SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION13 OR 15(d)OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Commission File Number 0-8814
PURE CYCLE CORPORATION |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Colorado | 84-0705083 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
| | |
34501 E. Quincy Avenue, Bldg. | | 80137 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
(303) 292 – 3456 |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock 1/3 of $.01 par value | PCYO | The NASDAQ Stock Market |
(Title of each class) | (Trading Symbol(s)) | (Name of each exchange on which registered) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark 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 ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer ☒ | Smaller reporting company ☒ |
| Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected 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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management'smanagement’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. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter: $191,563,737
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: October 29, 2020 - 23,868,216
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The information required by Part III is incorporated by reference from the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be held in January 2021, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the close of the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020.2022. Alternatively, we may include such information in an amendment to this annual report on Form 10-K.
Item | Page | |
Part I | ||
1 | 5 | |
1A. | 20 | |
1B. | 30 | |
2 | 30 | |
3 | 30 | |
4 | 30 | |
Part II | ||
5 | 30 | |
6 | 31 | |
7 | 32 | |
7A. | 43 | |
8 | 44 | |
9 | 45 | |
9A. | 45 | |
9B. | 46 | |
Part III | ||
10 | 46 | |
11 | 46 | |
12 | 46 | |
13 | 46 | |
14 | 46 | |
Part IV | ||
15 | 47 | |
16 | 47 | |
52 |
Table of Contents
Statements that are not historical facts contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 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”). The words “anticipate,” “seek,” “project,” “future,” “likely,” “believe,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to, among other things:
● | future water supply needs in Colorado and how such needs will be met; |
● | anticipated revenue from our commercial water sales; |
● | anticipated increases in residential and commercial demand for water services and competition for these services; |
● | estimated population increases in the Denver metropolitan area and the South Platte River basin; |
● | increased demand for single-family rental homes; |
● | plans for, and the efficiency of, development of our Sky Ranch property; |
● | our competitive advantage; |
● | the impact of individual housing and economic cycles on the number of connections we can serve with our water; |
● | the number of new water connections needed to recover the costs of our water supplies; |
● | the number of units planned for development at Sky Ranch; |
● | the timing of the completion of construction and sale of finished lots at Sky Ranch; |
● | the number of lots expected to be delivered in a fiscal period; |
● |
anticipated financial results, including anticipated increases in customers and revenue, from development of our Sky Ranch property; |
● | estimated tap fees to be generated from the development of the various phases of Sky Ranch; |
● | anticipated expansion and rental dates for our single-family rental units; |
● | anticipated revenues and cash flows from our single-family rental units; |
● | timing of and interpretation of royalties to the State Board of Land Commissioners; |
● | participation in regional water projects, including “WISE” (as defined herein) and the timing and availability of water from, and projected costs related to, WISE; |
● | increases in future water or wastewater tap fees; |
● | our ability to collect fees and charges from customers and other users; |
● | the estimated amount of reimbursable costs for Sky Ranch and the collectability of reimbursables; |
● | anticipated timing and amount of, and sources of funding for, (i) capital expenditures to construct infrastructure and increase production capacities, (ii) compliance with water, environmental and other regulations, and (iii) operations, including delivery and treatment of water and wastewater; |
● | capital required and costs to develop Sky Ranch; |
● | anticipated development of other |
● | plans to provide water for drilling and hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells; |
● | changes in oil and gas drilling activity on our property, on the Lowry Range, or in the surrounding areas; |
● | estimated costs of earthwork, erosion control, streets, drainage and landscaping at Sky Ranch; |
● | the anticipated revenues from customers in the Rangeview |
● |
plans for the use and development of our water assets and potential delays; |
● | estimated number of connections we can serve with our existing water rights; |
● | factors affecting demand for water; |
● | our ability to meet customer demands in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way; |
● | our ability to reduce the amount of up-front construction costs for water and wastewater systems; |
● | costs and plans for treatment of water and wastewater; |
● | anticipated number of deep-water wells required to continue expanding and developing our Rangeview Water Supply; |
● |
● | regional cooperation among area water providers in the development of new water supplies and water storage, transmission and distribution systems as the most cost-effective way to expand and enhance service capacities; |
● | plans to drill water walls into aquifers located beneath the Lowry Range and the timing and estimated costs of such a build out; |
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● | sufficiency of tap fees to fund infrastructure costs of the Rangeview District; |
● | our ability to assist Colorado “Front Range” water providers in meeting current and future water needs; |
● | plans to use raw water, effluent water or reclaimed water for agricultural and irrigation uses; |
● | factors that may impact labor and material costs; |
● | use of third parties to construct water and wastewater facilities and Sky Ranch lot improvements; |
● | plans to utilize fixed-price contracts; |
● | estimated supply capacity of our water assets; |
● | our belief that we have exceeded |
● | the impact of future cyberattacks on our business, financial condition, operating results and reputation; |
● | our ability to comply with permit requirements and environmental regulations and the cost of such compliance; |
● | the impact of water quality, solid waste disposal and environmental regulations on our financial condition and results of operations; |
● |
● | the future impacts of COVID-19 on our business; |
● | our belief that Sky Ranch is better positioned to navigate the changing market then competitors; |
● | the impact of |
the |
● |
the recoverability of water and wastewater service costs from rates; |
● |
forfeitures of option grants, vesting of non-vested options and the fair value of option awards; |
● | the sufficiency of our working capital and financing sources to fund our operations; |
● | estimated costs of public improvements to be funded by Pure Cycle and constructed on behalf of the Sky Ranch Community Authority Board; |
● |
● | service life of constructed facilities; |
● | accounting estimates and the impact of new accounting pronouncements; |
● | the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal controls over financial reporting; and |
● | our belief that we weakness. |
Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. There are no assurances that any of our expectations will be realized and actual results could differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
● | outbreaks of disease, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and related stay-at-home orders, quarantine policies and restrictions on travel, trade and business operations, and the related impacts to the general economy; |
● | political and economic instability, whether resulting from natural disasters, wars, terrorism, pandemics or other sources; |
● |
● | the timing of new home construction and other development in the areas where we may sell our water, which in turn may be impacted by credit availability and rising interest rates; |
● | population growth; |
● | changes in employment levels, job and personal income growth and household debt-to-income levels; |
● | changes in consumer confidence generally and confidence of potential home buyers in particular; |
● | declines in property values which impact tax revenue to the Sky Ranch Community Authority Board which would impact their ability repay us; |
● | changes in the supply of available new or existing homes and other housing alternatives, such as apartments and other residential rental property; |
● | timing of oil and gas development in the areas where we sell our water; |
● |
the market price of homes, rental rates, and water, oil and gas prices; |
● | changes in customer consumption patterns; |
● | changes in applicable statutory and regulatory requirements; |
● | changes in governmental policies and procedures, including with respect to land use and environmental and tax matters; |
● | changes in interest rates; |
● | changes in private and federal mortgage financing programs and lending practices; |
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● | uncertainties in the estimation of water available under decrees; |
● | uncertainties in the estimation of number of connections we can service with our existing water supplies; |
● | uncertainties in the estimation of costs of delivery of water and treatment of wastewater; |
● | uncertainties in the estimation of the service life of our systems; |
● | uncertainties in the estimation of costs of construction projects; |
● | uncertainties in the amount of reimbursable costs we may ultimately collect; |
● | the strength and financial resources of our competitors; |
● | our ability to find and retain skilled personnel; |
● | climatic and weather conditions, including floods, droughts and freezing conditions; |
● | turnover of elected and appointed officials and delays caused by political concerns and government procedures; |
● | availability and cost of labor, material and equipment; |
● | engineering and geological problems; |
● | environmental risks and regulations; |
● | our ability to raise capital; |
● | changes in corporate tax rates; |
● | our ability to negotiate contracts with customers; |
● | uncertainties in water court rulings; |
● | security and |
● | the factors described under “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
We undertake no obligation, and disclaim any obligation, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, any reference to “Pure Cycle,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” is to Pure Cycle Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
We are a diversified landwater resource and water resourceland development company. At our core, we are an innovative and vertically integrateda wholesale water and wastewater service provider that ownsdevelops land we own into master planned communities. Our newest business is the development of single-family homes held for rental purposes. Both the land development and develops a valuable portfoliosingle-family home rental lines of water rights in a water short region. In conjunction with developing water rights which culminates in providingbusiness generate customers and usage fees for our water and wastewater services to customers,resource development business.
Over the past 30+ years, we also develop master planned communities creating valuehave accumulated a large portfolio of valuable water rights and opportunity for water customers, investors, homeowners, and businessesland interests along the busy I-70 corridorFront Range of Colorado. We have added an extensive network of wholesale water production, storage, treatment and distribution systems, and wastewater collection and treatment systems that we use to serve domestic, commercial, and industrial customers in the eastern Denver metropolitan area. We believeregion (the illustration below notes the general area of our water resources, land and infrastructure, located in southeastern Denver, are positionedwater assets). Our primary land asset, known as Sky Ranch, is in one of the most attractiveactive development areas ofin the Denver metropolitan region and will provide favorable investment returns. The easternalong the rapidly developing I-70 corridor, is experiencing substantial growth whichand we believe will continue over several decades.
Through our land development segment, we develop master planned communities creating value and opportunity for investors, homeowners, water customers, and businesses along the busy I-70 corridor of the Denver metropolitan area. Our land development segment was borne from our desire to capitalize on the increase in the value water provides to raw land in the Colorado front range.
Our land development activities provide a strategic complement to our water and wastewater resource development business, because aand vice versa. A significant component of any master planned community is providingits ability to bring high quality domestic water, irrigation water, and wastewater services to the community. Having control over the water resources in conjunction with developing the land enables us to efficiently build and maintain infrastructure for potable water and irrigation water distribution, wastewater and storm water collection,
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roads, parks, open spaces, and other investments. It also enables us to essentiallyefficiently align construction and delivery of these investments with phased take-down commitments from our home builder customers, minimizing significant excess capacity or downtime inwith these significant investments. By being the landowner, land developer, and water/wastewater provider, we believe we can offer a more efficient development process, with more competitive lot pricing, which results in a more affordable and marketable product.
Our water and land assets are designed, constructed, operated, and maintained by us. Our water and land activities are each a distinct line of business which are operated as separate, but cohesive segments within the Company.business segments. We refer to these segments as our water and wastewater resource development segment and our land development segment, both of which are described in moregreater detail below. In March 2021, we launched a new line of business which will be referred to as our single-family home rental line of business. During Phase 1 of the development of Sky Ranch, we retained ownership of four residential lots, on which we built or are building single-family homes which we own, maintain, and rent to qualified renters. We have contracted for the construction of ten homes with a reputable home builder in Phase 2A, and we expect these homes to be completed and ready for renters at various dates throughout our fiscal 2023. We anticipate that this single-family home rental business will become our third segment when it is material to our operations.
5
Water and Wastewater Resource Development Segment
We operate our water and wastewater resource development segment on a vertically integrated basis. Specifically, we own or control the water and infrastructure required to (i) withdraw, treat, store and deliver water (i.e., water rights, wells, diversion structures, pipelines, reservoirs and treatment facilities required to extract and use the water); (ii) collect, treat, store and reuse wastewater (i.e., we design, build, and operate water treatment and wastewater reclamation facilities); and (iii) treat and deliver reclaimed water for irrigation use (i.e., we use and reuse our valuable water supplies through non-potable irrigation systems to irrigate parks and open spaces).
Our water supplies, which can be used in our exclusive service area and other areas along the eastern I-70 corridor, enable us to add significant value to our land development segment by bringing water to land that does not have water for development and enhance the value of that land, as well as our water resources, to a greater extent than either a traditional water utility or land developer can. Having a valuable portfolio of water in a water short region provides us with a competitive advantage over other land developers who may be required to buy expensive water, pay significant fees to another water provider, in lieu of buying water, and/or wait for a city to annex property and extend costly water and wastewater infrastructure to the property before development can begin. Having our own water supply gives us more control over the land entitlement and development process and the ability to capitalize on the value of our water rights, as well as enhances the value of the land to which we provide our water.rights. In addition, we have significant in-house expertise in engineering, operations, and land development which allows us to take a hands-on approach to the water and land development process.
We mainly provide wholesale water and wastewater services to local governmental entities that in turn provide residential and commercial water and wastewater services to customers in their communities. Our largest customer is the Rangeview Metropolitan District (“Rangeview District”)(Rangeview District). We have the exclusive right to provide water and wastewater services to the Rangeview District’s customers in its exclusive 24,000-acre service area in southeastthe southeastern Denver metropolitan area pursuant to various agreements that are described in greater detail below. As of August 31, 2020,2022, through the Rangeview District, we provide service to 649 single familymore than 1,000 single-family equivalent (“SFE”)(SFE) water connections and 384 more than 700 SFE wastewater connections. These connections are located mainly in the southeastern metropolitan Denver area on the Lowry Range, at our Sky Ranch development and other nearby areas where we have acquired service rights. With the water rights we own and control, we believe we can serve overan estimated 60,000 SFEs. An SFE is a customer, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, that imparts a demand on our water or wastewater systems likebased on the demand of a family of four persons living in a single-family house on a standard sized lot. One SFE is assumed to have a water demand of approximately 0.4 acre-feet per year and to contribute wastewater flows of approximately 300 gallons per day. An acre foot of water is approximately 326,000 gallons of water, or enough water to cover an acre of ground with one foot of water. For some instances herein, as context dictates, the term “acre-feet” (which is approximately 326,000 gallons) is used to designate an annual decreed amount of water available during a typical year.
In addition to our domestic customers, we provide raw water for oil and gas operations. Multiple operators lease more than 135,000 acres in and adjacent to our service area with more than 100 wells and miles of oil and gas collection lines. Sales of water to industrial customers in the oil and gas industry are unpredictable and fluctuate dramatically. After several years ofIn late 2021 and throughout 2022, we saw a significant activity throughout our service area, beginning around March 2020, demand for water fromrecovery in the oil and gas industry dropped precipitously duemarkets, and this resulted in additional water sales to low oil and gas prices caused by increased world-wide productionclients in our fiscal 2022 and decreased demand due to stay-at-home orders resulting from the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic.
Land Development Segment
In 2010 at a time when real estate prices were severely depressed due to the credit crisis the United States endured from 2007 until 2012, we purchased approximately 930 acres of land known as Sky Ranch. The illustration on the next page provides our planned overall layout of Sky Ranch. We acquired Sky Ranch with the intention of selling lots to national home builders in order to add value to our core water and wastewater operations by adding the ultimate purchasers of the homes as our water customers. InSky Ranch is being developed in phases over several years, which began in June 2017, when we entered into agreements with three national home builders to sell the initial 506505 residential lots at Sky Ranch. Ranch (referred to as Phase 1), and has continued when in February 2021, we entered contracts with four national homebuilders for approximately 850 residential lots, in what we call Phase 2 of the Sky Ranch Development. We have divided Phase 2 into four subphases that we refer to as Phases 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D. The Phase 1 lots and the lots being developed in Phase 2A and 2B are shown in the map below.
6
Illustrative map of the Sky Ranch Master Planned Community
As of August 31, 2020,2022, we have delivered 483 finished lots. The remaining finishedto homebuilders all 505 lots were delivered on November 3, 2020.in Phase 1 and 219 lots in Phase 2A of the Sky Ranch development. In addition, we retained four lots in Phase 1 for our single-family rental business and ten lots in Phase 2A for the single-family rental business (bringing total lots to 509 in Phase 1 and 229 in Phase 2A). As of OctoberAugust 31, 2020, these home builders2022, homebuilders have built and sold over 315473 homes at Sky Ranch. Based on current sales levels,Ranch, with another approximately 90 homes under construction. In addition, we believe homes in this initial filing will be sold out by the end of calendarcompleted three rental units, which have been rented since November 2021, which is nearly two-years ahead of forecast. In December 2020, we plan to beginand began construction on the second filingnext eleven units. All Phase 1 lots in Sky Ranch are complete and all public improvements have been accepted by the various governmental entities that will control and maintain the infrastructure.
In February 2021, we broke ground on Phase 2 lots at Sky Ranch. We anticipate that this filingRanch, which will be platted for nearly 900include 850 residential lots, for residential units.
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lots which we will use in our single-family rental business. As of August 31, 2022, we have closed on the 219 lots in Phase 2A sold to the home builders and are completing landscaping and other items required under the sales contracts. We believe we will complete all our required construction items in Phase 2A in the second filing of Sky Ranch. We expect construction of the second filing at Sky Ranch will begin in December 2020. The second filing is planned to be developed in four sub-phases.next twelve months. We believe it will take three years to complete all construction and sell all the finished lots in all four subphases of Phase 2, depending on the market conditions.
As disclosed in March 2021, a new Charter School, Sky Ranch Academy, was formed for the purposes of partnering with the Bennett School District 29J to operate a new K-12 Charter School to be located at Sky Ranch. Sky Ranch Academy has partnered with National Heritage Academy (NHA) to operate the charter. NHA brings more than 25 years of experience providing educational services at 100 schools in nine states, educating more than 60,000 students including four other schools in Colorado. Sky Ranch Academy is expected to open in August 2023.
Single-Family Rentals
The past several years the housing market and home prices in Colorado grew at double-digit rates. In recent months this growth has tapered in many markets, specifically in higher priced homes. As mortgage rates increase, and the average price of homes in Colorado continues to increase, we believe rental units are increasingly necessary to provide affordable housing options to the growing population in Colorado. Additionally, more than any other time in the USA, we have seen a shift from people having to rent to people choosing to rent. We believe this shift will continue to shape the housing market for the foreseeable future. To capitalize on the growing single-family rental market, in 2021 we launched our single-family rental division. We contracted with a local semi-custom home builder to construct four single-family detached homes on four lots in Phase 1 at Sky Ranch that we retained for use in our rental division. Three of the homes were completed and rented in November 2021. With the initial success of our first three rental homes, during fiscal 2022, we began construction on eleven more homes we will use in our rental division upon completion (expected to be completed and ready for rental at various dates throughout our fiscal 2023). These rental units represent the initial investment into what we expect to become our third operating segment as we expect to add 46 homes in Phase 2 with the ability to add more than 100 more units in the near term. We believe having ongoing recurring rental income, in a community we are heavily involved with, which is experiencing double digit growth in home values provides tremendous upside potential for growing our balance sheet and diversifying our recurring revenue streams.
Our Water Assets
We use our valuable and growing inventory of water and land assets to conduct our water and land development operations. Our water assets are summarized in the table below and further discussed in this section:
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Water Source |
| Groundwater |
| Designated Groundwater |
| Surface Water | | Total |
Rangeview Water Supply |
| (acre-feet) | ||||||
Export (1) |
| 10,000 |
| — |
| 1,650 | | 11,650 |
Non-Export (2) |
| 13,685 |
| — |
| 1,650 | | 15,335 |
Fairgrounds |
| 321 |
| — |
| — | | 321 |
Sky Ranch |
| 828 |
| — |
| — | | 828 |
Lost creek supply |
| 220 |
| 670 |
| — | | 890 |
WISE (3) |
| — |
| — |
| 900 | | 900 |
Total |
| 25,054 |
| 670 |
| 4,200 | | 29,924 |
Water Source | Groundwater (acre-feet) | Surface Water (acre-feet) | Other Water Rights (acre-feet) | Total acre-feet | ||||||||||||
Rangeview Water Supply | ||||||||||||||||
Export (1) | 11,650 | 1,650 | — | 13,300 | ||||||||||||
Non-Export (2) | 12,035 | 1,650 | — | 13,685 | ||||||||||||
Fairgrounds | 321 | — | — | 321 | ||||||||||||
Sky Ranch | 828 | — | — | 828 | ||||||||||||
Lost creek supply | — | 300 | �� | 220 | 520 | |||||||||||
WISE (3) | — | 900 | — | 900 | ||||||||||||
Total | 24,834 | 4,500 | 220 | 29,554 |
(1) | Pending completion by the “Land Board” (defined below) of documentation related to the exercise of our right to substitute 1,650 acre-feet of our groundwater for a comparable amount of surface water. |
(2) | We have the exclusive right to use this water to provide water services to customers on and off the Lowry Range, |
(3) | Amount of WISE water available for our use |
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Rangeview Water Supply
The Rangeview Water Supply consists of 26,985 acre-feet of tributary surface water, non-tributary groundwater, and not non-tributary groundwater. Additionally, the Rangeview Water Supply has 26,000 acre-feet of adjudicated reservoir sites. Terminology typically used in the water industry that may help readers understand water rights are detailed below.
● | Non-Tributary Groundwater – groundwater located outside the boundaries of any designated groundwater basins in existence on January 1, 1985, the withdrawal of which will not, within one hundred years of continuous withdrawal, deplete the flow of a natural stream at an annual rate greater than one-tenth of one percent of the annual rate of withdrawal. |
● | Not Non-Tributary Groundwater – statutorily defined as groundwater located within those portions of the Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, and Laramie Fox-Hill aquifers outside of designated basins that does not meet the definition of “non-tributary.” |
● | Tributary Groundwater – all water located in an aquifer that is hydrologically connected to a natural stream such that depletion has an impact on the surface stream. |
● | Designated Groundwater – renewable and sustainable groundwater from certain areas of Colorado designated by the Colorado Ground Water Commission subject to management under the Colorado Ground Water Commission’s rules. |
● | Tributary Surface Water – water on the surface of the ground flowing in a stream or river system. |
The Rangeview Water Supply is principally located in the southeast Denver metropolitan area at the “Lowry Range,” which is land owned by the State Board of Land Commissioners (“Land Board”)(Land Board) and is described below.
We acquired our Rangeview Water Supply through the following agreements:
● | The 1996 Amended and Restated Lease Agreement between the Land Board and the Rangeview District, which was superseded by the 2014 Amended and Restated Lease Agreement, dated July 10, 2014 (Lease), among us, the Land Board, and the Rangeview District; |
● | The 1996 Service Agreement between us and the Rangeview District, which was superseded by the Amended and Restated Service Agreement, dated July 11, 2014, between us and the Rangeview District (Lowry Service Agreement), which allows us to provide water service to the Rangeview District’s customers located on the Lowry Range; |
● | The Agreement for Sale of non-tributary and not non-tributary groundwater between us and the Rangeview District (Export Agreement), pursuant to which we purchased a portion of the Rangeview Water Supply that we refer to as our “Export Water” because the Export Agreement allows us to export this water from the Lowry Range to supply water to nearby communities; and |
● | The 1997 Wastewater Service Agreement between us and Rangeview District (Lowry Wastewater Agreement), which allows us to provide wastewater service to the Rangeview District’s customers on the Lowry Range. |
The Lease, the Lowry Service Agreement, the Export Agreement, and the Lowry Wastewater Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Rangeview Water Agreements.”
We provide wholesale water in the Lost Creek Designated Ground Water Basin (“Lost Creek Water”). The Lost Creek Water is currently adjudicated for agricultural use,service and we have filed an application with the Colorado water court to change the use of the water to augment our municipal/industrial water supplies at the Lowry Range. We have consolidated our Lost Creek Water with our Rangeview Water Supply to providewastewater service to the Rangeview District’s customers located both on and offoutside of the Lowry Range.
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District, which owns the facilities for both systems. At the expiration of our contract term in 2081, ownership of the water system facilities located on the Lowry Range used to deliver water to customers on the Lowry Range will revert to the Land Board, with the Rangeview District retaining ownership of any wastewater facilities located on the Lowry Range. The water system and related facilities used to deliver water to customers off the Lowry Range (including Export Water) will remain with us and the Rangeview District. We provide wholesale water service and wastewater service to customers located both on and outside of the Lowry Range, including customers of the Rangeview District and other governmental entities, and industrial and commercial customers.
The Rangeview Water Agreements grant us the right to use approximately 26,000 acre-feet of surface reservoir capacity to provide water service to customers both on and off the Lowry Range.
Lost Creek Water Supply
The “Lost Creek Water” is comprised of water rights we acquired in 2019 and 2022 in the Lost Creek Designated Ground Water Basin. In August 2019, we purchased 300 acre-feet of designated groundwater and 220 acre-feet of groundwater and ditch water. In June 2022, we purchased 370 acre-feet of designated groundwater. All the Lost Creek Water has been changed for use as municipal/industrial water, additionally we have filed an application with the Colorado Water Court to use the Lost Creek Water to augment our municipal/industrial water supplies at the Lowry Range. Our plans are to consolidate our Lost Creek Water with our Rangeview Water Supply to provide service to the Rangeview District’s customers both on and off the Lowry Range.
The Lowry Range Property
The Lowry Range consists of nearly 26,000 acres, or 40 square miles, of primarily undeveloped land in unincorporated Arapahoe County. It is located 20 miles southeast of downtown Denver and is one of the largest contiguous parcels under single ownership next to a major metropolitan area in the United States. Pursuant to our agreements with the Land Board, we, together with the Rangeview District, have the exclusive rights to provide water and wastewater services to 24,000 acres of the Lowry Range.
The Rangeview District
The Rangeview District is a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of Colorado formed in 1986 for the purpose of providing water and wastewater services to the Lowry Range and other approved areas. The Rangeview District is governed by an elected board of directors. Eligible voters and persons eligible to serve as directors of the Rangeview District must own an interest in property within the boundaries of the Rangeview District. We own certain rights and real property interests which encompass the current boundaries of the Rangeview District. The current directors of the Rangeview District are Mark W. Harding (our President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director), Kevin B. McNeill (our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer), Scott E. Lehman (an employee of ours), Dirk Lashnits (an employee of ours), and one independent board member. Pursuant to Colorado law, directors may receive $100 for each board meeting they attend, up to a maximum of $1,600 per year. Messrs. Harding, McNeill, Lehman, and Lashnits have all elected to forego these payments.
Land Board Royalties and Fees
Water Deliveries – Pursuant to the Rangeview Water Agreements, the Land Board is entitled to royalty payments based on a percentage of revenues earned from water sales that use the Rangeview Water Supply. The calculation of royalties depends on the location of the customer and whether the customer is a public or private entity. The Land Board does not receive a royalty from wastewater services. When we develop, operate, and deliver water from our Rangeview Water Supply, the Land Board receives royalties on the gross revenues
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at a rate of 12% from water delivered to all customers located on the Lowry Range and to all private customers located off the Lowry Range and 10% from public entity customers located off the Lowry Range. In the event that (i) metered production of water used on the Lowry Range in any calendar year exceeds 13,000 acre-feet or (ii) 10,000 acres of land on the Lowry Range have been rezoned to non-agricultural use, finally platted and water tap agreements have been entered into with respect to all improvements to be constructed on such acreage, the Land Board may elect, at its option, to receive (in lieu of its royalty of 12% from customers on the Lowry Range), 50% of the collective net profits (ours and the Rangeview District’s) derived from the sale or other disposition of water on the Lowry Range. To date, neither of these conditions has been met, and such conditions are not likely to be met any time soon. In addition to royalties on the sale of metered water deliveries, the Land Board will receive a royalty of two percent (2%) of the gross amount received from the sale of water taps to be served by the Rangeview Water Supply, except for the sale of any taps to Sky Ranch. Escalated royalties will be owed if we sell our Export Water outright rather than delivering water service. We do not currently anticipate selling our Export Water.
Annual Production Fee – We are also required to pre-pay the Land Board a minimum annual water royalty of $46,000 per year, which is credited against earned royalties.
Annual Rent – We pay the Land Board annual rent under the Lease of $7,600,$8,400, which amount is increased every five years based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers.
South Metropolitan Water Supply Authority (“SMWSA”)(SMWSA) and Water Infrastructure Supply Efficiency Partnership (“WISE”)
SMWSA is a municipal water authority in Colorado organized to pursue the acquisition and development of water supplies on behalf of its members, which include the Rangeview District. SMWSA members include 14 Denver area water providers in Arapahoe and Douglas Counties. Pursuant to certain agreements between us and the Rangeview District, we agreed to provide funding to enable the Rangeview District to acquire rights to water projects undertaken by SMWSA, including rights to water supplied pursuant to the cooperative water project known as WISE. WISE provides for the purchase and construction of infrastructure (such as pipelines, water storage facilities, water treatment facilities, and other appurtenant facilities) to deliver water to and among the 10 members of the South Metro WISE Authority (“SMWA”)(SMWA), consisting of the Rangeview District and nine other SMWSA members, from the City and County of Denver acting through its Board of Water Commissioners (“Denver Water”)(Denver Water) and the City of Aurora acting by and through its utility enterprise (“Aurora Water”)(Aurora Water). In exchange for funding the Rangeview District’s WISE obligations, we have the exclusive right to use and reuse the Rangeview District’s share of WISE water (approximately 9%) and infrastructure to provide water service to the Rangeview District’s customers and to receive the revenue from providing those services. Our current WISE subscription entitles us to approximately three million gallons per day of transmission pipeline capacity and increasing acre-feet of water per year as noted below.
Water Year (June 1 – May 31) | Acre-feet Subscription | |
2021 | 400 | |
2022 | 500 | |
2023 | 600 | |
2024 | 700 | |
2025 | 800 | |
Thereafter | 900 |
| | |
Water Year | | Acre-feet |
2023 | | 600 |
2024 |
| 700 |
2025 |
| 800 |
2026 and thereafter |
| 900 |
The cost of the water to the members is based on the water rates charged by Aurora Water and can be adjusted each January 1. As of January 1, 2020,2021, WISE water was $5.77$5.98 per thousand gallons and such rate will remainremained in effect through calendar 2021. Effective, January 1, 2022, WISE water increased to $6.13 per thousand gallons, which will be in effect for all of calendar 2022. In addition, we pay certain system operational and construction costs. If a WISE member, including the Rangeview District, does not need its WISE water each year or a member needs additional water, the members can trade and/or buy and sell water amongst themselves. DuringFor the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, the Company,2022, we, through the Rangeview District, purchased an additional 400a total of just over 360 acre-feet of WISE water for $582,200, which amount is in addition to$0.7 million. For the subscription described above.
During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, we provided $2.8 million$0.9 and $1.5$1.1 million of financing to the Rangeview District to fund the Rangeview District’s obligation to purchase WISE water rights and pay for operational and construction charges. Ongoing funding requirements are dependent on the WISE water subscription amount and the Rangeview District’s allowableallocable share of the operational and overhead costs of SMWA and construction activities related to delivery of WISE water.
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Additionally, in 2021 the Rangeview District entered into an agreement with WISE to construct special facilities for $0.6 million. The construction of these special facilities began in our fiscal 2021 and was completed in our fiscal 2022. We funded the construction of the special facilities, and the Rangeview District remitted the entire $0.6 million it received to us.
East Cherry Creek Valley System
Pursuant to a 1982 agreement, the Rangeview District may purchase water from East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District’s (“ECCV”)(ECCV) Land Board system. ECCV’s Land Board system is comprised of eight wells and more than ten miles of buried water pipeline located on the Lowry Range. In May 2012, we entered into an agreement to operate and maintain the ECCV facilities allowing us to utilize the system to provide water to commercial and industrial customers, including hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas wells. The agreement allows us to use the ECCV system through April 30, 2032, in exchange for a flat monthly fee and a fee per 1,000 gallons of water produced from ECCV’s system, which is included in the water usage fees charged to customers.
Sources of Water and Wastewater Service Revenues
Our water and wastewater resource development segment generates revenue from the following sources, described in greater detail below:
● | Monthly metered water usage and wastewater treatment fees |
● | One-time water and wastewater tap (connection) fees |
● | Construction and special facility funding fees |
● | Consulting fees, and |
● | Industrial – oil and gas operations fees |
Monthly water usage and wastewater treatment fees
Monthly metered water usage fees are assessed to customers based on actual metered deliveries each month. Water usage fees are based on a tiered pricing structure that provides for higher prices as customers use greater amounts of water. The water usage fees for customers on the Lowry Range are noted in the tabletables below:
Current Lowry Range Tiered Water Usage Pricing Structuretiered potable water usage pricing structure
| | | |
Base charge per SFE per month |
| $ | 32.74 |
Price ($ per thousand gallons used per month) | | | |
0 gallons to 15,000 gallons | | $ | 4.63 |
15,000 gallons to 30,000 gallons | | $ | 8.10 |
30,000 gallons and above | | $ | 9.95 |
Current Lowry Range tiered non-potable water usage pricing structure
| | | |
Base charge per SFE per month |
| $ | 32.74 |
Price ($ per thousand gallons used per month) | | | |
0 gallons to 15,000 gallons | | $ | 3.94 |
15,000 gallons to 30,000 gallons | | $ | 6.89 |
30,000 gallons and above | | $ | 8.46 |
Base charge per SFE per month | $ | 32.74 | ||
Price ($ per thousand gallons used per month) 0 gallons to 15,000 gallons | $ | 4.63 | ||
15,001 gallons to 30,000 gallons | $ | 8.10 | ||
30,001 gallons and above | $ | 9.95 |
The figures in the table above reflect the amounts charged to the Rangeview District’s end-use customers on the Lowry Range. Pursuant to the Lease, the amounts charged by the Rangeview District to its end-use customers on the Lowry Range cannot exceed the average of similar rates and charges of three surrounding municipal water and wastewater service providers. In exchange for providing water service to the Rangeview District’s Lowry Range customers, we receive 98% of the usage charges received by the Rangeview District relating to water services after deducting the required royalty to the Land Board (described above at Rangeview Water Supply – Land Board Royalties and Fees).
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The amounts charged by the Rangeview District to its end-use customers off the Lowry Range are determined pursuant to the Rangeview District’s service agreements with such customers and such rates may vary. In exchange for providing water service to the Rangeview District’s customers off the Lowry Range, we receive 98% of the usage charges received by the Rangeview District relating to water services after deducting any required royalty to the Land Board. The royalty to the Land Board is required for water service provided utilizing our Rangeview Water Supply, which includes most of our current customers off the Lowry Range except those at the Elbert & Highway 86 Commercial District (also known as “Wild Pointe” described below).
We sell bulk water at a rate of $14.76 per thousand gallons to commercial and industrial customers through the use ofvia hydrant meters.
We also collect other immaterial fees and charges from customers and other users to cover miscellaneous administrative and service expenses, such as application fees, review fees, reinspection fees, and permit fees.
In exchange for providing wastewater services, we receive 90% of the Rangeview District’s monthly wastewater treatment fees, as well as the right to use or sell the reclaimed water.
Water and Wastewater Tap Fees
We generate significant revenues from fees charged to customers to connect to our water and wastewater systems. These fees are known as tap fees. The tap fee is a non-refundable fee that is payable typically at the time a building permit is granted for construction of a home or business and authorizes the property to connect to the water or wastewater system. Once granted, the right stays with the property. We have no obligation to physically connect the property to the lines.lines; this is typically done by the homebuilder. Once connected to the water and/or wastewater systems, the customerproperty has live service, toand the customer can receive metered water deliveries from our system and send wastewater into our system. Thus, the customer has full control of the connection right as it can obtain all the benefits from this right. Our systems are “wholesale facilities,” namely those assets used to deliver water and wastewater to a service area or major regions or portions thereof. Wells, treatment plants, pump stations, tanks, reservoirs, transmission pipelines, and major sewage lift stations are typical examples of wholesale facilities.
The Rangeview District’s 20202022 water tap fees are $27,209$28,308 per SFE, and its wastewater tap fees are $4,752.
In exchange for providing water service to the Rangeview District’s customers using the Rangeview Water Supply (other than taps to Sky Ranch, which are exempt), we receive 98% of the Rangeview District’s tap fees and the Land Board receives the remaining two percent as a royalty. In exchange for providing wastewater services, whether to customers on or off the Lowry Range, we receive 100% of the Rangeview District’s wastewater tap fees.
Construction and Special Facility Funding Fees
Construction and Special Facility Funding fees are fees we receive, typically in advance, from developers for us to build infrastructure that is normally the responsibility of the developer because the facilities service only the developer’s property. Those type of facilities may include retail facilities, which distribute water to and collect wastewater from an individual subdivision or a community, and special facilities, which are required to extend services to an individual development and are not otherwise classified as a typical wholesale facility or retail facilities. Temporary infrastructure required prior to construction of permanent water and wastewater systems or transmission pipelines to transfer water from one location to another are examples of special facilities. Once we certify that the special facilities have been constructed in accordance with our design criteria, the developer dedicates the special facilities to the Rangeview District, and we operate and maintain the facilities on behalf of Rangeview.
