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Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. - Quarter Report: 2019 September (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ___________ to ___________

 

Commission File Number: 0-25248

 

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

CAYMAN ISLANDS   98-0619652
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)    

 

     
Regatta Office Park    
Windward Three, 4th Floor, West Bay Road    
P.O. Box 1114    
Grand Cayman KY1-1102    
Cayman Islands   N/A
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(345) 945-4277

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes   x  No   ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes   x   No   ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer     ¨      Accelerated filer     x

 

Non-accelerated filer     ¨    Smaller reporting company     x     Emerging growth company     ¨ 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)  Yes   ¨   No   x

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A common stock, $0.60 par value   CWCO   The Nasdaq Global Select Market

 

As of November 5, 2019, 15,027,574 shares of the registrant’s common stock, with US$0.60 par value, were outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Description   Page
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION   4
Item 1 Financial Statements   4
       
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2019 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2018   4
       
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018   5
       
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018   6
       
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018   8
       
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)   9
Item 2 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   26
Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk   38
Item 4 Controls and Procedures   38
       
PART II OTHER INFORMATION   39
Item 1 Legal Proceedings   39
Item 1A Risk Factors   41
Item 2 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds   44
Item 6 Exhibits   44
       
SIGNATURES   45

 

 2 

 

 

Note Regarding Currency and Exchange Rates

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “$” or “US$” are to United States dollars.

 

The exchange rate for conversion of Cayman Island dollars (CI$) into US$, as determined by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, has been fixed since April 1974 at US$1.20 per CI$1.00.

 

The exchange rate for conversion of Belize dollars (BZE$) into US$, as determined by the Central Bank of Belize, has been fixed since 1976 at US $0.50 per BZE$1.00.

 

The exchange rate for conversion of Bahamas dollars (B$) into US$, as determined by the Central Bank of The Bahamas, has been fixed since 1973 at US$1.00 per B$1.00.

 

The official currency of the British Virgin Islands is the US$.

 

Our Netherlands subsidiary conducts business in US$ and euros, our Indonesian subsidiary conducts business in US$ and Indonesian rupiahs, and our Mexico subsidiary conducts business in US$ and Mexican pesos. The exchange rates for conversion of euros, rupiahs and Mexican pesos into US$ vary based upon market conditions.

 

 3 

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   September 30,   December 31, 
   2019   2018 
    (Unaudited)      
ASSETS          
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents  $41,991,071   $31,337,477 
Restricted cash   1,610,471    - 
Accounts receivable, net   22,955,201    24,228,095 
Inventory   3,031,011    2,232,721 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   2,151,903    1,035,796 
Current portion of loans receivable   -    734,980 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings   1,656,392    835,669 
Current assets of discontinued operations   -    1,959,494 
Total current assets   73,396,049    62,364,232 
Property, plant and equipment, net   62,106,181    58,880,818 
Construction in progress   925,570    6,015,043 
Inventory, non-current   4,534,038    4,545,198 
Investment in OC-BVI   1,879,448    2,584,987 
Goodwill   8,004,597    8,004,597 
Land and rights of way held for development   24,161,024    24,161,024 
Intangible assets, net   1,331,111    1,891,667 
Operating lease right-of-use assets   4,393,737    - 
Other assets   2,046,090    2,123,999 
Long-term assets of discontinued operations   -    1,944,033 
Total assets  $182,777,845   $172,515,598 
           
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
Current liabilities          
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities  $2,152,023   $4,570,641 
Accrued compensation   1,367,856    1,286,468 
Dividends payable   1,290,291    1,286,493 
Current maturities of operating leases   647,709    - 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings   -    109,940 
Current liabilities of discontinued operations   -    646,452 
Total current liabilities   5,457,879    7,899,994 
Deferred tax liability   494,513    659,874 
Noncurrent operating leases   3,809,573    - 
Other liabilities   75,000    199,827 
Total liabilities   9,836,965    8,759,695 
Commitments and contingencies          
Equity          
Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders' equity          
Redeemable preferred stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 200,000 shares; issued and outstanding 33,751 and 34,796 shares, respectively   20,251    20,878 
Class A common stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 24,655,000 shares; issued and outstanding 15,027,574 and 14,982,906 shares, respectively   9,016,544    8,989,744 
Class B common stock, $0.60 par value. Authorized 145,000 shares; none issued   -    - 
Additional paid-in capital   87,858,251    87,211,953 
Retained earnings   65,847,791    59,298,161 
Cumulative translation adjustment   -    (549,555)
Total Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders' equity   162,742,837    154,971,181 
Non-controlling interests   10,198,043    8,784,722 
Total equity   172,940,880    163,755,903 
Total liabilities and equity  $182,777,845   $172,515,598 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 4 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2019   2018   2019   2018 
Total revenue  $15,889,239   $18,053,284   $51,183,023   $47,672,013 
Total cost of revenue   9,180,259    10,928,293    29,958,991    28,193,762 
Gross profit   6,708,980    7,124,991    21,224,032    19,478,251 
General and administrative expenses   4,825,627    4,807,079    14,198,653    13,915,759 
Gain (loss) on asset dispositions and impairments, net   7,018    (12,415)   448,088    (14,405)
Income from operations   1,890,371    2,305,497    7,473,467    5,548,087 
                     
Other income (expense):                    
Interest income   154,175    172,805    444,827    504,028 
Interest expense   (19)   (2,492)   (1,501)   (7,122)
Profit-sharing income from OC-BVI   2,025    536,625    10,125    621,675 
Equity in the earnings of OC-BVI   38,174    1,472,154    26,686    1,710,230 
Net unrealized gain (loss) on put/call options   -    75,000    (24,000)   (47,000)
Other   35,486    72,676    84,127    4,586 
Other income, net   229,841    2,326,768    540,264    2,786,397 
Income before income taxes   2,120,212    4,632,265    8,013,731    8,334,484 
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes   (40,075)   12,659    73,117    (113,607)
Net income from continuing operations   2,160,287    4,619,606    7,940,614    8,448,091 
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests   433,235    310,579    1,172,039    484,778 
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders   1,727,052    4,309,027    6,768,575    7,963,313 
Gain on sale of discontinued operations   -    -    3,621,170    - 
Net income from discontinued operations   -    243,362    -    869,794 
Total income from discontinued operations   -    243,362    3,621,170    869,794 
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders  $1,727,052   $4,552,389   $10,389,745   $8,833,107 
                     
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders                    
Continuing operations  $0.11    0.28   $0.45   $0.53 
Discontinued operations   -    0.02    0.24    0.06 
Basic earnings per share  $0.11    0.30   $0.69   $0.59 
                     
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders                    
Continuing operations  $0.11    0.28   $0.45   $0.52 
Discontinued operations   -    0.02    0.24    0.06 
Diluted earnings per share  $0.11    0.30   $0.69   $0.58 
                     
Dividends declared per common and redeemable preferred shares  $0.085    0.085   $0.255   $0.255 
                     
Weighted average number of common shares used in the determination of:                    
Basic earnings per share   15,026,710    14,963,195    15,022,489    14,960,602 
Diluted earnings per share   15,138,094    15,124,720    15,132,843    15,119,415 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 5 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

 

   Redeemable
preferred stock
   Common stock   Additional
paid-in
   Retained   Cumulative
translation
   Non-controlling   Total
stockholders’
 
   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars   capital   earnings   adjustment   interests   equity 
Balance as of December 31, 2018   34,796   $20,878    14,982,906   $8,989,744   $87,211,953   $59,298,161   $(549,555)  $8,784,722   $163,755,903 
Issue of share capital   -    -    26,864    16,118    (16,118)   -    -    -    - 
Buyback of preferred stock   (1,983)   (1,190)   -    -    (16,605)   -    -    -    (17,795)
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    6,186,431    -    273,908    6,460,339 
Dividends declared   -    -    -    -    -    (1,280,223)   -    -    (1,280,223)
Stock-based compensation   -    -    -    -    156,062    -    -    -    156,062 
Balance as of March 31, 2019   32,813    19,688    15,009,770    9,005,862    87,335,292    64,204,369    (549,555)   9,058,630    169,074,286 
Issue of share capital   7,293    4,376    10,574    6,344    (10,720)   -    -    -    - 
Buyback of preferred stock   (691)   (415)   -    -    (5,886)   -    -    -    (6,301)
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    2,476,262    -    464,896    2,941,158 
Exercise of options   705    423    -    -    6,700    -    -    -    7,123 
Dividends declared   -    -    -    -    -    (1,280,359)   -    -    (1,280,359)
Sale of CW-Bali   -    -    -    -    -    -    549,555    241,282    790,837 
Stock-based compensation   -    -    -    -    209,049    -    -    -    209,049 
Balance as of June 30, 2019   40,120    24,072    15,020,344    9,012,206    87,534,435   $65,400,272    -    9,764,808    171,735,793 
Conversion of preferred stock   (7,230)   (4,338)   7,230    4,338    -    -    -    -    - 
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    1,727,052    -    433,235    2,160,287 
Exercise of options   861    517    -    -    8,182    -    -    -    8,699 
Dividends declared   -    -    -    -    -    (1,279,533)   -    -    (1,279,533)
Stock-based compensation   -    -    -    -    315,634    -    -    -    315,634 
Balance as of September 30, 2019   33,751   $20,251    15,027,574   $9,016,544   $87,858,251   $65,847,791   $-   $10,198,043   $172,940,880 

 

 6 

 

 

   Redeemable
preferred stock
   Common stock   Additional
paid-in
   Retained   Cumulative translation   Non-controlling   Total
stockholders’
 
   Shares   Dollars   Shares   Dollars   capital   earnings   adjustment   interests   equity 
Balance as of December 31, 2017   33,488   $20,093    14,918,869   $8,951,321   $86,405,387   $53,105,196   $(549,555)  $8,088,935   $156,021,377 
Issue of share capital   -    -    39,986    23,991    (23,991)   -    -    -    - 
Conversion of preferred stock   (454)   (273)   454    273    -    -    -    -    - 
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    2,092,525    -    (34,493)   2,058,032 
Dividends declared   -    -    -    -    -    (1,275,961)   -    -    (1,275,961)
Stock-based compensation   -    -    -    -    161,895    -    -    -    161,895 
Balance as of March 31, 2018   33,034    19,820    14,959,309    8,975,585    86,543,291    53,921,760    (549,555)   8,054,442    156,965,343 
Issue of share capital   7,409    4,446    -    -    (4,446)   -    -    -    - 
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    2,188,193    -    208,692    2,396,885 
Exercise of options   590    354    -    -    5,381    -    -    -    5,735 
Dividends declared   -    -    -    -    -    (1,274,350)   -    -    (1,274,350)
Stock-based compensation   -    -    -    -    173,319    -    -    -    173,319 
Balance as of June 30, 2018   41,033    24,620    14,959,309    8,975,585    86,717,545    54,835,603    (549,555)   8,263,134    158,266,932 
Conversion of preferred stock   (4,972)   (2,984)   4,972    2,984    -    -    -    -    - 
Buyback of preferred stock   (308)   (184)   -    -    (2,534)   -    -    -    (2,718)
Net income   -    -    -    -    -    4,552,389    -    310,579    4,862,968 
Exercise of options   745    447    -    -    6,794    -    -    -    7,241 
Dividends declared   -    -    -    -    -    (1,274,386)   -    -    (1,274,386)
Stock-based compensation   -    -    -    -    182,718    -    -    -    182,718 
Balance as of September 30, 2018   36,498   $21,899    14,964,281   $8,978,569   $86,904,523   $58,113,606   $(549,555)  $8,573,713   $162,042,755 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 7 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2019   2018 
Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations  $10,527,154   $5,063,483 
Net cash provided by operating activities - discontinued operations   -    324,522 
Net cash provided by operating activities   10,527,154    5,388,005 
           
