Enservco Corp - Quarter Report: 2017 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

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 001-36335

ENSERVCO CORPORATION

(Exact Name of registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Registrant’s telephone number: (303) 333-3678

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 Enservco 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 and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).   Yes X No ☐ 

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

Large accelerated filer ☐                                                                             Accelerated filer ☐

Non-accelerated filer ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)     Smaller reporting company X

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicated 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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Issuer's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ENSERVCO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(1) See Note 2 and Note 5 for discussion regarding the presentation of borrowings under our senior revolving credit facility as a current liability as of September 30, 2017. 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

ENSERVCO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(1) Severance and transition costs comprise (i) payments and accruals for future payments to our former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and (ii) professional fees directly related to separation and transition activities.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

ENSERVCO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(1) As discussed in more detail in Note 5, during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we received proceeds from two subordinated promissory notes issued to our largest shareholder. Proceeds from one of these borrowings were remitted directly to the PNC Bank, N.A. to reduce the outstanding balance under our previous senior revolving credit facility.

(2) Non-cash proceeds from our revolving credit facilities comprise interest and other charges incurred pursuant to our senior revolving credit facilities, which were calculated periodically and added to the principal balance of the loans.

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

ENSERVCO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation

Enservco Corporation (“Enservco”) through its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”, “we” or “us”) provides various services to the domestic onshore oil and natural gas industry. These services include frac water heating, hot oiling and acidizing (well enhancement services); water transfer and water treatment services (water transfer services); water hauling, fluid disposal, frac tank rental (water hauling services); and dirt hauling and other general oilfield services (construction services).

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been derived from the accounting records of Enservco Corporation, Heat Waves Hot Oil Service LLC (“Heat Waves”), Dillco Fluid Service, Inc. (“Dillco”), Heat Waves Water Management LLC (“HWWM”), HE Services LLC (“HES”), and Real GC LLC (“Real GC”) (collectively, the “Company”) as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

The below table provides an overview of the Company’s current ownership hierarchy:

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all of the normal and recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present the interim financial information set forth herein have been included. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results of a full year or of future years.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and follow the same accounting policies and methods of their application as the most recent annual financial statements. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related footnotes included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Enservco Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2016. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2016 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Note 2 – Liquidity and Management's Plans

As described in more detail in Note 5, Revolving Credit Facilities on August 10, 2017, we entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the "2017 Credit Agreement") with East West Bank, a California banking corporation ("East West Bank"), which provides for a three-year $30 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “New Credit Facility”). On August 10, 2017 we repaid all amounts due under our prior credit facility with PNC Bank (the "Prior Credit Facility") using proceeds from New Credit Facility. Upon entering the 2017 Credit Agreement and repaying all amounts due pursuant to the 2014 Credit Agreement, we had availability of approximately $4.7 million under the New Credit Facility. 

As of September 30, 2017, our available liquidity was approximately $3.2 million, which was substantially comprised of $2.7 million of availability under our credit facility (the "New Credit Facility") provided pursuant to the Loan and Security Agreement with East West Bank ("East West Bank"), (the “2017 Credit Agreement”) and approximately $480,000 in cash. On August 10, 2017, we repaid approximately $21.5 million which we had borrowed pursuant to a previous credit facility (the "Prior Credit Facility") provided pursuant to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Security Agreement with PNC Bank, N.A. (the “2014 Credit Agreement”) using proceeds from the New Credit Facility. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the company received proceeds of approximately $23.5 million under the New Credit Facility. 

As of September 30, 2017, we were in violation of a loan covenant under the New Credit Facility that requires our Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the 2017 Credit Agreement) (“FCCR”) to be not less than 1.10 to 1.00 at the end of each month, with a build up beginning with January 1, 2017. Our FCCR as of September 30, 2017, was 0.62, calculated in accordance with the 2017 Credit Agreement, and constituted an Event of Default, as defined in the 2017 Credit Agreement. East West Bank may, at its election, declare all our obligations under the New Credit Facility immediately due and payable and cease advancing money or extending credit to us, among other remedies. We are currently in negotiations with East West Bank regarding a waiver of the testing of this covenant until December 31, 2017 through an amendment to the 2017 Credit Agreement, which would remedy the covenant violation. However, as of November 14, 2017, we had not finalized an amendment and we therefore classified borrowings under the New Credit Facility ($23,543,802) as a current liability in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2017, resulting in us having a significant working capital deficit of approximately $21.1 million. We cannot provide assurance that we will reach an agreement regarding the waiver, however, we believe it is probable that such an agreement will be reached. If East West Bank exercises its option to declare our borrowings under the 2017 Credit Agreement immediately due and payable, or cease advancing money or extending credit to us, our ability to continue as a going concern will be negatively affected.

Note 3 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company continually monitors its positions with, and the credit quality of, the financial institutions with which it invests. Enservco maintains its excess cash in various financial institutions, where deposits may exceed federally insured amounts at times.

Accounts Receivable 

Accounts receivable are stated at the amounts billed to customers, net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts. The Company provides an allowance for uncollectable accounts based on a review of outstanding receivables, historical collection information and existing economic conditions. The allowance for uncollectible amounts is continually reviewed and adjusted to maintain the allowance at a level considered adequate to cover future losses. The allowance is management's best estimate of uncollectible amounts and is determined based on historical collection experience related to accounts receivable coupled with a review of the current status of existing receivables. The losses ultimately incurred could differ materially in the near term from the amounts estimated in determining the allowance. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had an allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $127,000 and $34,000, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded bad debt expense (net of recoveries) of approximately $44,000 and $93,000, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded bad debt expense (net of recoveries) of approximately $59,000 and $146,000, respectively.

Inventories

Inventory consists primarily of propane, diesel fuel and chemicals that are used in the servicing of oil wells and is carried at the lower of cost or market in accordance with the first in, first out method (FIFO). The Company periodically reviews the value of items in inventory and provides write-downs or write-offs, of inventory based on its assessment of market conditions. Write-downs and write-offs are charged to cost of goods sold. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, no amounts were expensed for write-downs and write-offs.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consists of (1) trucks, trailers and pickups; (2) water transfer pumps, pipe, lay flat hose, trailers, and other support equipment; (3) real property which includes land and buildings used for office and shop facilities and wells used for the disposal of water; and (4) other equipment such as tools used for maintaining and repairing vehicles, office furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. The Company capitalizes interest on certain qualifying assets that are undergoing activities to prepare them for their intended use. Interest costs incurred during the fabrication period are capitalized and amortized over the life of the assets. The Company charges repairs and maintenance against income when incurred and capitalizes renewals and betterments, which extend the remaining useful life, expand the capacity or efficiency of the assets. Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of 5 to 30 years.

Any difference between net book value of the property and equipment and the proceeds of an assets’ sale or settlement of an insurance claim is recorded as a gain or loss in the Company’s earnings.

Leases

The Company conducts a major part of its operations from leased facilities. Each of these leases is accounted for as an operating lease. Normally, the Company records rental expense on its operating leases over the lease term as it becomes payable. If rental payments are not made on a straight-line basis, per terms of the agreement, the Company records a deferred rent expense and recognizes the rental expense on a straight-line basis throughout the lease term. The majority of the Company’s facility leases contain renewal clauses and expire through June 2022. In most cases, management expects that in the normal course of business, leases will be renewed or replaced by other leases. The Company amortizes leasehold improvements over the shorter of the life of the lease or the life of the improvements.