Consulting Fees
Consulting fees are fees we receive, typically monthly, from municipalities and area water providers for whom we provide contract operation services.
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Industrial – Oil and Gas Operations Fees
We provide water for oil and gas operators that are performing hydraulic fracturing, mainly in the Niobrara Formation on and around our service area and our Sky Ranch property. These fees are paid based on the metered gallons of water delivered. Oil and gas drilling in our area is affected by the price of oil and state, local and federal government regulations. The number of wells drilled vary from year to year. Each well utilizes between 10 and 20 million gallons of water during the hydraulic fracturing process, which equates to selling water to between approximately 100 and 200 homes for an entire year. With a large percentage of the acreage surrounding the Lowry Range in Arapahoe, Adams, Elbert, and portions of Douglas Counties already leased by oil companies, we anticipate continuing to provide water for drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the future.
Service to Customers Not on the Lowry Range
In addition to customers on the Lowry Range, we have an exclusive agreement with the Rangeview District to providebe its exclusive water and wastewater service includingprovider throughout its service area. This includes the design, construction, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems to serve the Rangeview District’s customers located outside the Lowry Range service area (for example Wild Pointe and Sky Ranch) (the “Non-Lowry(Non-Lowry Service Agreement”)Agreement). In exchange for providing water and wastewater services to the Rangeview District’s customers that are not on the Lowry Range, we receive 100% of water and wastewater tap fees, 98% of the water usage fees, and 90% of the monthly wastewater service and usage fees received by the Rangeview District from these customers, after deduction of royalties due to the Land Board, if applicable (i.e., if we use a portion of the Rangeview Water Supply, such as the Export Water, to provide service to such customers). We are currently not using the Rangeview Water Supply at Sky Ranch, but we may do so in the future, in which case water usage fees to be collected for such service would become subject to the Land Board royalty.
Sky Ranch Water and Wastewater Service –
As described in more detail below, we are developing approximately 930 acres of land as a Master Planned Community known as Sky Ranch. Pursuant to the Non-Lowry Service Agreement, we are the exclusive provider of water and wastewater services to all current and future residents,Wild Pointe – Elbert & Highway 86 Commercial Metropolitan District –
In 2017, we entered into an agreement with the Rangeview District, which had entered into an agreement with Elbert & Highway 86 Commercial Metropolitan DistrictOur Land Development Assets – Sky Ranch
In 2010, we purchased approximately 930 acres of undeveloped land in unincorporated Arapahoe County, which we are actively developing as the master planned community known as Sky Ranch. With the property acquisition, we also acquired nearly 830 acre-feet of water beneath Sky Ranch and approximately 640 acres of oil and gas mineral rights. Sky Ranch is located 16 miles east of downtown Denver, four miles north of the Lowry Range, and four miles south of Denver International Airport.
Sky Ranch is zoned for residential, commercial, and retail uses, including up to 3,200 homes and more than two million square feet of commercial, retail, and light industrial development. See illustration above for the current layout of Sky Ranch. The development of Sky Ranch will occur in multiple filings and phases which will take several years to complete. Our first filingPhase 1 of Sky Ranch included more than 150 acres is platted forand has a total of 506509 detached single-family residential lots. Of the 509 lots, (see illustration below for the layoutwe sold 505 finished lots to homebuilders, all of filing 1). Aswhich were sold as of August 31, 2020, we had delivered 483 finished2021, and retained the remaining lots for use in our first filingsingle-family home rental business. In February 2021, we began construction on Phase 2 of the development, which will include 850 lots of which we have contracted to sell 804 lots to home builders for detached and attached single-family homes, and the remaining finished46 lots sold on November 3, 2020. Our second filing, which is plannedwe plan to have four sub-phases,use for our single-family home rental business. Phase 2 is approximately 250 acres and is expectedwill be constructed in four subphases which we refer to be platted for nearly 900 lots (see illustration below for the proposed layout of filing 2). We plan to begin developmentas Phase 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D. Development activities for filing 2Phase 2A, consisting of 229 lots, began in February 2021, and by the end of calendar 2020. Subsequent to August 31, 2020,2022, we entered into contracts withhad substantially completed construction and transferred 219 lots to the four home builders to sell 789 finishedhomebuilders. We retained ten lots in Phase 2A on which the home builders will construct both attached and detachedwe are constructing units for our single-family residential units. We are retaining the remaining 100+ lots for future uses.rental business. The total sales price for the 789804 lots contracted forsold to the homebuilders is $63.4$65.0 million, which is subject to price escalations depending on development timing.timing which are not included in that figure. The remaining lots held for future use, assuming comparable lot prices to the contracted prices and excluding escalators, coupled with the contracted-for lots would result in total sales price for the second filing of $72.6219 lots in Phase 2A is $18.4 million. Our preliminary total cost estimates for developing the nearly 900all 229 lots in Phase 2A is $65.6 million. We estimate that more than $48.0$20.4 million, with
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approximately $17.8 million of this amount willthat estimated to be spent on public improvements that will bewhich are eligible for reimbursement by the Sky Ranch CAB. See below for a description of the conditions that may limit our ability to receive reimbursables and a definition of the Sky Ranch CAB.
As the land developer, we are providing finished lots (i.e. lots ready for building permits to construct homes) to each of the home builders. We build, or contract to build, the roads, curbs, wet and dry utilities, storm drains, parks, open spaces, and other related improvements as part of a fully master planned community. Each builder is required to purchase water and sewerwastewater taps for each lot from the Rangeview District at the time of permitting, thea building permit is issued. The cost of whichthe water and wastewater tap for a lot depends on the size of the lot, the size of the house, and the amount of irrigated turf.landscaping. Pursuant to the Non-Lowry Service Agreement, we receive all the water and wastewater tap fees from tap sales at Sky Ranch and 98% of the ongoing monthly water and wastewater service revenues.
Public improvements, such as roads, parks, and water and sanitary sewer mains, storm sewer, and drainage improvements, that are shared by all homeowners in the development and not specific to any private finished lot are ultimately owned by the governmental metropolitan district or other municipality that is responsible for the maintenance of the improvements. Upon completion and acceptance of certain public improvements by the “Sky Ranch Districts” or the “SkySky Ranch CAB”CAB (both of which are defined below), we are entitled to receive reimbursement for the verified public improvement costs. Pursuant to certain agreements with the agreements between usSky Ranch Districts and the Sky Ranch CAB, no payment is requiredon their behalf we construct public infrastructure such as roads, curbs, storm water, drainage, sidewalks, parks, open space, trails etc., which costs are reimbursed to us by the Sky Ranch CAB, with respect to reimbursable costs unless and until the Sky Ranch CAB and/orthrough funds generated by the Sky Ranch Districts issue bondsthrough taxes, fees, or the issuance of municipal bonds. See Note 2 and Note 5 to reimburse us for all or a portionthe accompanying consolidated financial statements regarding treatment and recognition of advances provided or expenses incurred for reimbursable public improvements. Due to this contingency, reimbursable costs are capitalized and expensed consistent with other development costs until the Sky Ranch CAB reimburses us for thethese public improvement costs. When we receive reimbursement, we reduce any remaining capitalized amounts, with any excess proceeds over the currently remaining capitalized costs being recognized as Other income at the time of payment.
Pursuant to our service agreements, the Company mustwe are required to construct all required wholesale water and wastewater improvements (i.e., a wastewater reclamation facility, water supply, storage, treatment, and other wholesale facilities) for the provision of water and wastewater service to the property. As of August 31, 2020,2022, we have completed the required wholesale facilities and other infrastructure to provide water for the first 900 homes and wastewater for over 2,000 homes at Sky Ranch. The most significant wholesale facility built was the wastewater reclamation facility, which cost $10.2 million and has a designed capacity to provide wastewater for more than 2,000 single familysingle-family homes before requiring expansion. This allows the treatment facility to process wastewater for several development phases at Sky Ranch before additional investment is needed to increase its capacity.
We expect to have other filingsphases developing concurrently with the second filingphase that willcould include commercial, retail, and light industrial sites. We expect full development of the Sky Ranch Master Planned Community to take another eight to ten years.
Pursuant to the Sky Ranch Water and Wastewater Service Agreement, dated June 19, 2017, between PCY Holdings, LLC (a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours that holds title to the Sky Ranch land), and the Rangeview District, PCY Holdings, LLC, agreed to construct certain facilities necessary to provide water and wastewater service to Sky Ranch. The Rangeview District, through us as its exclusive service provider, agreed to provide water and wastewater services to the Sky Ranch property. We have installed over 15.5 miles of water delivery and wastewater collection infrastructure at a cost of $4.9 million, which we believe will beis reimbursable by the Sky Ranch CAB as outlined above.
We have also leased the oil and gas minerals underlying the property to a major independent exploration and production company.
Sky Ranch Metropolitan District Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 5
The Sky Ranch Metropolitan District Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 58 are quasi-municipal corporations and political subdivisions of Colorado formed in 2004 for the purpose of providing serviceservices to the Sky Ranch property (the “Sky(Sky Ranch Districts”)Districts). The Sky Ranch Districts are governed by an elected board of directors. Eligible voters and persons eligible to serve as directors of the Sky Ranch Districts must own an interest in property within the boundaries of the district. We own certain rights and real property interests which encompass the current boundaries of the districts and certain of our employees serve on the boards of directors of the Sky Ranch Districts. The current directors of the districts are Mark W. Harding (our President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director), Kevin B. McNeill (our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer), Scott E. Lehman (an employee of ours)(our employee), Dirk Lashnits (an employee of ours), and one independent board member. Pursuant to Colorado law, directors may receive $100 for each board meeting they attend, up to a maximum of $1,600 per year. Messrs. Harding, McNeill, Lehman, and Lashnits have all elected to forego these payments.
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Sky Ranch Community Authority Board
Districts No. 1 and 5 of the Sky Ranch Districts, formed the Sky Ranch Community Authority Board (“Sky(Sky Ranch CAB”)CAB) to, among other things, design, construct, finance, operate and maintain certain public improvements for the benefit of the property within the boundaries and/or service area of the Sky Ranch Districts. In order for the public improvements to be constructed and/or acquired, it is necessary for each Sky Ranch District and/or the Sky Ranch CAB to be able to fund the improvements and pay its ongoing operations and maintenance expenses related to the provision of services that benefit the property. We entered into agreements, first with Sky Ranch Metropolitan District No. 1 in 2014 and later with the Sky Ranch CAB, that require us to fund expenses related to the construction of an agreed upon list of public improvements for the Sky Ranch Master Planned Community.
We and effective as of November 13, 2017, the partiesSky Ranch CAB entered into a series of agreements that superseded and consolidated the previous agreements into one primary agreement, the Facilities Funding and Acquisition Agreement (the “Sky(FFAA) effective November 2017, obligating us to advance funding to the Sky Ranch FFAA”), pursuantCAB for specified public improvements constructed from 2018 to which:
● | In November 2019, the Sky Ranch CAB issued bonds and repaid $10.5 million |
● | In January 2021, the Sky Ranch CAB repaid $0.4 million from unencumbered funds resulting from a budget surplus in 2021 |
● | In May 2022, the Sky Ranch CAB repaid $0.1 million from unencumbered funds resulting from a budget surplus in 2022 |
● | In August 2022, the Sky Ranch CAB issued bonds and repaid $23.6 million |
Prior to our fiscal 2021, the reimbursable expenditures we funded were expensed through land development construction costs, and project management revenue and interest income were not recognized as the reimbursement was deemed contingent on a sufficient tax base and/or the issuance of municipal bonds for collectability to be considered probable. As Sky Ranch continues to grow, housing values increased, and the Sky Ranch CAB issued bonds and repaid $10.5 milliondemonstrated the ability to repay the amounts owed to us, the collectability of the advancesreimbursable expenditures incurred to date leaving $15.9 million outstanding as ofhas been determined to be probable; Therefore, during fiscal 2021 we recognized the remaining reimbursable costs, project management fees, and interest. During the year ended August 31, 2020. We expect2021, we recognized $21.7 million as a note receivable – related party with the offsetting entries being to fund $48.3 million ofother income, project management revenue and interest income for costs deemed reimbursable from the Sky Ranch CAB. Due to continue growth and the continued belief the Sky Ranch CAB can repay amounts we spend on public improvements, Phase 2 reimbursable public improvements, for filing 2. The timing of those expected expendituresalong with the project management revenue, and reimbursementinterest income are being recorded as a note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB as incurred. Note 5 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements summarizes the changes to the note receivable. The Sky Ranch CAB has an obligation to repay us but the ability of the Sky Ranch CAB to repay us before the contractual termination dates is dependent upon the establishment of a tax base or other fee generating activities sufficient to recover reimbursable costs incurred. Costs incurred will dependbe recognized as land under development costs or notes receivable – related party, depending on absorptionwhether collectability is deemed to be considered probable. In addition to the note receivable balance, the Sky Ranch CAB refunded $0.5 million for the reimbursement of homes in filing 2.
The current directors of the Sky Ranch CAB are Mark W. Harding (our President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director), Kevin B. McNeill (our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer), Scott E. Lehman (an employee of ours)(our employee), Dirk Lashnits (an employee of ours)(our employee), and one independent board member. Pursuant to Colorado law, directors may receive $100 for each board meeting they attend, up to a maximum of $1,600 per year. Messrs. Harding, McNeill, Lehman, and Lashnits have all elected to forego these payments.
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Other Assets
Oil and Gas Leases
In 2011, we entered into a three-yearan Oil and Gas Lease (the “Sky(Sky Ranch O&G Lease”)Lease) and Surface Use and Damage Agreement and received an up-front payment and a 20% of gross proceeds royalty (less certain taxes) from the sale of any oil and gas produced from the mineral estate we own at Sky Ranch. In 2014, the Sky Ranch O&G Lease was extended for an additional two years. The Sky Ranch O&G Lease is now held by production, and we have been receiving royalties from the oil and gas production from six wells drilled within our mineral interest. During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, we received $669,000$0.5 million and $148,300$0.3 million in royalties attributable to these wells.
In September 2017, we entered into a three-year Paid-Up Oil and Gas Lease with Bison Oil and Gas, LLP (the “Bison Lease”)(Bison Lease) for the purpose of exploring for, developing, producing, and marketing oil and gas from 40 acres of mineral estate we own adjacent to the Lowry Range, and we received an up-front payment of $167,200.$0.2 million. The up-front payment received pursuant to the Bison Lease iswas being recognized into revenue ratably over a three-year period, which expiresexpired in September 2020,2021, and was not extended.
In July 2019, we entered into an Agreement on Locations of Oil and Gas Operations covering approximately 16 acres at Sky Ranch with the operator of the Sky Ranch O&G Lease (the “OGOA”)(OGOA). The Company received an up-front payment of $573,700$0.6 million in fiscal 2019 for the OGOA, which is beingwas recognized as income on a straight-line basis over three years (the term of the OGOA). If after three yearsIn July 2022, the operator hashad not spud at least one well on the oil and gas operations area,area. To extend its rights under the OGOA for one additional year, the oil and gas operator paid us $75,000, which is being recognized into income over the term of the extension. The operator may extend the right to the OGOA for one additional year by paying us $75,000. The operator may only extend the OGOA for two additional yearsafter that for a total of five years.
Arkansas River Land and Minerals
We own approximately 700 acres of land in the Arkansas River Valley in southeastern Colorado. We currently lease all these acres for dry land grazing. We intend to sell the land in due course and have classified it as a long-term investment. We also own approximately 13,900 acres of mineral interests in the Arkansas River Valley, which have ahas no carrying value of $1.4 million. In fiscal 2020, we assessed the recoverability of the Arkansas Valley mineral rights. We determined that the carrying value of these mineral rights is not recoverable. As a result, we recordedon our books due to an impairment charge of $1.4 million we recorded in Non-cash mineral asset impairment charge in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.fiscal 2020. We currently have no plans to sell our mineral interests.
Significant Customers
We primarily provide water and wastewater services on the Rangeview District’s behalf to the Rangeview District’s customers. Because theThe Rangeview District accounts for the majority of our water and wastewater service revenue, we have includedrevenue. Refer to Note 10 in the end-use customers of the Rangeview District who generate the most revenueaccompanying consolidated financial statements for usadditional information on our list of significant customers. Additionally, we have presented the percentages of revenue from water and wastewater services and water and wastewater tap sales separately (versus by the water and wastewater resource development segment or total revenue), because we believe that provides a more meaningful presentation of the relevance of each customer to that service line. Lot sales are generated entirely through sales to three customers as noted below. The tables below present revenue generated from our significant customers for each of the services presented.
For the year ended August 31, 2020 | Water and wastewater metered services | Water and wastewater tap fees | Land development (Lot sales recognized) | |||||||||
Ridgeview Youth Services | 14 | % | – | – | ||||||||
Conoco / Crestone Peak (oil & gas operations) | 45 | % | – | – | ||||||||
All Sky Ranch Homes (1) | 22 | % | – | – | ||||||||
All Wild Pointe Homes (2) | 9 | % | 4 | % | – | |||||||
Taylor Morrison | – | 28 | % | 32 | % | |||||||
KB Home | – | 37 | % | 26 | % | |||||||
Richmond Homes | – | 31 | % | 42 | % | |||||||
Combined totals presented | 90 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % |
For the year ended August 31, 2019 | Water and wastewater metered services | Water and wastewater tap fees | Land development (Lot sales recognized) | |||||||||
Ridgeview Youth Services | 3 | % | – | – | ||||||||
Conoco / Crestone Peak (oil & gas operations) | 74 | % | – | – | ||||||||
All Sky Ranch Homes (1) | – | – | – | |||||||||
All Wild Pointe Homes (2) | 3 | % | 6 | % | – | |||||||
Taylor Morrison | – | 27 | % | 34 | % | |||||||
KB Home | – | 29 | % | 34 | % | |||||||
Richmond Homes | – | 38 | % | 32 | % | |||||||
Combined totals presented | 80 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % |
Projected Operations
This section should be read in conjunction with Item 1A – Risk Factors.
Along the Colorado Front Range, there are over 70 water providers with varying needs for replacement and/or new water supplies. We believe that we are well positioned to assist certain of these providers in meeting their current and future water needs.
We design, construct, and operate our water and wastewater facilities using advanced water treatment and wastewater treatment technologies, which allow us to use our water supplies in an efficient and environmentally sustainable manner. We develop our water and wastewater systems in stages to efficiently meet customer demands in our service areas by managing capital investments required for construction of facilities. We use third-party contractors to construct our facilities as needed. We employ licensed water and wastewater operators to run our water and wastewater systems. As our systems expand, we expect to hire additional personnel to operate our systems, which include water production, treatment, testing, storage, distribution, metering, billing, and operations management.
Our water and wastewater systems conjunctively use surface and groundwater supplies and storage of raw water and highly treated reclaimed water supplies to provide a balanced sustainable water supply for our customers. Integrating conservation practices and incentives, together with effective water reuse, demonstrates our commitment to providing environmentally responsible and sustainable water and wastewater services. Water supplies and water storage reservoirs are competitively sought throughout the west and along the Front Range of Colorado. We believe that regional cooperation among area water providers in developing new water supplies, water
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storage, and transmission and distribution systems provides the most cost-effective way of expanding and enhancing service capacities for area water providers. We continue to seek opportunities for developing water supplies and water storage opportunities with other area water providers.
As we continue expanding and developing our Rangeview Water Supply, we anticipate needing a significant number of high capacityhigh-capacity deep water wells. These wells would be drilled into one or more of the three principal aquifers located beneath the Lowry Range, and, as with our current wells, the water would be delivered to central water treatment facilities for treatment prior to delivery to customers. Continued development of our Lowry Range surface water supplies will require facilities to divert surface water to storage reservoirs to be located on the Lowry Range, additional treatment facilities to treat the water prior to introduction into our distribution system(s), and additional surface water diversion facilities designed with capacities to divert the surface water when available (particularly during seasonal events such as spring run-off and summer storms) for storage in reservoirs constructed on the Lowry Range. We estimate the full build-out of water and wastewater facilities (including diversion structures, transmission pipelines, reservoirs, and water treatment facilities) to develop and deliver our portfolio of water would cost in excess of $850$900 million, and would accommodate water service to customers located on and outside the Lowry Range. We believe this build out would occur in phases over many decades, and we believe tap fees would be sufficient to fund the required infrastructure costs.
Our Denver-based supplies are a valuable, locally available resource located near the point of use. This enables us to incrementally develop infrastructure to produce, treat and deliver water to customers based on their growing demands.
During fiscal 2020,2022 and 2021, combined, we invested $6.3over $9.0 million in plant and facilities that interconnect the Rangeview District, WISE, and Sky Ranch water and wastewater systems to provide water and wastewater services to our growing customers at Sky Ranch and elsewhere. We expect to continue to invest in water rights and facilities as our customer demands grow.
We are in the process ofcontinue developing our Sky Ranch property, including finishing lots for home builders, and building additional water and wastewater infrastructure for residential and commercial development at the property.property, and having homes constructed for our single-family home rental business. During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, for Phases 1 and 2A we invested $8.5$11.5 million and $17.7$7.3 million in our Sky Ranch land which included $2.0 million and $2.5 million of expensed costs related to deliver the delivery of finished lots and $9.5 million and $4.8 million of costs for public improvements which we expect to be repaid by the Sky Ranch CAB. Additionally, we spent approximately $0.9 million and $1.0 million on construction costs related to our single-family rental business. Phase 1 was our first project as a land developer and was done ahead of our original schedule and on budget. We anticipate the second filingPhase 2A, which broke ground in February 2021, to incur a total of Sky Ranch will require $65.6$20.4 million of construction costs to deliver the lots (of which we estimate $17.8 million is for public improvements which we expect to be repaid by the Sky Ranch CAB). Phase 2A is planned to occur over three yearsbe complete in the next year and behas been funded by the $72.5$18.4 million of total fees to be paid under our lot sales agreements.agreements and will be further funded by the reimbursements from the Sky Ranch CAB of public improvements, which we estimate to be $17.8 million. During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019, the initial filing of Sky Ranch produced $5.4 million2021, we sold 154 and $3.4 million, respectively, of163 water and wastewater taps at Sky Ranch to homebuilders, which generated $4.5 million and $5.1 million of tap fees, andfees. As of August 31, 2022, we believe we will receive the remaining $5.9 million inhave sold 618 water and wastewater tap fees for the lots in the initial filing oftaps at Sky Ranch during our fiscal 2021. Wein Phases 1 and 2A. Based on current prices and engineering estimates, we believe the second filingPhase 2 of Sky Ranch will produce in excess of $22more than $24.0 million in water and wastewater tap fee revenue and cash over the next 3-5 years.
Our first three rental units at Sky Ranch were completed and rented in November 2021. We have begun construction on the next eleven rental units and plan to build more than 36 additional rental units over the next several years.
We plan to develop additional water assets within the Denver area and are exploring opportunities to utilize our water assets in areas adjacent to our existing water supplies. Additionally, we continue to source additional land acquisitions that could be paired with our water to provide additional growth to both our land development and water and wastewater segments.
Growth in Colorado
Despite the impacts of COVID-19, Colorado has continued to grow. According to the 2021 census report, Colorado added over 744,000 residents from 2010 to 2021, a growth of 14.8%, bringing the Colorado population to nearly 5.8 million, which is projected to grow to more than 8.7 million by 2050. A Statewide Water Supply Initiative report by the Colorado Water Conservation Board estimates that the South Platte River basin, which includes the Denver metropolitan region (and our Sky Ranch community), could require an additional
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400,000 acre-feet of water by the year 2020 was a strong year2030 due to continued growth. What makes this difficult for land developers and builders is that Colorado law requires developers to demonstrate they have sufficient water supplies for their proposed projects before zoning applications will be considered. This means developers and builders must solve their own water problems prior to development rather than wait for cities and municipalities to solve the problem. This indicates that water will continue to be critical to growth prospects for the Colorado housing market. As COVID-19 escalated, we took measuresregion and the state, and that competition for available sources of water will continue to protect the health and well-being of our employees, customers, business partners, and their families. We were informed that our builder customers also took precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their employees, customers, business partners, and their families. These measures varied by builder. As a result, some of our builder customers reported material net housing order declines during the state-wide stay-at-home order period (March – May). However, as shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders were removed, the builders reported material increases in orders. intensify.
Due to COVID-19, we have witnessed several changing consumer patterns, including residents leaving downtown urban areas to buy homes in the suburbs. This put our Sky Ranch community in the enviable position of being able to respond to this demand due to its great location, affordable home prices, available inventory, and easy access to work centers and major transportation corridors. We believe our ability to pair our water to our land and our in-house expertise for operating our systems allowed us to provide home builders with an affordable and sustainable master planned community that allowed our builders to quickly satisfy the increased demand from home buyers.
Growth in the Denver area has trended east with significant activity occurring along the I-70 corridor, an area which enjoys excellent transportation infrastructure with I-70, rail access, and Denver International Airport (“DIA”)(DIA). The region has significant employment centers, including DIA, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, an Amazon fulfillment center, the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Buckley AirforceSpace Force Base, and more, creating demand for residential, retail, and commercial development opportunities.
This tremendous growth, coupled with the low new and resale inventory, along with a shift in lifestyle choices from home ownership to renting, has pushed the single-family rental market into double-digit growth. Although this market has existed for decades, the focus has shifted from individuals owning the units to commercial institutions buying large blocks of houses for rentals. The Statewide Water Supply Initiative estimates that population growthsingle-family rental space is now the fastest growing segment in the Denver regionU.S. housing market. Demand for rental has been steadily increasing due to current demographic trends related to Gen-Y and baby boomers; however, migration patterns related to Covid-19 have accelerated that demand. According to the South Platte River basin could require2021 census, single-family rentals grew by 31% from 2007 to 2016, compared to 14% for multifamily rentals over the same period. As the demand for more single-family rental properties grows, an additional 400,000 acre-feetincreasing number of water bylarger investors are expanding their investment strategy to include the year 2030. What makes this more difficult for land developers and buildersproduct. The single-family rental market is that Colorado law requires developersestimated at $3.4 trillion, compared to demonstrate they have sufficient water supplies for their proposed projects before zoning applications will be considered. This means developers and builders must solve their own water problems prior to development rather than wait for cities and municipalities to solve the problem. This indicates that water will continue to be critical to growth prospects$3.5 trillion for the regionmultifamily market, and institutional investors make up less than 2% of the state,market compared to 55% for the multifamily market. As more young families, families with children, and that competition for available sources of water will continueretirees look to intensify.
In addition to actively seeking to expand our land holdings for development purposes, we also market our water supplies and services to developers and home builders that are active along the Colorado Front Range as well as other area water providers in need of additional supplies.
Colorado’s future water needs will be met through conservation, reuse, and the development of new supplies. The Rangeview District’s rules and regulations for water and wastewater service call for adherence to strict conservation measures, including low-flow water fixtures, high efficiency appliances, and advanced irrigation control devices. Additionally, our systems are designed and constructed using a dual-pipe water distribution system to segregate the delivery of high qualityhigh-quality potable drinking water to customers through one system and a second system to supply raw or reclaimed water for irrigation demands in parks and open spaces. About one-half of the water used by a typical Denver-area residential water customer is used for outdoor landscape and lawn irrigation. We believe that raw or reclaimed water supplies provide the lowest cost, most environmentally sustainable water for outdoor irrigation. We expect our systems to include an extensive water reclamation process in which essentially all effluent water from wastewater treatment plants will be reused to meet non-potable outdoor irrigation water demands. Our dual-distribution systems demonstrate our commitment to environmentally responsible water management policies in our water-short region.
Labor and Raw Materials
We competitively bid contracts for infrastructure improvements (grading, utilities, roads, water, and wastewater infrastructure) at Sky Ranch. Many of our contractors enter fixed priced contracts where the contractor is at risk for cost overruns prior to completion of improvements. Under these fixed-price contracts, the contract prices are established in part based on fixed, firm subcontractor quotes on contracts and on cost and scheduling estimates. These quotes or estimates may be based on several assumptions, including assumptions
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about prices and availability of labor, equipment and materials, and other issues. Increased costs or shortages of skilled labor, concrete, steel, pipe, and other materials could cause increases in development costs and delays. These shortages and delays may result in delays in the delivery of the lots under development or the completion of water or wastewater facilities, increase costs for us or other contractors on our projects, reduce gross margins from sales, or subject us to penalties or defaults under our agreements. While we contract with third parties for our labor and materials at a fixed price, which we believe allows us the ability to mitigate the risks associated with shortages of and increases in the cost of labor and building materials, other unforeseen factors may arise which could increase our costs.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued to enforce many safety measures to protect the health and well-being of our employees, customers, business partners, and their families. While state and local mandates have been for the most part removed, we continue to encourage voluntary vaccinations and healthy practices such as hand washing, disinfecting, and social distancing when necessary. While we have transitioned back to a more traditional in office work environment, we continue to offer flexible work arrangements to employees and consultants while maintaining our efficiency with the use of video conferencing and electronic data sharing platforms. We were informed that our builder customers also took precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their employees, customers, business partners, and their families. These measures varied by builder. The most dramatic impact on our operations was and continues to be delays in the permitting process, inspections, and other activities requiring governmental agencies due to expansive work restrictions that continue to be imposed on their operations. Mainly, we experienced delays in the permitting process through the county which delayed the start of construction of Phase 2A of the Sky Ranch development. We expect COVID-19 to continue to play a role in potential delays related to the further subphases in Phase 2 at Sky Ranch due to continued changing governmental orders.
Competition
Water and Wastewater Services
We negotiate individual service agreements with our governmental customers and with their developers and/or home builders to design, construct and operate water and wastewater systems and to provide services to end use customers of governmental entities and to commercial and industrial customers. These service agreements seek to address all aspects of the development of the water and wastewater systems, including:
(i) | the purchase of water and wastewater taps in exchange for our obligation to construct certain wholesale facilities; |
(ii) | the establishment of payment terms, timing, capacity, and location of special facilities (if any); and |
(iii) | specific terms related to our provision of ongoing water and wastewater services to our local governmental customers as well as the governmental entities’ end-use customers. |
Although we have exclusive long-term water and wastewater service contracts for 24,000 acres of the Lowry Range, Wild Pointe, and Sky Ranch pursuant to our service agreements, providing water and wastewater service is subject to competition. Alternate sources of water are available, principally from other private parties such as farmers or others owning water rights that have historically been used for agriculture, and from municipalities seeking to annex new development areas in order to increase their tax base. Our principal competition in areas close to the Lowry Range is the City of Aurora. Principal factors affecting competition for water service include the availability of water for the particular purpose, the cost of delivering the water to the desired location (including the cost of required taps), and the reliability of the water supply during drought periods, and the political climate for additional annexations. We estimate that the water assets we own and have the exclusive right to use have a supply capacity of approximately 60,000 SFE units, and we believe that they provide us with a significant competitive advantage along the Front Range. Our legal rights to the Rangeview Water Supply have been confirmed for municipal use, and our water supply is close to Denver area water users. We believe that our pricing structure is competitive and that our water portfolio is well balanced among surface water rights, groundwater rights, storage capacity and reclaimed water supplies.
Land Development
Developing raw land is a highly competitive business, requires substantial upfront capital and typically requires many years to complete. There are many developers, as well as properties and development projects, in the same geographic area in which Sky Ranch is located. Competition among developers and projects is determined by the location of the real estate, the market appeal of the development plan, the cost and value of the end product, the developer’s ability to build, market and deliver projects on a timely and cost effective basis, and the availability of water to serve the project. Residential developers sell to home builders, who in turn compete based on location,
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price/value, market segmentation, product design, and reputation. Commercial, retail, and industrial developers sell to and/or compete with other developers, owners, and operators of real estate for a limited number of potential buyers. We believe we have exceeded the market’s expectations with the delivery of our initial phasePhase 1 lots at Sky Ranch and have demonstrated we have the ability and expertise to continue to deliver lots in a large scalelarge-scale master planned community.
Environmental, Health and Safety Regulation
Provision of water and wastewater services is subject to regulation under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, related state laws, and federal and state regulations issued under these laws. These laws and regulations establish criteria and standards for drinking water and for wastewater discharges. In addition, we are subject to federal and state laws and other regulations relating to solid waste disposal and certain other aspects of our operations.
Environmental compliance issues may arise in the normal course of operations or because of regulatory changes. We attempt to align capital budgeting and expenditures to address these issues in a timely manner.
Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act establishes criteria and procedures for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop national quality standards for drinking water. Regulations issued pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act and its amendments set standards on the amount of certain microbial and chemical contaminants and radionuclides allowable in drinking water. The State of Colorado has assumed primary responsibility for enforcing the standards established by the Safe Drinking Water Act and has adopted the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Standards (Code of Colorado Regulations 5 CCR 1003-1). Current requirements for drinking water are not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations as we have made and are making investments to meet existing water quality standards. In the future, we might be required to change our method of treating drinking water and make additional capital investments if additional regulations become effective.
The federal Groundwater Rule became effective December 1, 2009. This rule requires additional testing of water from well sources and under certain circumstances requires demonstration and maintenance of effective disinfection. In 2009, Colorado adopted Article 13 to the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Standards to establish monitoring and compliance criteria for the Groundwater Rule. We have implemented measures to comply with the Groundwater Rule.
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act regulates wastewater discharges from drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities and storm water discharges into lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. The State of Colorado has assumed primary responsibility for enforcing the standards established by the federal Clean Water Act for wastewater discharges from domestic water and wastewater treatment facilities and has adopted the Colorado Water Quality Control Act and related regulations, which also regulate discharges to groundwater. It is our policy to obtain and maintain all required permits and approvals for discharges from our water and wastewater facilities and to comply with all conditions of those permits and other regulatory requirements. A program is in place to monitor facilities for compliance with permitting, monitoring, and reporting for wastewater discharges. From time to time, discharge violations might occur which might result in fines and penalties, but we have no reason to believe that any such fines or penalties are pending or will be assessed.
Solid Waste Disposal
The handling and disposal of residuals and solid waste generated from water and wastewater treatment facilities is governed by federal and state laws and regulations. We have a program in place to monitor our facilities for compliance with regulatory requirements, and we do not anticipate that costs associated with our handling and disposal of waste material from our water and wastewater operations will have a material impact on our business or financial condition.
Employees
We currently have 3135 employees, all of whom are full-time.full-time, and all are located in the USA. None of our employees are represented by a union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We have not experienced any work stoppages, and we consider our relationship with our employees to be good.
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Compensation and Benefits Program
Our compensation program is designed to attract and reward talented individuals who possess the skills necessary to support our business objectives, assist in the achievement of our strategic goals and create long-term value for our shareholders. We provide employees with compensation packages that include base salary, incentive bonuses, and long-term equity awards tied to the value of our stock price. We believe that a compensation program with both short-term and long-term awards provides fair and competitive compensation and aligns employee and shareholder interests, including by incentivizing business and individual performance (pay for performance), motivating based on long-term company performance and integrating compensation with our business plans. In addition to cash and equity compensation, we also offer employees benefits such as fully or partially paid health insurance (medical, dental and vision), paid time off, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, paid bereavement time, and a 401(k) plan with a company match.
Diversity and Inclusion
We believe that an equitable and inclusive environment with diverse teams produces more creative solutions, results in better, more innovative services and is crucial to our efforts to attract and retain key talent. During 2022 we created and filled a new position that is helping to align our employees and our board members around dimensions of diversity, such as gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or other shared attributes, which we believe help build community and enable opportunities for development. We continue to focus on building a pipeline for talent to create more opportunities for workplace diversity and to support greater representation within Pure Cycle. We develop and encourage an inclusive culture through company events, participation in our recruitment efforts, and input into our hiring strategies.
Community Involvement
We aim to give back to the communities where we live and work and believe that this commitment helps in our efforts to attract and retain employees. We offer employees the opportunity to give back through volunteering or company donations to approved causes.
For more information on our diversity and inclusion and community involvement initiatives, please see our ESG page on our website at www.purecyclewater.com.
Other Information
Pure Cycle was incorporated in Delaware in 1976 and reincorporated in Colorado in 2008.
Available Information and Website Address
Our website address is www.purecyclewater.com. We make available free of charge through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to these reports as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)(SEC).
