ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
34,367,483
|
|
|
$
|
47,182,966
|
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
|
22,996,276
|
|
|
|
15,047,846
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
2,538,052
|
|
|
|
1,744,445
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
1,598,061
|
|
|
|
1,077,257
|
|
Current portion of loans receivable
|
|
|
1,093,641
|
|
|
|
1,400,448
|
|
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
|
|
|
1,396,166
|
|
|
|
238,435
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
63,989,679
|
|
|
|
66,691,397
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
47,342,177
|
|
|
|
50,525,064
|
|
Construction in progress
|
|
|
16,742,806
|
|
|
|
1,823,284
|
|
Inventory, non-current
|
|
|
4,825,253
|
|
|
|
4,758,973
|
|
Loans receivable
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
734,980
|
|
Investment in OC-BVI
|
|
|
2,464,537
|
|
|
|
2,783,882
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
8,384,248
|
|
|
|
8,384,248
|
|
Land and rights of way held for development
|
|
|
23,673,855
|
|
|
|
21,505,675
|
|
Intangible assets, net
|
|
|
2,710,790
|
|
|
|
3,765,434
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
2,369,214
|
|
|
|
4,507,958
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
172,502,559
|
|
|
$
|
165,480,895
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
|
|
$
|
6,539,508
|
|
|
$
|
5,662,448
|
|
Dividends payable
|
|
|
1,284,964
|
|
|
|
1,281,612
|
|
Note payable to related party
|
|
|
1,078,000
|
|
|
|
686,000
|
|
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
|
|
|
21,578
|
|
|
|
1,258
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
8,924,050
|
|
|
|
7,631,318
|
|
Deferred tax liability
|
|
|
757,447
|
|
|
|
1,024,893
|
|
Other liabilities
|
|
|
778,307
|
|
|
|
803,307
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
10,459,804
|
|
|
|
9,459,518
|
|
Commitments and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders' equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redeemable preferred stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 200,000 shares; issued and outstanding 36,498 and 33,488 shares, respectively
|
|
|
21,899
|
|
|
|
20,093
|
|
Class A common stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 24,655,000 shares; issued and outstanding 14,964,281 and 14,918,869 shares, respectively
|
|
|
8,978,569
|
|
|
|
8,951,321
|
|
Class B common stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 145,000 shares; none issued
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
86,904,523
|
|
|
|
86,405,387
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
58,113,606
|
|
|
|
53,105,196
|
|
Cumulative translation adjustment
|
|
|
(549,555
|
)
|
|
|
(549,555
|
)
|
Total Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders' equity
|
|
|
153,469,042
|
|
|
|
147,932,442
|
|
Non-controlling interests
|
|
|
8,573,713
|
|
|
|
8,088,935
|
|
Total equity
|
|
|
162,042,755
|
|
|
|
156,021,377
|
|
Total liabilities and equity
|
|
$
|
172,502,559
|
|
|
$
|
165,480,895
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
INCOME
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Retail revenues
|
|
$
|
6,185,558
|
|
|
$
|
5,570,654
|
|
|
$
|
18,884,929
|
|
|
$
|
18,111,274
|
|
Bulk revenues
|
|
|
8,577,456
|
|
|
|
7,881,464
|
|
|
|
25,294,821
|
|
|
|
23,615,787
|
|
Services revenues
|
|
|
807,424
|
|
|
|
111,302
|
|
|
|
1,054,100
|
|
|
|
360,758
|
|
Manufacturing revenues
|
|
|
3,253,750
|
|
|
|
3,008,783
|
|
|
|
4,798,948
|
|
|
|
5,444,678
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
18,824,188
|
|
|
|
16,572,203
|
|
|
|
50,032,798
|
|
|
|
47,532,497
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of retail revenues
|
|
|
2,750,599
|
|
|
|
2,488,441
|
|
|
|
8,234,803
|
|
|
|
7,895,617
|
|
Cost of bulk revenues
|
|
|
5,658,373
|
|
|
|
5,582,401
|
|
|
|
16,848,668
|
|
|
|
15,750,402
|
|
Cost of services revenues
|
|
|
682,713
|
|
|
|
114,667
|
|
|
|
921,653
|
|
|
|
320,586
|
|
Cost of manufacturing revenues
|
|
|
2,205,830
|
|
|
|
2,078,888
|
|
|
|
3,300,370
|
|
|
|
3,967,945
|
|
Total cost of revenues
|
|
|
11,297,515
|
|
|
|
10,264,397
|
|
|
|
29,305,494
|
|
|
|
27,934,550
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
7,526,673
|
|
|
|
6,307,806
|
|
|
|
20,727,304
|
|
|
|
19,597,947
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
4,941,564
|
|
|
|
4,896,323
|
|
|
|
14,263,762
|
|
|
|
14,695,184
|
|
Loss on asset dispositions and impairments, net
|
|
|
12,415
|
|
|
|
578,480
|
|
|
|
14,405
|
|
|
|
1,578,480
|
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
2,572,694
|
|
|
|
833,003
|
|
|
|
6,449,137
|
|
|
|
3,324,283
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
172,805
|
|
|
|
70,741
|
|
|
|
504,028
|
|
|
|
301,813
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(2,492
|
)
|
|
|
(1,016
|
)
|
|
|
(7,122
|
)
|
|
|
(11,178
|
)
|
Profit-sharing income from OC-BVI
|
|
|
536,625
|
|
|
|
36,450
|
|
|
|
621,675
|
|
|
|
46,575
|
|
Equity in the earnings of OC-BVI
|
|
|
1,472,154
|
|
|
|
138,913
|
|
|
|
1,710,230
|
|
|
|
127,955
|
|
Net unrealized gain (loss) on put/call options
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
|
171,000
|
|
|
|
(47,000
|
)
|
|
|
323,000
|
|
Other
|
|
|
48,841
|
|
|
|
31,206
|
|
|
|
(26,670
|
)
|
|
|
83,791
|
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
2,302,933
|
|
|
|
447,294
|
|
|
|
2,755,141
|
|
|
|
871,956
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
4,875,627
|
|
|
|
1,280,297
|
|
|
|
9,204,278
|
|
|
|
4,196,239
|
|
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
12,659
|
|
|
|
(136,447
|
)
|
|
|
(113,607
|
)
|
|
|
(412,592
|
)
|
Net income
|
|
|
4,862,968
|
|
|
|
1,416,744
|
|
|
|
9,317,885
|
|
|
|
4,608,831
|
|
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
|
|
|
310,579
|
|
|
|
255,605
|
|
|
|
484,778
|
|
|
|
191,916
|
|
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders
|
|
$
|
4,552,389
|
|
|
$
|
1,161,139
|
|
|
$
|
8,833,107
|
|
|
$
|
4,416,915
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
$
|
0.08
|
|
|
$
|
0.59
|
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
$
|
0.08
|
|
|
$
|
0.58
|
|
|
$
|
0.29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends declared per common share
|
|
$
|
0.085
|
|
|
$
|
0.075
|
|
|
$
|
0.255
|
|
|
$
|
0.225
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of common shares used in the determination of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per share
|
|
|
14,963,195
|
|
|
|
14,898,246
|
|
|
|
14,960,602
|
|
|
|
14,886,738
|
|
Diluted earnings per share
|
|
|
15,124,720
|
|
|
|
15,072,142
|
|
|
|
15,119,415
|
|
|
|
15,054,343
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
5,388,005
|
|
|
$
|
13,529,071
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions to property, plant and equipment and construction in progress
|
|
|
(13,709,598
|
)
|
|
|
(3,016,713
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of equipment
|
|
|
51,590
|
|
|
|
18,827
|
|
Collections on loans receivable
|
|
|
1,041,787
|
|
|
|
1,297,419
|
|
Payment for land and rights of way held for development
|
|
|
(2,168,180
|
)
|
|
|
(665,270
|
)
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(14,784,401
|
)
|
|
|
(2,365,737
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dividends paid to common shareholders
|
|
|
(3,818,499
|
)
|
|
|
(3,346,477
|
)
|
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders
|
|
|
(2,846
|
)
|
|
|
(8,665
|
)
|
Issuance (repurchase) of redeemable preferred stock
|
|
|
10,258
|
|
|
|
12,456
|
|
Proceeds received from exercise of stock options
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Repayment of note payable to related party
|
|
|
(392,000
|
)
|
|
|
(490,000
|
)
|
Issuance of note payable to related party
|
|
|
784,000
|
|
|
|
392,000
|
|
Net cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(3,419,087
|
)
|
|
|
(3,440,686
|
)
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(12,815,483
|
)
|
|
|
7,722,648
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
47,182,966
|
|
|
|
39,254,116
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
34,367,483
|
|
|
$
|
46,976,764
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest paid in cash
|
|
$
|
6,539
|
|
|
$
|
7,062
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash investing and financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of 7,409 and 9,441, respectively, shares of redeemable preferred stock for services rendered
|
|
$
|
96,317
|
|
|
$
|
118,485
|
|
Issuance of 39,986 and 17,833, respectively, shares of common stock for services rendered
|
|
$
|
441,161
|
|
|
$
|
203,551
|
|
Conversion (on a one-to-one basis) of 5,426 and 12,214, respectively, shares of redeemable preferred stock to common stock
|
|
$
|
3,256
|
|
|
$
|
7,328
|
|
Dividends declared but not paid
|
|
$
|
1,275,066
|
|
|
$
|
1,120,176
|
|
Transfers from inventory to property, plant and equipment and construction in progress
|
|
$
|
304,279
|
|
|
$
|
228,549
|
|
Transfers from construction in progress to property, plant and equipment
|
|
$
|
492,252
|
|
|
$
|
2,109,960
|
|
Transfers from other assets to construction in progress
|
|
$
|
1,253,299
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part
of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1. Principal activity
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd., and its subsidiaries
(collectively, the “Company”) use reverse osmosis technology to produce potable water from seawater. The Company processes
and supplies water and provides water-related products and services to its customers in the Cayman Islands, Belize, The Commonwealth
of The Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the United States and Indonesia. The Company sells water to a variety of customers,
including public utilities, commercial and tourist properties, residential properties and government facilities. The base price
of water supplied by the Company, and adjustments thereto, are determined by the terms of a retail license and bulk water supply
contracts which provide for adjustments based upon the movement in the government price indices specified in the license and contracts
as well as monthly adjustments for changes in the cost of energy. The Company also manufactures and services a wide range of products
and provides design, engineering, management, operating and other services applicable to commercial, municipal and industrial water
production, supply and treatment.
2. Accounting policies
Basis of presentation:
The
accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company’s (i) wholly-owned subsidiaries,
Aquilex, Inc., Cayman Water Company Limited (“Cayman Water”), Consolidated Water (Belize) Limited (“CW-Belize”),
Ocean Conversion (Cayman) Limited (“OC-Cayman”), DesalCo Limited (“DesalCo”), Consolidated Water Cooperatief,
U.A. (“CW-Cooperatief”), Consolidated Water U.S. Holdings, Inc. (“CW-Holdings”); and (ii) majority-owned
subsidiaries Consolidated Water (Bahamas) Ltd. (“CW-Bahamas”), Aerex Industries, Inc. (“Aerex”), Consolidated
Water (Asia) Pte. Limited, PT Consolidated Water Bali (“CW-Bali”), N.S.C. Agua, S.A. de C.V. (“NSC”) and
Aguas de Rosarito S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“AdR”). The Company’s investment in its affiliate Ocean Conversion (BVI)
Ltd. (“OC-BVI”) is accounted for using the equity method of accounting. All significant intercompany balances and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The accompanying interim condensed consolidated
financial statements are unaudited. These condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (which are of a
normal recurring nature) that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to fairly present the Company’s financial position,
results of operations and cash flows as of and for the periods presented. The results of operations for these interim periods
are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for future periods, including the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018.
These condensed consolidated financial
statements and notes are presented in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) relating to interim financial statements and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America (“US GAAP”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial
statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted in these condensed financial statements pursuant
to SEC rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made herein are adequate to make the information
not misleading. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Foreign currency:
The Company’s
reporting currency is the United States dollar (“US$”). The functional currency of the Company and its foreign operating
subsidiaries (other than NSC, AdR, CW-Cooperatief and CW-Bali) is the currency for each respective country. The functional currency
for NSC, AdR, CW-Cooperatief and CW-Bali is the US$. NSC and AdR conduct business in US$ and Mexican pesos, CW-Cooperatief conducts
business in US$ and euros, and CW-Bali conducts business in US$ and Indonesian rupiahs. The exchange rates for the Cayman Islands
dollar, the Belize dollar and the Bahamian dollar are fixed to the US$. The exchange rates for conversion of Mexican pesos, euros
and rupiahs into US$ vary based upon market conditions. Net foreign currency gains (losses) arising from transactions and re-measurements
were $73,267 and ($5,612) for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $31,525 and $164,339 for the
nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and are included in “Other income (expense) - Other” in
the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash
and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits at banks and highly liquid deposits at banks with an original maturity of three
months or less. Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 include $6.4 million and $15.9 million,
respectively, of certificates of deposit with an original maturity of three months or less.
Transfers from the Company’s Bahamas
and Belize bank accounts to Company bank accounts in other countries require the approval of the Central Bank of the Bahamas and
Belize, respectively. As of September 30, 2018, the equivalent United States dollar cash balances for deposits held in the Bahamas
and Belize were approximately $3.9 million and $3.1 million, respectively.
Comparative amounts:
Certain amounts
reported in the financial statements issued in prior periods have been reclassified herein to conform to the current period’s
presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on consolidated net income.
Revenue recognition:
Revenues are
recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that reflects
the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.
The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated
by revenue source (unaudited).
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Retail revenues
|
|
$
|
6,185,558
|
|
|
$
|
5,570,654
|
|
|
$
|
18,884,929
|
|
|
$
|
18,111,274
|
|
Bulk revenues
|
|
|
8,577,456
|
|
|
|
7,881,464
|
|
|
|
25,294,821
|
|
|
|
23,615,787
|
|
Services revenues
|
|
|
807,424
|
|
|
|
111,302
|
|
|
|
1,054,100
|
|
|
|
360,758
|
|
Manufacturing revenues
|
|
|
3,253,750
|
|
|
|
3,008,783
|
|
|
|
4,798,948
|
|
|
|
5,444,678
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
$
|
18,824,188
|
|
|
$
|
16,572,203
|
|
|
$
|
50,032,798
|
|
|
$
|
47,532,497
|
|
Retail revenues
The Company produces and supplies water
to end-users, including residential, commercial and government customers in the Cayman Islands under an exclusive retail license
issued to Cayman Water by the Cayman Islands government to provide water in two of the three most populated and rapidly developing
areas on Grand Cayman Island. CW-Bali owns and operates a desalination plant in Bali, Indonesia that sells water to resort and
residential properties. Customers are billed on a monthly basis based on metered consumption and bills are typically collected
within 30 to 35 days after the billing date. Receivables not collected within 45 days subject the customer to disconnection from
water service. In 2018 and 2017, bad debts represented less than 1% of the Company’s total retail sales.
The Company recognizes revenues from water
sales at the time water is supplied to the customer’s facility or storage tank. The amount of water supplied is determined
based upon water meter readings performed at the end of each month. All retail water contracts are month-to-month contracts and
revenue is recorded as invoiced.
Bulk revenues
The Company produces and supplies water
to government-owned distributors in the Cayman Islands, Belize and the Bahamas.
OC-Cayman provides bulk water to the Water
Authority-Cayman (“WAC”), a government-owned utility and regulatory agency, under various agreements. The WAC in turn
distributes such water to properties in Grand Cayman outside of Cayman Water’s retail license area.
In Belize, CW-Belize is the exclusive provider
of water in Ambergris Caye to Belize Water Services Ltd. (“BWSL”), a government-controlled entity which distributes
the water through its own pipeline system to residential, commercial and tourist properties. BWSL distributes the Company’s
water primarily to residential properties, small hotels, and businesses that serve the tourist market.
The Company sells bulk water in the Bahamas
through its majority-owned subsidiary CW-Bahamas to the Water and Sewerage Corporation of the Bahamas (“WSC”), which
distributes such water through its own pipeline system to residential, commercial and tourist properties on the Island of New Providence.
The Company also sells water to a private resort on Bimini.
The Company has elected the “right
to invoice” practical expedient for revenue recognition on its bulk water sale contracts and recognizes revenue in the amount
to which the Company has a right to invoice.