The Company has leased equipment in the normal course of business, which are recorded as operating leases. The Company recorded rental expense on equipment under operating leases over the lease term as it becomes payable; there were no rent escalation terms associated with these equipment leases. The equipment leases contain purchase options that allow the Company to purchase the leased equipment at the end of the lease term, based on the market price of the equipment at the time of the lease termination. There are no significant equipment leases outstanding as of September 30, 2017.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered. The Company reviews both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the business during the analysis of impairment. During the quantitative review, the Company reviews the undiscounted future cash flows in its assessment of whether or not long-lived assets have been impaired. No impairments were recorded during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when evidence of an arrangement exists, the fee is fixed or determinable, services are provided, and collection is reasonably assured.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the diluted weighted average number of common shares. The diluted weighted average number of common shares is computed using the treasury stock method for common stock that may be issued for outstanding stock options and warrants.

As of September 30, 2017 and 2016, there were outstanding stock options and warrants to acquire an aggregate of 6,850,670 and 4,490,669 shares of Company common stock, respectively, which have a potentially dilutive impact on earnings per share. As of September 30, 2017, the aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding stock options and warrants was approximately $1.0 million. Dilution is not permitted if there are net losses during the period. As such, the Company does not show dilutive earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

Loan Fees and Other Deferred Costs

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into loan agreements and amendments thereto with its primary lending institutions. The majority of these lending agreements and amendments require origination fees and other fees in the course of executing the agreements. For all costs associated with the execution of the lending agreements, the Company recognizes these as capitalized costs and amortizes these costs over the term of the loan agreement. All other costs not associated with the execution of the loan agreements are expensed as incurred. As of September 30, 2017, we had approximately $230,000 in unamortized loan fees and other deferred costs associated with the 2017 Credit Agreement, which we expect to charge to expense ratably over the three-year term of that agreement. 

Income Taxes 

The Company recognizes deferred tax liabilities and assets based on the differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities will be recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A deferred tax asset or liability that is not related to an asset or liability for financial reporting is classified according to the expected reversal date.  The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that it believes is more likely than not to be realized.

The Company accounts for any uncertainty in income taxes by recognizing the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if, in the Company’s opinion, it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company measures the tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. The application of income tax law is inherently complex. Laws and regulations in this area are voluminous and are often ambiguous.  As such, the Company is required to make many subjective assumptions and judgments regarding income tax exposures. Interpretations of and guidance surrounding income tax law and regulations change over time and may result in changes to the Company’s subjective assumptions and judgments which can materially affect amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income. The result of the reassessment of the Company’s tax positions did not have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Interest and penalties associated with tax positions are recorded in the period assessed as general and administrative expenses. The Company files tax returns in the United States and in the states in which it conducts its business operations. The tax years 2012 through 2016 remain open to examination in the taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.

Fair Value

The Company follows authoritative guidance that applies to all financial assets and liabilities required to be measured and reported on a fair value basis. The Company also applies the guidance to non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, including non-competition agreements and goodwill. The guidance defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  The guidance 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 that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. The Company did not change its valuation techniques nor were there any transfers between hierarchy levels during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The financial and nonfinancial assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of the inputs as follows:

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the date of grant, based on the calculated fair value of the award as described below, and is recognized over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the equity grant.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes pricing model as a method for determining the estimated grant date fair value for all stock options awarded to employees, independent contractors, officers, and directors. The expected term of the options is based upon evaluation of historical and expected further exercise behavior. The risk-free interest rate is based upon U.S. Treasury rates at the date of grant with maturity dates approximately equal to the expected life of the grant. Volatility is determined upon historical volatility of our stock and adjusted if future volatility is expected to vary from historical experience. The dividend yield is assumed to be none as we have not paid dividends nor do we anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.

The Company also uses the Black-Scholes valuation model to determine the fair value of warrants. Expected volatility is based upon the weighted average of historical volatility over the contractual term of the warrant and implied volatility. The risk-free interest rate is based upon implied yield on a U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issue with a remaining term equal to the contractual term of the warrants. The dividend yield is assumed to be none.

Management Estimates 

The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include the realization of accounts receivable, stock based compensation expense, income tax provision, the valuation of derivative financial instruments (warrants and interest rate swaps), and the valuation of deferred taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain prior-period amounts have been reclassified for comparative purposes to conform to the fiscal 2017 presentation. These reclassifications have no effect on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations.

Accounting Pronouncements 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In August 2015 the FASB agreed to defer the effective date by one year, the new standard becomes effective for us on January 1, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently determining the impact of the new standard on revenue from the services we provide. Our approach includes performing a detailed review of key contracts representative of our different subsidiary businesses and comparing historical accounting policies and practices to the new standard. Our services are primarily short-term in nature, and generally revenue is recognized at a point in time when services are completed. Our assessment is that for the significant majority of our revenue, we do not expect the new revenue recognition standard will have a material impact on our financial statements upon adoption. However, from time to time we enter into service contracts with certain of our customers whereby revenue is earned over a period of time. We anticipate that with the adoption of ASU 2014-09, we will be required to disclose these various revenue streams on a disaggregated basis and provide disclosure detailing our considerations with regard to revenue recognized under service contracts.  We currently intend to adopt the new standard as of January 1, 2018.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842)”, which requires a lessee to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. We continue to evaluate the impact of this new standard on our consolidated financial statements. Once adopted, the Company expects to recognize additional assets and liabilities on its consolidated balance sheet related to operating leases with terms longer than one year.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) (ASU 2016-15)”, that clarifies how entities should classify certain cash receipts and cash payments on the statement of cash flows. The guidance also clarifies how the predominance principle should be applied when cash receipts and cash payments have aspects of more than one class of cash flows. The guidance will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect of ASU 2016-15 on its consolidated financial statements.

Recently Adopted

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09 “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718)”, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payments, including immediate recognition of all excess tax benefits and deficiencies in the income statement, changing the threshold to qualify for equity classification up to the employees' maximum statutory tax rates, allowing an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur, and clarifying the classification on the statement of cash flows for the excess tax benefit and employee taxes paid when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Note 4 - Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consists of the following:

Note 5 – Revolving Credit Facilities

PNC Revolving Credit Facility

In September 2014, we entered into an Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (the "2014 Credit Agreement") with PNC Bank, National Association ("PNC") which provided for a five-year $30 million senior secured revolving credit facility. Under the 2014 Credit Agreement, there were no required principal payments until maturity and we had the option to pay variable interest rate based on (i) 1, 2 or 3 month LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 4.50% to 5.50% for LIBOR Rate Loans or (ii) interest at PNC Base Rate plus an applicable margin of 3.00% to 4.00% for Domestic Rate Loans. Interest was calculated monthly and added to the principal balance of the loan.

On March 31, 2017, we entered into the Tenth Amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement with PNC Bank that among other things (i) required us to raise $1.5 million in subordinated debt or post a letter of credit in favor of PNC by March 31, 2017; (ii) raise an additional $1 million of subordinated debt by May 15, 2017; (iii) reduced the maturity date of the loan from September 12, 2019 to April 30, 2018; (iv) changed the definition of Adjusted EBITDA to include proceeds from subordinated debt; and (v) changed the calculation of fixed charge and leverage ratio from a trailing four-quarter basis to a quarterly build from the quarter ended December 31, 2016. On March 31, 2017, our largest shareholder, Cross River Partners, L.P. ("Cross River"), whose general partner's managing member is the chairman of our Board of Directors, posted a letter of credit in the amount of $1.5 million in accordance with the terms of the Tenth Amendment. The letter of credit was converted into subordinated debt with a maturity date of June 28, 2022 with a stated interest rate of 10% per annum and a five-year warrant to purchase 967,741 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $.31 per share. On May 10, 2017, Cross River also provided $1.0 million in subordinated debt to us as required under the terms of our Tenth Amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement. This subordinated debt has a stated annual interest rate of 10% and maturity date of June 28, 2022. In connection with this issuance of subordinated debt, Cross River was granted a five-year warrant to purchase 645,161 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.31 per share. We accounted for the warrants issued in connection with the subordinated debt as a liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2017.