Cash flows from investing activities          
Additions to property, plant and equipment and construction in progress   (2,673,192)   (13,709,598)
Proceeds from asset dispositions   548,480    51,590 
Proceeds from sale of CW-Belize, net of cash provided   6,971,234    - 
Collections on loans receivable   734,980    1,041,787 
Payment for land and right of way held for development   -    (2,168,180)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   5,581,502    (14,784,401)
           
Cash flows from financing activities          
Dividends paid to common shareholders   (3,833,359)   (3,818,499)
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders   (2,958)   (2,846)
Repurchase of redeemable preferred stock   (24,096)   (2,718)
Proceeds received from exercise of stock options   15,822    12,976 
Payments on note payable to related party   -    (392,000)
Issuance of note payable to related party   -    784,000 
Net cash used in financing activities   (3,844,591)   (3,419,087)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash   12,264,065    (12,815,483)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period   31,337,477    45,482,966 
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period  $43,601,542   $32,667,483 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   41,991,071    32,667,483 
Restricted cash at end of period   1,610,471    - 
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period  $43,601,542   $32,667,483 
           
Interest paid in cash  $1,501   $6,539 
           
Non-cash investing and financing activities          
Dividends declared but not paid  $1,280,213   $1,275,066 
Transfers from inventory to property, plant and equipment and construction in progress  $342,619   $304,279 
Transfers from construction in progress to property, plant and equipment  $7,408,954   $492,252 
Transfers from other assets to construction in progress  $-   $1,253,299 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities  $4,393,737   $- 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 8 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

1. Principal activity

 

Consolidated Water Co. Ltd., and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) supply water and provide water-related products and services to customers in the Cayman Islands, The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, and the United States. The Company produces potable water from seawater using reverse osmosis technology and sells this 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 consolidation: 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”), 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”), 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, 2019.

 

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, 2018.

 

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 arising from transactions and re-measurements were $41,977 and $97,329 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $54,012 and $63,087 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and are included in “Other income (expense) - Other” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash: 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, 2019 and December 31, 2018 include $17.9 million and $8.4 million, respectively, of certificates of deposits with an original maturity of three months or less.

 

The restricted cash balance of approximately $1.6 million as of September 30, 2019, represents a certificate of deposit with an original maturity of three months or less, held as security for a $1.5 million standby letter of credit obtained in March 2019, and $100,000 held as collateral for a letter of credit obtained in September 2019.

 

 9 

 

 

Certain transfers from the Company’s Bahamas bank accounts to Company bank accounts in other countries require the approval of the Central Bank of The Bahamas. As of September 30, 2019, the equivalent United States dollar cash balances for deposits held in The Bahamas were approximately $9.0 million.

 

Revenue recognition: Revenue is 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 revenue disaggregated by revenue source (unaudited).

 

    Three Months Ended September 30,    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
    2019     2018     2019     2018  
Retail revenue     6,271,220       6,185,558       19,941,395       18,884,929  
Bulk revenue     6,449,757       7,806,552       20,502,121       22,934,036  
Services revenue     95,980       807,424       287,349       1,054,100  
Manufacturing revenue     3,072,282       3,253,750       10,452,158       4,798,948  
Total revenue   $ 15,889,239     $ 18,053,284     $ 51,183,023     $ 47,672,013  

 

Retail revenue

 

The Company produces and supplies water to end-users, including residential, commercial and governmental 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. 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 2019 and 2018, bad debts represented less than 1% of the Company’s total retail sales.

 

The Company recognizes revenue from water sales at the time water is supplied to the customer’s premises. The amount of water supplied is determined and invoiced based upon water meter readings performed at the end of each month. All retail water contracts are month-to-month contracts. The Company has elected the “right to invoice” practical expedient for revenue recognition on its retail water sale contracts and recognizes revenue in the amount to which the Company has a right to invoice.

 

Bulk revenue

 

The Company produces and supplies water to government-owned distributors in the Cayman Islands 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.

 

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.

 

Services and Manufacturing revenue

 

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 also provides design, engineering and construction services for desalination projects through DesalCo, which is recognized by suppliers as an original equipment manufacturer of seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants. DesalCo also provides management and procurement services for desalination plants and engineering services relating to municipal water production, distribution and treatment.

 

The Company recognizes construction services and manufacturing revenue 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.

 

 10 

 

 

The Company has elected the “right to invoice” practical expedient for revenue recognition on its management services agreements and recognizes revenue in the amount to which the Company has a right to invoice.

 

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. Discontinued operations - CW-Belize

 

During the quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Belize Water Services Ltd. (“BWSL”) with respect to the potential sale of Consolidated Water (Belize) Limited (“CW-Belize”) to BWSL. The Company was not otherwise considering a sale of CW-Belize, so as an incentive for the Company to consider this proposed transaction, BWSL promised in the MOU to facilitate both the conversion from Belize dollars to U.S. dollars and the subsequent repatriation of all cash balances CW-Belize had on deposit in Belize. Transfers of funds held by CW-Belize to its parent company, which were accomplished by means of conversion of Belize dollars into U.S. dollars, required the approval of the Central Bank of Belize and were 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 for most of 2018 and in prior years the amount of funds the Company was able to transfer from CW-Belize. Repatriations of funds from CW-Belize to its 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. With BWSL’s assistance, the Company was able to repatriate approximately $2.75 million in cash from Belize to its bank accounts in the Cayman Islands during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and an additional $1.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2018.

 

In late December 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors formally approved the sale of CW-Belize to BWSL, and the Company repatriated an additional $1.1 million from CW-Belize during the first week of 2019.

 

On February 14, 2019, the Company closed the transaction and completed the sale of CW-Belize to BWSL effective January 1, 2019. After adjustments, the final price for CW-Belize was approximately $7.0 million. Pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement, BWSL initially paid the Company $6.735 million of the purchase price and approximately $265,000 was withheld to cover indemnification obligations of the Company under the agreement. The remaining $265,000 of the purchase price was paid by BWSL in August 2019. 

 

Summarized financial information for CW-Belize as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:

 

    September 30,     December 31,  
    2019     2018  
Current assets   $ -     $ 1,959,494  
Property, plant and equipment, net     -       725,930  
Inventory, non-current     -       356,854  
Goodwill     -       379,651  
Intangible assets     -       467,575  
Other assets     -       14,023  
Total assets of discontinued operations   $ -     $ 3,903,527  
                 
Total liabilities of discontinued operations   $ -     $ 646,452  

 

 11 

 

 

    Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2019     2018     2019     2018  
Revenue   $ -     $ 770,904     $ -     $ 2,360,785  
Income from operations     -       267,197       -       901,050  
Net income     -       243,362       -       869,794  
Gain on sale of discontinued operations     -       -       3,621,170       -  
Depreciation     -       28,731       -       86,710  

 

4. Segment information

 

The Company has four reportable segments: retail, bulk, services and manufacturing. The retail segment 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 and The Bahamas 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 and services a wide range of water-related 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 expenses 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, 2019  
    Retail     Bulk     Services     Manufacturing     Total  
Revenue   $ 6,271,220     $ 6,449,757     $ 95,980     $ 3,072,282     $ 15,889,239  
Cost of revenue     2,945,586       4,269,739       31,601       1,933,333       9,180,259  
Gross profit     3,325,634       2,180,018       64,379       1,138,949       6,708,980  
General and administrative expenses     3,497,320       294,189       546,204       487,914       4,825,627  
Gain on asset dispositions and impairments, net     6,518       500       -       -       7,018  
Income (loss) from operations   $ (165,168 )   $ 1,886,329     $ (481,825 )   $ 651,035       1,890,371  
Other income, net                                     229,841  
Income before income taxes                                     2,120,212  
Benefit from income taxes                                     (40,075 )
Net income from continuing operations                                     2,160,287  
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests                                     433,235  
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders                                     1,727,052  
Total income from discontinued operations                                     -  
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders                                   $ 1,727,052  

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2019 for the retail, bulk, services and manufacturing segments were $617,671, $933,955, $1,136 and $214,751, respectively.

 

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    Three Months Ended September 30, 2018  
    Retail     Bulk     Services     Manufacturing     Total  
Revenue   $ 6,185,558     $ 7,806,552     $ 807,424     $ 3,253,750     $ 18,053,284  
Cost of revenue     2,750,599       5,289,151       682,713       2,205,830       10,928,293  
Gross profit     3,434,959       2,517,401       124,711       1,047,920       7,124,991  
General and administrative expenses     2,967,187       366,532       846,258       627,102       4,807,079  
(Loss) on asset dispositions and impairments, net     (9,084 )     -       -       (3,331 )     (12,415 )
Income (loss) from operations   $ 458,688     $ 2,150,869     $ (721,547 )   $ 417,487       2,305,497  
Other income, net                                     2,326,768  
Income before income taxes                                     4,632,265  
Provision for income taxes                                     12,659  
Net income from continuing operations                                     4,619,606  
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests                                     310,579  
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders                                     4,309,027  
Total income from discontinued operations                                     243,362  
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, $790,970, $7,638 and $399,987, respectively.

 

    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019  
    Retail     Bulk     Services     Manufacturing     Total  
Revenue   $ 19,941,395     $ 20,502,121     $ 287,349     $ 10,452,158     $ 51,183,023  
Cost of revenue     8,753,948       13,992,452       198,614       7,013,977       29,958,991  
Gross profit     11,187,447       6,509,669       88,735       3,438,181       21,224,032  
General and administrative expenses     10,020,019       900,572       1,811,971       1,466,091       14,198,653  
Gain on asset dispositions and impairments, net     401,088       47,000       -       -       448,088  
Income (loss) from operations   $ 1,568,516     $ 5,656,097     $ (1,723,236 )   $ 1,972,090       7,473,467  
Other income, net                                     540,264  
Income before income taxes                                     8,013,731  
Provision for income taxes                                     73,117  
Net income from continuing operations                                     7,940,614  
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests                                     1,172,039  
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders                                     6,768,575  
Net income from discontinued operations                                     3,621,170  
Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders                                   $ 10,389,745  

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 for the retail, bulk, services and manufacturing segments were $1,751,048, $2,858,081, $3,409 and $707,517, respectively.

 

 13 

 

 

    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018  
    Retail     Bulk     Services     Manufacturing     Total  
Revenue   $ 18,884,929     $ 22,934,036     $ 1,054,100     $ 4,798,948     $ 47,672,013  
Cost of revenue     8,234,803       15,736,936       921,653       3,300,370       28,193,762  
Gross profit     10,650,126       7,197,100       132,447       1,498,578       19,478,251  
General and administrative expenses     8,926,550       961,266       2,162,632       1,865,311       13,915,759  
(Loss) on asset dispositions and impairments, net     (11,074 )     -       -       (3,331 )     (14,405 )
Income (loss) from operations   $ 1,712,502     $ 6,235,834     $ (2,030,185 )   $ (370,064 )     5,548,087  
Other income, net                                     2,786,397  
Income before income taxes                                     8,334,484  
Benefit from income taxes                                     (113,607 )
Net income from continuing operations                                     8,448,091  
Income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests                                     484,778  
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders                                     7,963,313  
Net income from discontinued operations                                     869,794  
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, $2,318,007, $22,915, and $1,198,707, respectively.

