ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”), and the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) for the year ended December 31, 2021. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth under “Part II. Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and “Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Form 10-K. In addition, see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” References herein to the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us,” refer to MP Materials Corp. and its subsidiaries. Business Overview
MP Materials Corp. is the largest producer of rare earth materials in the Western Hemisphere. The Company owns and operates the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing Facility (“Mountain Pass”), the only rare earth mining and processing site of scale in North America. We estimate the rare earth concentrate we produced and sold in 2021 represented approximately 15% of the rare earth content consumed in the global market.
Rare earth elements (“REE”) are fundamental building blocks of the modern economy, impacting trillions of dollars in global economic activity through the enablement of end products across industries including transportation, clean energy, robotics, national defense and consumer electronics, among others. Neodymium (“Nd”) and praseodymium (“Pr”) are rare earth elements which in combination form neodymium-praseodymium (“NdPr”), which represents a majority of the value contained in our rare earth concentrate. NdPr is most often utilized in NdPr magnets, which are also commonly referred to as “neo,” “NdFeB,” “NIB,” or permanent magnets and are made predominantly from an alloy of NdPr, iron and boron. NdPr magnets are the most widely used type of rare earth magnets and are critical for many advanced technologies that are experiencing strong secular growth, including electric vehicles (“EV”), drones, defense systems, wind turbines, robotics and many others. The rapid growth of these and other advanced motion technologies is expected to drive substantial demand growth for NdPr.
We produce our materials at Mountain Pass, one of the world’s richest rare earth deposits, co-located with integrated state-of-the-art processing and separation facilities. We acquired the Mountain Pass assets in 2017, restarted operations from cold-idle status and embarked on a deliberate, two-stage plan to optimize the facility and position the Company for growth and profitability. We commenced mining, comminution, beneficiation, and tailings management operations, which we designated Stage I of our multi-stage optimization plan, between December 2017 and February 2018.
We currently produce a rare earth concentrate that we sell pursuant to an offtake agreement (the “Offtake Agreement”), which became effective upon the termination of the A&R Offtake Agreement (as defined in Note 3, “Relationship and Agreements with Shenghe,” in the notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements), to Shenghe Resources (Singapore) International Trading Pte. Ltd. (“Shenghe”), an affiliate of Shenghe Resources Holding Co., Ltd., which, in turn, typically sells that product to refiners in China. These refiners separate the constituent REE contained in our concentrate and sell the separated products to their customers. Upon completion of our Stage II optimization project (“Stage II”), we anticipate producing separated rare earth oxides (“REO”), including NdPr oxide, and selling these products directly to end users, at which time we may no longer sell our concentrate. In February 2022, we commenced construction of our initial rare earth metal, alloy and magnet manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas (the “Fort Worth Facility”). Furthermore, in April 2022, we entered into a definitive long-term supply agreement with General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) (“GM”) to supply U.S.-sourced and manufactured rare earth materials, alloy and finished magnets for the electric motors in more than a dozen models using GM’s Ultium Platform, with a gradual production ramp that is expected to begin in late 2023, starting with alloy. The definitive long-term supply agreement finalized the terms of a binding agreement announced by the Company in December 2021. These developments are a part of our Stage III downstream expansion strategy (“Stage III”).
Key Performance Indicators
We use the following key performance indicators to evaluate the performance of our business. Our calculations of these performance indicators may differ from similar measures published by other companies in our industry or in other industries. The following table presents our key performance indicators:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the three months ended September 30, | | Change | | For the nine months ended September 30, | | Change |
(in whole units or dollars, except percentages) | 2022 | | 2021 | | $ | | % | | 2022 | | 2021 | | $ | | % |
REO production volume (MTs) | 10,886 | | | 11,998 | | | (1,112) | | | (9) | % | | 32,014 | | | 32,152 | | | (138) | | | — | % |
REO sales volume (MTs) | 10,676 | | | 12,814 | | | (2,138) | | | (17) | % | | 32,382 | | | 32,484 | | | (102) | | | — | % |
Realized price per REO MT | $ | 11,636 | | | $ | 7,693 | | | $ | 3,943 | | | 51 | % | | $ | 13,130 | | | $ | 7,043 | | | $ | 6,087 | | | 86 | % |
Production cost per REO MT | $ | 1,653 | | | $ | 1,449 | | | $ | 204 | | | 14 | % | | $ | 1,661 | | | $ | 1,484 | | | $ | 177 | | | 12 | % |
REO Production Volume
We measure our REO-equivalent production volume for a given period in metric tons (“MTs”), our principal unit of sale. This measure refers to the REO content contained in the rare earth concentrate we produce. Our REO production volume is a key indicator of our mining and processing capacity and efficiency.
The rare earth concentrate we currently produce is a processed, concentrated form of our mined rare earth-bearing ores. While our unit of production and sale is a MT of embedded REO, the actual weight of our rare earth concentrate is significantly greater, as the concentrate also contains non-REO minerals and residual moisture from the production process. We target REO content of greater than 60% per dry MT of concentrate (referred to as “REO grade”). The elemental distribution of REO in our concentrate is relatively consistent over time and production lot. We consider this the natural distribution, as it reflects the distribution of elements contained, on average, in our ore. As noted above, upon completion of Stage II, we expect to refine our rare earth concentrate to produce separated rare earths, including NdPr oxide.
REO Sales Volume
Our REO sales volume for a given period is calculated in MTs. A unit, or MT, is considered sold for purposes of this performance indicator once we recognize revenue on its sale. Our REO sales volume is a key measure of our ability to convert our production into revenue.
Realized Price per REO MT
We calculate the realized price per REO MT for a given period as the quotient of: (i) our Total Value Realized (see below) for a given period and (ii) our REO sales volume for the same period. We define Total Value Realized, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as our product sales adjusted for the revenue impact of tariff rebates related to prior period sales.
