EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 2178
Filing Year: 2023
Filename: 2178_10-K_2023_0000002178-23-000038.json

---

ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Items 1 and 2. Business and Properties.
General
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. (“AE”) is a publicly traded Delaware corporation organized in 1973. Our common shares are listed on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) under the ticker symbol “AE”. Through our subsidiaries, we are primarily engaged in crude oil marketing, truck and pipeline transportation, terminalling and storage in various crude oil and natural gas basins in the lower 48 states of the United States (“U.S.”). We also conduct tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk primarily in the lower 48 states of the U.S. with deliveries into Canada and Mexico, and with nineteen terminals across the U.S. In addition, we recycle and repurpose off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals from producers in the U.S. Our headquarters are located in 22,197 square feet of office space located at 17 South Briar Hollow Lane, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77027. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “AE” are intended to mean the business and operations of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
We operate and report in four business segments: (i) crude oil marketing, transportation and storage; (ii) tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk; (iii) pipeline transportation, terminalling and storage of crude oil; and (iv) beginning in the third quarter of 2022, interstate bulk transportation logistics of crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and other petroleum products and recycling and repurposing of off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals, which includes the businesses we acquired in August 2022 (see Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report for further information regarding the acquisition). For detailed financial information regarding our business segments, see Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report.
2022 Developments
COVID-19 Update and Supply Chain
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of adverse economic effects, including changes in consumer behavior related to the economic slowdown, disruption of historical supply and demand patterns, and changes in the work force, which has affected our business and the businesses of our customers and suppliers. These adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak have impacted our operations and services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created business challenges primarily related to changes in the work force, which continues to impact our ability to hire and retain qualified truck drivers in our business units, and issues with the supply chain, resulting in delays in purchasing items, including new tractors. While demand for transportation of products and demand for crude oil has increased from 2020 levels during the initial months of the pandemic, our growth has been limited in certain markets by the availability of truck drivers.
Our primary focus continues to be the safety of our employees and operations while providing uninterrupted service to our customers. We continue to maintain the safety protocols we established, including encouraging our employees to seek vaccination when eligible. We are dependent on our workforce of truck drivers to transport crude oil and products for our customers. Developments such as social distancing and shelter-in-place directives thus far, when implemented, have not had a significant impact on our ability to deploy our workforce effectively as the transportation industry has been deemed an essential service under current Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency guidelines.
We have also been seeking ways to overcome supply shortages in tractors, by additional maintenance to extend vehicle lives, shortages in tires and other inventory by having additional items on hand and increases in the price of diesel fuel by continuing to pass costs through to customers or attempting to reduce costs through efficiencies.
We are actively monitoring the global situation and its effect on our financial condition, liquidity, operations, customers, industry and workforce. Given the ongoing evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak and the global responses to curb its spread, we cannot estimate the length or gravity of the impacts of these events at this time. The current administration has announced that the COVID-19 public health emergency will expire in May 2023. However, if the pandemic and its economic effects continue, particularly in light of new and variant strains of the virus and the plateau of vaccination rates, it may have a material adverse effect on our results of future operations, financial position and liquidity.
We plan to continue to operate our business segments with internally generated cash flows and borrowings under our credit agreement (discussed further below) during 2023, but we intend to remain flexible as the focus will be on increasing efficiencies and on business development opportunities, as well as on the hiring and retention of qualified truck drivers. During 2023, we plan to continue our efforts to diversify service offerings and leverage back haul opportunities in our transportation segment, and we plan to grow in new or existing areas with our crude oil marketing segment, while focusing on opportunities to increase our pipeline and storage capacity utilization.
Phoenix and Firebird Acquisition
On August 12, 2022, we entered into a purchase agreement with each of Scott Bosard, Trey Bosard and Tyler Bosard (collectively, the “Sellers”) to acquire all of the equity interests of Firebird Bulk Carriers, Inc. (“Firebird”) and Phoenix Oil, Inc. (“Phoenix”) for approximately $39.3 million, consisting of a cash payment of $35.4 million, 45,777 of our common shares valued at $1.4 million, of which 15,259 shares were issued immediately and 30,518 shares will be issued over a three year period, and contingent consideration valued at approximately $2.6 million. We funded the cash consideration using cash on hand at the time of the acquisition.
Firebird is an interstate bulk motor carrier of crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and other petroleum products. Firebird is headquartered in Humble, Texas, with six terminal locations throughout Texas, and operates 130 tractors and 209 trailers largely in the Eagle Ford basin. Phoenix is also headquartered in Humble, Texas, and recycles and repurposes off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals from producers in the U.S. Firebird and Phoenix have formed our new logistics and repurposing segment. We expect that this acquisition will offer us the opportunity to expand our value chain and market impact, with numerous synergies benefiting the combined companies. See Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report.
New Credit Agreement
On October 27, 2022, we entered into a new credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Cadence Bank and other lenders. The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility that allows for borrowings up to a $60.0 million principal amount from time to time and a term loan in the principal amount of $25.0 million. The Credit Agreement also provides for up to $30.0 million in letters of credit, which would reduce amounts available under the revolving credit facility by the amounts issued thereunder. The Credit Agreement replaces our prior $60.0 million credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. See Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report.
Repurchase of KSA Shares
On October 31, 2022, we entered into a Stock Repurchase Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with KSA Industries, Inc. and certain members of the family of the late Kenneth Stanley Adams, Jr., our founder (collectively, the “KSA Sellers”). Prior to the transaction, KSA Industries, Inc. was our largest shareholder. Under the terms of the Repurchase Agreement, we purchased an aggregate of 1,942,433 shares of our common stock from the KSA Sellers for an aggregate purchase price of $69.9 million, at a price of $36.00 per share. The purchase price was funded with the proceeds of the $25.0 million term loan under our credit agreement with Cadence Bank, with the balance funded with cash on hand at the time of the transaction. See Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report.
Business Segments
Crude Oil Marketing
Our crude oil marketing segment consists of the operations of our wholly owned subsidiary, GulfMark Energy, Inc. (“GulfMark”). Our crude oil marketing activities generate revenue from the sale and delivery of crude oil purchased either directly from producers or from others on the open market. We also derive revenue from third party transportation contracts. We purchase crude oil and arrange sales and deliveries to refiners and other customers, primarily onshore in Texas, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Michigan, Wyoming and Louisiana.
Our crude oil marketing activities includes a fleet of 207 tractor-trailer rigs, the majority of which we own and operate, used to transport crude oil. We also maintain approximately 180 pipeline inventory locations or injection stations. We have the ability to barge crude oil from six crude oil storage facilities along the Intracoastal Waterway of Texas and Louisiana, and we have access to approximately 889,000 barrels of storage capacity at the dock facilities in order to access waterborne markets for our products.
The following table shows the age of our owned and leased tractors and trailers within our crude oil marketing segment at December 31, 2022:
Tractors (1)
Trailers
Model Year:
2023 26 10
2022 34 -
2021 40 -
2020 51 -
2019 38 -
2017 4 -
2015 4 28
2014 9 33
2013 1 26
2012 - 29
2011 - 98
2010 and earlier - 20
Total 207 244
____________________
(1)Includes twenty-six 2023 tractors, forty 2021 tractors and thirty 2019 tractors that we lease from a third party under finance lease agreements. See Note 17 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
We purchase crude oil at the field (wellhead) level. Volume and price information were as follows for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Field level purchase volumes - per day (1)
Crude oil - barrels 94,873 89,061 91,957
Average purchase price
Crude oil - per barrel $ 92.63 $ 65.48 $ 36.90
____________________
(1)Reflects the volume purchased from third parties at the field level of operations.
Field level purchase volumes depict our day-to-day operations of acquiring crude oil at the wellhead, transporting crude oil, and delivering it to market sales points. We held crude oil inventory at a weighted average composite price as follows at the dates indicated (in barrels):
December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Average Average Average
Barrels Price Barrels Price Barrels Price
Crude oil inventory 328,562 $ 78.39 259,489 $ 71.86 421,759 $ 45.83
We deliver physical supplies to refinery customers or enter into commodity exchange transactions from time to time to protect from a decline in inventory valuation. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we had sales to two customers that comprised approximately 22.4 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively, of total consolidated revenues. We believe alternative market outlets for our commodity sales are readily available and a loss of any of these customers would not have a material adverse effect on our operations. See Note 19 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding credit risk.
Operating results for our crude oil marketing segment are sensitive to a number of factors. These factors include commodity location, grades of product, individual customer demand for grades or location of product, localized market price structures, availability of transportation facilities, actual delivery volumes that vary from expected quantities, and the timing and costs to deliver the commodity to the customer.
Transportation
Our transportation segment consists of the operations of our wholly owned subsidiary, Service Transport Company (“STC”). STC transports liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk on a “for hire” basis throughout the continental U.S., and into Canada and Mexico. For deliveries into Mexico, our drivers meet a third party carrier at the border, and the third party contractor delivers the products to the customer within Mexico. We do not own any of the products that we haul; rather we act as a third party carrier to deliver our customers’ products from point A to point B, using predominately our employees and our owned or leased tractors and trailers. However, we also use contracted independent owner operators to provide transportation services. Transportation services are provided to customers under multiple load contracts in addition to loads covered under STC’s standard price list. Our customers include major oil and chemical companies and large and mid-sized industrial companies.
STC operates nineteen terminals in eleven states: (i) Texas, with terminals in Houston, Corpus Christi, Nederland and Freeport; (ii) Louisiana, with terminals in Baton Rouge (St. Gabriel), St. Rose and Sterlington; (iii) Florida, with terminals in Jacksonville and Tampa; (iv) Georgia, with terminals in Atlanta and Augusta; (v) Mobile, Alabama; (vi) Charlotte, North Carolina; (vii) Cincinnati, Ohio; (viii) South Charleston, West Virginia; (ix) West Memphis, Arkansas; (x) Illinois, with terminals in East St. Louis and Joliet; and (xi) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The St. Gabriel, Louisiana and the Corpus Christi, Texas terminals are situated on 11.5 acres and 3.5 acres, respectively, that we own, and both include an office building, maintenance bays and tank cleaning facilities.
Transportation operations are headquartered at a terminal facility situated on 26.5 acres that we own in Houston, Texas. This property includes maintenance facilities, administrative offices and terminal facility, tank wash rack facilities and a water treatment system. Pursuant to regulatory requirements, STC holds a Hazardous Materials Certificate of Registration issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”).
The following table shows the age of our owned and leased tractors and trailers within our transportation segment at December 31, 2022:
Tractors (1) (2)
Trailers (3)
Model Year:
2023 10 13
2022 33 51
2021 33 12
2020 137 100
2019 82 -
2018 1 20
2016 26 6
2015 13 75
2014 - 34
2013 - 5
2012 - 28
2008 and earlier - 422
Total 335 766
____________________
(1)Excludes 92 contracted independent owner operator tractors.
(2)Includes ten 2023 tractors and thirty-three 2021 tractors that we lease from third parties under finance lease agreements.
(3)Includes thirteen 2023 trailers, twenty 2020 trailers and twenty 2018 trailers that we lease from third parties under finance lease agreements. See Note 17 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Miles traveled was as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Mileage 26,510 27,902 24,239
All company and independent contractor tractors are equipped with in-cab communication technology, enabling two-way communications between our dispatch office and our drivers, through both standardized and free-form messaging, including electronic logging. We have also installed electronic logging devices (ELDs) on 100 percent of our tractor fleet. This technology enables us to dispatch drivers efficiently in response to customers’ requests and to provide real-time information to customers about the status of their shipments. We have also equipped our tractor fleet with forward-facing and inward facing event recorders. These cameras are constantly recording the movements of the vehicles, and our management team is alerted via email in the event the unit triggers a G-force event. A snapshot of this recording is then sent to the management team for review.
STC holds the American Chemistry Council’s certification as a Responsible Care Management System (“RCMS”) company. The scope of this RCMS certification covers the carriage of bulk liquids throughout STC’s area of operations as well as the tank trailer cleaning facilities and equipment maintenance. Certification was granted based on STC’s conformance to the RCMS’s comprehensive environmental health, safety and security requirements. STC’s quality management process is one of its major assets. The practice of using statistical process control covering safety, on-time performance and customer satisfaction aids continuous improvement in all areas of quality service.
STC is a Partner in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) SmartWay Transport Partnership, a national voluntary program developed by the EPA and freight industry representatives to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution and promote cleaner, more efficient ground freight transportation.
During 2020, STC applied for and received its first bronze star rating from EcoVadis, a global leader in monitoring, benchmarking and enabling sustainability in global supply chains.
During 2022, STC won the National Tank Truck Carriers’ (“NTTC”) Heil Trophy Award for its 2021 efforts. This esteemed award recognizes tank truck operations in North America with the best safety program and safety record for the year. STC claimed NTTC’s Heil Trophy Award in the Harvison division, which spotlights carriers whose trucks traveled more than 15 million miles during the previous year. NTTC’s longest-running safety contest annually recognizes North American for-hire and private tank truck fleets with elite safety programs and records. Winners are determined by their safety records, safety and preventive maintenance programs, personnel safety programs and record, and contributions to tank truck industry and general highway safety causes.
STC is a member of Texas TRANSCAER®, a non-profit organization with membership from the chemical, transportation and emergency response industries. The mission of Texas TRANSCAER® is to promote safe transportation and handling of hazardous materials, educate about the safety and security of hazardous materials that are transported through communities, and provide education and training for emergency responders along transportation routes. As members of Texas TRANSCAER®, STC Safety Personnel assist with training events for first responders all over Texas.
Our strategy is to build long-term relationships with our customers based upon the highest level of customer service, safety and reliability. We believe that our commitment to safety, flexibility, size and capabilities provide us with a competitive advantage over other carriers.
Pipeline and Storage
Our pipeline and storage segment consists of the operations of two of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, which constitute the VEX Pipeline System: (i) Victoria Express Pipeline, L.L.C. (“VEX”), which we acquired on October 22, 2020 and which owns the VEX pipeline, and (ii) GulfMark Terminals, LLC (“GMT”), which was formed in October 2020 to hold the related terminal facility assets we acquired with the VEX Pipeline System. The VEX Pipeline System complements our existing storage terminal and dock at the Port of Victoria, where with our crude oil marketing segment, we control approximately 450,000 barrels of storage with three docks.
Through 2021, pipeline and storage segment revenues were earned from a third-party shipper under a contract that had been in place at the time of the acquisition, and revenues were also earned from GulfMark, an affiliated shipper. The third-party contract ended in 2021, and all pipeline and storage segment revenues are now earned from GulfMark. We are currently constructing a new pipeline connection between the VEX Pipeline System and the Max Midstream pipeline system, and we expect to complete construction and place the assets into commercial service during the second quarter of 2023. In addition, we are exploring new connections with several other pipeline systems, for new crude oil supply opportunities both upstream and downstream of the pipeline, to enhance the crude oil supply and take-away capability of the system.
Volume information was as follows for the periods indicated (in barrels per day):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Pipeline throughput (1)
11,084 7,670 1,395
Terminalling (1)
11,296 8,132 2,581
____________________
(1)2020 amounts represent the period from acquisition, October 22, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
The VEX Pipeline System, with truck and storage terminals at both Cuero and the Port of Victoria, Texas, is a crude oil and condensate pipeline system, which connects the heart of the Eagle Ford Basin to the Gulf Coast waterborne market. The VEX Pipeline System includes 56 miles of 12-inch pipeline, which spans DeWitt County to Port of Victoria in Victoria County, Texas, with approximately 350,000 barrels of above ground storage at its two terminals. The pipeline system has a current capacity of 90,000 barrels per day and is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and the Texas Railroad Commission. The VEX Pipeline System can receive crude oil by pipeline and truck, and has downstream pipeline connections to two terminals today, with potential for additional downstream connection opportunities in the future.
The Cuero terminal has 40,000 barrels per day of offload capacity via eight truck unloading stations, with two 80,000-barrel storage tanks and one 16,000-barrel storage tank. The Port of Victoria terminal has 40,000 barrels per day of truck offload capacity via eight truck unloading stations and water access via two barge docks, which have been leased from the Port Authority in Victoria. The Port of Victoria has four 40,000-barrel storage tanks and one 10,000-barrel storage tank.
The VEX Pipeline System supports GulfMark’s Gulf Coast region crude oil supply and marketing business and integrates into GulfMark’s value chain, serving as the link between producers/operators and our end-user markets we supply directly along the Gulf Coast waterborne market. We have the opportunity to increase our efficiency by more effectively managing the pipeline and terminalling portion of our overall transportation costs.
Logistics and Repurposing
Our new logistics and repurposing segment consists of the operations of two of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Firebird and Phoenix, which we acquired on August 12, 2022. Firebird is headquartered in Humble, Texas, and operates six terminal locations throughout Texas. Firebird transports crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and other petroleum products on a “for hire” basis largely in the Eagle Ford basin. We do not own any of the products that we haul through Firebird; rather we act as a third-party carrier to deliver our customers’ products from point A to point B, using predominately our employees and our owned or leased tractors and trailers. However, we also use contracted independent owner-operators to provide transportation services. Firebird provides transportation services to customers under multiple load contracts in addition to loads covered under its standard price list. Our customers include major oil and chemical companies and large and mid-sized industrial companies. Firebird provides crude oil transportation services to GulfMark, when additional trucking capacity is required.
Phoenix is also headquartered in Humble, Texas. It repurposes and finds beneficial uses for off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals from producers in the U.S. With an advanced laboratory, sophisticated technology, and access to an expansive fleet of trucks, Phoenix can provide a solution for customers needing help managing off-specification fuels or oils. In addition to the removal from the customer site, Phoenix markets these refinery and plant co-products into the fuels or feedstock markets. Phoenix markets on approximately six different levels, ranging from heavy fuel oils to light-end naphthas. Phoenix utilizes Firebird’s fleet to assist in the transportation of these products, and has begun to utilize STC to also assist in the transportation of these products.
The following table shows the age of our tractors and trailers (all of which are owned) within our logistics and repurposing segment at December 31, 2022:
Tractors
Trailers
Model Year:
2023 9 -
2022 - 1
2021 21 1
2020 14 2
2019 16 2
2018 23 3
2017 1 1
2016 9 4
2015 8 17
2014 6 32
2013 1 15
2012 11 44
2011 - 16
2010 and earlier 8 71
Total 127 209
All company and independent tractors in this segment are equipped with similar in-cab communication technology and event recorders as our STC tractors, described above under “-Transportation”. All tractors are also equipped with electronic logs.
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate
We own an approximate 15 percent equity interest (less than 3 percent voting interest) in VestaCare, Inc., a California corporation (“VestaCare”), through Adams Resources Medical Management, Inc. (“ARMM”), a wholly owned subsidiary. We acquired our interest in VestaCare in April 2016 for a $2.5 million cash payment, which we impaired in 2017. VestaCare provides an array of software as a service (SaaS) electronic payment technologies to medical providers, payers and patients including VestaCare’s product offering, VestaPay™. VestaPay™ allows medical care providers to structure fully automated and dynamically updating electronic payment plans for their patients. We do not currently have any plans to pursue additional medical-related investments. See Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Competition
In all phases of our operations, we encounter strong competition from a number of regional and national entities. Many of these competitors possess financial resources substantially in excess of ours and may have a more expansive geographic footprint than we have. We face competition principally in establishing trade credit, pricing of available materials, quality of service and location of service. Our strategy is to build long-term partnerships with our customers based upon the safety of our operations, reliability and superior customer service.
Our crude oil marketing segment and our logistics and repurposing segment compete with major crude oil companies and other large industrial concerns that own or control significant refining, midstream and marketing facilities. These major crude oil companies may offer their products to others on more favorable terms than those available to us.
In the trucking industry, the tank lines transportation business is extremely competitive and fragmented. Price, service and location are the major competitive factors in each local market.
Seasonality
In the trucking industry, revenue has historically followed a seasonal pattern for various commodities and customer businesses. Peak freight demand has historically occurred in the months of September, October and November. After the December holiday season and during the remaining winter months, freight volumes are typically lower as many customers reduce shipment levels. Operating expenses have historically been higher in the winter months primarily due to decreased fuel efficiency, increased cold weather-related maintenance costs, and increased insurance claim costs attributable to adverse winter weather conditions. Revenue can also be impacted by weather, holidays and the number of business days that occur during a given period, as revenue is directly related to the available working days of shippers.
Although our crude oil marketing segment and our logistics and repurposing segment are not materially affected by seasonality, certain aspects of our operations are impacted by seasonal changes, such as tropical weather conditions, energy demand in connection with heating and cooling requirements and the summer driving season.
Inflation and Other Cost Increases
Most of our operating expenses are inflation-sensitive, with inflation generally producing increased costs of operations. We are experiencing increased inflation in the costs of various goods and services we use to operate our business, including the cost of equipment, tires, repairs and maintenance and compensation paid to drivers. These and other factors may continue to impact our costs, expenses and capital expenditures, and could continue to have an impact on customer demand for our services as customers manage the impact of inflation on their resources.
In order to mitigate the effect of price increases on our business, we have entered into monthly commodity purchase and sale contracts for up to 300,000 barrels of crude oil and a commodity purchase contract for the purchase of 126,000 gallons of diesel fuel per month during January 2023 through December 2023. See Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding these contracts.
In addition to inflation, fluctuations in fuel prices can affect profitability. Most of our transportation contracts with customers contain fuel surcharge provisions. Although we historically have been able to pass through most long-term increases in fuel prices and operating taxes to customers in the form of surcharges and higher rates, there is no guarantee that this will be possible in the future. See “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Regulatory Matters
We are subject to an extensive variety of evolving federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations governing the storage, transportation, manufacture, use, discharge, release and disposal of product and contaminants into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. Below is a non-exclusive listing of the environmental laws that potentially impact our business.
•The Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended.
•The Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended.
•The Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended.
•The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, as amended.
•The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act.
•The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended.
•Texas Clean Air Act.
•Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act.
•Texas Water Code.
•Texas Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 1991, as amended.
Railroad Commission of Texas (“RRC”)
The RRC regulates, among other things, the drilling and operation of crude oil and natural gas wells, the operation of crude oil and natural gas pipelines, the disposal of crude oil and natural gas production wastes, and certain storage of crude oil and natural gas in Texas. RRC regulations govern the generation, management and disposal of waste from these crude oil and natural gas operations and provide for the cleanup of contamination from crude oil and natural gas operations. These regulations primarily affect our crude oil marketing segment, our pipeline and storage segment and our logistics and repurposing segment.
Louisiana Office of Conservation
The Louisiana Office of Conservation has primary statutory responsibility for regulation and conservation of crude oil, natural gas, and other natural resources in the State of Louisiana. Their objectives are to (i) regulate the exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbons, (ii) control and allocate energy supplies and distribution thereof, and (iii) protect public safety and the environment from oilfield waste, including the regulation of underground injection and disposal practices.
Trucking Activities
Our crude oil marketing, transportation and logistics and repurposing businesses operate truck fleets pursuant to the authority of the DOT and various state authorities. Trucking operations must be conducted in accordance with various laws relating to pollution and environmental control as well as safety requirements prescribed by states and by the DOT. Matters such as weight and dimension of equipment are also subject to federal and state regulations. These regulations also require mandatory drug testing of drivers and require certain tests for alcohol levels in drivers and other safety personnel. The regulations also impose hours of service restrictions and mandatory rest periods. The trucking industry is subject to possible regulatory and legislative changes, such as increasingly stringent environmental requirements or limits on vehicle weight and size. Regulatory change may affect the economics of the industry by requiring changes in operating practices or by changing the demand for private and common or contract carrier services or the cost of providing truckload services. In addition, our tank wash facilities are subject to increasingly stringent local, state and federal environmental regulations.
We have implemented security procedures for drivers and terminal facilities. Satellite tracking transponders installed in the power units are used to communicate emergencies to us and to maintain constant information as to the unit’s location. If necessary, our terminal personnel will notify local law enforcement agencies. In addition, we are able to advise a customer of the status and location of their loads. Remote cameras and enhanced lighting coverage in the staging and parking areas have augmented terminal security. We have a focus on safety in the communities in which we operate, including leveraging camera technology to enhance driver behavior and awareness. Our crude oil marketing and transportation businesses are Partners in the EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, a national voluntary program developed by the EPA and freight industry representatives to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution and promote cleaner, more efficient ground freight transportation.
FERC Regulation
The VEX Pipeline System, which we acquired in 2020, is regulated by the FERC as a common carrier interstate pipeline under the Interstate Commerce Act (“ICA”), the Energy Policy Act of 1992, and related rules and orders. The ICA and its implementing regulations give the FERC authority to regulate the rates charged for service on interstate common carrier pipelines and generally require the rates and practices of interstate liquids pipelines to be just, reasonable, not unduly discriminatory and not unduly preferential. The ICA also requires tariffs that set forth the rates a common carrier pipeline charges for providing transportation services on its interstate common carrier liquids pipelines, as well as the rules and regulations governing these services, to be maintained on file with the FERC and posted publicly. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 and its implementing regulations allow interstate common carrier liquids pipelines to annually index their rates up to a prescribed ceiling level and require that such pipelines index their rates down to the prescribed ceiling level if the index is negative. In addition, the FERC retains cost-of-service ratemaking, market-based rates and settlement rates as alternatives to the indexing approach. The
ICA also permits interested parties to challenge new or changed rates and gives the FERC the authority to change rates and order refunds.
Changes in the FERC’s methodologies for approving rates could adversely affect us. In addition, challenges to our regulated rates could be filed with the FERC and future decisions by the FERC regarding our regulated rates could adversely affect our cash flows. We believe the transportation rates currently charged by our interstate liquids pipeline is in accordance with the ICA and applicable FERC regulations. However, we cannot predict the rates we will be allowed to charge in the future for transportation services by such pipeline.
Pipeline Safety
We are subject to regulation by the DOT as authorized under various provisions of Title 49 of the United States Code and comparable state statutes relating to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of our pipeline facilities. Among other things, these statutes also require companies that own or operate pipelines to permit access to and copying of pertinent records, file certain reports and provide other information as required by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The DOT regulates natural gas and hazardous liquids pipelines through its Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”). We believe we are in material compliance with DOT regulations.
The development and/or implementation of more stringent requirements pursuant to DOT regulations, as well as any implementation of the PHMSA rules thereunder or reinterpretation of guidance by PHMSA or any state agencies with respect thereto, may result in us incurring significant and unanticipated expenditures to comply with such standards. Until any such proposed regulations or guidance are finalized or issued, the impact on our operations, if any, cannot be known.
Regulatory Status and Potential Environmental Liability
Our operations and facilities are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations including those described above, as well as associated permitting and licensing requirements. We regard compliance with applicable environmental regulations as a critical component of our overall operation, and devote significant attention to providing quality service and products to our customers, protecting the health and safety of our employees, and protecting our facilities from damage. We believe we have obtained or applied for all permits and approvals required under existing environmental laws and regulations to operate our current business. We are not subject to any pending or threatened environmental litigation or enforcement actions which could materially and adversely affect our business.
We have, where appropriate, implemented operating procedures at each of our facilities designed to assure compliance with environmental laws and regulation. However, given the nature of our business, we are subject to environmental risks, and the possibility remains that our ownership of our facilities and our operations and activities could result in civil or criminal enforcement and public as well as private actions against us, which may necessitate or generate mandatory cleanup activities, revocation of required permits or licenses, denial of application for future permits, and/or significant fines, penalties or damages, any and all of which could have a material adverse effect on us. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for further discussion. At December 31, 2022, we are not aware of any unresolved environmental issues for which additional accounting accruals are necessary.
Human Capital Resources
General
Our business strategy and ability to serve customers relies on employing talented professionals and attracting, training, developing and retaining a skilled workforce.
There is substantial competition for qualified truck drivers in the trucking industry. Recruitment, training, and retention of a professional driver workforce is essential to our continued growth and fulfillment of customer needs. We hire qualified professional drivers who hold a valid commercial driver’s license, satisfy applicable federal and state safety performance and measurement requirements, and meet our hiring criteria. These guidelines relate primarily to safety history, road test evaluations, and various other evaluations, which include physical examinations and mandatory drug and alcohol testing. We provide comfortable, late model equipment, encourage direct communication with management, pay competitive wages and benefits, and offer other incentives intended to encourage driver safety, retention and long-term employment. Prior to being released for individual duty, each new hire is required to undergo a mandatory training and evaluation period by a certified driver trainer/instructor. The length of this training period will be dependent on experience and the new hire adaptation to company policies and procedures.
Employees
At December 31, 2022, we employed 882 persons, of which 608, or 69 percent, were truck drivers. We believe our employee relations are satisfactory, and none of our employees are subject to union contracts or part of a collective bargaining unit.
Independent Contractors
In addition to company drivers, we enter into contracts with independent contractors, who provide a tractor and a driver and are responsible for all operating expenses in exchange for an agreed upon fee structure. At December 31, 2022, we had 92 independent contractor operated tractors in our transportation segment, which comprised approximately 13 percent of our professional truck driving fleet.
Health and Safety
Safety is one of our guiding principles as we are committed to providing our employees a safe working environment. We have implemented safety programs and management practices to promote a culture of safety. We are continuously working toward maintaining a strong safety culture to emphasize the importance of our employees’ role in identifying, mitigating and communicating safety risks.
In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have updated and implemented our pandemic plan to ensure the continuation of safe and reliable service to customers and to maintain the safety of our employees, as well as to incorporate any new governmental guidance and rules and regulations regarding workplace safety. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been deemed an essential entity by virtue of the transportation services we provide.
Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to providing a professional work environment where all employees are treated with respect and dignity and provided with equal opportunities. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also support the hiring of veterans and are honored to provide opportunities to men and women who have served their respective countries.
We also partner with the Women in Trucking Association to support our efforts to advance the careers of women and gender diversity. It is our goal to empower the professional development of all employees and to operate from a mindset of sharing, caring, inclusion and equity.
We support basic human rights throughout our business enterprise and prohibit the use of child, compulsory or forced labor. Our employees are strictly prohibited from using our equipment to transport, or our facilities to shelter, unauthorized persons, or to take any other act in support of human trafficking or human rights abuses. Employees are required to immediately report any human trafficking concerns to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
We work with Truckers Against Trafficking (“TAT”) to train all over-the-road drivers on how to spot and report signs of human trafficking. Our drivers receive training from TAT and become registered as TAT trained and certified.
Benefits
Our compensation and benefits programs are designed to attract, retain and motivate our employees and to reward them for their services and success. In addition to providing competitive salaries and other compensation opportunities, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits to our eligible employees including, depending on location, life and health (medical, dental and vision) insurance, prescription drug benefits, flexible spending accounts, parental leave, disability coverage, mental and behavioral health resources, paid time off and retirement savings plan.
Available Information
We electronically file certain documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We file Annual Reports on Form 10-K; Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q; and Current Reports on Form 8-K (as appropriate); along with any related amendments and supplements thereto.
We also make available free of charge, through the “Investor Relations” link on our website, www.adamsresources.com, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, simultaneously with or as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such materials with, or furnishing such materials to, the SEC. The information on our website, or information about us on any other website, is not incorporated by reference into this report.