These reports and all other material we file with the SEC may be obtained directly from the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html, under CIK code 276720. The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference into this report.
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The following section describes the material risks and uncertainties that management believeswe believe could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and the market price of our common stock. The risks discussed below include forward-looking statements, and our actualstatements. Actual results may differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. These risks should be read in conjunction with the other information set forth in this report, including the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
Risks Related to the Impacts the Economy and External Forces May Have on Our Company
Our business, operations and financial condition and results may be impacted by the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to varying degrees.
We planned to begin delivering finished lots in Phase 2A at Sky Ranch in fiscal 2021; however, because of delays in inspections, delays in the affected jurisdictions and also on the global economy, as cross border commercial activity and market sentiment are increasingly impacted by the outbreak and governmentpermitting process and other measures seeking to contain its spread. Our wateractivities requiring governmental agencies and wastewater services are essential services, andthe expansive work restrictions imposed on their operations, we intend to continue to provide those services for our customers. However, our land development activities and our ability to expand our water and wastewater services may be disrupted, anddid not deliver finished lots in Phase 2A until fiscal 2022. Mainly, we may behave experienced delays in the permitting process through the county which delayed the revenue recognition in our current projects and timelines, the magnitude of which will depend, in part, on the length and severityPhase 2A of the Sky Ranch development.
The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The COVID-19 viruspandemic poses the risk that we or our employees, governmental agencies permitting our projects, suppliers, consumers, and other business partners, including our home builders, may be prevented from conducting business activities in the ordinary course for an indefinite period of time, should the United States, the state of Colorado, or local governmental authorities once again implement further stay-at-home orders or restrictions. ShutdownsNew shutdowns or other restrictions could also adversely impact the availability or cost of materials, our ability to hire and retain qualified employees, and the availability of qualified subcontractors, which could limit our business operations or increase our costs.
The duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its ultimate impact on the Companyus and on the global economy cannot be determined with certainty. The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects may last for an extended period of time, and could result in significant and continued declines in global financial markets, higher default rates, and a substantial economic downturn or recession. The extent to which COVID-19 will continue to affect the Companyus will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions taken to contain COVID-19. Given the significant economic and financial market disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company’sour results of operations could be adversely impacted.
Our operations are concentrated in the Front Range area of Colorado; we are subject to general economic conditions in Colorado.
Our assets and operations are located solely in the Front Range area of Colorado. Our performance could be adversely affected by economic conditions in, and other factors relating to, Colorado, including supply and demand for housing and zoning and other regulatory conditions. To the extent that the general economic conditions in the Front Range area of Colorado deteriorate, the value of our assets, our results of operations and our financial condition could be materially adversely affected.23
Although the Colorado economy has become increasingly diverse, the oil and gas industry remains an important segment of the Colorado economy. New statutes, regulations or other initiatives that would limit oil and gas exploration or increase the cost of exploration, as well as declines in the price of oil and gas, among other things, could lead to a downturn in the Colorado economy, including increased unemployment, which would likely have a negative impact on the housing market and our business and financial condition.
In addition, the residential homebuilding industry is cyclical and is highly sensitive to changes in general economic conditions such as levels of employment, consumer confidence and income, availability of mortgage financing for acquisitions, interest rate levels and inflation, cost and availability of raw materials, among other factors. The residential housing market is impacted by federal and state personal income tax rates and provisions, and government actions, policies, programs and regulations directed at or affecting the housing market, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, tax benefits associated with purchasing and owning a home, and the standards, fees and size limits applicable to the purchase or insuring of mortgage loans by government-sponsored enterprises and government agencies. In 2019, housing starts in Colorado declined compared to housing starts in 2018. However, from 2020 to 2022 housing starts as well as home prices in Colorado increased. Although the number of new home starts continues to be better than during the last economic downturn, if the recovery of the Colorado housing market reverses, we could experience declines in the market value and demand for our lots and rental units, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
Significant competition from other development projects could adversely affect our results. Land development is a highly competitive business. There are numerous land developers, as well as properties and development projects, in the same geographic area in which Sky Ranch is located. Many of our land development competitors may have advantages over us, such as more favorable locations, which may provide more desirable schools and easier access to roads and shopping, or amenities that we may not offer, as well as greater financial resources. If other development projects are found to be more attractive to home buyers, home builders or other developers or operators of real estate based on location, price, or other factors, then we may be pressured to reduce our prices or delay further development, either of which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. The single-family home rental market is also highly competitive. There are numerous companies and individuals that own rental homes in the Sky Ranch area which may have more experience than we do renting single-family homes, better locations, and better pricing. If we are unable to rent the homes at rates that cover our costs or are unable to manage the properties and expenses incurred to manage the properties, the impact to our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be materially negative.
Our operations could be adversely impacted increases in material, labor, supplier, logistics and other operating costs, or supply chain delays and shortages, which could cause lower margins or lost sales and adversely impact our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows, and component price volatility and availability, as well as supplier concentration. The market prices for certain materials and components we purchase, primarily steel and PVC piping, have been volatile. U.S. steel index prices alone increased 100 percent during calendar 2021. In addition, some supplies are subject to long lead times. Disruptions to the commercial transportation network, including limited container and trucking capacity and port congestion, have increased supplier delivery times for materials to our facilities. Our margins and overall financial performance may be adversely affected by increases in our operating costs, such as material, labor, supplier costs, logistics and energy costs, all of which may be subject to inflationary pressures. Since the onset of COVID-19 we have seen operating costs trending upward, labor shortages, logistics disruptions, commodity cost increases and shortages, and overall increased demand in the land development and water business industries. In addition, some of our customers have experienced raw material shortages. Any such shortages can in turn impact and delay our ability to service our customers. While we seek to mitigate any cost increases, labor impacts and supply chain delays and shortages, these efforts may not be successful, and we may experience adverse impacts due to such factors. We cannot predict the extent of these current trends or other future increases in operating costs. To the extent such costs continue to increase, we may be prevented, in whole or in part, from passing such cost increases through to our existing and prospective customers, or our customers may seek other competitive sources due to supply chain delays, which could have a material adverse impact on our margins, business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Our water business is subject to seasonal fluctuations and weather conditions that could affect demand for our water service and our revenues and that could become more extreme with climate change. We depend on an adequate water supply to meet the present and future demands of our customers and their end-use customers and to continue our expansion efforts. Conditions beyond our control may interfere with our water supply sources. Drought and overuse may limit the availability of water, and such droughts may become more frequent and prolonged with climate change. These factors might adversely affect our ability to supply water in sufficient quantities to our customers, and our revenues and earnings may be adversely affected. Additionally, cool, and wet weather, as well as drought restrictions and our customers’ conservation efforts, may reduce consumption demands, adversely affecting our revenue and earnings.
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Furthermore, freezing weather may contribute to water transmission interruptions caused by pipe breakage. If we experience an interruption in our water supply, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Demand for our water during the warmer months is generally greater than during cooler months due primarily to additional requirements for water in connection with cooling systems, irrigation systems and other outside water use. Throughout the year, and particularly during typically warmer months, demand will vary with temperature and rainfall levels. If temperatures during the typically warmer months are cooler than expected or there is more rainfall than expected, the demand for our water may decrease and adversely affect our revenues.
The physical impacts of natural disasters and severe weather conditions could reduce consumer demand for housing, result in service disruptions, delay the closing of the sale of residential lots at Sky Ranch and increase our costs, any of which could harm our sales and results of operations. We conduct our operations in the Colorado Front Range, which is subject to natural disasters, including droughts, tornadoes, wildland fires, and severe weather. The occurrence of natural disasters or severe weather conditions in Colorado or elsewhere could result in interruptions in our water and wastewater operations, delay our construction activities, increase costs, and lead to shortages of labor and materials. Moreover, such extreme weather conditions and natural disasters are likely to increase in frequency and intensity as a result of projected unabated climate change. If our insurance or the insurance of our subcontractors does not fully cover business interruptions or losses resulting from these events, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Risks Related to Our Business and Operations
We may not generate sufficient cash flows from operations or other capital resources to pursue our business objectives.While we have generated net income in the past three fiscalseveral years, prior to that we havehad a history of losses. Our cash flows from operations generally have not been sufficient to fund our operations, and we have been required to raise debt and equity capital and sell assets to remain in operation. Since 2004, we have raised $76.3over $76.0 million through (i) the issuance of $25.3more than $25.0 million of common stock (including the issuance of stock pursuant to the exercise of options, net of expenses), (ii) the issuance of $5.2 million of convertible debt, which was converted to common stock on January 11, 2011, and (iii) the sale of our Arkansas River water and land for $45.8 million in cash. Our continuing development of Sky Ranch requires significant cash expenditures. We have advanced the Sky Ranch CAB $26$42.1 million for construction of public improvements on thein Phases 1 and 2 at Sky Ranch property and expect to advance another $3$4.3 million for the completion of our initial filing, with another $65.5 million expected to be advanced for filing 2.the Phase 2A public improvements. The Sky Ranch CAB is not required to repay us for advances made or expenses incurred for improvements at Sky Ranch unless and until the Sky Ranch CAB and/or Sky Ranch Districts issuegenerate sufficient funds from either tax revenues, fees or by issuing bonds in an amount sufficient to reimburse us for all or a portion of advances made or expenses incurred. We have funded and expect to continue to fund such expenditures with cash on hand and cash flows from operations. As of August 31, 2020,2022, we had $21.8$34.9 million of cash on hand. If our cash on hand and future cash flows from operations are not sufficient to fund our operations and the significant capital expenditure requirements to continue to develop Sky Ranch, we may be forced to seek to obtain additional debt or equity capital. Economic conditions and disruptions have previously caused substantial volatility in capital markets, including credit markets and the banking industry, increasing the cost, and significantly reducing the availability of financing, which may reoccur in the future. There can be no assurance that financing will be available on acceptable terms or at all.
We may not be able to manage the increasing demands of our expanded operations.
We have historically depended on a limited number of employees to administer ourThe rates that the Rangeview District is allowed to charge customers on the Lowry Range for water services are limited by the Lease with the Land Board and our contract with the Rangeview District and may not be sufficient to cover our costs of construction and operation. The prices charged by the Rangeview District for water service on the Lowry Range are subject to pricing regulations set forth in the Lease with the Land Board. Both the tap fees and usage rates and charges are capped at the average of the rates of three nearby water providers. Annually, the Rangeview District surveys the tap fees and rates of the three nearby providers, and the Rangeview
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District may adjust tap fees and rates and charges for water service on the Lowry Range based on the average of those charged by this group. We receive 100% of tap fees and 98% of water usage fees charged by the Rangeview District to its customers after the deduction of royalties owed to the Land Board. Our costs associated with the construction of water systems and the production, treatment and delivery of water are subject to market conditions and other factors, which may increase at a significantly higher rate than that of the fees we receive from the Rangeview District. Factors beyond our control and which cannot be predicted, such as government regulations, insurance and labor markets, drought, water contamination and severe weather conditions may result in additional labor and material costs that may not be recoverable under the current rate structure. Both increased customer demand and increased water conservation may also impact the overall cost of our operations. If the costs for construction and operation of our wholesale water services, including the cost of extracting our groundwater, exceed our revenues, we would be providing water service to the Rangeview District for use at the Lowry Range at a loss. The Rangeview District may petition the Land Board for rate increases; however, there can be no assurance that the Land Board would approve a rate increase request. Further, even if a rate increase were approved, it might not be granted in a timely manner or in an amount sufficient to cover the expenses for which the rate increase was sought.
Our water sales for the past several years have been highly concentrated among companies providing hydraulic fracturing services to the oil and gas industry, and such sales can fluctuate significantly. Our water sales have been historically concentrated directly and indirectly with a limited number of companies providing hydraulic fracturing services to the oil and gas industry in our service area. Generally, investment in oil and gas development is dependent on the servicesprice of, and demand for, oil and gas. We have no long-term contractual commitments that will ensure these sales continue in the future. The oil and gas industry has periodically gone through periods when activity has significantly declined due to low oil and gas prices, reduced world-wide demand and other impacts to the world-wide economy such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which have a negative impact on the water we sell to these operators.
Further sales to this customer base as well as renewals of our oil and gas leases in the future are impacted by ballot initiatives, new federal and state legislation, regulations by multiple federal and state agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE), and the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC), local zoning rules, court interpretations of laws and regulations at all levels of government, fracking technologies, the success of the wells, and the price of oil and gas, among other things. We could see increased opposition and tougher oversight of oil and gas operations, which could reduce the demand for water for fracking and reduce our associated water sales as a result of the enactment and implementation of multiple state bills over the last several years targeting the siting of, emissions from, and chemicals used in oil and gas production, such as Senate Bill 19-181 (SB 19-181) (increased local and state government oversight of oil and gas siting and environmental impacts), SB 22-198 (fees on oil and gas wells for an orphaned well fund), HB 22-1361 (audits of and reporting on oil and gas taxes and emissions), HB 22-1244 (toxic air emissions reporting, permitting, and controls from certain sources, which may be more stringent than the federal Clean Air Act), HB 22-1348 (disclosure of chemicals used in oil and gas operations and ban on use of added perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl chemicals), and HB 22-1345 (ban on PFAS in oil and gas products). The oil and gas industry, and associated demand for water for fracking, may also be impacted by the adoption of new state regulations, such as: (i) new fees and financial assurance requirements for oil and gas facilities adopted by COGCC in 2022; (ii) new GHG intensity standards for oil and gas operators adopted by the AQCC in December 2021; (iii) new or revised reporting and emission reduction requirements for GHGs, ozone precursors, and hydrocarbons from oil and gas operations and industrial wastewater treatment, as well as regional haze limit, adopted the AQCC in 2022; (iv) the new initial list of toxic air contaminants identified by the DPHE in 2022 as a first step in implementing HB 22-1244; and (v) a new proposed rulemaking announced by the DPHE in October 2022 to verify that oil and gas production sites are reducing GHG emissions. Recent federal laws and regulatory initiatives may also impact the oil and gas industry and thus associated water demand and sales. For example, the federal Inflation Reduction Act imposes of a key employee
A significant portion of our Presidentwater supplies come from non-renewable aquifers and Chief Executive Officer, Mark W. Harding. We believe that Mr. Harding possesses valuable knowledge, experience and leadership abilities that would be difficult in the short term to replicate. Mr. Harding also serves on the boards of the Rangeview District, the Sky Ranch Districts, and the Sky Ranch CAB. The loss of Mr. Harding as a key employee and as a director of these boards would cause a significant interruption of our operations.
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risk of owning non-renewable supplies, if we guarantee that the project, when completed, will achieve certain performance standards, meet certain quality specifications, and satisfy certain requirements for governmental approvals. If we fail to complete the project as scheduled, meet guaranteed performance standards or quality specifications, or obtain the required governmental approvals, we may be held responsible for cost impacts and/or penalties to the customer resulting from any delay or for the costs to alter the project to achieve the performance standards and the quality specifications and to obtain the required government approvals. To the extent that these events occur and are not due to circumstances for which the customer accepts responsibility or cannot be mitigated by performance bonds or the provisions of our agreements with contractors, the total costs of the project would exceed our original estimates and our financial results would be negatively impacted.
In many areas of Colorado, water supplies are limited, and in some cases, current usage rates exceed sustainable levels for certain water resources. We do not currently anticipate any short-term concerns with physical, legal, or continuous availability issues in our service areas. Insufficient availability of water or wastewater treatment capacity could materially and adversely affect our ability to provide for expected customer growth necessary to increase revenues. We continuously look for new contracts.sources of water to augment our reserves in our service areas, but our ability to obtain such rights may depend on factors beyond our control. We may not be able to obtain sufficient water or water supplies to increase customer growth necessary to increase or even maintain our revenues. Also, increased costs to develop water from aquifers could have a significant negative impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
A failure of the water wells or distribution networks we own, or control could result in losses and damages that may affect our business and financial condition. We distribute water through a network of pipelines and store water in storage tanks and ponds. A failure of these pipelines, tanks or ponds could result in injuries and damage to property for which we may be responsible, in whole or in part. The failure of these pipelines, tanks, or ponds may also result in the need to shut down some facilities or parts of our water distribution network to conduct repairs. Such failures or shutdowns may limit our ability to supply water to our customers and to meet the water delivery requirements prescribed by our contracts, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. Any business interruption or other losses might not be covered by insurance policies or be recoverable through rates and charges, and such losses may make it difficult for us to secure insurance in the future at acceptable rates.
Development on the Lowry Range is not within our control and is subject to obstacles. Development on the Lowry Range is controlled by the Land Board, which is governed by a five-person citizen board of commissioners, each appointed for a four-year term by the Colorado governor and approved by the Colorado Senate. The Land Board’s focus with respect to issues such as development and conservation on the Lowry Range tends to change as membership on the Land Board changes. In addition, there are often significant delays in the adoption and implementation of plans with respect to property administered by the Land Board because the process involves many constituencies with diverse interests. In the event water sales are not forthcoming or development of the Lowry Range is delayed or abandoned, we may need to use our capital resources, incur additional short or long-term debt obligations, or seek to sell additional equity. We may not have sufficient capital resources or be successful in obtaining additional operating capital.
Because of the prior use of the Lowry Range as a military facility, environmental clean-up may be required prior to development, including the removal of unexploded ordnance. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been conducting unexploded ordnance removal activities at the Lowry Range for more than 30 years. Continued activities are dependent on federal appropriations, and the Army Corps of Engineers has no assurance from year to year of such appropriations for its activities at the Lowry Range.
We have limited experience with the development of real property. While we have extensive experience designing and constructing water and wastewater facilities and maintaining and operating these facilities, despite having completed Phase 1 and a substantial amount of Phase 2A at Sky Ranch, we have less experience developing real property. We may underestimate the capital expenditures required to complete the development of Sky Ranch, including the costs of certain infrastructure improvements and construction costs related to our single-family home rental business. We have limited experience managing property development and construction activities, including the permitting and other approvals required, which may result in delays in completing Sky Ranch. Furthermore, construction and funding of a new interchange on I-70 may delay the issuance of permits beyond Phase 2.
The funds we are advancing to the Sky Ranch CAB for construction of public improvements might not be repaid, which would negatively impact our income, gross margin on selling lots, and cash flows. Since the start of development at Sky Ranch, we have advanced the Sky Ranch CAB $42.1 million for construction of public improvements and expect to fund an additional estimated $4.3 million to complete the buildout of public improvements in Phase 2A. At August 31, 2022, of the amounts advanced to the Sky Ranch CAB, $13.9 million has not been repaid, excluding interest. We expect these amounts will be repaid by the Sky Ranch CAB. No payment is required by the Sky Ranch CAB with respect to construction of public improvements unless and until the Sky Ranch CAB and/or the Sky Ranch Districts have generated sufficient funds from property taxes, fee, or the issuance of municipal bonds in an amount sufficient to reimburse the Company for all or a portion of advances provided or expenses incurred for reimbursables. The ability and obligation of the Sky Ranch CAB to reimburse us is dependent on sufficient home sales and commercial development occurring at Sky Ranch to create a tax base that would enable the Sky Ranch CAB to issue bonds to pay for the improvements. If development at Sky Ranch is
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delayed or curtailed for any reason, including regulatory restrictions, a downturn in the economy or default by one or more of the builders at Sky Ranch, the Sky Ranch CAB may not have sufficient revenues to issue bonds.
Supply shortages and risks related to the demand for skilled labor and building materials could increase costs and delay closings. The property development and home construction industries are highly competitive for skilled labor and materials. Labor shortages throughout the Unites States including the Colorado Front Range have become more acute in recent years as the supply chain adjusts to uneven industry growth. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these shortages. Increased costs or shortages of skilled labor and/or concrete, steel, pipe, lumber, and other materials could cause increases in property development and home construction costs and delays, including in our single-family home rental business. We are unable to pass on increases in property development costs to home builders with whom we have already entered purchase and sale contracts for residential lots, at fixed prices, which were signed well in advance of development. Sustained increases in development and construction costs may, over time, erode our margins. Our ability to build new rental homes, even though we outsource the construction, may be adversely affected by circumstances beyond our control, including: work stoppages, labor disputes, and shortages of qualified trades people, such as carpenters, roofers, masons, electricians, and plumbers; changes in laws relating to union organizing activity; lack of availability of adequate utility or infrastructure and services; our need to rely on local subcontractors who may not be adequately capitalized or insured or may not, despite our quality control efforts, engage in proper construction practices or comply with applicable regulations; inadequacies in components purchased from building supply companies; and shortages delays in availability, or fluctuations in prices of building materials. Any of these circumstances could give rise to delays in the start or completion of, or could increase the cost of, constructing new rental homes.
We may purchase additional land parcels for development or other purposes, thereby exposing us to certain financial risks. We may purchase additional land parcels for development, construction, or other purposes. As noted above, land development and construction require significant cash expenditures before positive cash flows can be generated from the sale of lots, rental of homes, and water and wastewater tap fees. If there is considerable lag time between when we acquire the land and when we begin selling finished lots or renting homes, we may generate significant operating losses. In addition, if sales of homes on the finished lots are delayed, renters can’t be found in a timely manner, our revenue from water and wastewater resource development services will be delayed. If our cash on hand and future cash flows from operations are not sufficient to fund our operations and the significant capital expenditure requirements to develop any acquired land, construct housing and build water and wastewater systems, we may be forced to seek to obtain additional debt or equity capital. There can be no assurance that financing will be available on acceptable terms or at all.
Delays in property development may extend the time it takes us to recover our property development costs and delay our revenue from water and wastewater resource development services. We incur many costs, such as the costs of preparing land, finishing and entitling lots, installing roads, sewers, water systems and other utilities, taxes and other costs related to ownership of the land and/or developing lots on behalf of builders who purchase the land, before we close on the sale of finished lots to home builders. If the rate at which we develop residential lots slows, we may incur additional costs, and it may take longer for us to recover our costs. In addition, if sales of homes on the finished lots are delayed, or we are unable to find renters in a timely manner, our revenue from water and wastewater resource development services will be delayed. A significant downturn in the housing market could cause our builders to delay building homes on their lots until market conditions improve, and could result in us not renting our single-family rentals for rates that provide a sufficient return. Builders with contracts that do not require purchasing the lot until we deliver a finished, ready-to-build lot, could walk away from the contract prior to closing without consequence other than the forfeiture of their upfront deposits for the lot, utilities and other improvements. If a builder elected to walk away without cause, we would be entitled to keep these deposits as liquidated damages, but the deposits would not be sufficient to cover the expenses we expect to incur to finish the lots for delivery. We would not be able to recover our costs until we were able to sell the finished lots to another builder. If the original builder did not go through with the closing due to a poor housing market, we would likely have difficulty finding another buyer for the same reason. For our single-family rental homes, we incur the costs to construct the home, for which we currently have funding in place, but there are no assurances that funding will remain in place for future growth. The costs of construction of the single-family rentals are anticipated to be paid for over time by the rental income, but we may not be able to rent the homes for amounts sufficient to cover these costs.
Fluctuations in real property values may require us to write-down the book value of our land interests. The land development industry is subject to significant variability and fluctuations in real property values. As a result, we may be required to write-down the value of our Sky Ranch, single-family home rentals, or other land interests in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and some of those write-downs could be material. Any material write-downs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. We assess our land interests when indicators of impairment exist. Indicators of impairment include a decrease in demand for housing due to soft market conditions; competitive pricing pressures that reduce the average sales price of finished lots; sales absorption rates below management expectations; a decrease in the value of homes
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or the underlying land due to general market conditions, actual or perceived risks due to proximity to oil and gas drilling operations, or other reasons; and a decrease in projected cash flows for a project.
Our land development segment may be subject to risks related to oil and gas operations in the vicinity of our Sky Ranch development, which could have an adverse impact on the marketability and/or value of our Sky Ranch property. We have leased the minerals underlying Sky Ranch to a major exploration and production company, which may limit the location of development on the land. Oil and gas extraction is an inherently dangerous activity that can potentially lead to air and water contamination, fire, explosion, subsidence, and other hazards. While the State of Colorado, local governments, and private operators have regulations and procedures in place intended to mitigate these risks, there can be no assurances that these safeguards will be effective in all cases with respect to any oil and gas activity around Sky Ranch. The existence of oil and gas wells and drilling activity in or near our property and public concern regarding the negative health impacts from emissions near drilling and hydraulic fracturing sites, may adversely impact the marketability and/or value of the lots at Sky Ranch and decrease demand for homes in proximity to oil and gas operations, negatively impacting our land development segment, which could also negatively impact our business and financial condition.
Our single-family home development activities expose us to additional operational and real estate risks, which may adversely affect our financial condition and operating results. In 2021 we launched a new division that involves the construction of single-family homes to be used for rental purposes. We have no track record of building or maintaining homes for rent. Rental home construction can involve substantial up-front costs before a home is available for rent and generates income. In addition to the up-front costs, building rental homes involves potentially significant new risks to our business, such as delays or cost increases due to changes in or failure to meet regulatory requirements, including permitting and zoning regulations, failure of lease rentals on newly-constructed properties to achieve anticipated investment returns, inclement weather, adverse site selection, unforeseen site conditions, construction materials and labor and other risks described below. We may be unable to achieve our objective of building new rental homes that generate acceptable returns and, as a result, our growth and results of operations may be adversely impacted.
We will depend on our tenants for all of our rental home revenues. Poor tenant selection and defaults and nonrenewal by our tenants may adversely affect our reputation, and financial performance. We are dependent on rental income from tenants for all of our rental home revenues. As a result, the success of this division depends in large part upon our ability to attract and retain qualified tenants for our properties. Our reputation and financial performance would be adversely affected if a significant number of our tenants fail to meet their lease obligations or fail to renew their leases. For example, tenants may default on rent payments, make unreasonable and completion bonds when required.repeated demands for service or improvements, make unsupported or unjustified complaints to regulatory or political authorities, use our properties for illegal purposes, damage or make unauthorized structural changes to our properties that are not covered by security deposits, refuse to leave the property upon termination of the lease, engage in domestic violence or similar disturbances, disturb nearby residents with noise, trash, odors or eyesores, fail to comply with local regulations, sublet to less desirable individuals in violation of our lease or permit unauthorized persons to live with them. Damage to our properties may delay re-leasing after eviction, necessitate expensive repairs or impair the rental income or value of the property resulting in a lower than expected rate of return. Increases in unemployment levels and other adverse changes in the economic conditions in our market could result in substantial tenant defaults.
Our planned lease terms could require us to re-lease our properties frequently, which we may be unable to do on attractive terms, on a timely basis or at all. We anticipate substantially all of our leases having a duration of one year. As these leases will permit tenants to leave at the end of the lease term without penalty, we anticipate our rental revenues may be affected by declines in market rents more quickly than if our leases were for longer terms. Annual leases may result in high turnover, which involves costs such as restoring the properties, marketing costs and lower occupancy levels. Our tenant turnover rate and related cost estimates may be less accurate than if we had more operating data upon which to base such estimates. Moreover, there are no assurances that our leases will be renewed on equal or better terms or at all. If our tenants do not renew their leases or the rental rates for our properties decrease, our operating results could be adversely affected.
Tenant relief laws, including laws restricting evictions and other regulations could limit our ability to evict bad tenants which may negatively impact our rental income and profitability. Landlords of numerous properties tend to be involved in evicting tenants who are not paying their rent or are otherwise in material violation of the terms of their lease. Eviction activities impose legal and managerial expenses that would raise our costs. The eviction process is typically subject to legal barriers, mandatory “cure” policies and other sources of expense and delay, each of which may delay our ability to gain possession and stabilize the property.
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It would be difficult for us to quickly generate cash from sales of our properties.Real estate investments, particularly large portfolios of properties, are relatively illiquid.If we had a sudden need for significant cash, it would be difficult for us to fund such need quickly through a sale of our rental properties.
Products supplied to us and work done by subcontractors can expose us to risks that could adversely affect our business. We rely on subcontractors to perform the property development, including the construction of our single-family rental homes, and in many cases, to select and obtain building materials. Subcontractors may use improper construction processes or defective materials. Defective products can result in the need to perform extensive repairs. The cost of complying with our warranty obligations may be significant if we are unable to recover the cost of repairs from subcontractors, materials suppliers and insurers.
Risks Related to Legal, Regulatory, and Environmental, Health and Safety Matters
Government regulations and legal challenges may delay the closing of the sale of our residential lots, increase our expenses or limit other activities, which could have a negative impact on our results of operations. The approval of numerous governmental authorities must be obtained in connection with both our water and wastewater projects and our land development activities, and these governmental authorities often have broad discretion in exercising their approval authority. We incur substantial costs related to compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Any increase in legal and regulatory requirements may cause us to incur substantial additional costs. Various local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning health and safety, site and building design, environmental, zoning, and similar matters apply to and/or affect the construction and operation of our water and wastewater systems and our land development activities. For example, as detailed further below, the COGCC adopted regulations that took effect in 2021 which implement SB 19-181 by imposing minimum distances between new oil and gas drilling operations and residences, schools, and childcare centers. SB 19-181 also empowers local governments to enact regulations that are stricter than state requirements pertaining to the surface impacts of oil and gas operations. Thus, local zoning or other regulations may seek to limit housing density or create stricter setbacks from oil and gas drilling operations or impose other restrictions on the use of land. ToFor example, Arapahoe County adopted new oil and gas regulations in November 2021. As these state setback regulations are implemented, and to the extent that these regulations are modified,enacted, the value of the land that we already own or the availability of land that we are looking to acquire may decline, either of which may adversely impact the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of our business. In addition, our ability to obtain or renew permits or approvals and the continued effectiveness of permits already granted or approvals already obtained depends on factors beyond our control, such as changes in federal, state, and local policies, rules and regulations and their interpretations and application. Furthermore, we are subject to various fees and charges of government authorities designed to defray the cost of providing certain governmental services and improvements. For example, local and state governments have broad discretion regarding the imposition of development fees for projects under their jurisdictions, as well as requiring concessions or that the property developer and/or home builder construct certain improvements to public places such as parks and streets or fund schools.
Municipalities or state water agencies may restrict or place moratoriums on the availability of utilities, such as water and sewer taps, which could have an adverse effect on our business by causing delays or increasing our costs.
We must provide water that meets all federal and state regulatory water quality standards and operate our water and wastewater facilities in accordance with these standards. Future changesChanges in regulations governing the supply of drinking water and treatment of wastewater may have a material adverse impact on our financial results. business. For example, on October 18, 2021, the Biden Administration announced a multi-agency, three-year strategy to begin addressing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals.” As a part of ongoing efforts to implement that initiative, the EPA: (i) finalized a rule in December 2021 pertaining to monitoring of PFAS in drinking water; (ii) is developing a proposed National Drinking Water Regulation for publication by the end of 2022 for PFOA and PFOS, with a final rule expected in 2023; (iii) issued a proposed rule in August 2022 to designate two of the most widely used PFAS as hazardous substances under CERCLA, or Superfund; (iv) announced two rulemaking efforts in October 2021 to address PFAS under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); (v) and expects to develop additional rules restricting PFAS discharges from industrial sources. These new regulatory initiatives addressing PFAS in drinking water could impact the water side of our business.
With respect to service of customers on the Lowry Range, the Rangeview District’s rates might not be sufficient to cover the cost of compliance with additional or more stringent requirements.requirements, or we may be required to reserve more water than necessary for use on the Lowry Range to ensure the proper level of service to Lowry Range customers. If the cost of compliance were to increase, we anticipate that the rates of the nearby water providers that the Rangeview District uses to establish its rates and charges would increase to reflect
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these cost increases, thereby allowing the Rangeview District to increase its rates and charges. However, these water providers may not raise their rates in an amount that would be sufficient to enable the Rangeview District (and us) to cover any increased compliance costs.
Changes in other environmental laws may also affect, for example, how we manage storm water runoff, wastewater discharges and dust; how we develop or operate on properties on or affecting resources such as wetlands, endangered species, cultural resources, or areas subject to preservation laws; and how we address contamination. As climate change concerns continueWith respect to grow,wetlands in particular, the U.S. Supreme Court’s forthcoming interpretation in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency of the Clean Water Act’s applicability to certain wetlands may impact our permitting requirements.
Government agencies may initiate audits, reviews, or investigations of our business practices to ensure compliance with legislationapplicable laws and regulations, which can cause us to incur costs or create other disruptions in our business that can be significant. Further, we may experience delays and increased expenses because of this nature is expectedlegal challenges to become more costly. Energy-related initiatives affect a wide variety of companies throughout the United States and the world and, because our operations are dependent on significant amounts of raw materials, such as pipe, steel and concrete, they could have an indirect adverse impact on our operations and profitability to the extent the manufacturers and suppliers of the materials used in theproposed development of our properties are burdened with expensive tariffs, cap and trade and similar taxes and regulations.activities, whether brought by governmental authorities or private parties. In addition, tariffs imposed by the United States on imported steel could increase our property development costs. It is possible that new standards could be imposed that will require additional capital expenditures or raise our operating costs. With respect to service of customers on the Lowry Range, the Rangeview District’s rates might not be sufficient to cover the cost of compliance with new requirements. Although we would expect the rates of the nearby water providers that the Rangeview District uses to establish its rates and charges to increase to cover increased compliance costs, such rates may not cover all our costs and our costs of complying with new standards or laws could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. Our noncompliance with environmental laws could result in fines and penalties, obligations to remediate, permit revocations and other sanctions.
Laws and Regulations Related to climate change, greenhouse gases, and energy may initiate audits, reviews,adversely affect us by directly and indirectly increasing the cost of or investigationsrestricting our planned future growth activities. A variety of our business practicesstate legislation, regulations, and policies have been enacted in recent years relating to ensure compliance with applicableenergy, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions reporting and controls, land use, and energy efficient building codes. In addition to the numerous above-discussed state and federal laws and regulations adopted in the past year regulating the siting of, emissions from, and chemicals used in oil and gas production, Colorado also enacted HB 22-1362 in 2022, which can causerequires the adoption of energy efficient and low carbon building codes by 2025. Our future housing development costs could be impacted by HB 22-1362, in conjunction with previously enacted energy efficiency legislation such as HB 19-1231 (energy and water efficiency standards for certain new appliance and plumbing fixtures) and HB 19-1260 (energy efficient building codes). Likewise, the cost of operating and maintaining our multifamily housing developments may be impacted by the implementation of 2021 Colorado law HB 21-1286, which requires owners of large (50,000 square feet or more) commercial, multifamily, and public buildings to annually report energy usage starting by December 1, 2022. There are also ongoing regulatory and legislative efforts to implement two major greenhouse gas bills enacted in 2019—HB 19-096 (requiring GHG emissions reporting by certain entities pursuant to AQCC regulations) and HB 19-1261 (setting ambitious statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals), as well as the Colorado Governor’s 2021 Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap identifying strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from a variety of sources, including buildings, transportation, and oil and gas mining and production. For example, pursuant to 19-096 the AQCC has adopted and updated its Air Regulation Number 22 and Regulation Number 7 requiring reporting and reduction of GHGs and ozone precursors from certain categories of emitters, such as industrial wastewater treatment facilities and oil and gas operators. In addition, at the federal level, the SEC’s proposed climate risks disclosures and greenhouse gas reporting rule could, if finalized, impose additional compliance costs on our business, as well as for the oil and gas producers with whom we do business. As climate change concerns continue to grow, enactment of additional climate and energy legislation and regulations at the state, local, and federal levels may continue, and compliance with legislation and regulations of this nature is expected to become more costly.
In addition to the direct impacts of climate and energy-related policies, there may also be indirect impacts. Energy-related initiatives affect a wide variety of companies throughout the United States and the world and, because our operations are dependent on significant amounts of raw materials, such as pipe, steel and concrete, they could have an indirect adverse impact on our operations and profitability to the extent the manufacturers and suppliers of the materials used in the development of our properties are burdened with expensive tariffs, cap and trade and similar taxes and regulations.
Our construction of water and wastewater projects and improvements at Sky Ranch may expose us to incur costscertain completion, performance, and financial risks. We rely on independent contractors to construct our water and wastewater facilities and Sky Ranch lot improvements. These construction activities involve risks, including shortages of materials and labor, work stoppages, labor relations disputes, injuries to third parties, damages to property, weather interference, engineering, environmental, permitting, or create other disruptions ingeological problems and unanticipated cost increases. These issues could give rise to delays, cost overruns or performance deficiencies, or otherwise
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adversely affect the construction or operation of our business that can be significant. Further,water and wastewater delivery systems and the construction and delivery of residential lots. In addition, we may experience delaysquality problems in the construction of our systems and increased expenses becausefacilities, including equipment failures. We may not meet the required deadlines under our sale and construction contracts. We may face claims from customers or others regarding product quality and installation of legal challengesequipment placed in service by contractors.