 

   As of September 30, 2019 
   Retail   Bulk   Services   Manufacturing   Total 
Accounts receivable, net  $2,447,446   $16,598,862   $1,440,306   $2,468,587   $22,955,201 
Property, plant and equipment, net  $29,430,224   $31,153,615   $11,364   $1,510,978   $62,106,181 
Construction in progress  $367,533   $522,814   $-   $35,223   $925,570 
Intangibles, net  $-   $-   $-   $1,331,111   $1,331,111 
Goodwill  $1,170,511   $1,948,875   $-   $4,885,211   $8,004,597 
Land and rights of way held for development  $-   $-   $24,161,024   $-   $24,161,024 
Total segment assets  $64,676,232   $69,650,381   $33,278,394   $15,172,838   $182,777,845 

 

   As of December 31, 2018 
   Retail   Bulk   Services   Manufacturing   Total 
Accounts receivable, net  $2,947,193   $18,480,589   $1,812,838   $987,475   $24,228,095 
Property, plant and equipment, net  $24,435,501   $32,820,908   $14,772   $1,609,637   $58,880,818 
Construction in progress  $5,437,093   $574,659   $3,291   $-   $6,015,043 
Intangibles, net  $-   $-   $-   $1,891,667   $1,891,667 
Goodwill  $1,170,511   $1,948,875   $-   $4,885,211   $8,004,597 
Land and rights of way held for development  $-   $-   $24,161,024   $-   $24,161,024 
Total segment assets  $61,210,879   $67,740,088   $27,406,983   $12,254,121   $168,612,071 
Assets of discontinued operations                      $3,903,527 
Total assets                      $172,515,598 

 

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5. 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,  
    2019     2018     2019     2018  
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders   $ 1,727,052     $ 4,309,027     $ 6,768,575     $ 7,963,313  
Less: preferred stock dividends     (2,869 )     (3,102 )     (9,068 )     (9,398 )
Net income from continuing operations available to common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share     1,724,183       4,305,925       6,759,507       7,953,915  
Total income from discontinued operations     -       243,362       3,621,170       869,794  
Net income available to common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share   $ 1,724,183     $ 4,549,287     $ 10,380,677     $ 8,823,709  
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares in the determination of basic earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders     15,026,710       14,963,195       15,022,489       14,960,602  
Plus:                                
Weighted average number of preferred shares outstanding during the period     34,507       37,621       34,061       35,066  
Potential dilutive effect of unexercised options and unvested stock grants     76,877       123,904       76,293       123,747  
Weighted average number of shares used for determining diluted earnings per common share attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. common stockholders     15,138,094       15,124,720       15,132,843       15,119,415  

   

6. 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 $1,879,448 and $2,584,987 as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

 15 

 

 

Summarized financial information for OC-BVI is as follows: 

 

    September 30,     December 31,  
    2019     2018  
Current assets   $ 886,760     $ 2,286,179  
Non-current assets     3,576,216       3,859,310  
Total assets   $ 4,462,976     $ 6,145,489  

 

    September 30,     December 31,  
    2019     2018  
Current liabilities   $ 93,129     $ 132,005  
Non-current liabilities     672,300       1,048,950  
Total liabilities   $ 765,429     $ 1,180,955  

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
    2019     2018     2019     2018  
Revenue   $ 803,861     $ 708,601     $ 2,358,836     $ 2,138,238  
Cost of revenue     523,038       354,476       1,626,152       888,628  
Gross profit     280,823       354,125       732,684       1,249,610  
General and administrative expenses     170,385       325,721       594,980       742,645  
Income from operations     110,438       28,404       137,704       506,965  
Other income (expense), net     (4,050 )     3,360,304       (20,191 )     3,458,070  
Net income     106,388       3,388,708       117,513       3,965,035  
Income attributable to non-controlling interests     18,691       6,773       56,206       36,180  
Net income attributable to controlling interests   $ 87,697     $ 3,381,935     $ 61,307     $ 3,928,855  

 

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for the Company’s investment in OC-BVI for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 is as follows:

 

Balance as of December 31, 2018  $2,584,987 
Profit sharing and equity from earnings of OC-BVI   36,811 
Distributions received from OC-BVI   (742,350)
Balance as of September 30, 2019  $1,879,448 

 

The Company recognized $38,174 and $1,472,154 in earnings from its equity investment in OC-BVI for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $26,686 and $1,710,230 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company recognized $2,025 and $536,625 in profit sharing income from its profit-sharing agreement with OC-BVI for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $10,125 and $621,675 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $95,980 and $97,668, respectively, in revenue from its management services agreement with OC-BVI. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $287,349 and $344,344, respectively, in revenue from its management services agreement with OC-BVI. The Company also recognized approximately $710,000 in revenue 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 $12,182 and $46,746 as of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

 

7. 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. CW-Cooperatief has since purchased, through the conversion of a loan it made to NSC, additional shares that increased 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 an aqueduct that connects to the Mexican potable water infrastructure and a second phase consisting of an additional 50 million gallons per day of production capacity.

 

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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 $30,000 every two months. 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 an aqueduct 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. A consortium (the “Consortium”) comprised of NSC, NuWater S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“NuWater”) and Suez Medio Ambiente México, S.A. de C.V. (“Suez MA”), a subsidiary of SUEZ International, S.A.S., 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. NSC initially owned 99.6% of the equity of AdR. In February 2018, NSC acquired the remaining 0.4% ownership in AdR from NuWater.

 

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, the 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 reverse osmosis desalination plant (and accompanying aqueduct) 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. The first phase must be operational within 36 months of commencing construction and the second phase must be operational by January 2025. 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 remaining open conditions, among others, have been met:

  

  the State has established and registered various payment trusts, guaranties and bank credit lines for specific use by the Project;
     
  AdR has obtained all rights of way required for the aqueduct; 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 (the “Congress”) passed Decreto #57 which, among other things, ratified and authorized the payment obligations of the corresponding public entities under the APP Contract and authorized the corresponding public entities to obtain a credit facility to guarantee their payment obligations. 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. In addition, it was necessary to amend Decreto #57 to authorize the inclusion of revenue from the CESPT in the primary payment trust for the Project. These amendments were included in Decreto #168, which was approved by the Congress in December 2017. The authorization for the execution of the credit agreement to guarantee the payment obligations of the public entities under the APP Contract given in Decreto #57, as amended by Decreto #168, expired on December 31, 2018. During the congressional session held at the end of March 2019, the Congress passed Decreto #335, which renewed the authorizations for the various payment trusts, guaranties and bank credit lines required to be established for the Project by the State entities. Decreto #335 expires December 31, 2019. However, expiration of Decreto #335 does not result in a termination of the APP Contract and/or the Project, as a new authorization may be issued by Congress.

 

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Following their issuances, the following legal proceedings were initiated against Decretos #168 and #335:

 

(a) Amparo (i.e. constitutional appeal) trial against Decreto #168 initiated by certain individuals in June 2018. Both the provisional and definitive suspensions of the effects of Decreto #168 requested by these claimants were denied by the Third District Court in Tijuana. As such, the effects of Decreto #168 have not been suspended. Even though NSC was named as an interested third party, it was not notified of this procedure until June 2019. Following such notification, NSC filed a writ, stating that it is not an interested third party to this trial, as NSC is not a party to the APP Contract. Further, NSC stated that, as mentioned in Decreto #168 itself, and the amparo lawsuit, AdR could be an interested third party, and therefore, the appropriate interested third party called to trial. The constitutional hearing (final hearing) in this proceeding was held on June 21, 2019, without AdR being called to trial. On July 31, 2019, this proceeding was dismissed. While the claimants had the right to file a remedy against this dismissal within 10 business days following notification of the dismissal resolution, no such remedy was filed, as certified by the Third District Court in Tijuana on September 24, 2019. On such same date, the Court ordered the definitive archive of the corresponding docket, as this matter has been definitively concluded.

 

(b) Amparo trial against Decreto #335, filed by a certain congressman and his alternate in April 2019. Given that neither AdR nor NSC are parties to this action, based on publicly available information the Company understands that in April 2019, a congressman of the Congress and his alternate filed this claim, stating that there are no interested third parties in this trial. Both the provisional and definitive suspensions of the effects of Decreto #335 requested by claimants, were denied by the Sixth District Court in Mexicali. As such, the effects of Decreto #335 have not been suspended. On July 31, 2019, this proceeding was dismissed. However, according to publicly available information, on August 15, 2019, the claimants filed a remedy against the dismissal. As neither AdR nor NSC are parties to this Amparo trial, they are not parties to that remedy. The Sixth Collegiate Tribunal of the Fifteenth Circuit will resolve such remedy, but as of this date, no resolution of this remedy has been issued.

 

(c) Amparo trial against Decreto #335, filed in May 2019 by certain individuals that allegedly form part of local chambers of commerce (Consejo Coordinador Empresarial). In May 2019, an initial resolution dismissing the claim was issued by the First District Court in Tijuana. Further, the claimants in this proceeding filed a remedy against the mentioned dismissal, which was resolved in the claimants’ favor by a superior court, therefore forcing the admission of this amparo claim by the First District Court in Tijuana. Both the provisional and definitive suspensions of the effects of Decreto #335 requested by claimants were denied by the First District Court in Tijuana. Claimants have filed remedies against the different resolutions denying such suspensions. However, to date, none of such remedies has been resolved. On October 1, 2019, AdR appeared before the First District Court, to vigorously oppose this claim. The hearing that shall analyze the constitutionality of Decreto #335 under this claim is currently scheduled for November 25, 2019 (although it has been deferred on several occasions). The last resolution within this proceeding was issued on October 30, 2019, whereby the First District Court in Tijuana ordered that CEA and CESPT be served under the legal process as third parties with interest in these proceedings.

 

(d) Constitutionality challenge (Acción de Inconstitucionalidad) against Decreto #335, filed by certain congresspersons in May 2019. Based on publicly available information, the Company understands that in May 2019, certain congresspersons filed this constitutionality challenge against Decreto #335. This challenge has yet to be resolved.

 

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 for including the aqueduct originally designated for Phase 2, and addresses AdR’s concerns regarding the impact on the Project for 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 MA with the option to purchase 20% of the equity of AdR. If Suez MA 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. This Agreement was scheduled to expire on June 30, 2019 but has been extended to December 31, 2019.

 

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In June 2018, AdR and Suez MA executed a contract whereby Suez MA will serve as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the Project with such contract becoming effective on the effective date of the APP Contract.

 

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 it has made 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, 2019 of approximately $24.2 million. 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 $546,000 and $846,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $1,809,000 and $2,158,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The assets and liabilities of NSC and AdR included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets amounted to approximately $29.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2019 and approximately $26.2 million and $243,000 respectively, as of December 31, 2018.

 

Project Litigation

 

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 an individual (the “individual shareholder”). In February 2012, CW-Cooperatief 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 indirectly acquired 99.99% of the ownership of NSC. The Option Agreement contained an anti-dilution provision that required CW-Cooperatief 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) CW-Cooperatief did not exercise its share purchase option by February 7, 2014. CW-Cooperatief exercised its option and paid the $1.0 million to the individual shareholder to purchase the Option Agreement shares in February 2014.

 

In January 2018, EWG initiated an ordinary mercantile claim against the individual shareholder, 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”).

 

In this 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 courts, as a preliminary matter; (a) suspend the effectiveness of the challenged transactions; (b) order certain 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 and public entities involved with the Project, including the registration of the pendency of the lawsuit in certain public records.

 

In April 2018, AdR filed an amparo 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 definitively 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.

 

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On October 16, 2018, NSC was served with the claim. On November 7, 2018, NSC filed a legal response to the claim, vigorously opposing the claims made by EWG. In addition to such legal response, NSC filed (i) a request to submit the claim to arbitration, based on certain provisions of the by-laws of NSC, (ii) an appeal remedy against the preliminary relief, and (iii) a request for the setting of a guarantee to release the preliminary relief granted in favor of EWG. The appeal remedy mentioned in (ii) above has not been resolved.