As of December 31, 2016, we had an outstanding principal loan balance under the 2014 Credit Agreement of $23.2 million. The interest rate at December 31, 2016 ranged from 5.21% to 5.27% per year for the $21.3 million of outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans and 6.75% per year for the $1.9 million of outstanding Domestic Rate Loans. As of December 31, 2016, approximately $4.5 million was available under the 2014 Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2016, we were in compliance with our covenants under the 2014 Credit Agreement.

Debt Issuance Costs

We have capitalized certain debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the credit agreements discussed above and these costs are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the facility on a straight-line basis. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, approximately $230,000 and $171,000, respectively, of unamortized debt issuance costs were included in Other Assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we amortized approximately $135,000 and $427,000 of these costs, which is included within Interest Expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we amortized approximately $39,000 and $114,000 of these costs, respectively.

Upon the acceleration of the maturity date upon entering into the Tenth Amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement, and subsequently upon our repayment of the 2014 Credit Agreement on August 10, 2017, we accelerated the amortization of approximately $110,000 and $317,000 of debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the 2014 Credit Agreement, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. 

Interest Rate Swap

On September 17, 2015, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with PNC in order to hedge against the variability in cash flows from future interest payments related to the 2014 Credit Agreement. The terms of the interest rate swap agreement included an initial notional amount of $10.0 million, a fixed payment rate of 1.88% plus applicable a margin ranging from 4.50% to 5.50% paid by us and a floating payment rate equal to LIBOR plus applicable margin of 4.50% to 5.50% paid by PNC. The purpose of the swap agreement was to adjust the interest rate profile of our debt obligations and to achieve a targeted mix of floating and fixed rate debt.

In connection with the termination of the 2014 Credit Agreement, on August 10, 2017, we terminated the interest rate swap agreement with PNC. Our cost to terminate the agreement was approximately $90,000, which compared to our estimate of the fair value of the swap prior to the termination of approximately $72,000. We recorded the difference of approximately $18,000 as additional interest expense during the three months ended September 30, 2017.

Note 6 – Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt (excluding borrowings under our 2017 Credit Agreement described in Note 5) consists of the following:

Aggregate maturities of debt, (excluding borrowings under our 2017 Credit Agreement described in Note 5), are as follows:

Note 7 – Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy:

The Company's warrant liability was valued as a derivative instrument at issuance and at September 30, 2017 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, using observable market inputs and management judgment based on the following assumptions: a risk-free interest rate of 1.62%, expected dividend yield of 0%, a term of 2.4 years, and a volatility of 100.10%. The valuation policies used are approved by the Chief Financial Officer who reviews and approves the inputs used in the fair value calculations and the changes in fair value measurements from period to period for reasonableness. Fair value measurements are discussed with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, as deemed appropriate.

The Company’s interest rate swap is valued using models which require a variety of inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, credit spreads, and correlations of such inputs. Some of the model inputs used in valuing the derivative instruments trade in liquid markets, and therefore the derivative instrument is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. For applicable financial assets carried at fair value, the credit standing of the counterparties is analyzed and factored into the fair value measurement of those assets. The fair value estimates of our derivative financial instruments do not reflect their actual trading value.

The change in the fair value of the warrant liability resulted in a charge to earnings of approximately $280,000 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, and is included within Other (expense) income in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. 

Note 8 – Income Taxes

Income tax expense during interim periods is based on applying an estimated annual effective income tax rate to year-to-date income, plus any significant unusual or infrequently occurring items which are recorded in the interim period.  The provision for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 differs from the amount that would be provided by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 34% to pre-tax income primarily because of state income taxes and estimated permanent differences.

The computation of the annual estimated effective tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and significant judgment including, but not limited to, the expected operating income for the year, projections of the proportion of income earned and taxed in various jurisdictions, permanent and temporary differences, and the likelihood of recovering deferred tax assets generated in the current year.  The accounting estimates used to compute the provision for income taxes may change as new events occur, more experience is obtained, additional information becomes known or as the tax environment changes.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded net income tax benefit of $1.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively, primarily due to our net operating losses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had recorded a deferred tax asset, net, of approximately $2.0 million. 

Note 9 – Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

As of September 30, 2017, the Company leases facilities and certain equipment under lease commitments that expire through August 2022. Future minimum lease commitments for these operating lease commitments are as follows:

Rent expense under operating leases, including month-to-month leases, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 were approximately $185,000 and $589,000, respectively. Rent expense under operating leases, including month-to-month leases, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $188,000 and $591,000 respectively.

HydroFLOW Agreement

             Pursuant to a Sales Agreement with HydroFLOW USA, HWWM has the exclusive right to sell or rent patented hydropath devices in connection with bacteria deactivation and scale treatment services for treating injection and disposal wells, fracking water and recycled water in the oil and gas industry to HWWM customers in the United States. Pursuant to the sales agreement, HWWM is required to pay 3.5% royalties of its gross revenues on certain rental transactions and, in order to maintain the exclusivity provision under the agreement, the Company is required to purchase approximately $655,000 of equipment per year commencing in 2016 and ending 2025. In November 2016, the Company and HydroFLOW USA agreed to allocate $220,000 of the 2016 commitment to 2017, thereby increasing the minimum purchase requirement for 2017 to $875,000. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company completed the purchase of $280,000 of equipment to fulfill its 2016 purchase commitment for exclusivity. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not accrue or pay any royalties to HydroFLOW. The Company has negotiated a release of all 2016 and 2017 purchase commitments, while leaving intact the exclusive right to sell or rent the patented hydropath devices through 2017. 

Self-Insurance

In June 2015, the Company became self-insured under its Employee Group Medical Plan, and currently is responsible to pay the first $50,000 in medical costs per individual participant. The Company had an accrued liability of approximately $55,000 and $23,000 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, for insurance claims that it anticipates paying in the future related to claims that occurred prior to quarter end.

Effective April 1, 2015, the Company entered into a workers’ compensation and employer’s liability insurance policy with a term through March 31, 2018. Under the terms of the policy, the Company is required to pay premiums in addition to a portion of the cost of any claims made by our employees, up to a maximum of approximately $1.5 million over the term of the policy. In June, 2017, an employee of one of our subsidiaries sustained bodily injury while in the course of employment, and the projected cost of the claim exceeded the amount we had previously paid in under the policy. As a result, during the three months ended September 30, 2017, we made a payment of approximately $612,000 under the terms of the policy. The amount was based on an estimate of the total cost of the claim, including costs that, as of September 30, 2017, have not yet been paid in connection with the claim. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, our insurance carrier formally denied the workers' compensation claim and is moving to close the claim entirely. As a result, during the three months ended September 30, 2017, we reversed an accrual we had recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2017, based on our estimate of the expected total cost of the insurance plan. We recorded approximately $572,000 in payments made under the plan as a long-term asset, which we expect will either be recorded as expense or refunded to us by our insurance carrier, depending on the outcome of the claim described above and any additional claims incurred under the policy. Per the terms of our policy, through September 30, 2017, we had paid in approximately $1.4 million of the projected maximum plan cost of $1.5 million. As of September 30, 2017, we estimate that our maximum continued exposure to this and other workers' compensation claims through the term of our policy and additional policy premiums is approximately $162,000.