---

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
An investment in our common stock involves certain risks. If any of the following key risks were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In any such circumstance and others described below, the trading price of our securities could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment.
Risk Related to our Business
Difficulty in attracting and retaining drivers could negatively affect our operations and limit our growth.
There is substantial competition for qualified personnel, particularly drivers, in the trucking industry. We operate in geographic areas where there is currently a shortage of drivers. Regulatory requirements, including electronic logging, and an improving U.S. jobs market, could continue to reduce the number of eligible drivers in our markets. Any shortage of drivers could result in temporary under-utilization of our equipment, difficulty in meeting our customers’ demands and increased compensation levels, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. A loss of qualified drivers could lead to an increased frequency in the number of accidents, potential claims exposure and, indirectly, insurance costs.
Difficulty in attracting qualified drivers could also require us to limit our growth. Our strategy is to grow in part by expanding existing customer relationships into new markets. However, we may have difficulty finding qualified drivers on a timely basis when presented with new customer opportunities, which could result in our inability to accept or service this business or could require us to increase the wages we pay in order to attract drivers. If we are unable to hire qualified drivers to service business opportunities in new markets, we may have to temporarily send drivers from existing terminals to those new markets, causing us to incur significant costs relating to out-of-town driver pay and expenses. In making acquisitions and converting private fleets, some of the drivers in those fleets may not meet our standards, which would require us to find qualified drivers to replace them. If we are unable to find and retain such qualified drivers on terms acceptable to us, we may be forced to forgo opportunities to expand or maintain our business.
Our business is dependent on the ability to obtain trade and other credit.
Our future development and growth depends, in part, on our ability to successfully obtain credit from suppliers and other parties. We rely on trade credit arrangements as a significant source of liquidity for capital requirements not satisfied by operating cash flow, our revolving line of credit or letters of credit. If global financial markets and economic conditions disrupt and reduce stability in general, and the solvency of creditors specifically, the availability of funding from credit markets would be reduced as many lenders and institutional investors would enact tighter lending standards, refuse to refinance existing debt on terms similar to current debt or, in some cases, cease to provide funding to borrowers. These issues coupled with weak economic conditions would make it more difficult for us, our suppliers and our customers to obtain funding. If we are unable to obtain trade or other forms of credit on reasonable and competitive terms, the ability to continue our marketing businesses, pursue improvements, and continue future growth will be limited. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain future credit arrangements on commercially reasonable terms.
The financial soundness of customers could affect our business and operating results.
Constraints in the financial markets and other macro-economic challenges that might affect the economy of the U.S. and other parts of the world could cause our customers to experience cash flow concerns. As a result, if our customers’ operating and financial performance deteriorates, or if they are unable to make scheduled payments or obtain credit, customers would not be able to pay, or may delay payment of, accounts receivable owed to us. Any inability of current and/or potential customers to pay for services may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We generate revenues under contracts that must be renegotiated periodically.
Substantially all of our revenues are generated under contracts which expire periodically or which must be frequently renegotiated, extended or replaced. Whether these contracts are renegotiated, extended or replaced is often subject to factors beyond our control. These factors include sudden fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, our counterparties’ ability to pay for or accept the contracted volumes and, most importantly, an extremely competitive marketplace for the services we offer. We cannot assure you that the costs and pricing of our services can remain competitive in the marketplace or that we will be successful in renegotiating our contracts.
Anticipated or scheduled volumes will differ from actual or delivered volumes.
Our crude oil marketing business purchases initial production of crude oil at the wellhead under contracts requiring us to accept the actual volume produced. We generally resell this production under contracts requiring a fixed volume to be delivered. We estimate our anticipated supply and match that supply estimate for both volume and pricing formulas with committed sales volumes. Since actual wellhead volumes produced will rarely equal anticipated supply, our marketing margins may be adversely impacted. In many instances, any losses resulting from the difference between actual supply volumes compared to committed sales volumes must be absorbed by us.
We may face opposition to the operation of our pipeline and facilities from various groups.
We may face opposition to the operation of our pipeline and facilities from environmental groups, landowners, tribal groups, local groups and other advocates. Such opposition could take many forms, including organized protests, attempts to block or sabotage our operations, intervention in regulatory or administrative proceedings involving our assets, or lawsuits or other actions designed to prevent, disrupt or delay the operation of our assets and business. In addition, acts of sabotage or eco-terrorism could cause significant damage or injury to people, property or the environment or lead to extended interruptions of our operations. Any such event that interrupts the revenues generated by our operations, or which causes us to make significant expenditures not covered by insurance, could reduce our cash available for paying distributions to our partners and, accordingly, adversely affect our financial condition and the market price of our securities.
Our pipeline integrity program as well as compliance with pipeline safety laws and regulations may impose significant costs and liabilities on us.
If we were to incur material costs in connection with our pipeline integrity program or pipeline safety laws and regulations, those costs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The DOT requires pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs to comprehensively evaluate their pipelines. The majority of the costs to comply with this integrity management rule are associated with pipeline integrity testing and any repairs found to be necessary as a result of such testing. Changes such as advances in pipeline inspection tools and identification of additional threats to a pipeline’s integrity, among other things, can have a significant impact on the costs to perform integrity testing and repairs. We will continue our pipeline integrity testing programs to assess and maintain the integrity of our pipeline. The results of these tests could cause us to incur significant and unanticipated capital and operating expenditures for repairs or upgrades deemed necessary to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of our pipeline.
The rates of our regulated assets are subject to review and possible adjustment by federal and state regulators, which could adversely affect our revenues.
The FERC regulates the tariff rates and terms and conditions of service for our interstate common carrier liquids pipeline operations. To be lawful under the ICA, interstate tariff rates, terms and conditions of service must be just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory, and must be on file with the FERC. In addition, pipelines may not confer any undue preference upon any shipper. Shippers may protest (and the FERC may investigate) the lawfulness of new or changed tariff rates. The FERC can suspend those tariff rates for up to seven months. It can also require refunds of amounts collected pursuant to rates that are ultimately found to be unlawful and prescribe new rates prospectively. The FERC and interested parties can also challenge tariff rates that have become final and effective. The FERC can also order new rates to take effect prospectively and order reparations for past rates that exceed the just and reasonable level up to two years prior to the date of a complaint. Due to the complexity of rate making, the lawfulness of any rate is never assured. A successful challenge of our rates could adversely affect our revenues.
The intrastate liquids pipeline transportation services we provide are subject to various state laws and regulations that apply to the rates we charge and the terms and conditions of the services we offer. Although state regulation typically is less onerous than FERC regulation, the rates we charge and the provision of our services may be subject to challenge.
Environmental liabilities and environmental regulations may have an adverse effect on us.
Our business is subject to environmental hazards such as spills, leaks or any discharges of petroleum products and hazardous substances. These environmental hazards could expose us to material liabilities for property damage, personal injuries, and/or environmental harms, including the costs of investigating and rectifying contaminated properties.
Environmental laws and regulations govern many aspects of our business, such as transportation and waste management. Compliance with environmental laws and regulations can require significant costs or may require a decrease in business activities. Moreover, noncompliance with these laws and regulations could subject us to significant administrative, civil, and/or criminal fines and/or penalties, as well as potential injunctive relief. See discussion under “Item 1 and 2. Business and Properties - Regulatory Matters,” and in the sections that follow, for additional detail.
Restrictions and covenants in our credit agreement reduce operating flexibility and create the potential for defaults, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Under our credit agreement, we may borrow or issue letters of credit in an aggregate of up to $60.0 million under a revolving credit facility, subject to our compliance with certain financial covenants. The credit agreement also includes a term loan in the initial principal amount of $25.0 million. At December 31, 2022, we had $24.4 million of borrowings outstanding under the term loan and $8.4 million of letters of credit issued under the credit agreement.
The terms of our credit agreement restrict our ability to, among other things (and subject in each case, to various exceptions and conditions):
•incur additional indebtedness,
•create additional liens on our assets,
•make certain investments,
•pay dividends,
•dispose of our assets or engage in a merger or other similar transaction, or
•engage in transactions with affiliates.
Our ability to comply with the financial covenants in the credit agreement depends on our operating performance, which in turn depends significantly on prevailing economic, financial and business conditions and other factors that are beyond our control. Therefore, despite our best efforts and execution of our strategic plan, we may be unable to comply with these financial covenants in the future.
At December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all financial covenants. However, if in the future there are economic declines, we can make no assurance that these declines will not negatively impact our financial results and, in turn, our ability to meet these financial covenant requirements. If we fail to comply with certain covenants, including our financial covenants, we could be in default under our credit agreement. In the event of such a default, the lenders under the credit agreement are entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of the maturity of all loans and to take all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor against the collateral under the related security documents and applicable law. Any of these events could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, these restrictions reduce our operating flexibility and could prevent us from exploiting certain investment, acquisition, or other time-sensitive business opportunities.
Our indebtedness, along with the variable interest rates we pay on our indebtedness, could adversely affect our business and our ability to execute our business strategy.
We have a $25.0 million term loan and a revolving credit facility that permits us to borrow up to $60.0 million in additional loans and letters of credit (with letters of credit not to exceed $30.0 million). Our credit facility bears interest at variable rates, which will generally change as interest rates change. Currently we are experiencing, and may continue to experience, increases in interest on our variable rate loans. If interest rates increase and we do not hedge such variable rates, our debt service obligations will increase even when the amount borrowed may stay the same. In an increasing interest rate environment, we bear the risk that the rates we are charged by the lenders under our credit facility will increase faster than the earnings and cash flow of our business, which could reduce our profitability, adversely affect our ability to service our debt, cause us to breach covenants in our credit facility, or divert capital that we would otherwise be able to use to grow the business or declare dividends in order to fulfill our debt service requirements.
Risk Related to our Industry
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other health outbreaks could disrupt our operations and adversely impact our business and financial results.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of adverse economic effects, including changes in consumer behavior related to the economic slowdown, disruption of historical supply and demand patterns, and changes in the work force, which has affected our business and the businesses of our customers and suppliers. These adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak have impacted our operations and services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created business challenges primarily related to changes in the work force, which has impacted our ability to hire and retain qualified truck drivers, and created issues with the supply chain, resulting in delays in purchasing items, including new tractors. While demand for transportation of products and demand for crude oil has increased from 2020 levels during the initial months of the pandemic, our growth has been limited in certain markets by the availability of truck drivers.
Our primary focus continues to be the safety of our employees and operations while providing uninterrupted service to our customers. We continue to maintain the safety protocols we established, including encouraging our employees to seek vaccination when eligible. We are dependent on our workforce of truck drivers to transport crude oil and products for our customers. Developments such as social distancing and shelter-in-place directives thus far, when implemented, have not had a significant impact on our ability to deploy our workforce effectively as the transportation industry has been deemed an essential service under current Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency guidelines.
We have also been seeking ways to overcome supply shortages in tractors, by additional maintenance to extend vehicle lives, shortages in tires and other inventory by having additional items on hand and increases in the price of diesel fuel by continuing to pass costs through to customers or attempting to reduce costs through efficiencies. If the pandemic continues to affect global supply chains and fuel costs, we may be unable to pass costs through to customers or maintain our operating margins.
We are actively monitoring the global situation and its effect on our financial condition, liquidity, operations, customers, industry and workforce. Given the ongoing evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak and the global responses to curb its spread, we cannot estimate the length or gravity of the impacts of these events at this time. The current administration has announced that the COVID-19 public health emergency will expire in May 2023. However, if the pandemic and its economic effects continue, particularly in light of new and variant strains of the virus and the plateau of vaccination rates, it may have a material adverse effect on our results of future operations, financial position and liquidity.
Should the coronavirus continue to spread, our business operations could be delayed or interrupted. For instance, our operations would be adversely impacted if a number of our administrative personnel, drivers or field personnel are infected and become ill or are quarantined. At this time, we believe that our business would generally be exempted from shelter-in-place orders or other mandated local travel restrictions as an essential service but there can be no assurance as the scope of quarantine orders imposed by local or state governments.
While the potential economic impact brought by and the duration of the pandemic or any new pandemic may be difficult to assess or predict, it has already caused, and is likely to result in further, significant disruption of global financial markets, which may reduce our ability to access capital either at all or on favorable terms. In addition, a recession, depression or other sustained adverse market event resulting from the spread of the coronavirus could materially and adversely affect our business and financial results.
General economic conditions could reduce demand for chemical-based trucking services.
Customer demand for our products and services is substantially dependent upon the general economic conditions for the U.S., which are cyclical in nature. In particular, demand for liquid chemical truck transportation services is dependent on activity within the petrochemical sector of the U.S. economy. Chemical sector demand typically varies with the housing and auto markets as well as the relative strength of the U.S. dollar to foreign currencies. A relatively strong U.S. dollar exchange rate may be adverse to our transportation operation since it tends to suppress export demand for petrochemicals. Conversely, a weak U.S. dollar exchange rate tends to stimulate export demand for petrochemicals.
Fluctuations in crude oil prices could have an adverse effect on us.
Our future financial condition, revenues, results of operations and future rate of growth are materially affected by crude oil prices that historically have been volatile and are likely to continue to be volatile in the future. Crude oil prices depend on factors outside of our control. These factors include:
•supply and demand for crude oil and expectations regarding supply and demand;
•political conditions in other crude oil-producing countries, including the possibility of insurgency or war in such areas;
•economic conditions in the U.S. and worldwide;
•the impact of public health epidemics, like the global coronavirus outbreak beginning in 2020;
•governmental regulations and taxation;
•the impact of energy conservation efforts;
•the price and availability of alternative fuel sources;
•weather conditions;
•availability of local, interstate and intrastate transportation systems; and
•market uncertainty.
Increases in the price of diesel fuel and availability of diesel fuel could have an adverse effect on us.
As an integral part of our crude oil marketing, transportation and logistics and repurposing businesses, we operate approximately 670 tractors, and diesel fuel costs are a significant component of our operating expenses. The market price for fuel can be extremely volatile and is affected by a number of economic and political factors. In addition, changes in federal or state regulations can impact the price of fuel, as well as increase the amount we pay in fuel taxes.
In our transportation segment, we typically incorporate a fuel surcharge provision in our customer contracts. During periods of high prices, we attempt to recoup rising diesel fuel costs through the pricing of our services. However, our customers may be able to negotiate contracts that minimize or eliminate our ability to pass on fuel price increases.
Our operations may also be adversely affected by any limit on the availability of fuel. Disruptions in the political climate in key oil producing regions in the world, particularly in the event of wars or other armed conflicts, could severely limit the availability of fuel in the U.S. In the event we face significant difficulty in obtaining fuel, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.
Insurance and claims expenses, including for self-insured risks, could significantly reduce our earnings.
Transportation of hazardous materials involves certain operating hazards such as automobile accidents, explosions, fires and pollution. Any of these operating hazards could cause serious injuries, fatalities or property damage, which could expose us to liability. The payment of any of these liabilities could reduce, or even eliminate, the funds available for other areas.
Consistent with the industry standard, our insurance policies provide limited coverage for losses or liabilities relating to pollution, with broader coverage provided for sudden and accidental occurrences. Insurance might be inadequate to cover all liabilities. Obtaining insurance for our line of business can become difficult and costly. Typically, when insurance cost escalates, we may reduce our level of coverage, and more risk may be retained to offset cost increases.
Beginning in 2021, we self-insure a significant portion of our claims exposure resulting from auto liability, general liability and workers’ compensation through our wholly owned captive insurance company. Although we reserve for anticipated losses and expenses based on actuarial reviews and periodically evaluate and adjust our claims reserves to reflect our experience, estimating the number and severity of claims, as well as related costs to settle or resolve them, is inherently difficult, and such costs could exceed our estimates. Accordingly, our actual losses associated with insured claims may differ materially from our estimates and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations in material amounts.
We maintain an insurance program for potential losses that are in excess of the amounts that we insure through the captive, as well as potential losses from other categories of claims. Although we believe our aggregate insurance limits should be sufficient to cover our historic or future claims amounts, it is possible that one or more claims could exceed our aggregate coverage limits. If any claim were to exceed our aggregate insurance coverage, we would bear the excess, in addition to the amount in the captive.
Given the current claims settlement environment, the amount of commercially available insurance coverage is decreasing, and the premiums for this coverage are increasing significantly. For the foregoing reasons, our insurance and claims expenses may increase, or we could increase our self-insured retention as policies are renewed or replaced. In addition, we may assume additional risk within our captive insurance company that we may or may not reinsure. Our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected if (1) our costs or losses significantly exceed our aggregate self-insurance and excess coverage limits, (2) we are unable to obtain affordable insurance coverage in amounts we deem sufficient, (3) our insurance carriers fail to pay on our insurance claims, or (4) we experience a claim for which coverage is not provided.
Counterparty credit default could have an adverse effect on us.
Our revenues are generated under contracts with various counterparties, and our results of operations could be adversely affected by non-performance under the various contracts. A counterparty’s default or non-performance could be caused by factors beyond our control. A default could occur as a result of circumstances relating directly to the counterparty, or due to circumstances caused by other market participants having a direct or indirect relationship with the counterparty. We seek to mitigate the risk of default by evaluating the financial strength of potential counterparties; however, despite mitigation efforts, contractual defaults do occur from time to time.
Our business is subject to changing government regulations.
Federal, state or local government agencies may impose environmental, labor or other regulations that increase costs and/or terminate or suspend operations. Our business is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations. These regulations relate to, among other things, transportation of crude oil and natural gas. Existing laws and regulations could be changed, and any changes could increase costs of compliance and costs of operations.
Climate change legislation or regulations restricting emissions of “greenhouse gases” (“GHGs”) could result in increased operating or compliance costs and reduced demand for the crude oil we market and transport.
More stringent laws and regulations relating to climate change and GHGs may be adopted and could cause us to incur material expenses to comply with such laws and regulations. In the absence of comprehensive federal legislation on GHG emissions control, the EPA attempted to require air permits for GHG emissions. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down certain of the permitting requirements in 2014, but upheld the EPA’s authority to control GHG emissions when a permit is required due to emissions of other pollutants. The EPA also requires, pursuant to the GHG Reporting Rule, specified large GHG emission sources to report their GHG emissions. Regulated sources include onshore and offshore crude oil and natural gas production facilities and onshore crude oil and natural gas processing, transmission, storage and distribution facilities. Reporting of GHG emissions from such large facilities is required on an annual basis. We do not presently operate any such large GHG emission sources but, if we were to do so in the future, we would incur costs associated with evaluating and meeting this reporting obligation.
Regulation of methane emissions has varied significantly between recent administrations, and may continue to change under the current administration or in the future. The EPA promulgated and subsequently revised various methane and volatile organic compound (“VOC”) rules between 2016 and 2022. In some of the more recent promulgations, in November 2021, the EPA proposed rules to regulate methane and VOC emissions from oil and gas industry sources. The proposed rules would generally impose more stringent emissions control requirements upon new tankage, and would enact a New Source Performance Standard (“NSPS”), under Subpart OOOOb, which would include standards for emission sources not regulated previously under the 2016 NSPS Subpart OOOOa. Additionally, the proposed rules include emissions guidelines for existing sources, known as Subpart OOOOc. More recently, in November 2022, the EPA proposed a rule to build upon and implement more stringent requirements than the 2021 proposed rule and to regulate additional sources not previously regulated. If finalized, the rule would, among other things, increase fugitive emissions monitoring requirements for all sites and would no longer exclude wellhead-only sites; require monitoring at all well sites for the life of the site until plugged; create a Super-Emitter Response Program to quickly identify large leaks for mitigation; increase stringency of equipment regulations; and revise leak detection protocols. The November 2022 rules proposal also includes requirements to monitor emissions from closed wells and undertake necessary repairs to address emissions in connection with well closures. If these rules are enacted as proposed, they may require oil and gas operators to expend material sums on compliance, which may reduce our customers’ E&P activities and could have an adverse impact on our business.
The Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) has similarly promulgated methane emission rulemakings. In November 2016, the BLM issued a final rule (“2016 Rule”) to reduce methane emissions from venting, flaring and leaks during crude oil and natural gas operations on public lands. In April 2018, the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming stayed implementation of much of the rule. In September 2018, the BLM issued a final rule substantially revising the 2016 Rule, which was challenged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and was vacated on July 15, 2020. On July 21, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming lifted the stay on the 2016 Rule, and vacated much of the rule on October 8, 2020. The result has been to reinstate the 1979 rules regarding venting, flaring and loss determinations. Most recently, on November 29, 2022, the BLM again issued a proposed rule aimed at curtailing waste of methane flared, vented or leaked from oil and gas production operations on federal and Tribal lands. Heightened regulation of our customers’ operations could adversely affect our business. The regulation of emissions from oil and gas E&P operations may increase the costs to our customers of developing and producing hydrocarbons and, as a result, may have an adverse effect on the amount of product transported.
In addition, the U.S. Congress has considered legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs, and many states and regions have already taken legal measures to reduce or measure GHG emission levels, often involving the planned development of GHG emission inventories and/or regional cap and trade programs. Most of these cap and trade programs require major sources of emissions or major producers of fuels to acquire and surrender emission allowances. Generally, the number of allowances available for purchase is reduced each year in an effort to reduce overall GHG emissions, and the cost of these allowances could escalate significantly over time. In the markets in which we currently operate, our operations are not materially affected by such GHG cap and trade programs. On an international level, almost 200 nations agreed in December 2015 to an international climate change agreement in Paris, France that calls for countries to set their own GHG emissions targets and to be transparent about the measures each country will use to achieve its GHG emissions targets. Although the U.S. withdrew from the Paris accord in November 2020, it rejoined under the new administration in February 2021. Further, several states and local governments remain committed to the principles of the international climate agreement in their effectuation of policy and regulations. It is not possible at this time to predict how or when the U.S. might impose restrictions on GHGs as a result of the international climate change agreement. The adoption and implementation of any legislation or regulatory programs imposing GHG reporting obligations on, or limiting emissions of GHGs from, our equipment and operations could require us to incur costs to reduce emissions of GHGs associated with our operations including costs to operate and maintain our facilities, install new emission controls on our facilities, acquire allowances to authorize our GHG emissions, pay any taxes related to GHG emissions and administer and manage a GHG emissions program. Such programs also could adversely affect demand for the crude oil that we market and transport.
The SEC proposed rules in March 2022 that would, among other things, require public companies to monitor and report direct GHG emissions, indirect GHG emissions from the purchase of energy, and indirect emissions from upstream and downstream activities in a company’s value chain. Public companies would also be required under the proposed rules to make additional financial statement and narrative disclosures relating to the impact of climate-related events. If adopted in their proposed form, the rules may impose substantial operating and compliance costs on our business, the impact of which we are currently unable to quantify.
The Inflation Reduction Act may have implications for our customers and our business operations.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IR Act”) put in place broad-reaching tax, loan, incentive and other programs. The IR Act’s provisions include, but are not limited to: incentives for carbon capture and hydrogen projects; royalties on gas produced from federal land, including gas consumed or lost by venting, flaring or equipment releases; new charges for methane emissions from certain oil and gas operations; and new and expanded tax credits for certain renewable energy projects, among others. It is possible that, as implemented, the IR Act could in some ways alter our operations as well as those of our customers. There is the possibility that incentives for carbon capture and hydrogen projects may, among other things, prompt development of new or repurposing existing pipeline infrastructure. It is not clear how these developments will impact our business.
Our reputation may be adversely affected if we are not able to achieve our Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) goals.
Increasing governmental and societal attention to ESG matters, including expanding mandatory and voluntary reporting, and disclosure topics such as climate change, sustainability (including with respect to our supply chain), natural resources, waste reduction, energy, human capital, and risk oversight could expand the nature, scope, and complexity of matters that we are required to control, assess, and report. We strive to deliver shared value through our business and our diverse stakeholders expect us to make progress in certain ESG priority issue areas. A failure or perceived failure to meet these expectations could adversely affect public perception of our business, employee morale or customer or shareholder support.
General Risk Factors
Economic developments could damage our operations and materially reduce our profitability and cash flows.
Potential disruptions in the credit markets and concerns about global economic growth could have a significant adverse impact on global financial markets and commodity prices. These factors could contribute to a decline in our stock price and corresponding market capitalization. If commodity prices experience a period of rapid decline, or a prolonged period of low commodity prices, our future earnings will be reduced. We currently rely on our bank credit facility to issue letters of credit and to fund certain working capital needs from time to time. If the capital and credit markets experience volatility and the availability of funds become limited, our customers and suppliers may incur increased costs associated with issuing commercial paper and/or other debt instruments and this, in turn, could adversely affect our ability to secure supply and make profitable sales.
Current and future litigation could have an adverse effect on us.
We are currently involved in certain administrative and civil legal proceedings as part of the ordinary course of our business. Moreover, as incidental to operations, we sometimes become involved in various lawsuits and/or disputes. Lawsuits and other legal proceedings can involve substantial costs, including the costs associated with investigation, litigation and possible settlement, judgment, penalty or fine. Although we maintain insurance to mitigate these costs, we cannot assure you that costs associated with lawsuits or other legal proceedings will not exceed the limits of insurance policies. Our results of operations could be adversely affected if a judgment, penalty or fine is not fully covered by insurance.
We could be adversely affected by changes in tax laws or regulations.
The Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Treasury Department, Congress and the states frequently review federal or state income tax legislation. We cannot predict whether, when, or to what extent new federal or state tax laws, regulations, interpretations or rulings will be adopted. Any such legislative action may prospectively or retroactively modify tax treatment and, therefore, may adversely affect taxation of us.
We are subject to risks associated with climate change.
In interpretative guidance on climate change disclosures, the SEC indicates that climate change could have an effect on the severity of weather (including hurricanes and floods), sea levels, the arability of farmland and water availability and quality. If such effects were to occur, our operations have the potential to be adversely affected. Potential adverse effects could include disruption of our marketing and transportation activities, including, for example, damages to our facilities from powerful winds or floods, or increases in our costs of operation or reductions in the efficiency of our operations, as well as potentially increased costs for insurance coverages in the aftermath of such effects. Our pipeline and storage facilities, which are fixed in place and in some cases near the coast, may be particularly vulnerable. Significant physical effects of climate change could also have an indirect effect on our financing and operations by disrupting the transportation or process related services provided by companies or suppliers with whom we have a business relationship. In addition, the demand for and consumption of our products and services (due to change in both costs and weather patterns), and the economic health of the regions
in which we operate, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We may not be able to recover through insurance some or any of the damages, losses or costs that may result from potential physical effects of climate change.
Cyber-attacks or other disruptions to our information technology systems could lead to reduced revenue, increased costs, liability claims, fines or harm to our competitive position.
We rely on our information technology systems to conduct our business, including systems of third-party vendors. These systems include information used to operate our assets and cloud-based services. These systems have been subject to attempted security breaches and cyber-attacks in the past, and may be subject to such attacks in the future.
Cyber-attacks are becoming more sophisticated, and U.S. government warnings have indicated that infrastructure assets, including pipelines, may be specifically targeted by certain groups. These attacks include, without limitation, malicious software, ransomware, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data, and other electronic security breaches. These attacks may be perpetrated by state-sponsored groups, “hacktivists”, criminal organizations or private individuals (including employee malfeasance). These cybersecurity risks include cyber-attacks on both us and third parties who provide material services to us. In addition to disrupting operations, cyber security breaches could also affect our ability to operate or control our facilities, render data or systems unusable, or result in the theft of sensitive, confidential or customer information. These events could also damage our reputation, and result in losses from remedial actions, loss of business or potential liability to third parties.
We may incur increasing costs in connection with our efforts to enhance and ensure security and in response to actual or attempted cybersecurity attacks. Substantial aspects of our business depend on the secure operation of our computer systems and websites. Security breaches could expose us to a risk of loss, misuse or interruption of sensitive and critical information and functions, including our own proprietary information and that of our customers, suppliers and employees. Such breaches could result in operational impacts, reputational harm, competitive disadvantage, litigation, regulatory enforcement actions and liability. While we devote substantial resources to maintaining adequate levels of cybersecurity, we cannot assure you that we will be able to prevent all of the rapidly evolving types of cyberattacks. Actual or anticipated attacks and risks may cause us to incur increasing costs for technology, personnel and services to enhance security or to respond to occurrences.
We have programs, processes and technologies in place to attempt to prevent, detect, contain, respond to and mitigate security-related threats and potential incidents. We undertake ongoing improvements to our systems, connected devices and information-sharing products in order to minimize vulnerabilities, in accordance with industry and regulatory standards; however, the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access change frequently and can be difficult to detect. Anticipating, identifying or preventing these intrusions or mitigating them if and when they occur is challenging and makes us more vulnerable to cyberattacks than other companies not similarly situated.
If our security measures are circumvented, proprietary information may be misappropriated, our operations may be disrupted, and our computers or those of our customers or other third parties may be damaged. Compromises of our security may result in an interruption of operations, violation of applicable privacy and other laws, significant legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation, and a loss of confidence in our security measures.