Manufacturing revenues
The Company, through its 51% owned subsidiary
Aerex, is a custom and specialty manufacturer of water treatment-related systems and products and provides design, engineering,
management, operating and other services applicable to commercial, municipal and industrial water production. Substantially all
of Aerex’s customers are U.S. companies.
The Company recognizes manufacturing revenues
over time under the input method using costs incurred (which represents work performed) to date relative to total estimated costs
at completion to measure progress toward satisfying its performance obligations as such measure best reflects the transfer of control
of the promised good to the customer. Contract costs include labor, material and overhead. The Company follows this method since
it can make reasonably dependable estimates of the revenue and costs applicable to various stages of a contract. Under this input
method, the Company records revenue and recognizes profit or loss as work on the contract progresses. The Company estimates total
project costs and profit to be earned on each long-term, fixed price contract prior to commencement of work on the contract and
updates these estimates as work on the contract progresses. The cumulative amount of revenue recorded on a contract at a specified
point in time is that percentage of total estimated revenue that incurred costs to date comprises of estimated total contract costs.
If, as work progresses, the actual contract costs exceed estimates, the profit recognized on revenue from that contract decreases.
The Company recognizes the full amount of any estimated loss on a contract at the time the estimates indicate such a loss. Any
costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings are classified as current assets. Billings in excess of costs and estimated
earnings on uncompleted contracts, if any, are classified as current liabilities.
Practical Expedients and Exemptions
The Company does not disclose the value
of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts
for which the Company recognizes revenue at the amount to which it has the right to invoice for services performed.
3. Segment information
The Company has four reportable segments:
retail, bulk, services and manufacturing. The retail segment primarily operates the water utility for the Seven Mile
Beach and West Bay areas of Grand Cayman Island pursuant to an exclusive license granted by the Cayman Islands government. The
bulk segment supplies potable water to government utilities in Grand Cayman, the Bahamas and Belize under long-term contracts.
The services segment provides desalination plant management and operating services to affiliated companies and designs, constructs
and sells desalination plants to third parties. The manufacturing segment manufactures a wide range of custom and specialty water
treatment-related systems and products and provides design, engineering, management, operating and other services applicable to
commercial, municipal and industrial water production, supply and treatment.
Consistent with prior periods, the Company
records all non-direct general and administrative expenses in its retail business segment and does not allocate any of these non-direct
costs to its other three business segments.
The accounting policies of the segments
are consistent with those described in Note 2. The Company evaluates each segment’s performance based upon its income from
operations. All intercompany transactions are eliminated for segment presentation purposes.
The Company’s segments are strategic
business units that are managed separately because each segment sells different products and/or services, serves customers with
distinctly different needs and generates different gross profit margins.
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
|
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Bulk
|
|
|
Services
|
|
|
Manufacturing
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
6,185,558
|
|
|
$
|
8,577,456
|
|
|
$
|
807,424
|
|
|
$
|
3,253,750
|
|
|
$
|
18,824,188
|
|
Cost of revenues
|
|
|
2,750,599
|
|
|
|
5,658,373
|
|
|
|
682,713
|
|
|
|
2,205,830
|
|
|
|
11,297,515
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
3,434,959
|
|
|
|
2,919,083
|
|
|
|
124,711
|
|
|
|
1,047,920
|
|
|
|
7,526,673
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
3,013,053
|
|
|
|
455,151
|
|
|
|
846,258
|
|
|
|
627,102
|
|
|
|
4,941,564
|
|
Loss on asset dispositions and impairments, net
|
|
|
9,084
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,331
|
|
|
|
12,415
|
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
$
|
412,822
|
|
|
$
|
2,463,932
|
|
|
$
|
(721,547
|
)
|
|
$
|
417,487
|
|
|
|
2,572,694
|
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,302,933
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,875,627
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,659
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,862,968
|
|
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
310,579
|
|
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,552,389
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expenses
for the three months ended September 30, 2018 for the retail, bulk, services and manufacturing segments were $498,663, $836,249,
$7,638 and $399,987, respectively.
|
|
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
|
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Bulk
|
|
|
Services
|
|
|
Manufacturing
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
5,570,654
|
|
|
$
|
7,881,464
|
|
|
$
|
111,302
|
|
|
$
|
3,008,783
|
|
|
$
|
16,572,203
|
|
Cost of revenues
|
|
|
2,488,441
|
|
|
|
5,582,401
|
|
|
|
114,667
|
|
|
|
2,078,888
|
|
|
|
10,264,397
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
3,082,213
|
|
|
|
2,299,063
|
|
|
|
(3,365
|
)
|
|
|
929,895
|
|
|
|
6,307,806
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
3,070,681
|
|
|
|
315,374
|
|
|
|
863,646
|
|
|
|
646,622
|
|
|
|
4,896,323
|
|
Loss on asset dispositions and impairments, net
|
|
|
578,480
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
578,480
|
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
$
|
(566,948
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,983,689
|
|
|
$
|
(867,011
|
)
|
|
$
|
283,273
|
|
|
|
833,003
|
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
447,294
|
|
Loss before income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,280,297
|
|
(Benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(136,447
|
)
|
Net income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,416,744
|
|
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
255,605
|
|
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,161,139
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expenses
for the three months ended September 30, 2017 for the retail, bulk, services and manufacturing segments were $491,771, $1,274,471,
$7,638, and $398,368, respectively.
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
|
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Bulk
|
|
|
Services
|
|
|
Manufacturing
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
18,884,929
|
|
|
$
|
25,294,821
|
|
|
$
|
1,054,100
|
|
|
$
|
4,798,948
|
|
|
|
50,032,798
|
|
Cost of revenues
|
|
|
8,234,803
|
|
|
|
16,848,668
|
|
|
|
921,653
|
|
|
|
3,300,370
|
|
|
|
29,305,494
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
10,650,126
|
|
|
|
8,446,153
|
|
|
|
132,447
|
|
|
|
1,498,578
|
|
|
|
20,727,304
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
9,088,804
|
|
|
|
1,147,015
|
|
|
|
2,162,632
|
|
|
|
1,865,311
|
|
|
|
14,263,762
|
|
Loss on asset dispositions
and impairments, net
|
|
|
11,074
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
3,331
|
|
|
|
14,405
|
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
$
|
1,550,248
|
|
|
$
|
7,299,138
|
|
|
$
|
(2,030,185
|
)
|
|
$
|
(370,064
|
)
|
|
|
6,449,137
|
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,755,141
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,204,278
|
|
(Benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(113,607
|
)
|
Net income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,317,885
|
|
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
484,778
|
|
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
8,833,107
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expenses
for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 for the retail, bulk, services and manufacturing segments were $1,506,292, $2,454,361,
$22,915, and $1,198,707, respectively.
|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
|
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Bulk
|
|
|
Services
|
|
|
Manufacturing
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
18,111,274
|
|
|
$
|
23,615,787
|
|
|
$
|
360,758
|
|
|
$
|
5,444,678
|
|
|
$
|
47,532,497
|
|
Cost of revenues
|
|
|
7,895,617
|
|
|
|
15,750,402
|
|
|
|
320,586
|
|
|
|
3,967,945
|
|
|
|
27,934,550
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
10,215,657
|
|
|
|
7,865,385
|
|
|
|
40,172
|
|
|
|
1,476,733
|
|
|
|
19,597,947
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
9,288,941
|
|
|
|
940,105
|
|
|
|
2,498,766
|
|
|
|
1,967,372
|
|
|
|
14,695,184
|
|
Loss on asset dispositions and impairments, net
|
|
|
1,578,480
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,578,480
|
|
Income (loss) from operations
|
|
$
|
(651,764
|
)
|
|
$
|
6,925,280
|
|
|
$
|
(2,458,594
|
)
|
|
$
|
(490,639
|
)
|
|
|
3,324,283
|
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
871,956
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,196,239
|
|
(Benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(412,592
|
)
|
Net income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,608,831
|
|
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
191,916
|
|
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,416,915
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expenses
for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 for the retail, bulk, services and manufacturing segments were $1,514,069, $2,928,287,
$37,295, and $1,204,313, respectively.
|
|
As of September 30, 2018
|
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Bulk
|
|
|
Services
|
|
|
Manufacturing
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
$
|
2,168,224
|
|
|
$
|
17,967,332
|
|
|
$
|
1,806,062
|
|
|
$
|
1,054,658
|
|
|
$
|
22,996,276
|
|
Property plant and equipment, net
|
|
$
|
22,269,769
|
|
|
$
|
23,338,279
|
|
|
$
|
61,424
|
|
|
$
|
1,672,705
|
|
|
$
|
47,342,177
|
|
Construction in progress
|
|
$
|
6,175,313
|
|
|
$
|
10,564,202
|
|
|
$
|
3,291
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
16,742,806
|
|
Intangibles, net
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
484,123
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
2,226,667
|
|
|
$
|
2,710,790
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
$
|
1,170,511
|
|
|
$
|
2,328,526
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
4,885,211
|
|
|
$
|
8,384,248
|
|
Land and rights of way held for development
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
23,673,855
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
23,673,855
|
|
Total segment assets
|
|
$
|
59,900,046
|
|
|
$
|
71,086,259
|
|
|
$
|
27,352,165
|
|
|
$
|
14,164,089
|
|
|
$
|
172,502,559
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2017
|
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Bulk
|
|
|
Services
|
|
|
Manufacturing
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
$
|
2,406,595
|
|
|
$
|
10,177,620
|
|
|
$
|
1,155,318
|
|
|
$
|
1,308,313
|
|
|
$
|
15,047,846
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
$
|
23,172,382
|
|
|
$
|
25,420,819
|
|
|
$
|
84,339
|
|
|
$
|
1,847,524
|
|
|
$
|
50,525,064
|
|
Construction in progress
|
|
$
|
321,368
|
|
|
$
|
1,498,625
|
|
|
$
|
3,291
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,823,284
|
|
Intangible assets, net
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
533,767
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
3,231,667
|
|
|
$
|
3,765,434
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
$
|
1,170,511
|
|
|
$
|
2,328,526
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
4,885,211
|
|
|
$
|
8,384,248
|
|
Land and rights of way held for development
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
21,505,675
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
21,505,675
|
|
Total segment assets
|
|
$
|
52,095,524
|
|
|
$
|
75,785,323
|
|
|
$
|
24,488,173
|
|
|
$
|
13,111,875
|
|
|
$
|
165,480,895
|
|
4. Earnings per share
Earnings per share (“EPS”)
are computed on a basic and diluted basis. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income (less preferred stock dividends) available
to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The computation of diluted
EPS assumes the issuance of common shares for all potential common shares outstanding during the reporting period and, if dilutive,
the effect of stock options as computed under the treasury stock method.
The following summarizes information related
to the computation of basic and diluted EPS:
|
|
Three Months Ended
September 30,
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders
|
|
$
|
4,552,389
|
|
|
$
|
1,161,139
|
|
|
$
|
8,833,107
|
|
|
$
|
4,416,915
|
|
Less: preferred stock dividends
|
|
|
(3,102
|
)
|
|
|
(2,548
|
)
|
|
|
(9,398
|
)
|
|
|
(8,571
|
)
|
Net income available to common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share
|
|
$
|
4,549,287
|
|
|
$
|
1,158,591
|
|
|
$
|
8,823,709
|
|
|
$
|
4,408,344
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders
|
|
|
14,963,195
|
|
|
|
14,898,246
|
|
|
|
14,960,602
|
|
|
|
14,886,738
|
|
Plus:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of preferred shares outstanding during the period
|
|
|
37,621
|
|
|
|
45,087
|
|
|
|
35,066
|
|
|
|
39,035
|
|
Potential dilutive effect of unexercised options and unvested stock grants
|
|
|
123,904
|
|
|
|
128,809
|
|
|
|
123,747
|
|
|
|
128,570
|
|
Weighted average number of shares used for determining diluted earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders
|
|
|
15,124,720
|
|
|
|
15,072,142
|
|
|
|
15,119,415
|
|
|
|
15,054,343
|
|
5. Investment in OC-BVI
The Company owns 50% of the outstanding
voting common shares and a 43.53% equity interest in the profits of Ocean Conversion (BVI) Ltd. (“OC-BVI”). The Company
also owns certain profit-sharing rights in OC-BVI that raise its effective interest in the profits of OC-BVI to approximately 45%.
Pursuant to a management services agreement, OC-BVI pays the Company monthly fees for certain engineering and administrative services.
OC-BVI’s sole customer is the Ministry of Communications and Works of the Government of the British Virgin Islands (the “Ministry”)
to which it sells bulk water.
The Company’s equity investment in
OC-BVI amounted to $2,464,537 and $2,783,882 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Until 2009, substantially all of the water
sold by OC-BVI to the Ministry was supplied by one desalination plant with a capacity of 1.7 million gallons per day located at
Baughers Bay, Tortola (the “Baughers Bay plant”). As discussed later in this Note (see “
Baughers Bay Litigation”
),
the BVI government assumed the operating responsibilities for the Baughers Bay plant in March 2010. During 2007, OC-BVI completed
the construction of a desalination plant with a capacity of 720,000 gallons per day located at Bar Bay, Tortola (the “Bar
Bay plant”). OC-BVI began selling water to the Ministry from this plant in January 2009 and on March 4, 2010, OC-BVI and
the BVI government executed a seven-year contract for the Bar Bay plant (the “Bar Bay agreement”). The Bar Bay agreement
was extended by 14 years on February 14, 2017. Under the terms of the Bar Bay agreement, OC-BVI delivers up to 600,000 gallons
of water per day to the BVI government from the Bar Bay plant. The Bar Bay agreement required OC-BVI to complete a storage reservoir
on a BVI government site by no later than March 4, 2011. OC-BVI has not commenced construction of this storage reservoir due to
the BVI government’s failure to pay (i) the full amount of invoices for the water provided by the Bar Bay plant on a timely
basis; and (ii) the full amount ordered pursuant to a court ruling relating to the Baughers Bay litigation (see discussion that
follows).
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending
balances for the Company’s investment in OC-BVI for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is as follows:
Balance as of December 31, 2017
|
|
$
|
2,783,882
|
|
Profit-sharing and equity from earnings of OC-BVI
|
|
|
2,331,905
|
|
Distributions received from OC-BVI
|
|
|
(2,651,250
|
)
|
Balance as of September 30, 2018
|
|
$
|
2,464,537
|
|
The Company recognized $1,472,154 and $138,913
in earnings from its equity investment in OC-BVI for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively,
and $1,710,230 and $127,955 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company recognized $536,625
and $36,450 in profit-sharing income from its profit-sharing agreement with OC-BVI for the three months ended September 30, 2018
and 2017, respectively, and $621,675 and $46,575 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
For the three months ended September 30,
2018 and 2017, the Company recognized $97,668 and $111,302, respectively, in revenues from its management services agreement with
OC-BVI. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized $344,344 and $360,758, respectively, in revenues
from its management services agreement with OC-BVI. The Company also recognized approximately $710,000 in revenues for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2018 for the refurbishment of OC-BVI’s Bar Bay plant. Amounts payable by OC-BVI to the
Company were $42,817 and $123,807 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Other current liabilities in the
accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2017 included $181,328 relating to OC-BVI.
Baughers Bay Litigation
Through March 2010, OC-BVI supplied water
to the BVI government from a plant located at Baughers Bay, Tortola, under the terms of a water supply agreement dated May 1990
(the “1990 Agreement”) with an initial seven-year term that expired in May 1999. The 1990 Agreement provided that such
agreement would automatically be extended for another seven-year term unless the BVI government provided notice, at least eight
months prior to such expiration, of its decision to purchase the plant from OC-BVI at the agreed upon amount under the 1990 Agreement
of approximately $1.42 million. In correspondence between the parties from late 1998 through early 2000, the BVI government indicated
that it intended to purchase the plant but would be amenable to negotiating a new water supply agreement and that it considered
the 1990 Agreement to be in force on a monthly basis until negotiations between the BVI government and OC-BVI were concluded. OC-BVI
continued to supply water from the plant and expended approximately $4.7 million between 1995 and 2003 to significantly expand
the production capacity of the plant beyond that contemplated in the 1990 Agreement.
In 2006, the BVI government took the position
that the seven-year extension of the 1990 Agreement had been completed and that it was entitled to ownership of the Baughers Bay
plant and during 2007 the BVI government filed a lawsuit with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (the “Court”) seeking
ownership of the Baughers Bay plant. OC-BVI counterclaimed to the Court that it was entitled to continued possession and operation
of the Baughers Bay plant until the BVI government paid OC-BVI approximately $4.7 million, which OC-BVI believed represented the
value of the Baughers Bay plant at its expanded production capacity.
