Equity Method Investments | Equity Method Investments Tinuum Group, LLC As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company's ownership interest in Tinuum Group was 42.5%. Tinuum Group supplies technology equipment and technical services at select coal-fired generators, but its primary purpose is to put into operation facilities that produce and sell RC that lower emissions and also qualify for Section 45 tax credits. The Company has determined that Tinuum Group is a VIE; however, the Company does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Tinuum Group's economic performance and has therefore accounted for the investment under the equity method of accounting. The Company determined that the voting partners of Tinuum Group have identical voting rights, equity control interests and board control interests, and therefore, concluded that the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Tinuum Group's economic performance was shared. The following table summarizes the results of operations of Tinuum Group: Three Months Ended March 31, (in thousands) 2021 2020 Gross profit $ 2,675 $ 5,010 Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses 13,802 12,776 Loss from operations (11,127) (7,766) Other income (expenses), net 853 3,643 Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 35,578 19,271 Net income available to members $ 25,304 $ 15,148 ADES equity earnings from Tinuum Group $ 16,362 $ 6,438 For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recognized earnings from Tinuum Group's net income available to members that were different from its pro-rata share of Tinuum Group's net income available to members, as cash distributions for the three months ended March 31, 2021 exceeded the carrying value of the Tinuum Group equity investment. For 2021, the Company expects to recognize such excess contributions as equity method earnings in the period the distributions occur, limited to the carrying value of the Tinuum Group equity investment. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized its pro-rata share of Tinuum Group's net income available to its members for the respective period. For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2020, the Company recognized equity earnings from Tinuum Group of $16.4 million and $6.4 million, respectively. The following tables present the Company's investment balance, equity earnings and cash distributions in excess of the investment balance, if any, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 ( in thousands ): Description Date(s) Investment balance ADES equity earnings Cash distributions Memorandum Account: Cash distributions and equity earnings in (excess) of investment balance Beginning balance 12/31/2020 $ 3,387 $ — $ — $ — ADES proportionate share of income from Tinuum Group First Quarter 10,755 10,755 — — Cash distributions from Tinuum Group First Quarter (19,749) 19,749 — Adjustment for current year cash distributions in excess of investment balance First Quarter 5,607 5,607 — (5,607) Total investment balance, equity earnings and cash distributions 3/31/2021 $ — $ 16,362 $ 19,749 $ (5,607) Description Date(s) Investment balance ADES equity earnings Cash distributions Beginning balance 12/31/2019 $ 32,280 $ — $ — ADES proportionate share of income from Tinuum Group First Quarter 6,438 6,438 — Cash distributions from Tinuum Group First Quarter (13,764) — 13,764 Total investment balance, equity earnings and cash distributions 3/31/2020 $ 24,954 $ 6,438 $ 13,764 Tinuum Services, LLC The Company has a 50% voting and economic interest in Tinuum Services. The Company has determined that Tinuum Services is not a VIE and has further evaluated it for consolidation under the voting interest model. Because the Company does not own greater than 50% of the outstanding voting shares, either directly or indirectly, it has accounted for its investment in Tinuum Services under the equity method of accounting. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company’s investment in Tinuum Services was $2.7 million and $4.2 million, respectively. The following table summarizes the results of operations of Tinuum Services: Three Months Ended March 31, (in thousands) 2021 2020 Gross loss $ (18,522) $ (22,259) Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses 54,366 45,753 Loss from operations (72,888) (68,012) Other income (expenses), net (427) (285) Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 77,215 71,972 Net income $ 3,900 $ 3,675 ADES equity earnings from Tinuum Services $ 1,950 $ 1,838 Included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations of Tinuum Services for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, were losses related to VIE entities that consolidated in Tinuum Services of $77.2 million and $72.0 million, respectively. These losses do not impact the Company's equity earnings from Tinuum Services as 100% of those losses are attributable to a noncontrolling interest and eliminated in the calculations of Tinuum Services' net income attributable to the Company's interest. The following table details the carrying value of the Company's respective equity method investments included in the Equity method investments line item on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and indicates the Company's maximum exposure to loss: As of (in thousands) March 31, December 31, Equity method investment in Tinuum Group $ — $ 3,387 Equity method investment in Tinuum Services 2,690 4,242 Equity method investment in other 63 63 Total equity method investments $ 2,753 $ 7,692 The following table details the components of the Company's respective equity method investments included in the Earnings from equity method investments line item on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations: Three Months Ended March 31, (in thousands) 2021 2020 Earnings from Tinuum Group $ 16,362 $ 6,438 Earnings from Tinuum Services 1,950 1,838 Earnings (loss) from other — (3) Earnings from equity method investments $ 18,312 $ 8,273 The following table details the components of the cash distributions from the Company's respective equity method investments included as a component of cash flows from operating activities and investing activities in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Distributions from equity method investees are reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as "Distributions from equity method investees, return on investment" within Operating cash flows until such time as the carrying value in an equity method investee company is reduced to zero. Thereafter, such distributions are reported as "distributions in excess of cumulative earnings" as a component of cash flows from investing activities. Three Months Ended March 31, (in thousands) 2021 2020 Distributions from equity method investees, return on investment Tinuum Group $ 14,142 $ 13,764 Tinuum Services 3,502 3,352 $ 17,644 $ 17,116 Distributions from equity method investees in excess of investment basis Tinuum Group $ 5,607 $ — $ 5,607 $ — |