NOW Inc. - Quarter Report: 2022 March (Form 10-Q)

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)


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

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2022


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

Commission File Number 001-36325

NOW INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		46-4191184
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

7402 North Eldridge Parkway,

Houston, Texas 77041

(Address of principal executive offices)

(281) 823-4700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01	DNOW	New York Stock Exchange

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

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

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

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

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

As of April 28, 2022, the registrant had 110,708,514 shares of common stock (excluding 1,179,512 unvested restricted shares), par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.

NOW INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Part I - Financial Information

Item 1.	Financial Statements	3

	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2021	3

	Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021	4

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021	5

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021	6

	Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021	7

	Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements	8

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	14

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	24

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	25

Part II - Other Information

Item 6.	Exhibits	26

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

NOW INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except share data)


	March 31, 2022			December 31, 2021
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	293		$	313
Receivables, net		341			304
Inventories, net		296			250
Prepaid and other current assets		16			16
Total current assets		946			883
Property, plant and equipment, net		106			111
Deferred income taxes		1			—
Goodwill		67			67
Intangibles, net		8			9
Other assets		34			34
Total assets	$	1,162		$	1,104
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	279		$	235
Accrued liabilities		109			112
Other current liabilities		7			22
Total current liabilities		395			369
Long-term operating lease liabilities		15			17
Deferred income taxes		1			—
Other long-term liabilities		5			6
Total liabilities		416			392
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock - par value $0.01; 20 million shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding		—			—
Common stock - par value $0.01; 330 million shares authorized; 110,669,457 and 110,558,831 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively		1			1
Additional paid-in capital		2,063			2,061
Accumulated deficit		(1,173	)		(1,203	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(145	)		(147	)
Total stockholders' equity		746			712
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,162		$	1,104

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

NOW INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(In millions, except per share data)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022		2021
Revenue	$	473	$	361
Operating expenses:
Cost of products		366		286
Warehousing, selling and administrative		84		79
Impairment and other charges		—		4
Operating profit (loss)		23		(8	)
Other income (expense)		10		(1	)
Income (loss) before income taxes		33		(9	)
Income tax provision		3		1
Net income (loss)	$	30	$	(10	)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.27	$	(0.09	)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$	0.27	$	(0.09	)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic		111		110
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, diluted		111		110

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

NOW INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)

(In millions)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022		2021
Net income (loss)	$	30	$	(10	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments		2		1
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	32	$	(9	)

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

NOW INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In millions)


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	30		$	(10	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		4			6
Provision for inventory		2			5
Impairment and other charges		—			4
Other, net		(7	)		5
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Receivables		(36	)		(45	)
Inventories		(47	)		11
Prepaid and other current assets		1			—
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other, net		31			20
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(22	)		(4	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		—			(6	)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		—			(1	)
Other, net		2			—
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		2			(7	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments relating to finance leases and other, net		(1	)		(2	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(1	)		(2	)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		1			—
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(20	)		(13	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		313			387
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	293		$	374

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

NOW INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(In millions)


			Additional			Retained			Accum. Other			Total
	Common		Paid-In			Earnings			Comprehensive			Stockholders’
	Stock		Capital			(Deficit)			Income (Loss)			Equity
December 31, 2020	$	1	$	2,051		$	(1,208	)	$	(145	)	$	699
Net loss		—		—			(10	)		—			(10	)
Stock-based compensation		—		2			—			—			2
Exercise of stock options		—		1			—			—			1
Shares withheld for taxes		—		(1	)		—			—			(1	)
Other comprehensive income		—		—			—			1			1
March 31, 2021	$	1	$	2,053		$	(1,218	)	$	(144	)	$	692

December 31, 2021	$	1	$	2,061		$	(1,203	)	$	(147	)	$	712
Net income		—		—			30			—			30
Stock-based compensation		—		2			—			—			2
Other comprehensive income		—		—			—			2			2
March 31, 2022	$	1	$	2,063		$	(1,173	)	$	(145	)	$	746

See notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

NOW INC.

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Operations

NOW Inc. (“NOW” or the “Company”) is a holding company headquartered in Houston, Texas that was incorporated in Delaware on November 22, 2013. NOW operates primarily under the DistributionNOW and DNOW brands. NOW is a global distributor of energy products as well as products for industrial applications through its locations in the United States (“U.S.”), Canada and internationally which are geographically positioned to serve the energy and industrial markets in approximately 80 countries. Additionally, through the Company’s growing DigitalNOW® platform, customers can leverage world-class technology across ecommerce, data management and supply chain optimization applications to solve a wide array of complex operational and product sourcing challenges to assist in maximizing their return on assets. The Company’s energy product offering is consumed throughout all sectors of the energy industry – from upstream drilling and completion, exploration and production, midstream infrastructure development to downstream petroleum refining and petrochemicals – as well as in other industries, such as chemical processing, mining, utilities and renewables. The industrial distribution end markets include engineering and construction firms that perform capital and maintenance projects for their end user clients. NOW also provides supply chain and materials management solutions to the same markets where the Company sells products. NOW’s supplier network consists of thousands of vendors in approximately 40 countries.