The Court ruled on this litigation in 2009,
awarding ownership of the Baughers Bay plant to the BVI government without compensation to OC-BVI. Both OC-BVI and the BVI government
subsequently filed appeals with the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeals (the “Appellate Court”) asking the Appellate
Court to review certain rulings by the Court with respect to this litigation.
In June 2012, the Appellate Court issued
the final ruling with respect to the Baughers Bay litigation. This ruling reversed a previous ruling of the Court and awarded OC-BVI
compensation for improvements made to the plant in the amount equal to the difference between (i) the value of the Baughers Bay
plant at the date OC-BVI transferred possession of the plant to the BVI government and (ii) $1.42 million (the purchase price for
the Baughers Bay plant under the 1990 Agreement).
OC-BVI and the BVI government engaged a mutually approved valuation expert to complete a valuation of the Baughers Bay plant
at the date it was transferred to the BVI government in accordance with the Appellate Court ruling. In June 2016, OC-BVI received
the final valuation report from this valuation expert, which set forth a value for the Baughers Bay plant of $13.0 million as of
the date OC-BVI transferred possession of the plant to the BVI government. Applying the valuation determined by the valuation expert
to the formula set forth by the Appellate Court in its ruling, OC-BVI would be entitled to $11.58 million from the BVI government
for the Baughers Bay plant. The BVI government disagreed with the valuation methodology used by the valuation expert and the resulting
valuation for the Baughers Bay plant. OC-BVI’s legal counsel subsequently held discussions with the BVI government in an
effort to settle this matter. On August 31, 2018, OC-BVI and the BVI government entered into a settlement agreement for the Baughers
Bay plant pursuant to the Appellate Court ruling with an agreed upon value for the plant of $4,432,834, which resulted in a net
payment (i.e. after legal and other expenses) to OC-BVI in September 2018 of $4,271,409.
6. NSC and AdR Project Development
In May 2010, the Company acquired, through
its wholly-owned Netherlands subsidiary, CW-Cooperatief, a 50% interest in NSC, a development stage Mexican company. The Company
has since purchased, through the conversion of a loan it made to NSC, sufficient shares to raise its ownership interest in NSC
to 99.99%. NSC was formed to pursue a project (the “Project”) that originally encompassed the construction, operation
and minority ownership of a 100 million gallon per day seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant to be located in northern Baja
California, Mexico and accompanying pipelines to deliver water to the Mexican potable water system. As discussed in paragraphs
that follow, during 2015 the scope of the Project was defined by the State of Baja California (the “State”) to consist
of a first phase consisting of a 50 million gallon per day plant and a pipeline that connects to the Mexican potable water infrastructure
and a second phase consisting of an additional 50 million gallons per day of production capacity with additional pipeline infrastructure.
Through a series of transactions completed
in 2012-2014, NSC purchased 20.1 hectares of land for approximately $20.6 million on which the proposed Project’s plant would
be constructed.
In November 2012, NSC entered into a lease
with an effective term of 20-years from the date of full operation of the Project’s desalination plant, with the Comisión
Federal de Electricidad for approximately 5,000 square meters of land on which it plans to construct the water intake and discharge
works for the plant. The amounts due on this lease are payable in Mexican pesos at an amount that is currently equivalent to approximately
$15,000 per month. This lease may be cancelled by NSC should NSC ultimately not proceed with the Project.
In August 2014, the State enacted new legislation
to regulate Public-Private Association projects which involve the type of long-term contract between a public-sector authority
and a private party required for the Project (the “APP Law”). Pursuant to this new legislation, in January 2015, NSC
submitted an expression of interest for its project to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development of the State of Baja
California (“SIDUE”). SIDUE accepted NSC’s expression of interest and requested that NSC submit a detailed proposal
for the Project that complies with the requirements of the new legislation. NSC submitted this detailed proposal (the “APP
Proposal”) to SIDUE in late March 2015. The new legislation required that such proposal be evaluated by SIDUE and submitted
to the Public-Private Association Projects State Committee (the “APP Committee”) for review and authorization. If the
Project was authorized the State would be required to conduct a public tender for the Project.
In
response to its APP Proposal, in September 2015 NSC received a letter dated June 30, 2015 from the Director General of the Comisión
Estatal del Agua de Baja California (“CEA”), the State agency with responsibility for the Project, stating that (i)
the Project is in the public interest with high social benefits and is consistent with the objectives of the State development
plan; and (ii) that the Project should proceed, and the required public tender should be conducted. In November 2015, the State
officially commenced the tender for the Project, the scope of which the State defined as a first phase to be operational in 2019
consisting of a 50 million gallon per day plant and a pipeline that connects to the Mexican potable water infrastructure and a
second phase to be operational in 2024 consisting of an additional 50 million gallons per day of production capacity with additional
pipeline infrastructure. A consortium comprised of NSC, NuWater S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“NuWater”) and Degremont S.A. de
C.V. (the “Consortium”) submitted its tender for the Project in April 2016 and in June 2016, the State designated
the Consortium as the winner of the tender process for the Project.
Due to the amount of capital the Project
requires, NSC will ultimately need an equity partner or partners for the Project. Consequently, NSC’s tender to the State
for the Project was based upon the following: (i) NSC will sell or otherwise transfer the land and other Project assets to a new
company (“Newco”) that would build and own the Project; (ii) NSC’s potential partners would provide the majority
of the equity for the Project and thereby would own the majority interest in Newco; (iii) NSC would maintain a minority ownership
position in Newco; and (iv) Newco would enter into a long-term management and technical services contract for the Project with
an entity partially owned by NSC or another Company subsidiary.
In August 2016, NSC and NuWater incorporated
Newco under the name Aguas de Rosarito S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“AdR”), a special purpose company, to complete the Project
and executed a shareholders agreement for AdR agreeing among other things that (i) AdR would purchase the land and other Project
assets from NSC on the date that the Project begins commercial operations and (ii) AdR would enter into a Management and Technical
Services Agreement with NSC effective on the first day that the Project begins commercial operations. As of December 31, 2017 and
September 30, 2018, NSC owned 99.6% of the equity of AdR.
On August 22, 2016, the Public Private
Partnership Agreement for public private partnership number 002/2015, bid number SIDUE-CEA-APP-2015-002 (“APP Contract”),
was executed between AdR, CEA, the Government of Baja California represented by the Secretary of Planning and Finance and the Public
Utilities Commission of Tijuana (“CESPT”). The APP Contract requires AdR to design, construct, finance and operate
a seawater desalination plant (and accompanying aqueducts) with a capacity of up to 100 million gallons per day in two phases:
the first with a capacity of 50 million gallons per day and an aqueduct to the Mexican potable water system in Tijuana, Baja California;
and the second phase with a capacity of 50 million gallons per day and an aqueduct to a second delivery point in Tijuana. The first
phase must be operational within 36 months of commencing construction and the second phase must be operational by July 2024. The
APP Contract further requires AdR to operate and maintain the plant and aqueduct for a period of 37 years starting from the commencement
of operation of the first phase. At the end of the operating period, the plant and aqueduct will be transferred to the CEA.
The APP Contract does not become effective
until the following conditions are met:
|
·
|
the State has established and registered various payment trusts, guaranties and bank credit lines
for specific use by the Project;
|
|
·
|
the CEA has obtained the rights from the relevant federal authority to take and desalinate seawater
and distribute it for municipal use;
|
|
·
|
various water purchase and sale agreements between the CEA, the payment trusts and the CESPT have
been executed;
|
|
·
|
AdR has obtained all of the rights of way required for the aqueduct;
|
|
·
|
AdR has obtained permission from the relevant federal authority to discharge the residual water
from the Project’s desalination plant; and
|
|
·
|
all debt financing agreements necessary to provide the funding to AdR for the first phase of the
Project have been executed.
|
In December 2016, the Congress of the State
of Baja California, Mexico passed Decreto #57 which, among other things, ratified and authorized the payment obligations of the
corresponding public entities under the APP Contract. During 2017, following consultations between representatives of the State
of Baja California and the Ministry of Finance of the Federal Government of Mexico, it was determined that certain amendments to
Decreto #57 were required to comply with recent changes to the Federal Financial Discipline Law for Federative Entities and Municipalities
(the “Financial Discipline Law”). In addition, it was necessary to amend Decreto #57 to authorize the inclusion of
revenues from the CESPT in the primary payment trust for the Project. These amendments were included in Decreto #168, which was
approved by the Congress of the State of Baja California in December 2017. Pursuant to the Financial Discipline Law and the terms
of Decreto #57, as amended by Decreto #168, the authorization of the payment obligations of the public entities under the APP Contract
expires on December 31, 2018. If the State fails to establish the various payment trusts, guaranties and bank credit lines for
use by the Project authorized by Decreto #57, as amended, prior to the expiration thereof, then a further amendment of Decreto
#57 will be required to extend the authorization beyond such time. If the State fails to establish the various payment trusts,
guaranties and bank credit lines for use by the Project authorized by Decreto #57, as amended, prior to the expiration of such
Decreto or if, following such expiration, the Congress of the State of Baja California fails to further amend Decreto #57 to extend
the authorization of the payment obligations of the public entities under the APP Contract in a timely manner or at all, then AdR
may be unable to proceed with the Project.
Following its issuance, two actions were
filed in Mexican Courts against Decreto #168. While neither NSC nor AdR have been named as a party in these actions, based upon
publicly available information (1) one of these actions consists of a challenge filed by certain members of the Congress of the
State of Baja California alleging certain elements of Decreto #168 are contrary to the Mexican constitution; and (2) the other
action represents an amparo (i.e. a constitutional appeal) filed by certain members of indigenous groups that alleges Decreto #168
violates certain of the human rights and individual guarantees they are afforded under the Mexican constitution. With respect to
the action mentioned in (1), the Company understands based upon publicly available information that in August 2018 the Mexican
Federal Supreme Court of Justice ruled to dismiss this action. With respect to the action mentioned in number (2), according to
publicly available information, the Company understands that on March 27, 2018, a resolution dismissing such proceeding was issued
(and subsequently published in the official lists of the corresponding court on April 16, 2018), as the claimants were not able
to evidence their legal interest. On May 3, 2018, the court deciding on such action determined this resolution to be final, as
the claimants did not file a remedy against it.
Both the exchange rate for the Mexico peso relative to the dollar and general macroeconomic conditions
in Mexico have varied since the execution of the APP Contract. These changes have adversely impacted the estimated construction,
operating, and financing costs for the Project. The APP Contract and the APP Law allow for the parties to negotiate (but do not
guarantee) modifications to the consideration (i.e. water tariff) under the APP Contract in the event of such significant macroeconomic
condition changes. In February 2017, AdR submitted proposals to the CEA requesting the definition of the mechanism required by
the APP Contract to update the consideration under the APP Contract for changes in foreign exchange rates, lending rates and certain
laws which have impacted the Project. On June 1, 2018, AdR and the CEA executed an amendment to the APP Contract which, among other
things, increases the scope of Phase 1 of the Project by including the aqueduct originally designated for Phase 2, and addresses
AdR’s concerns regarding the impact on the Project of changes in the exchange rate for the peso relative to the dollar and
changes in interest rates that have occurred subsequent to the submission of the Consortium’s bid for the Project. As a result
of this amendment to the APP Contract, the final cost of Phase 1 and the related consideration to be charged by AdR under the APP
Contract will be determined based upon the bid submitted by the Consortium, the changes set forth in the amendment to the APP Contract
and the economic conditions (e.g. interest rates and currency exchange rates) in effect on the financial closing date for Phase
1.
In February 2018, AdR executed a subscription
agreement (the “Agreement”) for the equity funding required for the Project. The Agreement calls for NSC to retain
a minimum of 25% of the equity in AdR. One or more affiliates of Greenfield SPV VII, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“Greenfield”),
a Mexico company managed by an affiliate of a leading U.S. asset manager, will acquire a minimum of 55% of the equity of AdR. The
Agreement also provides Suez Medio Ambiente México, S.A. de C.V. (“Suez”), a subsidiary of SUEZ International,
S.A.S., with the option to purchase 20% of the equity of AdR. If Suez does not exercise this option, NSC will retain 35% of the
equity of AdR and Greenfield will acquire 65% of the equity of AdR. The Agreement will become effective when the additional conditions
related to the Project are met, including but not limited to those conditions discussed previously. The aggregate investment to
be made by the equity partners in the Project, in the form of equity and subordinated shareholder loans, is presently estimated
at approximately 20% of the total cost of Phase 1 of the Project.
In February 2018, CW-Holdings acquired the remaining 0.4% of
AdR’s equity interest previously held by NuWater.
In June 2018, AdR and Suez executed a contract
whereby Suez will serve as the engineering, construction and procurement contractor for the Project with such contract becoming
effective on the effective date of the APP Contract.
The political environment in Mexico has recently experienced significant changes and the new, incoming federal
administration has made economic policy announcements focusing on austerity. While the long-term ramifications of such changes
and announcements are unknown, in the short-term they have (i) caused certain rating agencies to lower Mexico’s sovereign
credit rating, (ii) resulted in a decrease in the value of the Mexico peso and (iii) created uncertainty with respect to the incoming
administration’s position on projects and contracts approved by previous administrations. The incoming federal administration
has a hold on the federal government and a strong influence on many of the state and local governments and congresses, raising
the possibility that the federal government will influence local politics, which could impact the State’s and the CEA’s
ability to meet certain conditions required to make the APP Contract effective.
If AdR is ultimately unable to proceed
with the Project due to a failure by any of the parties involved to meet the conditions necessary for the APP Contract to become
effective, or for any other reason, the land NSC has purchased and the right of way deposits may lose their strategic importance
derived from their association with the Project and consequently may decline in value. If AdR does not proceed with the Project,
NSC may ultimately be unable to sell this land or recoup their right of way deposits for amounts at least equal to their carrying
values as of September 30, 2018 of approximately $20.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively. Any loss on the sale of the land,
or impairment losses NSC may be required to record as a result of a decrease in the (i) fair value of the land; or (ii) value of
the rights of way arising from the inability to complete the Project could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s
financial condition and results of operations.
Included in the Company’s results
of operations are general and administrative expenses from NSC and AdR, consisting of organizational, legal, accounting, engineering,
consulting and other costs relating to Project development activities. Such expenses amounted to approximately $846,000 and $864,000
for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $2,158,000 and $2,469,000 for the nine months ended September
30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The assets and liabilities of NSC and AdR included in the Company’s consolidated balance
sheets amounted to approximately $26.2 million and $276,000, respectively, as of September 30, 2018 and approximately $23.1 million
and $173,000 respectively, as of December 31, 2017.
Project Litigation Initiated by EWG
Tecate Claim:
Immediately following CW-Cooperatief’s acquisition of its initial 50% ownership in NSC, the remaining
50% ownership interest in NSC was held by an unrelated company, Norte Sur Agua, S. de R.L. de C.V. (“NSA”). NSA subsequently
transferred ownership of half of its shares in NSC to EWG Water LLC (“EWG”) and the other half of its shares in NSC
to Alejandro de la Vega (the “individual shareholder”). In February 2012, the Company paid $300,000 to enter into an
agreement (the “Option Agreement”) that provided it with an option, exercisable through February 7, 2014, to purchase
the shares of NSC owned by the individual shareholder for a price of $1.0 million along with an immediate usufruct and power of
attorney to vote those shares. Such shares constituted 25% of the ownership of NSC as of February 2012. In May 2013, NSC repaid
a $5.7 million loan payable to CW-Cooperatief by issuing additional shares of its stock. As a result of this share issuance to
CW-Cooperatief, the Company acquired 99.99% of the ownership of NSC. The Option Agreement contained an anti-dilution provision
that required the Company to transfer or otherwise cause the individual shareholder to acquire, for a total price of $1 (regardless
of their par or market value), shares in NSC of an amount sufficient to maintain the individual shareholder’s 25% ownership
interest in NSC if (i) any new shares of NSC were issued subsequent to the execution of the Option Agreement (causing the individual
shareholder’s 25% ownership interest in NSC to be decreased); and (ii) the Company did not exercise its share purchase option
by February 7, 2014. The Company exercised its option and paid the $1.0 million to the individual shareholder to purchase the Option
Agreement shares in February 2014.
