentage of the service period completed.
Fair value measurements: The Company measures certain assets and liabilities pursuant to accounting guidance, which
establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy and prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. Level 1 inputs are unadjusted
quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are quoted prices or other market data for similar
assets and liabilities in active markets, or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through
market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs based upon
the Company’s own judgment and assumptions used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value. See Note 13—Fair Value
Measurement for further discussion.
Income taxes: Select Inc. is subject to U.S. federal, foreign and state income taxes as a corporation. SES Holdings and
its subsidiaries, with the exception of certain corporate subsidiaries, are treated as flow-through entities for U.S. federal income
tax purposes and as such, are generally not subject to U.S. federal income tax at the entity level. Rather, the tax liability with
respect to their taxable income is passed through to their members or partners. Select Inc. recognizes a tax liability on its
allocable share of SES Holdings’ taxable income. The state of Texas includes in its tax system a franchise tax applicable to the
Company and an accrual for franchise taxes is included in the financial statements when appropriate.
The Company and its subsidiaries account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method,
deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the
financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis.
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Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences
are expected to be recovered or settled pursuant to the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, Income
Taxes. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rate is recognized in earnings in the period that includes
the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts more likely
than not to be realized.
The determination of the provision for income taxes requires significant judgment, use of estimates and the
interpretation and application of complex tax laws. Significant judgment is required in assessing the timing and amounts of
deductible and taxable items and the probability of sustaining uncertain tax positions. The benefits of uncertain tax positions are
recorded in the Company’s financial statements only after determining a more likely than not probability that the uncertain tax
positions will withstand challenge, if any, from taxing authorities. When facts and circumstances change, the Company reassesses
these probabilities and records any changes through the provision for income taxes. The Company recognizes interest and
penalties relating to uncertain tax provisions as a component of tax expense. The Company identified no material uncertain tax
positions as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. See Note 15—Income Taxes for further discussion.
Recent accounting pronouncements: In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses
(Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which amends GAAP by introducing a new impairment
model for financial instruments that is based on expected credit losses rather than incurred credit losses. The new impairment
model applies to most financial assets, including trade accounts receivable. The amendments are effective for interim and annual
reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and require a modified retrospective transition approach. After reviewing
the new standard and reexamining current and prior year bad debt expense from trade receivables, as well as updating future
expectations, the adoption of the new standard in the first quarter of 2020 did not have a material impact on the Company’s
financial statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income
Taxes” (“ASU 2019-12”), which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general
principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. We adopted ASU
2019-12 in the third quarter of 2020 and elected all aspects of this standard as of the beginning of 2020. The adoption did not
have a material impact to the Company’s financial statements.
NOTE 3—ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES
Business combinations
Well Chemical Services Acquisition
On September 30, 2019, the Company acquired a well chemical services business (“WCS”), for $10.0 million, funded
with cash on hand (the “WCS Acquisition”). WCS provides advanced water treatment solutions, specialized stimulation flow
assurance and integrity additives and post-treatment monitoring service in the U.S. This acquisition expanded the Company’s
service offerings in oilfield water treatment across the full life-cycle of water, from pre-fracturing treatment through reuse and
recycling.
The WCS Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. When
determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management made significant estimates, judgments and
assumptions. These estimates, judgments and assumptions and valuation of the inventory and property and equipment acquired,
customer relationships, and current liabilities were finalized as of December 31, 2019. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed
are included in the Company’s Oilfield Chemicals segment. The following
F-16
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table summarizes the consideration transferred and the estimated fair value of identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at
the date of acquisition:
Purchase price allocation
Consideration transferred
Cash paid
Total consideration transferred
Less: identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Inventory
Property and equipment
Customer relationships
Current liabilities
Total identifiable net assets acquired
Fair value allocated to net assets acquired
Pro Well Acquisition
Amount
$
(in thousands)
10,000
10,000
5,221
4,473
476
(170)
10,000
10,000
$
On November 20, 2018, the Company acquired Pro Well Testing and Wireline, Inc. (“Pro Well”) with an initial payment of
$12.4 million, funded with cash on hand (the “Pro Well Acquisition”). During March 2019, upon final settlement, the purchase
price was revised to $11.8 million.
This acquisition expanded the Company’s flowback footprint into New Mexico and added new strategic customers. The
Pro Well Acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. When
determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, management made significant estimates, judgments and
assumptions. Management estimated that total consideration paid exceeded the fair value of the net assets acquired by $1.1
million, with the excess recorded as goodwill. The goodwill recognized was primarily attributable to expanding the Company’s
flowback footprint into New Mexico and adding new strategic customers. The assets acquired, liabilities assumed and the results
of operations of the acquired business are included in the Company’s Water Services segment. The goodwill acquired is
deductible for tax purposes. The following table summarizes the consideration transferred and the estimated fair value of
identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:
Purchase price allocation
Consideration transferred
Cash paid
Total consideration transferred
Less: identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Working capital
Property and equipment
Customer relationship intangible assets
Total identifiable net assets acquired
Goodwill
Fair value allocated to net assets acquired
F-17
Amount
$
(in thousands)
11,754
11,754
1,051
6,588
3,000
10,639
1,115
11,754
$
Table of Contents
During the first quarter of 2020, Select impaired 100% of its goodwill, including the goodwill resulting from the Pro
Well acquisition (See Note 4 – Impairments and Other Costs and Note 9 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets).
Divestitures
Affirm and Canadian Operations Divestitures
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company closed on four sale transactions and wound down the
remaining Affirm and Canadian operations. The Company sold property and equipment with a combined net book value of $18.6
million and assigned contracts to the buyers. Additionally, two of the four transactions included the assignment of working
capital. The following table summarizes sales details for each of the four transactions:
Date of Divestiture
Entity
Initial Net
Proceeds
Working Capital
True Up
February 26, 2019 Affirm $
June 28, 2019 Affirm
March 19, 2019 Canada
April 1, 2019 Canada
$
10,982
6,968 —
4,975
2,242 —
(208) $
(302)
Adjusted Net
Proceeds
(in thousands)
10,774
6,968
4,673
2,242
Working Capital
Status at
December 31, 2019
(Gain)/loss for the
year ended December
31, 2019
$
Final
Final
Final
Final
208
(1,646)
5,013
101
In connection with the Affirm crane operation divestiture in 2019, no gain or loss was initially recognized and goodwill
was reduced by $2.6 million. Additionally, during 2019, the Company recorded an impairment of the remaining Affirm goodwill
of $4.4 million (see Note 9—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets).
NOTE 4—IMPAIRMENTS AND OTHER COSTS
Significant challenges that emerged during the year ended December 31, 2020, and that are expected to continue, have
had and will likely continue to have a negative impact on our results of operations. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a
worldwide slowdown in economic activity, resulting in a sharp decline in global oil demand and therefore, lower oil and natural
gas prices. Global oil demand is expected to remain challenged at least until the COVID-19 pandemic can be contained. In
response to lower oil and gas prices, our E&P customers have cut capital spending, resulting in a sharp drop in the number of
wells drilled and completed in all of our markets. Reduced demand for our services has had a material, negative impact on our
financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020. While oil prices and U.S. unconventional completions activity have
partially recovered from the recent lows, given the continued uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated
impact on oil demand, we are unable to predict if, when, and by how much the demand for our services and therefore our
financial performance will improve.
Because the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown, we cannot forecast with reasonable
certainty the impact of COVID-19 on our business, financial condition or near or longer-term financial or operational results.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, we took actions to protect our balance sheet and maintain our liquidity, including
significantly decreasing our operating expenses by reducing headcount, reducing salaries and director compensation, idling
facilities, closing yard locations, reducing third-party expenses and streamlining operations, as well as reducing capital
expenditures. We also deferred employer payroll tax payments, in accordance with the provisions of the CARES Act, and may
take advantage of future legislation passed by the United States Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result of the downturn in our business, we recorded impairment expenses in the first half of 2020 related to
goodwill, property and equipment and other intangible assets.
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A summary of impairments to goodwill and trademark for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as
follows:
Impairment of goodwill and trademark
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Total impairment of goodwill and trademark
2020
Year ended December 31,
2019
(in thousands)
2018
$
$
186,468
80,466
9,082
—
276,016
$
$
— $
—
—
4,396
4,396
$
—
—
12,652
5,242
17,894
For a discussion of the impairments to goodwill and trademark, See Note 9—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
A summary of impairments to and abandonment of property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2020,
2019 and 2018 is as follows:
2020
Year ended December 31,
2019
(in thousands)
2018
Impairment and abandonment of property and equipment
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Other
Total impairment and abandonment of property and equipment
$
$
3,894
4,016
—
7,910
$
$
969
1,804
942
3,715
$
$
—
2,282
4,375
6,657
For the year ended December 31, 2020, impairment and abandonment costs of $7.9 million were comprised of leasehold
improvements related to abandoned facilities, abandonment of certain saltwater and freshwater wells and obsolete machinery and
equipment. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company impaired $3.7 million of property and equipment as the
carrying values were not deemed recoverable including $1.1 million of pipelines with low utilization, $1.0 million of layflat hose
considered obsolete, $0.9 million related to divesting Canadian fixed assets, and $0.6 million related to an owned facility for sale.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company determined that long-lived assets with a carrying value of $2.3 million were
no longer recoverable and were written down to their estimated fair value of zero. Additionally, the Company determined that
$4.4 million of Canadian fixed assets were impaired due to an expectation of a loss on asset disposals.