Basis of Presentation

All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The unaudited consolidated financial information included in this report has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and Article 10 of SEC Regulation S-X. The principles for interim financial information do not require the inclusion of all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, all of which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported and contingent amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables approximated fair value because of the relatively short maturity of these instruments. Cash equivalents include only those investments having a maturity date of three months or less at the time of purchase. See Note 12 “Derivative Financial Instruments” for the fair value of derivative financial instruments.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), which provides optional expedients and exceptions to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. Entities that elect the relief are required to disclose the nature of the optional expedients and exceptions that are adopted and the reasons for the adoptions. The guidance is effective upon issuance and the expedients and exceptions may be applied prospectively through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2020-04 but does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

2. Revenue

The Company’s primary source of revenue is the sale of energy products and an extensive selection of products for industrial applications based upon purchase orders or contracts with customers. The majority of revenue is recognized at a point in time once the Company has determined that the customer has obtained control over the product. Control is typically deemed to have been transferred to the customer when the product is shipped, delivered or picked up by the customer. The Company does not grant extended payment terms. Revenue is recognized net of any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to proper government authorities. Shipping and handling costs for product shipments occur prior to the customer obtaining control of the goods and are recorded in cost of products.

The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for products sold. Revenue is recorded at the transaction price net of estimates of variable consideration, which may include product returns, trade discounts and allowances. The Company accrues for variable consideration using the expected value method. Estimates of variable consideration are included in revenue to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur.

See Note 7 “Business Segments” for disaggregation of revenue by reporting segments. The Company believes this disaggregation best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.

Remaining Performance Obligations

Remaining performance obligations represent the transaction price of firm orders for which work has not been performed on contracts with an original expected duration of more than one year. The Company’s contracts are predominantly short-term in nature with a contract term of one year or less. For those contracts, the Company has utilized the practical expedient in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606 exempting the Company from disclosure of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations when the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less.

Receivables

Receivables are recorded when the Company has an unconditional right to consideration. Receivables are recorded and carried at the original invoiced amount less the allowance for doubtful accounts (“AFDA”). The estimated AFDA reflects the Company’s immediate recognition of current expected credit losses by incorporating the historical loss experience, as well as current and future market conditions that are reasonably available. Judgments in the estimate of AFDA include global economic and business conditions, oil and gas industry and market conditions, customer’s financial conditions and accounts receivable past due. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, AFDA totaled $24 million and $25 million, respectively.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

Contract assets primarily consist of retainage amounts held as a form of security by customers until the Company satisfies its remaining performance obligations. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, contract assets were $1 million for both periods and were included in receivables, net in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company generally accounts for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the entity otherwise would have recognized is one year or less; however, these expenses are not material.

Contract liabilities primarily consist of deferred revenues recorded when customer payments are received or due in advance of satisfying performance obligations, including amounts which are refundable, and other accrued customer liabilities. Revenue recognition is deferred to a future period until the Company completes its obligations contractually agreed with customers. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, contract liabilities were $32 million and $27 million, respectively, and were included in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the increase in contract liabilities was primarily related to net customer deposits of approximately $11 million, partially offset by recognizing revenue of approximately $6 million that was deferred as of December 31, 2021.

3. Property, Plant and Equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment consist of (in millions):


	Estimated Useful Lives	March 31, 2022			December 31, 2021
Information technology assets	1-7 Years	$	48		$	48
Operating equipment (1)	2-15 Years		126			129
Buildings and land (2)	5-35 Years		92			91
Construction in progress			3			3
Total property, plant and equipment			269			271
Less: accumulated depreciation			(163	)		(160	)
Property, plant and equipment, net		$	106		$	111

(1)

Includes finance lease right-of-use assets.

(2)

Land has an indefinite life.

4. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of (in millions):


	March 31, 2022		December 31, 2021
Compensation and other related expenses	$	28	$	35
Contract liabilities		32		27
Taxes (non-income)		10		12
Current portion of operating lease liabilities		15		15
Other		24		23
Total	$	109	$	112

5. Debt

On December 14, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment to its existing senior secured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of lenders with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, serving as the administrative agent (as amended, the “Credit Facility”).

Effective with the amendment, the Credit Facility provides for a $500 million global revolving credit facility, of which up to $50 million is available for the Company’s Canadian subsidiaries, and the maturity is extended to December 14, 2026. The Company has the right, subject to certain conditions, to increase the aggregate principal amount of commitments under the credit facility by $250 million. The Credit Facility also provides a letter of credit sub-facility of $25 million. The obligations under the Credit Facility are secured by substantially all the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Credit Facility contains customary covenants, representations and warranties and events of default. The Company will be required to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00:1.00 as of the end of each fiscal quarter if excess availability under the Credit Facility falls below the greater of 10% of the borrowing base or $40 million.

Borrowings under the Credit Facility will bear an interest rate at the Company’s option, at (i) the base rate plus an applicable margin based on the Company’s fixed charge coverage ratio (and if applicable, the Company’s leverage ratio); or (ii) the greater of LIBOR for the applicable interest period and zero, plus an applicable margin based on the Company’s fixed charge coverage ratio (and if applicable, the Company’s leverage ratio). As part of the amendment, when the fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Facility) is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00, the applicable rate for borrowings of base rate loans and Eurocurrency rate loans decreases by 0.250%. The Credit Facility includes a commitment fee on the unused portion of commitments that ranges from 25 to 37.5 basis points. Commitment fees incurred during the period were included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations.

Availability under the Credit Facility is determined by a borrowing base comprised of eligible receivables, eligible inventory and certain pledged deposits in the U.S and Canada. As of March 31, 2022, the Company had no borrowings against the Credit Facility and approximately $436 million in availability (as defined in the Credit Facility) resulting in the excess availability (as defined in the Credit Facility) of 99%, subject to certain limitations. The Company is not obligated to repay borrowings against the current Credit Facility until the expiration date.

