| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Solaris Inc. have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary for fair presentation.
As described in Note 1. “–Organization and Background of Business”, the Company is the sole managing member for Solaris LLC and consolidates entities in which it has a controlling financial interest. The financial statements for periods prior to the IPO have been adjusted to combine the previously separate entities for presentation purposes.
Thus, for periods prior to the completion of the Offering, the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the historical financial position and results of operations of Solaris LLC and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates used in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, stock-based compensation, depreciation associated with property, plant and equipment and related impairment considerations of those assets, determination of fair value of intangible assets acquired in business combinations and certain other assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from management's best estimates as additional information or actual results become available in the future, and those differences could be material.
Cash
For the purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all short-term, highly liquid, investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash is deposited in demand accounts in federally insured domestic institutions to minimize risk. Accounts of each institution are insured by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Cash balances at times may exceed federally-insured limits. We have not incurred losses related to these deposits.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consists of trade receivables recorded at the invoice amount, plus accrued revenue that is earned but not yet billed, less an estimated allowance for doubtful accounts (if any). Accounts receivable are generally due within 60 days or less, or in accordance with terms agreed with customers. The Company considers accounts outstanding longer than the payment terms past due. The Company determines the allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, previous loss history, the customer’s current ability to pay its obligation, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. Accounts receivable are written off when they are deemed uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts. Allowance for doubtful accounts was zero as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
Inventories
Inventories consist of materials used in the manufacturing of the Company’s systems, which include raw materials, and purchased parts and is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Detail reviews are performed related to net realizable value, giving consideration to quality, excessive levels, obsolescence and other factors. Adjustments that reduce stated amounts will be recognized as impairments in the consolidated statements of operations. There were no impairments recorded for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting. Under this method, acquired assets, including separately identifiable intangible assets and any assumed liabilities, are recorded at their acquisition date estimated fair value. The excess of purchase price over the fair value amounts assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed represents the goodwill amount resulting from the acquisition. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. Additional information regarding the Company’s business combinations is presented in Note 3. “–Business Combinations.”
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, or fair value for assets acquired in a business combination, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful service lives of the assets as noted below:
Useful Life
Systems and related equipment
Up to 15 years
Machinery and equipment
3-10 years
Furniture and fixtures
5 years
Computer hardware
3 years
Computer software
5-10 years
Vehicles
5 years
Transloading facility and equipment
15-30 years
Buildings and leasehold improvements
15 years
Systems that are in the process of being manufactured and the cost of construction in process at our Kingfisher Facility are considered property, plant and equipment. However, the systems and construction in process do not depreciate until they are fully completed. Systems and construction in process are a culmination of material, labor and overhead.
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged against income (loss) as incurred. Betterments that increase the value or materially extend the life of the related assets are capitalized. Upon sale or disposition of property and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the consolidated financial statements and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
Definite-lived Intangible Assets
Identified intangible assets with determinable lives consist primarily of customer relationships, a non-competition agreement and software acquired in the acquisition of Railtronix, LLC (“Railtronix”) as described further in Note 3, as well as patents that were filed for our systems and other intellectual property. Amortization expense of identified intangibles is expected to be approximately $770 in each of the next five years. Amortization on these assets is calculated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is five to fifteen years based on estimates the Company believes are reasonable. The Company recorded amortization expense of $801, $46 and $1 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Identified intangible assets by major classification consist of the following:
Accumulated
Net Book
Gross
Amortization
Value
As of December 31, 2018:
Customer relationships
$
4,703
$
(727)
$
3,976
Software acquired in the acquisition of Railtronix
346
(54)
292
Non-competition agreement
225
(49)
176
Patents and other
114
(18)
96
Total identifiable intangibles
$
5,388
$
(848)
$
4,540
As of December 31, 2017:
Customer relationships
$
4,703
$
(36)
$
4,667
Software acquired in the acquisition of Railtronix
346
(3)
343
Non-competition agreement
225
(3)
222
Patents and other
108
(5)
103
Total identifiable intangibles
$
5,382
$
(47)
$
5,335