A summary of severance, yard closure, and lease abandonment costs for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and
2018 is as follows:
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Table of Contents
Severance
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Total severance expense
Yard closure costs
Water Services
Oilfield Chemicals
Total yard closure costs
Lease abandonment costs
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Total lease abandonment costs
2020
Year ended December 31,
2019
(in thousands)
2018
$
$
$
$
$
$
4,569
500
813
1,286
7,168
2,645
316
2,961
4,321
51
42
(64)
4,350
$
$
$
$
$
$
— $
—
—
1,691
1,691
$
— $
—
— $
1,218
—
11
844
2,073
$
$
538
—
—
682
1,220
—
—
—
2,150
—
28
1,747
3,925
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded exit-disposal costs including $7.2 million of
severance costs, with $0.6 million of accrued severance at December 31, 2020 recorded as accrued salary and benefits on the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets, $3.0 million in yard closure costs recognized within costs of revenue on the
accompanying consolidated statements of operations with $0.1 million accrued yard closure costs at December 31, 2020,
recorded as accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the accompanying balance sheets, and $4.4 million of lease
abandonment costs. Severance costs of $4.0 million and $3.2 million are recognized within costs of revenue and selling, general
and administrative expenses, respectively, on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded exit-disposal costs including $1.7 million of
severance costs recognized within selling, general and administrative expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of
operations, and $2.1 million of lease abandonment costs, both of which primarily related to the Company’s divested service lines,
the abandonment of two facilities and accretion of expenses for previously abandoned facilities.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded exit-disposal costs including $1.2 million of
severance costs of which $0.7 million was recognized within selling, general and administrative expenses and $0.5 million was
recognized as costs of revenue on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The severance costs were associated
with the retirement of the Company’s former Chief Administrative Officer as well as the termination of employees assigned to
the Company’s divested service lines. Additionally, the Company recorded $3.9 million of lease abandonment costs primarily
due to excess facility capacity stemming from the Rockwater Merger and the Company’s divested services lines.
NOTE 5—REVENUE
Effective for the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with
Customers (Topic 606). Most revenue recognition is governed by the new standard. The accommodations and rentals revenue
continues to be guided by ASC 842 - Leases, which is discussed further below. The core principle of
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Topic 606 is that revenue is recognized when goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects
consideration for which entitlement is expected in exchange for those goods or services.
ASU 2014-09 provides a five-step model for determining revenue recognition for arrangements that are within the scope
of the standard: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii)
determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v)
recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. The Company only applies the five-step model to
contracts when it is probable that we will collect the consideration the Company is entitled to in exchange for the goods or
services the Company transfers to the customer.
The following factors are applicable to all three of the Company’s segments for the years 2020, 2019 and 2018,
respectively:
●
The vast majority of customer agreements are short-term, lasting less than one year.
● Contracts are seldom combined together as virtually all of our customer agreements constitute separate
performance obligations. Each job is typically distinct, thereby not interdependent or interrelated with other
customer agreements.
● Most contracts allow either party to terminate at any time without substantive penalties. If the customer terminates
the contract, the Company is unconditionally entitled to the payments for the services rendered and products
delivered to date.
● Contract terminations before the end of the agreement are rare.
●
●
●
●
Sales returns are rare and no sales return assets have been recognized on the balance sheet.
There are minimal volume discounts.
There are no service-type warranties.
There is no long-term customer financing.
In the Water Services and Water Infrastructure segments, performance obligations arise in connection with services
provided to customers in accordance with contractual terms, in an amount the Company expects to collect. Services are generally
sold based upon customer orders or contracts with customers that include fixed or determinable prices. Revenues are generated
by services rendered and measured based on output generated, which is usually simultaneously received and consumed by
customers at their job sites. As a multi-job site organization, contract terms, including pricing for the Company’s services, are
negotiated on a job site level on a per-job basis. Most jobs are completed in a short period of time, usually between one day and
one month. Revenue is recognized as performance obligations are completed on a daily, hourly or per unit basis with
unconditional rights to consideration for services rendered reflected as accounts receivable trade, net of allowance for credit
losses. In cases where a prepayment is received before the Company satisfies its performance obligations, a contract liability is
recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. Final billings generally occur once all of the proper approvals are
obtained. No revenue is associated with mobilization or demobilization of personnel and equipment. Rather, mobilization and
demobilization are factored into pricing for services. Billings and costs related to mobilization and demobilization is not material
for customer agreements that start in one period and end in another. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company had
five contracts in place for these segments lasting over one year. The Company has recorded an $8.2 million contract liability
associated with one of the five long-term contracts as of December 31, 2020, recognized in other long-term liabilities in the
accompanying balance sheets. The Company expects this contract liability to be converted to revenue under the terms of the
contract as it is earned.
F-21
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In the Oilfield Chemicals segment, the typical performance obligation is to provide a specific quantity of chemicals to
customers in accordance with the customer agreement in an amount the Company expects to collect. Products and services are
generally sold based upon customer orders or contracts with customers that include fixed or determinable prices. Revenue is
recognized as the customer takes title to chemical products in accordance with the agreement. Products may be provided to
customers in packaging or delivered to the customers’ containers through a hose. In some cases, the customer takes title to the
chemicals upon consumption from storage containers on their property, where the chemicals are considered inventory until
customer usage. In cases where the Company delivers products and recognizes revenue before collecting payment, the Company
has an unconditional right to payment reflected in accounts receivable trade, net of allowance for credit losses. Customer returns
are rare and immaterial, and there were no material in-process customer agreements for this segment as of December 31, 2020
lasting greater than one year.
The Company accounts for accommodations and rentals agreements as an operating lease. The Company recognizes
revenue from renting equipment on a straight-line basis. Accommodations and rental contract periods are generally daily, weekly
or monthly. The average lease term is less than three months and as of December 31, 2020, no rental agreements lasted more than
a year.
The following table sets forth certain financial information with respect to the Company’s disaggregation of revenues by
geographic location:
Geographic Region
Permian Basin
Haynesville/E. Texas
Eagle Ford
MidCon
Marcellus/Utica
Bakken
Rockies
Eliminations and other regions
Total
2020
Year ended December 31,
2019
(in thousands)
2018
$
$
278,439
73,116
69,440
56,687
54,473
38,986
37,517
(3,553)
605,105
$
610,528
73,658
156,621
176,216
96,454
92,956
85,339
(183)
$ 1,291,589
$
606,591
59,969
171,942
243,524
134,984
153,212
111,901
46,807
$ 1,528,930
In the Water Services segment, the top three revenue-producing regions are the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford and
Marcellus/Utica, which collectively comprised 71%, 72% and 67% of segment revenue for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In
the Water Infrastructure segment, the top two-revenue producing regions are the Permian Basin and Bakken, which collectively
comprised 88%, 84% and 85% of segment revenue for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In the Oilfield Chemicals segment, the
top three revenue-producing regions are the Permian Basin, Haynesville/E. Texas and MidCon, which collectively comprised
87%, 89% and 83% of segment revenue for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
NOTE 6—LEASES
As of December 31, 2020, the Company was the lessee for approximately 388 operating leases with durations greater
than a year, approximately 14 subleases, approximately two finance leases, and is the lessor for two owned properties. Most of
the operating leases either have renewal options of between one and five years or convert to month-to-month agreements at the
end of the specified lease term. In addition to normal lease activity, the Affirm and Canadian divestitures occurring during 2019
included the assignment of leases to the buyers. The assigned leases impacted expenses during 2019, but were not included in the
December 31, 2019 consolidated balance sheet.
F-22
Table of Contents
The Company’s operating leases are primarily for (i) housing personnel for operations, (ii) operational yards for storing
and staging equipment, (iii) equipment used in operations, (iv) facilities used for back-office functions and (v) equipment used
for back-office functions. The majority of the Company’s long-term lease expenses are at fixed prices.
Primarily due to future uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, certain renewal options were no longer
considered reasonably certain of being exercised. This caused a reduction of approximately $5.7 million in right-of-use assets and
lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets during the second quarter of 2020. Additionally, during the second quarter of
2020, the Company successfully negotiated certain lease payment deferrals as well as lease payment reductions that are being
accounted for as modifications, with no impact to straight-line lease expense from lease payment deferrals and a reduction in
straight-line rent expense from lease payment reductions.
The majority of the Company’s lease expenses are in connection with short-term agreements, including expenses
incurred hourly, daily, monthly and for other durations of time of one year or less. Due to the volatility of the price of a barrel of
oil and the short term nature of the vast majority of customer agreements, the Company must have flexibility to continuously
scale operations at multiple locations. Consequently, the Company avoids committing to long-term agreements with numerous
equipment rentals, vehicle fleet agreements and man-camp agreements, unless a business case supports a longer term agreement.
Consequently, the Company’s future lease commitments at December 31, 2020 do not reflect all of the Company’s short-term
lease commitments.
Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets and the Company
recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has a significant number of
short-term leases, including month-to-month agreements that continue in perpetuity until the lessor or the Company terminates
the lease agreement. When available, the Company uses the rate implicit in the lease to discount lease payments to present value;
however, most of the Company’s leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. Therefore, the Company estimates
the incremental borrowing rate based on what it would pay to borrow on a collateralized basis, over a similar term based on
information available at lease commencement.
The Company’s lease arrangements may contain both lease and non-lease components. The Company has elected to
combine and account for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component for its leases.
The Company’s variable lease costs are comprised of variable royalties, variable common area maintenance, and
variable reimbursement of lessor insurance and property taxes. Variable lease costs were $1.1 million and $1.6 million during the
years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. $0.8 million of property tax expense is excluded from the lease expense
discussed above for both years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
The lease disclosures in this Note 6—Leases exclude revenue governed by the new lease standard associated with the
Company’s accommodations and rentals business, as all customer agreements are short-term. See Note 5—Revenue for a
comprehensive discussion on revenue recognition.