Realized price per REO MT is an important measure of the market price of our product. Accordingly, we calculate realized price per REO MT to reflect a consistent basis between periods by eliminating the revenue impact of tariff-related rebates. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below for a reconciliation of our Total Value Realized, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our product sales, which is determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), as well as the calculation of realized price per REO MT. Production Cost per REO MT
We calculate the production cost per REO MT for a given period as the quotient of: (i) our Production Costs (see below) for a given period and (ii) our REO sales volume for the same period. We define Production Costs, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as our cost of sales (excluding depletion, depreciation and amortization) less stock-based compensation expense included in cost of sales, shipping and freight costs, and costs attributable to certain other sales, for a given period.
Production cost per REO MT is a key indicator of our concentrate production efficiency. As a significant portion of our cash costs of Stage I production are fixed, our production cost per REO MT is influenced by mineral recovery, REO grade, plant feed rate and production uptime. See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section below for a reconciliation of our Production Costs, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our cost of sales (excluding depletion, depreciation and amortization), which is determined in accordance with GAAP, as well as the calculation of production cost per REO MT.
Key Factors Affecting Our Performance
We believe we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on the key trends of electrification and supply chain security, particularly as domestic EV production grows. Our success depends to a significant extent on our ability to take advantage of the following opportunities and meet the challenges associated with them.
Demand for REE
The key demand driver for REE is their use in a diverse array of growing end markets, including: clean-energy and transportation technologies (e.g., traction motors in EVs and generators in wind power turbines); high-technology applications (e.g., miniaturization of smart phones and other mobile devices, fiber optics, lasers, robotics, medical devices, etc.); critical defense applications (e.g., guidance and control systems, global positioning systems, radar and sonar, drones, etc.); and essential industrial infrastructure (e.g., advanced catalyst applications in oil refining and pollution-control systems in traditional internal-combustion automobiles, etc.). We believe these drivers will fuel the continued growth of the rare earth market, particularly the market for NdPr and permanent magnets.
We believe we benefit from several demand tailwinds for REE, and particularly for NdPr. These include the trend toward geographic supply chain diversification, particularly in relation to China, the U.S. government strategy to restore domestic supply of key minerals, and the increasing acceptance of environmental, social and governance mandates. However, changes in technology may also drive down the use of REE, including NdPr, in the components in which they are now used, or lead to a decline in reliance on such components altogether. We also operate in a competitive industry, and many of our key competitors are based in China, where competitors may not be subject to the same rigorous environmental standards and production costs are typically lower than in the United States.
Maximizing Production Efficiency
In 2021, REO production was approximately 3.5x greater than the highest ever production in a twelve-month period by the prior operator of Mountain Pass using principally the same capital equipment. We achieved these results through an optimized reagent scheme, lower process temperatures, better management of the tailings facility, and a commitment to operational excellence, driving approximately 95% uptime. We also believe that our Stage I optimization initiatives enabled us to achieve world-class production cost levels for rare earth concentrate.
The success of our business reflects our ability to manage our costs. Our production achievements in Stage I have provided economies of scale to lower production costs per unit of REO produced in concentrate. Stage II is designed to enable us to continue to manage our cost structure for separating REE through an optimized facility process flow. The reintroduction of the oxidizing roasting step will allow us to capitalize on the inherent advantages of the bastnaesite ore at Mountain Pass, which is uniquely suitable to low-cost refining by selectively eliminating the need to carry lower-value cerium through the separations process. The recommissioning of our natural gas-powered combined heat and power (“CHP”) plant, which was completed in December 2021, removed our reliance on the regional electric power grid. Further, our location offers significant transportation advantages that create meaningful cost efficiencies in securing incoming supplies and shipping of our final products.
We currently operate a single site in a single location, and any stoppage in activity, including for reasons outside of our control, could adversely impact our production, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, several of our current and potential competitors are government supported and may have access to substantially greater capital, which may allow them to make similar or greater efficiency improvements or undercut market prices for our product.
Development of Our REE Refining Capabilities and Other Opportunities
Stage II is focused on advancing our operations from the production of rare earth concentrate to the separation of individual REE. Construction is nearing completion and commissioning activities have commenced. The project incorporates upgrades and enhancements to the existing facility process flow to reliably produce separated REE at a lower cost and with an expected smaller environmental footprint per unit of REO produced than previously achieved. As part of Stage II, we are reintroducing an oxidizing roasting circuit, reorienting the plant process flow, increasing product finishing capacity, improving wastewater management, and making other improvements to materials handling and storage. Upon completion of Stage II, we expect to be a global low-cost, high-volume producer of NdPr oxide, which represents a majority of the value contained in our concentrate.
Further, we are pursuing vertical integration opportunities to process NdPr oxide into metal alloys and magnets, and incorporating magnet recycling capability. Our long-term plans to expand our presence as a global source for rare earth magnets began with our recent announcement to build the Fort Worth Facility. We believe integration into magnet production will provide some protection from commodity pricing volatility, while also enhancing our business profile as the producer of a
critical industrial output in addition to a producer of resources. We expect our Stage III efforts to continue to benefit from geopolitical developments, including initiatives to repatriate critical materials supply chains.
In February 2022, we were awarded a $35.0 million contract by the Department of Defense’s Office of Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program to design and build a facility to process heavy rare earth elements (“HREE”). Successful completion of this project will establish the first processing and separation facility of its kind for HREEs in support of commercial and defense applications in the United States. The HREE processing and separations facility will be built at Mountain Pass and tie into our other Stage II facilities.