Litigation

The Company and our subsidiary Heat Waves Hot Oil Service LLC (“Heat Waves”) are defendants in a civil lawsuit in federal court in Colorado, Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-00983-RBJ (“Colorado Case”), that alleges that Enservco and Heat Waves, in offering and selling frac water heating services, infringed and induced others to infringe two patents owned by Heat-On-The-Fly, LLC (“HOTF”). The complaint relates to only a portion of the frac water heating services provided by Heat Waves. The Colorado Case is now stayed pending resolution of appeal by HOTF of a North Dakota court’s ruling that the primary patent (“the ‘993 Patent”) in the Colorado Case was invalid. Neither Enservco nor Heat Waves is a party to the North Dakota Case, which involves other energy companies.

The ‘993 Patent has undergone several reexaminations by the USPTO and in February 2015, the USPTO rejected all 99 claims of the ‘993 Patent in the latest reexamination.  However, in May 2016, the USPTO reversed its decision and confirmed all 99 claims as being patentable over the cited prior art in the reexamination proceeding. Further, in September 2016 and February 2017, HOTF was issued two additional patents, both of which could be asserted against the Company. Management believes that final findings of invalidity and/or unenforceability of the ‘993 Patent based on inequitable conduct could serve as a basis to affect the validity and/or enforceability of each of HOTF’s patents. If these Patents are ultimately held to be invalid and/or enforceable, the Colorado Case would become moot.

In the event that HOTF’s appeal is successful and the ‘993 Patent is found to be valid and/or enforceable in the North Dakota Case, the Colorado Case may resume. To the extent that Enservco and Heat Waves are unsuccessful in their defense of the Colorado Case, they could be liable for enhanced damages/attorneys’ fees (both of which may be significant) and Heat Waves could possibly be enjoined from using any technology that is determined to be infringing. Either result could negatively impact Heat Waves’ business and operations. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of this case, and accordingly has not recorded an accrual for any potential loss.

Note 10 – Stockholders’ Equity

Warrants

In conjunction with a private placement transaction and subordinated debt conversion in November 2012, the Company granted warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, exercisable at $0.55 per share for a five year term. Each of the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis. The warrants also provide that subject to various conditions, the holders have piggy-back registration rights with respect to the shares of common stock that may be acquired upon the exercise of the warrants. As of September 30, 2017, 150,001 of these warrants remain outstanding.

In June 2016, the Company granted a principal of the Company’s existing investor relations firm warrants to acquire 30,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with a reduction of the firm's ongoing monthly cash service fees. The warrants had a grant-date fair value of $0.36 per share and vest over a one year period, 15,000 on December 21, 2016 and 15,000 on June 21, 2017. As of September 30, 2017, 30,000 of these warrants remain outstanding.

In June 2017, in connection with a subordinated loan agreement described in more detail in Note 5, the Company granted Cross River two five-year warrants to buy an aggregate total of 1,612,902 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.31 per share, the average closing price of the Company’s common stock for the 20 day period ended May 11, 2017. The warrants had a grant-date fair value of $0.19 per share and vested in full on June 28, 2017. These warrants are accounted for as a liability in the accompanying balance sheet. As of September 30, 2017, all of these warrants remain outstanding.

A summary of warrant activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 is as follows:

Stock Issued for Services

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company issued 3,031 shares of common stock to a consultant as partial compensation for services provided to the Company. The shares were granted under the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan and were fully vested and unrestricted at the time of issuance. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recorded $1,700 of consulting expense for these services.

Note 11 – Stock Options

Stock Option Plans

On July 27, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”). The aggregate number of shares of common stock that could be granted under the 2010 Plan was reset at the beginning of each year based on 15% of the number of shares of common stock then outstanding. As such, on January 1, 2016 the number of shares of common stock available under the 2010 Plan was reset to 5,719,069 shares based upon 38,127,129 shares outstanding on that date. Options were typically granted with an exercise price equal to the estimated fair value of the Company's common stock at the date of grant with a vesting schedule of one to three years and a contractual term of 5 years. As discussed below, the 2010 Plan has been replaced by a new stock option plan and no additional stock option grants will be granted under the 2010 Plan. As of September 30, 2017, there were options to purchase 1,501,167 shares outstanding under the 2010 Plan.

On July 18, 2016, the Board of Directors unanimously approved the adoption of the Enservco Corporation 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), which was approved by the stockholders on September 29, 2016. The aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be granted under the 2016 Plan is 8,000,000 shares plus authorized and unissued shares from the 2010 Plan totaling 2,391,711 for a total reserve of 10,391,711 shares. As of September 30, 2017, there were options to purchase 3,556,600 shares outstanding under the 2016 Plan.

A summary of the range of assumptions used to value stock options granted for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company granted options to acquire 2,971,600 shares of common stock with a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $0.19 per share. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, no options were exercised. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company granted options to acquire 3,525,000 shares of common stock with a weighted-average grant-date fair value of $0.28 per share. On July 18, 2016, the Company cancelled 875,000 of these stock option grants pursuant to letter agreements between the Company and option holders. The Company subsequently granted 875,000 New Options under the 2016 Plan.

The following is a summary of stock option activity for all equity plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total intrinsic value (the difference between the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock on September 30, 2017, and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had they exercised their options on September 30, 2017.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized stock-based compensation costs for stock options of approximately $126,000 and $572,000 respectively, in general and administrative expenses. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized stock-based compensation costs for stock options of approximately $176,000 and $494,000, respectively, in general and administrative expenses. The Company currently expects all outstanding options to vest. Compensation cost is revised if subsequent information indicates that the actual number of options vested due to service is likely to differ from previous estimates.

A summary of the status of non-vested shares underlying the options are presented below:

As of September 30, 2017, there was approximately $690,000 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested shares under the Company’s stock option plans which will be recognized over the remaining weighted-average period of 1.67 years.

Note 12- Segment Reporting

Enservco’s reportable business segments are Well Enhancement Services, Water Transfer Services, Water Hauling Services, and Construction Services. These segments have been selected based on changes in management’s resource allocation and performance assessment in making decisions regarding the Company.

The following is a description of the segments.

Well Enhancement Services: This segment utilizes a fleet of frac water heating units, hot oil trucks and acidizing units to provide well enhancement and completion services to the domestic oil and gas industry. These services include frac water heating, hot oil services, pressure testing, and acidizing services.

Water Transfer Services: This segment utilizes high and low volume pumps, lay flat hose, aluminum pipe and manifolds and related equipment to move fresh and/or recycled water from a water source such as a pond, lake, river, stream, or water storage facility to frac tanks at drilling locations to be used in connection with well completion activities. Also included in this segment are water treatment services whereby the Company uses patented hydropath technology under a sales agreement with HydroFLOW USA to remove bacteria and scale from water.

Water Hauling Services: This segment utilizes a fleet of trucks and related assets, including specialized tank trucks, vacuum trailers, storage tanks, and disposal facilities to provide various water hauling services. These services are primarily provided by Dillco in the Hugoton Field in Kansas.

Construction Services: This segment utilizes a fleet of trucks and equipment to provide excavation grading, and dirt hauling services to the oil and gas and construction industry. In 2016, the Company started utilizing these assets to provide dirt hauling services to a general contractor in Colorado.

Unallocated and other includes general overhead expenses and assets associated with managing all reportable operating segments which have not been allocated to a specific segment.