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price of a business over the estimated fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company reported $17,236 of goodwill related to the 2014 purchase of the silo manufacturing business from Loadcraft Industries Ltd. and the 2017 purchase of the assets of Railtronix (See Note 3. “–Business Combinations”). The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment annually, as of October 31, or more often as facts and circumstances warrant. Factors such as unexpected adverse economic conditions, competition and market changes may require more frequent assessments. There was no impairment for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Before employing detailed impairment testing methodologies, the Company may first evaluate the likelihood of impairment by considering qualitative factors relevant to the business, such as macroeconomic, industry, market or any other factors that have a significant bearing on fair value. If the Company first utilizes a qualitative approach and determines that it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, detailed testing methodologies are then applied. Otherwise, the Company concludes that no impairment has occurred. The Company may also choose to bypass a qualitative approach and opt instead to employ detailed testing methodologies, regardless of a possible more likely than not outcome. If the Company determines through the qualitative approach that detailed testing methodologies are required, or if the qualitative approach is bypassed, the Company compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Definite-lived Intangible Assets
Long-lived assets, such as property, plant, equipment and definite-lived intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable, such as insufficient cash flows or plans to dispose of or sell long-lived assets before the end of their previously estimated useful lives. If the carrying amount is not recoverable, the Company recognizes an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds fair value. The Company estimates fair value based on projected future discounted cash flows. Fair value calculations for long-lived assets and intangible assets contain uncertainties because it requires the Company to apply judgment and estimates concerning future cash flows, strategic plans, useful lives and market performance. The Company also applies judgment in the selection of a discount rate that reflects the risk inherent in the current business model. There was no impairment for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
Revenue Recognition
The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which the Company adopted effective January 1, 2018. The Company applied ASC Topic 606 to all contracts with customers and did not elect practical expedients upon adoption of the standard. No cumulative adjustment to accumulated earnings was required as a result of this adoption, and the adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements as no material arrangements prior to the adoption were impacted under the new pronouncement .
In determining the appropriate amount of revenue to be recognized as we fulfill our obligations under the agreement, the following steps must be performed at contract inception: (i) identification of the promised goods or services in the contract; (ii) determination of whether the promised goods or services are performance obligations, including whether they are distinct in the context of the contract; (iii) measurement of the transaction price, including the constraint on variable consideration; (iv) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and (v) recognition of revenue when (or as) we satisfy each performance obligation.
Revenues from system rental consist primarily of fixed monthly fees charged to customers for the use of our patented mobile proppant management systems that unload, store and deliver proppant at oil and natural gas well sites as well as the use of our proprietary inventory management system, Solaris Lens, which enables our customers to track inventory levels in, and delivery rates from, each silo in a system on a remote and digital basis, both of which are considered to be separate performance obligations. Contracts with customers are typically on thirty- to sixty-day payment terms. Revenues are recognized over time as the performance obligations are satisfied under the terms of the customer contract. We determined that the performance obligation is satisfied over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the entity’s performance of services, typically as our systems are used by the customer. We measure progress using an input method based on resources consumed or expended relative to the total resources expected to be consumed or expended. We typically charge our customers for the rental of our systems on a monthly basis under agreements requiring the rental of a minimum number of systems for a period of twelve months. The Company is typically entitled to short fall payments if such minimum contractual obligations are not maintained by our customers. Minimum contractual obligations have been maintained and thus the Company has not recognized revenues related to shortfalls on such take or pay contractual obligations to date.
Revenues from system services consist primarily of the fees charged to customers for services including mobilization and transportation of our systems, field supervision and support and services coordinating proppant delivery to systems, each of which are considered to be separate performance obligations. Contracts with customers are typically on thirty- to sixty-day payment terms. Revenues are recognized over time as the performance obligations are satisfied under the terms of the customer contract. We determined that the performance obligation for system services including field supervision and support is satisfied over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the entity’s performance of the services, typically based on fixed weekly or monthly contractual rates for field supervision and support and when the Company provides services coordinating proppant delivery. We measure progress using an input method based on resources consumed or expended relative to the total resources expected to be consumed or expended. When the Company provides mobilization and transportation of our systems on behalf of our customers, we determined that the performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time when the system has reached its intended destination.
Revenues from transloading services consist primarily of the fees charged to customers for transloading proppant at our transloading facility, which is considered to be our performance obligation. Transloading services operations commenced in January 2018. We provide rail-to-truck transloading and high-efficiency sand silo storage and transloading services at the facility. Contracts with customers are typically on thirty- to sixty-day payment terms. Revenues are typically recognized over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the entity’s performance of the transloading service based on a throughput fee per ton rate for proppant delivered to and transloaded at the facility. We measure progress based on the products delivered and transloaded at the facility. Under one of our agreements at the facility, quarterly minimum throughput volumes are required and the Company is entitled to short fall payments if such minimum quarterly contractual obligations are not maintained. These shortfalls are based on fixed minimum volumes at a fixed rate and are recognized over time as throughput volumes transloaded are below minimum throughput volumes required.