The financial impact of leases is listed in the tables below:
Balance Sheet
Assets
Right-of-use assets(1)
Finance lease assets
Liabilities
Classification
Long-term right-of-use assets
Property and equipment
Operating lease liabilities ― ST
Operating lease liabilities ― LT
Finance lease liabilities ― ST
Finance lease liabilities ― LT
Current operating lease liabilities
Long-term operating lease liabilities
Current portion of finance lease obligations
Other long term liabilities
December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019
(in thousands)
$
$
$
$
52,331
302
14,019
60,984
307
94
70,635
213
19,315
72,143
128
87
F-23
Table of Contents
(1) Right-of-use asset impairment of $3.6 million and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019,
respectively, is recorded within lease abandonment costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of
operations.
Statements of Operations and Cash Flows
Classification
Operating lease cost:
Operating lease cost ― fixed
Lease abandonment costs
Cost of revenue and Selling, general and
administrative
Lease abandonment costs
Short-term agreements:
Cost of revenue
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of leased assets
Interest on lease liabilities
Depreciation and amortization
Interest expense, net
Lessor income:
Sublease income
Lessor income
Cost of sales and lease abandonment costs
Cost of sales
Statement of cash flows
Cash paid for operating leases
Cash paid for finance leases lease
interest
Cash paid for finance leases
Operating cash flows
Operating cash flows
Financing cash flows
Year ended December 31,
2020
2019
(in thousands)
$
$
$
$
19,968
4,350
44,062
314
14
1,463
350
$
$
$
$
27,856
2,073
93,949
916
32
1,544
478
$
22,385
$
30,670
14
264
32
883
Long Term and Discount Rate
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
Operating leases
Finance leases
Weighted-average discount rate
Operating leases
Finance leases
As of December 31, 2020
As of December 31, 2019
6.7
1.3
4.7 %
3.6 %
7.9
1.6
5.3 %
5.1 %
The Company has the following operating and finance lease commitments as of December 31, 2020:
Period
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total minimum lease payments
Less reconciling items to reconcile undiscounted cash flows to lease
liabilities:
Short-term leases excluded from balance sheet
Imputed interest
Total reconciling items
Total liabilities per balance sheet
F-24
Operating Leases(1) Finance Leases
Total
(in thousands)
$
$
$
$
17,478
13,956
11,858
11,117
10,376
22,908
87,693
562
12,128
12,690
75,003
$
$
$
315
95
—
—
—
—
$
410
17,793
14,051
11,858
11,117
10,376
22,908
88,103
—
9
9
401
$
562
12,137
12,699
75,404
Table of Contents
(1) The table above excludes sublease and lessor income of $1.1 million during 2021, $0.8 million during 2022 and $0.3
million during 2023.
NOTE 7—INVENTORIES
Inventories, which are comprised of chemicals and materials available for resale and parts and consumables used in
operations, are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value, with cost determined under the weighted-average method. The
significant components of inventory are as follows:
Raw materials
Finished goods
Materials and supplies
Total
As of December 31,
2020
2019
(in thousands)
16,701
16,683
$
—
$
33,384
12,365
24,724
453
37,542
$
$
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recorded charges to the reserve for excess and
obsolete inventory for $0.9 million and $0.3 million, respectively, which were recognized within costs of revenue on the
accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company’s inventory reserve was $4.1 million as of both December
31, 2020 and 2019. The reserve for excess and obsolete inventories is determined based on the Company’s historical usage of
inventory on hand, as well as future expectations, and the amount necessary to reduce the cost of the inventory to its estimated
net realizable value.
NOTE 8—PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consists of the following as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
Machinery and equipment
Buildings and leasehold improvements
Pipelines
Disposal wells
Vehicles and equipment
Land
Computer equipment and software
Office furniture and equipment
Machinery and equipment - finance lease
Vehicles and equipment - finance lease
Computer equipment and software - finance lease
Other
Construction in progress
Less accumulated depreciation(1)
Property and equipment held-for-sale, net
Total property and equipment, net
As of December 31,
2020
2019
(in thousands)
596,441
93,236
72,458
48,097
30,975
13,497
7,127
892
537
475
356
—
14,811
878,902
(528,537)
—
350,365
$
$
659,835
97,426
69,327
64,149
53,819
16,030
8,051
1,157
162
1,291
356
497
43,279
1,015,379
(562,986)
885
453,278
$
$
(1)
Includes $1.1 million and $1.6 million of accumulated depreciation related to finance leases as of December 31, 2020
and December 31, 2019, respectively.
F-25
Table of Contents
Total depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment and finance leases presented in the table
above, as well as amortization of intangible assets presented in Note 9—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets is as follows:
Category
Depreciation expense from property and equipment
Amortization expense from finance leases
Amortization expense from intangible assets
Accretion expense from asset retirement obligations
Total depreciation and amortization
2020
Year ended December 31,
2019
(in thousands)
2018
$
$
89,848
314
11,661
(151)
101,672
$
$
107,738
916
11,900
115
120,669
$
$
119,114
1,314
13,102
183
133,713
Long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
amount of an asset may not be recoverable. See Note 4 – Impairment and Other Costs for impairment and abandonment of
property and equipment during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold the remaining Canadian assets that were previously
designated as held for sale at a loss of $0.1 million recognized within (Losses) gains on sales of property, equipment and
divestitures, net on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
NOTE 9—GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill is evaluated for impairment on at least an annual basis, or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist.
The annual impairment tests are based on Level 3 inputs (see Note 13—Fair Value Measurement). During the first quarter of
2020, the Company had triggering events related to the significant adverse change to the demand for the Company’s services in
connection with a significant decline in the price of oil and the related global economic impacts resulting from the OPEC+
disputes as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. This included uncertainty regarding oil prices and the length of the recovery
following the significant market disruption in the oil and gas industry. Given the volatile market environment at March 31, 2020,
the Company utilized third-party valuation advisors to assist with these evaluations. These evaluations included significant
judgment, including management’s short-term and long-term forecast of operating performance, discount rates based on our
weighted-average cost of capital, revenue growth rates, profitability margins, capital expenditures, the timing of future cash flows
based on an eventual recovery of the oil and gas industry, and in the case of long-lived assets, the remaining useful life and
service potential of the asset. The Company performed quantitative tests for reporting units in both the Water Services and Water
Infrastructure segments using the income and market approaches, resulting in a full impairment to goodwill in both segments.
During 2019, the Affirm goodwill was reduced to zero from the crane divestiture and impairment. The $4.4 million of
goodwill impairment was based on the expected proceeds from selling and winding down the rest of the Affirm business
following the Affirm crane business divestiture. Also, in connection with the Company’s segment realignment, the Company
reallocated goodwill from one reporting unit in the 2018 Water Solutions segment to reporting units in the 2019 Water Services
and Water Infrastructure segments using the reporting units’ relative fair values as of March 31, 2019.
The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill by reportable segment for the years ended December 31, 2020, and
2019 are as follows:
F-26
Table of Contents
Water
Wellsite
Solutions Services
Water
Services
Water
Infrastructure Other
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Resegmentation
Measurement period adjustment(1)
Affirm crane business divestiture
Affirm impairment
Balance as of December 31, 2019
Impairment
$
$ 266,801
(266,801)
—
—
—
—
$
7,000
(7,000)
—
—
—
—
(in thousands)
— $
— $
— $
186,335
133
—
—
186,468
(186,468)
80,466
—
—
—
80,466
(80,466)
7,000
—
(2,604)
(4,396)
—
Balance as of December 31, 2020
$
— $
— $
— $
— $
— $
273,801
—
133
(2,604)
(4,396)
266,934
(266,934)
—
(1) See Note 3―Acquisitions and Divestitures for additional information.
The components of other intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:
Definite-lived
Customer relationships
Patents
Other
Total definite-lived
Indefinite-lived
Water rights
Trademarks
Total indefinite-lived
Total other intangible assets,
net
Gross
Value
As of December 31, 2020
Accumulated
Impairment Amortization
(in thousands)
Net
Value
Gross
Value
As of December 31, 2019
Accumulated
Amortization
(in thousands)
Net
Value
$
$ 116,554
9,741
7,234
133,529
— $ (29,302) $ 87,252
6,575
—
861
—
94,688
—
(3,166)
(6,373)
(38,841)
$ 116,554
10,110
7,234
133,898
$
(20,233) $
(2,420)
(4,766)
(27,419)
96,321
7,690
2,468
106,479
7,031
23,442
30,473
—
(9,082)
(9,082)
—
—
—
7,031
14,360
21,391
7,031
23,442
30,473
—
—
—
7,031
23,442
30,473
$ 164,002
$
(9,082) $ (38,841) $ 116,079
$ 164,371
$
(27,419) $ 136,952
Due to the triggering events discussed above, the Company also tested all intangible assets for impairment during the
first quarter of 2020. These evaluations included significant judgment, including discount rates based on our weighted-average
cost of capital and the royalty rate. This resulted in $9.1 million of impairment to trademarks using the relief from royalty
method, which was recorded in the Oilfield Chemicals segment.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company added no new intangible assets. During the year ended
December 31, 2019, the Company added $0.5 million in customer relationships. The weighted-average amortization period for
customer relationships, patents and other definite-lived intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 was 9.7 years, 6.8 years and
2.7 years, respectively.
The indefinite-lived water rights and trademarks are generally subject to renewal every five to ten years.