The following tables set forth certain financial information with respect to Enservco’s reportable segments:

The following table reconciles the segment profits reported above to the loss from operations reported in the consolidated statements of operations:

ITEM 2.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion provides information regarding the results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and our financial condition, liquidity and capital resources as of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016. The financial statements and the notes thereto contain detailed information that should be referred to in conjunction with this discussion.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information discussed in this Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein concerning, among other things, planned capital expenditures, future cash flows and borrowings, pursuit of potential acquisition opportunities, our financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “may,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “achievable,” “anticipate,” “will,” “continue,” “potential,” “should,” “could,” and similar terms and phrases. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Our results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, among others:      

Finally, our future results will depend upon various other risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those detailed in our filings with the SEC. For additional information regarding risks and uncertainties, please read our filings with the SEC under the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Other than as required under securities laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise.

OVERVIEW

The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides the following services to the domestic onshore oil and natural gas industry – (i) frac water heating, hot oiling and acidizing (well enhancement services); (ii) water transfer and water treatment services (water transfer services); (iii) water hauling, fluid disposal, frac tank rental (water hauling services); and, (iv) dirt excavating and dirt hauling (construction services). The Company owns and operates through its subsidiaries a fleet of more than 650 specialized trucks, trailers, frac tanks and other well-site related equipment and serves customers in several major domestic oil and gas areas including the DJ Basin/Niobrara area in Colorado, the Bakken area in North Dakota, the Marcellus and Utica Shale areas in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Jonah area, Green River and Powder River Basins in Wyoming, the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas and the Mississippi Lime and Hugoton areas in Kansas and Oklahoma.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Executive Summary

The nine months ended September 30, 2017 brought several positive developments.  Overall demand for our services increased due to improved industry conditions and cooler temperatures in several of our heating markets compared to the same period in 2016.  In addition, we added three major customers that expanded our frac water heating business and helped to offset warm weather in the Marcellus/Utica shale market during the winter of 2016-2017.  Also, we continued to grow and expand our water transfer business.  We acquired these assets in January 2016 and due to the dramatic drop in crude oil prices in early 2016, we were not able to generate any water transfer business until late in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased $8.7 million, or 48%, from the comparable period last year due to a 70% increase in our core well enhancement revenue.  Higher frac water heating revenues in our Rocky Mountain region, improved demand for hot oil services in the Bakken, and continued expansion of hot oiling and acidizing services in the Eagle Ford all contributed to the increase in well enhancement revenues.  Water transfer revenues were approximately $1.8 million higher than the comparable period last year due to continued expansion of services.

Segment losses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 improved by approximately $198,000, to a loss of approximately $260,000 from a loss of approximately $458,000 in the comparable period in 2016 due to improved results from our well enhancement services and the results from our water transfer segment. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2017, segment profits increased by $3.5 million, due primarily to an increase in revenue from our core well enhancement services. General & administrative expenses, excluding severance and transition costs, increased by approximately $528,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, due primarily to an increase in personnel costs at the corporate level. Severance and transition costs related to the resignation of the Company’s former President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of approximately $784,000 were incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.  Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased $383,000 from the first nine months of 2016 primarily due to $327,000 of accelerated amortization of debt issuance costs related to reduction in term and extinguishment of the credit facility provided by PNC, and due to an increase in borrowing costs due to the higher weighted-average interest rate paid on borrowings with PNC and other lenders, partially offset by savings related to the lower interest rate on our new credit facility provided by East West Bank, which we closed on August 10, 2017.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized a net loss of approximately $5.0 million or ($0.10) per share compared to a net loss of $5.8 million or ($0.15) per share last year primarily due to the aforementioned increase in higher margin well enhancement revenues.

Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was a loss of approximately $1.3 million, compared to a loss of approximately $1.2 million for the comparable period in 2016. Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was approximately $959,000 compared to a loss of $2.1 million for the comparable period in 2016. For further details regarding the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA see Adjusted EBITDA section below.

Industry Overview

During 2015 and 2016, a majority of our customers scaled back drilling and completion programs, required substantial concessions from service vendors, and reduced or delayed certain maintenance-related work to preserve capital. Certain of these customers also shifted capital resources to basins where we do not have established operations. Further, the overall reduction in service activity resulted in same amount of service vendors pursuing fewer jobs which put even further downward pressure on the pricing of services. Some competitors responded by pricing work at what we believe to be negative margins. Although the Company has been able to partially mitigate the impact of the operating environment by deploying resources to more active customers and basins, our revenue growth and operating margins were significantly negatively impacted by reduced overall demand for our services, required pricing concessions and delays in requiring the services we provide. 

Crude prices and the North American rig count have increased since the low points in February 2016 and May 2016, respectively, signaling that the industry downturn may have stabilized. The United States rig count bottomed out at approximately 400 in the spring of 2016 and has increased to approximately 940 as of September 30, 2017, which translated into increased activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016. However, the growth in the rig count is overweighted to the Permian Basin. We started to see an increase in completion and production maintenance service activity towards the end of the fourth quarter of 2016, due to some stabilization of commodity prices and the oil and gas industry overall.  We believe this industry turnaround has contributed to an increase in demand for service activity compared to 2016.

Segment Overview

Enservco’s reportable business segments are Well Enhancement Services, Water Transfer Services, Water Hauling Services, and Construction Services. These segments have been selected based on changes in management’s resource allocation and performance assessment in making decisions regarding the Company.

The following is a description of the segments:

Well Enhancement Services: This segment utilizes a fleet of frac water heating units, hot oil trucks and acidizing units to provide well enhancement and completion services to the domestic oil and gas industry. These services include frac water heating, hot oil services, pressure testing, and acidizing services.

Water Transfer Services: This segment utilizes high and low volume pumps, lay flat hose, aluminum pipe and manifolds and related equipment to move fresh and/or recycled water from a water source such as a pond, lake, river, stream, or water storage facility to frac tanks at drilling locations to be used in connection with well completion activities. Also included in this segment are water treatment services whereby to remove bacteria and scale from water, the Company uses patented hydropath technology under an agreement with HydroFLOW USA.

Water Hauling Services: This segment utilizes a fleet of trucks and related assets, including specialized tank trucks, vacuum trailers, storage tanks, and disposal facilities to provide various water hauling services. These services are primarily provided by Dillco in the Hugoton area in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Construction Services: This segment utilizes a fleet of trucks and equipment to provide supplementary construction and roustabout services to the oil and gas and construction industry. In 2016, the Company started utilizing this fleet of equipment to provide dirt hauling services to a general construction contractor in Colorado.

Segment Results:

The following tables set forth revenue from operations and segment profits for the Company’s business segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

Well Enhancement Services

Well Enhancement Services, which accounted for 70% of total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017, increased $973,000, or 32%, to $4.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Well Enhancement Services accounted for 82% of total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, increased $9.0 million, or 70%, compared to the same period in 2016. Increased demand for services due to improved industry conditions, the addition of three major customers in our frac water heating business, more normal winter temperatures, and an extended heating season in our heating markets all contributed to the increase in revenues over last year.

Frac water heating revenues, which are typically very low in the third quarter, increased for the three months ended September 30, 2017 by $57,000, or 67%, from the comparable period in 2016. Frac water heating revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, increased by $6.1 million, or 134% compared to the same period in 2016. Improved industry conditions including relatively stable commodity prices and increased drilling rig activity has increased demand for our services since December 2016. Further, the addition of three additional customers in the Rocky Mountain region also contributed to a substantial increase in frac water heating in this area. Warm winter temperatures in the Northeast for the second consecutive heating season continued to negatively impact frac water heating in the Marcellus/Utica Shale market, which was down significantly during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016.