In October 2015, the Company learned that EWG filed a lawsuit against the individual shareholder, NSC,
NSA, CW-Cooperatief, other third parties, and the Public Registry of Commerce of Tijuana, Baja California in the Civil Court located
in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. In this lawsuit, EWG challenged, among other things, the capital investment transactions that
increased the Company’s ownership interest in NSC to 99.99%. EWG requested that the court, as a preliminary matter, among
others: (a) suspend the effectiveness of the challenged transactions; (b) order public officials in Mexico to record the pendency
of the lawsuit in the public records; and (c) appoint an inspector for NSA and NSC to oversee its commercial activities. The court
granted, ex-parte, the preliminary relief sought by EWG, which resulted in the placement of inscriptions for the lawsuit on NSC’s
public records.
EWG also sought an order directing, among
other things: (i) NSA, NSC and CW-Cooperatief to refrain from carrying out any transactions with respect to the Project; and (ii)
NSA, NSC and CW-Cooperatief, and the partners thereof, to refrain from transferring any interests in NSA, NSC and CW-Cooperatief.
On April 5, 2016, NSC filed a motion for
reconsideration with the Tecate, Mexico court asking, among other things, that the court; (i) reverse its order to record the pendency
of the lawsuit in the public records; (ii) cancel the appointment of the inspector; and (iii) allow NSC to provide a counter-guarantee
to suspend the effects of the court’s order regarding the challenged transactions. On April 26, 2016, the Tecate, Mexico
court issued an interlocutory judgment (i) ordering the cancellation of the inscriptions on NSC’s public records; and (ii)
rejecting NSC’s motion for cancellation of the appointment of the inspector.
On April 26, 2016, NSC filed a full answer
to EWG’s claims rejecting every claim made by EWG.
On May 17, 2016, NSC filed a claim with
the Third District Court in Matters of Amparo and Federal Trials in the City of Tijuana, Baja California (the “Amparo Court”)
challenging the Tecate, Mexico court ex-parte order which appointed an inspector over NSC’s commercial activities. On July
29, 2016, the Amparo Court found that such appointment is unconstitutional and reversed the Tecate, Mexico court’s appointment
of an inspector.
On September 6, 2016, the Tecate, Mexico
court issued a decree granting the counter-guaranty requested by NSC. Such counter-guaranty was fixed in the amount of 300,000
Mexican pesos and was given to the court on October 13, 2016 at which time all remaining ex-parte restrictions on NSC related
to the challenged transactions were suspended.
On May 2, 2017, the Tecate, Mexico court
declared that the initial filing of this lawsuit had expired due to EWG’s lack of activity with respect to certain actions
required to proceed to trial. Further, on May 25, 2017, such court declaration became definitive. However, EWG was entitled to
refile the lawsuit.
Tijuana Claim - Amparo:
In addition to the Tecate Claim, in January
2018, EWG initiated an ordinary mercantile claim (the “Tijuana Claim”) against the individual shareholder named in
the Tecate Claim, NSC and CW-Cooperatief, (with AdR being named as a third party to be called to trial) before the Tenth Civil
Judge in Tijuana, Baja California for Mercantile Matters (the “Tenth Civil Judge”).
The Tijuana Claim is similar to the Tecate
Claim in the petitions sought by EWG. In the Tijuana Claim, EWG challenged, among other things, the transactions contemplated under
the Option Agreement, and therefore, the capital investment transactions that increased the ownership interest of CW-Cooperatief
in NSC to 99.99%, as a consequence of the Option Agreement. EWG requested that the court, as a preliminary matter, to: (a) suspend
the effectiveness of the challenged transactions; (b) order public officials in Mexico to record the pendency of the lawsuit in
the public records (including a special request to register a lien over the real estate owned by NSC); (c) appoint an inspector
for NSC to oversee its commercial activities; and (d) order public officials in Mexico and credit institutions abroad to refrain
from authorizing or executing any legal act related with the activities of the plaintiff, the co-defendants and the third party
called to trial to avoid damages to third parties, including those with whom negotiations or any form of commercial or administrative
activities, or activities of any other nature related with the “Rosarito” water desalination project, are being conducted.
The Tenth Civil Judge granted, ex-parte, the preliminary relief sought by EWG, which resulted in the issuance of official writs
to several governmental/public entities involved with the Project, including the registration of the pendency of the lawsuit in
certain public records, similarly to the Tecate Claim.
In April 2018, AdR filed an amparo (i.e.
a constitutional appeal) against the official writs issued by the Tenth Civil Judge to two governmental entities. In May 2018,
the amparo claim was amended to also request protection against additional official writs issued by the Tenth Civil Judge to two
other governmental entities and one banking institution. In May 2018, the Third District Court for Amparo and Federal Trials in
the State of Baja California with residence in Tijuana granted a temporary suspension of the effects and consequences of the claimed
official writs issued by the Tenth Civil Judge pending a further determination by the Third District Court. Such suspension was
granted definitely in July 2018, and in August 2018, a resolution determining that the claimed official writs are unconstitutional,
was issued. EWG filed a remedy against such resolution, which has not yet been resolved.
On October 16, 2018, NSC was served with
the Tijuana Claim. NSC is in the process of preparing a legal response to this claim, vigorously opposing the claims made by EWG.
In addition to such legal response, NSC has filed a request to submit the Tijuana Claim to arbitration, based on certain provisions
of the by-laws of NSC, as well as an appeal remedy against the preliminary relief. Neither such request nor the mentioned appeal
have been resolved.
CW-Cooperatief has not been officially
served with the Tijuana Claim, and AdR has not been notified that it has to appear for such trial.
The Company cannot presently determine what impact the resolution of the Tijuana Claim may have on the
Project.
7. Fair value measurements
As of September 30, 2018 and December 31,
2017, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities, the
note payable to related party and dividends payable approximate their fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.
Management considers that the carrying amounts for loans receivable as of December 31, 2017 approximate their fair value as the
stated interest rates approximate market rates.
Under US GAAP, fair value is defined as
the exit price, or the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction
between market participants as of the measurement date. US GAAP guidance also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring
fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most
observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability
and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect
the Company’s assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability. The guidance
establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 - Quoted prices in active
markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 - Inputs other than
Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted
prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for
substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs
that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
Assets and liabilities are classified in
their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company reviews its fair
value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis. Changes in the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification
of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.
The following table presents the Company’s
fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
|
|
September 30, 2018
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recurring
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset arising from put/call options
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
233,000
|
|
|
$
|
233,000
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2017
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recurring
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset arising from put/call options
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
280,000
|
|
|
$
|
280,000
|
|
The activity for the Level 3 asset for the nine months ended
September 30, 2018:
Net asset arising from put/call options
(1)
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2017
|
|
$
|
280,000
|
|
Unrealized loss
|
|
|
(47,000
|
)
|
Balance as of September 30, 2018
|
|
$
|
233,000
|
|
|
(1)
|
In connection with the Company’s acquisition of 51% of Aerex in February 2016, the Company acquired from Aerex’s
former sole shareholder an option to compel such shareholder to sell, and granted to such shareholder an option to require the
Company to purchase, the shareholder’s remaining 49% ownership interest in Aerex at a price based upon the fair market value
of Aerex at the time of the exercise of the option. The options are exercisable on or after the third anniversary of the February
2016 acquisition date. The net asset arising from the put/call options is included in other assets in the accompanying condensed
consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
|
8. Contingencies
CW-Bahamas
CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable balances
due from the WSC amounted to $16.1 million as of September 30, 2018 as compared to $9.1 million as of December 31, 2017. The increase
in these accounts receivable has adversely impacted the liquidity of this subsidiary.
CW-Bahamas has also experienced similar
delays in collecting its accounts receivable from the WSC in several prior years. During these times, the Company arranged meetings
and held discussions with representatives of the WSC and the Bahamas government to formulate a payment schedule for WSC’s
delinquent accounts receivable and such amounts were eventually paid in full. Based upon this payment history, CW-Bahamas has never
been required to provide an allowance for doubtful accounts for any of its accounts receivable, despite the periodic accumulation
of significant delinquent balances.
In October 2018, the Bahamas’ Ministry
of Finance provided CW-Bahamas with a proposed payment schedule to pay WSC’s delinquent accounts receivable as of September
30, 2018 in full by June 2019. If the Bahamas’ Ministry of Finance does not adhere to this proposed payment schedule, or
the WSC continues to be significantly delinquent in paying CW-Bahamas’ invoices, then in the coming months one or more of
the following events may occur: (i) CW-Bahamas may not have sufficient liquidity to continue normal operations; (ii) the Company
may be required to cease the recognition of revenues on CW-Bahamas’ water supply agreements with the WSC; and (iii) the Company
may be required to provide an allowance for CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable. Any of these events could have a material adverse
impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
Cayman Water
The Company sells water through its retail
operations under a license issued in July 1990 by the Cayman Islands government that grants Cayman Water the exclusive right to
provide potable water to customers within its licensed service area. As discussed below, this license was set to expire in July
2010 but has since been extended while negotiations for a new license take place. Pursuant to the license, Cayman Water has the
exclusive right to produce potable water and distribute it by pipeline to its licensed service area, which consists of two of the
three most populated areas of Grand Cayman, the Seven Mile Beach and West Bay areas. For the three months ended September 30, 2018
and 2017, the Company generated approximately 33% and 33%, respectively, of its consolidated revenues and 45% and 48%, respectively,
of its consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted pursuant to Cayman Water’s exclusive license.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, the Company generated approximately 37% and 38%, respectively, of its consolidated
revenues and 51% and 52%, respectively, of its consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted pursuant to
Cayman Water’s exclusive license.
The license was originally scheduled to
expire in July 2010 but has been extended several times by the Cayman Islands government in order to provide the parties with additional
time to negotiate the terms of a new license agreement. The most recent extension of the license expired on January 31, 2018. The
Company continues to provide water subsequent to January 31, 2018 on the assumption that the license has been further extended
to allow the parties to continue negotiations without interruption to an essential service.
In October 2016, the Government of the Cayman Islands passed legislation which created a new utilities
regulation and competition office (“OfReg”). OfReg is an independent and accountable regulatory body with a view of
protecting the rights of consumers, encouraging affordable utility services, and promoting competition. OfReg, which began operations
in January 2017, has the ability to supervise, monitor and regulate multiple utility undertakings and markets. Supplemental legislation
was passed by the Government of the Cayman Islands in April 2017, which transferred responsibility for economic regulation of the
water utility sector and the retail license negotiations from the WAC to OfReg in May 2017. The Company began license negotiations
with OfReg in July 2017 and such negotiations are continuing.
On
November 2, 2018, the Company received a letter from OfReg in which OfReg rejected the Company’s most recent commercial proposal.
Further, OfReg indicated that if the Company is unwilling to submit a new proposal offering certain additional concessions, then
OfReg will have to consider its other available options. The Company has not yet determined how it will respond to this correspondence
from OfReg. The Company cannot make any assurances that it will be able to reach an agreement with OfReg for a new license or that
the terms of any license agreed to will be on terms as favorable to the Company as the terms of the license that expired January
31, 2018.
The Cayman Islands government could
ultimately grant a third party a license to service some or all of Cayman Water’s present service area. However, as set
forth in the existing license, “
the Governor hereby agrees that upon the expiry of the term of this Licence or any
extension thereof, he will not grant a licence or franchise to any other person or company for the processing, distribution,
sale and supply of water within the Licence Area without having first offered such a licence or franchise to the Company on
terms no less favourable than the terms offered to such other person or company.”
The Company is presently unable to determine what impact the resolution of its retail license negotiations
will have on its cash flows, financial condition or results of operations but such resolution could result in a material reduction
(or the loss) of the operating income and cash flows the Company has historically generated from Cayman Water retail operations
and could require the Company to record impairment losses to reduce the carrying values of its retail segment assets. Such impairment
losses could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
OC-Cayman
Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, OC-Cayman,
the Company provides bulk water to the WAC, a government-owned utility and regulatory agency, under various agreements. The WAC
in turn distributes that water to properties in Grand Cayman outside of Cayman Water’s retail license area.
The water OC-Cayman sells to the WAC is
produced at three reverse osmosis seawater conversion plants in Grand Cayman owned by the WAC, but designed, built and operated
by OC-Cayman: the North Sound, Red Gate and North Side Water Works plants. The current operating agreements for the North Sound,
Red Gate and North Side Water Works plants expire in February 2019, February 2019, and June 2019, respectively. In response to
a WAC-initiated public bidding process for a new operating agreement encompassing both the North Sound and Red Gate plants, the
Company submitted a bid for the new agreement.
On August 21, 2018, the WAC accepted OC-Cayman’s bid for the new agreement, and the WAC and OC-Cayman
entered into a new five-year contract commencing on February 1, 2019 for the operation of the North Sound and Red Gate plants.
The revenues for the water supplied under the new agreement, excluding the pass-through energy component, are expected to be approximately
31% less than the revenues under the current agreements, assuming comparable sales volumes. The remaining terms of the new agreement
are substantially consistent with those of the prior North Sound and Red Gate water supply agreements, except that under the new
agreement the WAC will pay the energy costs for the operation of these plants directly to the utility company rather than reimburse
OC-Cayman for these costs.
The Company generated total revenues of
approximately $5.7 million and $7.2 million from these three plants during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and the year
ended December 31, 2017, respectively.
If the Company does not obtain a new bulk
water supply agreement for the North Side Water Works plant, or if such new agreement is obtained on terms less favorable than
the Company’s existing agreement, its results of operations and cash flows will be adversely affected.
CW-Belize
By Statutory Instrument No. 81 of 2009,
the Minister of Public Utilities of the government of Belize published an order, the Public Utility Provider Class Declaration
Order, 2009 (the “Order”), which as of May 1, 2009 designated CW-Belize as a public utility provider under the laws
of Belize. With this designation, the Public Utilities Commission of Belize (the “PUC”) has the authority to set the
rates charged by CW-Belize and to otherwise regulate its activities. On November 1, 2010, CW-Belize received a formal complaint
from the PUC alleging that CW-Belize was operating without a license under the terms of the Water Industry Act. CW-Belize applied
for this license in December 2010. On July 29, 2011, the PUC issued the San Pedro Public Water Supply Quality and Security Complaint
Order (the “Second Order”) which among other things requires that (i) CW-Belize and its customer jointly make a submission
to the responsible Minister requesting that the area surrounding CW-Belize’s seawater abstraction wells be designated a forest
reserve or national park and be designated a Controlled Area under section 58 of the Water Industry Act; (ii) CW-Belize submit
an operations manual for CW-Belize’s desalination plant to the PUC for approval; (iii) CW-Belize and its customer modify
the water supply agreement between the parties to (a) include new water quality parameters included in the Order and (b) cap the
current exclusive water supply arrangement in the agreement at a maximum of 450,000 gallons per day; (iv) CW-Belize keep a minimum
number of replacement seawater RO membranes in stock at all times; and (v) CW-Belize take possession of and reimburse the PUC for
certain equipment which the PUC purchased from a third-party in late 2010. CW-Belize has applied for declaratory judgment and has
been granted a temporary injunction to stay the enforcement of the Second Order by the PUC until such time as the Belize courts
could hear the matter. The initial hearing on this matter was conducted on October 30 and 31, 2012 with an additional hearing on
November 29, 2012.
On December 8, 2017, CW-Belize received
a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court of Belize stating that (i) the claims by the PUC in the Order and the Second Order were
unlawful, null and void and of no effect; and (ii) stated that the PUC is prohibited from taking any steps or proceedings or making
any further Order in respect of the said Order. However, on February 20, 2018, the PUC filed an appeal of this ruling with the
Belize Court of Appeal, the results of which are pending. The Company is presently unable to determine what impact the resolution
of this matter will have on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
CW-Bali
In October 2017, CW-Bali’s sole remaining
customer filed a lawsuit in the district court of Denpasar in Bali, Indonesia against CW-Bali, CW-Bali’s President, and the
Company’s Chief Financial Officer in his capacity as the President of CW-Bali’s Board of Commissioners (i.e. Directors)
seeking compensatory damages of 57.1 billion rupiahs and punitive damages of 26 billion rupiahs as a result of the anticipated
breach of this customer’s water supply agreement that will arise from CW-Bali’s planned cessation of operations. Such
damages were equivalent to approximately $3.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively, based upon the exchange rate between the
dollar and rupiah as of September 30, 2018. In April 2018, the Denpasar court ruled that it had no authority to adjudicate the
case due to a clause in the water supply agreement that requires all disputes to be handled through arbitration in Singapore. However,
the customer immediately filed an appeal with respect to the Denpasar court ruling. In October 2018, the Denpasar appeals court
issued its ruling which upheld the previous court’s ruling, thereby denying the customer’s appeal.