Our Mineral Reserves
Our ore body has proven over more than 60 years of operations to be one of the world’s largest and highest-grade rare earth resources. As of September 30, 2021, SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc., an independent consulting firm that we retained to assess our reserves, estimates total proven and probable reserves of 2.1 million short tons of REO contained in 30.4 million short tons of ore at Mountain Pass, with an average ore grade of 6.36%. These estimates use an estimated economical cut-off of 2.49% total rare earth oxide. Based on these estimated reserves and our expected annual production rate of REO upon completion of Stage II, as of September 30, 2021, our expected mine life was approximately 35 years. Over time, we expect to be able to continue to grow our expected mine life through additional exploratory drilling and improved processing capabilities.
Mining activities in the United States are heavily regulated, particularly in California. Regulatory changes may make it more challenging for us to access our reserves. In addition, new mineral deposits may be discovered elsewhere, which could make our operations less competitive.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic remains on-going and continues to impact the global economy. Varying degrees of preventative measures are still in place in China and other parts of the world, including city-wide lockdowns, travel restrictions, closures of non-essential businesses and other quarantine measures. In particular, preventative measures remain prevalent in China as a result of the Chinese government’s “Zero-COVID” policy. Since the first quarter of 2020, we have experienced, at times, significant shipping delays due to congestion and slowdowns at U.S. and international ports caused by shortages in vessels, containers, and truckers, also disrupting the global supply chain. Congestion and slowdowns have affected and may continue to affect the capacity at ports to receive deliveries of products or the loading of shipments onto vessels. Despite these factors, we have not experienced a reduction in production or sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to certain cost and schedule pressures on the Stage II optimization project. The Company has worked proactively and diligently to adjust working schedules and hours to optimize logistics and shipping, which has thus far prevented a significant negative impact on our product sales and has mitigated certain impacts on Stage II construction and recommissioning progress.
As the situation continues to evolve, including as a result of new and potential future variants of COVID-19, the possibility of federal or state mandates on vaccinations, or other factors that may affect international shipping and logistics or involve responses to government actions such as strikes or other disruptions, it is impossible to predict the effect and ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, results of operations, production and sales volumes, or growth projects. Accordingly, the extent and duration of any business disruptions, and related financial impact, cannot be estimated at this time.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021
The following table summarizes our results of operations:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the three months ended September 30, | | Change | | For the nine months ended September 30, | | Change |
(in thousands, except percentages) | 2022 | | 2021 | | $ | | % | | 2022 | | 2021 | | $ | | % |
Revenue: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Product sales | $ | 124,231 | | | $ | 98,581 | | | $ | 25,650 | | | 26 | % | | $ | 425,169 | | | $ | 230,842 | | | $ | 194,327 | | | 84 | % |
Other sales | 214 | | | 1,173 | | | (959) | | | (82) | % | | 9,096 | | | 2,001 | | | 7,095 | | | 355 | % |
Total revenue | 124,445 | | | 99,754 | | | 24,691 | | | 25 | % | | 434,265 | | | 232,843 | | | 201,422 | | | 87 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating costs and expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of sales(1) | 22,417 | | | 21,907 | | | 510 | | | 2 | % | | 67,682 | | | 57,798 | | | 9,884 | | | 17 | % |
Selling, general and administrative | 17,604 | | | 14,881 | | | 2,723 | | | 18 | % | | 56,391 | | | 40,986 | | | 15,405 | | | 38 | % |
Advanced projects, development and other | 2,743 | | | 1,327 | | | 1,416 | | | 107 | % | | 6,229 | | | 2,436 | | | 3,793 | | | 156 | % |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 2,096 | | | 6,951 | | | (4,855) | | | (70) | % | | 12,763 | | | 19,767 | | | (7,004) | | | (35) | % |
Accretion of asset retirement and environmental obligations | 418 | | | 595 | | | (177) | | | (30) | % | | 1,255 | | | 1,780 | | | (525) | | | (29) | % |
Write-down of inventories | — | | | — | | | — | | | n.m. | | — | | | 1,809 | | | (1,809) | | | (100) | % |
Total operating costs and expenses | 45,278 | | | 45,661 | | | (383) | | | (1) | % | | 144,320 | | | 124,576 | | | 19,744 | | | 16 | % |
Operating income | 79,167 | | | 54,093 | | | 25,074 | | | 46 | % | | 289,945 | | | 108,267 | | | 181,678 | | | 168 | % |
Interest expense, net | (1,224) | | | (2,624) | | | 1,400 | | | (53) | % | | (4,455) | | | (6,417) | | | 1,962 | | | (31) | % |
Other income, net | 6,168 | | | 97 | | | 6,071 | | | 6259 | % | | 8,574 | | | 3,656 | | | 4,918 | | | 135 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income before income taxes | 84,111 | | | 51,566 | | | 32,545 | | | 63 | % | | 294,064 | | | 105,506 | | | 188,558 | | | 179 | % |
Income tax expense | (20,934) | | | (8,803) | | | (12,131) | | | 138 | % | | (72,067) | | | (19,458) | | | (52,609) | | | 270 | % |
Net income | $ | 63,177 | | | $ | 42,763 | | | $ | 20,414 | | | 48 | % | | $ | 221,997 | | | $ | 86,048 | | | $ | 135,949 | | | 158 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 91,372 | | | $ | 68,287 | | | $ | 23,085 | | | 34 | % | | $ | 333,581 | | | $ | 147,734 | | | $ | 185,847 | | | 126 | % |
Adjusted Net Income | $ | 68,119 | | | $ | 48,213 | | | $ | 19,906 | | | 41 | % | | $ | 241,771 | | | $ | 97,585 | | | $ | 144,186 | | | 148 | % |
n.m. - Not meaningful.
(1)Excludes depreciation, depletion and amortization.