---

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

---

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

---

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
From time to time as incidental to our operations, we may become involved in various lawsuits and/or disputes. As an operator of an extensive trucking fleet, we are a party to motor vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation claims and other items of general liability as would be typical for the industry. We are currently unaware of any claims against us that are either outside the scope of insurance coverage or that may exceed the level of insurance coverage and could potentially represent a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
See Note 18 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

---

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II

---

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Our common stock is traded on the NYSE American under the ticker symbol “AE”. As of March 1, 2023, there were approximately 112 shareholders of record of our common shares, however, the actual number of beneficial holders of our common stock may be substantially greater than the stated number of holders of record because a substantial portion of our common stock is held in street name.
We have paid dividends to our common shareholders each year since 1994. Our Board of Directors expects to continue paying dividends in the near future, although the declaration, amount and timing of any dividends falls within the sole discretion of our Board, whose decision will depend on many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements and other factors that our Board may deem relevant.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On October 31, 2022, we entered into a Stock Repurchase Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with KSA Industries, Inc. and certain members of the family of the late Kenneth Stanley Adams, Jr., our founder (collectively, the “KSA Sellers”). Prior to the transaction, KSA Industries, Inc. was our largest shareholder. Under the terms of the Repurchase Agreement, we purchased an aggregate of 1,942,433 shares of our common stock from the KSA Sellers for an aggregate purchase price of $69.9 million, at a price of $36.00 per share. The purchase price was funded with the proceeds of the $25.0 million term loan under our new credit agreement with Cadence Bank, with the balance funded with cash on hand at the time of the transaction. See Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report.
The following table provides information about our purchase of equity securities during the three months ended December 31, 2022:
Approximate
Total number dollar value of
Total Average of shares shares that may
number price purchased as yet be purchased
of shares paid per part of publicly under the program
Period repurchased share announced plan (in millions)
October 1 through October 31, 2022 1,942,433 $ 36.00 - N/A
November 1 through November 30, 2022 - N/A - N/A
December 1 through December 31, 2022 - N/A - N/A
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the total shareholder return performance of our common stock with the performance of: (i) the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index (“S&P 500”) and (ii) the S&P 500 Integrated Oil and Gas Index (“S&P Integrated Oil & Gas”). The graph assumes that $100 was invested in our common stock and each comparison index beginning on December 31, 2017 and that all dividends were reinvested on a quarterly basis on the ex-dividend dates. The graph was prepared under the applicable rules of the SEC based on data supplied by Research Data Group. The stock performance shown on the graph is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.
The information under the caption “Performance Graph” above is not deemed to be “filed” as part of the Annual Report on Form 10-K, and is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. Such information will not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing we make under the Securities Act unless we explicitly incorporate it into such filing at such time.
December 31,
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. $ 100.00 $ 90.84 $ 91.88 $ 60.38 $ 72.01 $ 103.65
S&P 500 100.00 95.62 125.72 148.85 191.58 156.89
S&P Integrated Oil & Gas 100.00 87.03 93.29 62.11 94.92 167.47

---

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. [Reserved]