Amortization expense of $11.7 million, $11.9 million and $13.1 million was recorded for the years ended December 31,
2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Annual amortization of intangible assets for the next five years and beyond is as follows:
F-27
Table of Contents
Year Ending December 31,
Amount
(in thousands)
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Thereafter
Total
NOTE 10—DEBT
Credit facility and revolving line of credit
$
$
10,466
10,252
10,180
10,111
9,948
43,731
94,688
On November 1, 2017, SES Holdings and Select Energy Services, LLC (“Select LLC”) entered into a $300.0 million
senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among SES Holdings, as parent, Select LLC, as
Borrower and certain of SES Holdings’ subsidiaries, as guarantors, each of the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,
as administrative agent, issuing lender and swingline lender (the “Administrative Agent”). The Credit Agreement also has a
sublimit of $40.0 million for letters of credit and a sublimit of $30.0 million for swingline loans. The maturity date of the Credit
Agreement is the earlier of (a) November 1, 2022, and (b) the earlier termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to
Section 2.1(b) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement permits extensions of credit up to the lesser of $300.0 million and a borrowing base that is
determined by calculating the amount equal to the sum of (i) 85% of the Eligible Billed Receivables (as defined in the Credit
Agreement), plus (ii) 75% of Eligible Unbilled Receivables (as defined in the Credit Agreement), provided that this amount will
not equal more than 35% of the borrowing base, plus (iii) the lesser of (A) the product of 70% multiplied by the value of Eligible
Inventory (as defined in the Credit Agreement) at such time and (B) the product of 85% multiplied by the Net Recovery
Percentage (as defined in the Credit Agreement) identified in the most recent Acceptable Appraisal of Inventory (as defined in
the Credit Agreement), multiplied by the value of Eligible Inventory at such time, provided that this amount will not equal more
than 30% of the borrowing base, minus (iv) the aggregate amount of Reserves (as defined in the Credit Agreement), if any,
established by the Administrative Agent from time to time, including, if any, the amount of the Dilution Reserve (as defined in
the Credit Agreement). The borrowing base is calculated on a monthly basis pursuant to a borrowing base certificate delivered by
Select LLC to the Administrative Agent.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest, at Select LLC’s election, at either the (a) one-, two-, three- or six-
month LIBOR (“Eurocurrency Rate”) or (b) the greatest of (i) the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, (ii) the one-month Eurocurrency
Rate plus 1% and (iii) the Administrative Agent’s prime rate (the ”Base Rate”), in each case plus an applicable margin. Interest is
payable monthly in arrears. The applicable margin for Eurocurrency Rate loans ranges from 1.50% to 2.00% and the applicable
margin for Base Rate loans ranges from 0.50% to 1.00%, in each case, depending on Select LLC’s average excess availability
under the Credit Agreement. During the continuance of a bankruptcy event of default, automatically and during the continuance
of any other default, upon the Administrative Agent’s or the required lenders’ election, all outstanding amounts under the Credit
Agreement will bear interest at 2.00% plus the otherwise applicable interest rate.
F-28
Table of Contents
Level
Average Excess Availability
Base Rate Margin
Eurocurrency Rate Margin
I
II
III
< 33% of the commitments
< 66.67% of the commitments and ≥ 33.33% of the commitments
≥ 66.67% of the commitments
1.00%
0.75%
0.50%
2.00%
1.75%
1.50%
Level
I
II
Average Revolver Usage
Unused Line Fee Percentage
≥ 50% of the commitments
< 50% of the commitments
0.250%
0.375%
The obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by SES Holdings and certain subsidiaries of SES Holdings
and Select LLC and secured by a security interest in substantially all of the personal property assets of SES Holdings, Select LLC
and their domestic subsidiaries.
The Credit Agreement contains certain customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants
and events of default. If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the lenders may declare all amounts outstanding under the
Credit Agreement to be immediately due and payable.
In addition, the Credit Agreement restricts SES Holdings’ and Select LLC’s ability to make distributions on, or redeem
or repurchase, its equity interests, except for certain distributions, including distributions of cash so long as, both at the time of
the distribution and after giving effect to the distribution, no default exists under the Credit Agreement and either (a) excess
availability at all times during the preceding 30 consecutive days, on a pro forma basis and after giving effect to such distribution,
is not less than the greater of (1) 25% of the lesser of (A) the maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective borrowing
base and (2) $37.5 million or (b) if SES Holdings’ fixed charge coverage ratio is at least 1.0 to 1.0 on a pro forma basis, and
excess availability at all times during the preceding 30 consecutive days, on a pro forma basis and after giving effect to such
distribution, is not less than the greater of (1) 20% of the lesser of (A) the maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective
borrowing base and (2) $30.0 million. Additionally, the Credit Agreement generally permits Select LLC to make distributions to
allow Select Inc. to make payments required under the existing Tax Receivable Agreements. See Note 14—Related Party
Transactions for further discussion of the Tax Receivable Agreements.
The Credit Agreement also requires SES Holdings to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0 at any
time availability under the Credit Agreement is less than the greater of (i) 10% of the lesser of (A) the maximum revolver amount
and (B) the then-effective borrowing base and (ii) $15.0 million and continuing through and including the first day after such
time that availability under the Credit Agreement has equaled or exceeded the greater of (i) 10% of the lesser of (A) the
maximum revolver amount and (B) the then-effective borrowing base and (ii) $15.0 million for 60 consecutive calendar days.
Certain lenders party to the Credit Agreement and their respective affiliates have from time to time performed, and may
in the future perform, various financial advisory, commercial banking and investment banking services for the Company and its
affiliates in the ordinary course of business for which they have received and would receive customary compensation. In addition,
in the ordinary course of their various business activities, such parties and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad
array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments
(including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investments and securities
activities may involve the Company’s securities and/or instruments.
The Company had no borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2020 and 2019. As of
December 31, 2020 and 2019, the borrowing base under the Credit Agreement was $96.4 million and $214.6 million,
respectively. The significant reduction in our borrowing base since December 31, 2019 was driven primarily by the meaningful
reductions during the year ended December 31, 2020 in our accounts receivable, which represent the primary collateral for the
borrowing base. The borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement was reduced by
F-29
Table of Contents
outstanding letters of credit of $15.6 million and $19.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company’s
letters of credit have a variable interest rate between 1.50% and 2.00% based on the Company’s average excess availability as
outlined above. The unused portion of the available borrowings under the Credit Agreement was $80.8 million at December 31,
2020.
Debt issuance costs are amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt to which they pertain. Total unamortized
debt issuance costs as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $1.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively. As the debt issuance
costs relate to a revolving line of credit, they are presented as a deferred charge within other long-term assets on the consolidated
balance sheet. Amortization expense related to debt issuance costs were $0.7 million, $0.7 million and $0.7 million for the years
ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of and throughout the year ended December 31, 2020.
NOTE 11—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
The Company is subject to a number of lawsuits and claims arising out of the normal conduct of its business. The ability
to predict the ultimate outcome of such matters involves judgments, estimates and inherent uncertainties. Based on a
consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, including applicable insurance coverage, it is not expected that the ultimate
outcome of any currently pending lawsuits or claims against the Company will have a material adverse effect on its consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flows; however, there can be no assurance as to the ultimate outcome of these
matters.
As previously disclosed, certain subsidiaries acquired in the Rockwater Merger are under investigation by the U.S.
Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is alleged that certain
employees at some of the facilities altered emissions controls systems on less than 5% of the vehicles in the fleet in violation of
the Clean Air Act. The Company is continuing to cooperate with the relevant authorities to resolve the matter, and while at this
time no administrative, civil or criminal charges have been brought against the Company, the Company accrued $4.3 million
related to the settlement of this investigation and made payments of $1.7 million related to this accrual during 2020. The
Company does not believe that the ultimate resolution of this matter will be material to the Company’s financial statements.
Self-Insured Reserves
We are self-insured up to certain retention limits with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability and vehicle
liability matters, and effective June 1, 2020, health insurance. We maintain accruals for self-insurance retentions that we estimate
using third-party data and claims history.
NOTE 12—EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION
The SES Holdings 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, (“2011 Plan”) was approved by the board of managers of SES Holdings
in April 2011. In conjunction with the private placement of 16,100,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on
December 20, 2016 (the “Select 144A Offering”), the Company adopted the Select Energy Services, Inc. 2016 Equity Incentive
Plan (as amended, the “2016 Plan”) for employees, consultants and directors of the Company and its affiliates. Options that were
outstanding under the 2011 Plan immediately prior to the Select 144A Offering were cancelled in exchange for new options
granted under the 2016 Plan. On May 8, 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2016 Plan to increase
the number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock that may be issued under the 2016 Plan by 4,000,000 shares and
to make certain other administrative changes.
Currently, the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2016 Plan is approximately 13.3 million
shares, with approximately 3.8 million shares available to be issued as of December 31, 2020. For all share-based compensation
award types, the Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.
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Stock option awards
Stock options were granted with an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value of a share of Class A
Common Stock as of the date of grant. The Company utilized the Monte Carlo option pricing model to determine fair value of the
options granted during 2018, which incorporates assumptions to value equity-based awards. The risk-free interest rate is based on
the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect for the expected term of the option at the time of grant. The expected life of the options is
based on the vesting period and term of the options awarded, which is ten years.