The sales contracts at Sky Ranch and contracts for the water and wastewater facilities that we design and construct are fixed-price contracts, in which we bear all or a significant portion of the risk for cost overruns. Under these fixed-price contracts, contract prices are established in part based on fixed, firm subcontractor quotes on contracts and on cost and scheduling estimates. These quotes or estimates may be based on several assumptions, including assumptions about prices and availability of labor, equipment and materials, and other issues. If these subcontractor quotations or cost estimates prove inaccurate, or if circumstances change, cost overruns may occur, and our financial results would be negatively impacted. In many cases, the incurrence of these additional costs would not be within our control.
Pursuant to various contracts related to the development of Sky Ranch, we guarantee that the project, when completed, will achieve certain performance standards, meet certain quality specifications, and satisfy certain requirements for governmental approvals. If we fail to complete the project as scheduled, meet guaranteed performance standards or quality specifications, or obtain the required governmental approvals, we may be held responsible for cost impacts and/or penalties to the customer resulting from any delay or for the costs to alter the project to achieve the performance standards and the quality specifications and to obtain the required government approvals. To the extent that these events occur and are not due to circumstances for which the customer accepts responsibility or cannot be mitigated by performance bonds or the provisions of our proposed development activities, whether brought by governmental authoritiesagreements with contractors, the total costs of the project would exceed our original estimates and our financial results would be negatively impacted.
We, or private parties.
The enactment and implementation of Senate BillSB 19-181 “Protect Public Welfare Oilincreasing state and Gas Operations” increased thelocal regulatory authority of local governments in Colorado over facilities siting and surface impactsoversight of oil and gas development which could have an adverse effect on our water sales to the oil and gas industry for hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”)(fracking) and demand for new homes at Sky Ranch.
Rulemaking activities by the COGCC pursuant to SB 19-181 could adversely impact our land development activities by limiting the number of lots available for land development in Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has proposed rules related tocould adversely impact our water sales for fracking by limiting the land available for oil and gas production. As a part of implementing SB 19-181, the COGCC approved a rule (Setback Rule) imposing setbacks and siting requirements for well locationslocations. The Setback Rule, which took effect in 2021, prohibits, without exception, working well pad surfaces from being located within 2,000 feet of a school facility or childcare center, or within 500 feet from one or more residential buildings that would requireare not subject to a surface use agreement or waiver. The Setback Rule also generally prohibits any well pad surface proposed to befrom being located greater than 500 feet and less than 2,000 feet from a residential or high occupancy building, but allows such locations to obtain an exemption from the CommissionCOGCC by satisfying certain requirements in the rule (such as consent from owners and tenants) or to seekby obtaining a ruling from the Commission,COGCC finding, after a hearing, finding that the conditions of approval will provide substantially“substantially equivalent protectionsprotections” to a 20002,000 foot setback for public health, safety, welfare, the environment, wildlife resources, and wildlife resources. disproportionately impacted communities.
Depending on how the Setback Rule is applied and interpreted, it could have the effect of limiting property development within 2,000 feet of a well pad surface. As noted above, to develop oil and gas near residential or high occupancy buildings, the applicant will need an exception from the COGCC by obtaining explicit, informed consent from both the landowner and their tenants (as applicable) to the proposed oil and gas location, or by demonstrating that conditions on approval will provide “substantially equivalent protections” to a 2,000-foot setback. Applicants who are unable to obtain such an exception may be forced to choose between using their property for oil
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and gas development or for residential and commercial development. So, under a restrictive interpretation of the Setback Rule and its exceptions, we might have to limit drilling on our mineral rights at Sky Ranch to proceed with the occupancy densities we have planned, which would adversely affect our industrial water sales to the oil and gas industry. The Setback Rule could also reduce the supply of other land acquisition opportunities for development. Alternatively, the Setback Rule could make such residential properties more attractive to people who prefer to live farther from oil and gas developments. Additionally, any rules that would require the Land Board to elect between oil and gas or residential and commercial land development with respect to the Lowry Range would likely have an adverse effect on our financial condition, because we have the exclusive right to provide water service to customers on the Lowry Range, including both lessees of the oil and gas rights on the Lowry Range and future occupants of the Lowry Range if the Land Board sells the land for development. Our business could be further impacted if local jurisdictions in which we operate, pursuant to SB 19-181, enact local setback rules or other regulations on oil and gas development that are more restrictive than the state’s.
In addition to the Setback Rule, state agencies have recently adopted other regulations on oil and gas development as a part of implementing SB 19-181 and other recently enacted legislation such as HB 22-1244, HB 19-096, and HB 19-1261. For example, the COGCC in recent years has adopted new rules for testing and ensuring the integrity of oil and gas flow lines and well bores and has imposed new fees and financial assurance requirements for oil and gas facilities. In addition, the AQCC has, in recent years, approved rules calling for more frequent inspections of oil and gas equipment, imposing new GHG intensity standards for oil and gas operators, and requiring reporting and reduction of GHG emissions, ozone precursors, and hydrocarbons by oil and gas operations as well as industrial wastewater treatment facilities, where applicable. Similarly, the DPHE recently proposed a new rulemaking to verify that oil and gas production sites are reducing GHG emissions, and it has published an initial list of toxic air contaminants as a first step toward regulation under HB 22-1244.
These and related rulemaking activities by the State Commissionsstate agencies and local governments could lead to delays and additional costs for oil and gas operators, which, in turn, could result in a decline in oil and gas drilling activities. A significant decline in oil and gas drilling activities in and around the Lowry Range and our Sky Ranch property would have an adverse effect on our water sales for fracking and our financial condition. Further, a significant decline in oil and gas activities throughout Colorado could negatively impact the Colorado economy, which could have an adverse effect on demand for new homes at Sky Ranch.
Future Ballot Initiatives at the ColoradoState or Local Level Could Restrict Oil and Gas Conservation Commission could adversely impactand Land Development. In the number of lots available for landpast decade, interest groups in Colorado opposed to oil and natural gas development generally, and hydraulic fracturing in particular, have put forward ballot initiatives that, if approved, would have significantly curtailed oil and natural gas development in the state. For example, in 2018, Proposition 112 would have imposed a 2,500-foot setback from any building or waterway in Colorado. Although Colorado which could have an adverse effect on our land development activities.
We may be subject to significant potential liabilities because of warranty and liability claims made against us.
Design, construction, or system failures related to our water and wastewater delivery systems could result in injury to third parties or damage to property. In addition, as a property developer, we are subject in the ordinary course of our business to warranty claims. We are also subject to claims for losses or injuries that occur during our property development activities. We plan to record warranty and other reserves for the residential lots we sell based on historical trends in our market and our judgment of the qualitative risks associated with the type of lots we sell. We have, and many of our subcontractors have, general liability, property, workers’ compensation, and other business insurance. These insurance policies are intended to protect us against a portion of our risk of loss from claims, subject to certain self-insured retentions, deductibles, and coverage limits. However, it is possible that this insurance will not be adequate to address all warranty and liability claims to which we are subject. Additionally, the coverage offered and the availability of general liability insurance for construction defects are currently limited and policies that can be obtained are costly and often include exclusions based upon past losses insurers suffered as a result of use of defective materials used by other property developers. As a result, our subcontractors may be unable to obtain insurance, and we may have to waive our customary insurance requirements, which increases our and our insurers’ exposure to claims and increases the possibility that our insurance will not be adequate to protect us for all the costs we incur. Any losses that exceed claims against our contractors, the performance bonds and our insurance limits at such facilities could result in claims against us. In addition, if there is a customer dispute regarding performance of our services, the customer may decide to delay or withhold payment to us. No warranty and liability claims have been made against us as of the date of this report.33
A major health and safety incident relating to our business could be costly in terms of potential liabilities and reputational damage. Water facility and land development construction sites are inherently dangerous and pose certain inherent health and safety risks to construction workers and other persons on the site. Any failure in health and safety performance may result in penalties for non-compliance with relevant regulatory requirements, and a failure that results in a major or significant health and safety incident is likely to be costly in terms of potential liabilities incurred as a result. Such a failure could generate significant negative publicity and have a corresponding impact on our reputation, our relationships with relevant regulatory agencies or governmental authorities, and our ability to attract customers and employees, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Conflicts of interest may arise relating to the operation of the Rangeview District, the Sky Ranch Districts and the Sky Ranch CAB.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and two of our employees constituteSimilarly, we have made loans to and incurred expenses reimbursable by the Sky Ranch Districts which amounts were fully refunded to us asand the Sky Ranch CAB. As of August 31,
Growth limitations or moratoriums imposed by governmental authorities could adversely affect our land development activities or the land development activities of our customers, which could adversely impact both the land development and water and wastewater segments of our business.
The State of Colorado or counties in which our service areas and properties are located may approve limitations or moratoriums on residential growth within their respective boundaries, which limitations or moratoriums could have the effect of delaying, limiting or halting development within Sky Ranch or other areas where we may provide water and wastewater services or develop land. We are not aware of any such proposals in the areas in which we operate, but proposals have been made to limit growth in various communities along the Front Range. Because all of the property in Sky Ranch has been platted, we do not expect future growth moratoriums to restrict Sky Ranch as currently planned; however, if growth moratoriums or restrictions are imposed in the areas in which we provide services or develop land, it could negatively impact our ability to develop our land as planned or our customers’ ability to grow their communities as anticipated, which would also reduce the number of water and wastewater service customers we expect, which would have a negative impact on our business and financial condition.We could be hurt by efforts to impose liabilities or obligations on
us regarding labor law violations by other persons whose employees perform contracted services. The infrastructure and improvements on our water and wastewater systems and on the finished lots we sell or that we must provide pursuant to service agreements and lot development agreements are done by employees of subcontractors and other contract parties. We do not have the ability to control what these contract parties pay their employees or the work rules they impose on their employees. However, there have been efforts by government agencies including the National Labor Relations Board and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to hold contract parties like us responsible for violations of wage and hour laws and other work-related laws by firms whose employees are performing contracted-for services.
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Contamination to our water supply may result in disruption in our services and litigation, which could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our water supplies are subject to the risk of potential contamination, including contamination from naturally occurring compounds, pollution from man-made sources and intentional sabotage. Our land at Sky Ranch and a portion of the Lowry Range have been leased for oil and gas exploration and development. Such exploration and development could expose us to additional contamination risks from related leaks or spills. In addition, we handle certain hazardous materials at our water treatment facilities, primarily sodium hypochlorite. Any failure of our operation of the facilities or any contamination of our supplies, including sewage spills, noncompliance with water quality standards, hazardous materials leaks and spills, and similar events, could expose us to environmental liabilities, claims and litigation costs. If any of these events occur, we may have to interrupt the use of that water supply until we are able to substitute the supply from another source or treat the contaminated supply. We cannot assureWe may incur significant costs in order to treat the contaminated source through expansion of our current treatment facilities or development of new treatment methods. If we are unable to substitute water supply from an uncontaminated water source, or to adequately treat the contaminated water source in a cost-effective manner, there may be an adverse effect on our revenues, operating results and financial condition. The costs we incur to decontaminate a water source or an underground water system could be significant and could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition and may not be recoverable in rates.
We could also be held liable for consequences arising out of human exposure to hazardous substances in our water supplies or other environmental damage. For example, private plaintiffs could assert personal injury or other toxic tort claims arising from the presence of hazardous substances in our drinking water supplies. Although we have not been a party to any environmental or pollution-related lawsuits, such lawsuits have increased in frequency in recent years. If we are subject to an environmental or pollution-related lawsuit, we might incur significant legal costs, and it is uncertain whether we would be able to recover the legal costs from ratepayers or other third parties. Our insurance policies may not cover or provide sufficient coverage for the losses associated with or the costs of these claims.
We may be adversely affected by any future decision by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to regulate us as a public utility.
The Colorado Public Utilities CommissionThe Rangeview District’s and our rights under the Lease have been challenged by third parties.
Our Lowry Range surface water rights are “conditional decrees” and require findings of reasonable diligence.
Our surface water interests and reservoir sites at the Lowry Range are conditionally decreed and are subject to a finding of reasonable diligence from the Colorado water court every six years. To arrive at a finding of reasonable diligence, the water court must determine that we continue to diligently pursue the development of said water rights. If the water court is unable to make such a finding, we could lose the water right under review. During each of fiscal 2012 and 2018, the Lowry Range conditional decrees were granted review by the water court, which determined that we and the Rangeview District met the diligence criteria. The water court entered a finding of reasonable diligence on the Lowry Range surface water decrees in January 2019. Our next review for reasonable diligence on the Lowry Range surface water decrees will be in January 2025. We believe35
the water court does not make a determination of reasonable diligence, the value of our interests in the Rangeview Water Supply would be materially adversely impacted.
Our operations are affected by local politics and governmental procedures that are beyond our control.
We operate in a highly political environment. We market our water rights to municipalities and other governmental entities run by elected or politically appointed officials. Our principal competitors are municipalitiesThe number of connections we can serve are affected by local governmental policies that are beyond our control.
We market our water rights through service agreements to developers, municipalities and other governmentalGeneral Risks
We are dependent on the Lowry Range is not within our control and is subject to obstacles.
Our stock price has been volatile in the past and may decline in the future. Our common stock has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations in the past and may experience significant fluctuations in the future depending upon several factors, some of which are beyond our control. Factors that could affect our stock price and trading volume include, among others, the perceived prospects of our business; differences between anticipated and actual operating results; changes in analysts’ recommendations or projections; the commencement and/or results of litigation and other legal proceedings; and future sales of our common stock by us or by significant shareholders, officers and directors. In addition, stock markets in general have experienced price and volume volatility from time to time, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock for reasons unrelated to our performance.
Unauthorized access to confidential information and data on our information technology systems and security and data breaches could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and operating results. We rely on computer and information technology systems to conduct our business and communicate with our suppliers and other third parties. Our systems require continued and unimpeded access to secure network connections. We have physical, technical and procedural safeguards in place that are designed to protect information and protect against security and data breaches as well as fraudulent transactions and other activities. Despite these safeguards and our other security processes and protections, we cannot be assured that all of our systems and processes are free from vulnerability to security breaches. Cyberattacks are evolving and becoming increasingly sophisticated. Cyberattacks may take various forms, including through hacking, ransomware attacks, malware, viruses and phishing scams.
In July 2021, we experienced a ransomware attack that impacted our information technology systems, which resulted in our systems being down while we implemented recovery controls of our data. We did not experience a material loss of information and concluded that no customer or financial data was compromised. In addition, our water and wastewater operating systems were not impacted. As a result of the attack, we incurred an immaterial amount of expenses to increase our security including additional infrastructure investments, and remediation efforts.
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A significant data security breach, including misappropriation of confidential information, could cause us to incur significant costs, which may include potential costs of investigations, legal, forensic and consulting fees, costs and diversion of management attention required for investigation, remediation and litigation, substantial repair or replacement costs. We could also experience data losses that would impair our ability to manage our business operations, including accounting and project costs, manage our water and wastewater systems or process transactions and have a negative impact on our reputation and loss of confidence of our customers, suppliers and others, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, operating results and reputation.
Failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could result in material misstatements in our financial statements and affect our ability to meet our reporting requirements. Our management is controlledresponsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. As disclosed in Item 9A, during fiscal 2021, we concluded that a material weakness existed in our internal controls resulting from ineffective procedures related to the preparation and review of spreadsheets, which compromised the integrity of the spreadsheets used to support and record transactions related to tracking the public improvement reimbursable amounts and related interest income. To address this material weakness, management has devoted, and plans to continue to devote, significant effort and resources to the remediation and improvement of its internal control over financial reporting by implementing additional steps in the Land Board, which is governed byreview process of various complex schedules that support accounting entries on a five-person citizen board of commissioners representing education, agriculture, local governmentmonthly and natural resources, plus one at-large commissioner, each appointedquarterly basis or moving these manual tracking and reconciliation processes to a more automated software system.
Effective internal controls are necessary for a four-year term by the Colorado governor and approved by the Colorado Senate. The Land Board’s focusus to provide reasonable assurance with respect to issues such as developmentour financial reports and conservation onto effectively prevent fraud. Internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements because of inherent limitations, including the Lowry Range tends to change as membership onpossibility of human error, the Land Board changes. In addition, there are often significant delays in the adoption and implementationcircumvention or overriding of planscontrols, or fraud. Therefore, even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to property administered by the Land Boardpreparation and fair presentation of financial statements. If we cannot provide reasonable assurance with respect to our financial reports and effectively prevent fraud, our operating results could be misreported. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the process involves many constituenciesdegree of compliance with diverse interests. In the event water sales are not forthcomingpolicies or development of the Lowry Range is delayedprocedures may deteriorate. If we fail to maintain effective internal controls, including any failure to implement required new or abandoned,improved controls, or if we may needexperience difficulties in their implementation, our business and operating results could be harmed, we could fail to usemeet our capital resources, incur additional short or long-term debtreporting obligations, or seek to sell additional equity. We may not have sufficient capital resources orand there could be successful in obtaining additional operating capital.
Conflicts, terrorist attacks, public health crises, including the removaloccurrence of unexploded ordnance. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been conducting unexploded ordnance removal activities ata contagious disease or illness, such as the Lowry Range for more than 30 years. Continued activities are dependent on federal appropriations,COVID-19 coronavirus and the Army Corps of Engineers has no assurance from year to year of such appropriations for its activities at the Lowry Range.
None.
Water Related Assets
In addition to the water rights and adjudicated reservoir sites that are described in Item 1 – Our Water and Land Assets, we own or have exclusive rights to use, through the Rangeview District a 1.0 million-gallon and two 500,000-gallon treated water storage tanks, three storage reservoirs that can store 1.7 million barrels of water (71.4 million gallons), five deep water wells, three alluvial wells, three pump stations, over 50 miles of water transmission and distribution lines, and more than 20 miles of wastewater collection pipelines in Arapahoe County, Colorado. In conjunction with Wild Pointe, and the Elbert 86 District, we have exclusive rights to use, operate and maintain two water tanks with a combined capacity of 438,000 gallons, two deep water wells, a pump station, and ten miles of transmission lines serving customers at Wild Pointe in Elbert County. These assets are used to provide service to our customers.
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Land and Mineral Interests
We own approximately 780690 acres of land remaining at our Sky Ranch Master Planned Community as well as approximately 634 net mineral acres at Sky Ranch. We own 40 acres of land that comprise the current boundaries of the Rangeview District (together with all the minerals)mineral rights). We also own approximately 700 acres of land in the Arkansas River Valley, and we hold 13,900 acres of mineral interests in the Arkansas River Valley in Southeast Colorado in Otero, Bent and Prowers Counties.
None.
Item 5 – Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “PCYO.”
Holders
On October 29, 2020,November 11, 2022, there were 772823 holders of record of our common stock.
Dividends
We have never paid any dividends on our common stock and expect for the foreseeable future to retain all of our capital and earnings from operations, if any, for use in expanding and developing our water and land development businesses. Any future decision as to the payment of dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our earnings, financial position, capital requirements, plans for expansion and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant. The terms of our Series B Preferred Stock prohibit payment of dividends on common stock unless all dividends accrued on the Series B Preferred Stock have been paid and require dividends to be paid on the Series B Preferred Stock if proceeds from the sale of Export Water exceed $36,026,232. No dividends have been accrued to date as this threshold has not been met. For further discussion, see Note 8 – Shareholders’ Equity9 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
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For the Fiscal Years Ended August 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
Summary Statement of Operations Items: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenue | $ | 25,855.2 | $ | 20,361.5 | $ | 6,959.2 | $ | 1,227.8 | $ | 452.2 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) before taxes | $ | 8,919.1 | $ | 3,528.0 | $ | 132.7 | $ | (1,678.8 | ) | $ | (1,230.3 | ) | ||||||||
Net income (loss) | $ | 6,750.4 | $ | 4,811.1 | $ | 414.7 | $ | (1,710.9 | ) | $ | (1,310.6 | ) | ||||||||
Basic income (loss) per share | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.02 | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||
Diluted income (loss) per share | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.02 | $ | (0.07 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding | 23,845 | 23,795 | 23,760 | 23,754 | 23,781 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding | 24,062 | 24,003 | 23,930 | 23,754 | 23,781 |
As of August 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||
Summary Balance Sheet Information: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets | $ | 25,991.2 | $ | 23,537.7 | $ | 27,918.2 | $ | 27,124.3 | $ | 29,085.9 | ||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 89,761.1 | $ | 83,721.4 | $ | 71,906.6 | $ | 69,787.6 | $ | 70,879.6 | ||||||||||
Current liabilities | $ | 6,218.6 | $ | 8,297.2 | $ | 2,054.0 | $ | 940.2 | $ | 482.2 | ||||||||||
Long-term liabilities | $ | 1,498.6 | $ | 693.1 | $ | 399.4 | $ | 1,341.3 | $ | 1,399.5 | ||||||||||
Total liabilities | $ | 7,717.2 | $ | 8,990.3 | $ | 2,453.4 | $ | 2,281.5 | $ | 1,881.7 | ||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity | $ | 82,043.8 | $ | 74,731.1 | $ | 69,453.2 | $ | 67,506.1 | $ | 68,997.9 |
Overview
The discussion and analysis below includes certain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, as described in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, that could cause our actual growth, results of operations, performance, financial position and business prospects and opportunities for this fiscal year and the periods that follow to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, those forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read in conjunction with our disclosure under the heading “FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS” on page 1.
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”)(MD&A) is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and our financial condition and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following sections focus on
Executive Summary
We saw tremendous growth in each of our business lines in fiscal 2022. Our land development segment was positively impacted by the key indicators reviewed by management in evaluating our financial condition and operating performance, including the following:
● | Total revenues were $23.0 million, up from $17.1 million in 2021, primarily driven by the recognition of revenue related to lot sales at Sky Ranch and record level water sales to oil and gas operators for use in their drilling operations; |
◾ | Revenue from commercial water sales, which includes selling water to oil and gas operators, was $4.1 million in 2022 compared to $3.3 million in 2021; |
◾ | Recorded lot sales for 2022 were $12.2 million, compared to $5.8 million in 2021, which is due to the completion of Phase 1 and the focus on getting Phase 2A finished lots delivered by year end, despite the delays in permitting at the county; |
● | Pre-tax income was $12.7 million in 2022, which is down from $26.6 million in 2021. This is largely attributable to 2021 being positively impacted by the recognition of a note receivable related to public improvement reimbursables allowing us to record $21.9 million of reimbursable income, project management fees and interest income in 2021; |
● | In 2022 we posted $0.40 of earnings per fully diluted common share, which is down from $0.83 in 2021, mainly due to the impact to earnings from the recording of the reimbursables in 2021 as noted above; |
● | Total assets continue to increase to $129.2 million at August 31, 2022 from $117.2 million at August 31, 2021; and |
● | Total equity increased to $113.0 million at August 31, 2022 from $102.7 million at August 31, 2021. |
Recent Developments
The housing market deteriorated rapidly in the third quarter of calendar 2022 as the Federal Reserve remained aggressive in its actions to include upcombat inflation. As a result, 30-year fixed mortgage rates continued to 3,200 single-familyrise and multifamily homes, parks, open spaces, trails, recreational centers, schools,ended the quarter at their highest level in over 15 years. The magnitude and over two million square feetspeed of retail, commercialthese recent rate increases has caused many buyers to pause and light industrial space just four miles south of DIA. Ourreconsider a home purchase.
We believe several long-term land development activities includeand housing market fundamental factors remain positive, including favorable demographics, a lot and housing supply-demand imbalance resulting from a decade-plus underproduction of new homes in relation to
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population growth, and low resale home inventory. While we remain confident in the design, permitting, and construction of all of the horizontal infrastructure, including, storm water, drainage, roads, curbs, sidewalks, parks, open space, trails and other infrastructure to deliver “ready to build” finished lots to home builders and commercial customers. Our land development activities generate revenue from the sale of finished lots as well as construction revenues from activities where we construct infrastructure on behalf of others. Land development revenues come from our home builder customers under specific agreementslong-term growth prospects for the delivery of finished lots as well as reimbursementsindustry given these factors, the current demand for the construction of public improvements, such as roads, curbs, storm water, drainage, sidewalks, parks, open space, trails etc., which come from the local governmental entity, the Sky Ranch CAB,new homes is subject to the approvalcontinued uncertainty due to many factors. The combination of sharply higher mortgage interest rates since early 2022, several years of rising housing prices, elevated inflation, and issuance of municipal bonds to fund such reimbursements.
Our future performance in phase oneand the strategies we implement (and adjust or refine as necessary or appropriate) will depend significantly on prevailing economic, homebuilding industry and capital, credit and financial market conditions and on a fairly stable and constructive political and regulatory environment (particularly regarding housing and mortgage loan financing policies). The Federal Reserve’s aggressive raising of the Sky Ranch project, we were able to realize a 30% increase in our lot price from $75,000 for a 50’ lot in phase one to $97,000 for the same 50’ lot in phase two. This next filing at Sky Ranch will incorporate approximately 250 acres and is planned to be completed in four sub-phases. The timing of cash flows will include certain milestone deliveries, including, but not limited to, completion of governmental approvals for final plats, installation of wet utility public improvements, and final completion of lot deliveries.
Results of Operations
The results of our operations for the fiscal years ended August 31, 20202022 and 20192021 were as follows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended | | | | | | | ||||
(In thousands, except for water deliveries and taps sold) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 |
| $ Change |
| % Change | | |||
Water and wastewater resource revenue | | $ | 10,051 | | $ | 9,656 | | $ | 395 | | 4 | % |
Land development revenue | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lot sales | | | 12,187 | | | 5,840 | | | 6,347 | | 109 | % |
Project management fees | | | 683 | | | 1,629 | | | (946) | | (58) | % |
Single-family rental | | | 82 | | | — | | | 82 | | 100 | % |
Total revenue | | | 23,003 | | | 17,125 | | | 5,878 | | 34 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Water and wastewater resource cost of revenue | | | 4,440 | | | 3,867 | | | 573 | | 15 | % |
Land development cost of revenue | | | 2,166 | | | 2,535 | | | (369) | | (15) | % |
Single-family rental cost of revenue | | | 23 | | | — | | | 23 | | 100 | % |
Total cost of revenue | | | 6,629 | | | 6,402 | | | 227 | | 4 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
General and administrative expense and depreciation | | | 6,278 | | | 5,454 | | | 824 | | 15 | % |
Operating income | | | 10,096 | | | 5,269 | | | 4,827 | | 92 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other income, net | | | 2,609 | | | 21,321 | | | (18,712) | | (88) | % |
Income from operations before income taxes | | | 12,705 | | | 26,590 | | | (13,885) | | (52) | % |
Income tax expense | | | (3,086) | | | (6,480) | | | (3,394) | | (52) | % |
Net income | | $ | 9,619 | | $ | 20,110 | | $ | (10,491) | | (52) | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic EPS | | $ | 0.40 | | $ | 0.84 | | $ | (0.44) | | (52) | % |
Diluted EPS | | $ | 0.40 | | $ | 0.83 | | $ | (0.43) | | (52) | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Water delivered (thousands of gallons) | | | 404,947 | | | 257,776 | | | 147,171 | | 57 | % |
Water and wastewater taps sold | | | 159 | | | 167 | | | (8) | | (5) | % |
Lots delivered - Phase 1 | | | — | | | 22 | | | (22) | | (100) | % |
Lots delivered - Phase 2A | | | 67 | | | 152 | | | (85) | | (56) | % |
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Change | ||||||||||||||||
2020 versus 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
Millions of gallons of water delivered | 76.2 | 356.3 | (280.1 | ) | (79 | %) | ||||||||||
Municipal water usage revenues | $ | 524,000 | $ | 318,200 | $ | 205,800 | 65 | % | ||||||||
Oil and gas water usage revenues | 512,800 | 4,238,400 | (3,725,600 | ) | (88 | %) | ||||||||||
Total metered water usage revenues | $ | 1,036,800 | $ | 4,556,600 | $ | (3,519,800 | ) | (77 | %) | |||||||
Water delivery operating costs incurred (excluding depreciation and depletion) | (804,100 | ) | (1,502,400 | ) | 698,300 | 46 | % | |||||||||
Gross margin for delivering water | $ | 232,700 | $ | 3,054,200 | $ | (2,821,500 | ) | (92 | %) | |||||||
Gross margin % for delivering water | 22 | % | 67 | % | ||||||||||||
Wastewater treatment revenues | $ | 95,800 | $ | 35,800 | $ | 60,000 | 168 | % | ||||||||
Operating costs to treat wastewater | (200,000 | ) | (28,000 | ) | (172,000 | ) | 614 | % | ||||||||
Gross margin for treating wastewater | $ | (104,200 | ) | $ | 7,800 | $ | (112,000 | ) | (1,436 | %) | ||||||
Gross margin % for treating wastewater | (109 | %) | 22 | % | ||||||||||||
Lot sales revenue | $ | 18,934,400 | $ | 11,956,000 | $ | 6,978,400 | 58 | % | ||||||||
Lot development construction costs incurred | (15,869,600 | ) | (11,305,000 | ) | (4,564,600 | ) | 40 | % | ||||||||
Gross margin on selling lots | $ | 3,064,800 | $ | 651,000 | $ | 2,413,800 | 371 | % | ||||||||
Gross margin % on selling lots | 16 | % | 5 | % | ||||||||||||
Water and wastewater tap revenue | $ | 5,641,000 | $ | 3,642,500 | $ | 1,998,500 | 55 | % | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses | $ | 4,249,300 | $ | 3,106,500 | $ | 1,142,800 | 37 | % | ||||||||
Non-cash mineral rights impairment charge | $ | 1,425,500 | $ | — | $ | 1,425,500 | — | |||||||||
Other income | $ | 7,405,800 | $ | 529,300 | $ | 6,876,500 | 1,299 | % | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 6,750,400 | $ | 4,811,100 | $ | 1,939,300 | 40 | % |
Fiscal 2022 vs. Fiscal 2021
Revenue – Totalrevenue increased in Revenues and Gross Margin
Cost of revenue – Total costs of revenue increased marginally in 2022 as compared to fiscal 2019. Water revenues2021, primarily due to water usage costs increasing due to the significant increase in water sales to oil and gas operators, offset by a decrease in land development costs that are expensed due to a change in how the public improvements are accounted for as detailed further below and in Note 5 to the accompanying financial statements.
General and administrative expense – General and administrative expense increased in 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to the increased number of employees and increased compensation for existing employees as operations and development continue to expand.
Other income, net – Other income, net decreased 77%in 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to the 2021 recognition of outstanding reimbursable costs and interest income totaling $20.2 million as the collection of these amounts was deemed probable. Additional information on the reimbursables can be found in Notes 5 and 15 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Additionally, in fiscal 20202022 we recognized $0.1 million of interest expense related to two notes payable we entered into with our primary lender for the financing of the rental units and the Lost Creek Water purchase, both of which are described in greater detail in Note 8 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Income tax expense – Income tax expense decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021, due to lower pre-tax income primarily from the impact related to the recognition of reimbursable costs due from the Sky Ranch CAB recognized in fiscal 20192021. Our effective tax rate remained relatively consistent year over year.
Water delivered – Water deliveries increased in 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to increased sales to oil and gas operators, new Sky Ranch customers and increased landscaping and irrigation water usage as more parks and public spaces were completed at Sky Ranch. Oil and gas operations are highly variable and dependent on oil prices, demand for gas, and timing of other leases in our gross margin % droppedservice areas; therefore, we cannot provide any assurances that we will realize this level of sales to oil and gas customers in the future. As Sky Ranch continues to develop, we anticipate continued growth in our residential water and wastewater service revenues.
Water and wastewater tap sales – Water and wastewater tap sales decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021 due to the timing of closings at Sky Ranch. The decrease in tap sales was offset by an increase in the rate per water tap sold in 2022. Tap sales are driven by the issuance of building permits and the timing of these are not contractually established with the home builders. During fiscal 2022, we sold 41 taps in Phase 1 and 113 taps in Phase 2A. We expect to sell the remaining 116 taps in Phase 2A at Sky Ranch in fiscal 2023.
Lots delivered –The number of lots delivered (which refers to when title passed on a lot to the homebuilder) decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 due to all lots in Phase 1 of Sky Ranch having been delivered as of the first quarter of fiscal 2021, and 152 of the lots in Phase 2A having been delivered in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. During fiscal 2022, we delivered 67 finished lots to the one builder in Phase 2A that is buying finished lots versus making milestone payments as construction progresses. Despite the lots being transferred to the homebuilders, we still have various construction activities to complete Phase 2A and to turn over the completed infrastructure to the applicable governmental agency for maintenance.
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Water and Wastewater Resource Development Results of Operations
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended | | | | | | |||||
(In thousands, except for water deliveries) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 |
| $ Change |
| % Change | | |||
Metered water usage from: | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Municipal water usage | | $ | 440 | | $ | 339 | | $ | 101 | | 30 | % |
Commercial water usage | | | 4,107 | | | 3,299 | | | 808 | | 24 | % |
Wastewater treatment fees | | | 248 | | | 199 | | | 49 | | 25 | % |
Water and wastewater tap fees | | | 4,922 | | | 5,163 | | | (241) | | (5) | % |
Other revenue | | | 334 | | | 656 | | | (322) | | (49) | % |
Total segment revenue | | | 10,051 | | | 9,656 | | | 395 | | 4 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Water service costs | | | 1,910 | | | 1,546 | | | 364 | | 24 | % |
Wastewater service costs | | | 501 | | | 371 | | | 130 | | 35 | % |
Depreciation | | | 1,740 | | | 1,457 | | | 283 | | 19 | % |
Other | | | 289 | | | 494 | | | (205) | | (41) | % |
Total expenses | | | 4,440 | | | 3,868 | | | 572 | | 15 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Segment operating income | | $ | 5,611 | | $ | 5,788 | | $ | (177) | | (3) | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Water deliveries (thousands of gallons) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
On Site | | | 5,786 | | | 10,652 | | | (4,866) | | (46) | % |
Export - Commercial | | | 23,976 | | | 25,489 | | | (1,513) | | (6) | % |
Sky Ranch | | | 50,471 | | | 42,965 | | | 7,506 | | 17 | % |
Wild Pointe | | | 32,278 | | | 24,014 | | | 8,264 | | 34 | % |
O&G operations | | | 292,436 | | | 154,656 | | | 137,780 | | 89 | % |
Total water deliveries | | | 404,947 | | | 257,776 | | | 147,171 | | 57 | % |
Municipal water usage – Municipal water usage increased in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to new Sky Ranch customers in our water and wastewater resource development segment as well as increased water usage due to landscaping and irrigation usage. We anticipate these revenues to continue to increase in the future as more customers are added to our system as Sky Ranch continues to develop.
Commercial water usage – The main component of commercial water usage is from 67%sales to 22%. These changes wereoil and gas operators for use in their drilling process. Commercial water sales increased during fiscal 2022, primarily due to increased oil and gas prices and new fracking permits obtained by our oil and gas customers. Because oil and gas is cyclical in nature as demand and prices fluctuate, we have no way of knowing if water provided to oil and gas operators will increase or decrease in the future. Commercial revenues in fiscal 2021 also included $0.4 million of revenue recognized when a deposit on water from an oil and gas operator expired unused and the deposit was forfeited.
Wastewater treatment fees – Wastewater treatment fees increased in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to new Sky Ranch customers in our water and wastewater resource development segment. We anticipate these revenues to continue to increase in the future as more customers are added to our system as Sky Ranch continues to develop.
Water and wastewater tap fees –Water and wastewater tap fees decreased in 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to a 100% declinedecrease in demand for water used by oilthe number of taps sold due to timing on completion of Phase 1 and gas companies for hydraulic fracturingthe start of oil wells,Phase 2A, which was partially offset by a price increase of water and wastewater taps. Water and wastewater taps are sold to home builders at the increasetime a building permit is issued and are dependent on when the home builder constructs homes and not contractually driven in terms of timing; therefore, timing of tap sales fluctuate with demand for new construction. During the fiscal year ended 2022, the average price of a Sky Ranch water usedand wastewater tap was $33,000 compared to $31,000 per tap for the fiscal year 2021.