Hot oil revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased approximately $610,000, or 34%, compared to the same period in 2016, and increased approximately $1.6 million, or 26%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016. Incremental hot oil service revenues from our geographic expansion into the Eagle Ford combined with increased revenues in the DJ Basin and North Dakota due to improved commodity prices were the primary reasons for the increase over last year.

Acidizing revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017 decreased by approximately  $264,000, or 25%, due in part to a slowdown due to Hurricane Harvey in Texas in August and into September. Acidizing revenues increased approximately $414,000, or 26%, over the comparable period in 2016, primarily due to incremental acidizing revenues from our geographic expansion into the Eagle Ford.

Segment profits for our core well enhancement services decreased by $173,000, to a loss of $129,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to a segment profit of approximately $44,000 in the same period in 2016, due primarily to the seasonality of our frac heating services and the ramp up of our employee base and maintenance work performed in advance of the historically busier fourth and first quarters. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, segment profits increased by approximately $2.8 million, or 131%, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Increased revenues from the aforementioned more normal winter temperatures, the extension of heating season into the second quarter, the rebound of oil prices, and addition of new customers contributed to the improved segment profits. In the near future, the Company plans to continue to re-deploy equipment to more active basins to increase utilization and improve this segment’s profits.

Water Transfer Services:

Water Transfer Services, which accounted for 14% of total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017, increased to $798,000, compared to no revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, Water Transfer Services accounted for 7% of total revenue, and increased by $1.8 million, to $1.9 million, due to the incremental revenues from four new customers during 2017. The Company is scheduled for additional water transfer projects through the end of 2017. We consider the water transfer services segment to be an opportunity to grow our business with both new and existing customers and believe it offers opportunity to reduce the level of seasonality we have historically experienced. Segment results for the water transfer segment in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 include approximately $68,000 and $226,000 of marketing and trial costs related to the HydroFLOW water treatment services, respectively.

Water Transfer segment losses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were approximately $25,000, compared to a loss of $254,000 for the comparable period in 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we realized segment losses of $258,000, compared to losses of $1.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

The Company continues to market and conduct proof of concept studies for the new water treatment technology utilized in devices sold under the name of HydroFLOW. HydroFLOW products offer water treatment services based on patented hydropath technology that can remove bacteria and scale from water using electrical induction to reduce or eliminate down-hole scaling and corrosion. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized revenues of $10,000 related to HydroFLOW products.

Water Hauling Services

Water hauling service revenues, which represent 16% of revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017, decreased approximately $7,000, or 1%, during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the comparable period in 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, water hauling service revenues decreased approximately $245,000, or 8%, primarily due to cessation of certain low margin accounts and reduced service activity in our Central USA region due to heavy rains during February.

The Company recorded a segment profit of approximately $110,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to segment profit of approximately $21,000 for the comparable period in 2016. The segment loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 of approximately $229,000 compares to a segment profit of approximately $4,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Segment results for the three months ended September 30, 2017 include the reversal of a $250,000 accrual recorded during our second quarter for costs related to a workers' compensation claim related to an injury sustained by an employee in our water hauling subsidiary, due to updated information related to the claim. Our accounting for the claim and workers compensation insurance policy costs are described in more detail in Note 9 to our financial statements included in “Item 1. Financial Statements” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Construction Services:

In May 2016, the Company began to provide dirt excavation and hauling services to general contractors in the construction industry to offset some of the seasonal decline in revenues from our frac heating business and to utilize and retain key frac heating operators over the summer months. The Company used some of its existing construction equipment in both Heat Waves and Dillco to launch this service.

For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company did not record construction service revenue or costs, as we focused our efforts and workforce on core areas of our business. We recorded revenues of $1.5 million and a segment loss of $97,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized approximately $254,000 in construction services revenues, compared to approximately $2.1 million during the comparable period in 2016. The revenues recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 primarily resulted from one large dirt hauling project that concluded in 2016. The Company has utilized the construction segment to retain employees during slow periods.

Unallocated and Other:

Unallocated and other costs include costs which are not specifically allocated to the business segments above including labor, travel, and operating costs for regional managers and sales personnel that sell services for various segments.

During the three months ended September 30, 2017, unallocated segment costs increased by $45,000, or 26%, to approximately $217,000 compared to $172,000 for the comparable period in 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, unallocated segment costs increased by $125,000, or 24%, to $645,000, primarily due to an increase in personnel costs.

Geographic Areas:

The Company operates solely in the United States, in what it believes are three geographically diverse regions. The following table sets forth revenue from operations for the Company’s three geographic regions during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

Notes to tables:

Revenues in the Rocky Mountain Region decreased approximately $35,000, or 1%, to $2.8 million. While total revenue in each period was comparable, revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2016 included approximately $1.5 million of low margin construction services revenues. Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017, is comprised of well enhancement services and water transfer services.  Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased $8.2 million, or 83%, to $18.0 million, compared to $9.8 million during the same period in 2016 due to several factors including (i) increased frac water heating activity in the DJ Basin/Niobrara Shale, Bakken Field, and Wyoming basins due to more normal winter temperatures and incremental revenues generated from three new customers, (ii) the ramp up of our water transfer business during 2017, and (iii) increased hot oiling service activity in the Bakken Field and DJ Basin.

Revenues in the Central USA region for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased by approximately $88,000, or 3%, to $2.7 million, compared to the same period in 2016. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased by approximately $918,000, or 13%, compared to the same period in 2016, primarily due to incremental revenues from our geographic expansion into the Eagle Ford Shale. This increase was offset by a decline in water hauling activity in the Hugoton field area. Scaled back service work due to heavy rains in February, 2017, price concessions and elimination of certain low margin water hauling customers were the primary reasons for a decline in water hauling business in the Hugoton field area.

Revenues in the Eastern USA region increased approximately $186,000, or 200%, to approximately $279,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased approximately $421,000, or 38%, compared to the same period in 2016, primarily due to lower frac water heating and hot oil service activity in the Marcellus and Utica shale basin. Unseasonably warm weather during the last two heating seasons has significantly reduced demand for heating services in this basin and essentially eliminated most of our frac water heating revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2017. During 2017, the Company redeployed certain frac heating equipment to other regions to increase utilization rates.

Historical Seasonality of Revenues:

Because of the seasonality of our frac water heating and hot oiling business, revenues generated during the first and fourth quarters of our fiscal year, covering the months during our “heating season”, are significantly higher than our revenues during the second and third quarters of our fiscal year. In addition, the revenue mix of our service offerings also changes outside our heating season as our Well Enhancement services (which includes frac water heating and hot oiling) may decrease as a percentage of total revenues and Water Hauling services and other services increase. Thus, the revenues recognized in our quarterly financial statements in any given period are not indicative of the annual or quarterly revenues through the remainder of that fiscal year.

As an indication of this quarter-to-quarter seasonality, the Company generated 72% of its 2016 revenues during the first and fourth quarters of 2016 compared to 28% during the second and third quarters of 2016.

General and Administrative Expenses:

During the three months ended September 30, 2017, general and administrative expenses increased $172,000, or 18%, primarily due to a discretionary bonus payment made in September to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the accrual of potential annual bonuses to company personnel. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, general and administrative expenses increased $528,000, or 18% due to (i) the aforementioned bonus payment and accruals, (ii) an increase in stock compensation expense, including approximately $115,000 in incremental expense due to the accelerated vesting of options granted to our former President and CEO, and (iii) consulting costs and contract labor costs incurred during the executive transition period. 