Revenues from inventory software services consist primarily of the fees charged to customers for the use of our Railtronix inventory management software, which is considered to be our performance obligation. The Railtronix inventory management software was acquired in December 2017. Revenues are recognized over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the entity’s performance based on a throughput fee to monitor proppant that is loaded into a railcar, stored at a transload facility or loaded into a truck.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue consists of a $25,980 partial termination payment received in accordance with a contract modification which is accounted for prospectively. The partial termination payment represents the distinct unsatisfied portion of a contract to provide transloading services and are considered part of the transaction price and will be allocated to the remaining performance obligations under the contract. The Company recognized $522 of deferred revenue as Revenue from transloading services in the year ended December 31, 2018, resulting in $25,458 remaining deferred revenue as of December 31, 2018, which will be recognized over the remaining two-year term of the modified agreement. No deferred revenue was recorded or recognized as revenue during the year ended December 31, 2017.
Unbilled Receivables
Revenues recognized in advance of invoice issuance create assets referred to as “unbilled receivables.” These assets are presented on a combined basis with accounts receivable and are converted to accounts receivable once billed.
Stock-based Compensation
The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation including grants of restricted stock and options in the consolidated statements of operations based on their estimated fair values. The Company recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the awards’ vesting period, which is generally the requisite service period.
Solaris LLC previously sponsored a stock-based management compensation program called the 2015 Membership Unit Option Plan (the “Plan”). Solaris LLC accounted for the units under the Plan as compensation cost measured at the fair value of the award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
In connection with the Offering, the options granted under the Plan were modified by a conversion into options under the Solaris Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”). Refer also to Note 9. “–Equity”.
Research and Development
The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, research and development costs were $0, $210 and $476, respectively.
Financial Instruments
The carrying value of the Company’s financial instruments, consisting of cash, accounts receivable, notes receivable, accounts payable, insurance premium financing and accrued expenses, approximates their fair value due to the short maturity of such instruments. Financial instruments also consist of a revolving credit facility and term loans, for which fair value approximates carrying value as the debt bears interest at a variable rate which is reflective of current rates otherwise available to the Company. As of December 31, 2018, we had $13,000 of borrowings under the 2018 Credit Agreement (as defined below) outstanding. Unless otherwise noted, it is management’s opinion that the Company is not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from these financial instruments.
Fair Value Measurements
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities are to be measured using inputs from the three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, which are as follows:
·
Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date;
·
Level 2—Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active or other inputs corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and
·
Level 3—Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions that market participants would use in pricing assets or liabilities based on the best information available.
Income Taxes
Solaris Inc. is a corporation and, as a result, is subject to United States federal, state and local income taxes. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, we recognized a combined United States federal and state provision for income taxes of $12,961 and $25,899, respectively.
On December 22, 2017, Public Law No. 115-97, commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted into law. The provisions of the Tax Act that impact us include, but are not limited to, (1) reducing the United States federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, (2) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT); (3) allowing business to immediately expense the cost of new investments in certain qualified depreciable assets acquired after September 27, 2017 (with a phase-down of such expensing starting in 2023); and (4) reducing the maximum deduction for net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards generated in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 to 80% of a taxpayer’s taxable income. In conjunction with the Tax Act, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (SAB 118), which allows us to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year of the enactment date. We previously reported provisional amounts of the income tax effects of the Tax Act for which the accounting was incomplete, but a reasonable estimate could be determined. During the year ended December 31, 2018, our accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Act was completed without material changes to the previously provided estimates.
Solaris LLC is treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes and therefore does not pay federal income tax on its taxable income. Instead, the Solaris LLC members are liable for federal income tax on their respective shares of the Company’s taxable income reported on the members’ federal income tax returns.
Our revenues are derived through transactions in several states, which may be subject to state and local taxes. Accordingly, we have recorded a liability for state and local taxes that management believes is adequate for activities as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.