 

On February 26, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge acknowledged the filing of the legal response, the request to submit to arbitration, and the appeals remedy, granting EWG a period of three business days to, among others, state what it deemed convenient to its interest.

 

Further, on February 26, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge set the requested guarantee, in the form of a security deposit in the amount of 1,000,000 Mexican pesos, to release the preliminary relief sought by EWG. On March 4, 2019, NSC filed before the Tenth Civil Judge evidence of such security deposit, requesting the release of the mentioned preliminary relief.

 

On April 12, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge ruled that the request for arbitration was not applicable under Mexican law. On May 17, 2019, NSC filed an amparo (i.e. constitutional) claim against this ruling that was resolved on October 31, 2019. Such resolution orders the Tenth Civil Judge to issue a new resolution on the request to submit the claim to arbitration. This does not necessarily imply that the Tenth Civil Judge shall rule to move to arbitration. However, if the new resolution is unfavorable for NSC, NSC is prepared to vigorously oppose such resolution.

 

With respect to the previously mentioned appeals remedy against the preliminary relief, the Tenth Civil Judge requested the posting of a guarantee in the amount of 12,000 Mexican pesos to admit such remedy with suspensive effects that is, preventing the claim from moving forward and releasing the ex-parte preliminary relief, until the appeals remedy is resolved by a superior court within the judiciary branch of the government of the State of Baja California, México. NSC posted the requested guarantee.

 

Further, on April 12, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge granted EWG the opportunity to file a counter guarantee in the amount of 1,500,000 Mexican pesos to maintain the ex-parte preliminary relief granted in its favor. With respect to this matter, the Tenth Civil Judge issued a resolution on April 26, 2019 allowing such counter guarantee to be filed in the form of a security deposit or in any other form allowed by the law, without extending the term initially granted for the filing of the counter guarantee.

 

NSC has vigorously opposed the resolution of the Tenth Civil Judge allowing the filing of a counter guarantee through the filing of a revocation remedy and an appeals remedy against it. To date, neither of such remedies has been resolved. Furthermore, EWG filed a bond policy as the counter guarantee, following the expiration of the term initially granted by the Tenth Civil Judge.

 

Despite the posting of the previously mentioned 1,000,000 Mexican pesos guarantee, the Tenth Civil Judge failed to make her resolution effective, which would thereby rescind the previously mentioned preliminary relief granted to EWG. Consequently, on June 19, 2019, NSC filed before the Public Registry of Property of Baja California a cancellation request for the provisional lien and the preventive annotation recorded against NSC’s property in the public real estate records. On June 24, 2019, the Public Registry of Property of Baja California issued an encumbrances cancellation resolution, approving the release of the provisional lien and the preventive annotation recorded against NSC’s property in the public real estate records. Such encumbrances cancellation resolution was registered before the Public Registry of Property of Playas de Rosarito on June 25, 2019. On June 26, 2019, the Public Registry of Property of Playas de Rosarito issued a certificate of no liens with respect to the real estate owned by NSC.

 

On June 27, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge issued a resolution acknowledging the posting, by NSC, of the guarantee in the amount of 12,000 Mexican pesos mentioned above, and therefore suspending the litigation of the preliminary relief, until the appeals remedy filed by NSC against the resolution granting EWG such preliminary relief is resolved by a superior court within the judiciary branch of the government of the State of Baja California, México. With respect to this matter, EWG failed to submit arguments against the appeals remedy filed by NSC. However, to date, no resolution on this appeals remedy has been issued.

 

Also on June 27, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge acknowledged the posting, by EWG, of a bond policy as the counter guarantee allowed pursuant to the Tenth Civil Judge’s ruling on April 26, 2019. However, considering that the litigation of the preliminary relief was suspended as a result of the posting by NSC of the 12,000 Mexican pesos guarantee, the Tenth Civil Judge determined that she is not able to rule on the admission or validity of the EWG counter-guarantee until the appeals remedy is resolved and the litigation of the preliminary relief recommences. Regardless of the resolution of such appeals remedy, NSC plans to vigorously oppose the filing of such bond policy.

 

CW-Cooperatief has not been officially served with the claim, and AdR has not been notified that it has to appear for such trial. In any event, AdR is only named a third party called to trial, and no claims have been made by EWG against AdR.

 

The Company cannot presently determine what impact the resolution of the claim may ultimately have on its ability to complete the Project.

 

8. Leases

 

As of January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use ("ROU") asset and lease liability for all leases. ROU assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The Company implemented this new accounting standard using the modified retrospective method for its existing leases, which did not cause any adjustments to prior year financial statements.

 

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The Company elected the package of transition practical expedients available for existing contracts, which allowed it to carry forward its historical assessments of whether contracts are or contain leases, lease classification and determination of initial direct costs. These leases contain both lease and non-lease components, which the Company has elected to treat as a single lease component. The Company elected not to recognize leases that have an original lease term, including reasonably certain renewal or purchase obligations, of twelve months or less in its consolidated balance sheets for all classes of underlying assets. Lease costs for such short-term leases are recognized on a straight-line basis in net income over the lease term.

 

The Company leases property and equipment under operating leases, primarily land, office and warehouse locations. For leases with terms greater than twelve months, the related asset and obligation are recorded at the present value of lease payments over the term. Many of these leases contain rental escalation clauses which are factored into the determination of lease payments when appropriate. When available, the lease payments are discounted using the rate implicit in the lease; however, the current leases entered into do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. Therefore, the Company’s incremental borrowing rate is estimated to discount the lease payments based on information available at lease commencement.

 

The land used by the Company to operate its seawater desalination plants in the Cayman Islands and The Bahamas are owned by the Company or leased to the Company for immaterial annual amounts and are not included in the lease amounts presented on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

AdR has entered into a lease for land to be used in the Project with an initial effective term of 20-years from the date of full operation of the Rosarito seawater desalination plant. The amounts due on this lease are payable in Mexican pesos at an amount that is currently equivalent to approximately $30,000 every two months. The lease is cancellable by AdR should it ultimately not proceed with the project. All lease assets denominated in a foreign currency are measured using the exchange rate at commencement of the lease or the adoption of ASU 2016-02, whichever is later. All lease liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are remeasured using the exchange rate as of September 30, 2019.

 

Effective May 1, 2019, the Company executed a new lease for its office located in the Cayman Islands under similar terms compared to the prior lease. This new lease expires April 30, 2024.

 

Lease assets and liabilities

 

The following table presents the lease-related assets and liabilities recorded as of September 30, 2019 and their respective location on the consolidated balance sheets:

 

   September 30, 2019 
ASSETS     
Current     
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  $57,249 
Noncurrent     
Operating lease right-of-use assets   4,393,737 
Total lease right-of-use assets  $4,450,986 
      
LIABILITIES    
Current    
Current maturities of operating leases  $647,709 
Noncurrent     
Noncurrent operating leases   3,809,573 
Total lease liabilities  $4,457,282 
      
Weighted average remaining lease term:     
Operating leases   18 years 
      
Weighted average discount rate:     
Operating leases   4.61%

 

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The components of lease cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30, 2019

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2019 

 
Operating lease costs   $ 218,587     $ 567,814  
Short-term lease costs     4,119       12,154  
Total lease costs   $ 222,706     $ 579,968  

 

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows:

 

    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30, 2019     September 30, 2019  
Cash paid for amounts included in measurement of liabilities:                
Operating cash flows from operating leases   $ 218,003     $ 708,494  

 

Future lease payments relating to the Company's operating lease liabilities as of September 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

Years ending December 31,  Total 
Remainder of 2019  $229,765 
2020   821,655 
2021   581,206 
2022   505,985 
2023   515,413 
Thereafter   3,737,940 
Total future lease payments   6,391,964 
Less: Imputed interest   (1,934,682)
Total lease obligations   4,457,282 
Less: Current obligations   (647,709)
Noncurrent lease obligations  $3,809,573 

 

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9. Fair value

 

As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, dividends payable and other current liabilities approximate their fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. Management concluded that the carrying amounts for loans receivable as of December 31, 2018 approximated their fair value as the stated interest rates approximated 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.

 

10. Contingencies

 

Cayman Water

 

The Company sells water through its retail operations under a license issued in July 1990 by the Cayman Islands government (the “1990 license”) that granted Cayman Water the exclusive right to provide potable water to customers within its licensed service area. Although the 1990 license was not expressly extended after January 2018, the Company continues to supply water under the terms of the 1990 license, as further discussed in the following paragraph. Pursuant to the 1990 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 Island: Seven Mile Beach and West Bay. For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company generated approximately 39% and 34%, respectively, of its consolidated revenue and 50% and 48%, respectively, of its consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted under the 1990 license. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company generated approximately 39% and 39%, respectively, of its consolidated revenue and 53% and 56%, respectively, of its consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted under the 1990 license.

 

The 1990 license was originally scheduled to expire in July 2010 but was 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 express extension of the 1990 license expired on January 31, 2018. The Company continues to operate under the terms of the 1990 license, providing water services to the level and quality specified in the 1990 license and in accordance with its understanding of its legal obligations, treating those obligations set forth in the 1990 license as operative notwithstanding the expiration of the express extension. The Company continues to pay the royalty required under the 1990 license.

 

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. The Company has been informed during its retail license negotiations, both by OfReg and its predecessor in these negotiations, that the Cayman Islands government seeks to restructure the terms of its license in a manner that could significantly reduce the operating income and cash flows the Company has historically generated from its retail license.

 

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.

 

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CW-Bahamas

 

CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable balances due from the WSC amounted to $16.2 million as of September 30, 2019 and $17.6 million as of December 31, 2018.

 

Historically, CW-Bahamas has experienced delays in collecting its accounts receivable from the WSC. When these delays occur, the Company holds discussions and meetings with representatives of the WSC and The Bahamas government, and as a result, payment schedules are developed for WSC’s delinquent accounts receivable. All previous delinquent accounts receivable from the WSC 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. As of September 30, 2019, the Company has not provided an allowance for CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable from the WSC.

 

If CW-Bahamas continues to be unable to collect a significant portion of its delinquent accounts receivable, one or more of the following events may occur: (i) CW-Bahamas may not have sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations without new funding from its shareholders; (ii) the Company may be required to cease the recognition of revenue 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.

 

11. Impact of recent accounting standards

 

Adoption of New 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. In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842), which provides an optional transition practical expedient for the adoption of ASU 2016-02 that, if elected, would not require an organization to reconsider their accounting for existing land easements that are not currently accounted for under the old leases standard and clarify that new or modified land easements should be evaluated under ASU 2016-02, once an entity has adopted the new standard.

 

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 adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method for its existing leases and the standard created lease assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

On January 1, 2019, the Company elected certain practical expedients and carried 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 also applied the practical expedient that allows 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 applied the short-term lease exception for lessees which allows 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 also applied the practical expedient related to land easements, allowing it to carry forward its accounting treatment for land easements on existing agreements. The adoption of this new lease standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Effect of newly issued but not yet effective accounting standards:

 

None.

 

12. Subsequent events

 

The Company 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 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 condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Acquisition of 51% interest in PERC Water Corporation

 

On October 24, 2019 (the “Closing Date”), the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, CW-Holdings, entered into a stock purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with PERC Water Corporation (“PERC”) and its seven shareholders (collectively, the “Sellers”). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, CW-Holdings purchased a 51% ownership interest in PERC for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $4.1 million in cash. After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, CW-Holdings owns 51% of the outstanding capital stock of PERC, and four other individuals (the “Remaining Shareholders”), three of whom are PERC executives, own 49% of the outstanding capital stock of PERC.