9. Impact of recent accounting standards
Adoption of new accounting standards
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
. ASU 2014-09 requires revenue recognition to depict the transfer of goods or services
to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods
or services. ASU 2014-09 prescribes a five-step framework in accounting for revenues from contracts within its scope, including
(a) identification of the contract, (b) identification of the performance obligations under the contract, (c) determination of
the transaction price, (d) allocation of the transaction price to the identified performance obligations and (e) recognition of
revenues as the identified performance obligations are satisfied. ASU 2014-09 also prescribes additional disclosures and financial
statement presentations. ASU 2014-09 may be adopted retrospectively or under a modified retrospective method where the cumulative
effect is recognized at the date of initial application. This amendment was originally effective January 1, 2017. In August 2015,
the FASB issued ASU 2015-14,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date
, which defers
the effective date by one year to January 1, 2018. Early application is permitted but not before January 1, 2017.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08,
Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net
), that amends the principal versus agent guidance
in ASU 2014-09. ASU 2016-08 clarifies that the analysis must focus on whether the entity has control of the goods or services before
they are transferred to the customer. ASU 2016-08 also provides additional guidance about how to apply the control principle when
services are provided and when goods or services are combined with other goods or services.
In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10,
Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing,
that amends the revenue guidance in ASU 2014-09 on identifying performance
obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. ASU 2016-10 changed the FASB's previous proposals on renewals
of right-to-use licenses and contractual restrictions. The effective date of the standard for the Company will coincide with ASU
2014-09 during the first quarter 2018.
In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-11,
Revenue Recognition
(Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Rescission of SEC Guidance Because of Accounting Standards Updates 2014-09
and 2014-16 Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 EITF Meeting
. ASU 2016-11 rescinds several SEC Staff Announcements
that are codified in Topic 605, including, among other items, guidance relating to accounting for shipping and handling fees and
freight services.
In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients,
which clarifies implementation
guidance around collectability, sales taxes collected from customers, noncash considerations, contract modifications at transition,
and completed contracts at transition.
In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers
, which amended the guidance on
performance obligation disclosures and makes technical corrections and improvements to the new revenue standard. The standard is
effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period,
and permits early adoption on a limited basis. The update permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition
method.
The effective dates of ASU 2016-08, ASU
2016-10, ASU 2016-11, ASU 2016-12 and ASU 2016-20 are the same as ASU 2015-14 discussed above. On January 1, 2018, the Company
adopted Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1,
2018. There was no impact to opening retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 as a result of the adoption of this standard.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01,
Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,
which provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial assets and financial liabilities.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic
825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
, that clarifies the guidance in ASU No.
2016-01 on equity securities and certain fair value option liabilities among other things. ASU 2016-01 and ASU 2018-03 are effective
for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017 and, for most provisions, is effective
using the cumulative-effect transition approach. Early application is permitted for certain provisions. The adoption of ASU 2016-01
and ASU 2018-03 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15,
Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments
, which clarifies how certain
cash receipts and payments are presented in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual periods beginning
after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s
financial position, results of operations or cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. For the nine months ended
September 30, 2017, the adoption resulted in a reclassification of approximately $1.1 million in cash inflows related to the distribution
of earnings from OC-BVI from investing activities to operating activities in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.
Effect of newly issued but not yet
effective accounting standards
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02,
Leases (Topic 842),
which amends the guidance
relating to the definition of a lease, recognition of lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet, and the related disclosure
requirements. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11,
Leases: Targeted Improvements
, which amends the new leasing
guidance such that entities may elect not to restate their comparative periods in the period of adoption. The guidance requires
lessees to recognize an asset and liability on the balance sheet for all of their lease obligations. Operating leases were previously
not recognized on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and
early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt the standard using the modified retrospective method for its existing leases
and expects that this standard will increase lease assets and lease liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The
Company intends to elect certain practical expedients and will carry forward historical conclusions related to (1) contracts that
contain leases, (2) existing lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) initial direct costs for any existing
leases. The Company will also apply the practical expedient that will allow the Company to elect, as an accounting policy, by asset
class, to include both lease and non-lease components as a single component and account for it as a lease. The Company will apply
the short-term lease exception for lessees which will allow the Company to not have to apply the recognition requirements of the
new leasing guidance for short-term leases and to recognize lease payments in net income on a straight-line basis over the lease
term. The Company will also apply the practical expedient related to land easements, allowing it to carry forward its accounting
treatment for land easements on existing agreements. Based on an analysis the Company has performed, the adoption of this new lease
standard is not expected to have a material impact on Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
10. Subsequent events
In February 2017, the Company and the former
sole shareholder of Aerex loaned Aerex $408,000 and $392,000, respectively, in the form of notes payable which were scheduled to
mature on September 30, 2017 and bore interest at 1% per annum. In October 2017, the Company and the former sole shareholder of
Aerex extended the term of the notes payable issued in February 2017 for an additional six months to a new maturity date of March
31, 2018. Additionally, in October 2017 the Company and the former sole shareholder loaned Aerex an additional $306,000 and $294,000,
respectively, in the form of notes payable that bore interest at 1% with a maturity date of March 31, 2018. In March 2018, the
original notes payable of $408,000 and $392,000 were repaid and the maturity date of the remaining notes payable of $306,000 and
$294,000 was extended to September 30, 2018. In July 2018, the balances of these remaining notes payable were increased to $1,122,000
and $1,078,000, respectively, and their maturities were extended to June 30, 2019. In October 2018, Aerex repaid $714,000 and $686,000,
respectively, of these notes payable.
The Company’s management evaluated
subsequent events through the time of the filing of this report on Form 10-Q. Other than as disclosed in these condensed consolidated
financial statements, the Company’s management is not aware of any significant events that occurred subsequent to the balance
sheet date but prior to the filing of this report that would have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited
to, statements regarding our future revenues, future plans, objectives, expectations and events, assumptions and estimates. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by use of the words or phrases “will,” “will likely result,” “are expected
to,” “will continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “potential,” “believe,”
“plan,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” or similar expressions and variations
of such words. Statements that are not historical facts are based on our current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates,
forecasts and projections for our business and the industry and markets related to our business.
The forward-looking statements contained
in this report are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult
to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements. Important
factors which may affect these actual outcomes and results include, without limitation:
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tourism and weather conditions in the areas we serve;
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the economies of the U.S. and other countries in which we conduct business;
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our relationships with the governments we serve;
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regulatory matters, including resolution of the negotiations for the renewal of our retail license
on Grand Cayman;
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our ability to successfully enter new markets, including Mexico and the United States; and
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other factors, including those “Risk Factors” set forth under Part II, Item 1A. “Risk
Factors” in this Quarterly Report and in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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The forward-looking statements in this
Quarterly Report speak as of its date. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking
statement contained in this Quarterly Report to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based, except as may be required by law.
References herein to “we,”
“our,” “ours” and “us” refer to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial
statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Our actual results could differ significantly from such estimates and assumptions.
Certain of our accounting estimates or
assumptions constitute “critical accounting estimates” for us because:
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the nature of these estimates or assumptions is material due to the levels of subjectivity and
judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the susceptibility of such matters to change; and
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the impact of the estimates and assumptions on financial condition and results of operations is
material.
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Our critical accounting estimates relate
to the valuations of our (i) goodwill and intangible assets; and (ii) long-lived assets.
Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill represents the excess cost over
the fair value of the assets of an acquired business. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a business combination accounted
for as a purchase and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized but are tested for impairment at least annually.
Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual
values and reviewed periodically for impairment. We evaluate the possible impairment of goodwill annually as part of our reporting
process for the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. Management identifies our reporting units, which consist of our retail, bulk,
services and manufacturing operations, and determines the carrying value of each reporting unit by assigning the assets and liabilities,
including the existing goodwill and intangible assets, to those reporting units. We determine the fair value of each reporting
unit and compare these fair values to the carrying amounts of the reporting units. To the extent the carrying amount of the reporting
unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment loss is recorded.
For the year ended December 31, 2017, we
estimated the fair value of our reporting units by applying the discounted cash flow method, the guideline public company method,
and the mergers and acquisitions method.
The discounted cash flow method relied
upon seven-year discrete projections of operating results, working capital and capital expenditures, along with a terminal value
subsequent to the discrete period. These seven-year projections were based upon historical and anticipated future results, general
economic and market conditions, and considered the impact of planned business and operational strategies. The discount rates for
the calculations represented the estimated cost of capital for market participants at the time of each analysis.
We also estimated the fair value of each
of our reporting units for the year ended December 31, 2017 through reference to the guideline companies and the market multiples
implied by guideline merger and acquisition transactions.
We weighted the fair values estimated for
each of our reporting units under each method and summed such weighted fair values to estimate the overall fair value for each
reporting unit. The respective weightings we applied to each method as of December 31, 2017 were as follows:
Method
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Retail
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Bulk
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Manufacturing
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Discounted cash flow
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80
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%
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80
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%
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80
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%
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Guideline public company
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10
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%
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10
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%
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10
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%
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Mergers and acquisitions
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10
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%
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10
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%
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10
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%
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100
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%
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100
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%
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100
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%
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The fair values we estimated for our retail
and bulk units exceeded their carrying amounts by 121% and 59%, respectively, as of December 31, 2017. The carrying amount for
our manufacturing unit exceeded its estimated fair value by 12% as of December 31, 2017, and as discussed in the paragraph that
follows, we recorded an impairment loss to reduce the carrying value of the goodwill for this segment.
On February 11, 2016, we acquired a 51%
ownership interest in Aerex. In connection with this acquisition, we recorded goodwill of $8,035,211. Aerex’s actual results
of operations for the six months in 2016 following the acquisition fell significantly short of the projected results that were
included in the overall cash flow projections we utilized to determine the purchase price for Aerex and the fair values of its
assets and liabilities. Due to this shortfall in Aerex’s results of operations, we tested Aerex’s goodwill for possible
impairment as of September 30, 2016 by estimating its fair value using the discounted cash flow method. As a result of this impairment
testing, we determined that the carrying value of our Aerex goodwill exceeded its fair value and recorded an impairment loss of
$1,750,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to reduce the carrying value of this goodwill to $6,285,211. As part of
our annual impairment testing of goodwill performed during the fourth quarter, in 2017 we updated our projections for Aerex’s
future cash flows, determined that the carrying value of our Aerex goodwill exceeded its fair value, and recorded an impairment
loss of $1,400,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2017 to further reduce the carrying value of this goodwill to $4,885,211.
We may be required to record additional impairment losses to reduce the carrying value of our Aerex goodwill in future periods
if we determine it likely that Aerex’s results of operations will fall short of our most recent projections of its future
cash flows.
Long-lived assets
We review the carrying amounts of our long-lived
assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets might not be
recoverable. Conditions that would necessitate an impairment assessment include a significant decline in the observable market
value of an asset, a significant change in the extent or manner in which an asset is used, or a significant adverse change that
would indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets is not recoverable. For long-lived assets to be held and
used, we recognize an impairment loss only if its carrying amount is not recoverable through its undiscounted cash flows and measure
the impairment loss based on the difference between the carrying amount and fair value.
Through our subsidiary, CW-Bali, we have
built and presently operate a seawater reverse osmosis plant with a productive capacity of approximately 264,000 gallons per day
located in Nusa Dua, one of the primary tourist areas of Bali, Indonesia. Since its inception, we have recorded operating losses
for CW-Bali as the sales volumes for its plant have not been sufficient to cover its operating costs. In 2017 and 2016, we determined,
based upon probability-weighted scenarios for CW-Bali’s future undiscounted cash flows, that the carrying values of CW-Bali’s
long-lived assets and our investment in CW-Bali were not recoverable. We recorded impairment losses of $1.6 million and $2.0 million,
for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, to reduce the carrying values of these assets to their fair values.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of
our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial
statements and accompanying notes included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report and our consolidated financial statements
and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 (“2017 Form
10-K”) and the information set forth under Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations” of our 2017 Form 10-K.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
Consolidated Results
Net income attributable to Consolidated
Water Co. Ltd. stockholders for 2018 was $4,552,389 ($0.30 per share on a fully-diluted basis), as compared to $1,161,139 ($0.08
per share on a fully-diluted basis) for 2017. The substantial rise in net income for 2018 as compared to 2017 reflects (i) an increase
in operating income of approximately $1.7 million; and (ii) the litigation settlement received by OC-BVI in September 2018 (see
Note 5 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements), which is the primary reason for the incremental other income from this equity investment of more than $1.8
million.
Total revenues for 2018 increased to $18,824,188
from $16,572,203 in 2017, as all of our segments generated higher revenues. Gross profit for 2018 was $7,526,673 (40% of total
revenues) as compared to $6,307,806 (38% of total revenues) for 2017. For further discussion of revenues and gross profit see the
“Results by Segment” analysis that follows.
General and administrative (“G&A”)
expenses on a consolidated basis remained relatively consistent at $4,941,564 for 2018 as compared to $4,896,323 for 2017.
Results by Segment
Retail Segment:
The retail segment contributed $412,822 to our income from operations for 2018. The retail segment generated
a net loss from operations of ($566,948) for 2017, which included an impairment loss of ($578,480) for CW-Bali.
Revenues generated by our retail water
operations increased to $6,185,558 in 2018 from $5,570,654 in 2017, as from 2017 to 2018 the volume of water sold increased by
approximately 3%, and energy costs rose increasing the energy pass through component of our Cayman Water retail revenues by approximately
$255,000.
Retail segment gross profit was $3,434,959
(56% of retail revenues) and $3,082,213 (55% of retail revenues) for 2018 and 2017, respectively. The increase in retail gross
profit is attributable to the increase in revenues and a slight decrease in engineering and laboratory costs from 2017 to 2018.
We recorded an impairment loss for CW-Bali
of ($578,480) in 2017 based upon the operating losses generated by this subsidiary and our projections of its future cash flows.
CW-Bali did not have a material adverse impact on our 2018 results of operations.
Consistent with prior periods, we record
all non-direct G&A expenses in our retail segment and do not allocate any of these non-direct costs to our other three business
segments. Retail G&A expenses remained relatively consistent at $3,013,053 for 2018 as compared to $3,070,681 for 2017.
Bulk Segment:
The bulk segment contributed $2,463,932
and $1,983,689 to our income from operations for 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Bulk segment revenues were $8,577,456 and
$7,881,464 for 2018 and 2017, respectively. The increase in bulk revenues from 2017 to 2018 is attributable primarily to CW-Bahamas
and OC-Cayman, which generated approximately $632,000 in incremental revenues primarily as a result of a significant increase in
the prices of diesel fuel and electricity from 2017 to 2018, which increased the energy component of our bulk water rates in the
Bahamas and Cayman Islands.
Gross profit for our bulk segment was $2,919,083
(34% of bulk revenues) and $2,299,063 (29% of bulk revenues) for 2018 and 2017, respectively. Gross profit as a percentage of revenues
increased in 2018 as compared to 2017 due to a charge of approximately $430,000 recorded in 2017 relating to the refurbishment
of a fixed asset used in our Bahamas operations.
Bulk segment G&A expenses increased
to $455,151 for 2018 as compared to $315,374 for 2017 due to additional bank charges incurred by CW-Bahamas and CW-Belize to repatriate
funds to our parent company.
The water OC-Cayman sells to the Water
Authority-Cayman (“WAC”) is produced at three reverse osmosis seawater conversion plants in Grand Cayman owned by the
WAC, but designed, built and operated by OC-Cayman: the North Sound, Red Gate and North Side Water Works plants. The current operating
agreements for the North Sound, Red Gate and North Side Water Works plants expire in February 2019, February 2019, and June 2019,
respectively. In response to a WAC-initiated public bidding process for a new operating agreement encompassing both the North Sound
and Red Gate plants, OC-Cayman submitted a bid for the new agreement.
On August 21, 2018, the WAC accepted OC-Cayman’s
bid for the new agreement, and the WAC and OC-Cayman entered into a new five-year contract commencing on February 1, 2019 for the
operation of the North Sound and Red Gate plants. The revenues for the water supplied under the new agreement, excluding the pass-through
energy component, are expected to be approximately 31% less than the revenues under the current agreements, assuming comparable
sales volumes. As a result of this price reduction, the revenues and operating income we will generate from the North Sound and
Red Gate plants commencing February 1, 2019 will be significantly less than the revenues and operating income we presently generate
from these plants under the prior agreements. The remaining terms of the new agreement are substantially consistent with those
of the prior North Sound and Red Gate water supply agreements, except that under the new agreement the WAC will pay the energy
costs for the operation of these plants directly to the utility company rather than reimburse OC-Cayman for these costs.