The Company issued $5 million in letters of credit under the Credit Facility primarily for casualty insurance expiring in June 2023.

6. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows (in millions):


	Foreign Currency
	Translation Adjustments
Balance at December 31, 2021	$	(147	)
Other comprehensive gain		2
Balance at March 31, 2022	$	(145	)

The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. A majority of the Company’s international entities in which there is a substantial investment have the local currency as their functional currency. As a result, foreign currency translation adjustments resulting from the process of translating the entities’ financial statements into the reporting currency are reported in other comprehensive income or loss in accordance with ASC Topic 830, “Foreign Currency Matters.”

7. Business Segments

Operating results by reportable segment are as follows (in millions):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022		2021
Revenue:
United States	$	334	$	252
Canada		82		58
International		57		51
Total revenue	$	473	$	361
Operating profit (loss):
United States	$	14	$	(13	)
Canada		7		4
International		2		1
Total operating profit (loss)	$	23	$	(8	)

8. Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2022, was 9.1% compared to (5.5%) for the corresponding period of 2021. In general, the effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate due to recurring items, such as differing tax rates on income earned in foreign jurisdictions, nondeductible expenses, state income taxes and the change in valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the effective tax rate was primarily driven by the recognition of tax expense from earnings in Canada offset by current year realization of deferred tax assets and corresponding release of valuation allowance in the U.S. The current geopolitical conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on the global supply chain and create continuing uncertainty in the Company’s short-term results. Consequently, the Company is continuing to rely on the discrete-period method for calculating its interim period tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The Company will evaluate its use of this method each quarter until such time as a return to the annualized estimated effective tax rate method is deemed appropriate.

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S., various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company has significant operations in the U.S. and Canada and to a lesser extent in various other international jurisdictions. Tax years that remain subject to examination vary by legal entity but are generally open in the U.S. for the tax years ending after 2017 and outside the U.S. for the tax years ending after 2015.

9. Earnings (Loss) Per Share

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, approximately 4 million of potentially dilutive shares were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to their antidilutive effect. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, approximately 6 million of potentially dilutive shares were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share due to the Company recognizing a net loss.

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share are as follows (in millions, except share data):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022		2021
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company	$	30	$	(10	)
Less: net income attributable to participating securities		—		—
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company's stockholders	$	30	$	(10	)
Denominator:
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding		110,602,943		110,071,365
Effect of dilutive securities		219,574		—
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding		110,822,517		110,071,365
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to the Company's stockholders:
Basic	$	0.27	$	(0.09	)
Diluted	$	0.27	$	(0.09	)

Under ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share”, the two-class method requires a portion of net income attributable to the Company to be allocated to participating securities, which are unvested awards of share-based payments with non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents, if declared. Net loss is not allocated to unvested awards in periods the Company determines that those shares are not obligated to participate in losses. For the periods that the Company recognized net income, net income attributable to the Company allocated to these participating securities was excluded from net income attributable to the Company’s stockholders in the numerator of the earnings per share computation.

10. Stock-based Compensation and Outstanding Awards

The Company has a stock-based compensation plan known as the NOW Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, the Company’s employees are eligible to be granted stock options, restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), restricted stock units and phantom shares (“RSUs”), and performance stock awards (“PSAs”).

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company granted 664,274 shares of RSAs and RSUs with a weighted average fair value of $9.62 per share and PSAs to senior management employees with potential payouts varying from zero to 701,668 shares. The RSAs and RSUs vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant. The PSAs can be earned based on performance against established metrics over a three-year performance period set by the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The PSAs are divided into three independent parts that are subject to separate performance metrics: (i) one-half of the PSAs have a Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) metric, (ii) one-quarter of the PSAs have an EBITDA metric, and (iii) one-quarter of the PSAs have a Return on Capital Employed (“ROCE”) metric.

Performance against the TSR metric is determined by comparing the performance of the Company’s TSR with the TSR performance of designated peer companies for the three-year performance period. Performance against the EBITDA metric is determined by comparing the performance of the Company’s actual EBITDA average for each of the three-years of the performance period against the EBITDA metrics set. Performance against the ROCE metric is determined by comparing the performance of the Company’s actual ROCE average for each of the three-years of the performance period against the ROCE metrics set.

Stock-based compensation expense recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2022, and 2021 totaled $2 million for both periods.

11. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in various claims, regulatory agency audits and pending or threatened legal actions involving a variety of matters with entities such as suppliers, customers, parties to acquisitions and divestitures, government authorities and other external parties. The Company regularly reviews and records the estimated probable liability in an amount believed to be sufficient and continues to periodically reexamine the estimates of probable liabilities and any associated expenses to make appropriate adjustments to such estimates as necessary. These estimated liabilities are based on the Company’s assessment of the nature of these matters, their progress toward resolution, the advice of legal counsel and outside experts as well as management’s intention and past experience regarding the valuation of these claims. The Company has also assessed the potential for additional losses above the amounts accrued as well as potential losses for matters that are not probable but are reasonably possible. The total potential loss on these matters cannot be determined. While the Company has established estimates it believes to be reasonable under the facts known, the outcomes of litigation and similar disputes are often difficult to reliably predict and may result in decisions or settlements that are contrary to, or in excess of, the Company's expectations.