 

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CW-Holdings also acquired from the Remaining Shareholders an option to compel the Remaining Shareholders to sell, and granted to the Remaining Shareholders an option to require CW-Holdings to purchase, the Remaining Shareholders’ 49% ownership interest in PERC at a price based upon the fair market value of PERC at the time of the exercise of the option. CW-Holdings’ option is exercisable on or after the third anniversary of the Closing Date and the Remaining Shareholders’ option is exercisable on or after the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

PERC is a water infrastructure company headquartered in Cosa Mesa, California that develops, designs, builds, operates and manages wastewater and water reuse infrastructure. PERC generated approximately $8.7 million and $11.8 million in revenue for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 and the twelve months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

 

In connection with the Purchase Agreement, CW-Holdings and the Remaining Shareholders entered into a shareholders’ agreement, pursuant to which CW-Holdings and the Remaining Shareholders agreed to certain rights and obligations with respect to the governance of PERC.

 

Purchase of land from related party

 

In October 2019, Aerex purchased for $126,500 approximately 1.3 acres of land adjacent to its manufacturing facility from a company owned by the minority shareholder of Aerex.

 

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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 revenue, 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:

 

tourism and weather conditions in the areas we serve;
   
the economic, political and social stability of each country in which we conduct or plan to conduct business;
   
our relationships with the governments we serve;
   
regulatory matters, including resolution of the negotiations for the renewal of our retail license on Grand Cayman;
   
our ability to successfully enter new markets, including Mexico; and
   
other factors, including those “Risk Factors” set forth under Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report and in our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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 revenue 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:

 

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
   
the impact of the estimates and assumptions on financial condition and results of operations is material.

 

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.

 

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For the year ended December 31, 2018, we estimated the fair value of our reporting units by applying the discounted cash flows method, the guideline public company method and the mergers and acquisitions method.

 

The discounted cash flows 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, 2018 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, 2018 were as follows:

 

Method  Retail   Bulk   Manufacturing 
Discounted cash flows   80%   80%   80%
Guideline public company   10%   10%   10%
Mergers and acquisitions   10%   10%   10%
    100%   100%   100%

 

The fair values we estimated for our retail, bulk and manufacturing units exceeded their carrying amounts 79%, 62% and 53%, respectively, as of December 31, 2018.

 

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. 

 

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. “Financial Statements” 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, 2018 (“2018 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 2018 Form 10-K.

 

In late December 2018, our Board of Directors formally approved the sale of our CW-Belize subsidiary, which was part of our bulk water operations, to Belize Water Services Ltd. (“BWSL”) and on February 14, 2019, we completed the sale (which was effective as of January 1, 2019) of CW-Belize to BWSL. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the gain we recorded on the sale of CW-Belize in 2019 of $3,621,170 and CW-Belize’s results of operations for 2018 have been reflected in our consolidated results of operations as discontinued operations. Net income from these discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 was $0 and $243,362 ($0.02 per share on a fully diluted basis), respectively, and $3,621,170 ($0.24 per share on a fully diluted basis) and $869,794 ($0.06 per share on a fully diluted basis) for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations refers only to our continuing operations.

 

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Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

 

Consolidated Results

 

Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders for 2019 was $1,727,052 ($0.11 per share on a fully diluted basis), as compared to $4,309,027 ($0.28 per share on a fully diluted basis) for 2018.

 

Total revenue for 2019 decreased to $15,889,239 from $18,053,284 in 2018, due to revenue declines for all of our segments other than the retail segment. Gross profit for 2019 was $6,708,980 (42% of total revenue) as compared to $7,124,991 (39% of total revenue) for 2018. For further discussion of revenue and gross profit see the “Results by Segment” analysis that follows.

 

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses on a consolidated basis remained consistent at $4,825,627 for 2019 as compared to $4,807,079 for 2018.

 

Other income, net was $229,841 for 2019 as compared to $2,326,768 for 2018. Other income, net was significantly higher in 2018 than in 2019 as a result of a litigation settlement received by OC-BVI in September 2018 which resulted in aggregate profit-sharing income and equity in the earnings of OC-BVI for 2018 that exceeded the 2019 amounts earned from OC-BVI by almost $2 million.

 

Results by Segment

 

Retail Segment:

 

The retail segment incurred a loss from operations of ($165,168) in 2019 as compared to contributing $458,688 to our income from operations for 2018.

 

Revenue generated by our retail water operations was $6,271,220 in 2019 as compared to $6,185,558 in 2018. The marginal growth in retail water sales for 2019 is consistent with the increase of the volume of water sold by Cayman Water of approximately 1% from 2018 to 2019.

 

Retail segment gross profit was $3,325,634 (53% of retail revenue) for 2019 as compared to $3,434,959 (56% of retail revenue) for 2018. The decrease in gross profit in dollars and as a percentage of sales for 2019 is attributable to an increase of approximately $123,000 in depreciation expense primarily arising from capital expenditures incurred for the expansion of the plant capacity of our Abel Castillo Water Works plant.

 

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 increased to $3,497,320 for 2019 as compared to $2,967,187 for 2018 as a result of incremental expenses of approximately (i) $274,000 in employee costs arising from pay increases and new hires; and (ii) $222,000 for business development, the majority of which was incurred for our acquisition of a 51% interest in PERC Water Corporation in October 2019.

 

Bulk Segment:

 

The bulk segment contributed $1,886,329 and $2,150,869 to our income from operations for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Bulk segment revenue was $6,449,757 and $7,806,552 for 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in bulk revenue from 2018 to 2019 is attributable to OC-Cayman, which experienced a decline in revenue of approximately $1,407,000 as a result of the two new contracts (at lower rates) with the Water Authority-Cayman (the “WAC”) for water supplied from (1) the Red Gate and North Sound plants which commenced in February 2019 and (2) the North Side Water Works plant, which commenced in July 2019.

 

Gross profit for our bulk segment was $2,180,018 (34% of bulk revenue) and $2,517,401 (32% of bulk revenue) for 2019 and 2018, respectively. Gross profit in dollars decreased in 2019 as compared to 2018 due to (i) an increase in depreciation expense recorded by CW-Bahamas for its Windsor plant of approximately $220,000 that results from the refurbishment of this plant completed in late 2018; and (ii) lower margins earned by OC-Cayman on its new contracts (as compared to its previous contracts) with the WAC.

 

Bulk segment G&A expenses remained relatively consistent at $294,189 for 2019 as compared to $366,532 for 2018.

 

Services Segment:

 

The services segment incurred losses from operations of ($481,825) and ($721,547) for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Services segment revenue decreased to $95,980 for 2019 from $807,424 for 2018 due to lower fees generated under our management services agreement with OC-BVI and approximately $710,000 in revenue generated in 2018 under a refurbishment project for OC-BVI’s plant.

 

Gross profit for the services segment was $64,379 and $124,711 for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

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G&A expenses for the services segment decreased to $546,204 for 2019 as compared to $846,258 for 2018 due to a decrease in the development expenses for our Mexico project.

 

Manufacturing Segment:

 

The manufacturing segment contributed $651,035 to our income from operations in 2019 as compared to $417,487 in 2018.

 

Manufacturing revenue was $3,072,282 and $3,253,750 for 2019 and 2018, respectively. Manufacturing revenue decreased from 2018 to 2019 due to a slightly lower number of active projects.

 

Manufacturing gross profit was $1,138,949 (37% of manufacturing revenue) and $1,047,920 (32% of manufacturing revenue) for 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase in manufacturing gross profit in dollars and as a percentage of revenue stems from two projects with relatively higher margins than those completed in the prior period.

 

G&A expenses for the manufacturing segment dropped to $487,914 for 2019 as compared to $627,102 for 2018 as a result of a decrease in the amortization expenses for intangible assets recorded in connection with the acquisition of Aerex.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

 

Consolidated Results

 

Net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders for 2019 was $6,768,575 ($0.45 per share on a fully diluted basis), as compared to $7,963,313 ($0.52 per share on a fully diluted basis) for 2018.

 

Total revenue for 2019 increased to $51,183,023 from $47,672,013 in 2018, as a result of the performance of our retail and manufacturing segments. Gross profit for 2019 was $21,224,032 (41% of total revenue) as compared to $19,478,251 (41% of total revenue) for 2018. For further discussion of revenue and gross profit see the “Results by Segment” analysis that follows.

 

G&A expenses on a consolidated basis remained relatively consistent at $14,198,653 for 2019 as compared to $13,915,759 for 2018.

 

In June 2019, we completed the sales of our CW-Bali assets and its stock for $365,000 and $25,000, respectively. Such sales constitute most of the $448,088 gain on asset dispositions for 2019.

 

Results by Segment

 

Retail Segment:

 

The retail segment contributed $1,568,516 to our income from operations for 2019 as compared to $1,712,502 for 2018.

 

Revenue generated by our retail water operations grew to $19,941,395 in 2019 from $18,884,929 in 2018. This growth in revenue reflects a volume of water sold by Cayman Water that was more than 2% higher in 2019 as compared to 2018. We believe this higher sales volume is attributable to lower rainfall amounts in 2019. Additionally, energy prices were higher in 2019 than in 2018, increasing the energy pass through component of our Cayman Water retail revenue by approximately $400,000. Offsetting these increases was a lack of revenue from CW-Bali in 2019, as compared to $140,000 in revenue from CW-Bali in 2018.

 

Retail segment gross profit increased as a result of the higher 2019 revenue to $11,187,447 (56% of retail revenue) for 2019 as compared to $10,650,126 (56% of retail revenue) for 2018.

 

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 increased to $10,020,019 for 2019 as compared to $8,926,550 for 2018 as a result of incremental expenses of approximately (i) $407,000 in employee costs arising from pay increases and new hires; and (ii) $496,000 for business development.

 

The retail segment generated a gain on asset dispositions of $401,088 in 2019 primarily from the sales of our CW-Bali assets and its stock.

 

Bulk Segment:

 

The bulk segment contributed $5,656,097 and $6,235,834 to our income from operations for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Bulk segment revenue was $20,502,121 and $22,934,036 for 2019 and 2018, respectively. The decrease in bulk revenue from 2018 to 2019 is attributable to OC-Cayman, which experienced a decline in revenue of approximately $2,466,000 as a result of the two new contracts at lower rates with the WAC for water supplied from (1) the Red Gate and North Sound plants which commenced in February 2019 and expires in 2024 and (2) the North Side Water Works plant, which commenced in July 2019 and expires in 2026.

 

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Gross profit for the bulk segment was $6,509,669 (32% of bulk revenue) and $7,197,100 (31% of bulk revenue) for 2019 and 2018, respectively. Gross profit in dollars decreased in 2019 as compared to 2018 due to (i) an increase in depreciation expense recorded by CW-Bahamas for its Windsor plant of approximately $638,000 that results from the refurbishment of this plant completed in late 2018; and (ii) lower margins earned by OC-Cayman on its new contracts (as compared to its previous contracts) with the WAC.

 

Bulk segment G&A expenses remained relatively consistent at $900,572 for 2019 as compared to $961,266 for 2018.

 

Services Segment:

 

The services segment incurred losses from operations of ($1,723,236) and ($2,030,185) for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

Services segment revenue decreased to $287,349 for 2019 from $1,054,100 for 2018 due to lower fees generated under our management services agreement with OC-BVI and approximately $710,000 in revenue generated in 2018 under a refurbishment project for OC-BVI’s plant.