Although we have not yet negotiated or
executed any binding documents, we are considering a possible sale of CW-Belize that would impact the future results of our bulk
segment. See further discussion of this possible transaction at “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES, CW-Belize Liquidity.”
Services Segment:
The services segment incurred losses from
operations of ($721,547) and ($867,011) for 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Services segment revenues increased to
$807,424 for 2018 from $111,302 for 2017, due to approximately $710,000 in revenues for 2018 for a refurbishment project completed
for OC-BVI’s Bar Bay plant.
Gross profit (loss) for the services segment
was $124,711 and ($3,365) for 2018 and 2017, respectively. The improvement in gross profit for 2018 is attributable to the Bar
Bay plant refurbishment project.
G&A expenses for the services segment
remained relatively consistent at $846,258 and $863,646 for 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Manufacturing Segment:
The manufacturing segment contributed $417,487
and $283,273 to our income from operations in 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Manufacturing revenues were $3,253,750
and $3,008,783 for 2018 and 2017, respectively. Manufacturing revenues increased from 2017 to 2018 due to an increase in the average
dollar value of the projects.
Manufacturing gross profit was $1,047,920
(32% of manufacturing revenues) and $929,895 (31% of manufacturing revenues) for 2018 and 2017, respectively. The increase in gross
profit for 2018 reflects the corresponding increase in revenues.
G&A expenses for the manufacturing
segment remained relatively consistent at $627,102 for 2018 as compared to $646,622 for 2017.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Consolidated Results
Net income attributable to Consolidated
Water Co. Ltd. stockholders for 2018 was $8,833,107 ($0.58 per share on a fully-diluted basis), as compared to $4,416,915 ($0.29
per share on a fully-diluted basis) for 2017. The substantial rise in net income for 2018 as compared to 2017 reflects (i) an increase
in operating income of approximately $3.1 million; and (ii) the litigation settlement received by OC-BVI in September 2018 (see
Note 5 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements), which is the primary reason for the incremental other income from this equity investment of almost $2.2
million.
Total revenues for 2018 increased to $50,032,798
from $47,532,497 in 2017 as a result of higher revenues for our retail, bulk and services segments. Gross profit for 2018 was $20,727,304
(41% of total revenues) as compared to $19,597,947 (41% of total revenues) for 2017. For further discussion of revenues and gross
profit see the “Results by Segment” analysis that follows.
We recorded an impairment loss for CW-Bali
of approximately $1.5 million in 2017 based upon the operating losses generated by this subsidiary and our projections of its future
cash flows. CW-Bali did not have a material adverse impact on our 2018 results of operations.
General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses on a consolidated basis decreased to $14,263,762
for 2018 as compared to $14,695,184 for 2017, primarily due to a decrease of approximately $311,000 in the project development
expenses incurred by our Mexican subsidiaries.
Other income, net for 2018 increased to
$2,755,141 for 2018 as compared to $871,956 for 2017, due to the incremental income of almost $2.2 million generated from our
investment in OC-BVI in 2018 and incremental interest income of approximately $202,000 arising from higher interest earning balances.
These items more than offset incremental expense of ($370,000) arising from the revaluation to fair value of the put/call options
associated with the Aerex acquisition.
Results by Segment
Retail Segment:
The retail segment contributed $1,550,248
to our income from operations for 2018. The retail segment generated a net loss from operations of ($651,764) for 2017, which included
an impairment loss of approximately ($1.5 million) for CW-Bali.
Revenues generated by our retail water
operations increased slightly to $18,884,929 in 2018 from $18,111,274 in 2017 due to an increase in the volume of water sold of
just under 3%.
Retail segment gross profit was $10,650,126
(56% of retail revenues) and $10,215,657 (56% of retail revenues) for 2018 and 2017, respectively.
We recorded an impairment loss for CW-Bali
of approximately $1.5 million in 2017 based upon the operating losses generated by this subsidiary and our projections of its future
cash flows. CW-Bali did not have a material adverse impact on our 2018 retail segment results of operations.
Consistent with prior periods, we record
all non-direct G&A expenses in our retail segment and do not allocate any of these non-direct costs to our other three business
segments. Retail G&A expenses decreased to $9,088,804 for 2018 as compared to $9,288,941 as employee costs decreased approximately
$103,000 principally as a result of a statutory retirement payment made in 2017.
Bulk Segment:
The bulk segment contributed $7,299,138
and $6,925,280 to our income from operations for 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Bulk segment revenues were $25,294,821
and $23,615,787 for 2018 and 2017, respectively. The increase in bulk revenues from 2017 to 2018 is attributable primarily to CW-Bahamas
and OC-Cayman, which generated approximately $1.5 million in incremental revenues due to a significant increase in the prices of
diesel fuel and electricity from 2017 to 2018, which increased the energy component of our bulk water rates in the Bahamas and
Cayman Islands.
Gross profit for our bulk segment was $8,446,153
(33% of bulk revenues) and $7,865,385 (33% of bulk revenues) for 2018 and 2017, respectively. Bulk segment gross profit dollars
increased due to the increase in revenues.
Bulk segment G&A expenses increased
to $1,147,015 for 2018 as compared to $940,105 for 2017 due to additional bank charges incurred by CW-Bahamas and CW-Belize to
repatriate funds to our parent company.
The water OC-Cayman sells to the Water
Authority-Cayman (“WAC”) is produced at three reverse osmosis seawater conversion plants in Grand Cayman owned by the
WAC, but designed, built and operated by OC-Cayman: the North Sound, Red Gate and North Side Water Works plants. The current operating
agreements for the North Sound, Red Gate and North Side Water Works plants expire in February 2019, February 2019, and June 2019,
respectively. In response to a WAC-initiated public bidding process for a new operating agreement encompassing both the North Sound
and Red Gate plants, OC-Cayman submitted a bid for the new agreement.
On August 21, 2018, the WAC accepted OC-Cayman’s
bid for the new agreement, and the WAC and OC-Cayman entered into a new five-year contract commencing on February 1, 2019 for the
operation of the North Sound and Red Gate plants. The revenues for the water supplied under the new agreement, excluding the pass-through
energy component, are expected to be approximately 31% less the revenues under the current agreements, assuming comparable sales
volumes. As a result of this price reduction, the revenues and operating income we will generate from the North Sound and Red Gate
plants commencing February 1, 2019 will be significantly less than the revenues and operating income we presently generate from
these plants under the prior agreements. The remaining terms of the new agreement are substantially consistent with those of the
prior North Sound and Red Gate water supply agreements, except that under the new agreement the WAC will pay the energy costs for
the operation of these plants directly to the utility company rather than reimburse OC-Cayman for these costs.
Although we have not yet negotiated or
executed any binding documents, we are considering a possible sale of CW-Belize that would impact the future results of our bulk
segment. See further discussion of this possible transaction at “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES, CW-Belize Liquidity.”
Services Segment:
The services segment incurred losses from
operations of ($2,030,185) and ($2,458,594) for 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Services segment revenues increased to
$1,054,100 for 2018 as compared to $360,758 for 2017 due to approximately $710,000 in revenues for 2018 for a refurbishment project
completed for OC-BVI’s Bar Bay plant.
Gross profit for the services segment was
$132,447 and $40,172 for 2018 and 2017, respectively. The improvement in gross profit for 2018 is attributable to the Bar Bay plant
refurbishment project.
G&A expenses for the services segment were $2,162,632 and $2,498,766 for 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The decrease in G&A expenses for 2018 results from a decrease of approximately $311,000 in the project development expenses
incurred by our Mexican subsidiaries.
Manufacturing Segment:
The manufacturing segment incurred losses
from operations of ($370,064) and ($490,639) for 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Manufacturing revenues were $4,798,948
and $5,444,678 for 2018 and 2017, respectively. Manufacturing revenues decreased from 2017 to 2018 due to Aerex’s production
in 2018 of various components to be used by our other subsidiaries, CW-Bahamas (for the refurbishment of CW-Bahamas’ Windsor
plant) and Cayman Water (for the expansion of its Abel Castillo Water Works plant). While the revenues Aerex generated from this
work for its affiliates amounted to approximately $2 million, such intercompany revenues are eliminated in consolidation for financial
reporting purposes.
Manufacturing segment gross profit was
$1,498,578 (31% of manufacturing revenues) and $1,476,733 (27% of manufacturing revenues) for 2018 and 2017, respectively. Gross
profit for 2018 increased as a percentage of revenues from 2017 due to a more profitable product mix but remained relatively flat
in total dollars due to the lower revenues resulting from the elimination of the intercompany sales made by Aerex to its affiliates.
G&A expenses for the manufacturing
segment were $1,865,311 for 2018 as compared to $1,967,372 for 2017. The decrease in G&A expenses for the manufacturing segment
from 2017 to 2018 is attributable to a decrease of approximately $185,000 in product development expenses.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
The significant changes in our consolidated
balance sheet as of September 30, 2018 as compared to December 31, 2017 (other than the change in our cash and cash equivalents,
which is discussed later in “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES”) result from increases in accounts receivable and construction
in progress.
The increase in our accounts receivable, from approximately $15.0 million as of December 31, 2017 to approximately
$23.0 million as of September 30, 2018 is attributable to an increase in CW-Bahamas’ receivables from the WSC of approximately
$7.0 million (See “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES, CW-Bahamas-Liquidity” for further discussion of these receivables).
The increase in construction in progress reflects capital improvements to CW-Bahamas’ Windsor plant as well as Cayman Water’s
Abel Castillo Water Works plant in Grand Cayman.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity Position
Our projected liquidity requirements for
the remainder of 2018 include capital expenditures for our existing operations of approximately $2.6 million (primarily for capital
improvements to the Windsor plant in the Bahamas and for the expansion of the Abel Castillo Water Works plant in Grand Cayman),
approximately $900,000 to be expended for NSC's and AdR's project development activities and approximately $1.3 million for dividends
payable. Our liquidity requirements may also include future quarterly dividends, if such dividends are declared by our Board. Our
dividend payments amounted to approximately $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and approximately $3.8 million for
the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
In February 2017, we and the former sole
shareholder of Aerex loaned Aerex $408,000 and $392,000, respectively, in the form of notes payable which were scheduled to mature
on September 30, 2017 and bore interest at 1% per annum. In October 2017, we and the former sole shareholder of Aerex extended
the term of the notes payable issued in February 2017 for an additional six months to a new maturity date of March 31, 2018. Additionally,
in October 2017 we and the former sole shareholder loaned Aerex an additional $306,000 and $294,000, respectively, in the form
of notes payable that bore interest at 1% with a maturity date of March 31, 2018. In March 2018, the original notes payable of
$408,000 and $392,000 were repaid and the maturity date of the remaining notes payable of $306,000 and $294,000 was extended to
September 30, 2018. In July 2018, the balances of these remaining notes payable were increased to $1,122,000 and $1,078,000, respectively,
and their maturities were extended to June 30, 2019. In October 2018, Aerex repaid $714,000 and $686,000, respectively, of these
notes payable.
As of September 30, 2018, we had cash and
cash equivalents of approximately $34.4 million and working capital of approximately $55.1 million. Except for the liquidity matters
relating to CW-Bahamas and CW-Belize that are discussed in paragraphs that follow, we are not presently aware of anything that
would lead us to believe that we will not have sufficient liquidity to meet our needs for 2018 and thereafter.
CW-Bahamas Liquidity
CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable balances
due from the WSC amounted to $16.1 million as of September 30, 2018 as compared to $9.1 million as of December 31, 2017. The increase
in these accounts receivable has adversely impacted the liquidity of this subsidiary.
CW-Bahamas has also experienced similar
delays in collecting its accounts receivable from the WSC in prior years, and at times has held accounts receivable balances from
the WSC in amounts comparable to the September 30, 2018 balance. During these periods, we arranged meetings and held discussions
with representatives of the WSC and the Bahamas government to formulate a payment schedule for WSC’s delinquent accounts
receivable and such amounts were subsequently paid in full. Based upon this payment history, we have never been required to provide
an allowance for doubtful accounts for any of CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable, even though CW-Bahamas periodically has been
owed substantial delinquent balances.
In October 2018, the Bahamas’ Ministry
of Finance provided CW-Bahamas with a proposed payment schedule to pay WSC’s delinquent accounts receivable balance as of
September 30, 2018 in full by June 2019. If the Bahamas’ Ministry of Finance does not adhere to this proposed payment schedule,
or the WSC continues to be significantly delinquent in paying CW-Bahamas’ invoices, then in the coming months one or more
of the following events may occur: (i) CW-Bahamas may not have sufficient liquidity to continue normal operations; (ii) we may
be required to cease the recognition of revenues on CW-Bahamas’ water supply agreements with the WSC; and (iii) we may be
required to provide an allowance for CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable. Any of these events could have a material adverse
impact on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
CW-Belize Liquidity
Transfers of funds held by our subsidiary
CW-Belize, to our parent company, which are accomplished by means of conversion of Belize dollars into U.S. dollars, require the
approval of the Central Bank of Belize and are dependent on the amount of U.S. dollars available to Belize banks to execute such
transfers. Weakness in the Belize economy and other factors have reduced the amount of U.S. dollars that Belize banks have available
for transfer, which limited in prior years the amount of funds we were able to transfer from CW-Belize. Our repatriations
of funds from CW-Belize to our parent company amounted to $458,000 and $400,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016,
respectively, significantly less than the net income and net cash flows CW-Belize generated for those years.
During the quarter ended September 30,
2018, we signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Belize Water Services Ltd. (“BWSL”)
with respect to the potential sale of CW-Belize to BWSL, however we have not negotiated or executed any binding transaction documents.
We were not otherwise considering a sale of CW-Belize, so as an incentive for us to consider this proposed transaction, BWSL
promised in the MOU to facilitate both the conversion from Belize dollars to US dollars and the subsequent repatriation of all
cash balances we have on deposit in Belize. With BWSL’s assistance, we were able to repatriate approximately $2.75 million
in cash from Belize to our bank accounts in the Cayman Islands during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and an additional
$1 million in October 2018. The transaction contemplated in the MOU is contingent on several factors, including but not limited
to the successful negotiation of a final agreed-upon sales price and binding transactions documents, BWSL’s ability to obtain
financing for the transaction, the completion of due diligence, governmental approvals, and the conversion and repatriation of
our remaining cash balances in Belize.
As of September 30, 2018 and October 31,
2018 the equivalent U.S. dollar cash amounts for our bank account deposits in Belize were approximately $3.1 million, and $2.2
million, respectively.
CW-Belize generated sales and net income
of approximately $2.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. CW-Belize generated
sales and net income of approximately $2.9 million and $1.4 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Discussion of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September
30, 2018
Our cash and cash equivalents decreased
to $34.4 million as of September 30, 2018 from $47.2 million as of December 31, 2017.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Our operating activities provided cash of approximately $5,388,000.
This net cash provided reflects net income generated for the nine months of approximately $9.3 million as adjusted for (i) various
items included in the determination of net income that do not affect cash flows during the year; and (ii) changes in the other
components of working capital. The more significant of such items and changes in working capital components included depreciation
and amortization of approximately $5.2 million and a net increase in accounts receivable (attributable to CW-Bahamas) of approximately
$7.9 million.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net cash used in our investing activities
was approximately $14.8 million. Additions to property, plant and equipment and construction in progress (arising from the refurbishment
of the CW-Bahamas’ Windsor plant and the expansion of Cayman Water’s Abel Castillo Water Works plant) used approximately
$13.7 million and $2.2 million was used for rights of way and additional land for the NSC and AdR project. This was slightly offset
by $1,041,787 in collections on loans receivable from the Water Authority-Cayman (“WAC”).
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Our financing activities used approximately
$3.4 million in net cash as we paid dividends of approximately $3.8 million.
In March 2018, we repaid the original note
payable of $392,000 to the former sole shareholder of Aerex. In July 2018, we increased the note payable to the former sole shareholder
of Aerex by $784,000 from $294,000 to $1,078,000 and extended the maturity date to June 30, 2019.
Material Commitments, Expenditures and
Contingencies
Renewal of Retail License
We sell water through our retail operations under a license issued in July 1990 by the Cayman Islands
government that grants Cayman Water the exclusive right to provide potable water to customers within its licensed service area.