Revenue consists primarily of product sales, which pertain to our sales of rare earth concentrate principally to Shenghe under the A&R Offtake Agreement for sales between January 2021 and February 2022, or the Offtake Agreement for sales beginning in March 2022. The sales price of rare earth concentrate sold to Shenghe under both agreements is based on an agreed-upon price per MT, subject to certain quality adjustments depending on the measured characteristics of the product, with an adjustment for the ultimate market price of the product realized by Shenghe upon sales to their customers, including the impact of changes in the exchange rate between the Chinese Yuan and the U.S. dollar.
The increase in product sales for the three months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the prior year period, was driven by a higher realized price per REO MT, which increased by 51%, reflecting higher demand for rare earth products. The increase was partially offset by lower REO sales volume, which decreased by 17%, as compared to the prior year period. REO production volume for the three months ended September 30, 2022, decreased by 9% due primarily to lower ore feed grade and mineral recoveries, as compared to the prior year period, despite higher year-over-year ore feed rates.
The increase in product sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the prior year period, was driven by a higher realized price per REO MT, which increased by 86%, reflecting higher demand for rare earth products. REO sales volume and REO production volume were relatively unchanged for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the prior year period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, higher ore feed rates largely offset lower ore feed grade, as compared to the prior year period.
REO sales volume varies period-to-period based on the timing of shipments, but generally tracks our REO production volumes over time given our take-or-pay offtake arrangement with Shenghe. See also the “Quarterly Performance Trend” section below. The increase in other sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the prior year period, was driven by $8.5 million of revenue related to a sales agreement with Shenghe entered into in March 2022 for certain stockpiles of rare earth fluoride (“REF”).
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization) consists of production- and processing-related labor costs (including wages and salaries, benefits, and bonuses), mining and processing supplies (such as reagents), parts and labor for the maintenance of our mining fleet and processing facilities, other facilities-related costs (such as property taxes and utilities), packaging materials, and shipping and freight costs.
Cost of sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, increased year over year primarily due to increases in production cost per REO MT from $1,449 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, to $1,653 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and $1,484 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, to $1,661 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The increases in production cost per REO MT were driven by higher materials, supplies and payroll costs, including an increase in employee headcount to support the expansion of operations, as well as higher energy costs incurred following the restart of our CHP plant in January 2022. These increases in costs offset production efficiencies achieved during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. Cost of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2022, were also impacted by lower year-over-year REO sales volume. Additionally, shipping and freight costs increased by $1.0 million and $3.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, as compared to the prior year periods.
Notwithstanding the increase in employee headcount discussed above and the impact of costs associated with recommissioning the CHP plant, we believe our production cost per REO MT has stabilized in the short-term, with operating efficiencies helping to offset the impact of inflationary pressure on materials, supplies, energy and labor. In addition, we continue to anticipate efficiency opportunities as we increase REO production volumes in our milling and flotation circuit over time. Production cost per REO MT varies period-to-period based on the timing of scheduled outages of our production facilities for maintenance as well as anticipated tie-ins of certain other Stage II-related facilities in the next year. See also the “Quarterly Performance Trend” section below. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of accounting, finance and administrative personnel costs, including stock-based compensation expense related to these personnel; professional services (including legal, regulatory, audit and others); certain engineering expenses; insurance, license and permit costs; facilities rent and other costs; office supplies; general facilities expenses; certain environmental, health, and safety expenses; and gain or loss on sale or disposal of long-lived assets.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, reflect an increase in stock-based compensation expense of $3.0 million and $10.7 million, respectively, primarily from a grant of restricted stock units made to our chief executive officer during the fourth quarter of 2021. Excluding stock-based compensation expense, selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2022, decreased by $0.3 million, or 3%, primarily due to a legal settlement of $1.0 million, including legal fees, recorded in the prior year period, offset by an increase in personnel costs in the current year period. Excluding stock-based compensation expense, selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, increased by $4.7 million, or 16%, primarily due to increases in personnel costs and other general and administrative costs.
Advanced projects, development and other consists principally of costs incurred in connection with research and development of new processes or to significantly enhance our existing processes, certain government contracts, and start-up costs, as well as costs incurred to support growth and development initiatives or other opportunities. Advanced projects, development and other for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, increased year over year primarily due to certain start-up costs that do not qualify for capitalization associated with our Stage II optimization project and our Stage III initiatives. In addition, the year-over-year increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, includes one-time start-up costs associated with restart of our CHP plant.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization primarily consists of depreciation of property, plant and equipment and depletion of mineral rights. The year-over-year decrease in depreciation, depletion and amortization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, primarily reflects a reduction in depreciation of $2.7 million as a result of a decrement to our asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) (see Note 8, “Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations,” in the notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information), as well as decreases in depletion of $2.1
million and $5.2 million, respectively, resulting from a revision to extend our estimate of the remaining useful life of the mineral rights at the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2021.
Accretion of asset retirement and environmental obligations is based on the estimated future cash flows required to reclaim our mine pit and related facilities at Mountain Pass and to monitor groundwater contamination, respectively. Accretion of asset retirement and environmental obligations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, decreased year over year primarily as a result of a decrement to the Company’s ARO during the fourth quarter of 2021. The ARO decrement recorded in the third quarter of 2022 (noted above) will further reduce the accretion of our ARO in future periods.