Other revenue – Other revenue decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to a 2021 agreement to construct a special facility for WISE, for which $0.2 million and $0.4 million of revenue was recognized in fiscal 2022 and 2021. The project recognized revenue on a percent of completion basis and was completed during fiscal 2022.
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Water service costs – Water service costs increased in 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to increased water usage associated with our oil and gas customers and additional purchases of WISE water.
Wastewater service costs – Wastewater service costs increased in 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to the sale of homes at Sky Ranch. Due to the increase in water sales at Sky Ranch municipal water delivered increased by 29%.
Other costs of our water sales, the numberrevenue – Other costs of kgal (1,000 gallons) sold, and the average price per kgal for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019.
2020 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Customer Type | Sales (in thousands) | kgal | Average per kgal | Sales (in thousands) | kgal | Average per kgal | ||||||||||||||||||
On-Site | $ | 153.8 | 16,010.8 | $ | 9.61 | $ | 180.4 | 28,925.7 | $ | 6.24 | ||||||||||||||
Export-Commercial | 78.3 | 7,226.1 | 10.84 | 68.0 | 7,350.7 | 9.25 | ||||||||||||||||||
Wild Pointe | 100.3 | 25,235.2 | 3.97 | 62.9 | 21,113.9 | 2.98 | ||||||||||||||||||
Sky Ranch | 191.6 | 26,828.5 | 7.14 | 7.0 | 901.7 | 7.76 | ||||||||||||||||||
Industrial (1) | 87.0 | 927.9 | 93.76 | 4,238.3 | 298,014.0 | 14.22 | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | 611.0 | 76,228.4 | $ | 8.02 | $ | 4,556.6 | 356,306.0 | $ | 12.79 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Year Ended | | | | | |||||
(In thousands) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 |
| $ Change |
| % Change | | |||
Lot sales | | $ | 12,187 | | $ | 5,840 | | $ | 6,347 | | 109 | % |
Project management revenue | | | 683 | | | 1,629 | | | (946) | | (58) | |
Total revenue | | | 12,870 | | | 7,469 | | | 5,401 | | 72 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Land development construction and project management costs | | | 2,166 | | | 2,535 | | | (369) | | (15) | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Segment operating income | | $ | 10,704 | | $ | 4,934 | | $ | 5,770 | | 117 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lots delivered - Phase 1 | | | — | | | 22 | | | (22) | | (100) | % |
Lots delivered - Phase 2 | | | 67 | | | 152 | | | (85) | | (56) | % |
Lot sales –
Project management revenues – Project management revenues decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021, which was due to the project manager and provide all services required to deliver eligible improvements for the Sky Ranch CAB. For these services, we charge a five percent (5%) project management fee calculated on actual construction of Sky Ranch CAB eligibledetermination in 2021 that reimbursable improvements. No payment is required of the Sky Ranch CAB for project management fees unless and until the Sky Ranch CAB and/or Sky Ranch Districts issue bonds in an amount sufficient to pay us for all or a portion of the project management fees. Because it is uncertain if bonds will be issued and when we will receive payment, we defer recognition of project management fee incomecosts due from the Sky Ranch CAB untilare deemed probable of collection based on projections showing the issuance ofSky Ranch CAB will generate sufficient funds from its tax and fee income to repay us, resulting in the bonds is certain. Once issuance of the bonds and payment to us is certain, the portion of the project management fees repaid will be recognized as revenue. A
Land development construction and project management costs – Land development construction costs decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to Phase 1 being completed and Phase 2A construction progressing. The Phase 2A costs that are expensed are lower than Phase 1 due to the treatment of public improvement costs being added to the note receivable – related party versus being expensed as they were during a portion of fiscal 2021, until collectability was deemed probable.
Lots delivered – The number of lots delivered (which refers to when title is passed to the homebuilder) decreased in 2022 compared to 2021 due to all lots in Phase 1 of Sky Ranch having been delivered as of the first quarter of fiscal 2021, and 152 of the lots in Phase 2A having been delivered in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. During fiscal 2022, we delivered 67 finished lots to the one builder in Phase 2A who is buying finished lots instead of making milestone payments as construction progresses. Despite the lots being transferred to the homebuilders, we still have various construction activities to complete Phase 2A to turn over the completed infrastructure to the applicable governmental agency that will maintain the infrastructure. Because we record lot sales as construction progresses, the timing of revenue and lot deliveries are not necessarily correlated.
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General and Administrative Expenses
The table below details significant items and changes included in our General and Administrative Expenses (“G(G&A Expenses”)Expenses) as well as the impact that share-based compensation has on our G&A Expenses for the fiscal years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019, respectively.
Summary of G&A Expenses
Change | ||||||||||||||||
2020 versus 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
Significant G&A Expense items: | ||||||||||||||||
Salary and salary-related expenses | $ | 2,362,300 | $ | 1,530,700 | $ | 831,600 | 54 | % | ||||||||
Share-based compensation | 517,000 | 336,200 | 180,800 | 54 | % | |||||||||||
Professional fees | 498,500 | 458,200 | 40,300 | 9 | % | |||||||||||
Fees paid to directors and D&O insurance | 194,100 | 199,900 | (5,800 | ) | (3 | )% | ||||||||||
Corporate insurance | 71,800 | 52,700 | 19,100 | 36 | % | |||||||||||
Public entity-related expenses | 125,100 | 118,400 | 6,700 | 6 | % | |||||||||||
Consulting fees | 40,000 | 24,400 | 15,600 | 64 | % | |||||||||||
All other combined | 440,500 | 386,000 | 54,500 | 14 | % | |||||||||||
G&A Expenses as reported | $ | 4,249,300 | $ | 3,106,500 | $ | 1,142,800 | 37 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
| | Year Ended | | | | | |||||
(in thousands) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 |
| $ Change |
| % Change | | |||
Significant G&A Expense items: | | |
| | |
| | |
| |
| |
Salary and salary-related expenses | | $ | 3,368 | | $ | 2,820 | | $ | 548 | | 19 | % |
Share-based compensation | | | 603 | | | 497 | | | 106 | | 21 | % |
Professional fees | | | 601 | | | 610 | | | (9) | | (1) | % |
Public entity-related expenses, including director fees | | | 484 | | | 362 | | | 122 | | 34 | % |
Corporate insurance | | | 233 | | | 85 | | | 148 | | 174 | % |
All other combined | | | 604 | | | 765 | | | (161) | | (21) | % |
G&A Expenses as reported | | $ | 5,893 | | $ | 5,139 | | $ | 754 | | 15 | % |
Salary and Salary-Related Expenses
– Salary and salary-related expenses increasedProfessional Fees (mainly – Professional fees consist mainly of legal and accounting fees)
Public Entity-Related Expenses,
including director fees – Costs associated with being a corporation and costs associated with being a publicly traded entity consist primarily of XBRL and EDGAR conversion fees, stock exchange fees, and press releases. These costs fluctuate from year toCorporate insurance – Corporate insurance costs increased as our operations continue to expand which is due to adding additional construction and rental home policies, and overall insurance rate increases.
All other services, $11,600 for information technology services and $8,800 for board advisory services related to the development of the Sky Ranch water agreements.
Change | ||||||||||||||||
For the Fiscal Years Ended August 31, | 2020 versus 2019 | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
Other income items: | ||||||||||||||||
Reimbursement of construction costs - related party | $ | 6,275,500 | $ | — | $ | 6,275,500 | 100 | % | ||||||||
Oil and gas lease income, net | $ | 247,000 | $ | 55,700 | $ | 191,300 | 343 | % | ||||||||
Oil and gas royalty income, net | $ | 669,000 | $ | 148,300 | $ | 520,700 | 351 | % | ||||||||
Interest income | $ | 178,600 | $ | 298,600 | $ | (120,000 | ) | (40 | )% | |||||||
Other | $ | 35,700 | $ | 26,600 | $ | 9,100 | (34 | )% |
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financial Position
We believe we are well-positioned to navigate the ever-evolving market conditions given our strong financial position. At August 31, 2020,2022, our working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, was $19.8$27.0 million, which includes $21.8$34.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. We believe that as of August 31, 2020,2022, and as of the date of the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we had and have sufficient working capital to fund our operations for the next 12 months. We have substantially completed Phase 1 and have completed nearly 80% of the work required to deliver allPhase 2A at Sky Ranch. Phase 2B is anticipated to begin during fiscal 2023. We have sold 219 lots under contract in the first filingPhase 2A at Sky Ranch and arehave just over 20% of the construction related activities remaining for Phase 2A to be finished, which we anticipate completing during our fiscal 2023. We expect to spend $5.0 million in the permitting process fornext twelve months completing the construction of Phase 2A (of which we estimate $4.3 million will be reimbursable by the Sky Ranch CAB). We expect to begin Phase 2B during our fiscal 2023 and expect to spend $17.5 million in the next filing at Sky Ranch.twelve months on remaining Phase 2A and Phase 2B construction activities. We estimate the cost to finish the nearly 900 lots expected to be platted in the second filing at Sky Ranch to be approximately $65.6 million. Of this, we estimate we will spend up to $15.0 million during fiscal 2021, and we anticipate receiving approximately $12.0$19.0 million in milestone payments and $3.1 million of water and wastewater taps fees from the homebuilders over the same period. Due to staffing shortages at Arapahoe County and the disruption to its operations caused by COVID-19, permitting is taking longer than normal, but we do anticipate having permits and beginning construction of the next phase of development before the end of calendar 2020. We believe we can fund such capital expenditures from cash and cash equivalents on hand, and phased payments from our lot sales agreements.agreements, and payments from the Sky Ranch CAB for reimbursement of public improvements.
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Summary Cash Flows
Change | ||||||||||||||||
For the Fiscal Years Ended August 31, | 2020 versus 2019 | |||||||||||||||
2020 | 2019 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
Cash provided (used) by: | ||||||||||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 20,720,100 | $ | 3,530,500 | $ | 17,189,600 | 487 | % | ||||||||
Investing activities | $ | (3,445,500 | ) | $ | (10,803,800 | ) | $ | 7,358,300 | (68 | )% | ||||||
Financing activities | $ | 44,800 | $ | 186,200 | $ | (141,400 | ) | (76 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended | | | | | |
| ||||
(In thousands) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 |
| $ Change |
| % Change |
| |||
Cash (used) provided by: |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Operating activities | | $ | 17,454 | | $ | 3,456 | | $ | 13,998 | | 405 | % |
Investing activities | | | (6,668) | | | (2,896) | | | (3,772) | | (130) | % |
Financing activities | | | 3,992 | | | 87 | | | 3,905 | | 4,489 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Change in cash | | $ | 14,778 | | $ | 647 | | $ | 14,131 | | 2,184 | % |
Changes in Operating Activities –
Operating activities include amounts we receive from the sale of wholesale water and wastewater services, costs incurred in the delivery of those services, the sale of lots, the costs incurred in completing and delivering finished lots, and G&A Expenses.Cash provided by operations in fiscal 20202022 increased $17.2 millionsubstantially as compared to fiscal 2019, which is2021, primarily duerelated to the reimbursement of capitalized reimbursable costs and interest of $10.5$24.1 million in 2022 and cash collections from lot sales, partially recorded in Land development inventories,offset by the collection of up-front deferred oil and gas payments of $1.6 million, receipt of water and wastewater tap fees, receipt of lot sale proceeds, timing differences on payments of payables and accrued liabilities, along with an increase in netdeferred revenue, and federal and state income of $1.9 million. Cash provided by operationstaxes payable. The Sky Ranch CAB made payments to us totaling $24.1 million in fiscal 2019 consisted primarily of payments2022 from funds received relating to milestone payments from two builders atin the second bond offering issued by the Sky Ranch that had been deferred, an upfront payment for industrial waterCAB as well as excess funds from higher fees and a payment forproperty taxes collected by the OGOA that had been deferred, offset by increases in inventories related to the construction activities of Sky Ranch and the payment of approximately $1.0 million for a collateral deposit paid to Arapahoe County in connection with the grading, erosion and sediment control permit application for Sky Ranch, coupled with the increase in net income due primarily to recognized revenue from water and wastewater tap fees of $3.5 million.
Changes in Investing Activities
– Investing activities in fiscalChanges in Financing Activities
– Financing activities inCritical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on these consolidated financial statements. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires the application of these accounting principles in addition to certain estimates and judgments based on current available information, engineering estimates, historical results, and other assumptions believed to be reasonable. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are affected by a payment to contingent liability holdersour application of $4,400. Financing activities in 2019 consisted of proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $193,100, offset by a payment to contingent liability holders of $6,900.
Accounting estimates are considered critical if both of the following conditions are met: (1) the nature of the estimates or assumptions is material because of the levels of subjectivity and judgment needed to account for matters that are highly uncertain and susceptible to change and (2) the effect of the estimates and assumptions is material to the financial statements. The contingent liabilityfollowing provides a summary of the two critical estimates we identified.
Collectability of the Notes Receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB – The notes receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB are comprised of amounts we incurred and provided to the Sky Ranch CAB for costs related to the construction of public improvements which are reimbursable to us, along with related project management fees and accrued interest associated with those costs. Collectability of the notes is based on the Sky Ranch CAB generating sufficient cash flows to repay us prior to certain contractual dates, which is deemed probable based on a mill levy increase resulting from the remainder of Sky Ranch being in a different taxing district than Phase 1, higher than projected assessed values of completed homes, and additional houses from the start of the next development phase at Sky Ranch. The notes are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the note may not reflectedbe recoverable. Management applies judgment to assess whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the notes may not be recoverable giving rise to the requirement to conduct an impairment test. Circumstances which could trigger an
45
impairment test include, but are not limited to: significant decreases in the market price of houses which generate tax payments to the Sky Ranch CAB; significant adverse changes in the business climate or legal factors including significant decreases in housing sales or assessments; significant increase in costs and accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the construction of the associated public improvements; and current period cash flow or operating losses combined with a history of losses or a forecast of losses. Recoverability of these notes is measured by comparing the carrying value to the future cash flows expected to be generated by the Sky Ranch CAB which can be used to repay us. When the carrying value of an asset exceeds the related undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recorded by writing down the carrying value of the related asset to its estimated fair value, which is determined using discounted future cash flows or other measures of fair value.
Revenue recognition on lot sales under the percentage-of-completion method – We recognize lot revenue over time as construction progresses for most of our balance sheet becauselot development contracts. This involves an estimation of the obligationtotal project costs which are incurred over several months or even years. This requires management to payestimate labor and material costs which could change materially over the CAA is contingentlife of that construction project and have a material impact on sales of Export Water, the amounts and timing of revenue recognition. Under the percentage of completion method, revenues and related costs from lots sold pursuant to lot development contracts requiring milestone payments as construction occurs are recognized over the course of the construction period based on the completion progress of that project phase (i.e. Phase 2A). In relation to each phase or subphase, revenue is determined by calculating the ratio of incurred construction costs, including construction costs related to public improvements subject to reimbursement, to total estimated costs and applying that ratio to the contracted sales amounts. Current period amounts are calculated based on the difference between the life-to-date project totals and the previously recognized amounts. Cost of sales is the cost incurred related to construction of lots. Any changes in significant judgments and/or estimates used in determining construction and development revenue could significantly change the timing or amount of construction and development revenue recognized. Changes in estimated costs or losses, if any, are recognized in the period in which they are not reasonably determinable.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
None
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the accompanying consolidated financial statements for recently adopted and issued accounting pronouncements.
Not applicable.
46
Index to Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Page | |||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Plante & Moran, PLLC, Broomfield, CO, PCAOB ID 166) | F-2 | ||
F-4 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income | F-5 | ||
F-6 | |||
F-7 | |||
F-8 |
F-1
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Pure Cycle Corporation:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Pure Cycle Corporation (the “Company”) as of August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, shareholders’shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended August 31, 2020,2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended August 31, 2020 and 2019,2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’sCompany's management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
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.
CriticalAudit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were 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 matters below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
● ● ● o o o o o |
Revenue Recognition of Lot Sales – Refer to Note 2 of the financial statements Critical Audit Matter Description As described in Note 2 in the consolidated financial statements, the Company records revenue on the sale of lots to customers over time based upon the specific terms of each contract with the customer. Auditing management’s determination of revenue recognized involved significant auditor judgement, as it required the evaluation of subjective factors including the most representative measure of progress for revenue recognized over time, determining the pattern of revenue recognition, and assumptions related to forecasted labor and subcontractor costs. These assumptions involved significant management judgement, which affects the revenue recognized by the Company. How the Critical Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit We tested management’s estimates related to revenue recognized. The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter: ● We obtained an understanding of the Company’s process and related controls over revenue recognition. ● We evaluated management’s determination of the most representative measure of progress for contracts in which revenue is being recognized over time. |
F-2
● We tested the Company’s assessment of progress and related revenue recognized on a contract basis including performing the following: o Inspecting related contract agreements, o Interviews of project team personnel to obtain an understanding of the status of the projects, o Observation of project sites, o Evaluation of the reasonableness of estimated costs to complete by obtaining and analyzing supporting documentation and evaluation of estimated costs at completion to actual costs on similar historical projects. o Testing of Company prepared spreadsheets supporting the estimated progress by builder, the related revenue recognition and the respective contract liabilities. |
Assessment of Existence and Collectability of Related Party Public Improvement Reimbursable – Refer to Notes 2, 5, and 15 of the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
As described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company records a public improvement reimbursable receivable when the Company has a legally enforceable right to payment for reimbursable costs incurred to date and when collectability of those reimbursable expenditures incurred to date have been determined to be probable of occurrence. As of August 31, 2022, the Company’s related party public improvement reimbursable receivable was $17.2 million. Auditing management’s assessment of existence and collectability of public improvement reimbursable costs involved subjective estimation and complex auditor judgment in determining whether the Company has a legally enforceable right to payment for incurred reimbursable costs and whether the Sky Ranch Community Authority Board (the “Sky Ranch CAB”) has future sources of liquidity which are deemed to be probable of occurrence based upon current and past events to generate sufficient cash flows to support the payment of the existing reimbursable costs incurred as of the balance sheet date.
How the Critical Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter:
● | We obtained an understanding of the Company’s process and related controls to evaluate the existence and collectability of the public improvement reimbursable costs. |
● | We confirmed amounts outstanding and tested underlying support for advances made to the Sky Ranch CAB, including evaluating the specialist used by management. |
● | We reviewed the Valuation of Notes Receivables analysis which was performed by an independent third-party for impairment testing purposes, including evaluating the specialist used by management. |
● | We evaluated the assumptions used by the Company and the third-party to develop projections of future sources of the Sky Ranch CAB revenues and liquidity and we tested the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in the projections. |
● | We compared an estimate of anticipated future lot sales and projections of new home builds to our independent expectation. |
● | We obtained legal analysis from the Company’s general counsel as to the enforceability of applicable contracts with the Sky Ranch CAB in support of the Company having a legally enforceable right to payment. |
● | We also considered macroeconomic indicators such as current and projected growth rates and inflation rates to assess the reasonableness of the Sky Ranch CAB’s overall projected revenue base. |
/s/ Plante & Moran, PLLC
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
Broomfield, Colorado
November 14, 2022
● ● ● ● ● ● ● |
F-3
ASSETS: | August 31, 2020 | August 31, 2019 | ||||||
Current Assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 21,797,358 | $ | 4,478,020 | ||||
Short-term investments | — | 5,188,813 | ||||||
Trade accounts receivable, net | 1,123,740 | 1,099,631 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and deposits | 1,000,617 | 1,016,751 | ||||||
Land development inventories | 481,451 | 11,613,112 | ||||||
Income taxes receivable | 1,588,035 | 141,410 | ||||||
Total current assets | 25,991,201 | 23,537,737 | ||||||
Investments in water and water systems, net | 55,086,743 | 50,270,310 | ||||||
Land and mineral interests | 4,914,880 | 5,104,477 | ||||||
Other assets | 2,043,429 | 1,945,202 | ||||||
Notes receivable – related parties, including accrued interest | 1,078,596 | 988,381 | ||||||
Deferred tax asset | — | 1,283,246 | ||||||
Long-term land investment | 450,641 | 450,641 | ||||||
Operating leases - right of use assets, less current portion | 195,566 | — | ||||||
Income taxes receivable | — | 141,410 | ||||||
Total assets | $ | 89,761,056 | $ | 83,721,404 | ||||
LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Accounts payable | 179,718 | 170,822 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities | 1,390,949 | 1,097,922 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities - related parties | 1,212,404 | 2,330,496 | ||||||
Deferred revenues | 1,635,443 | 3,991,535 | ||||||
Deferred oil and gas lease and water sales payment | 1,800,068 | 706,464 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 6,218,582 | 8,297,239 | ||||||
Deferred oil and gas lease and water sales payment, less current portion | 165,012 | 360,884 | ||||||
Participating Interests in Export Water Supply | 327,718 | 332,140 | ||||||
Deferred tax liability | 885,632 | — | ||||||
Lease obligations - operating leases, less current portion | 120,285 | — | ||||||
Total liabilities | 7,717,229 | 8,990,263 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | ||||||||
Preferred stock: | ||||||||
Series B – par value $.001 per share, 25 million shares authorized; 432,513 shares issued and outstanding (liquidation preference of $432,513) | 433 | 433 | ||||||
Common stock: | ||||||||
Par value 1/3 of $.01 per share, 40 million shares authorized; 23,856,098 and 23,826,598 shares issued and outstanding, respectively | 79,525 | 79,427 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital | 172,926,538 | 172,360,413 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | — | 3,891 | ||||||
Accumulated deficit | (90,962,669 | ) | (97,713,023 | ) | ||||
Total shareholders’ equity | 82,043,827 | 74,731,141 | ||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | 89,761,056 | $ | 83,721,404 |
| | | | | | | |
(In thousands, except shares) | | August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | | ||
ASSETS: | | | | | | | |
Current assets: |
| |
|
| |
| |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 34,894 | | $ | 20,117 | |
Trade accounts receivable, net | |
| 2,425 | |
| 1,532 | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | |
| 467 | |
| 458 | |
Land under development | |
| — | |
| 608 | |
Notes receivable - related party, reimbursable public improvements | |
| — | |
| 16,000 | |
Total current assets | |
| 37,786 | |
| 38,715 | |
Restricted cash | | | 2,328 | | | 2,327 | |
Investments in water and water systems, net | |
| 58,763 | |
| 53,786 | |
Construction in progress | | | 1,224 | | | 3,304 | |
Single-family rental units | | | 975 | | | — | |
Land and mineral rights: | |
| | | | | |
Held for development | | | 6,773 | |
| 5,924 | |
Held for investment purposes | | | 451 | |
| 451 | |
Other assets | |
| 2,463 | |
| 2,591 | |
Notes receivable – related parties, including accrued interest: | |
| | |
| | |
Reimbursable public improvements | | | 17,208 | | | 8,794 | |
Other | | | 1,120 | | | 1,163 | |
Operating leases - right of use assets, less current portion | |
| 138 | |
| 122 | |
Total assets | | $ | 129,229 | | $ | 117,177 | |
| | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES: | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 849 | | $ | 1,787 | |
Accrued liabilities | | | 2,029 | | | 1,224 | |
Accrued liabilities – related parties | |
| 560 | |
| 2,881 | |
Income taxes payable | | | 2,530 | | | 4,163 | |
Deferred lot sale revenues | |
| 4,275 | |
| 1,995 | |
Deferred water sales revenues | |
| 570 | |
| 410 | |
Debt, current portion | | | 10 | | | — | |
Total current liabilities | |
| 10,823 | |
| 12,460 | |
Participating interests in export water supply | |
| 323 | |
| 325 | |
Debt, less current portion | | | 3,950 | |
| — | |
Deferred tax liability, net | |
| 1,075 | |
| 1,615 | |
Lease obligations - operating leases, less current portion | |
| 62 | |
| 37 | |
Total liabilities | |
| 16,233 | |
| 14,437 | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | | | | | |
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | | | | | | | |
Series B preferred shares par value $0.001 per share, | |
| — | |
| — | |
Common shares par value 1/3 of $.01 per share, | |
| 80 | |
| 80 | |
Additional paid-in capital | |
| 174,150 | |
| 173,513 | |
Accumulated deficit | |
| (61,234) | |
| (70,853) | |
Total shareholders’ equity | |
| 112,996 | |
| 102,740 | |
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | $ | 129,229 | | $ | 117,177 | |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-4
For the Fiscal Years Ended August 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Revenues: | ||||||||
Metered water usage from: Municipal customers | $ | 524,060 | $ | 318,199 | ||||
Industrial - Oil and gas operations | 512,772 | 4,238,334 | ||||||
Wastewater treatment fees | 95,810 | 35,818 | ||||||
Lot sales | 18,934,400 | 11,955,989 | ||||||
Water and wastewater tap fees | 5,641,020 | 3,642,548 | ||||||
Other | 147,153 | 170,621 | ||||||
Total revenues | 25,855,215 | 20,361,509 | ||||||
Expenses: | ||||||||
Water service operations | (804,080 | ) | (1,502,370 | ) | ||||
Wastewater service operations | (199,962 | ) | (28,020 | ) | ||||
Land development construction costs | (15,869,547 | ) | (11,304,962 | ) | ||||
Other | (70,408 | ) | (140,118 | ) | ||||
Depletion and depreciation | (1,367,160 | ) | (968,229 | ) | ||||
Total cost of revenues | (18,311,157 | ) | (13,943,699 | ) | ||||
Gross profit | 7,544,058 | 6,417,810 | ||||||
General and administrative expenses | (4,249,315 | ) | (3,106,547 | ) | ||||
Non-cash mineral interest impairment charge | (1,425,459 | ) | — | |||||
Depreciation | (355,909 | ) | (312,602 | ) | ||||
Operating income | 1,513,375 | 2,998,661 | ||||||
Other income: | ||||||||
Reimbursement of construction costs - related party | 6,275,500 | — | ||||||
Oil and gas lease income, net | 246,962 | 55,733 | ||||||
Oil and gas royalty income, net | 669,033 | 148,327 | ||||||
Interest income | 178,554 | 298,605 | ||||||
Other | 35,723 | 26,627 | ||||||
Net income before taxes | 8,919,147 | 3,527,953 | ||||||
Income tax (expense) benefit | (2,168,793 | ) | 1,283,195 | |||||
Net income | $ | 6,750,354 | $ | 4,811,148 | ||||
Unrealized holding losses | (3,891 | ) | (62,556 | ) | ||||
Total comprehensive income | $ | 6,746,463 | $ | 4,748,592 | ||||
Earnings per common share: | ||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.20 | ||||
Diluted | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.20 | ||||
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||
Basic | 23,845,015 | 23,795,973 | ||||||
Diluted | 24,061,612 | 24,002,836 |
| | | | | | |
| | Year Ended | ||||
(In thousands, except share information) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | ||
Revenues: |
| |
|
| |
|
Metered water usage from: | | | | | | |
Municipal customers | | $ | 440 | | $ | 339 |
Commercial customers | |
| 4,107 | |
| 3,299 |
Wastewater treatment fees | |
| 248 | |
| 199 |
Water and wastewater tap fees | |
| 4,922 | |
| 5,163 |
Lot sales | |
| 12,187 | |
| 5,840 |
Project management fees | | | 683 | | | 1,629 |
Single-family rentals | | | 82 | | | — |
Special facility projects and other | |
| 334 | |
| 656 |
Total revenues | |
| 23,003 | |
| 17,125 |
| | | | | | |
Expenses: | | | | | | |
Water service operations | |
| 1,910 | |
| 1,546 |
Wastewater service operations | |
| 501 | |
| 370 |
Land development construction costs | |
| 1,990 | |
| 2,535 |
Project management costs | |
| 176 | |
| — |
Single-family rental costs | |
| 23 | |
| — |
Depletion and depreciation | |
| 1,740 | |
| 1,457 |
Other | |
| 289 | |
| 494 |
Total cost of revenues | |
| 6,629 | |
| 6,402 |
| | | | | | |
General and administrative expenses | |
| 5,893 | |
| 5,139 |
Depreciation | |
| 385 | |
| 315 |
Operating income | |
| 10,096 | |
| 5,269 |
| | | | | | |
Other income: | | | | | | |
Interest income - related party | | | 1,937 | | | 2,955 |
Recognition of public improvement reimbursables - related party | | | — | | | 17,262 |
Reimbursement of construction costs - related party | | | — | | | 485 |
Oil and gas royalty income, net | | | 498 | | | 324 |
Oil and gas lease income, net | | | 171 | | | 196 |
Other, net | | | 93 | | | 99 |
Interest expense, net | | | (90) | | | — |
Income from operations before income taxes | |
| 12,705 | |
| 26,590 |
Income tax expense | |
| 3,086 | |
| 6,480 |
Net income | | $ | 9,619 | | $ | 20,110 |
| | | | | | |
Earnings per common share - basic and diluted | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | 0.40 | | $ | 0.84 |
Diluted | | $ | 0.40 | | $ | 0.83 |
Weighted average common shares outstanding: | | | | | | |
Basic | |
| 23,953,740 | | | 23,890,792 |
Diluted | |
| 24,155,990 | | | 24,110,918 |
�� | | | | | | |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-5
PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Additional Paid-in | Accumulated Other Comprehensive | Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Shares | Amount | Capital | Income (Loss) | Deficit | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
August 31, 2018 balance: | 432,513 | 433 | 23,764,098 | 79,218 | 171,831,293 | 66,446 | (102,524,171 | ) | 69,453,219 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | 336,228 | — | — | 336,228 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of options | — | — | 62,500 | 209 | 192,892 | — | — | 193,101 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4,811,148 | 4,811,148 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding losses on investments | —— | — | — | — | — | (62,556 | ) | — | (62,556 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
August 31, 2019 balance: | 432,513 | 433 | 23,826,598 | 79,427 | 172,360,413 | 3,891 | (97,713,023 | ) | 74,731,141 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation | — | — | — | — | 367,624 | — | — | 367,624 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Exercise of options | — | — | 17,500 | 58 | 49,141 | — | — | 49,199 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrestricted stock issue | — | — | 12,000 | 40 | 149,360 | — | — | 149,400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net income | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6,750,354 | 6,750,354 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized holding losses on investments | — | — | — | — | — | (3,891 | ) | — | (3,891 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
August 31, 2020 balance: | 432,513 | $ | 433 | 23,856,098 | $ | 79,525 | $ | 172,926,538 | $ | — | $ | (90,962,669 | ) | $ | 82,043,827 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||
| | Preferred Stock | | Common Stock | | Additional | | Accumulated | | | | ||||||||
(in thousands, except shares) |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Paid-in Capital |
| Deficit | | Total | |||||
Balance at August 31, 2021 |
| 432,513 |
| $ | — |
| 23,916,633 |
| $ | 80 |
| $ | 173,513 |
| $ | (70,853) |
| $ | 102,740 |
Stock option exercises | | — | | | — | | 52,012 | | | — | | | 34 | | | — | | | 34 |
Stock granted for services | | — | | | — | | 12,000 | | | — | | | 159 | | | — | | | 159 |
Share-based compensation |
| — |
| | — |
| — |
| | — |
| | 444 |
| | — |
| | 444 |
Net income |
| — |
| | — |
| — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 9,619 |
| | 9,619 |
Balance at August 31, 2022 |
| 432,513 | | $ | — |
| 23,980,645 | | $ | 80 | | $ | 174,150 | | $ | (61,234) | | $ | 112,996 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| | Preferred Stock | | Common Stock | | Additional | | Accumulated | | | | ||||||||
(in thousands, except shares) |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Paid-in Capital |
| Deficit | | Total | |||||
Balance at August 31, 2020 |
| 432,513 |
| $ | — |
| 23,856,098 |
| $ | 80 |
| $ | 172,927 |
| $ | (90,963) |
| $ | 82,044 |
Stock option exercises | | — | | | — | | 48,535 | | | — | | | 89 | | | — | | | 89 |
Stock granted for services | | — | | | — | | 12,000 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Share-based compensation |
| — |
| | — |
| — |
| | — |
| | 497 |
| | — |
| | 497 |
Net income | | — | | | — | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 20,110 | | | 20,110 |
Balance at August 31, 2021 |
| 432,513 | | $ | — |
| 23,916,633 | | $ | 80 | | $ | 173,513 | | $ | (70,853) | | $ | 102,740 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-6
For the Fiscal Years Ended August 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
Net income | $ | 6,750,354 | $ | 4,811,148 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
Share-based compensation expense | 517,024 | 336,228 | ||||||
Depreciation and depletion | 1,723,069 | 1,280,830 | ||||||
Recovery of doubtful accounts | — | (37,233 | ) | |||||
Investment in Well Enhancement and Recovery Systems LLC | 11,730 | 6,601 | ||||||
Interest income and other non-cash items | (175 | ) | (420 | ) | ||||
Interest added to receivable from related parties | (45,556 | ) | (41,776 | ) | ||||
Deferred income taxes | 2,168,878 | (1,284,066 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from Sky Ranch CAB reimbursement applied to land development inventories | 4,229,501 | — | ||||||
Non-cash mineral interest impairment charge | 1,425,459 | — | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
Land development inventories | 6,487,689 | (5,018,452 | ) | |||||
Trade accounts receivable | (24,109 | ) | 4,870 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 91,195 | (700,063 | ) | |||||
Note receivable – related parties | (44,659 | ) | (40,406 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 192,057 | (368,456 | ) | |||||
Income taxes | (1,305,215 | ) | — | |||||
Deferred revenues | (2,353,591 | ) | 3,630,485 | |||||
Deferred income – oil and gas lease and water sales payment | 897,732 | 951,237 | ||||||
Lease obligations - operating leases | (1,291 | ) | — | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 20,720,092 | 3,530,527 | ||||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
Investments in water, water systems and land | (8,044,059 | ) | (14,106,724 | ) | ||||
Sales and maturities of marketable securities | 6,905,157 | 55,697,933 | ||||||
Purchase of marketable securities | (1,720,234 | ) | (52,040,964 | ) | ||||
Purchase of property and equipment | (586,396 | ) | (353,995 | ) | ||||
Net cash used by investing activities | (3,445,532 | ) | (10,803,750 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of options | 49,199 | 193,101 | ||||||
Payment to contingent liability holders | (4,421 | ) | (6,896 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 44,778 | 186,205 | ||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | 17,319,338 | (7,087,018 | ) | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of year | 4,478,020 | 11,565,038 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents – end of year | $ | 21,797,358 | $ | 4,478,020 |
Land development inventories included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 985,130 | $ | 1,399,602 | ||||
Investments in water, water systems and land included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 260,649 | $ | 930,895 | ||||
Transfer of income taxes to income taxes receivable | $ | — | $ | 282,820 | ||||
Income taxes paid, net of refunds | $ | 1,022,310 | $ | — |
| | | | | | |
| | Year Ended | ||||
(In thousands) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
| |
|
| |
|
Net income | | $ | 9,619 | | $ | 20,110 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating activities: | | | | | | |
Deferred lot sale revenues | |
| 2,280 | |
| (1,199) |
Depreciation and depletion | | | 2,125 | | | 1,772 |
Land under development | |
| 608 | |
| (522) |
Share-based compensation expense | |
| 603 | |
| 497 |
Deferred water sales revenue | |
| 160 | | | |
Prepaid expenses | |
| (59) | |
| 63 |
Other assets and liabilities | |
| (83) | | | (36) |
Deferred income taxes | |
| (540) | |
| 729 |
Trade accounts receivable | |
| (893) | |
| (414) |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | |
| (2,362) | |
| 1,547 |
Taxes payable | | | (1,633) | | | 5,750 |
Activity for note receivable - related party, reimbursable public improvements: | | | | | | |
Payments received | |
| 23,736 | | | 400 |
Net other activity | | | (16,150) | |
| (25,194) |
Activity for note receivable - related party, other | | | | | | |
Payments received | | | 487 | | | — |
Net other activity | | | (444) | | | (47) |
Net cash provided by operating activities | |
| 17,454 | |
| 3,456 |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | | |
Construction costs of single-family rentals | | | (143) | | | — |
Purchase of property and equipment | |
| (157) | |
| (383) |
Investments in future development phases at Sky Ranch | | | (849) | | | — |
Investments in water and water systems | |
| (5,519) | |
| (2,513) |
Net cash used by investing activities | |
| (6,668) | |
| (2,896) |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | | |
Proceeds from notes payable | |
| 4,000 | |
| — |
Proceeds from option exercises | | | 34 | | | 89 |
Payments to contingent liability holders | |
| (2) | |
| (2) |
Payments on notes payable | | | (40) | | | — |
Net cash provided by financing activities | |
| 3,992 | |
| 87 |
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | |
| 14,778 | |
| 647 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash – beginning of period | |
| 22,444 | |
| 21,797 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash – end of period | | $ | 37,222 | | $ | 22,444 |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 34,894 | | $ | 20,117 |
Restricted cash | | | 2,328 | | | 2,327 |
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | $ | 37,222 | | $ | 22,444 |
| | | | | | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION | ||||||
Cash paid for income taxes | | $ | 5,260 | | $ | — |
Cash paid for interest | | $ | 55 | | $ | — |
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||
Change in reimbursable public improvements included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | $ | 536 | | $ | — |
Issuance of stock for compensation | | $ | 159 | | $ | 136 |
Change in investments in water and water systems included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | $ | 157 | | $ | 3,277 |
Transfer of land development costs to other assets | | $ | — | | $ | 733 |
Transfer of land development costs to land under development | | $ | — | | $ | 244 |
Change in land under development included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | $ | — | | $ | 19 |
Transfer of income taxes receivable to income taxes payable | | $ | — | | $ | 1,588 |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-7
August 31, 20202022 and 2019
Pure Cycle Corporation (the “Company”)(Company or Pure Cycle) was incorporated in Delaware in 1976 and reincorporated in Colorado in 2008. The CompanyPure Cycle currently operates in two reportable business segments: (i) wholesale water and wastewater services and (ii) land development. The CompanyDuring its fiscal 2021, Pure Cycle launched its single-family rental business which constructs and leases single-family homes in its Sky Ranch neighborhood. Management believes the single-family rental business will likely become its third operating segment, once material.