As discussed below, this license was set to expire in July 2010 but has since been extended while negotiations for a new license
take place. Pursuant to the license, Cayman Water has the exclusive right to produce potable water and distribute it by pipeline
to its licensed service area, which consists of two of the three most populated areas of Grand Cayman, the Seven Mile Beach and
West Bay areas. For the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we generated approximately 33% and 33%, respectively, of
our consolidated revenues and 45% and 48%, respectively, of our consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted
pursuant to Cayman Water’s exclusive license. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, we generated approximately
37% and 38%, respectively, of our consolidated revenues and 51% and 52%, respectively, of our consolidated gross profit from the
retail water operations conducted pursuant to Cayman Water’s exclusive license.
The license was originally scheduled to
expire in July 2010 but has been extended several times by the Cayman Islands government in order to provide the parties with
additional time to negotiate the terms of a new license agreement. The most recent extension of the license expired on January
31, 2018. We continue to provide water subsequent to January 31, 2018 on the assumption that the license has been further extended
to allow the parties to continue negotiations without interruption to an essential service.
In October 2016, the Government of the
Cayman Islands passed legislation which created a new utilities regulation and competition office (“OfReg”). OfReg
is an independent and accountable regulatory body with a view of protecting the rights of consumers, encouraging affordable utility
services, and promoting competition. OfReg, which began operations in January 2017, has the ability to supervise, monitor and regulate
multiple utility undertakings and markets. Supplemental legislation was passed by the Government of the Cayman Islands in April
2017, which transferred responsibility for economic regulation of the water utility sector and the retail license negotiations
from the Water Authority-Cayman (“WAC”) to OfReg in May 2017. We began license negotiations with OfReg in July 2017
and such negotiations are continuing. On November 2, 2018, we received a letter from OfReg in which OfReg rejected our most recent
commercial proposal. Further, OfReg indicated that if we are unwilling to submit a new proposal offering certain additional concessions,
then OfReg will have to consider its other available options. We have not yet determined how we will respond to this correspondence
from OfReg. We cannot make any assurances that we will be able to reach an agreement with OfReg for a new license or that the terms
of any license agreed to will be on terms as favorable to us as the terms of the license that expired January 31, 2018.
The Cayman Islands government could ultimately
grant a third party a license to service some or all of Cayman Water’s present service area. However, as set forth in the
existing license, “
the Governor hereby agrees that upon the expiry of the term of this Licence or any extension thereof,
he will not grant a licence or franchise to any other person or company for the processing, distribution, sale and supply of water
within the Licence Area without having first offered such a licence or franchise to the Company on terms no less favourable than
the terms offered to such other person or company.”
We are presently unable to determine what
impact the resolution of our retail license negotiations will have on our cash flows, financial condition or results of operations
but such resolution could result in a material reduction (or the loss) of the operating income and cash flows we have historically
generated from our retail operations and could require us to record an impairment losses to reduce the carrying value of our retail
segment assets. Such impairment losses could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
NSC and AdR Project Development
In May 2010, we acquired, through our wholly-owned Netherlands subsidiary, Consolidated Water Cooperatief,
U.A., (“CW-Cooperatief”) a 50% interest in N.S.C. Agua, S.A. de C.V. (“NSC”), a development stage Mexican
company. We have since purchased, through the conversion of a loan we made to NSC, sufficient shares to raise our ownership interest
in NSC to 99.99%. NSC was formed to pursue a project (the “Project”) encompassing the construction, operation and minority
ownership of a 100 million gallon per day seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant to be located in northern Baja California,
Mexico and accompanying pipelines to deliver water to the Mexican potable water system. As discussed in the paragraphs that follow,
during 2015 the scope of the Project was defined by the State of Baja California (the “State”) to consist of a first
phase consisting of a 50 million gallon per day plant and a pipeline that connects to the Mexican potable water infrastructure
and a second phase consisting of an additional 50 million gallons per day of production capacity with additional pipeline infrastructure.
Through a series of transactions completed
in 2012-2014, NSC purchased 20.1 hectares of land for approximately $20.6 million on which the proposed Project’s plant would
be constructed.
In November 2012, NSC entered into a lease
with an effective term of 20 years from the date of full operation of the desalination plant with the Comisión Federal de
Electricidad for approximately 5,000 square meters of land on which it plans to construct the water intake and discharge works
for the plant. The amounts due on this lease are payable in Mexican pesos at an amount that is currently equivalent to approximately
$15,000 per month. This lease may be cancelled by NSC should NSC ultimately not proceed with the Project.
In August 2014, the State enacted new
legislation to regulate Public-Private Association projects which involve the type of long-term contract between a public-sector
authority and a private party that NSC is seeking to complete the Project (the “APP Law”). Pursuant to this new legislation,
on January 4, 2015, NSC submitted an expression of interest for its project to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development
of the State of Baja California (“SIDUE”). SIDUE accepted NSC’s expression of interest and requested that NSC
submit a detailed proposal for the Project that complies with the requirements of the new legislation. NSC submitted this detailed
proposal (the “APP Proposal”) to SIDUE in late March 2015. The new legislation required that such proposal be evaluated
by SIDUE and submitted to the Public-Private Association Projects State Committee (the “APP Committee”) for review
and authorization. If the Project was authorized the State would be required to conduct a public tender for the Project.
In response to its APP Proposal, in September 2015 NSC received a letter dated June 30, 2015 from the
Director General of the Comisión Estatal del Agua de Baja California (“CEA”), the State agency with responsibility
for the Project, stating that (i) the Project is in the public interest with high social benefits and is consistent with the objectives
of the State development plan; and (ii) that the Project and accompanying required public tender process should be conducted. In
November 2015, the State officially commenced the tender for the Project, the scope of which the State has defined as a first phase
to be operational in 2019 consisting of a 50 million gallon per day plant and a pipeline that connects to the Mexican potable water
infrastructure and a second phase to be operational in 2024 consisting of an additional 50 million gallons per day of production
capacity with additional pipeline infrastructure. A consortium comprised of NSC, NuWater S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“NuWater”)
and Degremont S.A. de C.V. (the “Consortium”) submitted its tender for the Project in April 2016 and in June 2016,
the State designated the Consortium as the winner of tender process for the Project.
Due to the amount of capital the Project
requires, NSC will ultimately need an equity partner or partners for the Project. Consequently, NSC’s tender to the State
for the Project was based upon the following: (i) NSC will sell or otherwise transfer the land and other Project assets to a new
company (“Newco”) that would build and own the Project; (ii) NSC’s potential partners would provide the majority
of the equity for the Project and thereby would own the majority interest in Newco; (iii) NSC would maintain a minority ownership
position in Newco; and (iv) Newco would enter into a long-term management and technical services contract for the Project with
an entity partially owned by NSC or another Company subsidiary.
In August 2016 NSC and NuWater incorporated
Newco under the name Aguas de Rosarito S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“AdR”), a special purpose company, to complete the Project
and executed a shareholders agreement for AdR agreeing among other things that (i) AdR would purchase the land and other Project
assets from NSC on the date that the Project begins commercial operation and (ii) AdR would enter into a Management and Technical
Services Agreement with NSC effective on the first day that the Project begins commercial operation. As of December 31, 2017 and
September 30, 2018, NSC owned 99.6% of the equity of AdR.
On August 22, 2016, the Public Private
Partnership Agreement for public private partnership number 002/2015, bid number SIDUE-CEA-APP-2015-002 (“APP Contract”),
was executed between AdR, CEA, the Government of Baja California represented by the Secretary of Planning and Finance and the Public
Utilities Commission of Tijuana (“CESPT”). The APP Contract requires AdR to design, construct, finance and operate
a seawater desalination plant (and accompanying aqueducts) with a capacity of up to 100 million gallons per day in two phases:
the first with a capacity of 50 million gallons per day and an aqueduct to the Mexican potable water system in Tijuana, Baja California;
and the second phase with a capacity of 50 million gallons per day and an aqueduct to a second delivery point in Tijuana. The first
phase must be operational within 36 months of commencing construction and the second phase must be operational by July 2024. The
APP Contract further requires AdR to operate and maintain the plant and aqueduct for a period of 37 years starting from the commencement
of operation of the first phase. At the end of the operating period, the plant and aqueduct will be transferred to CEA.
The APP Contract does not become effective
until the following conditions are met:
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the State has established and registered various payment trusts, guaranties and bank credit lines
for specific use by the Project;
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the CEA has obtained the rights from the relevant federal authority to take and desalinate seawater
and distribute it for municipal use;
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various water purchase and sale agreements between the CEA, the payment trusts and the CESPT have
been executed;
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AdR has obtained all of the rights of way required for the aqueduct;
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AdR has obtained permission from the relevant federal authority to discharge the residual water
from the Project’s desalination plant; and
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all debt financing agreements necessary to provide the funding to AdR for the first phase of the
Project have been executed.
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In December 2016, the Congress of the State
of Baja California, Mexico passed Decreto #57 which, among other things, ratified and authorized the payment obligations of the
corresponding public entities under the APP Contract. During 2017, following consultations between representatives of the State
of Baja California and the Ministry of Finance of the Federal Government of Mexico, it was determined that certain amendments to
Decreto #57 were required to comply with recent changes to the Federal Financial Discipline Law for Federative Entities and Municipalities
(the “Financial Discipline Law”). In addition, it was necessary to amend Decreto #57 to authorize the inclusion of
revenues from the CESPT in the primary payment trust for the Project. These amendments were included in Decreto #168, which was
approved by the Congress of the State of Baja, California in December 2017. Pursuant to the Financial Discipline Law and the terms
of Decreto #57, as amended by Decreto #168, the authorization of the payment obligations of the public entities under the APP Contract
expires on December 31, 2018. If the State fails to establish the various payment trusts, guaranties and bank credit lines for
use by the Project authorized by Decreto #57, as amended, prior to the expiration thereof, then a further amendment of Decreto
#57 will be required to extend the authorization beyond such time. If the State fails to establish the various payment trusts,
guaranties and bank credit lines for use by the Project authorized by Decreto #57, as amended, prior to the expiration of such
Decreto or if, following such expiration, the Congress of the State of Baja California fails to further amend Decreto #57 to extend
the authorization of the payment obligations of the public entities under the APP Contract in a timely manner or at all, then AdR
may be unable to proceed with the Project.
Following its issuance, two actions were
filed in Mexican Courts against Decreto #168. While neither NSC nor AdR have been named as a party in these actions, based upon
publicly available information (1) one of these actions consists of a challenge filed by certain members of the Congress of the
State of Baja California alleging certain elements of Decreto #168 are contrary to the Mexican constitution; and (2) the other
action represents an amparo (i.e. a constitutional appeal) filed by certain members of indigenous groups that alleges Decreto #168
violates certain of the human rights and individual guarantees they are afforded under the Mexican constitution. With respect to
the action mentioned in (1), we understand based upon publicly available information that in August 2018 the Mexican Federal Supreme
Court of Justice ruled to dismiss this action. With respect to the action mentioned in number (2), according to publicly available
information, we understand that on March 27, 2018, a resolution dismissing such proceeding was issued (and subsequently published
in the official lists of the corresponding court on April 16, 2018), as the claimants were not able to evidence their legal interest.
On May 3, 2018, the court deciding on such action determined this resolution to be final, as the claimants did not file a remedy
against it.
Both the exchange rate for the Mexico
peso relative to the dollar and general macroeconomic conditions in Mexico have varied since the execution of the APP Contract.
These changes have adversely impacted the estimated construction, operating, and financing costs for the Project. The APP Contract
and the APP Law allow for the parties to negotiate (but do not guarantee) modifications to the consideration (i.e. water tariff)
under the APP Contract in the event of such significant macroeconomic condition changes. In February 2017, AdR submitted proposals
to the CEA requesting the definition of the mechanism required by the APP Contract to update the consideration under the APP Contract
for changes in foreign exchange rates, lending rates and certain laws which have impacted the Project. On June 1, 2018, AdR and
the CEA executed an amendment to the APP Contract which, among other things, increases the scope of Phase 1 of the Project by
including the aqueduct originally designated for Phase 2, and addresses AdR’s concerns regarding the impact on the Project
of changes in the exchange rate for the peso relative to the dollar and changes in interest rates that have occurred subsequent
to the submission of the Consortium’s bid for the Project. As a result of this amendment to the APP Contract, the final
cost of Phase 1 and the related consideration to be charged by AdR under the APP Contract will be determined based upon the bid
submitted by the Consortium, the changes set forth in the amendment to the APP Contract and the economic conditions (e.g. interest
rates and currency exchange rates) in effect on the financial closing date for Phase 1.
In February 2018, AdR executed a subscription
agreement (the “Agreement”) for the equity funding required for the Project. The Agreement calls for NSC to retain
a minimum of 25% of the equity in AdR. One or more affiliates of Greenfield SPV VII, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“Greenfield”),
a Mexico company managed by an affiliate of a leading U.S. asset manager, will acquire a minimum of 55% of the equity of AdR. The
Agreement also provides Suez Medio Ambiente México, S.A. de C.V., (“Suez”) a subsidiary of SUEZ International,
S.A.S., with the option to purchase 20% of the equity of AdR. If Suez does not exercise this option, NSC will retain 35% of the
equity of AdR and Greenfield will acquire 65% of the equity of AdR. The Agreement will become effective when the additional conditions
related to the Project are met, including but not limited to those conditions discussed previously. The aggregate funding to be
provided by AdR’s shareholders for the Project, in the form of equity and subordinated shareholder loans, is presently estimated
at approximately 20% of the total cost of Phase 1 of the Project.
NSC expects to generate a portion of its
funding for AdR through the sale to AdR of the land it has purchased for the Project. Under the terms of the Agreement, Suez will
design and construct the Project, while a joint venture company between NSC and Suez will operate the Project.
In February 2018, our subsidiary, Consolidated
Water U.S. Holdings, acquired the remaining 0.4% of AdR’s equity ownership previously held by NuWater.
In June 2018, AdR and Suez executed a contract
whereby Suez will serve as the engineering, construction and procurement contractor for the Project with such contract becoming
effective on the effective date of the APP Contract.
The political environment in Mexico has
recently experienced significant changes and the new, incoming federal administration has made economic policy announcements focusing
on austerity. While the long-term ramifications of such changes and announcements are unknown, in the short-term they have (i)
caused certain rating agencies to lower Mexico’s sovereign credit rating, (ii) resulted in a decrease in the value of the
Mexico peso and (iii) created uncertainty with respect to the incoming administration’s position on projects and contracts
approved by previous administrations. The incoming federal administration has a hold on the federal government and a strong influence
on many of the state and local governments and congresses, raising the possibility that the federal government will influence local
politics, which could impact the State’s and the CEA’s ability to meet certain conditions required to make the APP
Contract effective.
If AdR is ultimately unable to proceed
with the Project due to a failure by any of the parties involved to meet the conditions necessary for the APP Contract to become
effective, or for any other reason, the land NSC has purchased and the right of way deposits may lose their strategic importance
derived from their association with the Project and consequently may decline in value. If AdR does not proceed with the Project,
NSC may ultimately be unable to sell this land or recoup its right of way deposits for amounts at least equal to their carrying
values as of September 30, 2018 of approximately $20.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively. Any loss on the sale of the land,
or impairment losses NSC may be required to record as a result of a decrease in the (i) fair value of the land; or (ii) value of
the rights of way arising from the inability to complete the Project, could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition
and results of operations.
Included in our results of operations are
general and administrative expenses from NSC and AdR, consisting of organizational, legal, accounting, engineering, consulting
and other costs relating to Project development activities. Such expenses amounted to approximately $846,000 and $864,000 for the
three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $2,158,000 and $2,469,000 for the nine months ended September
30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The assets and liabilities of NSC and AdR included in our consolidated balance sheets amounted
to approximately $26.2 million and $276,000, respectively, as of September 30, 2018 and approximately $23.1 million and $173,000
respectively, as of December 31, 2017.
Project Litigation Initiated by EWG
Tecate Claim:
Immediately following CW-Cooperatief’s
acquisition of its initial 50% ownership in NSC, the remaining 50% ownership interest in NSC was held by an unrelated company,
Norte Sur Agua, S. de R.L. de C.V. (“NSA”). NSA subsequently transferred ownership of half of its shares in NSC to
EWG Water LLC (“EWG”) and the other half of its shares in NSC to Alejandro de la Vega (the “individual shareholder”).