Patent Litigation and Defense Costs:

Patent litigation and defense costs decreased slightly to $28,000 and $96,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. As discussed in Item 3. – Litigation, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado issued a decision on July 20, 2015 to stay the Company’s case with HOTF pending an appeal of a 2015 judgment by a North Dakota Court invalidating the ‘993 Patent. As a result of the stay, litigation and defense costs have been minimal since July 2015.

Enservco and Heat Waves deny that they are infringing any valid, enforceable claim of the asserted HOTF patents, and intend to continue to vigorously defend themselves in the Colorado Case and challenge the validity and/or enforceability of these patents should the lawsuit resume. The Company expects associated legal fees to be minimal going forward until the Colorado Case is resumed. In the event that HOTF’s appeal is successful and the ‘993 Patent is found to be valid and/or enforceable in the North Dakota Case, the Colorado Case may resume.

Depreciation and Amortization:

Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 increased $15,000, or 1%, from the same period in 2016, due to asset acquisitions subsequent to September 30, 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, depreciation expense decreased by $99,000, or 2%, primarily due to certain of our assets becoming fully depreciated or amortized in 2016 and 2017.

Income (Loss) from operations:

For the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized a loss from operations of $3.1 million compared to a loss from operations of $3.1 million for the comparable period in 2016. The $198,000 improvement in segment profits was offset by increases in G&A costs, severance and transition costs, and a slight increase in depreciation expense discussed above. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized a loss from operations of $5.4 million compared to a loss from operations of $7.7 million in the comparable period in 2016. The improvement of $2.3 million is primarily due to a $3.5 million increase in segment profits, partially offset by the increase in General and Administrative Expenses and Severance and Transition Costs discussed above.

Interest Expense:

Interest expense increased approximately $47,000, or 8%, for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, due to a higher average borrowing balance and borrowing costs incurred in connection with the closing our New Credit Facility and extinguishment of our Prior Credit Facility. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 increased approximately $383,000, or 27%, to $1.8 million compared to $1.4 million during the same period in 2016, primarily due to approximately $327,000 of accelerated amortization expense of debt issuance costs during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 related to reduction in term and extinguishment of our PNC credit facility. In addition, higher amendment fees and increases in our effective interest rate due to amendments to our PNC credit facility also contributed to the increase. These increases were partially offset by a $126,000 reduction in interest expense from last year related to the fair value adjustments on the PNC interest rate swap agreement.

Income Taxes:

Income tax benefit was $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to a tax benefit of $1.3 million in the comparable period in 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recognized an income tax benefit of $2.4 million, compared to an income tax benefit of $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Our effective tax rate was approximately 36% and 33% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and 35% and 34% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Our effective tax benefit in 2017 and 2016 approximates the federal statutory rate of 35%.

Adjusted EBITDA*

Management believes that, for the reasons set forth below, Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) is a valuable measurement of the Company's liquidity and performance and is consistent with the measurements offered by other companies in Enservco's industry.

The following table presents a reconciliation of our net income to our Adjusted EBITDA for each of the periods indicated:

*Note: See below for discussion of the use of non-GAAP financial measurements.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Non-GAAP results are presented only as a supplement to the financial statements and for use within management’s discussion and analysis based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The non-GAAP financial information is provided to enhance the reader's understanding of the Company’s financial performance, but no non-GAAP measure should be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of the most directly comparable GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures are provided herein.

EBITDA is defined as net income (earnings), before interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation from EBITDA and, when appropriate, other items that management does not utilize in assessing the Company’s ongoing operating performance as set forth in the next paragraph. None of these non-GAAP financial measures are recognized terms under GAAP and do not purport to be an alternative to net income as an indicator of operating performance or any other GAAP measure.

All of the items included in the reconciliation from net income to EBITDA and from EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA are either (i) non-cash items (e.g., depreciation, amortization of purchased intangibles, stock-based compensation, warrants issued, etc.) or (ii) items that management does not consider to be useful in assessing the Company’s ongoing operating performance (e.g., income taxes, severance and transition costs related to the executive management team, gain on sale of investments, loss on disposal of assets, patent litigation and defense costs, etc.). In the case of the non-cash items, management believes that investors can better assess the Company’s operating performance if the measures are presented without such items because, unlike cash expenses, these adjustments do not affect the Company’s ability to generate free cash flow or invest in its business.

We use, and we believe investors benefit from the presentation of, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in evaluating our operating performance because it provides us and our investors with an additional tool to compare our operating performance on a consistent basis by removing the impact of certain items that management believes do not directly reflect our core operations. We believe that EBITDA is useful to investors and other external users of our financial statements in evaluating our operating performance because EBITDA is widely used by investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items such as interest expense, taxes, and depreciation and amortization, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods and book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired. Additionally, our fixed charge coverage ratio covenant associated with our 2017 Credit Agreement require the use of Adjusted EBITDA in specific calculations.

Because not all companies use identical calculations, the Company’s presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. However, these measures can still be useful in evaluating the Company’s performance against its peer companies because management believes the measures provide users with valuable insight into key components of GAAP financial disclosures.

Changes in Adjusted EBITDA*

Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2017 declined by approximately $23,000, due primarily to the increase in general and administrative expenses discussed above, partially offset by the increase in revenues and segment profits from well enhancement and water transfer services. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, our Adjusted EBITDA improved by $3.1 million, from a loss of $2.1 million to approximately $959,000 in positive EBITDA, primarily due to the improvement in segment profits discussed above.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity Update

The following table summarizes our statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

The following table sets forth a summary of certain aspects of our balance sheet at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

Overview:

We have relied on cash flow from operations, borrowings under our revolving credit agreements, and equity and debt offerings to satisfy our liquidity needs. Our ability to fund operating cash flow shortfalls, fund capital expenditures, and make acquisitions will depend upon our future operating performance and on the availability of equity and debt financing.  At September 30, 2017, we had approximately $480,000 of cash and cash equivalents and approximately $2.7 million available under our asset-based senior revolving credit facility. Our capital requirements over the next 12 months are anticipated to include, but are not limited to, operating expenses, debt servicing, and capital expenditures including maintenance of our existing fleet of assets. 

As described in more detail in Note 5 to our financial statements included in “Item 1. Financial Statements” of this report, we entered into the 2017 Credit Agreement with East West Bank which provides for a three-year $30 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The 2017 Credit Agreement allows us to borrow up to 85% of our eligible receivables and up to 85% of the appraised value of our eligible equipment. We used initial proceeds of approximately $21.8 million to repay all amounts due pursuant to our Amended and Restated Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (the "2014 Credit Agreement") with PNC Bank, National Association ("PNC"), and pay other closing costs and fees. Upon entering into the 2017 Credit Agreement, we had approximately $4.7 million available under the terms of the agreement.

On March 31, 2017, our largest shareholder, Cross River Partners, L.P., posted a letter of credit in the amount of $1.5 million in accordance with the terms of the Tenth Amendment. The letter of credit was converted into subordinated debt with a maturity date of June 28, 2022 with a stated interest rate of 10% per annum and a five-year warrant to purchase 967,741 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $.31 per share. On May 10, 2017, Cross River Partners, L.P. also provided $1 million in subordinated debt to us as required under the terms of our Tenth Amendment to the 2014 Credit Agreement. This subordinated debt has a stated annual interest rate of 10% and maturity date of June 28, 2022. In connection with this issuance of subordinated debt, Cross River Partners L.P. was granted a five-year warrant to purchase 645,161 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.31 per share. 