The table below presents the assumptions used in determining the fair value of stock options granted during the year
ended December 31, 2018. No options were granted during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The weighted-average
grant date fair value of stock options granted was $8.98 for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Underlying equity
Strike price
Dividend yield (%)
Risk-free rate (%)
Volatility (%)
Expected term (years)
For the year ended
December 31,
2018
$
20.50
$ 20.50 - 30.75
0.0 %
2.3 %
50.0 %
10.0
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information as of and for the year ended December 31,
2020 is as follows:
For the year ended December 31, 2020
Stock Options Grant Date Value
Weighted-average
Weighted-average Weighted-average Grant Date Value
Exercise Price
Term (Years)
Aggregate Intrinsic
Value (in thousands) (a)
Beginning balance,
outstanding
Forfeited
Expired
Ending balance, outstanding
Ending balance, exercisable
Nonvested at
December 31, 2020
3,797,319
(22,437)
(255,723)
3,519,159
3,515,784
$
$
$
3,375
8.19
8.42
2.81
8.58
8.58
$
$
$
N/A $
15.95
18.52
13.47
16.11
16.11
22.22
4.2
$
509
3.3
3.3
$
$
—
—
(a)Aggregate intrinsic value for stock options is based on the difference between the exercise price of the stock options and
the quoted closing Class A Common Stock price of $4.10 and $9.28 as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The Company recognized $0.2 million, $4.3 million and $5.2 million of compensation expense related to stock options
during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, there was a nominal amount
of unrecognized equity-based compensation expense related to nonvested stock options that is expected to be recognized during
the first quarter of 2021.
Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units
The value of the restricted stock awards and restricted stock units granted was established by the market price of the
Class A Common Stock on the date of grant and is recorded as compensation expense ratably over the vesting term, which is
generally one to three years from the applicable date of grant. The Company recognized compensation expense of $7.2 million,
$8.5 million and $4.3 million related to the restricted stock awards and restricted stock units for the years ended December 31,
2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, there was $7.2 million of unrecognized
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compensation expense with a weighted-average remaining life of 1.7 years related to unvested restricted stock awards. During
2020 and 2019, the Company paid $1.5 million and $1.0 million, respectively, to repurchase shares in connection with employee
minimum tax withholding obligation on vested shares. No restricted stock units were granted during the year ended December
31, 2020.
A summary of the Company’s restricted stock awards activity and related information for the year ended December 31,
2020 is as follows:
For the year ended December 31, 2020
Weighted-average
Nonvested at December 31, 2019
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Repurchased
Nonvested at December 31, 2020
$
Restricted Stock Awards Grant Date Fair Value
10.08
5.80
11.79
7.43
7.81
6.97
1,518,193
1,477,488
(578,281)
(374,299)
(40,029)
2,003,072
$
A summary of the Company’s restricted stock unit activity and related information for the year ended December 31,
2020 is as follows:
For the year ended December 31, 2020
Weighted-average
Nonvested at December 31, 2019
Vested
Forfeited
Nonvested at December 31, 2020
Performance Share Units
Restricted Stock Units Grant Date Fair Value
19.00
20.00
18.00
—
1,250
(625)
(625)
— $
$
During 2018 and 2019, the Company approved grants of performance share units (“PSUs”) that are subject to both
performance-based and service-based vesting provisions. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued to a recipient
upon vesting of the PSU will be calculated based on performance against certain metrics that relate to the Company’s return on
asset performance over the January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021
performance periods, respectively.
The target number of shares of Class A Common Stock subject to each PSU granted in 2018 and 2019 is one; however,
based on the achievement of performance criteria, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that may be received in
settlement of each PSU can range from zero to 1.75 times the target number. The PSUs become earned at the end of the
performance period after the attainment of the performance level has been certified by the compensation committee, which will
be no later than June 30, 2021 for the 2018 PSU grants, and June 30, 2022 for the 2019 PSU grants, assuming the minimum
performance metrics are achieved. The target PSUs that become earned PSUs during the performance period will be determined
in accordance with the following table:
Return on Assets at Performance Period-End Date
Less than 9.6%
9.6%
12%
14.4%
Percentage of Target PSUs Earned
0%
50%
100%
175%
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During 2020, the Company approved grants of PSUs that are subject to both performance-based and service-based
vesting provisions related to (i) return on asset performance (“ROA”) in comparison to thirteen peer companies and (ii) Adjusted
Free Cash Flow (“FCF”) performance percentage. The number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued to a recipient upon
vesting of the PSUs will be calculated based on ROA and FCF performance over the period from January 1, 2020 through
December 31, 2022.
The target number of shares of Class A Common Stock subject to each PSU granted in 2020 is one; however, based on
the achievement of performance criteria, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that may be received in settlement of
each PSU can range from zero to 1.75 times the target number. The PSUs become earned at the end of the performance period
after the attainment of the performance level has been certified by the compensation committee, which will be no later than June
30, 2023 for the 2020 PSU grants, assuming the minimum performance metrics are achieved.
The target PSUs that become earned connected with the ROA in comparison to other companies will be determined
based on the Company’s Average Return on Assets (as defined in the applicable PSU agreement) relative to the Average Return
on Assets of the peer companies (as defined in the applicable PSU agreement) in accordance with the following table, but only if
the Company’s Average Return on Assets is equal to or greater than 5% during the performance period:
Ranking Among Peer Group
Outside of Top 10
Top 10
Top 7
Top 3
Percentage of Target Amount Earned
0%
50%
100%
175%
The target PSUs that become earned in connection with the adjusted FCF performance percentage will be determined
(as defined in the applicable PSU agreement) in accordance with the following table:
Adjusted FCF Performance Percentage
Less than 70%
70%
100%
130%
Percentage of Target Amount Earned
0%
50%
100%
175%
The fair value on the date the PSUs were granted during 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $4.4 million, $7.0 million and $5.9
million, respectively. Compensation expense related to the PSUs is determined by multiplying the number of shares of Class A
Common Stock underlying such awards that, based on the Company’s estimate, are probable to vest by the measurement-date
(i.e., the last day of each reporting period date) fair value and recognized using the accelerated attribution method. During the
year ended December 31, 2020, the Company revised the estimates for the PSUs granted in 2018 and 2019 and expect 0% to vest.
The Company recognized a reduction to compensation expense of $1.7 million, compensation expense of $2.1 million and
compensation expense of $0.5 million related to the PSUs for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
As of December 31, 2020, the unrecognized compensation cost related to our unvested PSUs is estimated to be $2.2
million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years. However, this compensation cost will be
adjusted as appropriate throughout the applicable performance periods.
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The following table summarizes the information about the performance share units outstanding at December 31, 2020:
Nonvested as of December 31, 2019
Target shares granted
Target shares forfeited
Target shares outstanding as of December 31, 2020
Stock-Settled Incentive Awards
Performance Share Units
1,014,990
753,378
(4,459)
1,763,909
Effective May 17, 2018, the Company approved grants of stock-settled incentive awards to certain key employees under
the 2016 Plan that were subject to both market-based and service-based vesting provisions. These awards vested after a two-year
service period and, if earned, would have been settled in shares of Class A Common Stock. The ultimate amount earned was
based on the achievement of the market metrics, which was based on the stock price of the Class A Common Stock at the vesting
date, for which payout could have ranged from 0% to 200%. Any award not earned on the vesting date was forfeited. The target
amount that became earned during the performance period was determined in accordance with the following table:
Stock Price at Vesting Date(1)
Less than $20.00
At least $20.00, but less than $25.00
$25.00 or greater
Percentage of Target Amount Earned
0%
100%
200%
(1) The stock price at vesting date equals the greater of (i) the fair market value of a share of the Class A Common Stock on
the vesting date, or (ii) the volume weighted-average closing price of a share of the Class A Common Stock, as reported
on the NYSE, for the 30 trading days preceding the vesting date.
The target amount of stock-settled incentive awards granted was $3.9 million. However, the ultimate settlement of the
awards was in shares of Class A Common Stock with a fair market value equal to the earned amount, which could have ranged
from 0% to 200% of the target amount depending on the stock price at vesting date. The earned amount was 0% and no shares of
Class A Common Stock were issued.
Compensation expense associated with the stock-settled incentive awards was recognized ratably over the
corresponding requisite service period. The fair value of the stock-settled incentive awards was determined using a Monte Carlo
option pricing model, similar to the Black-Scholes-Merton model, and adjusted for the specific characteristics of the awards. The
key assumptions in the model included price, the expected volatility of our stock, risk-free interest rate based on U.S. Treasury
yield curve, cross-correlations between us and our self-determined peer companies’ asset, equity and debt-to-equity volatility.
The Company recognized $0.1 million, $0.5 million and $0.4 million of compensation expense related to the stock-
settled incentive awards during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The following table summarizes the information about the stock-settled incentive awards as of May 17, 2020, the date at
which the awards expired:
Nonvested as of December 31, 2019
Forfeited during 2020
Awards earned and forfeited as market condition not satisfied as of vesting date
Cumulative expense recognized
$
$
$
2,937
(410)
(2,527)
— $
1,122
(157)
—
965
Value at Target
Being Recognized
(in thousands)
Award Value
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Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
The Company maintains the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) under which employees that have been
continuously employed for at least one year may purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at a discount. The ESPP provides for
four offering periods for purchases: December 1 through February 28, March 1 through May 31, June 1 through August 31 and
September 1 through November 30. At the end of each offering period, enrolled employees purchase shares of Class A Common
Stock at a price equal to 95% of the market value of the stock on the last day of such offering period. The purchases are made at
the end of an offering period with funds accumulated through payroll deductions over the course of the offering period. Subject to
limitations set forth in the plan and under IRS regulations, eligible employees may elect to contribute a maximum of $15,000 to
the plan in a single calendar year. The ESPP is deemed to be noncompensatory.
The following table summarizes ESPP activity (in thousands, except shares):
Cash received for shares issued
Shares issued
Share-repurchases
For the year ended
December 31, 2020
76
15,132
$
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company repurchased 1,989,440 and 2,180,806 shares,
respectively, of Class A Common Stock in the open market and repurchased 210,384 and 108,074 shares, respectively, of Class
A Common Stock in connection with employee minimum tax withholding requirements for units vested under the 2016 Plan. All
repurchased shares were retired. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the repurchases were accounted for as a decrease to
paid in-capital of $12.3 million and a decrease to Class A common stock of approximately $22,000.
