Aris Water Solutions, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Results and Provides 2023 Guidance

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aris Water Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: ARIS) (“Aris”, “Aris Water” or the “Company”) today announced financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022.

• Total water volumes of approximately 1.31 million barrels per day for the fourth quarter of 2022, growing 20% versus the fourth quarter of 2021. For the full year of 2022, total water volumes grew 36% versus the full year of 2021.
• Recycled Produced Water volumes of approximately 283 thousand barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2022, up 53% versus the fourth quarter of 2021. For the full year of 2022, Recycled Produced Water volumes were up 144% versus the full year of 2021.
• Net income of $5.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, down 15% versus the fourth quarter of 2021. Adjusted Net Income¹ of $9.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, down 25% versus the fourth quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $36.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, up 1% versus the fourth quarter of 2021.
• Net income of $4.8 million for the full year of 2022, up from a net loss of $7.0 million for the full year of 2021. Adjusted Net Income¹ of $44.1 million for the full year of 2022, up 68% versus the full year of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $149.0 million for the full year of 2022, up 24% versus the full year of 2021.
• Exceeded the 2022 Sustainability Performance Target (“SPT”) under the Company’s Sustainability Linked Notes. Greater than 70% of Aris’s water sold during 2022 was Recycled Produced Water, exceeding the SPT of 60%.

RECENT EVENTS

• Announced that ExxonMobil joined Aris’s previously announced strategic agreement with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (“Chevron”) and ConocoPhillips Company (“ConocoPhillips”) to develop and pilot cost effective technologies and processes to treat produced water for potential beneficial reuse opportunities.
• Successfully completed a long-term agricultural pilot conducted with Texas A&M which used treated produced water for irrigation of non-consumptive crops cotton and rye grass. The project also quantified and confirmed the significant potential for carbon sequestration in the rye grass, cotton, and their associated roots.
• Announced the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) and the National Alliance for Water Innovation (“NAWI”) selected Aris’s pilot project focused on the treatment of complex water to receive a federal funding grant.

“2022 represented another strong year for Aris as we continued our volume driven growth alongside our large, long-term contracted customers in the core of their premier Delaware Basin acreage. Despite weather related delays and continued inflationary pressure during the fourth quarter, we meaningfully increased our Produced Water Handling volumes and expanded our Adjusted Operating Margins versus the third quarter,” stated Amanda Brock, Chief Executive Officer of Aris. “Our business has grown more than 20% annually supported by our customers’ sustained upstream investments, and their accelerated adoption of our proven, sustainable reuse solutions. While cost headwinds attributable to inflationary pressures, supply chain constraints, and our rapid pace of growth impacted margins in 2022, we are focused on continuing to drive costs down to maintain our positive margin momentum coming out of the fourth quarter. As our customers increase their demand for secure takeaway on our system, we are also making prudent investments to grow our infrastructure network and volumes while realizing identified efficiencies across our system over the course of 2023.

As we look forward this year, we are accelerating our work on piloting and developing proprietary technologies to support water sustainability in the Permian Basin. We continue to lead collaborative industry efforts to identify produced water treatment solutions for use not only within the oil and gas industry but also in other verticals. We are particularly excited about the progress we have made in using treated produced water for non-consumptive agriculture.”

OPERATIONS UPDATE

For the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company handled 1.31 million barrels of water per day of total volumes, up approximately 20% from 1.09 million barrels of water per day for the fourth quarter of 2021. Recycled Produced Water volumes were 283 thousand barrels of water per day for the fourth quarter of 2022, up approximately 53% from 185 thousand barrels of water per day for the fourth quarter of 2021.

For the year of 2022, the Company handled 1.28 million barrels of water per day of total volumes, up approximately 36% from 947 thousand barrels of water per day for the year of 2021. Recycled Produced Water volumes were 300 thousand barrels per day for the year of 2022, up approximately 144% from 123 thousand barrels per day in 2021. The Company’s volume growth was primarily driven by increased production activity from its long-term contracted customers, the addition of new long-term contracted customers, and continued expansion and adoption of our Recycled Produced Water solutions.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Net income was $5.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 versus net income of $6.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Adjusted Net Income¹ was $9.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 versus $12.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2021.

Net income was $4.8 million for the year of 2022, versus a net loss of $7.0 million for the year of 2021. Adjusted Net Income¹ was $44.1 million for the year of 2022 versus $26.2 million for the year of 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ was $36.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2022 versus $35.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of approximately 1%. Adjusted EBITDA¹ was $149.0 million for the year of 2022 versus $120.5 million for the year of 2021, an increase of approximately 24%.

The Company had gross margin per barrel of $0.22 per barrel for the fourth quarter of 2022 versus $0.27 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2021 and $0.23 per barrel for the third quarter of 2022. The Company had Adjusted Operating Margin per barrel² of $0.37 per barrel for the fourth quarter of 2022, versus $0.43 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2021 and $0.36 per barrel for the third quarter of 2022. Gross margin per barrel for the year of 2022 was $0.24 per barrel versus $0.22 per barrel for the year of 2021. Adjusted Operating Margin per barrel² for the year of 2022 was $0.39 per barrel versus $0.41 per barrel for the year of 2021.

While Adjusted Operating Margins improved sequentially in the fourth quarter of 2022, operating margins for the year were negatively impacted by inflationary cost pressures and inefficiencies in water sourcing related to the rapid expansion of reuse operations necessitating increased diesel fuel costs and rental equipment.

Fourth quarter 2022 property, plant, and equipment expenditures totaled $49.5 million versus $11.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. Full year 2022 property, plant, and equipment expenditures totaled $146.5 million versus $74.7 million for the full year of 2021, in line with previously communicated expectations.

STRONG BALANCE SHEET AND LIQUIDITY

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had approximately $1.1 million in cash and an available revolving credit facility of approximately $165.0 million for a total available liquidity of approximately $166.1 million. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company utilized its revolving credit facility to fund working capital needs and growth capital investments. As of December 31, 2022, the Company’s leverage ratio was 3.0X, the midpoint of our target leverage range of 2.5-3.5X.³

FIRST QUARTER 2023 DIVIDEND

On March 3, 2023, Aris’s Board of Directors declared a dividend on its Class A common stock for the first quarter of 2023 of $0.09 per share. In conjunction with the dividend payment, a distribution of $0.09 per unit will be paid to unit holders of Solaris Midstream Holdings, LLC. The dividend will be paid on March 29, 2023, to holders of record of the Company’s Class A common stock as of the close of business on March 17, 2023. The distribution to unit holders of Solaris Midstream Holdings, LLC will be subject to the same payment and record dates.

FIRST QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2023 OPERATING AND FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

• For the first quarter of 2023, the Company expects:
  • Produced Water Handling Volumes of between 925 and 935 thousand barrels of water per day
  • Water Solutions Volumes of between 360 and 370 thousand barrels of water per day
  • Adjusted Operating Margins between $0.36 and $0.39 per barrel of Total Volumes⁴
  • Adjusted EBITDA between $33.0 and $35.0 million⁴
  • Capital Expenditures between $45.0 and $55.0 million⁵
• For the full year of 2023, the Company expects:
  • Produced Water Handling Volumes of between 1.01 million and 1.04 million barrels of water per day
  • Water Solutions Volumes of between 375 and 395 thousand barrels of water per day
  • Adjusted Operating Margins between $0.38 and $0.41 per barrel of Total Volumes⁴
  • Adjusted EBITDA between $150.0 and $170.0 million⁴
  • Capital Expenditures between $140.0 and $155.0 million⁵ including:
    • $110-120 million of growth capital
    • $16-18 million of system optimization and operating cost reduction capital
    • $11-13 million of asset integrity and maintenance capital
    • $3-4 million of non-recurring accounting software implementation, SOX compliance, office space and other expenditures

“In 2023, we are forecasting continued strong year-over-year volume growth of 15% – 20% in our core Produced Water Handling business,” said Amanda Brock. “While the rate of completions on our acreage has moderated, leading to a slightly lower outlook for Water Solutions this year, we are continuing to grow our Produced Water volumes in line with overall basin oil production growth. In order to capture these increasing Produced Water volumes, we will invest in growth capital, although we expect our spending on growth projects to be down versus last year. The balance of our capital spend is designed to drive operating cost improvements and position our Company for sustained growth in 2024 and beyond.”

“We made sequential progress on our margins at the end of 2022 and anticipate margins will continue to improve over the course of 2023 as we connect our newer recycling facilities to line power and drive other cost efficiencies on our system. While we have been a volume-driven growth company since inception, we remain selective as we evaluate new growth opportunities and work towards becoming free cash flow positive,” Ms. Brock concluded.

CONFERENCE CALL

Aris will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2022 results on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time (9:00 a.m. Eastern Time).

Participants should call (877) 407-5792 and refer to Aris Water Solutions, Inc. when dialing in. Participants are encouraged to log in to the webcast or dial in to the conference call approximately ten minutes prior to the start time. To listen via live webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.ariswater.com.

An audio replay of the conference call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and will remain available for approximately fourteen days. The replay can be accessed by dialing (877) 660-6853 within the United States or (201) 612-7415 outside of the United States. The access code is 13736196.

About Aris Water Solutions, Inc.

Aris Water Solutions, Inc. is a leading, growth-oriented environmental infrastructure and solutions company that directly helps its customers reduce their water and carbon footprints. Aris Water delivers full-cycle water handling and recycling solutions that increase the sustainability of energy company operations. Its integrated pipelines and related infrastructure create long-term value by delivering high-capacity, comprehensive produced water management, recycling and supply solutions to operators in the core areas of the Permian Basin.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “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. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those regarding the Company’s business strategy, its industry, its future profitability and our projected guidance for 2023, the various risks and uncertainties associated with the extraordinary inflationary environment and impacts resulting from the volatility in global oil markets, expected capital expenditures and the impact of such expenditures on performance, management changes, current and potential future long-term contracts and the Company’s future business and financial performance and our ability to identify strategic acquisitions and realize benefits therefrom. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “guidance,” “preliminary,” “project,” “estimate,” “outlook,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “intend,” “plan,” “targets,” “believe,” “forecast,” “future,” “potential,” “may,” “possible,” “should,” “could” and variations of such words or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and assumptions regarding its business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including our projected guidance for 2023. Factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed or referenced in its filings made from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Factors or events that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

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1 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income are non-GAAP financial measures. See the supplementary schedules in this press release for a discussion of how we define and calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income and a reconciliation thereof to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

2 Adjusted Operating Margin per Barrel is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the supplementary schedules in this press release for a discussion of how we define and calculate Adjusted Operating Margin per Barrel and a reconciliation thereof to gross margin, the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

3 Defined as net debt as of 12/31/2022 divided by annualized 4Q2022 Adjusted EBITDA. Net debt is calculated as total debt less cash and cash equivalents.

4 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Margins are non-GAAP financial measures. See the supplementary schedules in this press release for a discussion of how we define and calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Margins per Barrel.

5 Calculated on capital costs incurred during the period, excluding the impact of working capital.

Table 1 Aris Water Solutions, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for share and		Three Months Ended						Year Ended
per share amounts)		December 31,						December 31,
		2022			2021			2022			2021
Revenue
Produced Water Handling		$	41,061		$	27,118		$	151,360		$	98,486
Produced Water Handling—Affiliates			24,023			24,382			93,107			86,598
Water Solutions			13,928			13,297			60,672			25,121
Water Solutions—Affiliates			3,516			2,182			15,156			19,046
Other Revenue			342			—			706			—
Total Revenue			82,870			66,979			321,001			229,251
Cost of Revenue
Direct Operating Costs			38,143			24,211			139,480			90,914
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion			17,800			15,217			67,524			60,767
Total Cost of Revenue			55,943			39,428			207,004			151,681
Operating Costs and Expenses
Abandoned Well Costs			1,134			1,103			15,771			28,505
General and Administrative			11,890			12,026			45,220			27,266
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets			—			—			15,597			—
Research and Development Expense			161			—			691			—
Other Operating Expense			396			67			2,212			2,657
Total Operating Expenses			13,581			13,196			79,491			58,428
Operating Income			13,346			14,355			34,506			19,142
Other Expense
Interest Expense, Net			7,322			7,618			29,185			25,473
Other			—			—			—			380
Total Other Expense			7,322			7,618			29,185			25,853
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes			6,024			6,737			5,321			(6,711	)
Income Tax Expense			605			379			524			298
Net Income (Loss)			5,419			6,358			4,797			(7,009	)
Equity Accretion and Dividend—Redeemable Preferred Units			—			—			—			21
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders’/Members’ Equity			5,419			6,358			4,797			(6,988	)
Net Income (Loss) Equity Accretion and Dividend Prior to IPO			—			3,037			—			(10,309	)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests			3,590			2,209			3,097			2,209
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Aris Water Solutions, Inc.		$	1,829		$	1,112		$	1,700		$	1,112
Net Income (Loss) Per Share of Class A Common Stock
Basic		$	0.06		$	0.05		$	0.04		$	0.05
Diluted		$	0.06		$	0.05		$	0.04		$	0.05
Weighted Average Shares of Class A Common Stock Outstanding
Basic			27,946,505			20,888,675			24,070,934			20,888,675
Diluted			28,051,871			20,888,675			24,146,215			20,888,675

Table 2 Aris Water Solutions, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for share and per share amounts)		December 31,
		2022				2021
Assets
Cash		$	1,122			$	60,055
Accounts Receivable, Net			81,683				41,973
Accounts Receivable from Affiliates			46,029				20,191
Other Receivables			4,354				4,126
Prepaids and Deposits			5,805				6,043
Total Current Assets			138,993				132,388
Fixed Assets
Property, Plant and Equipment			907,784				700,756
Accumulated Depreciation			(88,681	)			(67,749	)
Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net			819,103				633,007
Intangible Assets, Net			269,845				304,930
Goodwill			34,585				34,585
Deferred Income Tax Assets, Net			30,424				19,933
Right-of-Use Assets			9,135				—
Other Assets			1,281				1,850
Total Assets		$	1,303,366			$	1,126,693
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Accounts Payable		$	22,982			$	7,082
Payables to Affiliates			3,021				1,499
Accrued and Other Current Liabilities			65,411				40,464
Total Current Liabilities			91,414				49,045
Long-Term Debt, Net of Debt Issuance Costs			428,921				392,051
Asset Retirement Obligation			17,543				6,158
Tax Receivable Agreement Liability			97,980				75,564
Other Long-Term Liabilities			10,421				1,336
Total Liabilities			646,279				524,154
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 authorized. None issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021			—				—
Class A Common Stock $0.01 par value, 600,000,000 authorized, 30,115,979 issued and 29,919,217 outstanding as of December 31, 2022; 21,858,022 issued and 21,847,831 outstanding as of December 31, 2021			300				218
Class B Common Stock $0.01 par value, 180,000,000 authorized, 27,575,519 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022; 31,716,104 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021			276				317
Treasury Stock (at Cost), 196,762 shares as of December 31, 2022; 10,191 shares as of December 31, 2021			(2,891	)			(135	)
Additional Paid-in-Capital			319,545				212,926
Accumulated Deficit			(7,722	)			(457	)
Total Stockholders’ Equity Attributable to Aris Water Solutions, Inc.			309,508				212,869
Noncontrolling Interests			347,579				389,670
Total Stockholders’ Equity			657,087				602,539
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity		$	1,303,366			$	1,126,693

Table 3 Aris Water Solutions, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
			Three Months Ended							Year Ended
(in thousands)			December 31,							December 31,
			2022				2021			2022				2021
Cash Flow from Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss)		$	5,419			$	6,358			$	4,797			$	(7,009	)
Adjustments to reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Net Cash provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion			17,800				15,217				67,524				60,767
Deferred Income Tax Expense			562				379				466				379
Stock-Based Compensation			2,900				1,586				12,034				1,586
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets			—				—				15,597				—
Abandoned Well Costs			1,134				1,103				15,771				28,505
Loss (Gain) on Disposal of Asset, Net			(3	)			50				478				275
Abandoned Projects			6				12				72				2,047
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs, Net			580				553				2,143				1,873
Other			312				—				623				596
Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities:
Accounts Receivable			(5,128	)			(10,225	)			(38,811	)			(21,456	)
Accounts Receivable from Affiliates			(20,257	)			1,393				(25,838	)			(8,653	)
Other Receivables			1,301				133				(838	)			364
Prepaids, Deposits and Other Current Assets			(3,977	)			(4,694	)			238				(2,178	)
Accounts Payable			(1,330	)			(4,987	)			1,903				(8,271	)
Payables to Affiliates			609				330				1,522				(385	)
Deferred Revenue			—				(93	)			14				(139	)
Accrued Liabilities and Other			(6,900	)			(5,489	)			12,518				10,511
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities			(6,972	)			1,626				70,213				58,812
Cash Flow from Investing Activities
Property, Plant and Equipment Expenditures			(49,534	)			(11,936	)			(146,525	)			(74,664	)
Cash Paid for Asset Acquisitions			(1,747	)			—				(5,100	)			—
Proceeds from the Sale of Property, Plant and Equipment			7,259				—				14,700				—
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities			(44,022	)			(11,936	)			(136,925	)			(74,664	)
Cash Flow from Financing Activities
Dividends and Distributions Paid			(5,308	)			(213,186	)			(24,465	)			(213,186	)
Repurchase of Shares			(2,756	)			(135	)			(2,756	)			(135	)
Proceeds from Credit Facility			35,000				—				35,000				—
Repayment of Credit Facility			—				—				—				(297,000	)
Proceeds from issuance of Class A Common Stock sold in Initial Public Offering, Net of Underwriting Discounts and Commissions			—				249,355				—				249,355
Payment of Issuance Costs of Class A Common Stock			—				(2,058	)			—				(2,913	)
Proceeds from Senior-Sustainability Linked Notes			—				—				—				400,000
Payments of Financing Costs Related to Issuance of Senior- Sustainability Linked Notes			—				—				—				(9,352	)
Redemption of Redeemable Preferred Units			—				—				—				(74,357	)
Payments of Financing Costs Related to Credit Facility			—				—				—				(1,442	)
Members’ Contributions			—				—				—				5
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities			26,936				33,976				7,779				50,975
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash			(24,058	)			23,666				(58,933	)			35,123
Cash, Beginning of Period			25,180				36,389				60,055				24,932
Cash, End of Period		$	1,122			$	60,055			$	1,122			$	60,055

Contacts

David Tuerff

Senior Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations

832-803-0367

[email protected]

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