Write-down of inventories for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, pertains to a non-cash write-down of a portion of our legacy low-grade stockpile inventory during the second quarter of 2021. See Note 5, “Inventories,” in the notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information. Interest expense, net consists of the amortization of the debt issuance costs on our Convertible Notes (as defined in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section below); the amortization of the discount on our debt obligation to Shenghe; and the expense associated with the 0.25% per annum interest rate on our Convertible Notes, offset by interest capitalized. Interest expense, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, decreased year over year due to the full repayment of the Offtake Advances in the first quarter of 2022, offset by the timing of the issuance of the Convertible Notes in March 2021. Other income, net consists of interest and investment income and non-operating gains or losses. Other income, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, increased year over year as a result of interest and investment income earned on our short-term investments, which were purchased in the second quarter of 2022. The year-over-year increase in other income, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, was offset by a non-cash gain recognized during the second quarter of 2021 as a result of the Small Business Administration’s approval to forgive the Paycheck Protection Loan, which had a principal amount of $3.4 million.
Income tax expense consists of an estimate of U.S. federal and state income taxes in the jurisdictions in which we conduct business, adjusted for federal, state and local allowable income tax benefits, the effect of permanent differences and any valuation allowance against deferred tax assets. The effective tax rate (income taxes as a percentage of income or loss before income taxes) was 24.9% and 24.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, as compared to 17.1% and 18.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. The effective tax rates differed from the statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to state income tax expense and a deduction limitation on officer’s compensation, partially offset by the California competes tax credit awarded to us in the fourth quarter of 2021 and a partial release of the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets in the third quarter of 2022.
On August 16, 2022, the U.S. government enacted the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 which, among other things, implements a 15% minimum tax on book income of certain large corporations, a 1% excise tax on net stock repurchases, and provides several tax incentives to promote clean energy for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. At this time, we do not expect the minimum tax or excise tax to have a material impact on our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. We are continuing to evaluate the impact of the clean energy incentives.
Quarterly Performance Trend
While our business is not highly seasonal in nature, we sometimes experience a timing lag between production and sales, which may result in volatility in our results of operations between periods. In addition, quarterly production is impacted by the timing of scheduled outages of our production facilities for maintenance, which typically occur in the second and fourth quarter.
The following table presents our key performance indicators for the quarterly periods indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| FY2022 | | FY2021 | | FY2020 |
(in whole units or dollars) | Q3 | | Q2 | | Q1 | | Q4 | | Q3 | | Q2 | | Q1 | | Q4 | | Q3 |
REO production volume (MTs) | 10,886 | | | 10,300 | | | 10,828 | | | 10,261 | | | 11,998 | | | 10,305 | | | 9,849 | | | 9,337 | | | 10,197 | |
REO sales volume (MTs) | 10,676 | | | 10,000 | | | 11,706 | | | 9,674 | | | 12,814 | | | 9,877 | | | 9,793 | | | 10,320 | | | 9,429 | |
Realized price per REO MT | $ | 11,636 | | | $ | 13,918 | | | $ | 13,818 | | | $ | 10,101 | | | $ | 7,693 | | | $ | 7,343 | | | $ | 5,891 | | | $ | 4,070 | | | $ | 3,393 | |
Production cost per REO MT | $ | 1,653 | | | $ | 1,750 | | | $ | 1,594 | | | $ | 1,525 | | | $ | 1,449 | | | $ | 1,538 | | | $ | 1,475 | | | $ | 1,589 | | | $ | 1,389 | |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity refers to our ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the cash requirements of our business operations, including working capital and capital expenditure needs, contractual obligations, debt service and other commitments. In recent years, our principal sources of liquidity have been financing through the consummation of the business combination with Fortress Value Acquisition Corp. in November 2020, the issuance of the Convertible Notes in March 2021, and net cash from operating activities. As of September 30, 2022, we had $1,264.3 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and $690.0 million principal amount of long-term debt.
Our results of operations and cash flows depend in large part upon the market prices of REO and particularly the price of rare earth concentrate. Rare earth concentrate is not quoted on any major commodities market or exchange and demand is currently constrained to a relatively limited number of refiners, a significant majority of which are based in China. Although we believe that our cash flows from operations and cash on hand are adequate to meet our liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future, uncertainty exists as to the market price of REO, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the emergence of new and potential future variants.
Our current working capital needs relate mainly to our mining and beneficiation operations. Our principal capital expenditure requirements relate mainly to our Stage II optimization project and related HREE project and the development of the Fort Worth Facility, as well as the periodic replacement of mining or processing equipment. Our future capital requirements will depend on several factors, including future acquisitions and potential additional investments in further downstream production.
The completion of our mission to become a fully integrated domestic magnetics producer is expected to be capital intensive. In accelerating the strategic opportunity for the separation of HREE, enhancements were made to the initial scope of the Stage II project. Including these enhancements and other factors impacting the remaining cost of completion, and including certain early design and procurement costs associated with the HREE separation facility, and the development and construction costs of the Fort Worth Facility, as well as other growth and infrastructure investments at Mountain Pass, we expect to spend approximately $350 million on capital assets in 2022. We expect to spend additional amounts in 2023 and 2024 for final payments related to the Stage II optimization project and to complete the HREE separation facility and the Fort Worth Facility.
Our estimated costs or estimated time to complete these projects may increase, potentially significantly, due to factors outside of our control. While we believe that we have sufficient cash resources to fund these initiatives and operating working capital in the near term, we cannot assure this. If our available resources prove inadequate to fund our plans or commitments, we may be forced to revise our strategy and business plans or could be required, or elect, to seek additional funding through public or private equity or debt financings; however, such funding may not be available on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Any delays in our ongoing capital projects or substantial cost increases, including construction costs and related materials costs, related to their execution could significantly impact our ability to maximize our revenue opportunities and adversely impact our business and cash flows.
Debt and Other Long-Term Obligations
Convertible Notes: In March 2021, we issued $690.0 million aggregate principal amount of 0.25% unsecured green convertible senior notes that mature, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased, on April 1, 2026 (the “Convertible Notes”), at a price of par. Interest on the Convertible Notes is payable on April 1st and October 1st of each year, beginning on October 1, 2021.