---

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following information should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes included under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report. Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the U.S.
Overview of Business
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in crude oil marketing, truck and pipeline transportation, terminalling and storage in various crude oil and natural gas basins in the lower 48 states of the U.S. We also conduct tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk primarily in the lower 48 states of the U.S. with deliveries into Canada and Mexico, and with nineteen terminals across the U.S. In addition, we recycle and repurpose off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals from producers in the U.S.
We operate and report in four business segments: (i) crude oil marketing, transportation and storage; (ii) tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk; (iii) pipeline transportation, terminalling and storage of crude oil; and (iv) beginning in the third quarter of 2022, interstate bulk transportation logistics of crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and other petroleum products and recycling and repurposing of off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals, which includes the businesses we acquired in August 2022 (see Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the acquisition). See Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our business segments.
Results of Operations
Crude Oil Marketing
Our crude oil marketing segment revenues, operating earnings and selected costs were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 Change (1)
2020 Change (1)
Revenues $ 3,232,193 $ 1,930,042 67.5 % $ 950,426 103.1 %
Operating earnings (2)
15,874 25,243 (37.1 %) 2,974 748.8 %
Depreciation and amortization 7,724 6,673 15.8 % 7,421 (10.1 %)
Driver compensation 19,598 17,717 10.6 % 18,549 (4.5 %)
Insurance 7,954 6,193 28.4 % 6,109 1.4 %
Fuel 12,518 8,064 55.2 % 5,967 35.1 %
____________________
(1)Represents the percentage increase (decrease) from the prior year.
(2)Operating earnings included net inventory valuation losses of $2.0 million, net inventory liquidation gains of $10.3 million and net inventory valuation losses of $15.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Volume and price information were as follows for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Field level purchase volumes - per day (1)
Crude oil - barrels 94,873 89,061 91,957
Average purchase price
Crude oil - per barrel $ 92.63 $ 65.48 $ 36.90
____________________
(1)Reflects the volume purchased from third parties at the field level of operations.
2022 compared to 2021. Crude oil marketing revenues increased by $1,302.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily as a result of an increase in the market price of crude oil, which increased revenues by approximately $1,104.2 million, and also as a result of higher crude oil volumes, which increased revenues by approximately $198.0 million. The average crude oil price was $65.48 for 2021, which increased to $92.63 for 2022. Revenues from our volumes are mostly based upon the market price in our market areas, primarily in the Gulf Coast. The market price of crude oil increased during 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily as a result of a return of global crude oil demand following the pandemic, which combined with a perceived shortage of global crude oil production. In addition, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia also contributed to an increase in the market price of crude oil in the first half of 2022. In the second half of 2022, weakness in the Chinese economy and concern over economic recession caused crude oil prices to fall, while still remaining historically high.
Our crude oil marketing operating earnings for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased by $9.4 million as compared to 2021, primarily as a result of inventory valuation losses of $2.0 million in 2022 as compared to inventory liquidation gains of $10.3 million in 2021 (as shown in the table below), and higher operating expenses in 2022 as compared to 2021, partially offset by an increase in the average market price of crude oil and an increase in crude oil volumes in 2022.
Driver compensation increased by $1.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily as a result of higher volumes transported in 2022 and an increase in driver pay as compared to 2021, partially offset by a lower overall driver count in 2022.
Insurance costs increased by $1.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in insurance premiums, partially offset by a lower overall driver count in 2022. Fuel costs increased by $4.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, consistent with higher fuel prices in 2022, as compared to 2021.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to the timing of purchases and retirements of tractors and other field equipment during 2021 and 2022.
2021 compared to 2020. Crude oil marketing revenues increased by $979.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily as a result of an increase in the market price of crude oil, which increased revenues by approximately $1,053.3 million, partially offset by lower crude oil volumes, which decreased revenues by approximately $73.7 million. The average crude oil price was $36.90 for 2020, which increased to $65.48 for 2021. The market price of crude oil increased during 2021 as compared to 2020 primarily as a result of increased competition for supply from shippers and marketers to fill obligations to pipelines with the lower crude oil production available.
Our crude oil marketing operating earnings for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $22.3 million as compared to 2020, primarily as a result of inventory liquidation gains of $10.3 million in 2021 as compared to inventory valuation losses of $15.0 million in 2020 (as shown in the table below), and an increase in the average market price of crude oil, partially offset by decreases in crude oil volumes in 2021.
Driver compensation decreased by $0.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily as a result of a decrease in the number of drivers employed by us as well as lower volumes transported in 2021 as compared to 2020.
Insurance costs increased by $0.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily due to favorable adjustments to reserves in 2020 for insurance claims resulting from our favorable safety record over the policy period, partially offset by a lower driver count and lower miles driven in 2021. Fuel costs increased by $2.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily due to higher fuel prices in 2021.
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $0.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily due to the timing of purchases and retirements of tractors and other field equipment during 2020 and 2021.
Field Level Operating Earnings (Non-GAAP Financial Measure). Inventory valuations and forward commodity contract (derivatives or mark-to-market) valuations are two significant factors affecting comparative crude oil marketing segment operating earnings. As a purchaser and shipper of crude oil, we hold inventory in storage tanks and third-party pipelines. Generally, during periods of increasing crude oil prices, we recognize inventory liquidation gains while during periods of falling prices, we recognize inventory liquidation and valuation losses.
Crude oil marketing operating earnings can be affected by the valuations of our forward month commodity contracts (derivative instruments). These non-cash valuations are calculated and recorded at each period end based on the underlying data existing as of such date. We generally enter into these derivative contracts as part of a pricing strategy based on crude oil purchases at the wellhead (field level). The valuation of derivative instruments at period end requires the recognition of non-cash “mark-to-market” gains and losses.
The impact of inventory liquidations and derivative valuations on our crude oil marketing segment operating earnings is summarized in the following reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measure for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
As reported segment operating earnings (1)
$ 15,874 $ 25,243 $ 2,974
Add (subtract):
Inventory liquidation gains - (10,344) -
Inventory valuation losses 2,008 - 14,967
Derivative valuation (gains) losses (353) (14) (9)
Field level operating earnings (2)
$ 17,529 $ 14,885 $ 17,932
____________________
(1)Segment operating earnings included net inventory valuation losses of $2.0 million, net inventory liquidation gains of $10.3 million and net inventory valuation losses of $15.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(2)The use of field level operating earnings is unique to us, not a substitute for a GAAP measure and may not be comparable to any similar measures developed by industry participants. We utilize this data to evaluate the profitability of our operations.
Field level operating earnings and field level purchase volumes depict our day-to-day operation of acquiring crude oil at the wellhead, transporting the product and delivering the product to market sales points. Field level operating earnings increased during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in the average market price of crude oil and an increase in crude oil volumes in 2022, which increased revenues, partially offset by higher operating costs in 2022.
Field level operating earnings decreased during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily due to higher fuel and insurance costs and lower crude oil volumes, partially offset by an increase in the market price of crude oil in 2021.
We held crude oil inventory at a weighted average composite price as follows at the dates indicated (in barrels and price per barrel):
December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Average Average Average
Barrels Price Barrels Price Barrels Price
Crude oil inventory 328,562 $ 78.39 259,489 $ 71.86 421,759 $ 45.83
Historically, prices received for crude oil have been volatile and unpredictable with price volatility expected to continue. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Transportation
Our transportation segment revenues, operating earnings and selected costs were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 Change (1)
2020 Change (1)
Revenues $ 112,376 $ 94,498 18.9 % $ 71,724 31.8 %
Operating earnings $ 10,891 $ 7,104 53.3 % $ 1,873 279.3 %
Depreciation and amortization $ 11,512 $ 12,099 (4.9 %) $ 10,963 10.4 %
Driver commissions $ 15,193 $ 14,948 1.6 % $ 12,575 18.9 %
Insurance $ 8,760 $ 8,368 4.7 % $ 6,462 29.5 %
Fuel $ 12,574 $ 8,201 53.3 % $ 5,065 61.9 %
Maintenance expense $ 5,282 $ 3,932 34.3 % $ 3,949 (0.4 %)
Mileage (000s) 26,510 27,902 (5.0 %) 24,239 15.1 %
____________________
(1)Represents the percentage increase (decrease) from the prior year.
Our revenue rate structure includes a component for fuel costs in which fuel cost fluctuations are largely passed through to the customer over time. Revenues, net of fuel costs, were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Total transportation revenue
$ 112,376 $ 94,498 $ 71,724
Diesel fuel cost
(12,574) (8,201) (5,065)
Revenues, net of fuel costs (1)
$ 99,802 $ 86,297 $ 66,659
____________________
(1)Revenues, net of fuel costs, is a non-GAAP financial measure and is utilized for internal analysis of the results of our transportation segment.
2022 compared to 2021. Transportation revenues increased by $17.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021. Transportation revenues, net of fuel costs, increased by $13.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021. These increases in transportation revenues were primarily due to increased transportation rates during 2022 through continued negotiations with customers. In addition, as a result of customer demand, we opened four new terminals during the second half of 2021. These terminals, located in Charleston, West Virginia, West Memphis, Arkansas, Joliet, Illinois, and Augusta, Georgia, increased revenues by approximately $8.1 million during 2022. These increases also reflect the effect of a severe winter storm in February 2021 and the resulting power outages affecting Texas, which resulted in a significant decline in transportation services for over a week and a temporary loss of revenues in 2021. In addition, our Louisiana operations were impacted by Hurricane Ida in August 2021, resulting in a loss of days worked by drivers in the area, thus decreasing revenues. The impact of the storm affected our Louisiana locations through mid-September 2021.
Our transportation operating earnings increased by $3.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to higher revenues as a result of increased transportation rates and revenues from new terminals, partially offset by higher fuel costs, maintenance costs, driver commissions and insurance costs.
Driver commissions increased by $0.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in driver pay in mid-2022 and an increase in the number of drivers, partially offset by lower mileage during 2022. In addition, driver commissions were impacted by Hurricane Ida in August 2021, which affected our Louisiana operations, resulting in a loss of days worked by drivers in the area, thus decreasing driver commissions. The impact of the storm affected our Louisiana locations through mid-September 2021.
Fuel costs increased by $4.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily as a result of an increase in the price of fuel during 2022. Insurance costs increased $0.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in insurance premiums in 2022. Maintenance expense increased by $1.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to repairs and maintenance to older tractors and trailers in our fleet and escalating prices in parts, repairs and maintenance.
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $0.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily as a result of the timing of purchases and leases of new tractors and trailers in 2021 and 2022.
2021 compared to 2020. Transportation revenues increased by $22.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020. Transportation revenues, net of fuel costs, increased by $19.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020. These increases were primarily due to the purchase of transportation assets of CTL Transportation, LLC (“CTL”) (see Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), an increase in business activities as a result of continued market recovery after COVID-19 lockdowns, higher transportation rates and additional revenues associated with our new terminals. During 2021, we opened four new terminals, which increased revenues by $2.4 million. Our 2020 revenues were also lower due to fewer miles traveled as a result of decreases in certain business activities of our customers as a results of the COVID-19 outbreak. These factors more than offset the effect of the severe winter storm in February 2021 and Hurricane Ida in August 2021 described above.
Our transportation operating earnings increased by $5.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily due to increased transportation rates as well as higher revenues as a result of the CTL acquisition, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization expense related to the timing of new assets placed into service and higher insurance, driver commissions and fuel costs.
Driver commissions increased by $2.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily due to a higher driver count, increased miles driven in 2021 and an increase in driver pay mid-2021, partially offset by the impact of Hurricane Ida in August 2021, which affected our Louisiana operations, resulting in a loss of days worked by drivers in the area, thus decreasing driver commissions. The impact of the storm affected our Louisiana locations through mid-September.
Fuel costs increased by $3.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily as a result of the CTL acquisition, which increased the number of miles traveled during 2021, and an increase in the price of fuel. Insurance costs increased by $1.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily due to the CTL acquisition which resulted in a higher driver count, increased miles driven in 2021 and higher insurance premiums.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily as a result of the CTL acquisition in June 2020 and the purchase and lease of new tractors and trailers in 2020 and 2021.
Equipment additions and retirements for the transportation fleet were as follows for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
New tractors purchased (1)
3 units 28 units 12 units
New tractors leased 10 units - 33 units
Tractors retired
4 units 79 units 49 units
New trailers purchased (1)
1 unit 67 units 10 units
New trailers leased 13 units - 40 units
Trailers retired
85 units 33 units 30 units
________________
(1)2020 amounts do not include 163 tractors and 328 trailers purchased in connection with the CTL asset acquisition in June 2020.
The sales of retired equipment in our transportation segment produced gains of approximately $0.8 million, $0.4 million and $0.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Our customers are primarily in the domestic petrochemical industry. Customer demand is affected by low natural gas prices (a basic feedstock cost for the petrochemical industry) and high export demand for petrochemicals.
Pipeline and Storage
Our pipeline and storage segment revenues, operating losses and selected costs were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 Change (1)
2020 (2)
Segment revenues (3)
$ 3,804 $ 4,524 (15.9 %) $ 272
Less: Intersegment revenues (3)
(3,804) (3,860) (1.5 %) -
Revenues $ - $ 664 (100.0 %) $ 272
Operating losses (3,579) (2,487) 43.9 % (310)
Depreciation and amortization 1,077 1,025 5.1 % 189
Insurance 772 726 6.3 % 138
____________________
(1)Represents the percentage increase (decrease) from the 2021 to 2022.
(2)Represents the period from acquisition, October 22, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
(3)Segment revenues include intersegment revenues from our crude oil marketing segment, which are eliminated in consolidation in our consolidated statements of operations.
Volume information was as follows for the periods indicated (in barrels per day):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Pipeline throughput (1)
11,084 7,670 1,395
Terminalling (1)
11,296 8,132 2,581
____________________
(1)2020 amounts represent the period from acquisition, October 22, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
In October 2020, we purchased the VEX Pipeline System, and segment revenues were earned from a third-party shipper under a contract that had been in place at the time of the acquisition. The third-party contract ended in 2021. Throughout 2021 and 2022, segment revenues were also earned from GulfMark, an affiliated shipper. All pipeline and storage segment revenues earned from GulfMark are eliminated in consolidation. Segment revenues from GulfMark during the year ended December 31, 2022 were relatively consistent with 2021.
We are currently constructing a new pipeline connection between the VEX Pipeline System and the Max Midstream pipeline system, and we expect to complete construction and place the assets into commercial service during the second quarter of 2023. In addition, we are exploring new connections with several other pipeline systems, for new crude oil supply opportunities both upstream and downstream of the pipeline, to enhance the crude oil supply and take-away capability of the system.
Our pipeline and storage operating losses increased by $1.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to the third-party revenue contract ending, which resulted in lower revenues of $0.7 million, and increases in operating salaries and wages and related personnel costs, materials and supplies, outside service costs and insurance costs in 2022.
Logistics and Repurposing
Our logistics and repurposing segment revenues, operating earnings and selected costs were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 (1)
Revenues $ 22,348
Operating earnings 303
Depreciation and amortization 2,394
Driver commissions 3,767
Insurance 776
Fuel 1,796
____________________
(1)Represents the period from acquisition, August 12, 2022 through December 31, 2022.
On August 12, 2022, we acquired all of the equity interests of Firebird and Phoenix. Firebird is an interstate bulk motor carrier of crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and ͏other petroleum products. Firebird has six terminal locations throughout Texas and owns 123 tractors and 216 trailers largely in the Eagle Ford basin. Phoenix ͏recycles and repurposes off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals from ͏producers in the U.S.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expenses increased by $4.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to higher salaries and wages and related personnel costs, audit fees, legal fees, outside service costs and insurance costs. 2022 also includes approximately $0.6 million of costs related to the repurchase of our common shares from an affiliate (see Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information) and approximately $0.5 million of acquisition related costs for the purchase of Firebird and Phoenix (see Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information).
General and administrative expenses increased by $3.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to 2020, primarily due to higher salaries and wages and related personnel costs, insurance costs and outside service costs, partially offset by lower legal fees and director fees.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased by $0.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to the write off of debt issuance costs of $0.4 million related to the Wells Fargo credit agreement that we terminated in October 2022, and an increase of $0.3 million related to the outstanding Term Loan of $24.4 million under our credit agreement with Cadence Bank (see Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Income Taxes
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes is based upon federal and state tax rates, and variations in amounts are consistent with taxable income (loss) in the respective accounting periods.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted and signed into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, among other things, permits net operating losses (“NOL”) incurred in tax years 2018, 2019 and 2020 to offset 100 percent of taxable income and be carried back to each of the five preceding taxable years to generate a refund of previously paid income taxes.
The NOL carryback provision in the CARES Act resulted in a cash benefit to us for the fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020. We carried back our NOL for the fiscal year 2018 to 2013 and received a cash refund of approximately $2.7 million in June 2020. We carried back our NOL for the fiscal year 2019 to 2014 and received a cash refund of approximately $3.7 million in April 2021. We carried back our NOL for the fiscal year 2020 to 2015 and 2016 and received a cash refund of approximately $6.9 million in June 2022.
We account for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of our provision for federal and state income taxes. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, we have not recorded any uncertain tax benefits.
For the year ended December 31, 2022 our effective tax rate was 35 percent, which is higher than our statutory tax rate primarily due to non-deductible expenses, the mix of earnings in states with higher tax rates and less earnings before income taxes as compared to prior years. For the year ended December 31, 2021, our effective tax rate was 24 percent, and for the year ended December 31, 2022, our effective tax rate was 118 percent. Excluding the adjustment related to the carryback of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 net operating losses, the effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 22 percent.
At December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had deferred tax liabilities of approximately $15.4 million and $11.3 million, respectively. We recorded net tax liabilities of approximately $6.2 million related to the tax effect of our estimated fair value allocations related to the purchase of Firebird and Phoenix (Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information).
See Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
On August 16, 2022, the IR Act was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new corporate alternative minimum tax of 15 percent on book income of certain large corporations effective in 2024, a 1 percent excise tax on net stock repurchases after December 31, 2022 and several tax incentives to promote clean energy. We are still evaluating the impact the IR Act related tax incentives may have on our consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
Our primary sources of liquidity are (i) our cash balance, (ii) cash flow from operating activities, (iii) borrowings under our credit agreement and (iv) funds received from the sale of equity securities. Our primary cash requirements include, but are not limited to, (i) ordinary course of business uses, such as the payment of amounts related to the purchase of crude oil, and other expenses, (ii) discretionary capital spending for investments in our business and (iii) dividends to our shareholders. We believe we will have sufficient liquidity through our current cash balances, availability under our credit agreement, expected cash generated from future operations, and the ease of financing tractor and trailer additions through leasing arrangements (should the need arise) to meet our short-term and long-term liquidity needs for the reasonably foreseeable future. Our cash balance and cash flow from operating activities is dependent on the success of future operations. If our cash inflow subsides or turns negative, we will evaluate our investment plan accordingly and remain flexible.
We maintain cash balances in order to meet the timing of day-to-day cash needs. Cash and cash equivalents (excluding restricted cash) and working capital, the excess of current assets over current liabilities, were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 20,532 $ 97,825 $ 39,293
Working capital
19,083 87,199 72,965
Our cash balance at December 31, 2022 decreased by 79.0 percent from December 31, 2021, due in part to the use of $44.9 million of cash on hand to fund a portion of the repurchase of common shares from the KSA Sellers in October 2022 (see Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information) and the use of $35.4 million of cash on hand to fund a portion of the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix in August 2022 (Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information), as discussed further below.
On October 27, 2022, we entered into a Credit Agreement with Cadence Bank. The Credit Agreement replaced our prior credit agreement with Wells Fargo. The Credit Agreement provides for (a) a revolving credit facility that allows for borrowings up to $60.0 million in aggregate principal amount from time to time, and (b) a term loan in aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million. We may also obtain letters of credit under the revolving credit facility up to a maximum amount of $30.0 million, which reduces availability under the revolving facility by a like amount. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility may be, at our option, base rate loans (defined by reference to the higher of the prime rate, the federal funds rate or an adjusted term SOFR for a one month tenor plus one percent) or SOFR loans, in each case plus an applicable margin, the amount of which is determined by reference to our consolidated total leverage ratio, and is between 1 percent and 2 percent for base rate loans and between 2 percent and 3 percent for SOFR loans.
The term loan amortizes on a 10-year schedule with quarterly payments beginning December 31, 2022, and matures October 27, 2027. Proceeds of the term loan were used, together with additional cash on hand, to fund the repurchase of shares from the KSA Sellers. The term loan bears interest at the SOFR loan rate plus the applicable margin for SOFR loans.
We are required to maintain compliance with certain financial covenants under the Credit Agreement, including a consolidated leverage ratio, an asset coverage ratio and a consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio. We were in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2022, we had $24.4 million outstanding under the Credit Agreement, representing the remaining principal balance of the term loan, with a weighted average interest rate of 6.29 percent. We also had $8.4 million of letters of credit issued under the Credit Agreement at a fee of 2.00 percent per annum. No amounts were outstanding under the revolving credit facility. See Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