The Company’s business is affected both directly and indirectly by governmental laws and regulations relating to the oilfield service industry in general, as well as by environmental and safety regulations that specifically apply to the Company’s business. Although the Company has not incurred material costs in connection with its compliance with such laws, there can be no assurance that other developments, such as new environmental laws, regulations and enforcement policies hereunder may not result in additional, presently unquantifiable costs or liabilities to the Company. The Company does not accrue for contingent losses that, in its judgment, are considered to be reasonably possible, but not probable. Estimating reasonably possible losses also requires the analysis of multiple possible outcomes that often depend on judgments about potential actions by third parties.

The Company maintains credit arrangements with several banks providing for standby letters of credit, including bid and performance bonds, and other bonding requirements. As of March 31, 2022, the Company was contingently liable for approximately $12 million of outstanding standby letters of credit and surety bonds. The Company does not believe, based on historical experience and information currently available, that it is probable that any amounts will be required to be paid.

In 2021, the Company completed an acquisition which included a contingent consideration arrangement that required additional consideration to be paid based on the achievement of a specified performance target over the earn-out period of one year. The fair value of contingent consideration liability included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021, was approximately $13 million. As of March 31, 2022, the earn-out period was completed and the Company calculated the contingent consideration threshold was not achieved and the contingent liability was removed, resulting in a benefit of approximately $13 million, recognized in other income (expense) in the consolidated statement of operations. However, the Company is currently in disagreement with the sellers on aspects of the agreement. The Company does not believe at this time that resolution of the matter will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements, but the final outcome has not been determined.

12. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations. The Company has entered into certain financial derivative instruments to manage this risk.

The derivative financial instruments the Company has entered into are forward exchange contracts which have terms of less than one year to economically hedge foreign currency exchange rate risk on recognized nonfunctional currency monetary accounts. The purpose of the Company’s foreign currency hedging activities is to economically hedge the Company’s risk from changes in the fair value of nonfunctional currency denominated monetary accounts.

The Company records all derivative financial instruments at their fair value in its consolidated balance sheets. None of the derivative financial instruments that the Company holds are designated as either a fair value hedge or cash flow hedge and the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recorded in earnings. The Company has determined that the fair value of its derivative financial instruments are computed using level 2 inputs (inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset or liability) in the fair value hierarchy as the fair value is based on publicly available foreign exchange rates at each financial reporting date. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the fair value of the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts totaled an asset of less than $1 million and a liability of less than $1 million in both periods. The Company's foreign currency forward contract assets were included in prepaid and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets and the Company's foreign contract liabilities were included in other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company recorded a loss of less than $1 million and a gain of less than $1 million, respectively, related to changes in fair value. All gains and losses were included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations. The notional principal associated with those contracts was $7 million and $9 million as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

As of March 31, 2022, the Company’s financial instruments do not contain any credit-risk-related or other contingent features that could cause accelerated payments when the Company’s financial instruments are in net liability positions. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information in this document contains, or has incorporated by reference, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “predict,” “estimate,” “will be” or other similar words and phrases, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. You should be aware that our actual results could differ materially from results anticipated in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in oil and gas prices, changes in the energy markets, customer demand for our products, significant changes in the size of our customers, difficulties encountered in integrating mergers and acquisitions, general volatility in the capital markets, disruptions caused by COVID-19, changes in applicable government regulations, increased borrowing costs, geopolitical conditions (including the Ukraine conflict and its regional and global impact) or any litigation arising out of or related thereto, impairments in long-lived assets and worldwide economic activity. You should also consider carefully the statements under “Risk Factors,” as disclosed in our Form 10-K, which address additional factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, current or prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any such factors or forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

Company Overview

We are a global distributor to the oil and gas and industrial markets with a legacy of over 150 years. We operate primarily under the DistributionNOW and DNOW brands. Through a network of approximately 175 locations and approximately 2,300 employees worldwide, we offer a complementary suite of digital procurement channels that, in conjunction with our locations, provides products to the energy and industrial markets around the world.

Additionally, through our growing DigitalNOW® platform, customers can leverage world-class technology across ecommerce, data management and supply chain optimization applications to solve a wide array of complex operational and product sourcing challenges to assist in maximizing their return on assets.

Our energy product offering is consumed throughout all sectors of the energy industry – from upstream drilling and completion, exploration and production, midstream infrastructure development to downstream petroleum refining and petrochemicals – as well as in other industries, such as chemical processing, mining, utilities and renewables. The industrial distribution end markets include engineering and construction firms that perform capital and maintenance projects for their end user clients. We also provide supply chain and materials management solutions to the same markets where we sell products.

Our global product offering includes consumable maintenance, repair and operating (“MRO”) supplies, pipe, valves, fittings, flanges, gaskets, fasteners, electrical, instrumentation, artificial lift, pumping solutions, valve actuation and modular process, measurement and control equipment. We also offer procurement, warehouse and inventory management solutions as part of our supply chain and materials management offering. We have developed expertise in providing application systems, work processes, parts integration, optimization solutions and after-sales support.

Our solutions include outsourcing portions or entire functions of our customers’ procurement, warehouse and inventory management, logistics, point of issue technology, project management, business process and performance metrics reporting. These solutions allow us to leverage the infrastructure of our SAP™ Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) system and other technologies to streamline our customers’ purchasing process, from requisition to procurement to payment, by digitally managing workflow, improving approval routing and providing robust reporting functionality.