Since its inception, Pure Cycle has accumulated valuable water and land interests over the past 30 years and has developed an extensive network of wholesale water production, storage, treatment and distribution systems, and wastewater collection and treatment systems which serve domestic, commercial and industrial customers in the Denver metropolitan region. The Company’sPure Cycle’s land assets are located along the activebustling and high-profile I-70 corridor in the Denver metropolitan region. Through its land development segment, the CompanyPure Cycle is developing Sky Ranch, a 930 acre930-acre master planned community located four miles south of Denver International Airport. Sky Ranch is planned to include a mix of 3,200 single-family and multifamily residential units and over two million square feet of commercial, retail, and industrial space.
NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of Pure Cycle Corporation and its two wholly-owned and controlled subsidiary.subsidiaries, PCY Holdings, LLC and PCYO Home Rentals, LLC. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief,(COVID-19)
Since early 2020, COVID-19 has caused substantial disruption in international and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”)
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”)(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. Estimates are used to account for certain items such as revenue recognition, reimbursable costs and expenses, costs of revenue for lot sales, share-based compensation, deferred tax asset valuation, and the useful lives and recoverability of long-lived assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
During fiscal 2021, the Company determined the reimbursable public improvements, project management fees and interest income related to the Sky Ranch community being developed by Pure Cycle were probable of collectability. Historically, due to a lack of tax base and no operating history for the Sky Ranch Community Authority Board (Sky Ranch CAB), the Company was unable to estimate when or if it would receive payment for these items and deferred recognition of them until cash was received. As a result of an established and growing tax base resulting from the success of the initial development, increases in housing values in Colorado, added mill levies,
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and additional unencumbered fees received by the Sky Ranch CAB, Pure Cycle believes repayment of the public improvements, payment of the project management fees, and interest income are deemed probable. Based on this Pure Cycle recognizes these items in the consolidated financial statements as they occur. The timing and amount of potential payments have been estimated based on growth trends utilizing current assessed values and historic growth rates which have been projected to current and contracted lot sales through the contractual obligation period.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company’s cash equivalents are comprised entirely of money market funds maintained at a reputable financial institution and U.S. Treasury debt securities. The Company had no cash equivalents as of August 31, 2020.2022 or 2021. At various times during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020,2022, the Company’s main operating account exceeded federally insured limits. To date, the Company has never suffered a loss due to such excess balance.
Contract Asset
Contract assets reflect revenue which has been earned but not yet invoiced. Contract assets are transferred to receivables when the Company has the right to bill such amounts and they are invoiced. Contract receivables are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Credit is extended based on the evaluation of a customer’s financial condition and collateral is not required.
Land Under Development Inventories
The land under development inventoriesaccount primarily includeincludes land held for development and sale stated at cost. The Companycost which Pure Cycle is developing and plans to sell. Pure Cycle began developing its Sky Ranch property in 2018. Capitalized lot development costs at Sky Ranch are costs incurred to construct finished lots that meet the Company’s capitalization criteria for improvements to a lot and are capitalized as incurred. The CompanyPure Cycle capitalizes certain legal, engineering, design, permitting, land acquisition, and construction costs related to the development of lots at Sky Ranch.Ranch that meet the Company’s capitalization criteria for improvements to a lot. These costs are capitalized as incurred. The Company uses the specific identification method for purposes of accumulating land development costs and allocates costs to each lot to determine the cost basis for each lot sale. Thesold. Prior to fiscal 2021, costs included in the land under developmentaccounts included common area costs Pure Cycle funded through the Sky Ranch CAB when collectability of such reimbursable costs was not considered probable. However, in fiscal 2021, because the Company records allbelieves these costs have and will be reimbursed by the Sky Ranch CAB, those costs are now reflected in a note receivable account from the Sky Ranch CAB since management believes collectability is deemed probable due to increases in mill levies resulting from remaining phases being in a different taxing district, the increased tax base resulting from completed homes and lots under contract, as well as other relevant factors impacting the Sky Ranch CAB’s future liquidity. As a result the land under development accounts primarily contain costs directly attributable to lots to be sold, which will not be reimbursed, but will be expensed as land cost of sales when a lot isas lots are being completed and sold on a lot-by-lot basis. Costs included in Land Development Inventories include common area costs the Company funded through the Sky Ranch Community Authority Board (the “Sky Ranch CAB”). The Company believes these costs will be reimbursable by the Sky Ranch CAB. The Company will record any reimbursements as a reduction of capitalized costs remaining in Land Development Inventories once the Sky Ranch CAB has reimbursed the costs (i.e., once the Sky Ranch Districts and/or the Sky Ranch CAB has issued bonds).
The Company measures land under development costs held for sale at the lower of the carrying value or net realizable value. In determining net realizable value, the Company primarily relies upon the most recent comparable sales prices. If recent sales prices are not available, the Company will consider several factors, including, but not limited to, current market conditions, nearby recent sales transactions, and market analysis studies. If the net realizable value is lower than the current carrying value, the land is written down to its net realizable value.
Notes Receivable – Sky Ranch CAB
As noted above and described in greater detail in Note5, the Sky Ranch CAB is responsible for building certain public improvements at Sky Ranch, for which the Company provided the funding to the Sky Ranch CAB and which is reimbursable to the Company. Prior to fiscal 2021, the repayment of the public improvement reimbursable costs was contingent upon the Sky Ranch CAB issuing bonds or generating enough funds to repay the Company such that collectability was deemed probable. As the Sky Ranch CAB’s mill levy share increased, home values continued to rise, and more lots were sold, the current tax base and related future revenues have grown at Sky Ranch. The Sky Ranch CAB is expected to repay the Company; it has made multiple payments to date to the Company. The Company has determined the reimbursement of public improvement costs, for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment for costs incurred, are probable of collection. Therefore, the Company will recognize the reimbursable public improvements costs incurred to date at Sky Ranch in the Notes receivable – related party, reimbursable public improvements account on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
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Concentration of Credit Risk and Fair Value
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and investments. From time to time, the Company places its cash in money market instruments, certificates of deposit and U.S. government treasury obligations. To date, the Company has not experienced significant losses on any of these investments.
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument for which it is practicable to estimate that value. The Company uses a fair value hierarchy that has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable, with use of the lowest possible level of significant input to determine where within the fair value hierarchy the measurement falls. The estimated fair value measurements in Note 2 – Fair Value Measurementsare based on Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Cash and Cash Equivalentscash equivalents –
Trade Accounts Receivable –
Restricted cash –
The Company has entered into four separate cash-secured performance standby letter of credit agreements with its primary bank to provide assurance the Company will perform on various construction agreements. As of August 31, 2022, the four letters of credit totaled $2.3 million, which are fully secured by cash held in a restricted account at the bank, which approximates its fair value as it is cash held in a savings account.Notes receivable – related parties – The carrying amounts of investmentsthe notes receivable – related parties (with the Rangeview Metropolitan District (Rangeview District) and the Sky Ranch CAB approximate their fair value. Investments are described further in Note 3value because the interest rates on the notes approximate market rates.
Accounts payable –Fair Value Measurements.
Debt –
The carrying amounts of the Company’s debt approximate fair value because the rates are floating rates based on the prime lending rate, which approximates market rates.Long-term financial liabilities – The Comprehensive Amendment Agreement No. 1 (the “CAA”)(CAA) is comprised of a recorded balance and an off-balance sheetunrecorded or “contingent” obligation associated with the Company’s acquisition of its “Rangeview Water Supply” (as defined in Note 4 – Water and Land Assets)4). The amount payable is a fixed amount but is repayable only upon the sale of “Export Water” (as defined in Note 4 – Water and Land Assets).). Because of the uncertainty of the sale of Export Water, the Company has determined that the contingent portion of the CAA does not have a readily determinable fair value. The CAA is described further in Note 5 – Participating Interests in Export Water.
Unrecorded Instruments –
The Company’sTrade Accounts Receivable
The Company records accounts receivable net of allowances for uncollectible accounts. The Company has not recorded an allowance for uncollectible accounts in receivables from continuing operations totaling less than $0.1 million for either of the periods ended August 31, 2020 or 2019.2022 and 2021. The allowance for uncollectible accounts was determined based on a specific review of all past due accounts.
Recoverability of Long-Lived Assets Impairment Loss
The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment at least annually or more frequently if the Company believesdetermines events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Estimates of future cash flows and timing of events for evaluating long-lived assets for impairment are based upon management’s assumptions and market conditions. If any of its long-lived assets are deemed
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to be impaired, the amount of impairment to be recognized is the excess of the carrying amount of the assets over its fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. The impairment testing of long-lived assets during fiscal 2020 resulted in $1.4 million impairment charge forDuring the Arkansas Valley mineral rights, as described below.
Capitalized Costs of Water and Wastewater Systems and Depreciation and Depletion Charges
Costs to construct water and wastewater systems that meet the Company’s capitalization criteria are capitalized as incurred, including interest, if applicable, and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of up to 30 years. The Company capitalizes design and construction costs related to construction activities, and it capitalizes certain legal, engineering and permitting costs relating to the adjudication and improvement of its water assets.
The Company depletes its water assets that are being utilized based on units produced (i.e., thousands of gallons sold) divided by the total volume of water adjudicated in the water decrees.
Revenue Recognition
The Company disaggregates revenue by major product line as reported on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
The Company currently generates revenues through its two lines of business.business segments. Revenues are derived through its wholesale water and wastewater business and through the sale of developed land primarily for residential lots, both of which businesses are described below.
Water and Wastewater Resource Development Segment Revenues
Pure Cycle generates revenues through its wholesale water and wastewater business predominantly from the items identifieddescribed below. Because these items are separately delivered and distinct, the CompanyPure Cycle accounts for each of the items separately, as described below.
Monthly water usage and wastewater treatment fees– The Company Pure Cycle provides water and wastewater services to customers, for which the customers are charged fees monthly.monthly usage fees. Water usage fees are assessed to customers based on actual metered usage each month plus a base monthly service fee assessed per single family equivalent (“SFE”)(SFE) unit served. One SFE is a customer, whether residential, commercial or industrial, that imparts a demand on the Company’s water or wastewater systems similar to the demand of a family of four persons living in a single-family house on a standard-sized lot. Water usage pricing is based on a tiered pricing structure. The CompanyPure Cycle recognizes wholesale water usage revenues at a point in time upon delivering water to its customers or its governmental customers’ end-use customers, as applicable. Revenues recognized by the CompanyPure Cycle from the sale of “Export Water” and other portions of its “Rangeview Water Supply” off the “Lowry Range” are shown grossreported net of royalties to the State of Colorado Board of Land Commissioners (the “Land Board”)(Land Board). The CompanyPure Cycle is the primary distributor of the Export Water and sets pricing for the sale of Export Water. Revenues recognized by the CompanyPure Cycle from the sale of water on the Lowry Range are shown net of royalties paid to the Land Board and amounts retained by the Rangeview District. For water sales on the Lowry Range, the Rangeview District is directly selling the water and deemed the primary distributor of the water. The Rangeview District sets the price for the water sales on the Lowry Range. See further description of “Export Water,” the “Lowry Range,” and the “Rangeview Water Supply” in Note 4 – Water and Land Assetsunder “Rangeview Water Supply and Water System.”
Pure Cycle also sells raw water for industrial uses, mainly to oil and gas companies duringfor use in the drilling processes (referred to as “O&G operations”). O&G operations revenues are recognized at a point in time upon delivering water to the customer, unless other special arrangements are made.
During the years ended August 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company delivered 76.2404.9 million and 356.3257.8 million gallons of water to customers during the years ended August 31, 2020 and 2019.customers. Of this, 1%70% and 84%60% was used forsold to O&G operations.
Pure Cycle recognizes wastewater treatment revenues monthly based on a flat monthly fee and actual usage charges. The monthly wastewater treatment fees are shown net of amounts retained by the Rangeview District. Costs of delivering water and providing wastewater service to customers are recognized as incurred.
Water and wastewater tap fees and construction fees/special facility funding – The CompanyPure Cycle has various water and wastewater service agreements, components of which may includerequire the payment of tap fees. A tap constitutes a right to connect to the wholesale water and
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wastewater systems through a service line to a residential or commercial building or property, and once granted, the customer may make a physical tap into the wholesale line(s) to connect its property forto Pure Cycle’s water and/or wastewater service.systems. The right stays with the property. The Companyproperty upon sale or transfer. Pure Cycle has no obligation to physically connect the property to the lines. Once connected to the water and/or wastewater systems, the customer has live service and the ability to receive metered water deliveries from the Company’sPure Cycle’s system and send wastewater into the Company’sPure Cycle’s system. Thus, once the connection right is granted, the customer has full control of the connection right as it can obtain all the benefits from this right. As such,Therefore, management has determined that tap fees are separate and distinct performance obligations that are recognized at a point in time.
Pure Cycle recognizes water and wastewater tap fee revenues atwhen Pure Cycle grants the time the Company grants a right for the customer to connect to the water or wastewater service line to obtain service, and the customer pays the tap fee. During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019, the Company2021, Pure Cycle recognized $4,758,700$4.1 million and $3,116,100$4.4 million of water tap fee revenues. The water tap fees recognized are based on the amounts billed by the Rangeview District to customers, after deduction of royalties due to the Land Board for water taps, if applicable, and net of amounts paid to third parties pursuant to the CAA as further described in Note 7 – Long-Term Obligations and Operating Lease.
During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the Company recognized $882,300$0.8 million and $526,400$0.8 million of wastewater tap fee revenues.
Pure Cycle recognizes construction fees, including fees received to construct “special facilities,” over time as the construction is completed because the customer is generally able to use the property improvement to enhance the value of other assets during the construction period. Special facilities are facilities that enable water to be delivered to a single customer and are not otherwise classified as a typical wholesale facility or retail facility. Temporary infrastructure required prior to construction of permanent water and wastewater systems or transmission pipelines to transfer water from one location to another are examples of special facilities. Management has determined that special facilities are separate and distinct performance obligations because these projects are contracted to construct a specific water and wastewater system or transmission pipeline and typically do not include multiple performance obligations in a contract with a customer. No special facilities revenue was recognized duringFor the fiscal yearyears ended August 31, 2020 or 2019.
As of August 31, 20202022 and 2019, the Company2021, Pure Cycle had no contract liabilities related to water tap and construction fee/special facility funding revenue.
Consulting fees – The Company receives,Pure Cycle can receive, typically on a monthly, basis, fees from customers including municipalities and area water providers, along the I-70 corridor, for contract operations services over time as services are consumed.services. Consulting fees are recognized monthly based on a flat monthly fee plus charges for additional work performed. DuringFor the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019, the Company2021, Pure Cycle recognized $25,700less than $0.1 million and $158,600$0.1 million of consulting fees. During the year ended August 31, 2020, the Company cancelled all but one of its remaining consulting contracts to focus its resources on the Sky Ranch water and wastewater operations and land development. These fees are classified in Other income.
Land Development Segment Revenues
Pure Cycle generates revenues through its land development business predominantly from the sources described below. Because these items are separately delivered and distinct, the CompanyPure Cycle accounts for each of the items separately, as described below.
Sale of finished lots – The CompanyPure Cycle acquired approximately 930 acres of land zoned as a Master Planned Community known as Sky Ranch along the I-70 corridor east of Denver, Colorado. The CompanyRanch. Pure Cycle has entered into multiple purchase and sale agreements with three separate home builders pursuant to which the CompanyPure Cycle agreed to sell, and each builder agreed to purchase, residential lots at Sky Ranch. The CompanyPure Cycle began construction of lotsPhase 1 in March 2018 and segmentsbroke ground on Phase 2 in February 2021. As of August 31, 2022, Phase 1 is complete and includes 509 lots, of which 505 were sold to three homebuilders and the remainder were retained by Pure Cycle for use in its reportingsingle-family rental business. Phase 2 is planned to have 850 lots (804 under contract with homebuilders and 46 retained for use in the single-family rental business) and is being developed in four subphases (referred to as Phase 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D). Phase 2A broke ground in February 2021, includes a total of 229 lots, of which 219 lots were sold to home builders and 10 were retained for use in the activity relatingsingle-family rental business.
The timing of cash flows from Phase 2, consistent with Phase 1, includes certain milestone deliveries, including, but not limited to, the costscompletion of governmental approvals for final plats, installation of wet utility public improvements, and revenues from the construction and salefinal completion of lots at Sky Ranch.lot deliveries.
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Pure Cycle sells lots at Sky Ranch pursuant to distinct agreements with each home builder. These agreements followrequire the same level of construction for all lots and builders, the primary difference in the agreements is the timing of payments and timing of the transfer of ownership of the lots. Pure Cycle’s lot sales agreements require payments under one of the two formats. One formatfollowing structures:
(1) | Upon the substantial completion of the finished lot, whereby the builder pays for a ready-to-build finished lot and the sales price is paid in a lump-sum upon substantial completion of the finished lot (typically subject to completion of related public improvements by the Sky Ranch CAB) that is permit ready. Depending on timing of delivery of the finished lot to the builder, Pure Cycle may still have unfulfilled contract performance obligations related to the timing of completion of public improvements and other amenities. If these unfulfilled obligations are deemed other than insignificant, the company follows format 2 and recognizes revenue over time based on the estimated progress using overall costs incurred to date compared to total estimated costs from the period of time the lot is delivered until the remaining performance obligations are substantially completed. |
(2) | As certain construction milestones are achieved, which include payments due as follows pursuant to a lot development agreement with the builder: (i) payment upon the delivery of platted lots (which requires Pure Cycle to deliver deeded title to individual lots), (ii) a second payment upon the completion of certain infrastructure milestones, and (iii) final payment upon the delivery of the finished lot. Typically these lots are also subject to completion of related public improvements by the Sky Ranch CAB after all three payments have been received. |
Under the sale of a finished lot, whereby the purchaser pays for a ready-to-build finished lot and the sales price is paid in a lump-sum upon completion of the finished lot that is permit ready. The Company recognizes revenues at the point in time of the closing of the sale of a finished lot in which control transfers to the builder as the transaction cycle is complete and the Company has no further obligations for the lot. During the year ended August 31, 2020, the Company receivedfirst payment and recognized revenue of $4,911,700 from one home builder in exchange for the delivery of 70 finished lots. During the year ended August 31, 2019, the Company received payment and recognized revenue of $4,053,800 from one home builder in exchange for the delivery of 57 finished lots.
For the years ended August 31, 2022 and 2021, Pure Cycle recognized $12.2 million and $5.8 million of lot sale revenue related to Phase 2A and Phase 1 at Sky Ranch for over time recognition of the performance obligations using the percentage-of-completion methods for each builder contract in each phase. Pure Cycle recognized $1.6 million of revenue at a point in time upon the delivery of finished lots to the builder for the year ended August 31, 2021.
Since development of Sky Ranch began through August 31, 2022, Pure Cycle has received payments totaling $26.2 million related to the agreements with builders in Phase 1 and $18.4 million in Phase 2A. Of the amounts received for Phase 1, as of August 31, 2022, all $26.2 million has been recognized as revenue as Phase 1 is complete. Of the amounts received for Phase 2A, as of August 31, 2022, $14.1 million has been recognized as revenue as Phase 2A is approximately 76% complete. As of August 31, 2022, $4.3 million of revenue has been deferred related to Phase 2A contracts, which will be recognized over time as the Company completes its performance obligations of managing the completion of the public improvements in Phase 2A, which includes items such as fencing, final utility installation, and landscaping. Such completion is expected by the end of fiscal 2023.
Reimbursable Costs for Public Improvements – The Sky Ranch CAB is requiredobligated to construct certain public improvements at Sky Ranch. Public improvements are items that are not associated with an individual lot or home, but can be used by the public, whether living in Sky Ranch or not. Public improvements include items such as roads, curbs, sidewalks, landscaping, and parks but also includes items such as water distribution systems, sewer collection systems, storm water systems, and drainage improvements, roads, curbs, sidewalks, landscaping, and parks, the costs of which may qualify as reimbursable costs. Pursuant to its agreements with the Sky Ranch CAB (see Note 6 – Related Party Transactions), the Company is obligated to finance this infrastructure.improvements. These public improvements are constructed pursuant to design standards specified by local governmental jurisdictions including the Sky Ranch Districts and/orMetropolitan District Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 (collectively, the Sky Ranch Districts), the Sky Ranch CAB, Arapahoe County, and the local stormwater authority and, after inspection and acceptance, are turned over to the applicable governmental entity to own, operate and maintain. As these public improvements are owned and operated on behalf
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Pursuant to agreements between the agreements withCompany and the Sky Ranch CAB the Sky Ranch CAB is not required to make payments to(see Note 15), the Company for any advances made by the Company or expenses incurred relatedis obligated to construction of public improvements unless and until the Sky Ranch CAB and/or the Sky Ranch Districts issue bonds in an amount sufficient to reimburse the Company for all or a portion of the advances made and expenses incurred. Because the timing of the issuance and approval of any bonds is subject to considerable uncertainty, any potential reimbursable costs for the construction of public improvements, including construction support activities and project management fees, are initially capitalized in Land development inventories. If the bonds have not been approved and issued prior to the sale of the lots serviced by the public improvements, the costs are expensed through Land development construction costs when the lots are sold consistent with other construction related costs. If bonds ultimately are issued, upon receipt of reimbursements by the Company, the Company records the reimbursements received as Other income to the extent that costs have previously been expensed and reduces Land development inventories by any remaining reimbursables received. The Company submits specific costs for reimbursement to the Sky Ranch CAB. If reimbursable costs received exceed actual expenses incurred by the Company for the cost of the public improvements, they are recorded as Other income as received.
Although the Company is developing Sky Ranch in phases, the Sky Ranch property. OfCAB collects taxes and fees for the $10.5 million received byentire community and those funds are available to repay the Company $6.3 million was recognizedregardless of the location of the public improvement (except for certain regional public improvements). Additional information about the amounts spent on public improvements as Incomewell as amounts repaid are further detailed in Note 5.
The Company evaluates the notes receivable - related parties, reimbursable public improvements for indicators of impairment each reporting period and an impairment charge will be incurred for any amounts deemed uncollectible. The note receivable from reimbursementthe Sky Ranch CAB bears an interest rate of construction costs (related party) in other income andsix percent (6%) per annum until paid. To date no impairment has been recorded for the remaining $4.2 million partially reducedreimbursable amounts on the remaining capitalized costs in Land development inventories.
Project management services – On May 2, 2018, the Company entered intoPursuant to two Service Agreements for Project Management Services (the “Project(Project Management Agreements”)Agreements) with the Sky Ranch CAB. Pursuant to the Project Management Agreements, the CompanyCAB, Pure Cycle acts as the project manager and provides any and allthe services required to deliver the Sky Ranch CAB-eligible public improvements (see discussion of reimbursable public improvements above and in Note 5), including but not limited to Sky Ranch CAB compliance; planning design and approvals; project administration; contractor agreements; and construction management and administration. The CompanyPure Cycle is responsible for all expenses it incurs in the performance of the Project Management Agreements and is not entitled to any reimbursement or compensation except as set forth in the Project Management Agreements, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Sky Ranch CAB in writing. The CompanyPure Cycle receives a project management fee of five percent (5%) of actual qualifying construction costs of Sky Ranch CAB-eligible public improvements. The project management fee qualifies as a reimbursable cost to the Company. The project management fee is based only on the actual costs of the improvements; thus, items such as fees, permits, review fees, consultant or other soft costs, and land acquisition or any other costs that are not directly related to the cost of construction of Sky Ranch CAB-eligible public improvements are not included in the calculation of the project management fee. Soft costs and other costs incurred by Pure Cycle that are not directly related to the construction of Sky Ranch CAB-eligible public improvements are included in Landthe land under development inventories account and accounted for in the same manner as construction support activities as described below. Per the Project Management Agreements, no payment is required by the Sky Ranch CAB with respect to project management fees unless and until the Sky Ranch CAB and/or the Sky Ranch Districts have sufficient funds from tax assessment, fees or issuethe issuance of municipal bonds in an amount sufficient to reimburse the CompanyPure Cycle for all or a portion of advances provided or expenses incurred for reimbursables.construction of public improvements that qualify as reimbursable expenses. Historically, the recognition of project management revenue was deferred as the payment was deemed contingent on a sufficient tax base and/or the issuance of municipal bonds for collectability to be considered probable. Due to this contingency,an approved increase in the project management fees are deferredmill levy due to the remaining phases being in a different taxing district, the completion of Phase 1, higher than projected assessed home values, and will not be recognized until bonds are issued by the Sky Ranch Districts and/orincrease in lots under contract, Pure Cycle has determined that it is probable that the Sky Ranch CAB and the Sky Ranch CAB reimburses the Companyreimbursement to Pure Cycle for the public improvements. At that point, the portion of theits project management fees, repaid will be recognized as revenue. Asfor which service has previously been provided is collectible. Additional information on the Project Management fees and treatment of August 31, 2020, the Company had deferred recognition of $1,464,900related receivables is included in project management services to the Sky Ranch CAB.
Construction support activities – The CompanyPure Cycle performs certain construction activities at Sky Ranch. The activities performed include construction and maintenance of the grading erosion and sediment control, best management practices and other construction-related services. TheseFor Phase 1, these activities are invoiced upon completion and are included in Land development inventories and subsequently expensed through Land development construction costs unless or until bonds are issued by the Sky Ranch Districts (as defined in Note 6 – Related Party Transactions) and/orto the Sky Ranch CAB upon completion and will be recognized in the land under development account or Notes receivable – related party, dependent upon whether collectability is deemed to be reasonably assured. The Phase 2 activities are invoiced based on an agreement between Pure Cycle and the Sky Ranch CAB reimbursesCAB. The amounts are invoiced and recognized as special facility projects revenue and is a component in trade accounts receivable, net. For the years ended August 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company for public improvements. Referrecognized $0.1 million and $0.1 million related toReimbursable Costs for Public Improvements above for details on repayment of reimbursable costs. As of August 31, 2020, the Company had invoiced the Sky Ranch CAB $674,800 for construction support activities which amount was recorded to Land development inventories.
Deferred Revenue
As noted above, the Company believesrecognizes certain lot sales over time as construction activities progress for lots sold pursuant to lot development agreements and not when payment is received. Based on this, the Company will frequently receive milestone payments before revenue can be recognized (i.e. prior to the Company completing cumulative progress which faithfully represents the transfer of goods and services to the customer) which results in the Company recording deferred revenue. The Company recognizes this revenue into income as control of lots are recoverabletransferred to the homebuilder, generally from the Sky Ranch CAB are recordedperiod title to a note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB. Each reporting period,lot is transferred until all construction activities (including public improvements the Company assessesoversees) for that phase or subphase are completed and turned over to the collectability
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governmental agency that will maintain the asset. As construction activities progress, which is measured based on amount of costs incurred to total expected costs of the receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB and the recoverabilityproject (i.e. Phase 2A) which management believes is a faithful representation of the outstanding reimbursable costs to determine if the amounts should be expensed. The following table summarizes all reimbursable costs incurred astransfer of August 31, 2020, payments made from the Sky Ranch CABgoods and any outstanding reimbursable amounts.
As of August 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||
Costs incurred | Reimbursement Received | Net costs incurred | ||||||||||
Public Improvements | $ | 26,355,400 | $ | 10,505,000 | $ | 15,850,400 | ||||||
Accrued interest | 1,176,300 | — | 1,176,300 | |||||||||
Project management services | 1,464,900 | — | 1,464,900 | |||||||||
Construction support activities | 674,800 | — | 674,800 | |||||||||
Total reimbursable costs | $ | 29,671,400 | $ | 10,505,000 | $ | 19,166,400 |
Prior to the Company’s agreements with the Sky Ranch CAB, no payment is required by the Sky Ranch CAB with respect to reimbursable costs unless and until the Sky Ranch CAB and/or the Sky Ranch Districts have funds or issue municipal bonds in an amount sufficient to reimburse the Company for all or a portion of advances provided or expenses incurred for reimbursables.
The Company also received an up-front payment from an oil and gas industrial customer to reserve priority water for their operations. The Company recognized this revenue based either on actual usage each reporting period or based on amounts which had expired pursuant to the agreement. The customer had up to one year from the invoice date to use such water. The customer did not use the water in the contract period which ended in January 2021, and such water was forfeited by the customer resulting in the Company recognizing revenue of $1.2 million.
During fiscal 2022, the Company received up-front payments from an oil and gas industrial customer for future drilling needs. The customer paid deposits on three different occasions for an estimated 25% of future water usage to reduce future cash payments when drilling. The customer drilled, during fiscal 2022, wells utilizing two of the three deposits paid. For the yearsyear ended August 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized $191,200 and $26,200 of income related to the up-front payments received pursuant to the OGOA. As of August 31, 2020 and 2019,2022, the Company had deferred revenue of $356,300 and $547,500, related$0.5 million for drilling activities expected to the OGOA.
As of August 31, 20202022 and 2019, the Company had deferred revenue of $4,700 and $60,400, related to the Bison Lease that will be recognized as income ratably through September 2020.
August 31, 2020 | August 31, 2019 | |||||||
Deferred lot sale revenue | $ | 1,635,443 | $ | 3,991,535 | ||||
Oil and gas lease and water sales payments | 1,965,080 | 1,067,348 | ||||||
Total deferred revenues | $ | 3,600,523 | $ | 5,058,883 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2022 | |||||||
| | Water and Wastewater Resource Development | | Land Development | | Total | |||
(In thousands) | | | | | | | | | |
Balance at August 31, 2021 | | $ | 410 | | $ | 1,995 | | $ | 2,405 |
Revenue recognized | | | (791) | | | (11,434) | | | (12,225) |
Revenue deferred | | | 951 | | | 13,714 | | | 14,665 |
Balance at August 31, 2022 | | $ | 570 | | $ | 4,275 | | $ | 4,845 |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2021 | |||||||
| | Water and Wastewater Resource Development | | Land Development | | Total | |||
Balance at August 31, 2020 | | $ | 1,965 | | $ | 1,635 | | $ | 3,600 |
Revenue recognized | | | (4,521) | | | (3,558) | | | (8,079) |
Revenue deferred | | | 2,966 | | | 3,918 | | | 6,884 |
Balance at August 31, 2021 | | $ | 410 | | $ | 1,995 | | $ | 2,405 |
When recognized, the amounts reflected as unearned revenue will be recorded in deferred revenue were as follows:
August 31, 2020 | August 31, 2019 | |||||||
Balance, beginning of period | $ | 5,058,883 | $ | 477,161 | ||||
Billings | 24,643,817 | 24,998,964 | ||||||
Revenue recognized | (26,102,177 | ) | (20,417,242 | ) | ||||
Balance, end of period | $ | 3,600,523 | $ | 5,058,883 |
Royalty and Other Obligations
Revenues from the sale of Export Water are shown gross of royalties payable to the Land Board. Revenues from the sale of water on the Lowry Range are invoiced directly by the Rangeview District, and a percentage of such collections are then paid to the Company by the Rangeview District. Water revenue from such sales are shown net of royalties paid to the Land Board and amounts retained by the Rangeview District.
Oil and Gas Lease Payments
As further described in Note 4 – Water and Land Assets below, on March 10, 2011, the Company entered into a Paid-Up Oil and Gas Lease (the “Sky(Sky Ranch O&G Lease”)Lease) and a Surface Use and Damage Agreement that were subsequently purchased byhave been assigned to various other oil and gas companies as a wholly owned subsidiaryresult of ConocoPhillips Company and recently acquired by Crestone Peak Resources.acquisitions. Six wells have been drilled within the Company’s mineral interest and placed into service (four new wells beginning in fiscal 2020)2021) and
F-15
are producing oil and gas and accruing royalties to the Company. During the fiscal years ended August 31, 2020,2022, and 2019,2021, the Company received $669,000$0.5 million and $148,300,$0.3 million, in royalties attributable to these six wells. The Company classifies income from lease and royalty payments as Other income in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income as the Company does not consider these arrangements to be an operating business activity. Oil and gas operations, although material in certain years, are deemed a passive activity as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”)(CODM) does not actively allocate resources to these projects; therefore, this is not classified as a reportable segment.
Share-based Compensation
The Company maintains a stock option plan for the benefit of its employees and non-employee directors. The Company recognizes share-based compensation costs as expenses over the applicable vesting period of the stock award using the straight-line method. The compensation costs to be expensed are measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. The Company has adopted the alternative transition method for calculating the tax effects of share-based compensation, which allows for a simplified method of calculating the tax effects of employee share-based compensation. The Company has released its full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets as of August 31, 2019. The impact on the income tax provision for the granting and exercise of stock options during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020, was a tax expenseeach of $80,300. Because the Company had a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets as of August 31, 2018, there was a $410,600 deferred tax impact on the 2019 income tax provision as a result of the granting and exercise of stock options.
During the years ended August 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company recognized $0.6 million and $0.5 million of share-based compensation expense.
Income Taxes
The Company uses a “more-likely-than-not” threshold for the recognition and de-recognition of tax positions, including any potential interest and penalties relating to tax positions taken by the Company. The Company does not have any significant unrecognized tax benefits as of August 31, 2020.
The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, as well as operating losses and tax credit carry-forwards.carryforwards. The Company measures deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.
The Company files income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Colorado. The tax years that remain subject to examination are fiscal 20152017 through fiscal 2019.2022. The Company does not believe there will be any material changes in its unrecognized tax positions over the next 12 months.
The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax positions as a component of income tax expense. At August 31, 2020,2022, the Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties associated with any unrecognized tax benefits, nor was any interest expense recognized during the yearsyear ended August 31, 2020 or 2019.
Earnings per Common Share
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is computed similarly but reflects the potential dilution that would occur if dilutive options were exercised and all unvested share-based payment awards were vested. As of August 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company included 216,600 and 206,860 stockCertain outstanding options in the calculation of diluted earnings per common share as dilutive common stock equivalents using the treasury stock method. As of each August 31, 2020 and 2019, the Companyare excluded 50,000 stock options from the diluted earnings per share calculation because they are anti-dilutive (i.e., their assumed conversion into common share as their effect is anti-dilutive.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
The Company continually assesses any new accounting pronouncements to determine their applicability. When it is determined that a new accounting pronouncement affects the Company’s financial reporting, the Company undertakes a study to determine the consequence of the change to its consolidated financial statements and to ensure that there are proper controls in place to ascertain that the Company’s consolidated financial statements properly reflect the change. New pronouncements assessed by the Company recently are discussed below:
F-16
In FebruaryJune 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”)(FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 provides guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. The new standard supersedes the present GAAP standard on leases and requires substantially all leases to be reported on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease obligations. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted the standard effective September 1, 2019, and recorded a right-of-use asset of $258,900 and a lease obligation liability of $252,300.