The Convertible Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at an initial conversion price of $44.28 per share, or 22.5861 shares, per $1,000 principal amount of notes, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain corporate events. However, in no event will the conversion price exceed 28.5714 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes.
We aim to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds from the Convertible Notes offering to existing or future investments in, or the financing or refinancing of, eligible “green projects.” Eligible green projects are intended to reduce the Company’s environmental impact and/or enable the production of low-carbon technologies. Pending such allocation of the net proceeds to eligible green projects, we intend to use the net proceeds from the Convertible Notes offering for general corporate purposes.
Offtake Advances: In March 2022, the Company made a $2.9 million payment to Shenghe pursuant to an obligation under the A&R Offtake Agreement to pay Shenghe, on an annual basis, an amount equal to our annual net income, less any amounts recouped through the Gross Profit Recoupment mechanism over the course of the year, until the Prepaid Balance was reduced
Upon payment by the Company, the Prepaid Balance was repaid in full, and the A&R Offtake Agreement was terminated. Prior to full repayment, the debt to Shenghe was satisfied primarily through product sales, where partial non-cash consideration was received by the Company in the form of debt reduction (generally equal to approximately 15% of the ultimate market value of the REO, excluding tariffs, duties and certain other charges).
Equipment Notes: We have previously entered into several financing agreements for the purchase of equipment, including trucks, tractors, loaders, graders, and various other machinery, most recently in February 2021. As of September 30, 2022, we had $7.8 million in principal (and accrued interest) outstanding under the equipment notes.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the nine months ended September 30, | | | | Change | | |
(in thousands, except percentages) | 2022 | | 2021 | | | | $ | | % | | | | |
Net cash provided by (used in): | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating activities | $ | 314,419 | | | $ | 70,464 | | | | | $ | 243,955 | | | 346 | % | | | | |
Investing activities | $ | (1,041,727) | | | $ | (83,680) | | | | | $ | (958,047) | | | 1145 | % | | | | |
Financing activities | $ | (19,435) | | | $ | 669,610 | | | | | $ | (689,045) | | | n.m. | | | | |
n.m. - Not meaningful.
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities increased by $244.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to the prior year period, reflecting the increase in product sales and a net increase due to the timing of receipt or payment of working capital items, such as accounts receivable, partially offset by increases in our cost of sales; selling, general and administrative expenses; and payments for income taxes of $16.8 million. In addition, $13.6 million of our product sales was excluded from cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, since that portion of the sales price was retained by Shenghe to reduce the debt obligation, compared to $38.9 million in the prior year period.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities: Net cash used in investing activities increased by $958.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to the prior year period, reflecting purchases of short-term investments of $1,358.4 million and an increase in additions to property, plant and equipment relating primarily to our Stage II optimization project and our Fort Worth Facility, partially offset by proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments of $525.9 million and a $2.5 million increase in proceeds from government awards used for construction, specifically our Stage II optimization project.
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities: Net cash used in financing activities was $19.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $669.6 million in the prior year period. The current year period consisted primarily of tax withholding on stock-based awards and principal payments on debt obligations and finance leases while the prior year period consisted primarily of the net proceeds received from the issuance of the Convertible Notes in March 2021 of $672.3 million.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We present Total Value Realized, Production Costs, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS, and Free Cash Flow, which are non-GAAP financial measures that we use to supplement our results presented in accordance with GAAP. These measures may be similar to measures reported by other companies in our industry and are regularly used by securities analysts and investors to measure companies’ financial performance. Total Value Realized, Production Costs, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS, and Free Cash Flow are not intended to be a substitute for any GAAP financial measure and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of performance or liquidity of other companies within our industry or in other industries.
Total Value Realized
Total Value Realized, which we use to calculate our key performance indicator, realized price per REO MT, is a non-GAAP financial measure. As mentioned above, realized price per REO MT is an important measure of the market price of our product. The following table presents a reconciliation of our Total Value Realized, to our product sales, which is determined in accordance with GAAP, as well as the calculation of realized price per REO MT:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the three months ended September 30, | | For the nine months ended September 30, |
(in thousands, unless otherwise stated) | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Product sales | $ | 124,231 | | | $ | 98,581 | | | $ | 425,169 | | | $ | 230,842 | |
Adjusted for: | | | | | | | |
Tariff rebate(1) | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,050) | |
Total Value Realized | 124,231 | | | 98,581 | | | 425,169 | | | 228,792 | |
Divided by: | | | | | | | |
REO sales volume (in MTs) | 10,676 | | | 12,814 | | | 32,382 | | | 32,484 | |
Realized price per REO MT (in dollars)(2) | $ | 11,636 | | | $ | 7,693 | | | $ | 13,130 | | | $ | 7,043 | |
(1)Represents non-cash revenue recognized in connection with a tariff rebate received relating to product sales from prior periods.
(2)May not recompute as presented due to rounding.
Production Costs
Production Costs, which we use to calculate our key performance indicator, production cost per REO MT, is a non-GAAP financial measure. As mentioned above, production cost per REO MT is a key indicator of our concentrate production efficiency. The following table presents a reconciliation of our Production Costs to our cost of sales (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization), which is determined in accordance with GAAP, as well as the calculation of production cost per REO MT:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the three months ended September 30, | | For the nine months ended September 30, |
(in thousands, unless otherwise stated) | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization) | $ | 22,417 | | | $ | 21,907 | | | $ | 67,682 | | | $ | 57,798 | |
Adjusted for: | | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation expense(1) | (889) | | | (542) | | | (2,110) | | | (2,438) | |
Shipping and freight(2) | (3,796) | | | (2,795) | | | (10,548) | | | (7,076) | |
Other(3) | (89) | | | — | | | (1,225) | | | (79) | |
Production Costs | 17,643 | | | 18,570 | | | 53,799 | | | 48,205 | |
Divided by: | | | | | | | |
REO sales volume (in MTs) | 10,676 | | | 12,814 | | | 32,382 | | | 32,484 | |
Production cost per REO MT (in dollars)(4) | $ | 1,653 | | | $ | 1,449 | | | $ | 1,661 | | | $ | 1,484 | |
(1)Pertains only to the amount of stock-based compensation expense included in cost of sales.