We support land and offshore operations for all the major oil and gas producing regions around the world through our network of locations. Our key markets, beyond North America, include South America, the North Sea, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, portions of the former Soviet Union and Africa. Products sold through our locations support greenfield expansion upstream capital projects, midstream infrastructure and transmission and MRO consumables used in day-to-day production. We provide downstream energy and industrial products for petroleum refining, chemical processing, liquefied natural gas terminals, power generation utilities operations and customer on-site locations.

We stock or sell approximately 300,000 stock keeping units through our branch network. Our supplier network consists of thousands of vendors in approximately 40 countries. From our operations in over 20 countries we sell to customers operating in approximately 80 countries. The supplies and equipment stocked by each of our branches are customized to meet varied and changing local customer demands. The breadth and scale of our offering enhances our value proposition to our customers, suppliers and shareholders.

We employ advanced information technologies, including a common ERP platform across most of our business, to provide complete procurement, warehouse and inventory management and logistics coordination to our customers around the globe. Having a common ERP platform allows immediate visibility into our inventory assets, operations and financials worldwide, enhancing decision making and efficiency.

Demand for our products is driven primarily by the level of oil and gas drilling, completions, servicing, production, transmission, refining and petrochemical activities. It is also influenced by the global supply and demand for energy, the economy in general and geopolitics. Several factors drive spending, such as investment in energy infrastructure, the North American conventional and shale plays, market expectations of future developments in the oil, natural gas, liquids, refined products, petrochemical, plant maintenance and other industrial and energy sectors.

We have expanded globally, through acquisitions and organic investments, into Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, England, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Scotland, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the United States (“U.S.”).

Summary of Reportable Segments

We operate through three reportable segments: U.S., Canada and International. The segment data included in our Management’s Discussion and Analysis are presented on a basis consistent with our internal management reporting. Segment information appearing in Note 7 “Business Segments” of the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements (Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q) is also presented on this basis.

United States

We have approximately 115 locations in the U.S., which are geographically positioned to best serve the upstream, midstream and downstream energy and industrial markets.

We offer higher value solutions in key product lines in the U.S. which broaden and deepen our customer relationships and related product line value. Examples of these include artificial lift, pumps, valves and valve actuation, process and production equipment, fluid transfer products, measurement and controls, spoolable and coated steel-pipe and composite pipe, along with many other products required by our customers, which enable them to focus on their core business while we manage varying degrees of their supply chain. We also provide additional value to our customers through the engineering, design, construction, assembly, fabrication and optimization of products and equipment essential to the safe and efficient production, transportation and processing of oil and gas.

Canada

We have a network of approximately 40 locations in the Canadian oilfield, predominantly in the oil rich provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and other targeted locations across the country. Our Canada segment primarily serves energy exploration, production, mining and drilling business, offering customers many of the same products and value-added solutions that we perform in the U.S. In Canada, we also provide training for, and supervise the installation of, jointed and spoolable composite pipe. This product line is supported by inventory, as well as product and installation expertise to serve our customers.

International

We operate in approximately 20 countries and serve the needs of our international customers from approximately 20 locations outside the U.S. and Canada, which are strategically located in major oil and gas development areas. Our approach in these markets is similar to our approach in North America, as our customers turn to us to provide products and supply chain solutions support closer to their drilling and exploration activities. Our long legacy of operating in many international regions, combined with significant expansion into several key markets, provides a competitive advantage as few of our competitors have a presence in most of the global energy producing regions.

In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and is still engaged in active armed conflict against the country. As a result, governments in the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and other countries have enacted additional sanctions against Russia and Russian interests. These sanctions include controls on the export, re-export, and in-country transfer in Russia of certain goods, supplies, and technologies, and the imposition of restrictions on doing business with certain state-owned Russian customers and other investments and business activities in Russia. In order to comply with these sanctions, we began to wind down our operations in Russia. As of March 31, 2022, Russia represented less than one percent of our net book value of assets, and no impairment has occurred. However, the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions could potentially impact our assets in Russia, which could cause us to take a charge related to those assets.

Basis of Presentation

All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. The unaudited consolidated financial information included in this report has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and Article 10 of SEC Regulation S-X. The principles for interim financial information do not require the inclusion of all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of our management, the consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, all of which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Operating Environment Overview

Our results are dependent on, among other factors, the level of worldwide oil and gas drilling and completions, well remediation activity, crude oil and natural gas prices, capital spending by oilfield service companies and drilling contractors, and the worldwide oil and gas inventory levels. Key industry indicators for the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2021 include the following:


					%					%
					1Q22 v					1Q22 v
	1Q22*		1Q21*		1Q21			4Q21*		4Q21
Active Drilling Rigs:
U.S.		633		392		61.5	%		559		13.2	%
Canada		198		139		42.4	%		161		23.0	%
International		823		698		17.9	%		817		0.7	%
Worldwide		1,654		1,229		34.6	%		1,537		7.6	%

West Texas Intermediate Crude Prices (per barrel)	$	94.45	$	57.79		63.4	%	$	77.45		21.9	%
Natural Gas Prices ($/MMBtu)	$	4.66	$	3.56		30.9	%	$	4.77		(2.3	%)
Hot-Rolled Coil Prices (steel) ($/short ton)	$	1,383.09	$	1,113.52		24.2	%	$	1,854.04		(25.4	%)

* Averages for the quarters indicated. See sources on following page.

