| MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes to those statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q.
The historical consolidated financial data discussed below reflects the historical results of operations and financial position of Montauk USA. The consolidated financial statements of Montauk USA, our predecessor for accounting purposes, became our historical financial statements following the IPO. Certain historical financial data discussed below relates to periods prior to the Reorganization Transactions. Throughout this section, dollar amounts are expressed in thousands, except for per share amounts, Metric Million British Thermal Unit (“MMBtu”) and RIN pricing amounts, and unless otherwise indicated.
In addition to historical financial information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those discussed under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Part II, Item 1A.–Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report.
Montauk Renewables is a renewable energy company specializing in the management, recovery and conversion of biogas into RNG. The Company captures methane, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere, and converts it into either RNG or Renewable Electricity. The Company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has more than 30 years of experience in the development, operation and management of landfill methane-fueled renewable energy projects. The Company has current operations at 15 operating projects located in California, Idaho, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Texas. The Company sells RNG and Renewable Electricity, taking advantage of Environmental Attribute premiums available under federal and state policies that incentivize their use.
Biogas is produced by microbes as they break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen (during a process called anaerobic digestion). Our two current sources of commercial scale biogas are LFG and ADG, which is produced inside an airtight tank used to breakdown organic matter, such as livestock waste. We typically secure our biogas feedstock through long-term fuel supply agreements and property lease agreements with biogas site hosts. Once we secure long-term fuel supply rights, we design, build, own, and operate facilities that convert the biogas into RNG or use the processed biogas to produce Renewable Electricity. We sell the RNG and Renewable Electricity through a variety of short-, medium-, and long-term agreements. Because we are capturing waste methane and making use of a renewable source of energy, our RNG and Renewable Electricity generate valuable Environmental Attributes, which we are able to monetize under U.S. federal and state initiatives.
Factors Affecting Development Pipeline
On May 10, 2021, the Company, through a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary, Montauk Ag Renewables, LLC (“Montauk Ag”), completed a series of transactions with Joseph P. Carroll, Jr. (“Carroll”), Martin A. Redeker (“Redeker”) and certain of their affiliates to purchase (the “Asset Acquisition”) their business (the “Business”) of developing technology to recover residual natural resources from waste streams of modern agriculture and to refine and recycle such waste products through proprietary and other processes in order to produce high quality renewable natural gas,
bio-oil
and biochar (“Montauk Ag Renewables”).
The Asset Acquisition was made pursuant to (i) the Membership Interest and Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 10, 2021, by and among J.P. Carroll & Co., LLC, Eagle Creek Ranch, L.L.C., NR Nutrient Recovery, LLC, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Redeker and Montauk Ag and (ii) the Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated May 10, 2021, by and among Greensboro Ecosystems, LLC and Montauk Ag (together, the “Acquisition Agreements”)
The assets acquired include real property, intellectual property, mobile equipment, and other equipment related to operating the Business. The real property includes the purchase of an approximate 9.35 acre parcel in Duplin County, North Carolina.
The purchase price, excluding acquisition costs, for the Business and related assets consisted of (i) $3,797 paid in cash on May 10, 2021 (minus certain costs and indebtedness) and (ii) two restricted stock awards, in equal amounts, granted under the Company’s Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, with an aggregate value of $12,500, awarded to each of Messrs. Carroll and Redeker in connection with their respective employment with the Company following the closing of the Asset Acquisition (the “RS Awards”). The RS Awards vest over a five-year period and are subject to the achievement of time- and performance- based vesting criteria over such period. The performance targets in the RS Awards relate to three EBITDA goals of the Business (as determined in good faith by the Company) relative to the purchase price of the Business, including measurement periods for achievements levels (i) on or after the third anniversary of the Asset Acquisition, but prior to the sixth anniversary, (ii) on or after the fourth anniversary of the Asset Acquisition, but prior to the sixth anniversary, and (iii) on or after the fifth anniversary of the Asset Acquisition, but prior to the sixth anniversary.
Also, during the second quarter of 2021, we completed an amendment to our Pico feedstock agreement (“Pico Feedstock Amendment”). The amendment will increase the amount of feedstock supplied to the facility for processing over a one to three-year period. We paid $1,000 in cash at the time of closing the amendment.