 

The gross profit for the services segment was $88,735 and $132,447 for 2019 and 2018, respectively.

 

G&A expenses for the services segment decreased to $1,811,971 for 2019 as compared to $2,162,632 for 2018 due to a decrease in the development expenses for our Mexico project.

 

Manufacturing Segment:

 

The manufacturing segment contributed $1,972,090 to our income from operations in 2019. The manufacturing segment incurred a loss from operations of ($370,064) in 2018.

 

Manufacturing revenue was $10,452,158 and $4,798,948 for 2019 and 2018, respectively. Manufacturing revenue increased from 2018 to 2019 due to an increase in the number of orders that resulted in expanded project production activity. In addition, a portion of Aerex’s production capacity in 2018 was utilized in the production of various components used by its affiliates, CW-Bahamas (for the refurbishment of its Windsor plant) and Cayman Water (for the expansion of its Abel Castillo Water Works plant). While the revenue Aerex generated from this work for its affiliates amounted to approximately $2 million in 2018, such intercompany sales were eliminated in consolidation for financial reporting purposes.

 

Manufacturing gross profit was $3,438,181 (33% of manufacturing revenue) and $1,498,578 (31% of manufacturing revenue) for 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increases in manufacturing gross profit in dollars and as a percentage of revenue stem from the increase in revenue and production efficiencies.

 

G&A expenses for the manufacturing segment dropped to $1,466,091 for 2019 as compared to $1,865,311 for 2018 as a result of a decrease in the amortization expenses for intangible assets recorded in connection with the acquisition of Aerex.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

The significant changes in our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2019 as compared to December 31, 2018 (other than the change in our cash and cash equivalents, which is discussed later in “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES”) result from changes in restricted cash, accounts receivable, current inventory, property, plant and equipment, construction in progress, lease assets and lease liabilities, and accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The reasons for these changes are as follows:

 

The restricted cash balance of $1,610,471 as of September 30, 2019, represents a certificate of deposit with an original maturity of three months or less, held as security for a $1.5 million standby letter of credit obtained in March 2019 and $100,000 held as collateral for a letter of credit obtained in September 2019.

 

Accounts receivable decreased by approximately $1.3 million primarily due to collections of CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable. Such accounts receivable totaled $16.2 million as of September 30, 2019 as compared to $17.6 million as of December 31, 2018.

 

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Current inventory increased by approximately $798,000 as a result of incremental raw materials purchased to support the increased production activity of our manufacturing segment as well as spare parts per the contractual agreement of OC-Cayman.

 

Property, plant and equipment increased by $3.2 million, and construction in progress decreased by $5.1 million primarily as a result of the commissioning of the expanded plant capacity of our Abel Castillo Water Works plant in Grand Cayman in March 2019.

 

The increases in lease assets and lease liabilities from December 31, 2018 to September 30, 2019 results from the adoption of ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), effective January 1, 2019, which required us to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases.

 

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased by $2.4 million as a result of payment of year-end operating accruals for utilities and purchase orders received as well as an approximate decrease of $800,000 due to the sale of CW-Bali.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Liquidity Position

 

Our projected liquidity requirements for the last quarter of 2019 include capital expenditures for our existing operations of approximately $500,000, approximately $600,000 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 $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 and approximately $3.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

In February 2019, our Board approved a $4.0 million revolving loan facility to Aerex with interest at the rate of 3% per annum, repayable in December 2019. In March 2019, Aerex borrowed $2.5 million under this revolving loan facility and borrowed an additional $1.5 million in April 2019. Aerex repaid the loan in full in November 2019.

 

In October 2019 we paid $4.1 million in cash to purchase 51% of the equity ownership of PERC Water Corporation, a water infrastructure company headquartered in Cosa Mesa, California that develops, designs, builds, operates and manages wastewater and water reuse infrastructure.

 

As of September 30, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of $42.0 million and working capital of $67.9 million. With the possible exception of the liquidity matter relating to CW-Bahamas that is discussed in the 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 2019 and thereafter.

 

CW-Bahamas Liquidity

 

CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable balances due from the Water and Sewerage Corporation of The Bahamas (“WSC”) amounted to $16.2 million as of September 30, 2019 and $17.6 million as of December 31, 2018. Approximately 74% of the September 30, 2019 accounts receivable balance was delinquent as of that date. The delay in collecting these accounts receivable has adversely impacted the liquidity of this subsidiary.

 

Historically, CW-Bahamas has experienced delays in collecting its accounts receivable from the WSC. When these delays occur, we hold discussions and meetings with representatives of the WSC and The Bahamas government, and as a result, payment schedules are developed for WSC’s delinquent accounts receivable. All previous delinquent accounts receivable from the WSC 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. As of September 30, 2019, we have not provided an allowance for CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable from the WSC.

 

We believe the delays we have experienced in collecting CW-Bahamas’ receivables have been exacerbated by the significant impact of Hurricane Dorian, which devastated the northern Bahamas in September 2019.

 

If CW-Bahamas continues to be unable to collect a significant portion of its delinquent accounts receivable, one or more of the following events may occur: (i) CW-Bahamas may not have sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations without new funding from its shareholders; (ii) we may be required to cease the recognition of revenue 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.

 

Discussion of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

 

Our cash and cash equivalents increased to $41,991,071 as of September 30, 2019 from $31,337,477 as of December 31, 2018.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Our operating activities from continuing operations provided cash of $10,527,154. This net cash provided reflects net income generated for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, of $11,561,784 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 $5,320,055, the gain on sale of CW-Belize of $3,621,170, an increase in current inventory of $1,140,909 primarily in the manufacturing and bulk segments, and a net decrease in accounts receivable of $1,410,880 as well as a net decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities of $1,635,079.

 

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Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Net cash provided by our investing activities was $5,581,502. Additions to property, plant and equipment and construction in progress (primarily arising from the refurbishment of the CW-Bahamas’ Windsor plant and the expansion of Cayman Water’s Abel Castillo Water Works plant) used $2,673,192 in cash. These cash outflows were offset by $734,980 in collections on loans receivable from the WAC and $6,971,234 in proceeds from the sale of CW-Belize.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Our financing activities used $3,844,591 in net cash, almost all of which related to the payment of dividends.

 

Material Commitments, Expenditures and Contingencies

 

Cayman Water Retail License

 

We sell water through our retail operations under a license issued in July 1990 by the Cayman Islands government (the “1990 license”) that granted Cayman Water the exclusive right to provide potable water to customers within its licensed service area. Although the 1990 license was not expressly extended after January 2018, we continue to supply water under the terms of the 1990 license, as further discussed in the following paragraph. Pursuant to the 1990 license, Cayman Water had 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 Island: Seven Mile Beach and West Bay. For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, we generated approximately 39% and 34%, respectively, of our consolidated revenue and 50% and 48%, respectively, of our consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted under the 1990 license. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, we generated approximately 39% and 39%, respectively, of our consolidated revenue and 53% and 56%, respectively, of our consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted under the 1990 license.

 

The 1990 license was originally scheduled to expire in July 2010 but was 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 express extension of the license expired on January 31, 2018. We continue operate under the terms of the 1990 license, providing water services to the level and quality specified in the 1990 license and in accordance with our understanding of its legal obligations, treating those obligations set forth in the 1990 license as operative notwithstanding the expiration of the express extension. We continue to pay the royalty required under the 1990 license.

 

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. We began license negotiations with OfReg in July 2017 and such negotiations are continuing. We have been informed during our retail license negotiations, both by OfReg and its predecessor in these negotiations, that the Cayman Islands government seeks to restructure the terms of our license in a manner that could significantly reduce the operating income and cash flows we have historically generated from our retail license. In January 2019, we proposed to OfReg to adjust our rates based upon inflation consistent with the terms of the 1990 license. However, OfReg rejected this proposed rate increase and the rates Cayman Water presently charges continue to be those that were in put into effect in January 2018.

 

The Cayman Islands government could seek to grant a third party a license to service some or all of Cayman Water’s present service area. However, as set forth in the expired 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.

 

CW-Bahamas Performance Guarantees

 

Our contracts to supply water to the WSC from our Blue Hills and Windsor plants require us to guarantee delivery of a minimum quantity of water per week. If we do not meet this minimum, we are required to pay the WSC for the difference between the minimum and actual gallons delivered at a per gallon rate equal to the price per gallon that WSC is currently paying us under the contract. The Blue Hills contract expires in 2032 and requires us to deliver 63.0 million gallons of water each week. The Windsor contract expires in 2033 and requires us to deliver 16.8 million gallons of water each week.

 

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NSC and AdR Project Development

 

In May 2010, the Company acquired, through its 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. CW-Cooperatief has since purchased, through the conversion of a loan it made to NSC, additional shares that increased 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 an aqueduct that connects to the Mexican potable water infrastructure and a second phase consisting of an additional 50 million gallons per day of production capacity.

 

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 $30,000 every two months. 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 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 an aqueduct 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. A consortium (the “Consortium”) comprised of NSC, NuWater S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“NuWater”) and Suez Medio Ambiente México, S.A. de C.V. (“Suez MA”), a subsidiary of SUEZ International, S.A.S., 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 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. NSC initially owned 99.6% of the equity of AdR. In February 2018, NSC acquired the remaining 0.4% ownership in AdR from NuWater.

 

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, the 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 reverse osmosis desalination plant (and accompanying aqueduct) 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. The first phase must be operational within 36 months of commencing construction and the second phase must be operational by January 2025. 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.

 

 

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The APP Contract does not become effective until the following remaining open conditions, among others, have been met:

 

  the State has established and registered various payment trusts, guaranties and bank credit lines for specific use by the Project;
     
  AdR has obtained all rights of way required for the aqueduct; 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 (the “Congress”) passed Decreto #57 which, among other things, ratified and authorized the payment obligations of the corresponding public entities under the APP Contract and authorized the corresponding public entities to obtain a credit facility to guarantee their payment obligations. 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. In addition, it was necessary to amend Decreto #57 to authorize the inclusion of revenue from the CESPT in the primary payment trust for the Project. These amendments were included in Decreto #168, which was approved by the Congress in December 2017. The authorization of the payment obligations of the public entities under the APP Contract given in Decreto #57, as amended by Decreto #168, expired on December 31, 2018. During the congressional session held at the end of March 2019, the Congress passed Decreto #335, which renewed the authorizations for the various payment trusts, guaranties and bank credit lines required to be established for the Project by the State entities. Decreto #335 expires December 31, 2019. However, expiration of Decreto #335 does not result in a termination of the APP Contract and/or the Project, as a new authorization may be issued by Congress.

 

Following their issuances, the following legal proceedings were initiated against Decretos #168 and #335:

 

(a) Amparo (i.e. constitutional appeal) trial against Decreto #168 initiated by certain individuals in June 2018. Both the provisional and definitive suspensions of the effects of Decreto #168 requested by these claimants were denied by the Third District Court in Tijuana. As such, the effects of Decreto #168 have not been suspended. Even though NSC was named as an interested third party, it was not notified of this procedure until June 2019. Following such notification, NSC filed a writ, stating that it is not an interested third party to this trial, as NSC is not a party to the APP Contract. Further, NSC stated that, as mentioned in Decreto #168 itself, and the amparo lawsuit, AdR could be an interested third party, and therefore, the appropriate interested third party called to trial. The constitutional hearing (final hearing) in this proceeding was held on June 21, 2019, without AdR being called to trial. On July 31, 2019, this proceeding was dismissed. While the claimants had the right to file a remedy against this dismissal within 10 business days following notification of the dismissal resolution, no such remedy was filed, as certified by the Third District Court in Tijuana on September 24, 2019. On such same date, the Court ordered the definitive archive of the corresponding docket, as this matter has been definitively concluded.