NOTE 13—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
The Company utilizes fair value measurements to measure assets and liabilities in a business combination or assess
impairment and abandonment of property and equipment, intangible assets and goodwill. Fair value is defined as the amount at
which an asset (or liability) could be bought (or incurred) or sold (or settled) in an orderly transaction between market
participants at the measurement date. Further, ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, establishes a framework for measuring fair
value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value, and includes certain disclosure
requirements. Fair value estimates are based on either (i) actual market data or (ii) assumptions that other market participants
would use in pricing an asset or liability, including estimates of risk.
ASC 820 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation
hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability
of the inputs employed in the measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2—Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in non-active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset
or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3—Inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement (including the Company’s own
assumptions in determining fair value).
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is
significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value
measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. There
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were no transfers into, or out of, the three levels of the fair value hierarchy for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and
2018.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis
Nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis include certain nonfinancial assets and
liabilities as may be acquired in a business combination and measurements of goodwill and intangible impairment. As there is no
corroborating market activity to support the assumptions used, the Company has designated these measurements as Level 3.
Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets, are evaluated for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. The development of future
cash flows and the estimate of fair value represent the Company’s best estimates based on industry trends and reference to market
transactions and are subject to variability.
The Company’s estimates of fair value have been determined at discrete points in time based on relevant information.
These estimates involve uncertainty and cannot be determined with precision. There were no significant changes in valuation
techniques or related inputs for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The following table presents information about the Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring and non-
recurring basis for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Carrying
Measurement Date Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Value(1)
Fair Value
Measurements Using
Impairment
Frequency
(in thousands)
Non-recurring March 31
Non-recurring March 31
Non-recurring March 31
Non-recurring
Recurring
Recurring
June 30
September 30
December 31
$ — $ — $
—
—
—
—
3,377
—
—
—
1,768
—
— $ 266,934
23,442
3,360
4,726
1,768
3,377
14,360
176
—
—
—
$ 266,934
9,082
3,184
4,726
—
—
Non-recurring March 31
Non-recurring March 31
June 30
Non-recurring
Non-recurring
September 30
Non-recurring December 31
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
$ — $ — $
— $
Non-recurring March 31
Non-recurring
Non-recurring December 31
Non-recurring December 31
June 30
$ — $ — $
—
—
—
—
—
—
2,346
2,386
38
2,555
500
—
10,262
7,000
$
$
$
4,396
2,865
2,760
87
5,328
2,500
2,282
14,637
24,894
4,396
519
374
49
2,773
2,000
2,282
4,375
17,894
Year Ended December 31, 2020
Goodwill
Trademark
Property and equipment
Property and equipment
Investments
Investments
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Goodwill
Property and equipment
Property and equipment
Property and equipment
Property and equipment
Year Ended December 31, 2018
Cost-Method Investment
Property and equipment
Property and equipment
Goodwill
(1) Amount represents carrying value at the date of assessment.
Other fair value considerations
See Note 4—Impairments and Other Costs for a discussion of impairment reflected above incurred during the years
ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Also, see Note 3—Acquisitions and Divestitures for a
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discussion of the fair value incorporated into the purchase price allocation for the WCS and Pro Well acquisitions occurring
during the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
The carrying values of the Company’s current financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, accounts
receivable trade and accounts payable, approximate their fair value at December 31, 2020 and 2019 due to the short-term
maturity of these instruments. The Company did not have any bank debt as of December 31, 2020 or 2019. The estimated fair
values of the Company’s financial instruments are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be realized in a current
market exchange.
Nonmonetary transaction: During the third quarter of 2020, the Company had a nonmonetary exchange with a customer
whereby the customer settled a $1.6 million accounts receivable balance using its restricted common stock, warrants and other
privately traded securities. The Company elected the fair value option to account for the securities using a Level-2 calculation
during the third quarter of 2020 with the value of the restricted stock and warrants derived from quoted active market pricing of
unrestricted, publicly-traded, common stock and warrants and the value of the other privately traded securities was derived from
a correlation with observable market data. The Company chose the fair value option because it represents the period-end value of
the securities, which the Company has the ability to sell. The registration statement registering the resale of the restricted
common stock, warrants and other privately traded securities received became effective in the fourth quarter of 2020, and the
Company can sell the common stock and related securities. Accordingly, the Company used a Level-1 calculation during the
fourth quarter of 2020 with the value of the registered stock, warrants and other securities derived from quoted active market
pricing of unrestricted, publicly-traded, common stock, warrants and other securities. The Company recorded a $1.8
million unrealized gain on the nonmonetary exchange based on the value of the equity at December 31, 2020, recognized within
other expense, net on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The $3.4 million of common stock and related
securities was included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of
December 31, 2020.
NOTE 14—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company considers its related parties to be those stockholders who are beneficial owners of more than 5.0% of its
common stock, executive officers, members of its board of directors or immediate family members of any of the foregoing
persons, an investment in a company that is significantly influenced by a related party, and an unconsolidated joint venture. The
Company has entered into a number of transactions with related parties. In accordance with the Company’s related persons
transactions policy, the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors regularly reviews these transactions. However, the
Company’s results of operations may have been different if these transactions were conducted with non-related parties.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, sales to related parties were $3.9 million and purchases from related party
vendors were $7.3 million. These purchases consisted of $6.3 million relating to the rental of certain equipment or other services
used in operations, $0.5 million relating to purchases of property and equipment, $0.4 million relating to management, consulting
and other services and $0.1 million relating to inventory and consumables. Additionally, the Company invested $3.0 million in a
note receivable with an affiliate through common ownership for which the balance is included in other long-term assets, net on
the consolidated balance sheets.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, sales to related parties were $16.8 million and purchases from related party
vendors were $18.8 million. These purchases consisted of $14.3 million relating to the rental of certain equipment or other
services used in operations, $3.0 million relating to purchases of property and equipment, $1.3 million relating to management,
consulting and other services and $0.2 million relating to inventory and consumables.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, sales to related parties were $8.3 million and purchases from related party
vendors were $16.7 million. These purchases consisted of $10.3 million relating to the rental of certain equipment or other
services used in operations, $4.7 million relating to purchases of property and equipment, $1.4 million relating to management,
consulting and other services and $0.3 million relating to inventory and consumables.
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Tax Receivable Agreements
In connection with the Select 144A Offering, the Company entered into the Tax Receivable Agreements with the TRA
Holders.
The first of the Tax Receivable Agreements, which the Company entered into with Legacy Owner Holdco and
Crestview Partners II GP, L.P. (“Crestview GP”), generally provides for the payment by the Company to such TRA Holders of
85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax that the Company actually realizes
(computed using simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) or is deemed to realize in certain
circumstances in periods after the Select 144A Offering as a result of, as applicable to each such TRA Holder, (i) certain
increases in tax basis that occur as a result of the Company’s acquisition (or deemed acquisition for U.S. federal income tax
purposes) of all or a portion of such TRA Holder’s SES Holdings LLC Units in connection with the Select 144A Offering or
pursuant to the exercise of the Exchange Right or the Company’s Call Right and (ii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by the
Company as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments the Company makes under such Tax Receivable
Agreement.
The second of the Tax Receivable Agreements, which the Company entered into with an affiliate of certain Legacy
Owners and Crestview GP, generally provides for the payment by the Company to such TRA Holders of 85% of the net cash
savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income and franchise tax that the Company actually realizes (computed using
simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) or is deemed to realize in certain circumstances in periods
after the Select 144A Offering as a result of, as applicable to each such TRA Holder, (i) any net operating losses available to the
Company as a result of certain reorganization transactions entered into in connection with the Select 144A Offering and
(ii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by the Company as a result of any payments the Company makes under such Tax
Receivable Agreement.
The Company has not recognized a liability associated with the Tax Receivable Agreements as of December 31, 2020,
or 2019.
NOTE 15—INCOME TAXES
Select Inc. is subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes as a corporation. SES Holdings and its subsidiaries, with the
exception of certain corporate subsidiaries, are treated as flow-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes and as such,
are generally not subject to U.S. federal income tax at the entity level. Rather, the tax liability with respect to their taxable income
is passed through to their members or partners. Select Inc. recognizes a tax liability on its allocable share of SES Holdings’
taxable income.
The Company’s effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were 0.4%, 32.0% and 3.0%
respectively. The effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 differ from the statutory rate of 21%
for 2020, 2019 and 2018 due to net income allocated to noncontrolling interests, state income taxes and valuation allowances.