On December 23, 2020, we entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (“ATM Agreement”) with B. Riley Securities, Inc., as agent (the “Agent”). Pursuant to the ATM Agreement, we may offer to sell shares of our common stock through or to the Agent for cash from time to time. We filed a registration statement initially registering an aggregate of $20.0 million of shares of common stock for sale under the ATM Agreement. The total number of shares of common stock to be sold, if any, and the price the shares will be sold at will be determined by us periodically in connection with any such sales, though the total amount sold may not exceed the limitations stated in the registration statement. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we received net proceeds of approximately $1.7 million (net of offering costs of $0.1 million) from the sale of 46,524 of our common shares at an average price per share of approximately $40.20 under this agreement. At December 31, 2022, approximately $15.1 million of the original $20.0 million capacity of the ATM Agreement remained unsold.
We utilize cash from operations to make discretionary investments in our four business segments. With the exception of operating and finance lease commitments primarily associated with storage tank terminal arrangements, leased office space, tractors, trailers and other equipment, our future commitments and planned investments can be readily curtailed if operating cash flows decrease. See below for information regarding our operating and finance lease obligations. We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably expected to have a material current or future effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The most significant item affecting future increases or decreases in liquidity is earnings from operations, and these earnings are dependent on the success of future operations. See “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Cash Flows from Operating, Investing and Financing Activities
Our consolidated cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities $ 13,777 $ 81,026 $ (43,999)
Investing activities (36,003) (10,096) (19,663)
Financing activities (54,024) (15,678) (6,528)
Operating activities. Net cash flows provided by operating activities was $13.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to $81.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The decrease in net cash flows from operating activities of $67.2 million was primarily due to lower earnings of $8.4 million in 2022 and changes in our working capital accounts. Early payments received from customers decreased by approximately $7.6 million in 2022, and early payments made to suppliers increased by approximately $8.3 million in 2022. In addition, crude oil inventory increased by $8.0 million at December 31, 2022, primarily due to an increase in the price of our crude oil inventory, which increased from $71.86 per barrel at December 31, 2021 to $78.39 per barrel at December 31, 2022, and an increase of 26.6 percent in the number of barrels held in inventory.
Net cash flows provided by operating activities was $81.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to net cash flows used in operating activities of $44.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in net cash flows from operating activities of $125.0 million was primarily due to higher earnings in 2021 and changes in our working capital accounts. Early payments received from customers increased by approximately $51.9 million in 2021, while early payments made to suppliers increased by approximately $5.7 million in 2021.
At various times each month, we may make cash prepayments and/or early payments in advance of the normal due date to certain suppliers of crude oil within our crude oil marketing operations. Crude oil supply prepayments are recouped and advanced from month to month as the suppliers deliver product to us. In addition, in order to secure crude oil supply, we may also “early pay” our suppliers in advance of the normal payment due date of the twentieth of the month following the month of production. These “early payments” reduce cash and accounts payable as of the balance sheet date.
We also require certain customers to make similar early payments or to post cash collateral with us in order to support their purchases from us. Early payments and cash collateral received from customers increases cash and reduces accounts receivable as of the balance sheet date.
Early payments received from customers and prepayments made to suppliers were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Early payments received $ 45,265 $ 52,841 $ 939
Prepayments to suppliers - - 1,085
Early payments to suppliers 14,055 5,732 -
We rely heavily on our ability to obtain open-line trade credit from our suppliers especially with respect to our crude oil marketing operations. The timing of payments and receipts of these early pays received and paid can have a significant impact on our cash balance.
Investing activities. Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $25.9 million when compared to 2021. This increase in net cash flows used in investing activities was primarily due to a payment of $33.1 million for the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix in August 2022 (see Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information), partially offset by a decrease of $4.9 million in capital spending for property and equipment (see “Capital Spending” below), an increase of $0.8 million in cash proceeds from sales of assets and an increase of $1.5 million in insurance and state collateral refunds in 2022.
Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 decreased by $9.6 million when compared to 2020. This decrease in net cash flows used in investing activities was primarily due a decrease of $20.2 million in cash paid for asset acquisitions ($10.0 million was paid in October 2020 for the purchase the VEX Pipeline System and $9.2 million was paid in June 2020 for the purchase of the CTL transportation assets (see Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information)). This decrease in net cash flows used in investing activities was partially offset by an increase of $7.4 million in capital spending for property and equipment (see “Capital Spending” below), a decrease of $2.2 million in cash proceeds from sales of assets and a decrease of $1.0 million in insurance and state collateral refunds in 2021.
Financing activities. Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $38.3 million when compared to 2021. This increase in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to the following cash outflows and inflows:
•a cash payment in October 2022 of $69.9 million for the repurchase of an aggregate of 1,942,433 shares of our common stock from KSA and affiliates (see Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information),
•an increase in 2022 of $0.4 million in principal repayments made for finance lease obligations (see “Material Cash Requirements” below for information regarding our finance lease obligations),
•a decrease in 2022 of $1.1 million in net proceeds from the sale of common shares under the ATM program. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we received net proceeds of approximately $1.7 million from the sale of 46,524 of our common shares, while during the year ended December 31, 2021, we received net proceeds of approximately $2.8 million from the sale of 97,623 of our common shares.
•an increase in 2022 in net borrowings under our credit agreements with Wells Fargo and Cadence Bank. During 2022, we borrowed and repaid $92.0 million under the credit agreements, primarily for working capital purposes. We also borrowed $25.0 million under the Term Loan with Cadence Bank to partially fund the repurchase of the shares from KSA and affiliates, and made a principal repayment of $0.6 million in December 2022 on the Term Loan. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we borrowed $8.0 million under the credit agreement primarily to repay the $10.0 million outstanding payable related to the purchase of the VEX pipeline system in October 2020, and repaid the $8.0 million during 2021.
•a cash outflow in 2022 of $1.7 million for debt issuance costs related to the credit agreement with Cadence Bank,
•a cash outflow in 2022 as a result of the payment of the $10.0 million outstanding payable related to the purchase of the VEX Pipeline System in October 2020,
•a decrease in 2022 in cash dividends paid on our common shares. During both of the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we paid aggregate cash dividends of $0.96 per common share, or totals of $3.8 million and $4.1 million, respectively. On October 31, 2022, the number of common shares outstanding decreased by 1.9 million as a result of the repurchase of the shares from KSA and affiliates.
Net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $9.2 million when compared to 2020. This increase in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to the payment of the $10.0 million outstanding payable related to the purchase of the VEX Pipeline System in October 2020 and an increase of $2.0 million in principal repayments made for finance lease obligations. During 2021, we borrowed and repaid $8.0 million under our credit agreement with Wells Fargo, the borrowing of which was used to repay the amount due for the remaining purchase price of the VEX Pipeline System. During both of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we paid aggregate cash dividends of $0.96 per common share, or totals of $4.1 million and $4.1 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we received net proceeds of approximately $2.8 million from the sale of 97,623 of our common share under the ATM Agreement.
Capital Spending
We use cash from operations and existing cash balances to make discretionary investments in our businesses. Capital spending was as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Crude oil marketing (1)
$ 4,534 $ 3,245 $ 3,130
Transportation (2)
1,608 7,960 1,355
Pipeline and storage (3)
1,050 1,169 -
Logistics and repurposing (4)
282 - -
Other (5)
17 8 523
Capital spending $ 7,491 $ 12,382 $ 5,008
_______________
(1)Amounts for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, do not include approximately $5.1 million, $2.1 million and $3.6 million, respectively, of tractors and other equipment acquired under finance leases.
(2)Amounts for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2020, do not include approximately $2.8 million and $7.3 million, respectively, of tractors and trailers acquired under finance leases. Amount for the year ended December 31, 2020 does not include approximately $9.2 million of capital spending related to the acquisition of CTL.
(3)Amount for the year ended December 31, 2020 does not include approximately $10.0 million of capital spending related to the acquisition of the VEX Pipeline System.
(4)Amount for the year ended December 31, 2022 does not include approximately $33.1 million of capital spending related to the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix.
(5)Amounts relate to the purchase of software and equipment and leasehold improvements at our corporate headquarters, which are not attributed or allocated to any of our reporting segments.
As a result of the uncertainty relating to the economic environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we significantly reduced our capital spending in 2022, 2021 and 2020 and, as a result, entered into finance lease agreements for the use of tractors and trailers. See “Material Cash Requirements” below for information regarding our finance lease obligations.
Crude oil marketing. Capital expenditures during 2022 were for the purchase of 20 tractors, 10 trailers and other field equipment. Capital expenditures during 2021 were for the purchase of 16 tractors, 2 trailers and other field equipment, and during 2020, were primarily for the purchase of 16 tractors and other field equipment.
Transportation. Capital expenditures during 2022 were for the purchase of three tractors, one trailer and other field equipment. Capital expenditures during 2021 were for the purchase of 28 tractors, 67 trailers and computer software and equipment, and during 2020, were for the purchase of 12 tractors, 10 trailers, other field equipment and computer software and equipment. As a result of the uncertainty relating to the economic environment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we significantly reduced our capital spending in 2020 and, as a result, entered into finance lease agreements for the use of 33 tractors and 40 trailers during 2020.
Pipeline and storage. Capital expenditures during 2022 were for the purchase of land and easements in connection with a planned pipeline connection, and during 2021, were for the purchase of computer equipment and field equipment.
Logistics and repurposing. Capital expenditures for 2022 were for the purchase of field equipment.
Material Cash Requirements
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations with material cash requirements at December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
Payments due by period
Contractual Obligations Total Less than 1 year 1-3 years 3-5 years More than 5 years
Credit Agreement (1)
$ 29,965 $ 3,954 $ 7,443 $ 18,568 $ -
Finance lease obligations (2)
17,812 4,870 8,281 4,661 -
Operating lease obligations (3)
8,223 2,958 3,579 1,449 237
Purchase obligations:
Crude oil marketing - crude oil (4)
213,864 213,864 - - -
Tractors and trailers (5)
18,570 18,570 - - -
Total contractual obligations $ 288,434 $ 244,216 $ 19,303 $ 24,678 $ 237
___________________
(1)Represents scheduled future maturities for amounts due under the Term Loan under our Credit Agreement plus estimated cash payments for interest. Interest payments are based upon the principal amount of the amount outstanding and the applicable interest rate at December 31, 2022. See Note 12 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about our Credit Agreement.
(2)Amounts represent our principal contractual commitments, including interest, outstanding under finance leases for tractors, trailers, tank storage and throughput arrangements and other equipment.
(3)Amounts represent rental obligations under non-cancelable operating leases and terminal arrangements with terms in excess of one year.
(4)Amount represents commitments to purchase certain quantities of crude oil substantially in January 2023 in connection with our crude oil marketing activities. These commodity purchase obligations are the basis for commodity sales, which generate the cash flow necessary to meet these purchase obligations.
(5)Amount represents commitments to purchase 60 new tractors and 31 new trailers in our transportation business, 15 new tractors and two new trailers in our crude oil marketing business, and 17 new tractors and two new trailers in our logistics and repurposing segment.
We maintain certain lease arrangements with independent truck owner-operators for use of their equipment and driver services on a month-to-month basis. In addition, we enter into office space and certain lease and terminal access contracts in order to provide tank storage and dock access for our crude oil marketing business. These storage and access contracts require certain minimum monthly payments for the term of the contracts.
Rental expense was as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Rental expense $ 23,176 $ 21,604 $ 16,585
Insurance
Our primary insurance needs are workers’ compensation, automobile and umbrella liability coverage for our trucking fleet and medical insurance for our employees. See Note 18 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Insurance costs were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Insurance costs $ 18,777 $ 15,610 $ 13,283
Related Party Transactions
For information regarding our related party transactions, see Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report.
Recent Accounting Developments
For information regarding recent accounting developments, see Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included under Part II, Item 8 of this annual report.
Outlook
One of our primary opportunities for 2023 will be to expand our relationships with existing customers by providing additional services to them through our recently acquired new lines of business. We also plan to expand on our other businesses by capitalizing on integration opportunities we can offer our customers. In addition, we will continue to focus on expanding our core businesses while delivering value to our shareholders. We will work to achieve positive results in markets with strong competition and margin pressures throughout all segments of our business.
Our major objectives for 2023 are as follows:
•Crude oil marketing - We plan to focus on increasing margins to maximize cash flow and capturing midstream opportunities in an inflationary market. We will utilize a new fleet dispatch and maintenance software system to help drive more efficiency in our fleet operations and lower our operating costs, which we believe will help drive increased profitability. In addition, we will look for opportunities to increase our trucking fleet to add to our overall ability to gather and distribute crude oil.
•Transportation - We plan to continue to increase truck utilization, upgrade our fleet quality and enhance driver retention and recruitment. We also plan to continue to capitalize on our recent acquisitions and organic expansions to improve quality of revenue through improved efficiencies. We will continue to look for ways to expand our terminal footprint to put us in a position to better compete for new business.
•Pipeline and storage - We will focus on opportunities to increase our pipeline and storage utilization, by identifying opportunities with our existing and new customers to increase volumes. In addition, we will look to capitalize on our new pipeline connection, scheduled to come on-line in the second quarter of 2023, as well as continuing to look for new connections for the pipeline system both upstream and downstream of the pipeline, to increase the crude oil supply and take-away capability of the system.
•Logistics and repurposing - We will focus on maintaining the relationships that these entities have developed over their years of operations and look to expand the customer base by offering these new services to our other divisions customers. We believe by integrating this business with certain aspects of our other businesses, we can bring additional overall value to both our customers and to our shareholders.
•Strategic business development - We will deploy a disciplined investment approach to growth in our four segments and funding new growth opportunities that are adjacent and complimentary to existing operating activities.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
In our financial reporting processes, we employ methods, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of our financial statements. These methods, estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for each reporting period. Investors should be aware that actual results could differ from these estimates if the underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect. The following sections discuss the use of estimates within our critical accounting policies and estimates.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
We allocate the purchase price of acquired businesses to their identifiable tangible assets and liabilities, such as accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. We also allocate a portion of the purchase price to identifiable intangible assets, such as non-compete agreements, trade names and customer relationships. Allocations are based on estimated fair values of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are recorded for any differences between the assigned values and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Estimated deferred taxes are based on available information concerning the tax bases of assets acquired and liabilities assumed and loss carryforwards at the acquisition date, although such estimates may change in the future as additional information becomes known. We use all available information to estimate fair values including quoted market prices, the carrying value of acquired assets, and widely accepted valuation techniques such as discounted cash flows.
Certain estimates and judgments are required in the application of the fair value techniques, including estimates of future cash flows and the selection of a discount rate, as well as the use of “Level 3” measurements as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure. Any remaining excess of cost over allocated fair values is recorded as goodwill. We typically engage third-party valuation experts to assist in determining the fair values for both the identifiable tangible and intangible assets. The judgments made in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as asset lives, could materially impact our results of operations.
At December 31, 2022, our goodwill balance was approximately $6.4 million. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the carrying values of our intangible assets were $9.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively. See Note 6 and Note 8 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
Fair Value Accounting
We enter into certain forward commodity contracts that are required to be recorded at fair value, and these contracts are recorded as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Changes in fair value are recognized immediately in earnings unless the derivatives qualify for, and we elect, cash flow hedge accounting. We had no contracts designated for hedge accounting during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
We utilize a market approach to valuing our commodity contracts. On a contract by contract, forward month by forward month basis, we obtain observable market data for valuing our contracts that typically have durations of less than 18 months. At December 31, 2022, all of our market value measurements were based on inputs based on observable market data (Level 2 inputs). See discussion under “Fair Value Measurements” in Note 2 and Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our fair value contracts give rise to market risk, which represents the potential loss that may result from a change in the market value of a particular commitment. We monitor and manage our exposure to market risk to ensure compliance with our risk management policies. These risk management policies are regularly assessed to ensure their appropriateness given our objectives, strategies and current market conditions.
Liability and Contingency Accruals, including those related to Insurance Liabilities
We establish a liability under the automobile and workers’ compensation insurance policies for expected claims incurred but not reported on a monthly basis. We retain a third-party consulting actuary to establish loss development factors, based on historical claims experience as well as industry experience. We apply those factors to current claims information to derive an estimate of the ultimate claims liability. See Note 18 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
From time to time as incidental to our operations, we become involved in various accidents, lawsuits and/or disputes. As an operator of an extensive trucking fleet, we are a party to motor vehicle accidents, worker compensation claims or other items of general liability as are typical for the industry. In addition, we have extensive operations that must comply with a wide variety of tax laws, environmental laws and labor laws, among others. Should an incident occur, we evaluate the claim based on its nature, the facts and circumstances and the applicability of insurance coverage. When our assessment indicates that it is probable that a liability has occurred and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated, we make appropriate accruals or disclosure. We base our estimates on all known facts at the time and our assessment of the ultimate outcome, including consultation with external experts and counsel. We revise these estimates as additional information is obtained or resolution is achieved. At December 31, 2022, we do not believe any of our outstanding legal matters would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Revenue Recognition
On January 1, 2018, we adopted FASB Accounting Standards Codification 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) and all related Accounting Standards Updates by applying the modified retrospective approach to all contracts that were not completed on January 1, 2018. The new revenue standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new revenue standard requires entities to recognize revenue through the application of a five-step model, which includes: identification of the contract; identification of the performance obligations; determination of the transaction price; allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and recognition of revenue as the entity satisfies the performance obligations.
Our revenues are primarily generated from the marketing, transportation, storage and terminalling of crude oil and other related products and the tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC 606. To identify the performance obligations, we considered all of the products or services promised in the contracts with customers, whether explicitly stated or implied based on customary business practices. Revenue is recognized when, or as, each performance obligation is satisfied under terms of the contract. Payment is typically due in full within 30 days of the invoice date.
Crude oil marketing segment. Crude oil marketing activities generate revenues from the sale and delivery of crude oil purchased either directly from producers or on the open market. Most of our crude oil purchase and sale contracts qualify and are designated as non-trading activities, and we consider these contracts as normal purchases and sales activity. For normal purchases and sales, our customers are invoiced monthly based upon contractually agreed upon terms with revenue recognized in the month in which the physical product is delivered to the customer, generally upon delivery of the product to the customer. Revenue is recognized based on the transaction price and the quantity delivered.
The majority of our crude oil sales contracts have multiple distinct performance obligations as the promise to transfer the individual goods (e.g., barrels of crude oil) is separately identifiable from the other goods promised within the contracts. Our performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time. For normal sales arrangements, revenue is recognized in the month in which control of the physical product is transferred to the customer, generally upon delivery of the product to the customer.
Transportation segment. Transportation activities generate revenue from the truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt or dry bulk for customers. Each sales order is associated with our master transportation agreements and is considered a distinct performance obligation. The performance obligations associated with this segment are satisfied over time as the goods and services are delivered.
Pipeline and storage segment. Pipeline and storage activities generate revenue by transporting crude oil on our pipeline and providing storage and terminalling services for our customers. Our operations generally consist of fee-based activities associated with the transportation of crude oil and providing storage and terminalling services for crude oil. Revenues from pipeline tariffs and fees are associated with the transportation of crude oil at a published tariff. We primarily recognize pipeline tariff and fee revenues over time as services are rendered, based on the volumes transported. As is common in the pipeline transportation industry, our tariffs incorporate a loss allowance factor. We recognize the allowance volumes collected as part of the transaction price and record this non-cash consideration at fair value, measured as of the contract inception date.
Storage fees are typically recognized in revenue ratably over the term of the contract regardless of the actual storage capacity utilized as our performance obligation is to make available storage capacity for a period of time. Terminalling fees are recognized as the crude oil enters or exits the terminal and are received from or delivered to the connecting carrier or third-party terminal, as applicable.
Logistics and repurposing. Logistics activities generate revenue by transporting crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and other petroleum products from point A to point B for customers. Each sales order is associated with our master transportation agreements and is considered a distinct performance obligation. The performance obligations associated with this segment are satisfied over time as the goods and services are delivered.
Recycling and repurposing activities generate revenue by repurposing off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals. These recycling and repurposing activities generate revenues from the sale and delivery of product purchased directly from the customer. Our customers are invoiced monthly based upon contractually agreed upon terms with revenue recognized in the month in which the physical product is delivered to the customer, generally upon delivery of the product to the customer. Revenue is recognized based on the transaction price and the quantity delivered.
See Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