 

(b) Amparo trial against Decreto #335, filed by a certain congressman and his alternate in April 2019. Given that neither AdR nor NSC are parties to this action, based on publicly available information the Company understands that in April 2019, a congressman of the Congress and his alternate filed this claim, stating that there are no interested third parties in this trial. Both the provisional and definitive suspensions of the effects of Decreto #335 requested by claimants, were denied by the Sixth District Court in Mexicali. As such, the effects of Decreto #335 have not been suspended. On July 31, 2019, this proceeding was dismissed. However, according to publicly available information, on August 15, 2019, the claimants filed a remedy against the dismissal. As neither AdR nor NSC are parties to this Amparo trial, they are not parties to that remedy. The Sixth Collegiate Tribunal of the Fifteenth Circuit will resolve such remedy, but as of this date, no resolution of this remedy has been issued.

 

(c) Amparo trial against Decreto #335, filed in May 2019 by certain individuals that allegedly form part of local chambers of commerce (Consejo Coordinador Empresarial). In May 2019, an initial resolution dismissing the claim was issued by the First District Court in Tijuana. Further, the claimants in this proceeding filed a remedy against the mentioned dismissal, which was resolved in the claimants’ favor by a superior court, therefore forcing the admission of this amparo claim by the First District Court in Tijuana. Both the provisional and definitive suspensions of the effects of Decreto #335 requested by claimants were denied by the First District Court in Tijuana. Claimants have filed remedies against the different resolutions denying such suspensions. However, to date, none of such remedies has been resolved. On October 1, 2019, AdR appeared before the First District Court, to vigorously oppose this claim. The hearing that shall analyze the constitutionality of Decreto #335 under this claim is currently scheduled for November 25, 2019 (although it has been deferred on several occasions). The last resolution within this proceeding was issued on October 30, 2019, whereby the First District Court in Tijuana ordered that CEA and CESPT be served under the legal process as third parties with interest in these proceedings.

 

(d) Constitutionality challenge (Acción de Inconstitucionalidad) against Decreto #335, filed by certain congresspersons in May 2019. Based on publicly available information, the Company understands that in May 2019, certain congresspersons filed this constitutionality challenge against Decreto #335. This challenge has yet to be resolved.

 

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 for 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.

 

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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 MA with the option to purchase 20% of the equity of AdR. If Suez MA 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. This Agreement was scheduled to expire on June 30, 2019 but has been extended to December 31, 2019.

 

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 MA will design and construct the Project, while a joint venture company between NSC and Suez MA will operate the Project.

 

In June 2018, AdR and Suez MA executed a contract whereby Suez MA will serve as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the Project with such contract becoming effective on the effective date of the APP Contract.

 

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 it has made 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, 2019 of approximately $24.2 million. 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 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 $546,000 and $846,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $1,809,000 and $2,158,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The assets and liabilities of NSC and AdR included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets amounted to approximately $29.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2019 and approximately $26.2 million and $243,000 respectively, as of December 31, 2018.

 

Project Litigation

 

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 an individual (the “individual shareholder”). In February 2012, CW-Cooperatief 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, we acquired 99.99% of the ownership of NSC. The Option Agreement contained an anti-dilution provision that required CW-Cooperatief 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) CW-Cooperatief did not exercise its share purchase option by February 7, 2014. CW-Cooperatief exercised its option and paid the $1.0 million to the individual shareholder to purchase the Option Agreement shares in February 2014.

 

In January 2018, EWG initiated an ordinary mercantile claim against the individual shareholder, 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”).

 

In this 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 courts, as a preliminary matter; (a) suspend the effectiveness of the challenged transactions; (b) order certain 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 and public entities involved with the Project, including the registration of the pendency of the lawsuit in certain public records.

 

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In April 2018, AdR filed an amparo 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 definitively 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 claim. On November 7, 2018, NSC filed a legal response to the claim, vigorously opposing the claims made by EWG. In addition to such legal response, NSC filed (i) a request to submit the claim to arbitration, based on certain provisions of the by-laws of NSC, (ii) an appeal remedy against the preliminary relief, and (iii) a request for the setting of a guarantee to release the preliminary relief granted in favor of EWG. The appeal remedy mentioned in (ii) above has not been resolved.

 

On February 26, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge acknowledged the filing of the legal response, the request to submit to arbitration, and the appeals remedy, granting EWG a period of three business days to, among others, state what it deemed convenient to its interest.

 

Further, on February 26, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge set the requested guarantee, in the form of a security deposit in the amount of 1,000,000 Mexican pesos, to release the preliminary relief sought by EWG. On March 4, 2019, NSC filed before the Tenth Civil Judge evidence of such security deposit, requesting the release of the mentioned preliminary relief.

 

On April 12, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge ruled that the request for arbitration was not applicable under Mexican law. On May 17, 2019, NSC filed an amparo (i.e. constitutional) claim against this ruling that was resolved on October 31, 2019. Such resolution orders the Tenth Civil Judge to issue a new resolution on the request to submit the claim to arbitration. This does not necessarily imply that the Tenth Civil Judge shall rule to move to arbitration. However, if the new resolution is unfavorable for NSC, NSC is prepared to vigorously oppose such resolution.

 

With respect to the previously mentioned appeals remedy against the preliminary relief, the Tenth Civil Judge requested the posting of a guarantee in the amount of 12,000 Mexican pesos to admit such remedy with suspensive effects that is, preventing the claim from moving forward and releasing the ex-parte preliminary relief, until the appeals remedy is resolved by a superior court within the judiciary branch of the government of the State of Baja California, México. NSC posted the requested guarantee.

 

Further, on April 12, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge granted EWG the opportunity to file a counter guarantee in the amount of 1,500,000 Mexican pesos to maintain the ex-parte preliminary relief granted in its favor. With respect to this matter, the Tenth Civil Judge issued a resolution on April 26, 2019 allowing such counter guarantee to be filed in the form of a security deposit or in any other form allowed by the law, without extending the term initially granted for the filing of the counter guarantee.

 

NSC has vigorously opposed the resolution of the Tenth Civil Judge allowing the filing of a counter guarantee through the filing of a revocation remedy and an appeals remedy against it. To date, neither of such remedies has been resolved. Furthermore, EWG filed a bond policy as the counter guarantee, following the expiration of the term initially granted by the Tenth Civil Judge.

 

Despite the posting of the previously mentioned 1,000,000 Mexican pesos guarantee, the Tenth Civil Judge failed to make her resolution effective, which would thereby rescind the previously mentioned preliminary relief granted to EWG. Consequently, on June 19, 2019, NSC filed before the Public Registry of Property of Baja California a cancellation request for the provisional lien and the preventive annotation recorded against NSC’s property in the public real estate records. On June 24, 2019, the Public Registry of Property of Baja California issued an encumbrances cancellation resolution, approving the release of the provisional lien and the preventive annotation recorded against NSC’s property in the public real estate records. Such encumbrances cancellation resolution was registered before the Public Registry of Property of Playas de Rosarito on June 25, 2019. On June 26, 2019, the Public Registry of Property of Playas de Rosarito issued a certificate of no liens with respect to the real estate owned by NSC.

 

On June 27, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge issued a resolution acknowledging the posting, by NSC, of the guarantee in the amount of 12,000 Mexican pesos mentioned above, and therefore suspending the litigation of the preliminary relief, until the appeals remedy filed by NSC against the resolution granting EWG such preliminary relief is resolved by a superior court within the judiciary branch of the government of the State of Baja California, México. With respect to this matter, EWG failed to submit arguments against the appeals remedy filed by NSC. However, to date, no resolution on this appeals remedy has been issued.

 

Also on June 27, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge acknowledged the posting, by EWG, of a bond policy as the counter guarantee allowed pursuant to the Tenth Civil Judge’s ruling on April 26, 2019. However, considering that the litigation of the preliminary relief was suspended as a result of the posting by NSC of the 12,000 Mexican pesos guarantee, the Tenth Civil Judge determined that she is not able to rule on the admission or validity of the EWG counter-guarantee until the appeals remedy is resolved and the litigation of the preliminary relief recommences. Regardless of the resolution of such appeals remedy, NSC plans to vigorously oppose the filing of such bond policy. 

 

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CW-Cooperatief has not been officially served with the claim, and AdR has not been notified that it has to appear for such trial. In any event, AdR is only named a third party called to trial, and no claims have been made by EWG against AdR.

 

We cannot presently determine what impact the resolution of the claim may ultimately have on our ability to complete the Project.

 

Adoption of New 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. In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842), which provides an optional transition practical expedient for the adoption of ASU 2016-02 that, if elected, would not require an organization to reconsider their accounting for existing land easements that are not currently accounted for under the old leases standard and clarify that new or modified land easements should be evaluated under ASU 2016-02, once an entity has adopted the new standard.

 

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 adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method for its existing leases and the standard created lease assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

On January 1, 2019, the Company elected certain practical expedients and carried 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 also applied the practical expedient that allows 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 applied the short-term lease exception for lessees which allows 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 also applied 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 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Effect of newly issued but not yet effective accounting standards:

 

None.

 

Dividends

 

On January 31, 2019, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on January 2, 2019.
On April 30, 2019, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on April 1, 2019.
On July 31, 2019, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on July 1, 2019.
On August 13, 2019, our Board declared a dividend of $0.085 payable on October 31, 2019 to shareholders of record on October 1, 2019.

 

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 and the British Virgin Islands, our water rates are automatically adjusted for inflation on an annual basis. We, therefore, believe that the impact of inflation on our gross profit, measured in consistent dollars, should 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.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

There have been no material changes in our exposure to market risk from December 31, 2018 to the end of the period covered by this report.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management has evaluated, with the participation of its principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer, the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

Changes in Internal Controls

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation of such internal control that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

NSC and AdR

 

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 an individual (the “individual shareholder”). In February 2012, CW-Cooperatief 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, we indirectly acquired 99.99% of the ownership of NSC. The Option Agreement contained an anti-dilution provision that required CW-Cooperatief 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) CW-Cooperatief did not exercise its share purchase option by February 7, 2014. CW-Cooperatief exercised its option and paid the $1.0 million to the individual shareholder to purchase the Option Agreement shares in February 2014.

 

In January 2018, EWG initiated an ordinary mercantile claim against the individual shareholder, 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”).

 

In this 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 courts, as a preliminary matter; (a) suspend the effectiveness of the challenged transactions; (b) order certain 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 and public entities involved with the Project, including the registration of the pendency of the lawsuit in certain public records.

 

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 definitively 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 claim. On November 7, 2018, NSC filed a legal response to this claim, vigorously opposing the claims made by EWG. In addition to such legal response, NSC filed (i) a request to submit the claim to arbitration, based on certain provisions of the by-laws of NSC, (ii) an appeal remedy against the preliminary relief, and (iii) a request for the setting of a guarantee to release the preliminary relief granted in favor of EWG. The appeal remedy mentioned in (ii) above has not been resolved.

 

On February 26, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge acknowledged the filing of the legal response, the request to submit to arbitration, and the appeals remedy, granting EWG a period of three business days to, among others, state what it deemed convenient to its interest.

 

Further, on February 26, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge set the requested guarantee, in the form of a security deposit in the amount of 1,000,000 Mexican pesos, to release the preliminary relief sought by EWG. On March 4, 2019, NSC filed before the Tenth Civil Judge evidence of such security deposit, requesting the release of the mentioned preliminary relief.