We are subject to a franchise tax imposed by the State of Texas. The franchise tax rate is 1%, calculated on taxable margin. Taxable margin is defined as total revenue less deductions for cost of goods sold or compensation and benefits in which the total calculated taxable margin cannot exceed 70% of total revenue. Current expenses related to Texas franchise tax were approximately $684,000, $247,000 and $43,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.
We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, we determine deferred tax assets and liabilities on the basis of the differences between the book value and tax bases of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period in which the enactment date occurs.
We recognize deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets are more-likely-than-not to be realized. In making such a determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent results of operations.
We record uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) we determine whether it is more-likely-than-not the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.
Interest and penalties related to income taxes are included in the benefit (provision) for income taxes in our consolidated statement of operations. We have not incurred any significant interest or penalties related to income taxes in any of the periods presented.
See Note 10. “–Income Taxes” for additional information regarding income taxes.
Payable Related to the Tax Receivable Agreement
In connection with the IPO, Solaris Inc. entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) with the members of Solaris LLC immediately prior to the IPO (each such person and any permitted transferee, a “TRA Holder,” and together, the “TRA Holders”) on May 17, 2017. This agreement generally provides for the payment by Solaris Inc. to each TRA Holder of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in United States federal, state and local income tax or franchise tax that Solaris Inc. actually realizes (computed using simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) or is deemed to realize in certain circumstances in periods after the IPO as a result of (i) certain increases in tax basis that occur as a result of Solaris Inc.’s acquisition (or deemed acquisition for United States federal income tax purposes) of all or a portion of such TRA Holder's Solaris LLC Units in connection with the Reorganization Transactions or pursuant to the exercise of the Redemption Right or the Call Right (each as defined in the Solaris LLC Agreement) and (ii) imputed interest deemed to be paid by Solaris Inc. as a result of, and additional tax basis arising from, any payments Solaris makes under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Solaris Inc. will retain the benefit of the remaining 15% of these cash savings. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, Solaris Inc. recorded a payable related to the Tax Receivable Agreement of $56,149 and $24,675, respectively. The increase in payables related to the Tax Receivable Agreement is a result of Solaris Inc.’s acquisition (or deemed acquisition for United States federal income tax purposes) of Solaris LLC Units from TRA Holders.
Environmental Matters
The Company is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Management has established procedures for the ongoing evaluation of the Company’s operations, to identify potential environmental exposures and to comply with regulatory policies and procedures. Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and do not contribute to current or future revenue generation are expensed as incurred. Liabilities are recorded when environmental costs are probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The Company maintains insurance which may cover in whole or in part certain environmental expenditures. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no environmental matters deemed probable.
Segment Information
Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the Chief Executive Officer. The Company and the Chief Executive Officer view the Company’s operations and manage its business as one operating segment. All long-lived assets of the Company reside in the United States.
Accounting Standards Recently Adopted
In February 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2017‑05, Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610‑20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets ("ASU 2017‑05"). ASU 2017‑05 clarifies the scope of Subtopic 610‑20 and adds guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. Subtopic 610‑20 was issued in May 2014 as part of ASU No. 2014‑09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and provides guidance for recognizing gains and losses from the transfer of nonfinancial assets in contracts with noncustomers. The amendments in ASU 2017‑05 clarify that a financial asset is within the scope of Subtopic 610‑20 if it meets the definition of an in substance nonfinancial asset. The amendments also clarify that nonfinancial assets within the scope of Subtopic 610‑20 may include nonfinancial assets transferred within a legal entity to a counterparty. The amendments in ASU 2017‑05 are effective at the same time as the amendments in ASU 2014‑09, which are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. An entity may elect to apply the amendments in ASU 2017‑05 either retrospectively to each period presented in the financial statements in accordance with the guidance on accounting changes (retrospective approach) or retrospectively with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption (modified retrospective approach). The Company adopted ASU 2017-05 during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. Adoption of this ASU did not impact the Company’s opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 as our reported results did not differ under the new revenue standard and the previous guidance.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash ("ASU 2016-18"). ASU 2016-18 is intended to add and clarify guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The amendments are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2016-18 during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, which did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016‑15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ("ASU 2016-15"), seeking to eliminate diversity in practice related to how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in ASU 2016‑15 address eight specific cash flow issues and apply to all entities, including both business entities and not-for-profit entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under FASB ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows. The amendments in ASU 2016‑15 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted ASU 2016-15 during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, which did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Recently Issued But Not Yet Adopted
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”), modifies the disclosure requirements in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, by removing certain disclo |