Management has evaluated other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe that any of these pronouncements will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Reclassifications
The Company has reclassified certain prior year information to conform to the current year presentation.
NOTE 3 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date in the principal or most advantageous market. The Company uses a fair value hierarchy that has three levels of inputs, both observable and unobservable, with use of the lowest possible level of inputsignificant inputs to determine the level in the fair value.
Level 1 — Valuations for assets and liabilities traded in active exchange markets, such as The NASDAQ Stock Market. As of August 31, 20202022 and August 31, 2019,2021, the Company had no recurring Level 1 assets or liabilities.
Level 2 — Valuations for assets and liabilities obtained from readily available pricing sources via independent providers for market transactions involving similar assets or liabilities. As of August 31, 20202022, the Company has two non-recurring Level 2 liabilities, the SFR Note and 2019,the Lost Creek Note (both defined in Note 8), for which the Company has determined the valuation of the liabilities can be obtained from readily available pricing sources via independent providers for market transactions involving similar liabilities. As of August 31, 2021, the Company had zero and oneno Level 2 assets which consisted of U.S. treasury notes.
Level 3 — Valuations for assets and liabilities that are derived from other valuation methodologies, including discounted cash flow models and similar techniques, and not based on market exchange, dealer, or broker-traded transactions. Level 3 valuations incorporate certain significant unobservable assumptions and projections in determining the fair value assigned to such assets or liabilities. As of August 31, 2020, 2022 and 2021, the Company had two levelone Level 3 assets,asset measured on a non-recurring basis, the right-of-use asset (its operating lease) notes receivable – related party, reimbursable public improvements, for which the Company did not record any unrealized gains or losses as the fair value, based on a discounted cash flow analysis, approximated the carrying value. As of August 31, 2022 and 2021, the Arkansas Valley mineral rights andCompany had one Level 3 liability, the contingent portion of the CAA.As of August 31, 2019, the Company had one level 3 asset, the Arkansas Valley mineral rights and one Level 3 liability, the contingent portion of the CAA. The Company has determined that the contingent portion of the CAA does not have a readily determinable fair value (see Note 5 – Participating Interests in Export Water)6).
The Company maintains policies and procedures to value instruments using what management believes to be the best and most relevant data available.
Fair Value Measurement Using: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fair Value | Cost / Other Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Accumulated Unrealized Gains and (Losses) | |||||||||||||||||||
U.S. treasuries | $ | 4,996,000 | $ | 4,992,100 | $ | — | $ | 4,996,000 | $ | — | $ | 3,900 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 4,996,000 | $ | 4,992,100 | $ | — | $ | 4,996,000 | $ | — | $ | 3,900 |
There were no transfers between Level 1, 2 or 3 categories during the years ended August 31, 20202022 or 2019.2021.
F-17
NOTE 4 – WATER AND LAND ASSETS
Investment in Water and Water Systems
The Company’s water and water systems consist of the following:
August 31, 2020 | August 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Costs | Accumulated Depreciation and Depletion | Costs | Accumulated Depreciation and Depletion | |||||||||||||
Rangeview water supply | $ | 14,569,900 | $ | (15,600 | ) | $ | 14,823,800 | $ | (14,700 | ) | ||||||
Sky Ranch water rights and other costs | 7,498,900 | (980,600 | ) | 7,371,500 | (757,400 | ) | ||||||||||
Fairgrounds water and water system | 2,899,900 | (1,238,900 | ) | 2,899,800 | (1,151,000 | ) | ||||||||||
Rangeview water system | 15,947,700 | (788,600 | ) | 5,617,800 | (372,300 | ) | ||||||||||
Water supply – other | 7,549,800 | (1,115,800 | ) | 4,758,200 | (860,100 | ) | ||||||||||
Wild Pointe service rights | 1,631,800 | (708,500 | ) | 1,631,800 | (489,800 | ) | ||||||||||
Sky Ranch pipeline | 5,727,300 | (602,300 | ) | 5,723,700 | (411,600 | ) | ||||||||||
Lost Creek water supply | 3,372,400 | — | 3,324,000 | — | ||||||||||||
Construction in progress | 1,339,300 | — | 8,176,600 | — | ||||||||||||
Totals | 60,537,000 | (5,450,300 | ) | 54,327,200 | (4,056,900 | ) | ||||||||||
Net investments in water and water systems | $ | 55,086,700 | $ | 50,270,300 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | August 31, 2022 | | August 31, 2021 | ||||||||
| | | | | Accumulated | | | | | Accumulated | ||
| | | | | Depreciation | | | | | Depreciation | ||
(In thousands) |
| Costs |
| and Depletion |
| Costs |
| and Depletion | ||||
Rangeview water system | | $ | 19,881 | | $ | (2,099) | | $ | 17,526 | | $ | (1,470) |
Rangeview water supply | | | 14,809 | | | (17) | | | 14,622 | | | (17) |
Water supply – Other | |
| 7,612 | |
| (1,739) | |
| 7,569 | |
| (1,433) |
Sky Ranch water rights and other costs | |
| 7,764 | |
| (1,280) | |
| 7,338 | |
| (1,087) |
Sky Ranch pipeline | |
| 5,740 | |
| (984) | |
| 5,727 | |
| (793) |
Lost Creek water supply | |
| 7,041 | |
| — | |
| 3,374 | |
| — |
Fairgrounds water and water system | |
| 2,900 | |
| (1,415) | |
| 2,900 | |
| (1,327) |
Wild Pointe service rights | |
| 1,632 | |
| (1,082) | |
| 1,632 | |
| (775) |
Totals | |
| 67,379 | |
| (8,616) | |
| 60,688 | |
| (6,902) |
Net investments in water and water systems | | $ | 58,763 | | | | | $ | 53,786 | | | |
Construction in Progress
The construction in progress account represents costs incurred on various construction projects currently underway that as of the balance sheet date have not been completed and placed into service. The construction in progress account consists primarily consists of an irrigation system and new water well at Sky Ranch. Thefacilities being constructed which the Company anticipates the additional facilities will be placed in service during fiscal 2021.
Single-Family Rental Homes
During the year ended August 31, 2021, the Company completed construction of the first three units being utilized in Pure Cycle’s single-family rental business. The costs of the facilityunits are capitalized and when applicable are depreciated over periods not exceeding thirty-years, which is dependent on the asset type. All three units were recordedplaced in service and leased effective November 1, 2021.
During the year ended August 31, 2022, the Company contracted for construction of eleven additional rental units to be used in the rental business. The Company began construction on one single-family detached unit in March 2022 with an estimated completion in November 2022, with the remaining ten units, comprised of single-family detached houses, townhomes, and paired homes beginning construction in progress. The Company placed the facilitysummer of 2022 with estimated completion dates in service during the secondthird and fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 at2023.
The Company has reserved a total cost of $10.2 million. The Rangeview water system includes the46 lots in Phase 2 (10 of which are in Phase 2A and under construction as of August 31, 2022) of Sky Ranch water reclamation facility.
Depletion and Depreciation
During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the Company recorded an immaterial amount of depletion charges, which relates entirely to the Rangeview Water Supply (as defined below).
During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the Company recorded $1,722,200$2.1 million and $1,278,900$1.8 million of depreciation expense. These figuresexpense, which include $355,900$0.3 million and $312,600$0.3 million of depreciation expense for other equipment not included in the table above in the fiscal years ended August 31, 2020 and 2019.above.
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The following table presents the estimated useful lives by asset class used for calculating depreciation and depletion charges:
| | |
Assets Classes | Estimated Useful Lives | |
Wild Pointe | Units of production depletion | |
Rangeview water supply | Units of production depletion | |
Lost Creek water supply | Units of production depletion | |
Rangeview, Sky Ranch and WISE water systems | 30 years | |
ECCV wells | 10 years | |
Furniture and fixtures | 5 years | |
Trucks and heavy equipment | 5 years | |
Water system general (pumps, valves, etc.) | 5 years | |
Computers | 3 years | |
Water equipment | 3 years | |
Software | 1 year |
Rangeview Water Supply and Water System
The “Rangeview Water Supply” consists of approximately 27,000 acre-feet and is a combination of tributary surface water and groundwater rights along with certain storage rights associated with the Lowry Range, a 26,000-acre property owned by the Land Board located 16 miles southeast of Denver, Colorado. As of August 31, 2020,2022, the Company hadhas invested $17.9$19.9 million in facilities to extend water service to customers located on and off the Lowry Range. The recorded costs of the Rangeview Water Supply include payments to the sellers of the Rangeview Water Supply, design and construction costs and certain direct costs related to improvements to the asset, including legal and engineering fees.
The Company acquired the Rangeview Water Supply in 1996 pursuant to the following agreements:
● | 1996 Amended and Restated Lease Agreement between the Land Board and the Rangeview District, which was superseded by the 2014 Amended and Restated Lease Agreement, dated July 10, 2014 (Lease), between the Company, the Land Board, and the Rangeview District; |
● | The 1996 Service Agreement between the Company and the Rangeview District, which was superseded by the Amended and Restated Service Agreement, dated July 11, 2014, between the Company and the Rangeview District (Lowry Service Agreement), which allows the Company to provide water service to the Rangeview District’s customers located on the Lowry Range; |
● | The Agreement for Sale of non-tributary and not non-tributary groundwater between the Company and the Rangeview District (Export Agreement), pursuant to which the Company purchased a portion of the Rangeview Water Supply referred to as the “Export Water” because the Export Agreement allows the Company to export this water from the Lowry Range to supply water to nearby communities; and |
● | The 1997 Wastewater Service Agreement between the Company and Rangeview District (Lowry Wastewater Agreement), which allows the Company to provide wastewater service to the Rangeview District’s customers on the Lowry Range. |
The Lease, the Lowry Service Agreement, the Export Agreement, and the Lowry Wastewater Agreement are collectively referred to as the “RangeviewRangeview Water Agreements.”
In August 2019, the Company purchased approximatelyacquired 300 acre-feet of fully consumptive surface water in the Lost Creek Designated Ground Water Basin (“Basin. In June 2022, the Company acquired 370 acre-feet of fully consumptive surface water through the acquisition of three wells located in the Lost Creek Water”)Designated Ground Water Basin (both acquisitions are referred to collectively as the Lost Creek Water). The Lost Creek Water is currently adjudicated for agriculturalmunicipal/industrial use, and the Company has filed an application with the Colorado water court to change the use of the water to augment its municipal/industrial water supplies at the Lowry Range. The Company has consolidated the Lost Creek Water with the Rangeview Water Supply to provide service to the Rangeview District’s customers both on and off the Lowry Range.
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Pursuant to the Rangeview Water Agreements, the Company owns 11,650 acre feetacre-feet of water consisting of 10,000 acre feetacre-feet of groundwater and 1,650 acre feetacre-feet of average yield surface water which can be exported off the Lowry Range to serve area users (referred to as “Export Water”)Export Water). The 1,650 acre feetacre-feet of surface rights are subject to completion of documentation by the Land Board related to the Company’s exercise of its right to substitute an aggregate gross volume of 165,000 acre feetacre-feet of its groundwater for 1,650 acre feetacre-feet per year of adjudicated surface water and to use this surface water as Export Water. Additionally, assuming completion of the substitution of groundwater for surface water, the Company has the exclusive right to provide water and wastewater service, through 2081, to all water users on the Lowry Range and the right to develop an additional 13,685 acre feetacre-feet of groundwater and 1,650 acre feetacre-feet of adjudicated surface water to serve customers either on or off the Lowry Range. The Rangeview Water Agreements also provide for the Company to use surface reservoir storage capacity in providing water service to customers both on and off the Lowry Range.
Services on the Lowry Range –
Pursuant to the Rangeview Water Agreements, the Company designs, finances, constructs, operates and maintains the Rangeview District’s water and wastewater systems to provide service to the Rangeview District’s customers on the Lowry Range. The Company will operate both the water and the wastewater systems during the contract period, and the Rangeview District owns both systems. After 2081, ownership of the water system will revert to the Land Board, with the Rangeview District retaining ownership of the wastewater system.Rates and charges for all water and wastewater services on the Lowry Range, including tap fees and usage or monthly fees, are governed by the terms of the Rangeview Water Agreements. Rates and charges cannot exceed the average of similar rates and charges of three surrounding municipal water and wastewater service providers, which are reassessed annually. Pursuant to the Rangeview Water Agreements, the Land Board receives a royalty of 10% or 12% of gross revenues from the sale or disposition of the water, depending on the nature and location of the purchaser of the water, except that the royalty on tap fees shall be 2% (other than taps sold for Sky Ranch which are exempt). The Company also is required to pay the Land Board a minimum annual water production fee of $45,600$46,000 per year, which offsets earned royalties, and annual rent of $7,600$8,400 which amount is increased every five years based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban CustomersCustomers. The Rangeview District retains 2% of the remaining revenues, and the Company receives 98% of the remaining revenues after the Land Board royalty. The Land Board does not receive a royalty on wastewater fees. The Company receives 100% of the Rangeview District’s wastewater tap fees and 90% of the Rangeview District’s wastewater treatment fees (the Rangeview District retains the other 10%).
Export Water –
The Company owns the Export Water and intends to use it to provide wholesale water and wastewater services to customers off the Lowry Range, including customers of the Rangeview District and other governmental entities and industrial and commercial customers. The Company will own all wholesale facilities required to extend water and wastewater services using its Export Water. The Company anticipates contracting with third parties for the construction of these facilities. If the Company sells Export Water, the Company is required to pay royalties to the Land Board ranging from 10% to 12% of gross revenues, except that the royalty on tap fees shall be 2% (other than taps sold for Sky Ranch which are exempt).WISE
The WISE Partnership Agreement provides for the purchase of certain infrastructure (i.e., pipelines, water storage facilities, water treatment facilities, and other appurtenant facilities) to deliver water to and among the 10ten members of the SMWA, Denver Water and Aurora Water. Certain infrastructure has been constructed and other infrastructure will be constructed over the next several years. During each of the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the Company made $2.8less than $0.1 million and $419,200 in capital investments in WISE. Capitalized terms used under this caption are defined in Note 7 – Long-Term Obligations and Operating Lease.
The Arapahoe County Fairgrounds Water and Water System
The Company owns 321 acre-feet of groundwater purchased pursuant to its agreement with Arapahoe County. The Company plans to use this water in conjunction with its Rangeview Water Supply in providing water to areas outside the Lowry Range. The $2.9 million of capitalized costs noted in the table Investment in Water and Water Systems above includes the costs to construct various wholesale and special facilities, including a new deep water well, a 500,000-gallon water tank and pipelines to transport water to the Arapahoe County fairgrounds.
F-20
The Lost Creek Water Supply
On June 27, 2022, Pure Cycle acquired 370 acre-feet of designated groundwater rights located in the Lost Creek basin in Weld County Colorado. The acquisition included three water wells and related well permits and structures. The total purchase price was $3.7 million, which was allocated entirely to the water rights as the other assets were deemed to not have determinable values. This acquisition of Lost Creek water was accounted for as an asset acquisition.
In August 2019, the Company purchased 150 acre-feet of ditch water rights, 800300 acre-feet of renewabledesignated groundwater rights, 70 acre-feet of deep groundwater rights and 260 acres of land in the Lost Creek Basin in Weld County. Total consideration for the land, water and related costs was $3.5 million. The Company allocated the acquisition cost to the land and water rights based on estimates of each asset’s respective fair value at the acquisition date. The purchase of the Lost Creek land and water acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition.
Service to Customers Not on the Lowry Range
Sky Ranch –
In 2010, the Company purchasedTotal consideration for the land, water, and acquisition related costs and fees was $7.6 million. The Company allocated the total acquisition cost to the land and water rights based on estimates of each asset’s respective fair value at the acquisition date. The purchase of the Sky Ranch land and water was accounted for as an asset acquisition.
In June 2017, the Company completed and placed into service its Sky Ranch pipeline, which cost $5.7 million to construct, connecting its Sky Ranch water system to the Rangeview District’s water system.
Wild Pointe –
On December 15, 2016, the Rangeview District, acting by and through its water activity enterprise, and Elbert & Highway 86 Commercial Metropolitan District, a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of Colorado, acting by and through its water enterpriseO&G Leases
In 2011, the Company signedentered the Sky Ranch O&G Lease with Anadarko.Lease. Pursuant to the Sky Ranch O&G Lease, the Company received an up-front payment from Anadarko for the purpose of exploring for, developing, producing, and marketing oil and gas on 634 acres of mineral estate owned by the Company at its Sky Ranch property. The Sky Ranch O&G Lease is now held by production, entitling the Company to royalties based on production.
In September 2017, the Company signed theentered a three-year BisonO&G Lease for the purpose of exploring for, developing, producing, and marketing oil and gas on 40 acres of mineral estate owned by the Company adjacent to the Lowry Range.
Land and Mineral Rights
As part of the 2010 Sky Ranch acquisition, the Company acquired approximately 930 acres of land, of which approximately 150215 acres have been sold to home builders for the purpose of building residential homes. As
F-21
As of August 31, the costs allocated to the Company’s land and mineral interest areis as follows:
| | | | | | |
|
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | ||
Sky Ranch land | | $ | 2,482 | | $ | 2,601 |
Sky Ranch development costs | |
| 4,073 | |
| 3,105 |
Lost Creek land | |
| 218 | |
| 218 |
Net land and mineral interests | | $ | 6,773 | | $ | 5,924 |
The Company also owns 700 acres of land in the Arkansas River valley which is held for investment purposes.
NOTE 5 – REIMBURSABLE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND NOTE RECEIVABLE FROM THE SKY RANCH CAB
The note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB reports the balances owed by the Sky Ranch CAB to the Company for public improvements paid for by the Company which are reimbursable from the Sky Ranch CAB, project management fees, and interest accrued on the unpaid balances related to the ongoing development of the Sky Ranch master planned community. The Company has advanced funds to the Sky Ranch CAB for the cost of public improvements at Sky Ranch which are the ultimate responsibility of the Sky Ranch CAB. During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company determined that the Sky Ranch CAB repayment to the Company for those improvements was probable, along with the project management fees and interest on these costs. Upon that determination, the Company began recording the reimbursable public improvements as a receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB (as opposed to the costs being expensed as land development construction costs) and began recognizing project management fee revenue and interest income on the entire note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB. Prior to that date, payment was not deemed to be probable; therefore, the Company capitalized those costs as land under development and subsequently expensed the reimbursable public improvements and did not recognize any project management fees or interest income due to the uncertainty of collectability. During the year ended August 31, 2022, the Company spent $14.0 million on public improvements which are payable by the Sky Ranch CAB to the Company and were therefore added to the note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB. Additionally, for the year ended August 31, 2022, project management fees owed to the Company of $0.7 million, and interest income on the outstanding note receivable of $1.9 million were also added to the note receivable. During the year ended August 31, 2022, the Sky Ranch CAB made three payments to the Company on the note totaling $24.1 million, which was applied to interest and principal on the note. Pursuant to the agreements with the Sky Ranch CAB, any payments received are initially applied to interest. The Sky Ranch CAB issued two municipal bonds in the summer of 2022, from which it remitted $23.6 million to the Company as partial repayment of the note, the other two payments were made from funds available at the Sky Ranch CAB resulting from excess fees and taxes eared by the Sky Ranch CAB.
The following table summarizes the activity and balances associated with the note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB:
| | | | | | | |
| | | Year Ended | ||||
| | | August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | ||
Beginning balance | | $ | 24,794 | | $ | — | |
Additions | | | 16,550 | | | 3,328 | |
Amounts recognized with release of contingency | | | — | | | 21,466 | |
Payments received | | | (24,136) | | | — | |
Ending balance | | $ | 17,208 | | $ | $ 24,794 | |
| | | | | | | |
The note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB accrues interest at 6% per annum. Public improvements which are not probable of reimbursement at the time of being incurred are considered contract fulfillment costs and are recorded as land development construction costs as incurred. If public improvement costs are deemed probable of collection, the costs are recognized as notes receivable - related party. The Company assesses the collectability of the note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB, which includes reimbursable public improvements, project management fees and the related interest income, when events or circumstances indicate the amounts may not be recoverable. The Sky Ranch CAB has an obligation to repay the Company, but the ability of the Sky Ranch CAB to do so before the contractual termination dates is dependent upon the establishment of a tax base or other fee generating activities sufficient to fund reimbursable costs incurred.
F-22
August 31, 2020 | August 31, 2019 | |||||||
Sky Ranch land | $ | 3,569,266 | $ | 3,037,556 | ||||
Sky Ranch development costs | 1,127,476 | 423,324 | ||||||
Lost Creek land | 218,138 | 218,138 | ||||||
Arkansas Valley mineral rights | — | 1,425,459 | ||||||
Net land and mineral interests | $ | 4,914,880 | $ | 5,104,477 |
NOTE 56 – PARTICIPATING INTERESTS IN EXPORT WATER
The acquisition of the Rangeview Water Supply was finalized with the signing of the CAA in 1996. Upon entering into the CAA, the Company recorded an initiala liability of $11.1 million, which represented the cash that the Company received from the participating interest holders that was used to purchase the Company’s Export Water (described in greater detail in Note 4 – Water and Land Assets)4). The Company agreed to remit a total of $31.8 million of proceeds received from the sale of Export Water to the participating interest holders in return for their initial $11.1 million investment. The obligation for the $11.1 million was recorded as debt, and the remaining $20.7 million contingent liability was (and is) not reflected on the Company’s balance sheet because the obligation to pay this is contingent on the sale of Export Water, the amounts and timing of which are not reasonably determinable.
The CAA obligation is non-interest bearing, and if the Export Water is not sold, the parties to the CAA have no recourse against the Company. Additionally, if the Company does not sell the Export Water, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are not entitled to payment of any dividend and have no contractual recourse against the Company.
As the proceeds from the sale of Export Water are received and the amounts are remitted to the CAA holders, the Company allocates a ratable percentage of thiseach payment to the principal portion (the Participating Interests in Export Water Supply liability account), with the balance of the payment being charged to the contingent obligation portion. Because the original recorded liability, which was $11.1 million, was 35% of the original total liability of $31.8 million, approximately 35% of each payment remitted to the CAA holders is allocated to the recorded liability account. The remaining portion of each payment or approximately 65%, is allocated to the contingent obligation, which is recorded on a net revenue basis.
Since entering the CAA, the Company has repurchased various portions of the CAA obligations, which retained their original priority. TheDuring the years ended August 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not make any CAA acquisitions. Because of these acquisitions, during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020 or 2019.
Export Water Proceeds Received | Initial Export Water Proceeds to Pure Cycle | Total Potential Third-party Obligation | Participating Interests Liability | Contingency | ||||||||||||||||
Original balances | $ | — | $ | 218,500 | $ | 31,807,700 | $ | 11,090,600 | $ | 20,717,100 | ||||||||||
Activity from inception until August 31, 2017: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Acquisitions | — | 28,042,500 | (28,042,500 | ) | (9,790,000 | ) | (18,252,500 | ) | ||||||||||||
Relinquishment | — | 2,386,400 | (2,386,400 | ) | (832,100 | ) | (1,554,300 | ) | ||||||||||||
Option payments - Sky Ranch and The Hills at Sky Ranch | 110,400 | (42,300 | ) | (68,100 | ) | (23,800 | ) | (44,300 | ) | |||||||||||
Arapahoe County tap fees | 533,000 | (373,100 | ) | (159,900 | ) | (55,800 | ) | (104,100 | ) | |||||||||||
Export Water sale payments | 737,300 | (593,900 | ) | (143,400 | ) | (49,800 | ) | (93,600 | ) | |||||||||||
Balance at August 31, 2018 | 1,380,700 | 29,638,100 | 1,007,400 | 339,100 | 668,300 | |||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2019 activity: | 166,300 | (146,500 | ) | (19,800 | ) | (6,900 | ) | (12,900 | ) | |||||||||||
Balance at August 31, 2019 | 1,547,000 | 29,491,600 | 987,600 | 332,200 | 655,400 | |||||||||||||||
Fiscal 2020 activity: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Export Water sale payments | 106,600 | (93,900 | ) | (12,700 | ) | (4,500 | ) | (8,200 | ) | |||||||||||
Balance at August 31, 2020 | $ | 1,653,600 | $ | 29,397,700 | $ | 974,900 | $ | 327,700 | $ | 647,200 |
The CAA includes contractually established priorities which call for payments to CAA holders in order of their priority. This means the first payees receive their full payment before the next priority level receives any payment and so on until full repayment. OfAs a result of the next $6.3 million of Export Water payouts, which at current levels would occur over several years, the Company will receive $5.6 million of revenue. Thereafter,CAA obligation acquisition after August 31, 2022, the Company will be entitled to all but $220,000$0.2 million of the proceeds from the sale of Export Water after deduction of the Land Board royalty.
NOTE 67 – ACCRUED LIABILITIES
At August 31, 2020,2022 and 2021, the Company hadCompany’s current accrued liabilities of $2.6 million, of which $766,800 was for accrued compensation, $74,000 was for current operating lease obligations, $72,200 was for estimated property taxes, $56,000 was for professional fees and the remaining $1.7 million was related to operating payables. Of the $1.7 million in operating payables, $1.2 million is payableare:
| | | | | | |
(In thousands) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | ||
Accrued compensation | | $ | 1,325 | | $ | 729 |
Other operating payables | |
| 308 | |
| 248 |
WISE water | | | 32 | | | 62 |
Operating lease obligation, current | | | 76 | | | 84 |
Property taxes | | | 164 | | | 50 |
Professional fees | | | 115 | | | 51 |
Rental deposits | | | 9 | | | — |
Total accrued liabilities | | $ | 2,029 | | $ | 1,224 |
| | | | | | |
Land development costs due to the Sky Ranch CAB | | $ | 536 | | $ | 2,243 |
Due to Rangeview Metropolitan District | | | 24 | | | 638 |
Total accrued liabilities - related parties | | $ | 560 | | $ | 2,881 |
The amounts due to the Sky Ranch CAB related to development costs at Sky Ranch. These costs are included in Landnotes receivable – related parties, including accrued interest or land under development. The amounts recorded in land under development inventories and will be subsequently expensed through Land development construction costs.
F-23
costs. In addition, $42,800 of the operating payables isamounts payable to the Rangeview District forrelate to construction costs related toof water infrastructure, at Sky Ranch. Thesethese costs are included in Investments in water and water systems.
NOTE 8 – DEBT AND OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
The total scheduled maturities of the Company’s loans for each of the years ending August 31 2019,are as follows, with each loan described below the table:
| | |
(In thousands) | Scheduled principal payments | |
Within 1 year | $ | 13 |
Year 2 | | 14 |
Year 3 | | 75 |
Year 4 | | 386 |
Year 5 | | 1,309 |
Thereafter | | 2,201 |
| | 3,998 |
Deferred financing costs | | (38) |
Net | $ | 3,960 |
SFR Note
On November 29, 2021, PCY Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, had accrued liabilities of $3.4 million, of which $460,500 wasentered a Promissory Note (SFR Note) with its primary bank to reimburse amounts expended for accrued compensation, $94,000 was for estimated property taxes, $70,000 was for professional fees and the remaining $2.8 million was related to operating payables. Of the $2.8 million in operating payables, $1.4 million is payable to the Sky Ranch CAB for costs related to the development of Sky Ranch. These costs are included in Land development inventories and subsequently expensed through Land development construction costs. In addition, $930,900 of the operating payablesfirst three single-family rental units. The SFR Note has the following terms:
● | Initial principal amount of $1.0 million |
● | Floating per annum interest rate equal to the Western Edition of the “Wall Street Journal” Prime Rate plus 0.5% (4.25% as of August 31, 2022), which has a floor of 3.75% and a ceiling of 4.25%. In the event of default, the interest rate on the SFR Note would be increased by adding an additional 2.0% |
● | Maturity date of December 1, 2026 |
● | Six interest only payments beginning January 1, 2022 |
● | Fifty-three principal and interest payments each month beginning July 1, 2022 in the amount of $4,600 each |
● | Estimated final principal and interest balloon payment of $0.9 million payable on December 1, 2026 |
● | Secured by the three single-family rental homes |
● | Required minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.10, measured annually based on audited financial statements, calculated as net operating income less distributions divided by required principal and interest payments, with net operating income defined as net income plus interest, depreciation, and amortization. |
The Company is payableworking with its primary bank to provide similar financing for the Rangeview District for construction costs related to the wastewater facility. These costs are included in Investments in water and water systems.
Lost Creek Note
On June 28, 2022, the Company had no debt.entered a loan with its primary bank to fund the acquisition of 370 acre-feet of water rights the Company acquired on June 27, 2022, in the Lost Creek region of Colorado (Lost Creek Note). The Lost Creek Note has a principal balance of $3.0 million, a ten-year maturity, monthly interest only payments averaging $12,000 per month for thirty-six months beginning on July 28, 2022, twenty-four monthly principal and interest payments of $42,000 beginning on July 28, 2025, fifty-nine monthly principal and interest payments of $32,000 beginning on July 28, 2027, and a balloon payment of less than $0.8 million plus unpaid and accrued interest due on June 28, 2032. The Lost Creek Note has a thirty-year amortization period and a fixed per annum interest rate equal to 4.90%. The Lost Creek Note is secured by the Lost Creek Water rights acquired with the note and any fees derived from the use of the Lost Creek Water rights.
F-24
Working Capital Line of Credit
On January 31, 2022, the Company entered into a Business Loan Agreement (Working Capital LOC) with its primary bank to provide a $5.0 million operating line of credit. The Working Capital LOC has a two-year maturity, monthly interest only payments if the line is drawn upon with unpaid principal and interest due at maturity, and a floating per annum interest rate equal to the rate published in the Western Edition of the Wall Street Journal as the Prime Rate plus 0.5% (6.0% as of August 31, 2022), which has a floor of 3.75%. In the event of default, the interest rate on the Working Capital LOC would be increased by adding an additional 2.0%. As of August 31, 2022, the Company has not drawn on the Working Capital LOC.
Letters of Credit
During the year August 31, 2021, the Company entered four Irrevocable Letters of Credit (LOCs). The LOCs are to guarantee the Company’s performance related to certain construction projects at Sky Ranch. As long as the Company performs on the contracts, which the Company has the full intent and ability to perform on the contracts, the LOC’s will expire at various dates from December 2023 through July 2024. As of August 31, 2022, these four LOCs totaled $2.3 million, which are secured by cash balances maintained in restricted cash accounts at the Company’s bank.
The Participating Interests in Export Water Supply are obligations of the Company that have no scheduled maturity dates. Therefore, these liabilities are not disclosed in tabular format. However, the Participating Interests in Export Water Supply are described in Note 5 – Participating Interests in Export Water.
WISE Partnership
During December 2014, the Company, through the Rangeview District, consented to the waiver of all contingencies set forth in the Amended and Restated WISE Partnership – Water Delivery Agreement, dated December 31, 2013 (the “WISE(WISE Partnership Agreement”)Agreement), among the City and County of Denver acting through its Board of Water Commissioners (“Denver Water”)(Denver Water), the City of Aurora acting by and through its utility enterprise (“Aurora Water”)(Aurora Water), and the South Metro WISE Authority (“SMWA”)(SMWA). The SMWA was formed by the Rangeview District and nine other governmental or quasi-governmental water providers pursuant to the South Metro WISE Authority Formation and Organizational Intergovernmental Agreement, dated December 31, 2013 (the “SM IGA”)(SM-IGA), to enable the members of SMWA to participate in the regional water supply project known as the Water Infrastructure Supply Efficiency partnership (“WISE”)(WISE) created by the WISE Partnership Agreement. The SM IGASM-IGA specifies each member’s pro rata share of WISE and the members’ rights and obligations with respect to WISE. The WISE Partnership Agreement provides for the purchase of certain infrastructure (i.e., pipelines, water storage facilities, water treatment facilities, and other appurtenant facilities) to deliver water to and among the 10 members of the SMWA, Denver Water and Aurora Water. Certain infrastructure has been constructed and other infrastructure will be constructed over the next several years.
Pursuant to the terms of the Rangeview/Pure Cycle WISE Project Financing and Service Agreement (the “WISE(WISE Financing Agreement”)Agreement) between the Company and the Rangeview District, the Company has an agreement to fund the Rangeview District’s participation in WISE effective as of December 22, 2014. During each of the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the Company, through the Rangeview District, purchased an additional 400360 acre-feet and 0320 acre-feet of WISE water for $582,200$0.7 million and $0.$0.6 million. See further discussion in Note 14 – Related Party Transactions.
Lease Commitments
Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheet. For lease agreements entered into or reassessed in the future,with an initial term of more than twelve months, the Company will be required to combinecombines the lease and non-lease components in determining the lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”)(ROU) assets. Operating lease expense is generally recognized evenly over the term of the lease.
Effective July 1, 2022, the Company entered a new operating lease for more than 11,400 square-feet of office and warehouse space in Watkins, Colorado. This lease replaces the Company’s prior office and warehouse lease when it moved to a new building in the same facility. The lease has an initial two-year term with payments of approximately $7,400 per month and an option to extend the lease term for up to two two-year periods. The monthly payment will increase 2.5% after twelve months. The prior office and warehouse lease had a year and half left on the term which was cancelled when the Company moved to the new office location. For the years ended August 31, 2022 and 2021, rent expense consisted of operating lease expense of less than $0.1 million. The Company paid less than $0.1 million against Lease obligations — operating leases during fiscal 2022. The Company did not enter any new leases in fiscal 2021.
F-25
The Company’s lease agreements generally do not provide an implicit borrowing rate; therefore, an internal incremental borrowing rate is determined based on information available at lease commencement date for purposes of determining the present value of lease payments. The Company used the incremental borrowing rate of 6% on September 1, 2019,six percent (6%) for all leases that commenced prior to that date. The Company elected the hindsight practical expedient to determine the lease term for existing leases, which resulted in the lengthening of the lease term related to the Company’sits office and warehouse lease.
ROU lease assets and lease liabilities for the Company’s operating leases were recorded in the consolidated balance sheet as follows:
| | | | | | | | |
(In thousands) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| | August 31, 2021 |
| ||
Operating leases - ROU assets |
| $ | 138 |
| | $ | 122 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Accrued liabilities | | $ | 76 | | | $ | 84 | |
Lease obligations - operating leases, net of current portion | |
| 62 | | |
| 37 | |
Total lease liability | | $ | 138 | | | $ | 121 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) | |
| 1.8 | | |
| 1.4 | |
Weighted average discount rate | |
| 6 | % | |
| 6 | % |
As of August 31, 2020 | ||||
Operating leases - ROU assets | $ | 195,566 | ||
Accrued liabilities | $ | 73,991 | ||
Lease obligations - operating leases, net of current portion | 120,285 | |||
Total lease liability | $ | 194,275 | ||
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) | 2.4 | |||
Weighted average discount rate | 6 | % |
NOTE 89 – SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred Stock
The Company’s non-voting Series B Preferred Stock has a preference in liquidation of $1.00 per share less any dividends previously paid. Additionally, the Series B Preferred Stock is redeemable at the discretion of the Company for $1.00 per share less any dividends previously paid. In the event the proceeds from the sale or disposition of Export Water rights exceed $36,026,232,$36.0 million the Series B Preferred Shareholders will receive the next $432,513$0.4 million of proceeds in the form of a dividend. The terms of the Series B Preferred Stock prohibit payment of dividends on common stock unless all dividends accrued on the Series B Preferred Stock have been paid.