The following table details the U.S., Canadian and international rig activity and West Texas Intermediate oil prices for the past nine quarters ended March 31, 2022:

Sources: Rig count: Baker Hughes, Inc. (www.bakerhughes.com); West Texas Intermediate Crude and Natural Gas Prices: Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov); Hot-Rolled Coil Prices: SteelBenchmarker™ Hot Roll Coil USA (www.steelbenchmarker.com)

The worldwide quarterly average rig count increased 7.6% (from 1,537 rigs to 1,654 rigs) and the U.S. increased 13.2% (from 559 rigs to 633 rigs) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. The average price per barrel of West Texas Intermediate Crude increased 21.9% (from $77.45 per barrel to $94.45 per barrel), and natural gas prices declined 2.3% (from $4.77 per MMBtu to $4.66 per MMBtu) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. The average price per short ton of Hot-Rolled Coil declined 25.4% (from $1,854.04 per short ton to $1,383.09 per short ton) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.

U.S. rig count at April 14, 2022 was 693 rigs, up 60 rigs from the first quarter 2022 average. The price for West Texas Intermediate Crude was $106.84 per barrel at April 14, 2022, up 13.1% from the first quarter 2022 average. The price for natural gas was $6.94 per MMBtu at April 14, 2022, up 48.9% from the first quarter 2022 average. The price for Hot-Rolled Coil was $1,422.00 per short ton at April 11, 2022, up 2.8% from the first quarter 2022 average.

Executive Summary

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company generated net income of $30 million on $473 million in revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, revenue increased $112 million or 31.0%, and net income increased $40 million when compared to the corresponding period of 2021.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company generated an operating profit of $23 million compared to an operating loss of $8 million for the corresponding period of 2021.

Outlook

Our outlook for the Company remains tied to crude oil and natural gas commodity prices, global oil and gas drilling and completions activity, oil and gas spending, and global demand for oil, its refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas production and decline rates. Crude oil and natural gas prices as well as crude oil and natural gas storage levels are primary catalysts for determining customer activity.

Continuing to the date of this filing, uncertainty still exists concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy and global oil and gas demand as countries and regions address varying caseloads. In addition, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the sanctions imposed in response to this conflict have increased the level of economic and political uncertainty. Amid these dynamics, we will continue to support our customers, optimize our operations, advance our strategic goals and manage the Company based on market conditions. To navigate this environment, we have undergone a significant cost transformation by taking decisive actions to cut costs, accelerate structural changes and deploy various technologies to optimize processes, increase productivity and continue to support our customers and grow revenue. We will continue to adapt and position the Company for the market ahead. As conditions evolve, our response may result in various charges in future periods.

We see the rise in energy transition investments as an opportunity for us to supply many of the current products and services we provide, as well as an opportunity to partner and source from new suppliers to expand our offering, to meet our customers’ needs for their energy transition investments. A number of our larger customers are leading the investments in energy transition projects where we expect to continue to supply them while expanding our offerings to meet their changing requirements. We are also targeting new customers that are not traditional oil and gas customers, those that will play a part in the future of energy transition.

Results of Operations

Operating results by reportable segment are as follows (in millions):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022		2021
Revenue:
United States	$	334	$	252
Canada		82		58
International		57		51
Total revenue	$	473	$	361
Operating profit (loss):
United States	$	14	$	(13	)
Canada		7		4
International		2		1
Total operating profit (loss)	$	23	$	(8	)

United States

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, revenue was $334 million, an increase of $82 million or 32.5% when compared to the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the increase was primarily driven by the fluctuations in U.S. drilling and completions activity.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the U.S. generated an operating profit of $14 million, an improvement of $27 million when compared to the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, operating profit increased primarily due to the increase in revenue discussed above, coupled with improved product margins.

Canada

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, revenue was $82 million, an increase of $24 million or 41.4% when compared to the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the increase was primarily driven by the increase in Canadian rig count.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, Canada generated an operating profit of $7 million, an increase of $3 million when compared to the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, operating profit increased primarily due to the increase in revenue discussed above, partially offset by a reduction in the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

International

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, revenue was $57 million, an increase of $6 million or 11.8% when compared to the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the increase was primarily driven by the increase in International rig count and stronger project activity, partially offset by unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the International segment generated an operating profit of $2 million, an increase of $1 million when compared to the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, operating profit increased primarily due to the increase in revenue discussed above.

Cost of products

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, cost of products was $366 million compared to $286 million for the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the increase was primarily due to the increase in revenue in the period. Cost of products includes the cost of inventory sold and related items, such as vendor consideration, inventory allowances, amortization of intangibles and inbound and outbound freight.

Warehousing, selling and administrative expenses

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, warehousing, selling and administrative expenses were $84 million compared to $79 million for the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the increase was primarily driven by reductions in government wage subsidies and bad debt recoveries realized in the corresponding period of 2021. Warehousing, selling and administrative expenses include branch location, distribution center and regional expenses (including costs such as compensation, benefits and rent) as well as corporate general selling and administrative expenses.

Impairment and other charges

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, impairment and other charges were nil compared to $4 million for the corresponding period of 2021. The Company recognized approximately $4 million related to held-for-sale assets and operating right-of-use assets for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

The Company has committed to close certain foreign subsidiaries in the international segment. Impairment of assets were not material for the three months ended March 31, 2022; however, accumulated translated gains and losses attributable to the foreign subsidiaries which are components of other comprehensive income (loss) will reclassify to earnings and result in additional charges when liquidations are substantially complete.

Other income (expense)

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, other income was $10 million compared to other expense of $1 million for the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, other income was primarily attributable to a benefit of approximately $13 million related to the decrease of contingent consideration liability associated with a prior year acquisition.