---

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
In the normal course of business, we are exposed to certain risks, including changes in interest rates and commodity prices.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to the risk of changes in interest rates. At December 31, 2022, we had $24.4 million of borrowings outstanding under our Credit Agreement. A hypothetical ten percent change in the average interest rates applicable to the borrowings under our Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2022 would result in a change of approximately $0.2 million annually in interest expense.
Commodity Price Risk
Our major market risk exposure is in the pricing applicable to our crude oil marketing segment. Realized pricing is primarily driven by the prevailing spot prices applicable to crude oil. Commodity price risk in our crude oil marketing operations represents the potential loss that may result from a change in the market value of an asset or a commitment. From time to time, we enter into forward contracts to minimize or hedge the impact of market fluctuations on our purchases of crude oil. In each instance, we lock in a separate matching price support contract with a third party in order to minimize the risk of these financial instruments. Substantially all forward contracts fall within a six-month to twelve-month term.
Certain forward contracts are recorded at fair value, depending on our assessments of numerous accounting standards and positions that comply with GAAP in the U.S. The fair value of these contracts is reflected in the balance sheet as fair value assets and liabilities and any revaluation is recognized on a net basis in our results of operations (see Note 2 and Note 13 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information).
Historically, prices received for crude oil sales have been volatile and unpredictable with price volatility expected to continue. From January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022, our crude oil monthly average wholesale purchase costs ranged from a monthly average low of $48.75 per barrel to a monthly average high of $113.24 per barrel during the same period. A hypothetical ten percent additional adverse change in average crude oil prices, assuming no changes in volume levels, would have reduced earnings by approximately $3.7 million and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