Equity Compensation Plan
The Company maintains the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014(2014 Equity Plan”)Plan), which was approved by shareholders in January 2014 and became effective April 12, 2014. Executives, eligible employees, consultants, and non-employee directors are eligible to receive options and stock grants pursuant to the 2014 Equity Plan. Pursuant to the 2014 Equity Plan, optionsOptions to purchase shares of stock and restricted stock awards can be granted with exercise prices, vesting conditions and other performance criteria determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s board of directors. The Company has reserved 1.6 million shares of common stock for issuance under the 2014 Equity Plan. As of August 31, 2020,2022, stock awards and awards to purchase 511,500755,500 shares of the Company’s common stock have been made under the 2014 Equity Plan. Plan, of which 712,500 remain outstanding. As of August 31, 2020 and 2019,2022, there were 1,088,500 and 1,230,500912,953 shares available for grant under the 2014 Equity Plan. Prior to the effective date of the 2014 Equity Plan, the Company granted stock awards to eligible participants under its 2004 Incentive Plan (the “2004(2004 Incentive Plan”)Plan), which expired April 11, 2014. No additional awards may be granted pursuant to the 2004 Incentive Plan; however, 106,500 granted awards are outstanding as of April 11, 2014, will continue to vest and expire andAugust 31, 2022, which may be exercised in accordance with the terms of the 2004 Incentive Plan.
The Company estimates the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model (“Black-Scholes model”)(Black-Scholes model). Using the Black-Scholes model, the value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as a period expense over the requisite service period in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).income. Option forfeitures are to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company does not expect any forfeiture of its option grants, andoptions; therefore, the compensation expense has not been reduced for estimated forfeitures. For the years ended August 31,202031, 2022 and 2019, 6,5002021, 3,333 options and zero options expired. The Company attributes the value of share-based compensation to expense using the straight-line single option method for all options granted.
F-26
The Company’s determination of the estimated fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant is affected by the following variables and assumptions:
● | The grant date exercise price – is the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant; |
● |
Estimated dividend rates – based on historical and anticipated dividends over the life of the option; |
● | Life of the option – based on historical experience, including actual and projected employee stock option exercise, option grants have lives of between five and |
● | Risk-free interest rates – with maturities that approximate the expected life of the options granted; |
● | Calculated stock price volatility – calculated over the expected life of the options granted, which is calculated based on the weekly closing price of the Company’s common stock over a period equal to the expected life of the |
For the year ended August 31, 2022, the Company granted 80,000105,000 stock options to employeesexecutive officers with weighted-average grant-date fair values of $4.21,$5.16, and three-year vesting terms which expire ten years from the grant date. In fiscal 2020, the Company granted 50,000 stock options to an executive officer with a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $4.16, a three-year vesting term and an expiration date of ten years from the grant date. In addition, the six non-employee Board members were each granted 2,000 unrestricted stock grants. The fair market value of the unrestricted shares for share-based compensation expensing is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant of $12.45.$13.23. Stock-based compensation expense includes $149,400$0.2 million of expense related to these unrestricted stock grants. The unrestricted stock grants were fully expensed at the date of the grant because no vesting requirements existexisted for the unrestricted stock grants. There was no stock-based compensation expense related to unrestricted stock grants for fiscal 2019.
For the year ended August 31, 2021, the Company granted 50,00085,000 stock options to employees with weighted-average grant-date fair values of $3.93, and five-year vesting terms which expire ten years from the grant date. In addition, the Company granted 30,000 stock options to an executive officer with a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $5.06,$3.37, a three-year vesting term and an expiration date of ten years from the grant date. In fiscal 2019,Further, the Companysix non-employee Board members were each granted its non-employee directors a combined 32,5002,000 unrestricted stock options with a weighted-average grant-dategrants. The fair market value of $126,700, a one year vesting term and an expirationthe unrestricted shares for share-based compensation expensing is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of ten years fromgrant of $11.33. Stock-based compensation expense includes $0.1 million of expense related to these unrestricted stock grants. The unrestricted stock grants were fully expensed at the date of the grant date.
The variable assumptions used in the fair value calculations using the Black-Scholes model are as follows:
For the Fiscal Years Ended August 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Expected term (years) | 6.00 | 5.80 | ||||||
Risk-free interest rate | 1.71 | % | 2.93 | % | ||||
Expected volatility | 39.32 | % | 41.83 | % | ||||
Expected dividend yield | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||
Weighted average grant-date fair value | $ | 4.19 | $ | 4.60 |
| | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended |
| ||||
|
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 |
| ||
Expected term (years) |
| | 6.00 |
| | 7.11 | |
Risk-free interest rate |
| | 1.31 | % | | 0.68 | % |
Expected volatility |
| | 38.25 | % | | 40.01 | % |
Expected dividend yield |
| | — | % | | — | % |
Weighted average grant-date fair value | | $ | 5.16 | | $ | 3.78 | |
During the fiscal years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019, 17,5002021, 103,667 and 62,50048,535 options were exercised. For the options exercised in 2022, the Company had options exercised for both cash and options exercised using a net settlement, whereby the optionee did not pay cash for the options but instead received the number of shares equal to the difference between the exercise price and the market price on the date of exercise. The Company received less than $0.1 million in cash on the exercise of 6,000 options. The net settlement exercises during the year ended August 31, 2022, resulted in 46,012 shares issued and 51,655 options cancelled in settlement of shares issued. For the options exercised in 2021, the Company had no options exercised for cash and only net settlement exercises of stock options. Net settlement exercises during the year ended August 31, 2021, resulted in 24,035 shares issued and 13,465 options cancelled in settlement of shares issued.
F-27
The following table summarizes the combined stock option activity for the 2004 Incentive Plan and 2014 Equity Plan for the year ended August 31, 2020:
Number of Options | Weighted Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term | Approximate Aggregate Intrinsic Value | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at August 31, 2018 | 535,500 | $ | 5.31 | 6.04 | $ | 3,180,990 | ||||||||||
Granted | 82,500 | $ | 10.48 | |||||||||||||
Exercised | (62,500 | ) | $ | 3.09 | ||||||||||||
Forfeited or expired | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at August 31, 2019 | 555,500 | $ | 6.33 | 6.27 | $ | 2,527,590 | ||||||||||
Granted | 130,000 | $ | 10.41 | |||||||||||||
Exercised | (17,500 | ) | $ | 2.81 | ||||||||||||
Forfeited or expired | (6,500 | ) | $ | 6.08 | ||||||||||||
Outstanding at August 31, 2020 | 661,500 | $ | 7.23 | 6.17 | $ | 1,831,075 | ||||||||||
Options exercisable at August 31, 2020 | 481,501 | $ | 6.08 | 5.22 | $ | 1,795,076 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
| Number of Options |
| Weighted Average Exercise Price |
| Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term |
| Approximate Aggregate Intrinsic Value | ||
Outstanding at August 31, 2020 |
| 661,500 | | $ | 7.23 |
| 6.2 | | $ | 1,831 |
Granted |
| 115,000 | | $ | 9.00 |
|
| |
|
|
Exercised |
| (24,500) | | $ | 3.66 |
|
| |
|
|
Net settlement exercised |
| (37,500) | | $ | 3.99 |
|
| |
|
|
Outstanding at August 31, 2021 |
| 714,500 | | $ | 7.80 |
| 6.1 | | $ | 5,107 |
Granted |
| 105,000 | | $ | 13.37 |
|
| |
|
|
Exercised |
| (103,667) | | $ | 6.87 |
|
| |
|
|
Forfeited / Expired | | (3,333) | | $ | 10.45 | | | | | |
Outstanding at August 31, 2022 |
| 712,500 | | $ | 8.75 |
| 5.7 | | $ | 1,489 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Options exercisable at August 31, 2022 |
| 479,502 | | $ | 7.56 |
| 4.5 | | $ | 1,373 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
The following table summarizes the activity and value of non-vested options as of and for the year ended August 31, 2020:
Number of Options | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |||||||
Non-vested options outstanding at August 31, 2019 | 152,499 | $ | 4.03 | |||||
Granted | 130,000 | 4.19 | ||||||
Vested | (102,500 | ) | 3.75 | |||||
Forfeited | — | — | ||||||
Non-vested options outstanding at August 31, 2020 | 179,999 | $ | 4.31 |
| | | | | |
|
| Number of Options |
| Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value | |
Non-vested options outstanding at August 31, 2021 |
| 179,999 | | $ | 4.31 |
Granted |
| 115,000 | | $ | 3.78 |
Vested |
| (76,666) | | $ | 4.27 |
Non-vested options outstanding at August 31, 2021 |
| 218,333 | | $ | 4.04 |
Granted |
| 105,000 | | $ | 5.16 |
Vested |
| (87,002) | | $ | 4.21 |
Forfeited |
| (3,333) | | $ | 4.21 |
Non-vested options outstanding at August 31, 2022 |
| 232,998 | | $ | 4.47 |
All non-vested options are expected to vest. For the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the total fair value of options that vested during the year was $384,400$0.4 million and $297,100.$0.3 million. For the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted was $4.19$5.16 and $4.60.
For the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, share-based compensation expense was $517,000$0.6 million and $336,200.
As of August 31, 2020,2022, the Company had unrecognized share-based compensation expenses totaling $461,100$0.6 million relating to non-vested options that are expected to vest. The weighted average period over which these options are expected to vest is 1.7two years. The Company has not recorded any excess tax benefits to additional paid-in capital.
Warrants
As of August 31, 2020,2022, the Company had outstanding warrants to purchase 92 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.80 per share. These warrants expire six months from the earlier of:
● | The date that all the Export Water is sold or otherwise disposed of, |
● | The date that the CAA is terminated with respect to the original holder of the warrant, or |
● | The date on which the Company makes the final payment pursuant to Section 2.1(r) of the CAA. |
No warrants were exercised during fiscal 20202022 and 2019.2021.
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NOTE 910 – SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
The Company has significant customers in its operations. The table below presents the percentage of total revenue for the reported customers for the years ended August 31, 2022 and 2021. For water and wastewater customers, the Company primarily provides water and wastewater services on the Rangeview District’s behalf to the Rangeview District’s customers. Because the Rangeview District accounts for the majority of the Company’s water and wastewater service revenue, the Company has included the end-use customers of the Rangeview District who generatefor which the most revenue for it on its list of significant customers. Additionally,end users include all Sky Ranch homes in the Company has presentedaggregate combined with the percentages of revenue from waterSky Ranch CAB and wastewater services and water and wastewater tap sales separately (versus by the water and wastewater resource development segment or total revenue) because it believes that provides a more meaningful presentation of the relevance of each customer to that service line. Lot sales are generated entirely through sales to three customers as noted below.two oil & gas operators. The tables below present revenue generated from the Company's significant customers for each of the services presented.
For the year ended August 31, 2020 | Water and wastewater metered services | Water and wastewater tap fees | Land development (Lot sales recognized) | |||||||||
Ridgeview Youth Services | 14 | % | – | – | ||||||||
Conoco / Crestone Peak (O&G operations) | 45 | % | – | – | ||||||||
All Sky Ranch Homes (1) | 22 | % | – | – | ||||||||
All Wild Pointe Homes (2) | 9 | % | 4 | % | – | |||||||
Taylor Morrison | – | 28 | % | 32 | % | |||||||
KB Home | – | 38 | % | 26 | % | |||||||
Richmond Homes | – | 31 | % | 42 | % | |||||||
Combined totals presented | 90 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % |
| | | |
| Year Ended | ||
% of Total Revenue Generated From: | August 31, 2022 | | August 31, 2021 |
Sky Ranch homes and Sky Ranch CAB in the aggregate | 5% | | 14% |
Two oil & gas operators | 16% | | — |
Lennar | 18% | | — |
Challenger | 14% | | — |
KB Home | 10% | | 20% |
Richmond | 6% | | 16% |
Taylor Morrison | — | | 17% |
For the year ended August 31, 2019 | Water and wastewater metered services | Water and wastewater tap fees | Land development (Lot sales recognized) | |||||||||
Ridgeview Youth Services | 3 | % | – | – | ||||||||
Conoco / Crestone Peak (O&G operations) | 74 | % | – | – | ||||||||
All Sky Ranch Homes (1) | – | – | – | |||||||||
All Wild Pointe Homes (2) | 3 | % | 6 | % | – | |||||||
Taylor Morrison | – | 26 | % | 34 | % | |||||||
KB Home | – | 29 | % | 34 | % | |||||||
Richmond Homes | – | 38 | % | 32 | % | |||||||
Combined totals presented | 80 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % |
Additionally, at August 31, 2020 and 2019 from the Rangeview District comprise 81% and 40%2022, 34% of the balances. However, thetrade accounts receivable balances from the end-use customers that are owed to the Rangeview District, the majority of which in turn are owed to the Company, are comprised primarily of amountsbalance was owed by Challenger for finished lot milestone payments.
NOTE 11 – INCOME TAXES
For the home builders at Sky Ranch for tap fees. As ofyear ended August 31, 2020, the three home builders accounted for 42% of the receivables balance, with all Sky Ranch homeowners combined accounting for 17% of the receivable balance and all Wild Pointe homeowners combined accounting for 14% of the receivable balance. As of August 31, 2019, the three home builders accounted for 5% of the receivables balance, with all Wild Pointe homeowners combined accounting for 26% of the receivable balance, and Conoco accounting for 57% of the receivable balance.
For the year ended August 31, 2021, Pure Cycle recorded income tax expense of $6.5 million, which consisted of current income tax expense of $5.8 million and deferred income tax expense of $2.2$0.7 million. The deferred tax expense consists of the usage of the Company’s $2.2$0.6 million of net operating loss carryforwards and the timing differencedifferences between book and tax depreciation of fixed assets.
During the release of its valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets.
Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effects of net operating loss carryforwards and temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets as of August 31 are as follows:
For the Fiscal Years Ended August 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Deferred tax assets (liabilities): | ||||||||
Net operating loss carryforwards | $ | 22,922 | $ | 609,439 | ||||
AMT credit carryforward | — | — | ||||||
Accrued compensation | 166,948 | 113,559 | ||||||
Deferred revenues | 88,994 | 149,895 | ||||||
Depreciation and depletion | (1,700,771 | ) | (46,408 | ) | ||||
Non-qualified stock options | 490,952 | 410,633 | ||||||
Other | 45,323 | 46,128 | ||||||
Valuation allowance | — | — | ||||||
Net deferred tax (liability) asset | $ | (885,632 | ) | $ | 1,283,246 |
| | | | | | |
(In thousands) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | ||
Deferred tax assets (liabilities): |
| |
|
| |
|
Depreciation and depletion | | $ | (2,061) | | $ | (2,360) |
Non-qualified stock options | |
| 568 | |
| 547 |
Accrued compensation | | | 279 | | | 141 |
Deferred revenues | | | 108 | | | 41 |
Other | |
| 31 | |
| 16 |
Net deferred tax liability | | $ | (1,075) | | $ | (1,615) |
As of August 31, 20202022 and August 31, 20192021, the Company had no liability for unrecognized tax benefits.
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Income taxes computed using the federal statutory income tax rate differs from the Company’s effective tax rate primarily due to the following for the fiscal years ended August 31:
For the Fiscal Years Ended August 31, | ||||||||
2020 | 2019 | |||||||
Expected benefit from federal taxes at statutory rate of 21% for the years 2020 and 2019 | $ | 1,873,021 | $ | 740,870 | ||||
State taxes, net of federal benefit | 326,441 | 129,123 | ||||||
Permanent and other differences | 2,137 | 10,388 | ||||||
NOL true up | (8,240 | ) | 225,067 | |||||
Non-qualified stock options adjustment | — | (348,441 | ) | |||||
Other | (24,566 | ) | (26,202 | ) | ||||
Change in valuation allowance | — | (2,014,000 | ) | |||||
Total income tax expense / (benefit) | $ | 2,168,793 | $ | (1,283,195 | ) |
| | | | | | |
| | Year Ended | ||||
|
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | ||
Expected benefit from federal taxes at statutory rate of 21% for the years 2022 and 2021 | | $ | 2,668 | | $ | 5,584 |
State taxes, net of federal benefit | | | 456 | | | 973 |
Permanent and other differences | | | 4 | | | 4 |
Stock Compensation | | | 22 | | | (77) |
Other | | | (64) | | | (4) |
Total income tax expense | | $ | 3,086 | | $ | 6,480 |
| | | | | | |
At August 31, 2020,2022 and 2021, the Company has $109,200 ofhad no net operating loss carryforwards available for income tax purposes. The net operating loss carryforwards expire at various times beginning in 2036 and ending in 2038 for federal income tax purposes and expire at various times beginning in 2035 and ending in 2036 for state income tax purposes. At August 31, 2019, the Company had $2.5 million of net operating loss carryforwards available for income tax purposes.
The Company maintains the Pure Cycle Corporation 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the “401(k) Plan”)(401(k) Plan), a defined contribution retirement plan for the benefit of its employees. In fiscal 2020,The Company matches employee contributions at the Company implemented a 401(k) Plan match, for whichrate of 50% of the Company contributes 1.5% if an employee contributesfirst 3% or more up to a maximum contribution of $2,500 per annum. The contributions vest based on years of service - first anniversary 25%, second anniversary 50%, third anniversary 75% and the fourth anniversary 100%. The Company pays the annual administrative fees of the 401(k) Plan, and the 401(k) Plan participants pay the investment fees. The 401(k) Plan is open to all employees, age 18 or older, who have been employees of the Company for at least three months.
For the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the Company recorded total expenseless than $0.1 million of $28,900 and $6,000,expenses related to the 401(k) Plan.
NOTE 1213 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company has historically been involved in various claims, litigation and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. The Company records an accrual for a loss contingency when its occurrence is probable and damages can be reasonably estimated based on the anticipated most likely outcome or the minimum amount within a range of possible outcomes. The Company makes such estimates based on information known about the claims and experience in contesting, litigating, and settling similar claims. Disclosures are also provided for reasonably possible losses that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. As of August 31, 2020,2022, the Company had no contingencies where the risk of material loss was probable.
NOTE 1314 – SEGMENT REPORTING
An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise for which discrete financial information is available and is reviewed regularly by the CODM, or decision-making group, to evaluate performance and make operating decisions. The Company has identified its CODM as its Chief Executive Officer.
Based on the methods used by the CODM to allocate resources, the Company has identified two operating segments which meet GAAP segment disclosure requirements, namely the water and wastewater resource development segment and the land development segment.
The water and wastewater resource development business includes sellingsegment provides water and wastewater services to customers whichfor fees. The water is provided by the Company using water rights owned or controlled by the Company, and developing infrastructure to divert, treat and distribute that water and collect, treat, and reuse wastewater. The land resource development segment includes all the activities necessary to develop and sell finished lots, which as of August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, was done exclusively at the Company’s Sky Ranch Master Planned Community.
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O&G operations, although material in certain years, are deemed a passive activity as the CODM does not actively allocate resources to these projects; therefore, this is not classified as a reportable segment.
The tables below present the measure of profit and assets the CODM uses to assess the performance of the segment for the periods presented:
Year Ended August 31, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
Water and wastewater resource development | Land development | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Total revenue | $ | 6,920,815 | $ | 18,934,400 | $ | — | $ | 25,855,215 | ||||||||
Cost of revenue | (1,074,450 | ) | (15,869,547 | ) | — | (16,943,997 | ) | |||||||||
Depletion and depreciation | (1,367,160 | ) | — | — | (1,367,160 | ) | ||||||||||
Total cost of revenue | (2,441,610 | ) | (15,869,547 | ) | — | (18,311,157 | ) | |||||||||
Gross Margin | 4,479,205 | 3,064,853 | — | 7,544,058 | ||||||||||||
Reimbursement of construction costs - related party | — | 6,275,500 | — | 6,275,500 | ||||||||||||
Gross Margin after reimbursables | $ | 4,479,205 | $ | 9,340,353 | $ | — | $ | 13,819,558 | ||||||||
Pretax operating income | $ | 4,479,205 | $ | 3,064,853 | $ | (6,030,683 | ) | $ | 1,513,375 | |||||||
Total long-term assets | $ | 56,266,579 | $ | 6,975,289 | $ | 26,519,188 | $ | 89,761,056 |
Year Ended August 31, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
Water and wastewater resource development | Land development | Corporate | Total | |||||||||||||
Total revenue | $ | 8,405,520 | $ | 11,955,989 | $ | — | $ | 20,361,509 | ||||||||
Cost of revenue | (1,670,508 | ) | (11,304,962 | ) | — | (12,975,470 | ) | |||||||||
Depletion and depreciation | (968,229 | ) | — | — | (968,229 | ) | ||||||||||
Total cost of revenue | (2,638,737 | ) | (11,304,962 | ) | — | (13,943,699 | ) | |||||||||
Gross Margin | $ | 5,766,783 | $ | 651,027 | $ | — | $ | 6,417,810 | ||||||||
Pretax operating income | $ | 5,766,783 | $ | 651,027 | $ | (3,419,149 | ) | $ | 2,998,661 | |||||||
Total long-term assets | $ | 51,588,079 | $ | 16,866,542 | $ | 15,266,783 | $ | 83,721,404 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) |
| Water and wastewater resource development |
| Land development | | Single-family rental |
| Total | ||||
Total revenue |
| $ | 10,051 |
| $ | 12,870 | | $ | 82 |
| $ | 23,003 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of revenue | |
| 2,700 | |
| 2,166 | |
| 23 | |
| 4,889 |
Depreciation and depletion | |
| 1,740 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,740 |
Total cost of revenue | |
| 4,440 | |
| 2,166 | |
| 23 | |
| 6,629 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Segment profit | | $ | 5,611 | | $ | 10,704 | | $ | 59 | | $ | 16,374 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended August 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
(In thousands) |
| Water and wastewater resource development |
| Land development | | Single-family rental |
| Total | ||||
Total revenue | | $ | 9,656 | | $ | 7,469 | | $ | — | | $ | 17,125 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of revenue | |
| 2,410 | |
| 2,535 | |
| — | |
| 4,945 |
Depreciation and depletion | |
| 1,457 | |
| — | |
| — | |
| 1,457 |
Total cost of revenue | |
| 3,867 | |
| 2,535 | |
| — | |
| 6,402 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Segment profit | | $ | 5,789 | | $ | 4,934 | | $ | — | | $ | 10,723 |
The following table summarizes the Company’s total assets by segment. The assets consist of Contentswater rights and water and wastewater systems in the Company’s water and wastewater resource development segment; land, land development costs and deposits in the Company’s land development segment; and the cost of the homes in the single-family rental line. The Company’s other assets (“Corporate”) primarily consist of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, equipment, and related party notes receivables.
| | | | | | |
(In thousands) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | ||
Water and wastewater resource development | | $ | 63,064 | | $ | 57,791 |
Land development | | | 25,522 | | | 32,844 |
Single-family rental | | | 1,715 | | | — |
Corporate | | | 38,928 | | | 26,542 |
Total assets | | $ | 129,229 | | $ | 117,177 |
NOTE 1415 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Rangeview District
On December 16, 2009, the Company entered into a Participation Agreement with the Rangeview District, whereby the Company agreed to provide funding to the Rangeview District in connection with the Rangeview District joining the South Metro Water Supply Authority (“SMWSA”)(SMWSA). During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the Company provided funding of $17,400 and $22,200less than $0.1 million to the Rangeview District related to this Participation Agreement.
Through the WISE Financing Agreement, to date the Company has made payments totaling $6,316,600$7.0 million to purchase certain rights to use existing water transmission and related infrastructure acquired by the WISE project and to construct the connection to the WISE system. TheAt August 31, 2022, the amounts are included in Investments in water and water systems on the Company’s balance sheet as of August 31, 2020.sheet. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020,2022, the Company, through the Rangeview District, purchased an additional 400 acre feet360 acre-feet of WISE water for $582,200.
The cost of the water to the members is based on the water rates charged by Aurora Water and can be adjusted each January 1. As of January 1, 2020,2021, WISE water was $5.77$5.98 per thousand gallons and such rate remained in effect through calendar 2021. Effective, January
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1, 2022, WISE water increased to $6.13 per thousand gallons which will remain in effect through the end of calendar 2021.2022. In addition, the Company pays certain system operational and construction costs. If a WISE member, including the Rangeview District, does not need its WISE water each year or a member needs additional water, the members can trade and/or buy and sell water amongst themselves.
In fiscal 2021, the Company agreed to fund the construction of the WISE Rangeview pipeline extension through the Rangeview District. Per the agreement, the Rangeview District constructed the pipeline extension in exchange for $0.6 million. Because the Company is funding the entire project costs, the revenue from the agreement was recognized 100% by the Company. As of August 31, 2022, the Company has recognized the full amount in revenue related to this construction project as it was completed prior to the end of fiscal 2022.
During the years ended August 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the Company provided $2.8$0.9 million and $1.5$1.1 million of financing to the Rangeview District to fund the Rangeview District’s obligation to purchase WISE water rights and pay for operational and construction charges. Ongoing funding requirements are dependent on the WISE water subscription amount and the Rangeview District’s allocated share of the operational and overhead costs of SMWA and construction activities related to delivery of WISE water.
The Company has outstanding notes receivable of $1,078,600$18.3 million in the aggregate from the Rangeview District and the Sky Ranch CAB, which are related parties, as discussed below:
The Rangeview District is a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivision of Colorado formed in 1986 for the purpose of providing water and wastewater service to the Lowry Range and other approved areas. The Rangeview District is governed by an elected board of directors. Eligible voters and persons eligible to serve as a director of the Rangeview District must own an interest in property within the boundaries of the Rangeview District. The Company owns certain rights and real property interests which encompass the current boundaries of the Rangeview District. Sky Ranch Metropolitan District Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5 (the “Sky Ranch Districts”) and the Sky Ranch CAB are quasi-municipal corporations and political subdivisions of Colorado formed for the purpose of providing service to the Company’s Sky Ranch property. The current members of the board of directors of the Rangeview District, each Sky Ranch District, and the Sky Ranch CAB consist of three employees of the Company (including the Company’s President) and one independent board member.
In 1995, the Company extended a loan to the Rangeview District. The loan provided for borrowings of up to $250,000,$0.25 million, is unsecured, and bears interest based on the prevailing prime rate plus 2% (5.25%(7.50% at August 31, 2020)2022). The maturity date of the loan is December 31, 2020.2022. Beginning in January 2014, the Rangeview District and the Company entered into a funding agreement that allows the Company to continue to provide funding to the Rangeview District for day-to-day operations and accrue the funding into a note that bears interest at a rate of 8% per annum and remains in full force and effect for so long as the Lease remains in effect. Of theThe August 31, 20202022, balance in Notesnotes receivable - related parties,, $1,050,000 includes other totaled $1.1 million, which included borrowings by the Rangeview District of $598,500$1.1 million and accrued interest of $451,500. Ofless than $0.1 million. During the year ended August 31, 20192022, the Rangeview District made payments totaling $0.5 million on the notes payable to the Company. The August 31, 2021, balance in Notesnotes receivable - related parties,, $961,700 includes other totaled $1.2 million, which included borrowings by the Rangeview District of $546,500$0.7 million and accrued interest of $414,800.
Sky Ranch CAB agreed to repay the amounts owed by the Sky Ranch District under this agreement and the agreement was terminated pursuant to the Sky Ranch FFAA (defined and described below).
Pursuant to a certain Community Authority Board Establishment Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time, Sky Ranch Metropolitan District No. 1 and Sky Ranch Metropolitan District No. 5 formed the Sky Ranch CAB to, among other things, design, construct, finance, operate and maintain certain public improvements for the benefit of the property within the boundaries and/or service area of the Sky Ranch Districts. In order for the public improvements to be constructed and/or acquired, it is necessary for each Sky Ranch District, directly or through the Sky Ranch CAB, to be able to fund the improvements and pay its ongoing operations and maintenance expenses related to the provision of services that benefit the property. In November 2017, but effective as of January 1, 2018, the Company entered into a Project Funding and Reimbursement Agreement (“PF Agreement”)(PF Agreement) with the CAB for the Sky Ranch property. The PF Agreement required the Company to fund an agreed upon list of public improvements for Sky Ranch with respect to earthwork, erosion control, streets, drainage, and landscaping at an estimated cost of $13.2 million for calendar years 2018 and 2019. Each advance or reimbursable expense accrues interest at a rate of 6%six percent (6%) per annum.
The Company and effective as of November 13, 2017, the partiesSky Ranch CAB entered into a series of agreements that superseded and consolidated the previous agreements into one primary agreement, the Facilities Funding and Acquisition Agreement (the “Sky(FFAA) effective November 2017, obligating the company to advance funding to the Sky Ranch FFAA”), pursuantCAB for specified public improvements constructed from 2018 to which:
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As of August 31, 2020,2022, the balance of the Company’s advances for improvements, excludingincluding interest, net of costs reimbursed in November 2019, toreimbursements already received from the Sky Ranch CAB, totaled $15.9 million, of which $0.5 million is included in Land development inventories and $15.4 million was expensed through Land development construction costs.$17.2 million. The advances have been used by the Sky Ranch CAB to pay for construction of public improvements. The Company submits specific costs for reimbursement to the Sky Ranch CAB. Based onCAB which have been certified by an independent third-party.
Sky Ranch Metropolitan District Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 (Sky Ranch Districts) and the specific costs being reimbursedSky Ranch CAB are quasi-municipal corporations and political subdivisions of Colorado formed for the purpose of providing service to the Company’s Sky Ranch property. The current members of the board of directors of the Rangeview District, each Sky Ranch District, and the Sky Ranch CAB consist of four employees of the Company (including the Company’s CEO and CFO) and one independent board member.
Nelson Pipeline Constructors LLC
Through a competitive bidding process, the Sky Ranch CAB awarded Nelson Pipeline Constructors, LLC (Nelson) a contract to construct the wet utility pipelines in Phase 2A of Sky Ranch. As the project progressed, change orders were approved by the Sky Ranch CAB the Company records those costs that have been previously expensed in cost of sales as other income and those costs that remain capitalized as land development inventory costs as a reduction of the related land development inventory costs held in Land development inventories. Any reimbursable costs repaid after all capitalized expenses and lot revenues have been fully recognized are recorded as Other income.
NOTE 16 – EARNINGS PER SHARE
Certain outstanding options are excluded from the reimbursement will reduce any applicable capitalized costs remaining in Inventories.
| | | | | | |
| | Year Ended | ||||
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts) |
| August 31, 2022 |
| August 31, 2021 | ||
Net income | | $ | 9,619 | | $ | 20,110 |
| | | | | | |
Basic weighted average common shares | | | 23,953,740 | | | 23,890,792 |
Effect of dilutive securities | | | 202,250 | | | 220,126 |
Weighted average shares applicable to diluted earnings per share | | | 24,155,990 | | | 24,110,918 |
| | | | | | |
Earnings per share - basic | | $ | 0.40 | | $ | 0.84 |
Earnings per share - diluted | | $ | 0.40 | | $ | 0.83 |
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None
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term isas defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act)Act that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms, and that information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Our Chief Executive OfficerThe President and ourthe Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures as of August 31, 2020,2022, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive OfficerPresident and the Chief Financial Officer haveeach concluded that, as of the end ofduring the period covered by this report, the Company’sour disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Exchange Act defines internal control over financial reporting as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our executive and principal financial officers 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 GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that:
● | Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; |
● | Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and our directors; and |
● | Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. |
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”)(COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (the “2013(2013 COSO Framework”)Framework). Based on that assessment, management has concludeddetermined that as of August 31, 2020, our internal controlcontrols over financial reporting is effective based on these criteria.
During the year ended August 31, 2021, we identified a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting related to spreadsheet controls. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in our internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
47
effectively. As a result, management believes the material weakness previously identified has been remediated as of August 31, 2019, which continued as of May 31, 2020. With oversight from our Audit Committee, management dedicated itself to remediating the control deficiencies that gave rise to the material weaknesses in our control over financial reporting. As of August 31, 2020, the following measures, among others, have been implemented to address the material weaknesses identified as of August 31, 2019 and May 31, 2020:
Changes in Internal Controls
No changes were made to our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of our most recently completed fiscal quarter,2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting
None.
Our board of directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees that is available on our website at www.purecyclewater.com. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers from the provisions of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that are applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer and that relate to any element of the SEC’s definition of code of ethics by posting such information on our website, in a press release, or on a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Information required by this item will be contained in, and is incorporated herein by reference to, our definitive Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in January 2021,2023, which is expected to be filed on or about December 1, 2020 (the “Proxy Statement”)2, 2022 (Proxy Statement).
The information required by this item will be included in, and is incorporated herein by reference to, our Proxy Statement.
Item 12 – Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this item will be included in, and is incorporated herein by reference to, our Proxy Statement.
The information required by this item will be included in, and is incorporated herein by reference to, our Proxy Statement.
The information required by this item will be included in, and is incorporated herein by reference to, our Proxy Statement.
(a)Documents filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K
(1) | Financial Statements. See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
(2) | Financial Statement Schedules. All schedules are omitted either because they are not required or the required information is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto. |
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(3) | Exhibits. The exhibits listed on the accompanying “Exhibit Index” are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, unless otherwise indicated. |
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Exhibit Number | | Description |
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Fifth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated October 18, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc., as amended by Sixth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated October 20, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc., as amended by Seventh Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated October 20, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc., as amended by Eighth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated November 3, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc., as amended by Ninth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated November 7, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc., as amended by Tenth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated November 10, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc., as amended by Eleventh Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated March 27, 2018, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc., as amended by Twelfth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated April 10, 2018, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc., as amended by Thirteenth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated August 9, 2018, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc., as amended by Fourteenth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated July 19, 2019, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc. The Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate and the First through Ninth Amendments are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017. The Tenth Amendment is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2017. The Eleventh and Twelfth Amendments are incorporated by reference to Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2018. The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019. | ||
| Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated June 29, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by First Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated August 28, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Second Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated September 15, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Third Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated September 28, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Fourth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated October 9, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Fifth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated October 18, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Sixth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated October 20, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Seventh Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated October 31, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Eighth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated November 3, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Ninth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated November 7, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Tenth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated November 10, 2017, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Eleventh Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated March 29, 2018, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Twelfth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated January 22, 2019, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Thirteenth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated April 18, 2019, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Fourteenth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated May 21, 2019, by and between PCY Holdings, LLC and KB Home Colorado Inc., as amended by Fifteenth Amendment to Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate, dated February 20, |
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Exhibit Number | | Description |
---|---|---|
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2017. The Eleventh Amendment is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2019. The Twelfth Amendment is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2019. The Thirteenth Amendment is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2019. The Fourteenth Amendment is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2019. The Fifteenth Amendment is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 29, 2020. The Sixteenth Amendment is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2020 |
| ||
| , Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020. | |
| , Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020. | |
| , Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020. | |
|
, Incorporated by reference to Exhibit | ||
10.27 | | |
21.1 | | |
23.1 | | |
24.1 | | Powers of Attorney (included on the Signatures page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K)* |
31.1 | | Certification of principal executive officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. * |
31.2 | | Certification of principal financial officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. * |
| ||
32.2 | | |
101.INS | | Inline XBRL Instance Document. |
101.SCH | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. * |
101.CAL | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. * |
101.DEF | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. * |
101.LAB | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. * |
101.PRE | | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. * |
104 | | Cover page formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101 |
* | Filed herewith |
** | Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement in which directors or executive officers are eligible to participate. |
*** | Furnished herewith |
53
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d)15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
PURE CYCLE CORPORATION | |
| |
/s/ Kevin B. McNeill | |
Kevin B. McNeill Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |
November |
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mark W. Harding and Kevin B. McNeill, jointly and severally, as such person’s attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for such person in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | | Title | | Date |
/s/ Mark W. Harding | | |||
Mark W. Harding | | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | | November |
| | (Principal Executive Officer) | | |
/s/ Kevin B. McNeill | | | | |
Kevin B. McNeill | | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | | November |
| | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | | |
/s/ Patrick J. Beirne | | | | |
Patrick J. Beirne | | Chair, Director | | November |
| | | | |
/s/ | | | | |
Wanda J. Abel | | Director | | November |
| | | | |
/s/ | | | | |
Frederick A. Fendel III | | Director | | November |
| | | | |
/s/ Peter C. Howell | | | | |
Peter C. Howell | | Director | | November |
| | | | |
/s/ Daniel R. Kozlowski | | | | |
Daniel R. Kozlowski | | Director | | November 14, 2022 |
/s/ Jeffrey G. Sheets | | | | |
Jeffrey G. Sheets | | Director | | November |
54