Income tax provision

Non-GAAP Financial Measure and Reconciliation

In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding our results of operations as determined by GAAP, we disclose non-GAAP financial measures. The primary non-GAAP financial measure we disclose is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding other costs (“EBITDA excluding other costs”). This financial measure excludes the impact of certain amounts and is not calculated in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure, to its most comparable GAAP financial measure, is included below.

We use EBITDA excluding other costs internally to evaluate and manage the Company’s operations because we believe it provides useful supplemental information regarding the Company’s ongoing economic performance. We have chosen to provide this information to investors to enable them to perform more meaningful comparisons of operating results. In an effort to better align with management’s evaluation of the Company’s performance and to facilitate comparison of our results to those of peer companies, beginning for the year ended December 31, 2021, EBITDA excluding other costs excludes non-cash stock-based compensation expense. Prior periods presented have been adjusted to conform with the current period presentation.

The following table sets forth the reconciliations of EBITDA excluding other costs to the most comparable GAAP financial measures (in millions):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
GAAP net income (loss) (1)	$	30		$	(10	)
Interest, net		—			—
Income tax provision (benefit)		3			1
Depreciation and amortization		4			6
Other costs:
Stock-based compensation		2			2
Other (2)		(11	)		4
EBITDA excluding other costs	$	28		$	3
EBITDA % excluding other costs (3)		5.9	%		0.8	%

(1)

We believe that net income (loss) is the financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP that is most directly comparable to EBITDA excluding other costs. EBITDA excluding other costs measures the Company’s operating performance without regard to certain expenses. EBITDA excluding other costs is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP and the Company’s computation of EBITDA excluding other costs may vary from others in the industry. EBITDA excluding other costs has important limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP.

(2)

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, Other primarily included a benefit of approximately $13 million related to the decrease of contingent consideration liability, which was included in other income, partially offset by separation and transaction-related charges.

(3)

EBITDA % excluding other costs is defined as EBITDA excluding other costs divided by Revenue.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We assess liquidity in terms of our ability to generate cash to fund operating, investing and financing activities. We expect resources to be available to reinvest in existing businesses, strategic acquisitions and capital expenditures to meet short and long-term objectives. We believe that cash on hand, cash generated from expected results of operations and amounts available under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to fund operations, anticipated working capital needs and other cash requirements, including capital expenditures.

As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $293 million and $313 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2022, $92 million of our cash and cash equivalents were maintained in the accounts of our various foreign subsidiaries. During the first three months of 2022, we repatriated $10 million from our Canadian operations. The Company makes a determination each period concerning its intent and ability to indefinitely reinvest the cash held by its foreign subsidiaries. The Company has not recorded deferred income taxes on undistributed foreign earnings that it considers to be indefinitely reinvested. Future changes to our indefinite reinvestment assertion could result in additional taxes (withholding and/or state taxes), offset by any available foreign tax credits.

We maintain a $500 million five-year senior secured revolving credit facility that will mature on December 14, 2026. Availability under the revolving credit facility is determined by a borrowing base comprised of eligible receivables, eligible inventory and certain pledged deposits in the U.S. and Canada. As of March 31, 2022, we had no borrowings against our revolving credit facility, and had approximately $436 million in availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) resulting in the excess availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of 99%, subject to certain restrictions. Availability excluding certain cash deposits was approximately $289 million. Borrowings that result in the excess availability dropping below the greater of 10% of the borrowing base or $40 million are conditioned upon compliance with or waiver of a minimum fixed charge ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement). The credit facility contains usual and customary affirmative and negative covenants for credit facilities of this type including financial covenants. As of March 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all covenants. We continuously monitor compliance with debt covenants. A default, if not waived or amended, would prevent us from taking certain actions, such as incurring additional debt.

We are often party to certain transactions that require off-balance sheet arrangements such as standby letters of credit and performance
bonds and guarantees that are not reflected in our consolidated balance sheets. These arrangements are made in our normal course of
business and they are not reasonably likely to have a current or future material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of
operations, liquidity or cash flows.

The following table summarizes our net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for the periods presented (in millions):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	(22	)	$	(4	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		2			(7	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(1	)		(2	)

Operating Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was $22 million compared to $4 million used in operating activities in the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was primarily due to a net increase in working capital as a result of growing market activity, partially offset by improved operating results.

Investing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash provided by investing activities was $2 million compared to $7 million used in investing activities in the corresponding period of 2021 related to acquisition and divestiture activity.

Financing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash used in financing activities was $1 million compared to $2 million used in financing activities in the corresponding period of 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the activity was primarily attributed to the Company making payments relating to its finance lease arrangements.

Other

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the effect of the change in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents was an increase of $1 million compared to nil for the corresponding period of 2021.

Capital Spending

We intend to pursue additional acquisition candidates, but the timing, size or success of any acquisition effort and the related potential capital commitments cannot be predicted. We continue to expect to fund future cash acquisitions primarily with cash flow from operations and the usage of the available portion of the revolving credit facility. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available at terms acceptable to us.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

For a discussion of the critical accounting policies and estimates that we use in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. In preparing the financial statements, the Company makes assumptions, estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported. The Company periodically evaluates its estimates and judgments that are most critical in nature, which are related to allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, goodwill, intangible assets, contingent consideration, purchase price allocation of acquisitions, vendor consideration and income taxes. Its estimates are based on historical experience and on its future expectations that the Company believes are reasonable. The combination of these factors forms the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results are likely to differ from our current estimates and those differences may be material.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to certain market risks that are inherent in our financial instruments and arise from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We may enter into derivative financial instrument transactions to manage or reduce market risk but do not enter into derivative financial instrument transactions for speculative purposes. We do not currently have any material outstanding derivative instruments. See Note 12 “Derivative Financial Instruments” to the consolidated financial statements.