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The components of the federal and state income tax (benefit) expense are summarized as follows:
Current tax (benefit) expense
Federal income tax (benefit) expense
State and local income tax (benefit) expense
Total current (benefit) expense
Deferred tax (benefit) expense
Federal income tax (benefit) expense
State and local income tax expense (benefit)
Total deferred (benefit) expense
Total income tax (benefit) expense
Tax (benefit) expense attributable to controlling interests
Tax (benefit) expense attributable to noncontrolling interests
Total income tax (benefit) expense
For the year ended
December 31,
2019
(in thousands)
2020
2018
$
(941)
(439)
(1,380)
696
$
1,034
1,730
$ 1,073
1,077
2,150
(105)
9
(96)
$ (1,476)
$ (1,246)
(230)
$ (1,476)
49
170
219
$ 1,949
$ 1,488
461
$ 1,949
(20)
(426)
(446)
$ 1,704
$ 1,425
279
$ 1,704
A reconciliation of the Company’s provision for income taxes as reported and the amount computed by multiplying
income before taxes, less noncontrolling interest, by the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% for 2020, 2019 and 2018:
Provision calculated at federal statutory income tax rate:
(Loss) income before taxes
Statutory rate
Income tax (benefit) expense computed at statutory rate
Less: noncontrolling interests
Income tax (benefit) expense attributable to controlling interests
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit
Change in subsidiary tax status
CARES Act NOL carryback benefit
Change in valuation allowance
Deferred adjustment due to restructuring
Other
Income tax (benefit) expense attributable to controlling interests
Income tax (benefit) expense attributable to noncontrolling interests
Total income tax (benefit) expense
$
For the year ended December 31,
2019
2018
2020
(in thousands)
$ (403,208)
$
21 %
6,085
$
21 %
56,003
21 %
(84,674)
13,272
(71,402)
(430)
(409)
(459)
71,454
—
—
(1,246)
(230)
(1,476)
1,278
(284)
994
884
587
—
(1,833)
856
—
1,488
461
1,949
11,761
(3,735)
8,026
515
—
—
(7,696)
—
580
1,425
279
1,704
$
$
Deferred taxes result from the temporary differences between financial reporting carrying amounts and the tax basis of
existing assets and liabilities. As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, the Company had net deferred tax liabilities of $0.2 million
and $0.3 million, respectively, which are recorded in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The principal
components of the deferred tax assets (liabilities) are summarized as follows:
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Deferred tax assets
Outside basis difference in SES Holdings
Net operating losses
Credits and other carryforwards
Other
Total deferred tax assets before valuation allowance
Valuation allowance
Total deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities
Property and equipment
Other
Total deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax liabilities
For the year ended
December 31,
2020
2019
(in thousands)
78,918
69,601
4,111
541
153,171
(152,659)
512
$ 27,935
46,782
1,451
944
77,112
(76,883)
229
718
41
759
(247) $
540
32
572
(343)
$
$
For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded an increase in valuation allowance of $75.8 million
against certain deferred tax assets.
The Company has assessed the future potential to realize these deferred tax assets and has concluded it is more likely
than not that these deferred tax assets will not be realized based on current economic conditions and expectations of the future.
Furthermore, the Company has not recorded a liability for the effect of any associated Tax Receivable Agreement liabilities as
the liability is based on the actual cash tax savings expected to be realized by the Company, which are not considered probable as
of December 31, 2020 or 2019. The Company considers all available evidence (both positive and negative), including continuing
periods of income and other tax planning strategies, in determining whether realization of the tax benefit is more likely than not.
The Company will continue to monitor facts and circumstances in the reassessment of the likelihood that the tax benefit will be
realized. If this were to occur, the valuation allowance, or a portion thereof, would be released. Similarly, the Company considers
all available evidence (both positive and negative) in order to determine the probability of a payment under the Tax Receivable
Agreements in its assessment of establishing a liability. If determined to be probable, there would be a corresponding charge to
Tax Receivable Agreement expense. See Note 14—Related Party Transactions for further discussion of the Tax Receivable
Agreements.
The U.S. federal income tax legislation enacted in Public Law No. 115-97, commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and
Jobs Act, reduced the corporate income tax rate effective January 1, 2018 from 35% to 21%. As of December 31, 2018, the
Company completed our accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). During the year ended December
31, 2017, the Company recognized the reasonably estimated (i) effects on our existing deferred tax balances and (ii) one-time
transition tax. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company finalized the accounting for of the Tax Act and incurred
$0.6 million in incremental income tax expense from transitioning to the TCJA.
On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was enacted. The CARES Act includes, among other things, certain income tax
provisions for businesses. The Company recognized an income tax benefit of $0.5 million during 2020, as a result of the net
operating loss carryback and interest expense limitation provisions of the CARES Act.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company and certain corporate subsidiaries of SES Holdings had approximately $291.6
million of U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”), of which $133.8 million will begin to expire in 2031 and
$157.8 million have no expiration, approximately $128.1 million of state NOLs which will begin to expire in 2023, and
approximately $6.5 million of foreign NOLs, which will begin to expire in 2037.
Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement methodology for the
financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.
F-40
Table of Contents
As of December 31, 2020 and 2019 there was no material liability or expense for the periods then ended recorded for payments of
interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions or material unrecognized tax positions.
Separate federal and state income tax returns are filed for Select Inc., SES Holdings and certain consolidated affiliates.
The tax years 2016 through 2019 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject
to income tax. The Louisiana Department of Revenue is currently auditing the corporate income and franchise tax returns of
Select Inc. and Select Western, a corporate subsidiary of SES Holdings, for the years ended 2016 through 2018. The Company
does not believe that the audits will result in a material tax assessment.
NOTE 16—NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
The Company’s noncontrolling interests fall into two categories as follows:
● Noncontrolling interests attributable to joint ventures formed for water-related services.
● Noncontrolling interests attributable to holders of Class B Common Stock.
Noncontrolling interests attributable to joint ventures formed for water-related
services
Noncontrolling interests attributable to holders of Class B Common Stock
Total noncontrolling interests
$
$
As of December 31
2020
2019
(in thousands)
2,002 $
110,819
112,821 $
2,674
172,961
175,635
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company had divestitures of joint ventures that eliminated
$0.2 million and $0.4 million of noncontrolling interest in 2020 and 2019, respectively. For all periods presented, there were no
other changes to Select’s ownership interest in joint ventures formed for water-related services. However, during the years ended
December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there were changes in Select’s ownership interest in SES Holdings LLC. The effects of the
changes in Select’s ownership interest in SES Holdings LLC are as follows:
2020
For the year ended December 31,
2019
(in thousands)
2018
Net (loss) income attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc.
Transfers from (to) noncontrolling interests:
Increase in additional paid-in capital as a result of stock option exercises
Increase in additional paid-in capital as a result of restricted stock issuance, net
of forfeitures
Increase in additional paid-in capital as a result of issuance of common stock
due to vesting of restricted stock units
Decrease in additional paid-in capital as a result of the repurchase of SES
Holdings LLC Units
Increase in additional paid-in capital as a result of exchanges of SES Holdings
LLC Units (an equivalent number of shares of Class B Common Stock) for
shares of Class A Common Stock
Increase in additional paid-in capital as a result of the Employee Stock Purchase
Plan shares issued
Change to equity from net (loss) income attributable to Select Energy Services,
Inc. and transfers from noncontrolling interests
$ (338,684) $
2,784 $
36,512
—
54
374
1,874
3,614
1,942
1
4
104
(1,416)
(3,362)
(576)
—
7
107,062
146,865
42
15
$ (338,218) $
110,198 $ 185,236
F-41
Table of Contents
NOTE 17— (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE
(Loss) earnings per share are based on the amount of (loss) income allocated to the shareholders and the weighted-
average number of shares outstanding during the period for each class of common stock. Outstanding options to purchase
3,519,159 and 2,961,439 shares are not included in the calculation of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for the year
ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively, as the effect is antidilutive.
The following tables present the Company’s calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended
December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
Numerator:
Net loss
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net loss income attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc. — basic
Net loss income attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc. — diluted
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding — basic
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding — diluted
Loss per share:
Basic
Diluted
Select Energy
Services, Inc.
$
$
$
(401,732)
63,048
(338,684)
(338,684)
Year ended December 31, 2020
Class A
Class B
$
$
$
$
(338,684)
(338,684)
85,158,764
85,158,764
(3.98)
(3.98)
$
$
$
$
—
—
16,221,101
16,221,101
—
—
Select Energy Services,
Inc.
Class A
Class B
Year ended December 31, 2019
Numerator:
Net income
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc. — basic
Add: Reallocation of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the
dilutive effect of restricted stock
Add: Reallocation of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the
dilutive effect of performance share units
Add: Reallocation of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for the
dilutive effect of stock options
Net loss attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc. — diluted
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding — basic
Dilutive effect of restricted stock
Dilutive effect of performance share units
Dilutive effect of stock options
Dilutive effect of ESPP
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding — diluted
Earnings per share:
Basic
Diluted
$
$
$
F-42
4,136
(1,352)
2,784
7
2
1
2,794
$
$
$
$
2,784
$
7
2
1
2,794
80,176,323
373,366
80,979
40,215
446
80,671,329
0.03
0.03
$
$
$
—
—
—
—
23,806,646
—
—
—
23,806,646
—
—
Table of Contents
Numerator:
Net loss
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net loss attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc. — basic
Add: Reallocation of net income attributable to noncontrolling
interests for the dilutive effect of restricted stock
Add: Reallocation of net income attributable to noncontrolling
interests for the dilutive effect of stock options
Net loss attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc. — diluted
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding — basic
Dilutive effect of restricted stock
Dilutive effect of stock options
Dilutive effect of ESPP
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding — diluted
Loss per share:
Basic
Diluted
NOTE 18—SEGMENT INFORMATION
Select Energy
Services, Inc.
Class A
Class A-2
Class B
Year ended December 31, 2018
$
$
$
54,299
(17,787)
36,512
13
30
36,555
$
$
$
$
35,720
$
13
30
35,763
$
72,403,318
71,718
166,999
112
72,642,147
792
$
—
—
792
$
1,604,575
—
—
—
1,604,575
0.49
0.49
$
$
0.49
0.49
$
$
—
—
—
—
31,986,438
—
—
—
31,986,438
—
—
Select Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive water-management and chemical solutions to the oil and gas industry
in the U.S. The Company’s services are offered through three reportable segments. Reportable segments are defined as
components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the CODM in deciding how to
allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s CODM assesses performance and allocates resources on the basis of
the three reportable segments. Corporate and other expenses that do not individually meet the criteria for segment reporting are
reported separately as Corporate or Other.