In February 2012, we paid $300,000 to enter into an agreement (the “Option Agreement”) that provided us with an option,
exercisable through February 7, 2014, to purchase the shares of NSC owned by the individual shareholder for a price of $1.0 million
along with an immediate usufruct and power of attorney to vote those shares. Such shares constituted 25% of the ownership of NSC
as of February 2012. In May 2013, NSC repaid a $5.7 million loan payable to CW-Cooperatief by issuing additional shares of its
stock. As a result of this share issuance to CW-Cooperatief, we acquired 99.99% of the ownership of NSC. The Option Agreement contained
an anti-dilution provision that required us to transfer or otherwise cause the individual shareholder to acquire, for a total price
of $1 (regardless of their par or market value), shares in NSC of an amount sufficient to maintain the individual shareholder’s
25% ownership interest in NSC if (i) any new shares of NSC were issued subsequent to the execution of the Option Agreement (causing
the individual shareholder’s 25% ownership interest in NSC to be decreased); and (ii) we did not exercise our share purchase
option by February 7, 2014. We exercised our option and paid the $1.0 million to the individual shareholder to purchase the Option
Agreement shares in February 2014.
In October 2015, we learned that EWG filed
a lawsuit against the individual shareholder, NSC, NSA, CW-Cooperatief, other third parties, and the Public Registry of Commerce
of Tijuana, Baja California in the Civil Court located in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. In this lawsuit, EWG challenged, among
other things, the capital investment transactions that increased our ownership interest in NSC to 99.99%. EWG requested that the
court, as a preliminary matter, among others: (a) suspend the effectiveness of the challenged transactions; (b) order public officials
in Mexico to record the pendency of the lawsuit in the public records; and (c) appoint an inspector for NSA and NSC to oversee
its commercial activities. The court granted, ex-parte, the preliminary relief sought by EWG, which resulted in the placement of
inscriptions for the lawsuit on NSC’s public records.
EWG also sought an order directing, among
other things: (i) NSA, NSC and CW-Cooperatief to refrain from carrying out any transactions with respect to the Project; and (ii)
NSA, NSC and CW-Cooperatief, and the partners thereof, to refrain from transferring any interests in NSA, NSC and CW-Cooperatief.
On April 5, 2016, NSC filed a motion for
reconsideration with the Tecate, Mexico court asking, among other things, that the court; (i) reverse its order to record the pendency
of the lawsuit in the public records; (ii) cancel the appointment of the inspector; and (iii) allow NSC to provide a counter-guarantee
to suspend the effects of the court’s order regarding the challenged transactions. On April 26, 2016, the Tecate, Mexico
court issued an interlocutory judgment (i) ordering the cancellation of the inscriptions on NSC’s public records; and (ii)
rejecting NSC’s motion for cancellation of the appointment of the inspector.
On April 26, 2016, NSC filed a full answer
to EWG’s claims rejecting every claim made by EWG.
On May 17, 2016, NSC filed a claim with
the Third District Court in Matters of Amparo and Federal Trials in the City of Tijuana, Baja California (the “Amparo Court”)
challenging the Tecate, Mexico court ex-parte order which appointed an inspector over NSC’s commercial activities. On July
29, 2016, the Amparo Court found that such appointment is unconstitutional and reversed the Tecate, Mexico court’s appointment
of an inspector.
On September 6, 2016, the Tecate, Mexico
court issued a decree granting the counter-guaranty requested by NSC. Such counter-guaranty was fixed in the amount of 300,000
Mexican pesos and was given to the court on October 13, 2016 at which time all remaining ex-parte restrictions on NSC related to
the challenged transactions were suspended.
On May 2, 2017, the Tecate, Mexico court declared that the initial filing of this lawsuit had expired
due to EWG’s lack of activity with respect to certain actions required to proceed to trial. Further, on May 25, 2017, such
court declaration became definitive. However, EWG was entitled to refile the lawsuit.
Tijuana Claim - Amparo:
In addition to the Tecate Claim, in January
2018, EWG initiated an ordinary mercantile claim (the “Tijuana Claim”) against the individual shareholder named in
the Tecate Claim, NSC and CW-Cooperatief, (with AdR being named as a third party to be called to trial) before the Tenth Civil
Judge in Tijuana, Baja California for Mercantile Matters (the “Tenth Civil Judge”).
The Tijuana Claim is similar to the Tecate
Claim in the petitions sought by EWG. In the Tijuana Claim, EWG challenged, among other things, the transactions contemplated under
the Option Agreement, and therefore, the capital investment transactions that increased the ownership interest of CW-Cooperatief
in NSC to 99.99%, as a consequence of the Option Agreement. EWG requested that the court, as a preliminary matter to: (a) suspend
the effectiveness of the challenged transactions; (b) order public officials in Mexico to record the pendency of the lawsuit in
the public records (including a special request to register a lien over the real estate owned by NSC); (c) appoint an inspector
for NSC to oversee its commercial activities; and (d) order public officials in Mexico and credit institutions abroad to refrain
from authorizing or executing any legal act related with the activities of the plaintiff, the co-defendants and the third party
called to trial to avoid damages to third parties, including those with whom negotiations or any form of commercial or administrative
activities, or activities of any other nature related with the “Rosarito” water desalination project, are being conducted.
The Tenth Civil Judge granted, ex-parte, the preliminary relief sought by EWG, which resulted in the issuance of official writs
to several governmental /public entities involved with the Project, including the registration of the pendency of the lawsuit in
certain public records, similarly to the Tecate Claim.
In April 2018, AdR filed an amparo (i.e.
a constitutional appeal) against the official writs issued by the Tenth Civil Judge to two governmental entities. In May 2018,
the amparo claim was amended to also request protection against additional official writs issued by the Tenth Civil Judge to two
other governmental entities and one banking institution. In May 2018, the Third District Court for Amparo and Federal Trials in
the State of Baja California with residence in Tijuana granted a temporary suspension of the effects and consequences of the claimed
official writs issued by the Tenth Civil Judge pending a further determination by the Third District Court. Such suspension was
granted definitely in July 2018, and in August 2018, a resolution determining that the claimed official writs are unconstitutional,
was issued. EWG filed a remedy against such resolution, which has not yet been resolved.
On October 16, 2018, NSC was served with
the Tijuana Claim. NSC is in the process of preparing a legal response to this claim, vigorously opposing the claims made by EWG.
In addition to such legal response, NSC has filed a request to submit the Tijuana Claim to arbitration, based on certain provisions
of the by-laws of NSC, as well as an appeal remedy against the preliminary relief. Neither such request nor the mentioned appeal
have been resolved.
CW-Cooperatief has not been officially
served with the Tijuana Claim, and AdR has not been notified that it has to appear for such trial.
We cannot presently determine what impact
the resolution of the Tijuana Claim may have on the Project.
CW-Belize
By Statutory Instrument No. 81 of 2009,
the Minister of Public Utilities of the government of Belize published an order, the Public Utility Provider Class Declaration
Order, 2009 (the “Order”), which as of May 1, 2009 designated CW-Belize as a public utility provider under the laws
of Belize. With this designation, the Public Utilities Commission of Belize (the “PUC”) has the authority to set the
rates charged by CW-Belize and to otherwise regulate its activities. On November 1, 2010, CW-Belize received a formal complaint
from the PUC alleging that CW-Belize was operating without a license under the terms of the Water Industry Act. CW-Belize applied
for this license in December 2010. On July 29, 2011, the PUC issued the San Pedro Public Water Supply Quality and Security Complaint
Order (the “Second Order”) which among other things requires that (i) CW-Belize and its customer jointly make a submission
to the responsible Minister requesting that the area surrounding CW-Belize’s seawater abstraction wells be designated a forest
reserve or national park and be designated a Controlled Area under section 58 of the Water Industry Act, (ii) CW-Belize submit
an operations manual for CW-Belize’s desalination plant to the PUC for approval, (iii) CW-Belize and its customer modify
the water supply agreement between the parties to (a) include new water quality parameters included in the Order and (b) cap the
current exclusive water supply arrangement in the agreement at a maximum of 450,000 gallons per day, (iv) CW-Belize keep a minimum
number of replacement seawater RO membranes in stock at all times and (v) CW-Belize take possession of and reimburse the PUC for
certain equipment which the PUC purchased from a third-party in late 2010. CW-Belize has applied for declaratory judgment and has
been granted a temporary injunction to stay the enforcement of the Second Order by the PUC until such time as the Belize courts
could hear the matter. The initial hearing on this matter was conducted on October 30 and 31, 2012 with an additional hearing on
November 29, 2012.
On December 8, 2017, we received a favorable
ruling from the Supreme Court of Belize stating that (i) the claims by the PUC in the Order and the Second Order were unlawful,
null and void and of no effect; and (ii) the PUC is prohibited from taking any steps or proceedings or making any further Order
in respect of the said Order. However, on February 20, 2018, the PUC filed an appeal with the Belize Court of Appeal, the results
of which are pending. We are presently unable to determine what impact the resolution of this matter will have on our financial
condition, results of operations or cash flows.
OC-Cayman
Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, OC-Cayman,
we provide bulk water to the WAC under various agreements. The WAC in turn distributes that water to properties in Grand Cayman
outside of Cayman Water’s retail license area.
The water OC-Cayman sells to the WAC is
produced at three reverse osmosis seawater conversion plants in Grand Cayman owned by the WAC, but designed, built and operated
by OC-Cayman: the North Sound, Red Gate and North Side Water Works plants. The current operating agreements for the North Sound,
Red Gate and North Side Water Works plants expire in February 2019, February 2019, and June 2019, respectively. In response to
a WAC-initiated public bidding process for a new operating agreement encompassing both the North Sound and Red Gate plants, we
submitted a bid for the new agreement.
On August 21, 2018, the WAC accepted OC-Cayman’s
bid for the new agreement, and the WAC and OC-Cayman entered into a new five-year contract commencing on February 1, 2019 for the
operation of the North Sound and Red Gate plants. The revenues for the water supplied under the new agreement, excluding the pass-through
energy component, are expected to be approximately 31% less than the revenues under the current agreements, assuming comparable
sales volumes. As a result of this price reduction, the revenues and operating income we will generate from the North Sound and
Red Gate plants commencing February 1, 2019 will be significantly less than the revenues and operating income we presently generate
from these plants under the prior agreements. The remaining terms of the new agreement are substantially consistent with those
of the prior North Sound and Red Gate water supply agreements, except that under the new agreement the WAC will pay the energy
costs for the operation of these plants directly to the utility company rather than reimburse OC-Cayman for these costs.
We generated total revenues of approximately
$5.7 million and $7.2 million from these three plants during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and the year ended December
31, 2017, respectively.
If we do not obtain a new bulk water supply agreement for the
North Side Water Works plant, or if such new agreement is obtained on terms less favorable than our existing agreement, our results
of operations and cash flows will be adversely affected.
Adoption of new accounting standards
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
. ASU 2014-09 requires revenue recognition to depict the transfer of goods or services
to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods
or services. ASU 2014-09 prescribes a five-step framework in accounting for revenues from contracts within its scope, including
(a) identification of the contract, (b) identification of the performance obligations under the contract, (c) determination of
the transaction price, (d) allocation of the transaction price to the identified performance obligations and (e) recognition of
revenues as the identified performance obligations are satisfied. ASU 2014-09 also prescribes additional disclosures and financial
statement presentations. ASU 2014-09 may be adopted retrospectively or under a modified retrospective method where the cumulative
effect is recognized at the date of initial application. This amendment was originally effective January 1, 2017. In August 2015,
the FASB issued ASU 2015-14,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date
, which defers
the effective date by one year to January 1, 2018. Early application is permitted but not before January 1, 2017.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08,
Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net
), that amends the principal versus agent guidance
in ASU 2014-09. ASU 2016-08 clarifies that the analysis must focus on whether the entity has control of the goods or services before
they are transferred to the customer. ASU 2016-08 also provides additional guidance about how to apply the control principle when
services are provided and when goods or services are combined with other goods or services.
In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10,
Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing,
that amends the revenue guidance in ASU 2014-09 on identifying performance
obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. ASU 2016-10 changed the FASB's previous proposals on renewals
of right-to-use licenses and contractual restrictions. The effective date of the standard for us will coincide with ASU 2014-09
during the first quarter 2018.
In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-11,
Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Rescission of SEC Guidance Because of Accounting Standards
Updates 2014-09 and 2014-16 Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the March 3, 2016 EITF Meeting
. ASU 2016-11 rescinds several
SEC Staff Announcements that are codified in Topic 605, including, among other items, guidance relating to accounting for shipping
and handling fees and freight services.
In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients,
which clarifies implementation
guidance around collectability, sales taxes collected from customers, noncash considerations, contract modifications at transition,
and completed contracts at transition.
In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers
, which amended the guidance on
performance obligation disclosures and makes technical corrections and improvements to the new revenue standard. The standard is
effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period,
and permits early adoption on a limited basis. The update permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition
method.
The effective dates of ASU 2016-08, ASU
2016-10, ASU 2016-11, ASU 2016-12 and ASU 2016-20 are the same as ASU 2015-14 discussed above. On January 1, 2018, we adopted Topic
606 using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. There was
no impact to opening retained earnings as of January 1, 2018 as a result of the adoption of this standard.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01,
Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,
which provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial assets and financial liabilities.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic
825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
, that clarifies the guidance in ASU No.
2016-01 on equity securities and certain fair value option liabilities among other things. ASU 2016-01 and ASU 2018-03 are effective
for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017 and, for most provisions, is effective
using the cumulative-effect transition approach. Early application is permitted for certain provisions.
The adoption of ASU 2016-01 and ASU 2018-03
did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15,
Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments
, which clarifies how certain
cash receipts and payments are presented in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual periods beginning
after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material impact on our financial
position, results of operations or cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. For the nine months ended September
30, 2017, the adoption resulted in a reclass of approximately $1.1 million from investing activities to operating activities in
the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows related to the distribution of earnings from OC-BVI.
Effect of newly issued but not yet effective accounting standards
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02,
Leases (Topic 842),
which amends the guidance
relating to the definition of a lease, recognition of lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet, and the related disclosure
requirements. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11,
Leases: Targeted Improvements
, which amends the new leasing
guidance such that entities may elect not to restate their comparative periods in the period of adoption. The guidance requires
lessees to recognize an asset and liability on the balance sheet for all of their lease obligations. Operating leases were previously
not recognized on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and
early adoption is permitted. We will adopt the standard using the modified retrospective method for its existing leases and expects
that this standard will increase lease assets and lease liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. We intend to
elect certain practical expedients and will carry forward historical conclusions related to (1) contracts that contain leases,
(2) existing lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) initial direct costs for any existing leases. We
will also apply the practical expedient that will allow us to elect, as an accounting policy, by asset class, to include both lease
and non-lease components as a single component and account for it as a lease. We will apply the short-term lease exception for
lessees which will allow us to not have to apply the recognition requirements of the new leasing guidance for short-term leases
and to recognize lease payments in net income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We will also apply the practical expedient
related to land easements, allowing us to carry forward our accounting treatment for land easements on existing agreements. Based
on an analysis we performed, the adoption of this new lease standard is not expected to have a material impact on our financial
position, results of operations or cash flows
.
Dividends
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On January 31, 2018, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on January 3, 2018.
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On April 30, 2018, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on April 2, 2018.
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On July 31, 2018, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on July 2, 2018.
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On August 14, 2018, our Board declared a dividend of $0.085 payable on October 31, 2018 to shareholders of record on October
1, 2018.
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We have paid dividends to owners of our
common shares and redeemable preferred shares since we began declaring dividends in 1985. Our payment of any future cash dividends
will depend upon our earnings, financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements and other factors our Board of Directors deems
relevant in determining the amount and timing of such dividends.
Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock
Purchase Plan
This program is available to our shareholders,
who may reinvest all or a portion of their common cash dividends into shares of common stock at prevailing market prices and may
also invest optional cash payments to purchase additional shares at prevailing market prices as part of this program.
Impact of Inflation
Under the terms of our Cayman Islands license
and our water sales agreements in the Bahamas, Belize and the British Virgin Islands, our water rates are automatically adjusted
for inflation on an annual basis, subject to temporary exceptions. We, therefore, believe that the impact of inflation on our gross
profit, measured in consistent dollars, will not be material. However, significant increases in items such as fuel and energy costs
could create additional credit risks for us, as our customers’ ability to pay our invoices could be adversely affected by
such increases.