 

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On April 12, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge ruled that the request for arbitration was not applicable under Mexican law. On May 17, 2019, NSC filed an amparo (i.e. constitutional) claim against this ruling that was resolved on October 31, 2019. Such resolution orders the Tenth Civil Judge to issue a new resolution on the request to submit the claim to arbitration. This does not necessarily imply that the Tenth Civil Judge shall rule to move to arbitration. However, if the new resolution is unfavorable for NSC, NSC is prepared to combat such resolution vigorously.

 

With respect to the previously mentioned appeals remedy against the preliminary relief, the Tenth Civil Judge requested the posting of a guarantee in the amount of 12,000 Mexican pesos to admit such remedy with suspensive effects that is, preventing the claim from moving forward and releasing the ex-parte preliminary relief, until the appeals remedy is resolved by a superior court within the judiciary branch of the government of the State of Baja California, México. NSC posted the requested guarantee.

 

Further, on April 12, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge granted EWG the opportunity to file a counter guarantee in the amount of 1,500,000 Mexican pesos to maintain the ex-parte preliminary relief granted in its favor. With respect to this matter, the Tenth Civil Judge issued a resolution on April 26, 2019 allowing such counter guarantee to be filed in the form of a security deposit or in any other form allowed by the law, without extending the term initially granted for the filing of the counter guarantee.

 

NSC has vigorously opposed the resolution of the Tenth Civil Judge allowing the filing of a counter guarantee through the filing of a revocation remedy and an appeals remedy against it. To date, neither of such remedies has been resolved. Furthermore, EWG filed a bond policy as the counter guarantee, after the expiration of the term initially granted by the Tenth Civil Judge.

 

Despite the posting of the previously mentioned 1,000,000 Mexican pesos guarantee, the Tenth Civil Judge failed to make her resolution effective, which would thereby rescind the previously mentioned preliminary relief granted to EWG. Consequently, on June 19, 2019, NSC filed before the Public Registry of Property of Baja California a cancellation request of the provisional lien and the preventive annotation recorded against NSC’s property in the public real estate records. On June 24, 2019, the Public Registry of Property of Baja California issued an encumbrances cancellation resolution, approving the release of the provisional lien and the preventive annotation recorded against NSC’s property in the public real estate records. Such encumbrances cancellation resolution was registered before the Public Registry of Property of Playas de Rosarito on June 25, 2019. On June 26, 2019, the Public Registry of Property of Playas de Rosarito issued a certificate of no liens with respect to the real estate owned by NSC.

 

On June 27, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge issued a resolution acknowledging the posting, by NSC, of the guarantee in the amount of 12,000 Mexican pesos mentioned above, and therefore suspending the litigation of the preliminary relief, until the appeals remedy filed by NSC against the resolution granting EWG such preliminary relief is resolved by a superior court within the judiciary branch of the government of the State of Baja California, México. With respect to this matter, EWG failed to submit arguments against the appeals remedy filed by NSC. However, to date, no resolution on this appeals remedy has been issued.

 

Also on June 27, 2019, the Tenth Civil Judge acknowledged the posting, by EWG, of a bond policy as the counter guarantee allowed pursuant to the Tenth Civil Judge’s ruling on April 26, 2019. However, considering that the litigation of the preliminary relief was suspended as a result of the posting by NSC of the 12,000 Mexican pesos guarantee, the Tenth Civil Judge determined that she is not able to rule on the admission or validity of the EWG counter-guarantee until the appeals remedy is resolved and the litigation of the preliminary relief recommences. Regardless of the resolution of such appeals remedy, NSC plans to vigorously oppose the filing of such bond policy.

 

CW-Cooperatief has not been officially served with the claim, and AdR has not been notified that it has to appear for such trial. In any event, AdR is only named a third party called to trial, and no claims are made by EWG directly to AdR.

 

We cannot presently determine what impact the resolution of the claim may ultimately have on our ability to complete the Project.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Our business faces significant risks. These risks include those disclosed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 as supplemented by the additional risk factors included below. If any of the events or circumstances described in the referenced risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected and such events or circumstances could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report. These risks should be read in conjunction with the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report as well as in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in our other periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.

 

Our exclusive license to provide water to retail customers in the Cayman Islands has not been expressly extended and we are presently unable to predict the outcome of our on-going negotiations relating to this license.

 

We sell water through our retail operations under a license issued in July 1990 by the Cayman Islands government (the “1990 license”) that granted Cayman Water the exclusive right to provide potable water to customers within its licensed service area. Although the 1990 license was not expressly extended after January 2018, we continue to supply water under the terms of the 1990 license, as further discussed in the following paragraph. Pursuant to the 1990 license, Cayman Water had 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 Island: Seven Mile Beach and West Bay. For the three months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, we generated approximately 39% and 34%, respectively, of our consolidated revenue and 50% and 48%, respectively, of our consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted under the 1990 license. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, we generated approximately 39% and 39%, respectively, of our consolidated revenue and 53% and 56%, respectively, of our consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted under the 1990 license.

 

The 1990 license was originally scheduled to expire in July 2010 but was 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 express extension of the license expired on January 31, 2018. We continue operate under the terms of the 1990 license, providing water services to the level and quality specified in the 1990 license and in accordance with our understanding of its legal obligations, treating those obligations set forth in the 1990 license as operative notwithstanding the expiration of the express extension. We continue to pay the royalty required under the 1990 license.

 

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 to OfReg in May 2017. We began license negotiations with OfReg in July 2017 and such negotiations are continuing. We have been informed during our retail license negotiations, both by OfReg and its predecessor in these negotiations, that the Cayman Islands government seeks to restructure the terms of our license in a manner that could significantly reduce the operating income and cash flows we have historically generated from our retail license. In January 2019, we proposed to OfReg to adjust our rates based upon inflation, consistent with the terms of the 1990 license. However OfReg rejected this proposed rate increase and the rates Cayman Water presently charges continue to be those that were in put into effect in January 2018.

 

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.

 

We have paid $24.2 million for land, rights of way and equipment and incurred development expenses of approximately $30.4 million to date for a possible project in Mexico. We may continue to make significant expenditures in the pursuit of this project. However, we may not be successful in completing this project.

 

We own 99.99% of NSC, a development stage Mexico company formed to pursue a 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 an accompanying pipeline to deliver water to the Mexican potable water system (the “Project”). As of September 30, 2019, our consolidated balance sheet includes purchases for the Project of approximately $24.2 million for land, rights of way and equipment. The Project development activities we have conducted, which include conducting an equipment piloting plant and water data collection program at the proposed feed water source, completing various engineering studies and obtaining various governmental permits, have resulted in additional developmental expenses totaling $30.4 million from 2010 through September 30, 2019.

 

In August 2014, the State of Baja California (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 we are seeking to complete the Project (the “APP Law”). Pursuant to this new legislation, in November 2015 the State officially commenced a tender process 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. Our consortium (the “Consortium”) comprised of our subsidiary NSC, NuWater S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“NuWater”) and Suez Medio Ambiente México, S.A. de C.V., (“Suez MA”), a subsidiary of SUEZ International, S.A.S. submitted its tender for the Project in April 2016 and in June 2016, the State designated our Consortium as the winner of the tender process for the Project.

 

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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 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.

 

On August 22, 2016, the Public Private Partnership Agreement for the Project (“APP Contract”), was executed between AdR, the Comisión Estatal del Agua de Baja California (“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 reverse osmosis desalination plant (and accompanying aqueduct) 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. 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 aqueducts 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 aqueducts will be transferred to CEA. 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 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 a mechanism in 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 for 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 MA with the option to purchase 20% of the equity of AdR. If Suez MA 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. This Agreement was scheduled to expire on June 30, 2019 but has been extended to December 31, 2019.

 

The APP Contract does not become effective until the following remaining open conditions,among others have been met:

 

  the State has established and registered various payment trusts, guaranties and bank credit lines for specific use by the Project;
     
  AdR has obtained all rights of way required for the aqueduct; and
     
  all debt financing agreements necessary to provide the funding to AdR for the first phase of the Project have been executed.

 

Since the signing of the APP Contract, the Congress of the State of Baja California, Mexico (the “Congress”) has faced several legal challenges, some of which remain unresolved, to the legal Decretos they have passed to ratify and authorize the payment obligations of the corresponding public entities under the APP Contract and to authorize the corresponding public entities to obtain a credit facility to guarantee their payment obligations. The resolution of these legal challenges could adversely impact our ability to complete the Project. In addition, NSC has been sued by its minority shareholder in a court in Tijuana, Mexico and this litigation could delay or adversely impact the Project.

 

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If AdR is ultimately unable to proceed with the Project due to (i) the legal challenges to the Decretos; (ii) the litigation initiated by NSC’s minority shareholder: (iii) failure by any of the parties involved to meet the conditions necessary for the APP Contract to become effective; or (iv) any other reason, the land NSC has purchased and the right of way deposits it has made 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 aggregate carrying values as of September 30, 2019 of approximately $24.2 million. 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.

 

Periodically, our Bahamas subsidiary experiences substantial delays in the collection of its accounts receivable. As a result, our Bahamas subsidiary could have insufficient liquidity to continue operations, and our consolidated results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable balances due from the Water and Sewerage Corporation of The Bahamas (“WSC”) amounted to $16.2 million as of September 30, 2019 and $17.6 million as of December 31, 2018. Approximately 74% of the September 30, 2019 accounts receivable balance was delinquent as of that date. The delay in collecting these accounts receivable has adversely impacted the liquidity of this subsidiary.

 

Historically, CW-Bahamas has experienced delays in collecting its accounts receivable from the WSC. When these delays occur, we hold discussions and meetings with representatives of the WSC and The Bahamas government, and as a result, payment schedules are developed for WSC’s delinquent accounts receivable. All previous delinquent accounts receivable from the WSC 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. As of September 30, 2019, we have not provided an allowance for CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable from the WSC.

 

We believe the delays we have experienced in collecting CW-Bahamas’ receivables have been exacerbated by the significant impact of Hurricane Dorian, which devastated the northern Bahamas in September 2019.

 

If CW-Bahamas continues to be unable to collect a significant portion of its delinquent accounts receivable, one or more of the following events may occur: (i) CW-Bahamas may not have sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations without new funding from its shareholders; (ii) we may be required to cease the recognition of revenue 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.

 

We have been required to record impairment losses to reduce the carrying value of the goodwill arising from our acquisition of Aerex in February 2016. If Aerex’s future financial performance falls short of our most recent financial projections for this subsidiary, we may be required to record additional impairment losses to reduce the carrying value of this goodwill.

 

In February 2016, we acquired a 51% ownership interest in Aerex. In connection with this acquisition, we recorded initial goodwill of $8,035,211. Aerex’s actual results of operations in the six months following our acquisition of this company 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 updated our projections for Aerex’s future cash flows and 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 of each year, 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. Such impairment losses could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

 

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

In July 2019, we issued 861 shares of preferred stock to six employees for cash at a price of $10.10 per share. The issuance of the preferred stock to five of the employees was exempt from registration under Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) because the shares were issued outside of the United States to non-US persons (as defined in Regulation S). One employee is an US person and the issuance of such shares to him was exempt under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The US person is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in making investment decisions of this kind and received adequate information about us or had adequate access, including through the employee’s business relationship with us, to information about us.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number
  Exhibit Description
31.1   Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
31.2   Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
32.1   Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
32.2   Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Schema
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase

  

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

CONSOLIDATED WATER CO. LTD.
     
By: /s/ Frederick W. McTaggart  
  Frederick W. McTaggart  
  Chief Executive Officer  
  (Principal Executive Officer)  
     
By: /s/ David W. Sasnett  
  David W. Sasnett  
  Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer  
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)  
     
Date: November 12, 2019

  

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