The Company’s CODM assesses performance and allocates resources on the basis of the following three reportable
segments:
Water Services — The Water Services segment consists of the Company’s services businesses, including water
transfer, flowback and well testing, fluids hauling, water containment and water network automation, primarily serving
E&P companies. Additionally, this segment includes the operations of our accommodations and rentals business.
Water Infrastructure — The Water Infrastructure segment consists of the Company’s infrastructure assets, including
operations associated with our water sourcing and pipeline infrastructure, our water recycling solutions and
infrastructure, and our produced water gathering systems and saltwater disposal wells, primarily serving E&P
companies.
Oilfield Chemicals — The Oilfield Chemicals segment provides technical solutions and expertise related to chemical
applications in the oil and gas industry. We also have significant capabilities in supplying logistics for chemical
applications. We develop, manufacture and provide a full suite of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, stimulation,
cementing, production, pipelines and well completions. Given the breadth of chemicals and application expertise we
provide, our customers range from pressure pumpers to major integrated and independent U.S. and international oil and
gas producers. This segment also utilizes its chemical experience and lab testing capabilities to customize tailored water
treatment solutions designed to maximize the effectiveness of and optimize the efficiencies of the fracturing fluid
system in conjunction with the quality of water used in well completions.
F-43
Table of Contents
The results of our service lines divested during 2019, including the operations of our Affirm subsidiary, our and hauling
operations and our Canadian operations, are combined in the “Other” category.
Financial information by segment for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Eliminations
Loss from operations
Corporate
Interest expense, net
Other expense, net
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Eliminations
Income from operations
Corporate
Interest expense, net
Other expense, net
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Eliminations
Income from operations
Corporate
Interest expense, net
Other expense, net
$
$
$
For the year ended December 31, 2020
Depreciation and
Amortization
Loss
before taxes
Capital
Expenditures
Revenue
322,461
125,710
160,825
—
(3,891)
$
(in thousands)
$
(250,779)
(96,290)
(13,365)
(733)
—
(361,167)
(33,610)
(2,136)
(6,295)
(403,208)
$
—
—
—
$
605,105
$
61,758
27,599
9,443
—
—
2,872
—
—
$
101,672
2,161
6,852
7,157
330
—
—
—
—
16,500
For the year ended December 31, 2019
Income (loss) Depreciation and
before taxes
Amortization
Capital
Expenditures
Revenue
$
773,946
221,661
268,963
33,365
(6,346)
(in thousands)
$
51,185
15,103
17,942
(8,066)
$
80,664
25,665
8,766
1,714
—
—
37,692
53,839
11,110
64
—
—
—
—
$
$ 1,291,589
76,164
(53,090)
(2,688)
(14,301)
6,085
$
3,860
—
—
$
120,669
—
—
—
102,705
For the year ended December 31, 2018
Revenue
Income (loss) Depreciation and
before taxes
Amortization
Capital
Expenditures
$
$
897,160
230,130
260,281
144,499
(3,140)
—
—
—
$
$ 1,528,930
(in thousands)
$
89,826
31,579
(7,107)
(14,021)
$
82,875
23,042
10,496
14,124
—
—
100,277
(38,603)
(5,311)
(360)
56,003
$
3,176
—
—
$
133,713
120,883
33,372
10,832
7,045
—
—
—
—
172,132
F-44
Table of Contents
Total assets by segment as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:
Water Services
Water Infrastructure
Oilfield Chemicals
Other
Revenue by groups of similar products and services are as follows:
2020
Oilfield chemicals
Water transfer
Pipeline logistics and disposal
Accommodations and rentals(1)
Flowback and well testing
Fluid hauling
Water sourcing
Eliminations and other service lines
$
$
As of December 31,
2020
2019
(in thousands)
515,856
204,995
147,612
6,896
875,359
$
$
831,123
314,026
192,224
10,247
1,347,620
$
$
2018
$
For the year ended December 31,
2019
(in thousands)
268,963
$
355,535
101,145
150,793
208,572
63,156
120,517
22,908
1,291,589
160,825
146,728
91,971
62,593
61,839
52,748
33,739
(5,338)
605,105
$
$
260,281
443,650
100,172
153,013
223,828
79,568
129,958
138,460
1,528,930
(1) During 2020, 2019 and 2018, approximately $28.4 million, $69.0 million and $67.2 million of accommodations and
rentals revenue was accounted for under ASC 842 lease guidance, with the remainder accounted for under ASC 606
revenue guidance.
In connection with the Rockwater Merger in November 2017, the Company expanded into Canada and during 2019, the
Company divested and wound down Canadian operations. The Company attributed revenue to the U.S. and Canada based on the
location where services were performed or the destination of the products or equipment sold or rented. Long-lived assets
consisted of property and equipment and are attributed to the U.S. and Canada based on the physical location of the asset at the
end of the period. The Company’s revenue attributed to the U.S. was $605.1 million or 100.0%, $1,283.4 million or 99.4% and
$1,480.4 million or 96.8% of total revenue during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The
Company’s revenue attributed to Canada was zero, $8.2 million or 0.6% and $48.6 million or 3.2% of total revenue during the
years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company’s net long-lived assets attributed to the U.S. was
$350.4 million or 100.0%, $452.4 million or 99.8% and $492.4 million or 97.9% of total net long-lived assets as of December 31,
2020, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The Company’s net long-lived assets attributed to Canada was
zero, $0.9 million or 0.2% and $10.5 million or 2.1% of total net long-lived assets as of December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019
and December 31, 2018, respectively.
NOTE 19—QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
F-45
Table of Contents
Revenue
Gross profit (loss)
Loss from operations
Net loss
Net loss attributable to Select Energy Services, Inc.
Net loss per share attributable to common
stockholders:
Class A-Basic & Diluted
Class A-1-Basic & Diluted
Class A-2-Basic & Diluted
Class B-Basic & Diluted
Revenue
Gross profit
Income (loss) from operations
Net income (loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Select Energy
Services, Inc.
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common
stockholders:
Class A-Basic & Diluted
Class A-1-Basic & Diluted
Class A-2-Basic & Diluted
Class B-Basic & Diluted
NOTE 20—SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
(in thousands)
2020
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
278,285
15,296
(290,831)
(291,220)
(245,862)
(2.86)
—
—
—
First
Quarter
362,646
45,997
6,633
1,400
1,135
0.01
—
—
—
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
92,239
(23,719)
(47,805)
(53,044)
(44,298)
(0.52)
—
—
—
$
$
$
$
$
101,242
(16,900)
(34,212)
(36,260)
(30,541)
(0.36)
—
—
—
2019
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
(in thousands)
323,887
39,939
11,179
8,068
6,200
0.08
—
—
—
$
$
$
$
$
328,968
40,994
12,475
7,172
5,379
0.07
—
—
—
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
133,339
(3,942)
(21,929)
(21,208)
(17,983)
(0.21)
—
—
—
Fourth
Quarter
276,088
21,810
(7,213)
(12,504)
(9,930)
(0.12)
—
—
—
On January 3, 2021, John D. Schmitz was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. In
connection with such appointments, Mr. Schmitz remained a director and Chairman of the board of directors of the Company.
On January 4, 2021, the Company announced that Holli C. Ladhani departed the Company and will no longer serve as
the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, or a member of the Board, effective January 3, 2021.
F-46
Subsidiaries of Select Energy Services, Inc.
Exhibit 21.1
Entity
SES Holdings, LLC
Select Energy Services, LLC
Peak Oilfield Services, LLC
Rockwater Energy Solutions, LLC
Tidal Logistics, Inc.
State of Formation
Delaware
Delaware
Texas
Delaware
Texas
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have issued our reports dated February 24, 2021, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and
internal control over financial reporting included in the Annual Report of Select Energy Services, Inc. on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. We consent to the incorporation by reference of said reports in the
Registration Statements of Select Energy Services, Inc. on Forms S-8 (File No. 333-217561, File No. 333-
221282, File No. 333-222816, and File No. 333-241656) and Form S-3 (File No. 333-224956).
Exhibit 23.1
/s/ Grant Thornton LLP
Dallas, Texas
February 24, 2021
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) AND RULE 15D-14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED
Exhibit 31.1
I, John Schmitz, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this annual report of Select Energy Services, Inc. (the “registrant”);
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(s) 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
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for
the registrant 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;
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over
financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
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(s) 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 the
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 control
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: February 24, 2021
/s/ John Schmitz
John Schmitz
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) AND RULE 15D-14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED
Exhibit 31.2
I, Nick Swyka, certify that:
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this annual report of Select Energy Services, Inc. (the “registrant”);
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(s) 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
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for
the registrant 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;
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over
financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
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(s) 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 the
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 control
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: February 24, 2021
/s/ Nick Swyka
Nick Swyka
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
CERTIFICATION OF
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
UNDER SECTION 906 OF THE
SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002, 18 U.S.C. § 1350
Exhibit 32.1
In connection with the annual report of Select Energy Services, Inc. (the “Company”), as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), John Schmitz, Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to his 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.
May 19
Date: February 24, 2021
/s/ John Schmitz
John Schmitz
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
CERTIFICATION OF
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
UNDER SECTION 906 OF THE
SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002, 18 U.S.C. § 1350
Exhibit 32.2
In connection with the annual report of Select Energy Services, Inc. (the “Company”), as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), Nick Swyka, Chief Financial
Officer of the Company, hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to his 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: February 24, 2021
/s/ Nick Swyka
Nick Swyka
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)