---

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page No.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 49
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Operations
for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
for the Years Ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 - Organization and Basis of Presentation
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Note 3 - Revenue Recognition
Note 4 - Prepayments and Other Current Assets
Note 5 - Property and Equipment
Note 6 - Acquisitions
Note 7 - Other Assets
Note 8 - Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Note 9 - Segment Reporting
Note 10 - Transactions with Affiliates
Note 11 - Other Current Liabilities
Note 12 - Long-Term Debt
Note 13 - Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements
Note 14 - Income Taxes
Note 15 - Stock-Based Compensation Plan
Note 16 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Note 17 - Leases
Note 18 - Commitments and Contingencies
Note 19 - Concentration of Credit Risk
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and shareholders’ equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 16, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Measurement of accrued liabilities for automobile and workers’ compensation claims
As discussed in Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company establishes accrued liabilities for automobile and workers’ compensation claims reported plus an estimate for loss development and potential claims that have been incurred but not reported to the Company or its insurance provider. The estimates are based on insurance adjusters’ estimates, historical experience and statistical methods commonly used within the insurance industry. The Company retains a third-party actuary to review its accrued liabilities for such claims. As of December 31, 2022, the accrued liabilities for automobile and workers’ compensation were $5.6 million.
We identified the assessment of the accrued liabilities for automobile and workers’ compensation claims that have been incurred but not reported as a critical audit matter. Specialized skills and knowledge were required to evaluate the Company’s actuarial models and underlying assumptions made by the Company to estimate these accrued liabilities for incurred but not reported claims. Specifically, the accrued liabilities were sensitive to possible changes to the following key underlying assumptions:
•incurred and paid loss development factors used in the determination of the ultimate loss
•initial expected loss rates
•the selection of estimated loss among estimates derived using different methods.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s process to estimate accrued liabilities for automobile and workers compensation claims that have been incurred but not reported, including controls related to the development of the key assumptions listed above. In addition, we involved actuarial professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:
•assessing the actuarial models and procedures used by the Company by comparing them to generally accepted actuarial methods and procedures to estimate the ultimate losses
•evaluating the Company’s key assumptions and judgments underlying the Company’s estimate by developing an independent range of the incurred but not reported claims and comparing it against the Company’s recorded amount.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
Houston, Texas
March 16, 2023
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31,
2022 2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 20,532 $ 97,825
Restricted cash
10,535 9,492
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts of $88 and $108, respectively
189,039 137,789
Accounts receivable - related party
- 2
Inventory
26,919 18,942
Derivative assets
- 347
Income tax receivable
- 6,424
Prepayments and other current assets
3,118 2,389
Total current assets
250,143 273,210
Property and equipment, net
106,425 88,036
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
7,720 7,113
Intangible assets, net
9,745 3,317
Goodwill 6,428 -
Other assets
3,698 3,027
Total assets
$ 384,159 $ 374,703
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 204,391 $ 168,224
Accounts payable - related party
31 -
Derivative liabilities
330 324
Current portion of finance lease obligations
4,382 3,663
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 2,712 2,178
Other current liabilities
19,214 11,622
Total current liabilities
231,060 186,011
Other long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt
24,375 -
Asset retirement obligations
2,459 2,376
Finance lease obligations
12,085 9,672
Operating lease liabilities
5,007 4,938
Deferred taxes and other liabilities
15,996 11,320
Total liabilities
290,982 214,317
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock - $1.00 par value, 960,000 shares
authorized, none outstanding
- -
Common stock - $0.10 par value, 7,500,000 shares
authorized, 2,495,484 and 4,355,001 shares outstanding, respectively
248 433
Contributed capital
19,965 16,913
Retained earnings
72,964 143,040
Total shareholders’ equity
93,177 160,386
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$ 384,159 $ 374,703
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Revenues:
Marketing
$ 3,232,193 $ 1,930,042 $ 950,426
Transportation
112,376 94,498 71,724
Pipeline and storage - 664 272
Logistics and repurposing 22,348 - -
Total revenues
3,366,917 2,025,204 1,022,422
Costs and expenses:
Marketing
3,208,595 1,898,126 940,031
Transportation
89,973 75,295 58,888
Pipeline and storage 2,502 2,126 393
Logistics and repurposing 19,651 - -
General and administrative
17,718 13,701 10,284
Depreciation and amortization
22,707 19,797 18,573
Total costs and expenses
3,361,146 2,009,045 1,028,169
Operating earnings (losses)
5,771 16,159 (5,747)
Other income (expense):
Interest income
921 243 656
Interest expense
(1,287) (746) (444)
Total other (expense) income, net
(366) (503) 212
Earnings (Losses) before income taxes
5,405 15,656 (5,535)
Income tax (provision) benefit:
Current
(4,054) (5,169) 12,919
Deferred
2,136 1,401 (6,389)
Income tax (provision) benefit
(1,918) (3,768) 6,530
Net earnings
$ 3,487 $ 11,888 $ 995
Earnings per share:
Basic net earnings per common share
$ 0.86 $ 2.78 $ 0.23
Diluted net earnings per common share
$ 0.85 $ 2.75 $ 0.23
Dividends per common share
$ 0.96 $ 0.96 $ 0.96
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Operating activities:
Net earnings
$ 3,487 $ 11,888 $ 995
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
22,707 19,797 18,573
Gains on sales of property
(2,512) (733) (1,859)
Provision for doubtful accounts
(20) (6) (27)
Stock-based compensation expense
1,022 854 643
Deferred income taxes
(2,136) (1,401) 6,389
Net change in fair value contracts
353 (14) (9)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(46,577) (37,984) (5,162)
Accounts receivable/payable, affiliates
33 (2) (5)
Inventories
(7,334) 394 4,751
Income tax receivable
6,424 6,864 (10,719)
Prepayments and other current assets
(592) 575 (1,401)
Accounts payable
34,762 82,170 (61,116)
Accrued liabilities
4,327 (692) 5,052
Other
(167) (684) (104)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
13,777 81,026 (43,999)
Investing activities:
Property and equipment additions
(7,491) (12,382) (5,008)
Acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix, net of cash acquired (33,147) - -
Asset acquisitions
- - (20,200)
Proceeds from property sales
3,102 2,286 4,515
Insurance and state collateral refunds
1,533 - 1,030
Net cash used in investing activities
(36,003) (10,096) (19,663)
Financing activities:
Borrowings under Credit Agreement
117,000 8,000 -
Repayments under Credit Agreement (92,625) (8,000) -
Principal repayments of finance lease obligations
(4,741) (4,367) (2,336)
Cash paid for debt issuance costs (1,679) - -
Payment for financed portion of VEX acquisition
- (10,000) -
Repurchase of common shares from KSA (69,928) - -
Net proceeds from sale of equity 1,724 2,830 -
Payment of contingent consideration liability - - (111)
Dividends paid on common stock
(3,775) (4,141) (4,081)
Net cash used in financing activities
(54,024) (15,678) (6,528)
(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents,
including restricted cash
(76,250) 55,252 (70,190)
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash,
at beginning of period
107,317 52,065 122,255
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash,
at end of period
$ 31,067 $ 107,317 $ 52,065
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands, except per share data)
Total
Common Contributed Retained Shareholders’
Stock Capital Earnings Equity
Balance, January 1, 2020
$ 423 $ 12,778 $ 138,440 $ 151,641
Net earnings - - 995 995
Stock-based compensation expense - 643 - 643
Cancellation of shares withheld to cover
taxes upon vesting of restricted awards - (81) - (81)
Dividends declared:
Common stock, $0.96 per share
- - (4,070) (4,070)
Awards under LTIP, $0.96 per share
- - (36) (36)
Balance, December 31, 2020 423 13,340 135,329 149,092
Net earnings - - 11,888 11,888
Stock-based compensation expense - 854 - 854
Shares sold under at-the-market
offering program 9 2,821 - 2,830
Vesting of restricted awards 1 (1) - -
Cancellation of shares withheld to cover
taxes upon vesting of restricted awards - (101) - (101)
Dividends declared:
Common stock, $0.96 per share
- - (4,112) (4,112)
Awards under LTIP, $0.96 per share
- - (65) (65)
Balance, December 31, 2021 433 16,913 143,040 160,386
Net earnings - - 3,487 3,487
Stock-based compensation expense - 1,022 - 1,022
Vesting of restricted awards 2 (2) - -
Cancellation of shares withheld to cover
taxes upon vesting of restricted awards - (110) - (110)
Shares sold under at-the-market
offering program 5 1,719 - 1,724
Issuance of common shares for acquisition 2 423 - 425
Repurchase of common shares (194) - (69,734) (69,928)
Dividends declared:
Common stock, $0.96 per share
- - (3,746) (3,746)
Awards under LTIP, $0.96 per share
- - (83) (83)
Balance, December 31, 2022 $ 248 $ 19,965 $ 72,964 $ 93,177
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
Organization
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. is a publicly traded Delaware corporation organized in 1973, the common shares of which are listed on the NYSE American LLC under the ticker symbol “AE”. Through our subsidiaries, we are primarily engaged in crude oil marketing, truck and pipeline transportation of crude oil, terminalling and storage in various crude oil and natural gas basins in the lower 48 states of the United States (“U.S.”). In addition, we conduct tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk primarily in the lower 48 states of the U.S. with deliveries into Canada and Mexico, and with nineteen terminals across the U.S. We also recycle and repurpose off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals from producers in the U.S. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Adams” or the “Company” are intended to mean the business and operations of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
On August 12, 2022, we completed our acquisition of all of the equity interests of Firebird Bulk Carriers, Inc. (“Firebird”) and Phoenix Oil, Inc. (“Phoenix”). The consolidated financial statements prior to August 12, 2022 reflect only the historical results of Adams. The consolidated financial statements since the completion of the Firebird and Phoenix acquisition have included the results of Firebird and Phoenix using the acquisition method of accounting. See Note 6 for further information regarding the acquisition.
We operate and report in four business segments: (i) crude oil marketing, transportation and storage; (ii) tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk; (iii) pipeline transportation, terminalling and storage of crude oil; and (iv) beginning in the third quarter of 2022, interstate bulk transportation logistics of crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and other petroleum products and recycling and repurposing of off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals, which includes the businesses we acquired in August 2022 (see Note 6 for further information regarding the acquisition). See Note 9 for further information regarding our business segments.
The consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to use estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions and information we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be perceived with certainty and, accordingly, these estimates may change as new events occur, as more experience is acquired, as additional information is obtained and as the operating environment changes. While we believe the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are appropriate, actual results could differ from those estimates.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
We adhere to the following significant accounting policies in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable associated with crude oil marketing activities comprise approximately 88 percent of our total receivables, and industry practice requires payment for these sales to occur within 20 days of the end of the month following a transaction. Our customer makeup, credit policies and the relatively short duration of receivables mitigate the uncertainty typically associated with receivables management. We manage our crude oil marketing receivables by participating in a monthly settlement process with each of our counterparties. Ongoing account balances are monitored monthly, and we reconcile outstanding balances with counterparties. We also place great emphasis on collecting cash balances due.
We maintain and monitor our allowance for doubtful accounts. Our allowance for doubtful accounts is determined based on specific identification combined with a review of the general status of the aging of all accounts. We consider the following factors in our review of our allowance for doubtful accounts: (i) historical experience with customers, (ii) the perceived financial stability of customers based on our research, (iii) the levels of credit we grant to customers, and (iv) the duration of the receivable. We may increase the allowance for doubtful accounts in response to the specific identification of customers involved in bankruptcy proceedings and similar financial difficulties. On a routine basis, we review estimates associated with the allowance for doubtful accounts to ensure we have recorded sufficient reserves to cover potential losses. Customer payments are regularly monitored. However, a degree of risk remains due to the custom and practices of the industry. See Note 19 for further information regarding credit risk.
The following table presents our allowance for doubtful accounts activity for the periods indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Balance at beginning of period
$ 108 $ 114 $ 141
Charges to costs and expenses
- - -
Deductions
(20) (6) (27)
Balance at end of period
$ 88 $ 108 $ 114
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
Cash and cash equivalents represent unrestricted cash on hand and highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than three months from the date of purchase. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained with major financial institutions, and deposit amounts may exceed the amount of federally backed insurance provided. While we regularly monitor the financial stability of these institutions, cash and cash equivalents ultimately remain at risk subject to the financial viability of these institutions.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported in the consolidated balance sheets that totals to the amounts shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021
Cash and cash equivalents $ 20,532 $ 97,825
Restricted cash:
Collateral for outstanding letters of credit (1)
892 -
Captive insurance subsidiary (2)
9,643 9,492
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the
consolidated statements of cash flows $ 31,067 $ 107,317
_______________
(1)Represents amounts that are held in a segregated bank account by Wells Fargo Bank as collateral for an outstanding letter of credit.
(2)$1.5 million of the restricted cash balance relates to the initial capitalization of our captive insurance company formed in late 2020, and the remainder represents amounts paid to our captive insurance company for insurance premiums.
Common Shares Outstanding
The following table reconciles our outstanding common stock for the periods indicated:
Common
shares
Balance, January 1, 2020
4,235,533
Vesting of restricted stock unit awards (see Note 15)
10,290
Shares withheld to cover taxes upon vesting of restricted stock unit awards (2,107)
Balance, December 31, 2020
4,243,716
Vesting of restricted stock unit awards (see Note 15)
14,244
Vesting of performance share unit awards (see Note 15)
2,461
Shares withheld to cover taxes upon vesting of equity awards (3,043)
Shares sold under at-the-market offering program 97,623
Balance, December 31, 2021
4,355,001
Vesting of restricted stock unit awards (see Note 15)
21,814
Vesting of performance share unit awards (see Note 15)
3,125
Shares withheld to cover taxes upon vesting of equity awards (3,806)
Shares sold under at-the-market offering program 46,524
Issuance of shares in acquisition (see Note 6)
15,259
Repurchase of common shares (see Note 10)
(1,942,433)
Balance, December 31, 2022
2,495,484
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Derivative Instruments
In the normal course of our operations, our crude oil marketing segment purchases and sells crude oil. We seek to profit by procuring the commodity as it is produced and then delivering the product to the end users or the intermediate use marketplace. As typical for the industry, these transactions are made pursuant to the terms of forward month commodity purchase and/or sale contracts. Some of these contracts meet the definition of a derivative instrument, and therefore, we account for these contracts at fair value, unless the normal purchase and sale exception is applicable. These types of underlying contracts are standard for the industry and are the governing document for our crude oil marketing segment. None of our derivative instruments have been designated as hedging instruments.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing our net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by giving effect to all potential common shares outstanding, including shares related to unvested restricted stock unit awards. Unvested restricted stock unit awards granted under the Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (“2018 LTIP”), or granted as employment inducement awards outside of the 2018 LTIP, are not considered to be participating securities as the holders of these shares do not have non-forfeitable dividend rights in the event of our declaration of a dividend for common shares (see Note 15 for further information).
A reconciliation of the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share was as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share data):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Earnings per share - numerator:
Net earnings $ 3,487 $ 11,888 $ 995
Denominator:
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding (1)
4,053 4,283 4,240
Basic earnings per share $ 0.86 $ 2.78 $ 0.23
Diluted earnings per share:
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Common shares (1)
4,053 4,283 4,240
Restricted stock unit awards
23 23 11
Performance share unit awards (2)
15 17 3
Total 4,091 4,323 4,254
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.85 $ 2.75 $ 0.23
_______________
(1)On October 31, 2022, we repurchased 1,942,433 shares from an affiliate (see Note 10 for further information). As these shares were outstanding for the majority of 2022, the weighted average number of shares outstanding reflects the impact of those shares being outstanding through October 31, 2022.
(2)The dilutive effect of performance share awards are included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share when the performance share award performance conditions have been achieved. The performance conditions for the performance share unit awards granted in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were achieved as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Employee Benefits
We maintain a 401(k) savings plan for the benefit of our employees. We do not maintain any other pension or retirement plans. Our 401(k) plan contributory expenses were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Contributory expenses $ 1,283 $ 1,159 $ 1,100
Equity At-The-Market Offerings
On December 23, 2020, we entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement with B. Riley Securities, Inc., as agent (“Agent”), under which we may offer to sell our common shares through or to the Agent for cash from time to time. Shares sold under the agreement were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands, except share data):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021
Gross proceeds from sale of common shares $ 1,869 $ 2,996
Less offering costs paid to Agent (84) (135)
Less other offering costs (61) (31)
Net proceeds from sale of common shares $ 1,724 $ 2,830
Number of common shares sold 46,524 97,623
Average price per share $ 40.20 $ 30.70
Fair Value Measurements
The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Marketable securities are recorded at fair value based on market quotations from actively traded liquid markets. The fair value of our term loan under our credit agreement (see Note 12 for further information) is representative of the carrying value based upon the variable terms and management’s opinion that the current rates available to us with the same maturity and security structure are equivalent to that of the debt.
Our fair value estimates are based on either (i) actual market data or (ii) assumptions that other market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including estimates of risk, in the principal market of the asset or liability at a specified measurement date. Recognized valuation techniques employ inputs such as contractual prices, quoted market prices or rates, operating costs, discount factors and business growth rates. These inputs may be either readily observable, corroborated by market data or generally unobservable. In developing our estimates of fair value, we endeavor to utilize the best information available and apply market-based data to the highest extent possible. Accordingly, we utilize valuation techniques (such as the market approach) that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
A three-tier hierarchy has been established that classifies fair value amounts recognized in the financial statements based on the observability of inputs used to estimate such fair values. The hierarchy considers fair value amounts based on observable inputs (Levels 1 and 2) to be more reliable and predictable than those based primarily on unobservable inputs (Level 3). At each balance sheet reporting date, we categorize our financial assets and liabilities using this hierarchy.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The characteristics of the fair value amounts classified within each level of the hierarchy are described as follows:
•Level 1 fair values are based on quoted prices, which are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date. Active markets are defined as those in which transactions for identical assets or liabilities occur with sufficient frequency so as to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. For Level 1 valuation of marketable securities, we utilize market quotations provided by our primary financial institution. For the valuations of derivative financial instruments, we utilize the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) for certain commodity valuations.
•Level 2 fair values are based on (a) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, (b) quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities but in markets that are not actively traded or in which little information is released to the public, (c) observable inputs other than quoted prices, and (d) inputs derived from observable market data. Source data for Level 2 inputs include information provided by the NYMEX, published price data and indices, third party price survey data and broker provided forward price statistics.
•Level 3 fair values are based on unobservable market data inputs for assets or liabilities.
See Note 6 for a discussion of the Level 3 inputs used in the determination of the fair value of the intangible assets acquired in asset acquisitions and intangible assets acquired and contingent consideration issued in a business combination.
Fair value contracts consist of derivative financial instruments and are recorded as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. Changes in fair value are recognized immediately in earnings unless the derivatives qualify for, and we elect, cash flow hedge accounting. We had no contracts designated for hedge accounting during any of the current reporting periods (see Note 13 for further information).
Fair value estimates are based on assumptions that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability, and we use a fair value hierarchy of three levels that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. Currently, for all items presented herein, we utilize a market approach to valuing our contracts. On a contract by contract, forward month by forward month basis, we obtain observable market data for valuing our contracts. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data.
Impairment Testing for Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill
Long-lived assets (primarily property and equipment and intangible assets) are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets with carrying values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows are written-down to their estimated fair values. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is deemed not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the asset’s carrying value exceeds the sum of its undiscounted cash flows, a non-cash asset impairment charge equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its estimated fair value is recorded. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at a specified measurement date. We measure fair value using market price indicators or, in the absence of such data, appropriate valuation techniques.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Goodwill, which represents the cost of an acquired business in excess of the fair value of its net assets at the acquisition date, is subject to annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter of each year or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the goodwill may not be recoverable. We recognized goodwill in a business combination, which occurred in August 2022 (see Note 6 for further information). We will test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit (or operating segment) level following guidance in ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. An impairment of goodwill represents the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value (including its respective goodwill) exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this approach, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on anticipated future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of such items and their respective tax basis (see Note 14 for further information). On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cut and Jobs Act was enacted into law resulting in a reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent for years beginning in 2018, which impacted our income tax provision or benefit.
We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous states. We record uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) we determine whether it is more-likely-than-not the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.
Interest and penalties related to income taxes are included in the benefit (provision) for income taxes in our consolidated statements of operations.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted and signed into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, among other things, permits net operating losses (“NOL”) incurred in tax years 2018, 2019 and 2020 to offset 100 percent of taxable income and be carried back to each of the five preceding taxable years to generate a refund of previously paid income taxes.
The NOL carryback provision in the CARES Act resulted in cash benefits to us for the fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020. We carried back our NOL for fiscal year 2018 to 2013 and received a cash refund of approximately $2.7 million in June 2020. We carried back our NOL for the fiscal year 2019 to 2014 and received a cash refund of approximately $3.7 million in April 2021. We carried back our NOL for fiscal year 2020 to 2015 and 2016 and received a cash refund of approximately $6.9 million in June 2022.
Inventory, and Linefill and Base Gas