Interest Rate Swap

Liquidity:

As of September 30, 2017, our available liquidity was $3.2 million, which was substantially comprised of $2.7 million of availability on the credit facility (subject to a covenant requirement that we maintain $1.5 million of available liquidity) and $480,000 in cash. We utilize the 2017 Credit Facility to fund working capital requirements, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we received net cash proceeds from our various lines of credit of approximately $790,000, and additionally received $1.1 million in non-cash proceeds to fund interest due on the notes.

On August 10, 2017 an initial advance of $21.8 million was made under the New Credit Facility to repay in full all obligations outstanding under the Prior Credit Facility and fees and expenses incurred in connection with the termination of the 2014 Credit Agreement and the origination of the 2017 Credit Agreement. Upon entering the 2017 Credit Agreement and repaying all amounts due pursuant to the 2014 Credit Agreement, we had availability of approximately $4.7 million under the New Credit Facility. 

Working Capital:

As of September 30, 2017, we had negative working capital of approximately $21.1 million compared to positive working capital of $3.0 million as of December 31, 2016, primarily attributable to the presentation of our senior revolving line of credit as a current liability as of September 30, 2017, due to the violation of a loan covenant with respect to our Senior Credit Facility discussed above. Also, as discussed above, we are in negotiations with East West Bank regarding a waiver of the testing of this covenant through December 31, 2017 through an amendment to the 2017 Credit Agreement.

Cash flow from Operating Activities:

For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we used approximately $551,000 in operating activities compared to $1.2 million in cash provided by operating activities during the comparable period in 2016. The decrease was partially attributable to (i) the decrease in cash flows provided by the monetization of accounts receivable during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the comparable period in 2016, (ii) our payment of approximately $612,000 to the provider of our workers' compensation insurance policy in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, and (iii) severance and transition costs paid during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Cash flow from Investing Activities:

Cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was approximately $1.2 million, compared to $4.5 million during the comparable period in 2016, primarily due to the $4.2 million purchase of water transfer assets and patented hydropath technology assets from WET and HIIT in the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The $1.3 million of capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily comprised capital expenditures for maintenance of our existing fleet of assets and for assets acquired pursuant to our agreement with HydroFLOW.

Cash flow from Financing Activities:

Cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $1.6 million compared to $3.3 million in cash provided by financing activities for the comparable period in 2016. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we borrowed a net $790,000 (excluding non-cash advances for interest payments) under our revolving credit facilities and issued subordinated debt of $2.5 million, to fund working capital requirements and invest in our fleet of assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we borrowed a net of approximately $3.5 million under our revolving credit facility capital expenditures, including the $4.2 million purchase of water transfer assets, partially offset by repayments made upon the monetization of accounts receivable.

Outlook:

We believe that the current oil and gas environment provides us an opportunity to optimize our asset base and increase our cash flow through the increase in both the oil prices and oil and gas drilling activities. Our long term goal is to right-size our balance sheet by paying down debt and increasing the utilization rate of our assets. We plan to continue to look for opportunities to expand our business operations through organic growth such as geographic expansion and increasing the volume and scope of services offered to our existing customers as capital permits. We will continue to explore adding high margin services that reduce our seasonality, diversify our service offerings, and maintain a good balance between recurring maintenance work and drilling and completion related services.

Capital Commitments and Obligations:

Our capital obligations as of September 30, 2017 consist primarily of scheduled principal payments under certain term loans and operating leases.  We repaid all amounts due under the 2014 Credit Agreement using proceeds from the 2017 Credit Agreement. We do not have any scheduled principal payments under the 2017 Credit Agreement until August 10, 2020, however, the Company may need to make future principal payments based upon collateral availability. General terms and conditions for amounts due under these commitments and obligations are summarized in the notes to the financial statements.    

Pursuant to a Sales Agreement with HydroFLOW USA, HWWM has the exclusive right to sell or rent patented hydropath devices in connection with bacteria deactivation and scale treatment services for treating injection and disposal wells, fracking water and recycled water in the oil and gas industry to HWWM customers in the United States. Pursuant to the sales agreement, HWWM is required to pay 3.5% royalties of its gross revenues on certain rental transactions and, in order to maintain the exclusivity provision under the agreement, we must purchase approximately $655,000 of equipment per year commencing in 2016 and ending 2025. In November 2016, we and HydroFLOW USA agreed to allocate $220,000 of the 2016 commitment to 2017, thereby increasing the minimum purchase requirement for 2017 to $875,000. During 2017, we purchased $280,000 of equipment to meet our 2016 purchase commitment for exclusivity. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, we did not accrue or pay any royalties to HydroFLOW, however, subsequent to September 30, 2017, we completed our first job using the technology. We have negotiated a release of all 2016 and 2017 purchase commitments, while leaving intact the exclusive right to sell or rent the patented hydropath devices through 2017. 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

As of September 30, 2017, we had no significant off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to our stockholders.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

Our significant accounting policies and estimates have not changed from those reported in Item 7 “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in in our 2016 10-K.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”), as of September 30, 2017, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (our principal financial officer). Based upon and as of the date of that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2017.

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the 1934 Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were not any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated by the SEC under the 1934 Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II

ITEM 1.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Enservco Corporation ("Enservco") and its subsidiary Heat Waves Hot Oil Service LLC (“Heat Waves”) are defendants in a civil lawsuit, Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-00983-RBJ (“Colorado Case”), that alleges that Enservco and Heat Waves, in offering and selling frac water heating services, infringed and induced others to infringe two patents owned by Heat-On-The-Fly, LLC (“HOTF”). The complaint relates to only a portion of the frac water heating services provided by Heat Waves. The Colorado Case is now stayed pending resolution of appeal by HOTF of a North Dakota court’s ruling that the primary patent (“the ‘993 Patent”) in the Colorado Case was invalid. Neither Enservco nor Heat Waves is a party to the North Dakota Case, which involves other energy companies.

The ‘993 Patent has undergone several reexaminations by the USPTO and in February 2015, the USPTO rejected all 99 claims of the ‘993 Patent in the latest reexamination.  However, in May 2016, the USPTO reversed its decision and confirmed all 99 claims as being patentable over the cited prior art in the reexamination proceeding. Further, in September 2016 and February 2017, HOTF was issued two additional patents, both of which could be asserted against us. Management believes that final findings of invalidity and/or unenforceability of the ‘993 Patent based on inequitable conduct could serve as a basis to affect the validity and/or enforceability of each of HOTF’s patents. If these Patents are ultimately held to be invalid and/or enforceable, the Colorado Case would become moot.

As noted above, the Colorado Case has been stayed. However, in the event that HOTF’s appeal is successful and the ‘993 Patent is found to be valid and/or enforceable in the North Dakota Case, the Colorado Case may resume. To the extent that Enservco and Heat Waves are unsuccessful in their defense of the Colorado Case, they could be liable for enhanced damages and attorneys’ fees (both of which may be significant) and Heat Waves could possibly be enjoined from using any technology that is determined to be infringing. Either result could negatively impact Heat Waves’ business and operations. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of this case, and accordingly has not recorded an accrual for any potential loss.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the risk factors in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed on March 31, 2017, the Company is also subject to the following risks:

We are in violation of a loan covenant in our 2017 Credit Agreement and our lender, East West Bank, has the right to immediately declare the outstanding loan balance due and payable, cease making further advances under the loan and exercise other remedies in the event it declares an Event of Default. If East West Bank exercises its option to declare the debt to be immediately due and payable, our ability to continue as a going concern will be materially, negatively affected. We may be unable to meet the obligations of the various financial covenants in that agreement.