A discussion of our primary market risk exposure in financial instruments is presented below.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

We have operations in foreign countries and transact business globally in multiple currencies. Our net assets as well as our revenues and costs and expenses denominated in foreign currencies, expose us to the risk of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates against the U.S. dollar. Because we operate globally and approximately 30% of our net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2022, were outside the U.S., foreign currency exchange rates can impact our financial position, results of operations and competitive position. We are a net receiver of foreign currencies and, therefore, benefit from a weakening of the U.S. dollar and are adversely affected by a strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the foreign currency. As of March 31, 2022, our most significant foreign currency exposure was to the Canadian dollar, followed by the British pound, with less significant foreign currency exposure to the Australian dollar.

The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries are translated into their U.S. dollar equivalents at end-of-period exchange rates for assets and liabilities, while revenue, costs and expenses are translated at average monthly exchange rates. Translation gains and losses are components of other comprehensive income (loss) as reported in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). For three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company realized a net foreign currency translation gain totaling $2 million, which was included in other comprehensive income (loss). Upon closure of a foreign subsidiary, the amount attributable to the foreign subsidiary accumulated translation gains and losses are reclassified into earnings as a component of impairment and other charges in the consolidated statements of operations, once the closure is substantially complete.

Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations generally do not materially affect our earnings since the functional currency is typically the local currency; however, our operations also have net assets not denominated in their functional currency, which exposes us to changes in foreign currency exchange rates that impact our net income as foreign currency transaction gains and losses. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses arising from fluctuations in currency exchange rates on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations as a component of other income (expense). For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company reported foreign currency transaction losses of $1 million and less than $1 million, respectively. Gains and losses are primarily due to exchange rate fluctuations related to monetary asset balances denominated in currencies other than the functional currency and fair value adjustments to economically hedged positions as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Some of the revenues for our foreign operations are denominated in U.S. dollars and, therefore, changes in foreign currency exchange rates impact earnings to the extent that costs associated with those U.S. dollar revenues are denominated in the local currency. Similarly, some of our revenues for our foreign operations are denominated in foreign currencies, but have associated U.S. dollar costs, which also give rise to foreign currency exchange rate exposure. In order to mitigate those risks, we may utilize foreign currency forward contracts to better match the currency of the revenues and the associated costs. Although we may utilize foreign currency forward contracts to economically hedge certain foreign currency denominated balances or transactions, we do not currently hedge the net investments in our foreign operations. The counterparties to our forward contracts are major financial institutions. The credit ratings and concentration of risk of these financial institutions are monitored by us on a continuing basis. In the event that the counterparties fail to meet the terms of a foreign currency contract, our exposure is limited to the foreign currency rate differential.

The average foreign exchange rate for the first three months of 2022 compared to the average for the corresponding period of 2021 decreased by approximately 1% compared to the U.S. dollar based on the aggregated weighted average revenue of our foreign-currency denominated foreign operations. The Canadian dollar, British pound and Australian dollar decreased in relation to the U.S. dollar by less than 1%, approximately 3% and approximately 6%, respectively.

We utilized a sensitivity analysis to measure the potential impact on earnings based on a hypothetical 10% change in foreign currency rates. A 10% change from the levels experienced during the first three months of 2022 of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies that affected the Company would have resulted in $1 million change in net income for the same period.

Commodity Steel Pricing

Our business is sensitive to steel prices, which can impact our product pricing, with steel tubular prices generally having the highest degree of sensitivity. While we cannot predict steel prices, we mitigate this risk by managing our inventory levels, including maintaining sufficient quantity on hand to meet demand, while limiting the risk of overstocking.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures and is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by this report at a reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits


Exhibit No.		Exhibit Description

3.1		NOW Inc. Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (6)

3.2		NOW Inc. Amended and Restated Bylaws (6)

10.1		Form of Employment Agreement for Executive Officers (1)

10.2		NOW Inc. 2014 Incentive Compensation Plan (2)

10.3		Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement (3)

10.4		Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (3 year cliff vest) (3)

10.5		Form of Performance Award Agreement (3)

10.6		Form of Amendment to Employment Agreement for Executive Officers (4)

10.7		Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 2018, among the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as administrative agent, an issuing lender and swing lender (5)

10.8		Employment Agreement between NOW Inc. and Chief Executive Officer David Cherechinsky (7)

10.9		Employment Agreement between NOW Inc. and Chief Financial Officer Mark Johnson (7)

10.10		First Amendment to Credit Agreement, and First Amendment to US Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2021, among the Borrowers, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, an issuing lender and swing lender.(8)

31.1		Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14a and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act, as amended

31.2		Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14a and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act, as amended

32.1		Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32.2		Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

101.INS		Inline XBRL Instance Document – The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

101.SCH		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

(1) Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 30, 2014

(2) Filed as an Exhibit to our Amendment No.1 to Form 10, as amended, Registration Statement filed on April 8, 2014

(3) Filed as an Exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2015

(4) Filed as an Exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 2016

(5) Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 1, 2018

(6) Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 21, 2020

(7) Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 2, 2020

(8) Filed as an Exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on February 4, 2022

SIGNATURE

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


		Date: May 5, 2022

	By:	/s/ Mark B. Johnson
	Mark B. Johnson
	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer