Company: NINE
Filing Date: 2025-03-06
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001532286-25-000008
Chunk: 39

Company: Nine Energy Service, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-03-06
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 39
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Negative public perception of the oil and gas industry could adversely affect our operations and our ability to raise debt and equity capital.

Opposition toward the oil and natural gas industry has been growing globally and is particularly pronounced in the United States. Companies in the oil and natural gas industry are often the target of activist efforts from both individuals and non-governmental organizations or subject to pressure from other stakeholders regarding safety, human rights, climate change and other environmental matters, sustainability, and business practices. Anti-development activists are working to, among other things, reduce access to federal and state government lands and delay or cancel certain operations such as drilling and development. Any such activism against oil and natural gas exploration and development may cause operational delays or restrictions, increased operating costs, additional regulatory burdens, and increased risk of litigation. 

In addition, some parties have initiated public nuisance claims under federal or state common law against certain companies involved in the production of oil and natural gas, or claims alleging that the companies have been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but failed to adequately disclose such impacts to their investors or customers. Although our business is not a party to any such litigation, we could be named in actions making similar allegations, which could lead to costs and materially impact our financial condition in an adverse way.

Negative perceptions regarding our industry and reputational risks may also in the future adversely affect our ability to successfully carry out our business strategy by adversely affecting our access to capital. Certain segments of the investor community have developed negative sentiment towards investing in our industry. Parties concerned about the potential effects of climate change have directed their attention at sources of financing for energy companies, including by promoting divestment of fossil fuel equities and pressuring lenders to limit funding and insurance underwriters to limit coverage to companies engaged in the extraction of fossil fuel reserves, which has resulted in certain financial institutions, funds, and other capital providers restricting or eliminating their investment in oil and natural gas activities. In addition, some investors, including investment advisors and certain sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, university endowments, and family foundations, have stated policies to disinvest in the oil and gas sector based on their social and environmental considerations. Further, certain investment banks and asset managers based both domestically and internationally have announced that they are adopting climate change guidelines for their banking and investing activities. Certain other stakeholders have also pressured commercial and investment banks to stop financing oil and gas production and related infrastructure projects. Institutional lenders who provide financing to energy companies have also become more attentive to sustainable lending practices, and some may elect not to