(2)Includes $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, of shipping and freight costs associated with sales of REF stockpiles.
(3)Amount for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, pertains primarily to costs (excluding shipping and freight) attributable to sales of REF stockpiles.
(4)May not recompute as presented due to rounding.
Adjusted EBITDA
We calculate Adjusted EBITDA as our GAAP net income before interest expense, net; income tax expense or benefit; and depreciation, depletion and amortization; further adjusted to eliminate the impact of stock-based compensation expense; transaction-related, start-up and other non-recurring costs; accretion of asset retirement and environmental obligations; gain or loss on sale or disposal of long-lived assets; write-downs of inventories; tariff rebates; and other income or loss. We present Adjusted EBITDA because it is used by management to evaluate our underlying operating and financial performance and trends. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain expenses that are required in accordance with GAAP because they are non-recurring, non-cash or are not related to our underlying business performance. This non-GAAP financial measure is intended to supplement our GAAP results and should not be used as a substitute for financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP.
The following table presents a reconciliation of our Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our net income, which is determined in accordance with GAAP:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the three months ended September 30, | | For the nine months ended September 30, |
(in thousands) | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Net income | $ | 63,177 | | | $ | 42,763 | | | $ | 221,997 | | | $ | 86,048 | |
Adjusted for: | | | | | | | |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 2,096 | | | 6,951 | | | 12,763 | | | 19,767 | |
Interest expense, net | 1,224 | | | 2,624 | | | 4,455 | | | 6,417 | |
Income tax expense | 20,934 | | | 8,803 | | | 72,067 | | | 19,458 | |
Stock-based compensation expense(1) | 7,806 | | | 4,552 | | | 25,019 | | | 14,723 | |
Transaction-related, start-up and other non-recurring costs(2) | 1,885 | | | 1,914 | | | 4,341 | | | 3,219 | |
Accretion of asset retirement and environmental obligations | 418 | | | 595 | | | 1,255 | | | 1,780 | |
Loss on sale or disposal of long-lived assets, net(3) | — | | | 182 | | | 258 | | | 219 | |
Write-down of inventories(4) | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,809 | |
Tariff rebate(5) | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,050) | |
Other income, net(6) | (6,168) | | | (97) | | | (8,574) | | | (3,656) | |
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 91,372 | | | $ | 68,287 | | | $ | 333,581 | | | $ | 147,734 | |
(1)Principally included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(2)Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, are principally comprised of start-up costs that do not qualify for capitalization, which relate to the restart of our CHP plant as well as certain costs associated with our Stage II optimization project and Stage III initiatives. Start-up costs are included in “Advanced projects, development and other” within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, relate to advisory, consulting, accounting and legal expenses pertaining to non-recurring transactions, and are primarily included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(3)Included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(4)Represents a non-cash write-down of a portion of our legacy low-grade stockpile inventory during the second quarter of 2021.
(5)Represents non-cash revenue recognized in connection with a tariff rebate received relating to product sales from prior periods.
(6)Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, are principally comprised of interest and investment income. Amount for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, principally represents a non-cash gain recognized as a result of the Small Business Administration’s approval to forgive the Paycheck Protection Loan.
Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS
We calculate Adjusted Net Income as our GAAP net income excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense; transaction-related, start-up and other non-recurring costs; gain or loss on sale or disposal of long-lived assets; write-downs of inventories; tariff rebates; and other items that we do not consider representative of our underlying operations; adjusted to give effect to the income tax impact of such adjustments; and the release of valuation allowance. We calculate Adjusted Diluted EPS as our GAAP diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) excluding the per share impact, using GAAP diluted weighted-average shares outstanding as the denominator, of stock-based compensation expense; transaction-related, start-up and other non-recurring costs; gain or loss on sale or disposal of long-lived assets; write-downs of inventories; tariff rebates; and other items that we do not consider representative of our underlying operations; adjusted to give effect to the income tax impact of such adjustments; and the release of valuation allowance. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS exclude certain expenses that are required in accordance with GAAP because they are non-recurring, non-cash, or not related to our underlying business
performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement our GAAP results and should not be used as a substitute for financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP.
Historically, the Company excluded the depletion on the mineral rights for the rare earth ores contained in our mine, which were recorded at fair value upon the acquisition of Secure Natural Resources LLC, from Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS. Effective September 30, 2022, the Company no longer excludes depletion expense when calculating and presenting Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS. For purposes of comparability, we have revised the prior year periods for this change.
To calculate the income tax impact of such adjustments on a year-to-date basis, we utilize an effective tax rate equal to our income tax expense excluding material discrete costs and benefits, with any impacts of changes in effective tax rate being recognized in the current period. We present Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS because it is used by management to evaluate our underlying operating and financial performance and trends.
The following table presents a reconciliation of our Adjusted Net Income, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our net income, which is determined in accordance with GAAP:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the three months ended September 30, | | For the nine months ended September 30, |
(in thousands) | 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Net income | $ | 63,177 | | | $ | 42,763 | | | $ | 221,997 | | | $ | 86,048 | |
Adjusted for: | | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation expense(1) | 7,806 | | | 4,552 | | | 25,019 | | | 14,723 | |
Transaction-related, start-up and other non-recurring costs(2) | 1,885 | | | 1,914 | | | 4,341 | | | 3,219 | |
Loss on sale or disposal of long-lived assets, net(3) | — | | | 182 | | | 258 | | | 219 | |
Write-down of inventories(4) | — | | | — | | | — | | | 1,809 | |
Tariff rebate(5) | — | | | — | | | — | | | (2,050) | |
Other(6) | (23) | | | (97) | | | (247) | | | (3,656) | |
Tax impact of adjustments above(7) | (2,299) | | | (1,101) | | | (7,170) | | | (2,727) | |
Release of valuation allowance(8) | (2,427) | | | — | | | (2,427) | | | — | |
Adjusted Net Income | $ | 68,119 | | | $ | 48,213 | | | $ | 241,771 | | | $ | 97,585 | |
(1)Principally included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(2)Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, are principally comprised of start-up costs that do not qualify for capitalization, which relate to the restart of our CHP plant as well as certain costs associated with our Stage II optimization project and Stage III initiatives. Start-up costs are included in “Advanced projects, development and other” within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, relate to advisory, consulting, accounting and legal expenses pertaining to non-recurring transactions, and are primarily included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(3)Included in “Selling, general and administrative” within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(4)Represents a non-cash write-down of a portion of our legacy low-grade stockpile inventory during the second quarter of 2021.
(5)Represents non-cash revenue recognized in connection with a tariff rebate received relating to product sales from prior periods.
(6)Amount for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, principally represents a non-cash gain recognized as a result of the Small Business Administration’s approval to forgive the Paycheck Protection Loan, which is included in “Other income, net” within our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
(7)Tax impact of adjustments is calculated using an adjusted effective tax rate, which excludes the impact of discrete tax costs and benefits, to each adjustment. The adjusted effective tax rates were 23.8%, 24.4%, 16.8% and 19.1%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(8)Reflects the impact of a release of a portion of our valuation allowance.
The following table presents a reconciliation of our Adjusted Diluted EPS, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our diluted EPS, which is determined in accordance with GAAP:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the three months ended September 30, | | For the nine months ended September 30, |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | 2022 | | 2021 |
Diluted EPS | $ | 0.33 | | | $ | 0.23 | | | $ | 1.16 | | | $ | 0.47 | |
Adjusted for: | | | | | | | |
Stock-based compensation expense | 0.04 | | | 0.02 | | | 0.13 | | | 0.08 | |
Transaction-related, start-up and other non-recurring costs(1) | 0.01 | | | 0.01 | | | 0.02 | | | 0.02 | |
Loss on sale or disposal of long-lived assets, net | 0.00 | | | 0.00 | | | 0.00 | | | 0.00 | |
Write-down of inventories(2) | 0.00 | | | 0.00 | | | 0.00 | | | 0.01 | |
Tariff rebate(3) | 0.00 | | | 0.00 | | | 0.00 | | | (0.01) | |
Other(4) | 0.00 | | | 0.00 | | | 0.00 | | | (0.02) | |
Tax impact of adjustments above(5) | (0.01) | | | 0.00 | | | (0.03) | | | (0.02) | |
Release of valuation allowance(6) | (0.01) | | | 0.00 | | | (0.01) | | | 0.00 | |
Adjusted Diluted EPS | $ | 0.36 | | | $ | 0.26 | | | $ | 1.27 | | | $ | 0.53 | |
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding | 193,409,857 | | | 193,215,313 | | | 193,438,939 | | | 188,639,373 | |
(1)Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, are principally comprised of start-up costs that do not qualify for capitalization, which relate to the restart of our CHP plant as well as certain costs associated with our Stage II optimization project and Stage III initiatives. Amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, relate to advisory, consulting, accounting and legal expenses pertaining to non-recurring transactions.
(2)Represents a non-cash write-down of a portion of our legacy low-grade stockpile inventory during the second quarter of 2021.
(3)Represents non-cash revenue recognized in connection with a tariff rebate received relating to product sales from prior periods.
(4)Amount for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, principally represents a non-cash gain recognized as a result of the Small Business Administration’s approval to forgive the Paycheck Protection Loan.
(5)Tax impact of adjustments is calculated using an adjusted effective tax rate, which excludes the impact of discrete tax costs and benefits, to each adjustment. The adjusted effective tax rates were 23.8%, 24.4%, 16.8% and 19.1%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(6)Reflects the impact of a release of a portion of our valuation allowance.
Free Cash Flow
We calculate Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less additions to property, plant and equipment, net of proceeds from government awards used for construction. We believe Free Cash Flow is useful for comparing our ability to generate cash with that of our peers. The presentation of Free Cash Flow is not meant to be considered in isolation or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities and does not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs.
The following table presents a reconciliation of our Free Cash Flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to our net cash provided by operating activities, which is determined in accordance with GAAP:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the nine months ended September 30, |
(in thousands) | 2022 | | 2021 |
Net cash provided by operating activities(1) | $ | 314,419 | | | $ | 70,464 | |
Additions to property, plant and equipment, net(2) | (209,202) | | | (83,805) | |
Free Cash Flow | $ | 105,217 | | | $ | (13,341) | |
(1)Under the terms of the A&R Offtake Agreement and pursuant to the accounting treatment thereof, $13.6 million and $38.9 million of our product sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, were excluded from cash provided by operating activities since that portion of the sales price was retained by Shenghe to reduce the debt obligation.
(2)Amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, are net of $5.1 million and $2.6 million, respectively, in proceeds from government awards used for construction, specifically our Stage II optimization project.
Critical Accounting Policies
A complete discussion of our critical accounting policies is included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
Recently Adopted and Issued Accounting Pronouncements