Inventory consists of crude oil held in storage tanks and at third-party pipelines as part of our crude oil marketing and pipeline and storage operations. Crude oil inventory is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. At the end of each reporting period, we assess the carrying value of our inventory and make adjustments necessary to reduce the carrying value to the applicable net realizable value. Any resulting adjustments are a component of marketing costs and expenses or pipeline and storage expenses on our consolidated statements of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we recorded a charge of $24.2 million related to the write-down of our crude oil inventory in our crude oil marketing segment due to declines in prices in 2020. There were no charges recognized during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Linefill and base gas in assets we own are recorded at historical cost and consist of crude oil. We classify as linefill or base gas our proportionate share of barrels used to fill a pipeline that we own and barrels that represent the minimum working requirements in storage tanks that we own. These crude oil barrels are not considered to be available for sale because the volumes must be maintained in order to continue normal operation of the related pipeline or tanks. Linefill and base gas are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. Linefill and base gas are included in “Property and equipment” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 5 for additional information regarding linefill and base gas.
Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate
We own an approximate 15 percent equity interest (less than 3 percent voting interest) in VestaCare, Inc., a California corporation (“VestaCare”), which we purchased for a $2.5 million cash payment in 2016. VestaCare provides an array of software as a service (SaaS) electronic payment technologies to medical providers, payers and patients including VestaCare’s product offering, VestaPay™. VestaPay™ allows medical care providers to structure fully automated and dynamically updating electronic payment plans for their patients. We account for this investment under the cost method of accounting. During 2017, we reviewed our investment in VestaCare and determined that the current projected operating results did not support the carrying value of the investment. As a result, during 2017, we recognized an impairment charge of $2.5 million to write-off our investment in VestaCare. At December 31, 2022, we continue to own an approximate 15 percent equity interest in VestaCare.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Expenditures for additions, improvements and other enhancements to property and equipment are capitalized, and minor replacements, maintenance and repairs that do not extend asset life or add value are charged to expense as incurred. When property and equipment assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation is removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in results of operations in operating costs and expenses for the respective period. Property and equipment, except for land, is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated average useful lives of two to thirty-nine years.
Asset retirement obligations (“AROs”) are legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that result from their acquisition, construction, development and/or normal operation. When an ARO is incurred, we record a liability for the ARO and capitalize an equal amount as an increase in the carrying value of the related long-lived asset. ARO amounts are measured at their estimated fair value using expected present value techniques. Over time, the ARO liability is accreted to its present value (through accretion expense), and the capitalized amount is depreciated over the remaining useful life of the related long-lived asset. We will incur a gain or loss to the extent that our ARO liabilities are not settled at their recorded amounts.
See Note 5 for additional information regarding our property and equipment and AROs.
Stock-Based Compensation
We measure all share-based payment awards, including the issuance of restricted stock unit awards and performance share unit awards to employees and board members, using a fair-value based method. The cost of services received from employees and non-employee board members in exchange for awards of equity instruments is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations based on the estimated fair value of those awards on the grant date and is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The fair value of restricted stock unit awards and performance share unit awards is based on the closing price of our common stock on the grant date. We account for forfeitures as they occur. See Note 15 for additional information regarding our 2018 LTIP.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 3. Revenue Recognition
We account for our revenues under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASC 606’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 requires entities to recognize revenue through the application of a five-step model, which includes: identification of the contract; identification of the performance obligations; determination of the transaction price; allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations; and recognition of revenue as the entity satisfies the performance obligations.
Our revenues are primarily generated from the marketing, transportation, storage and terminalling of crude oil and other related products, the tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk and the recycling and repurposing of off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account in ASC 606. To identify the performance obligations, we considered all of the products or services promised in the contracts with customers, whether explicitly stated or implied based on customary business practices. Revenue is recognized when, or as, each performance obligation is satisfied under terms of the contract. Payment is typically due in full within 30 days of the invoice date.
The following information describes the nature of our significant revenue streams by segment and type:
Crude oil marketing segment. Crude oil marketing activities generate revenues from the sale and delivery of crude oil purchased either directly from producers or on the open market. Most of our crude oil purchase and sale contracts qualify and are designated as non-trading activities, and we consider these contracts as normal purchases and sales activity. For normal purchases and sales, our customers are invoiced monthly based upon contractually agreed upon terms with revenue recognized in the month in which the physical product is delivered to the customer, generally upon delivery of the product to the customer. Revenue is recognized based on the transaction price and the quantity delivered.
The majority of our crude oil sales contracts have multiple distinct performance obligations as the promise to transfer the individual goods (e.g., barrels of crude oil) is separately identifiable from the other goods promised within the contracts. Our performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time. For normal sales arrangements, revenue is recognized in the month in which control of the physical product is transferred to the customer, generally upon delivery of the product to the customer.
Transportation segment. Transportation activities generate revenue from the truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt or dry bulk from point A to point B for customers. Each sales order is associated with our master transportation agreements and is considered a distinct performance obligation. The performance obligations associated with this segment are satisfied over time as the goods and services are delivered.
Pipeline and storage segment. Pipeline and storage activities generate revenue by transporting crude oil on our pipeline and providing storage and terminalling services for our customers. Our operations generally consist of fee-based activities associated with the transportation of crude oil and providing storage and terminalling services for crude oil. Revenues from pipeline tariffs and fees are associated with the transportation of crude oil at a published tariff. We primarily recognize pipeline tariff and fee revenues over time as services are rendered, based on the volumes transported. As is common in the pipeline transportation industry, our tariffs incorporate a loss allowance factor. We recognize the allowance volumes collected as part of the transaction price and record this non-cash consideration at fair value, measured as of the contract inception date.
Storage fees are typically recognized in revenue ratably over the term of the contract regardless of the actual storage capacity utilized as our performance obligation is to make available storage capacity for a period of time. Terminalling fees are recognized as the crude oil enters or exits the terminal and is received from or delivered to the connecting carrier or third-party terminal, as applicable.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Logistics and repurposing segment. Logistics activities generate revenue from the truck transportation of crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and other petroleum products from point A to point B for customers. Each sales order is associated with our master transportation agreements and is considered a distinct performance obligation. The performance obligations associated with this segment are satisfied over time as the goods and services are delivered.
Recycling and repurposing activities generate revenue by repurposing off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals. These recycling and repurposing activities generate revenues from the sale and delivery of product purchased directly from the customer. Our customers are invoiced monthly based upon contractually agreed upon terms with revenue recognized in the month in which the physical product is delivered to the customer, generally upon delivery of the product to the customer. Revenue is recognized based on the transaction price and the quantity delivered.
Contract Balances
The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable and customer advances and deposits (contract liabilities) on our consolidated balance sheets. Currently, we do not record any contract assets in our financial statements due to the timing of revenue recognized and when our customers are billed. Our crude oil marketing customers are generally billed monthly based on contractually agreed upon terms. However, we sometimes receive advances or deposits from customers before revenue is recognized, resulting in contract liabilities. These contract assets and liabilities, if any, are reported on our consolidated balance sheets at the end of each reporting period.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Revenue Disaggregation
The following table disaggregates our revenue by segment and by major source for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Crude oil marketing:
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Goods transferred at a point in time $ 3,189,660 $ 1,898,160 $ 915,438
Services transferred over time - - -
Total revenues from contracts with customers 3,189,660 1,898,160 915,438
Other (1)
42,533 31,882 34,988
Total crude oil marketing revenue $ 3,232,193 $ 1,930,042 $ 950,426
Transportation:
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Goods transferred at a point in time $ - $ - $ -
Services transferred over time 112,376 94,498 71,724
Total revenues from contracts with customers 112,376 94,498 71,724
Other - - -
Total transportation revenue $ 112,376 $ 94,498 $ 71,724
Pipeline and storage: (2)
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Goods transferred at a point in time $ - $ - $ -
Services transferred over time - 664 272
Total revenues from contracts with customers - 664 272
Other - - -
Total pipeline and storage revenue $ - $ 664 $ 272
Logistics and repurposing: (3)
Revenue from contracts with customers:
Goods transferred at a point in time $ 12,865 $ - $ -
Services transferred over time 9,483 - -
Total revenues from contracts with customers 22,348 - -
Other - - -
Total logistics and repurposing revenue $ 22,348 $ - $ -
Subtotal:
Total revenues from contracts with customers $ 3,324,384 $ 1,993,322 $ 987,434
Total other (1)
42,533 31,882 34,988
Total consolidated revenues $ 3,366,917 $ 2,025,204 $ 1,022,422
_______________
(1)Other crude oil marketing revenues are recognized under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and ASC 845, Nonmonetary Transactions - Purchases and Sales of Inventory with the Same Counterparty.
(2)All pipeline and storage revenue earned in 2022 and a substantial portion of the revenue earned in 2021 were from an affiliated shipper, GulfMark Energy, Inc., our subsidiary, and eliminated in consolidation.
(3)On August 12, 2022, we acquired a transportation logistics and recycling and repurposing business, resulting in a new operating segment. See Note 6 and Note 9 for further information.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Other Crude Oil Marketing Revenue
Certain of the commodity purchase and sale contracts utilized by our crude oil marketing segment qualify as derivative instruments with certain specifically identified contracts also designated as trading activity. From the time of contract origination, these contracts are marked-to-market and recorded on a net revenue basis in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Certain of our crude oil contracts may be with a single counterparty to provide for similar quantities of crude oil to be bought and sold at different locations. These contracts are entered into for a variety of reasons, including effecting the transportation of the commodity, to minimize credit exposure, and/or to meet the competitive demands of the customer. These buy/sell arrangements are reflected on a net revenue basis in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Reporting these crude oil contracts on a gross revenue basis would increase our reported revenues as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Revenue gross-up $ 1,557,510 $ 761,369 $ 419,127
Note 4. Prepayments and Other Current Assets
The components of prepayments and other current assets were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021
Insurance premiums $ 1,220 $ 641
Vendor prepayment - 602
Rents, licenses and other 1,898 1,146
Total prepayments and other current assets $ 3,118 $ 2,389
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 5. Property and Equipment
The historical costs of our property and equipment and related accumulated depreciation and amortization balances were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
Estimated
Useful Life December 31,
in Years 2022 2021
Tractors and trailers
5 - 6
$ 128,223 $ 106,558
Field equipment 2 - 5
24,676 22,851
Finance lease ROU assets (1)
3 - 6
25,106 22,349
Pipeline and related facilities 20 - 25
20,362 20,336
Linefill and base gas (2)
N/A 3,922 3,922
Buildings 5 - 39
16,163 16,163
Office equipment 2 - 5
2,937 2,060
Land N/A 2,309 2,008
Construction in progress N/A 3,629 3,396
Total property and equipment, at cost 227,327 199,643
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (120,902) (111,607)
Property and equipment, net $ 106,425 $ 88,036
______________
(1)Our finance lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets arise from leasing arrangements for the right to use various classes of underlying assets including tractors, trailers, a tank storage and throughput arrangement and office equipment (see Note 17 for further information). Accumulated amortization of the assets presented as “Finance lease ROU assets” was $9.9 million and $9.7 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
(2)Linefill and base gas represents crude oil in the VEX pipeline (Note 6) and storage tanks we own, and the crude oil is recorded at historical cost.
Components of depreciation and amortization expense were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Depreciation and amortization, excluding amounts
under finance leases $ 16,330 $ 14,264 $ 15,467
Amortization of intangible assets (see Note 8)
1,177 789 559
Amortization of property and equipment under finance leases 5,200 4,744 2,547
Total depreciation and amortization $ 22,707 $ 19,797 $ 18,573
Gains on Sales of Assets
We sold certain used tractors, trailers and other equipment and recorded net pre-tax gains as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Gains on sales of used tractors, trailers and equipment $ 2,512 $ 733 $ 1,859
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Asset Retirement Obligations
We record AROs for the estimated retirement costs associated with certain tangible long-lived assets. The estimated fair value of AROs are recorded in the period in which they are incurred and the corresponding cost is capitalized by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to its then present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the asset. If the liability is settled for an amount other than the recorded amount, an increase or decrease to expense is recognized. The following table reflects a summary of our AROs for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
ARO liability at beginning of year $ 2,376 $ 2,307 $ 1,573
Liabilities incurred 29 - -
Accretion of discount 58 69 49
Liabilities settled - - (38)
AROs related to pipeline acquisition (see Note 6)
- - 723
ARO liability at end of year $ 2,463 $ 2,376 $ 2,307
Note 6. Acquisitions
Business Combination - Firebird and Phoenix
On August 12, 2022, we entered into a purchase agreement with each of Scott Bosard, Trey Bosard and Tyler Bosard (collectively, the “Sellers”) to acquire all of the equity interests of Firebird and Phoenix for approximately $39.3 million, consisting of a cash payment of $35.4 million, 45,777 of our common shares valued at $1.4 million, of which 15,259 shares were issued immediately and 30,518 shares will be issued over a three year period, and contingent consideration valued at approximately $2.6 million. We funded the cash consideration using cash on hand at the time of acquisition. Pursuant to the purchase agreement, the purchase price is subject to customary post-closing adjustment provisions, including an earn-out payable to the Sellers to the extent the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of Phoenix exceeds a specified threshold during the twelve full calendar months after the closing date of the acquisition.
Firebird is an interstate bulk motor carrier of crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and other petroleum products. Firebird is headquartered in Humble, Texas, with six terminal locations throughout Texas, and operates 130 tractors and 209 trailers largely in the Eagle Ford basin. Phoenix is also headquartered in Humble, Texas, and recycles and repurposes off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals from producers in the U.S. Firebird and Phoenix have formed our new logistics and repurposing segment. We expect that this acquisition will offer us the opportunity to expand our value chain and market impact, with numerous synergies benefiting the combined companies.
The following table summarizes the aggregate preliminary consideration paid and issued for Firebird and Phoenix (in thousands):
Cash $ 35,350
Value of AE common shares issued 1,364
Contingent consideration arrangement 2,566
Fair value of total consideration transferred $ 39,280
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The fair market value of the common shares issued in this transaction was determined based upon the closing share price of AE common stock on August 12, 2022 of $33.75, discounted to present value using the appropriate discount rate.
We accounted for the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The allocation of purchase consideration was based upon the estimated fair value of the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition.
The following table presents the preliminary purchase price allocation to estimated fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date of August 12, 2022 (in thousands):
Assets acquired:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,203
Accounts receivable 4,653
Inventory 643
Other current assets 137
Property and equipment 25,054
Intangible assets 7,607
Goodwill 6,428
Other assets 458
Total assets acquired $ 47,183
Liabilities assumed:
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities $ (1,696)
Deferred tax liabilities (6,207)
Total liabilities assumed $ (7,903)
Net assets acquired $ 39,280
The purchase price allocation is subject to revision as acquisition-date fair value analyses are completed and if additional information about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date becomes available. The purchase price consideration, as well as the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, will be finalized as soon as practicable, but no later than one year from the closing of the acquisition.
The estimated fair value of the acquired property and equipment was determined using a combination of the cost approach and the market approach, specifically determining the replacement cost value of each type of asset.
Acquired identifiable intangible assets consists of approximately $5.1 million for customer relationships, $2.2 million for trade names, and $0.3 million for noncompete agreements entered into with the Sellers in connection with the acquisition. The estimated fair value of the acquired customer relationship intangible assets was determined using an income approach, specifically a discounted cash flow analysis, and are being amortized on a modified straight-line basis over a period of ten years, with the amortization more heavily weighted in the earlier years. The income approach estimates the future benefits of the customer relationships and deducts the expenses incurred in servicing the relationships and the contributions from the other business assets to derive the future net benefits of these assets. The future net benefits are discounted back to present value using the appropriate discount rate, which results in the value of the customer relationships. The estimated fair value of the trade names was determined using the relief from royalty method, a form of the income approach, and are being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 15 years. The estimated fair value of the noncompete agreements was determined using an income approach, specifically a discounted cash flow analysis, and are being amortized over a period of five years.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The goodwill of approximately $6.4 million arising from this acquisition is primarily attributed to our ability to generate increased revenues, earnings and cash flow by expanding our addressable market and client base and with the assembled workforce that we acquired. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. We recorded net tax liabilities of approximately $6.2 million related to the tax effect of our estimated fair value allocations.
The discounted cash flow analysis used to estimate the fair value of the Firebird and Phoenix intangible assets relied on Level 3 fair value inputs. Level 3 fair values are based on unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs are used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset at the measurement date. The valuations were based on the information that was available as of the acquisition date, and the expectations and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by our management. There are inherent uncertainties and management judgment required in these determinations. The fair value measurements of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were based on valuations involving significant unobservable inputs, or Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
This newly acquired business contributed $22.3 million of revenues and $0.2 million of net earnings to our consolidated revenues and net earnings, respectively, for the period from acquisition through December 31, 2022. We incurred approximately $0.4 million of acquisition costs in connection with this acquisition, which have been expensed in general and administrative expense as incurred.
In connection with the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix, we entered into four operating lease agreements for office and terminal locations with Scott Bosard, one of the Sellers, for periods ranging from two to five years (see Note 10 and Note 17 for further information).
Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated results of operations in the table below are provided for illustrative purposes only and summarize the combined results of our operations and those of Firebird and Phoenix. For purposes of this pro forma presentation, the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix is assumed to have occurred on January 1, 2021. The pro forma financial information for all periods presented also includes the estimated business combination accounting effects resulting from this acquisition, notably amortization expense from the acquired intangible assets and certain other integration related impacts. This unaudited pro forma financial information should not be relied upon as being indicative of the historical results that would have been obtained if the acquisition had actually occurred on January 1, 2021, nor of the results of operations that may be obtained in the future (in thousands).
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021
Revenues $ 3,411,168 $ 2,074,803
Net earnings 5,538 13,822
Basic net earnings per common share $ 1.36 $ 3.22
Diluted net earnings per common share $ 1.35 $ 3.19
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Acquisition of Pipeline and Related Terminal Facility Assets
On October 22, 2020, we and our subsidiary, GulfMark Terminals, LLC (“GMT”) entered into a purchase and sale agreement with EnLink Midstream Operating, L.P. for the purchase of the outstanding equity interests of Victoria Express Pipeline, LLC (“VEX”) and certain related pipeline terminal facility assets for $20.0 million, plus a cash payment of $0.5 million for working capital items. Of the purchase price, $10.0 million was paid at closing, with the remainder to be paid in four quarterly installments of $2.5 million, plus interest at a rate of 4.0 percent per annum, beginning in March 2021. The equity interests in GMT, VEX and the other acquired assets were pledged to secure the payment of the installment portions of the purchase price as part of the agreement.
The VEX Pipeline System, with truck and storage terminals at both Cuero and the Port of Victoria, Texas, is a crude oil and condensate pipeline system, which connects the heart of the Eagle Ford Basin to the Gulf Coast waterborne market. The VEX Pipeline System includes 56 miles of 12-inch pipeline, which spans DeWitt County to Victoria County, Texas, with 350,000 barrels of above ground storage, two 8 bay truck offload stations, and access to two docks at the Port of Victoria. The VEX Pipeline System is able to receive crude oil by pipeline and truck, and has downstream pipeline connections to two terminals, with potential for additional downstream connection opportunities in the future. The pipeline system has a current capacity of 90,000 barrels per day.
The VEX Pipeline System and related terminal assets have been included in our pipeline and storage segment. We expect that this acquisition will further strengthen our ability to provide excellent service to the producers in the Gulf Coast region, as well as more effectively service our end-user markets along the Gulf Coast. In addition, the VEX Pipeline System complements our existing storage terminal and dock at the Port of Victoria, where we now control approximately 450,000 barrels of storage with three docks after giving effect to the acquisition.
In addition to the purchase price of $20.0 million and a cash payment of $0.5 million for working capital items, we also incurred approximately $0.6 million of acquisition costs in connection with this acquisition, which has been included in the allocation of the total purchase price of $21.0 million to the assets acquired. We accounted for this acquisition as an asset acquisition as substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets is concentrated in a group of similarly identifiable assets.
The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price based on the estimated fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired at the acquisition date (in thousands):
Accounts receivable and other current assets $ 80
Linefill and base gas 1,013
Property and equipment - Pipeline and related terminal facilities 20,542
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities (598)
Total purchase price $ 21,037
The estimated fair value of the acquired property and equipment was determined using the cost approach, specifically determining the replacement cost value of each type of asset.
In connection with the acquisition, we recorded an ARO of approximately $0.7 million related to legal and regulatory requirements to perform specified retirement activities, including purging and sealing the pipeline if it is abandoned.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Acquisition of Transportation Assets - CTL
On May 17, 2020, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Comcar Industries, Inc. (“Comcar”), a bulk carrier trucking company, for the purchase of substantially all of the transportation assets of Comcar’s subsidiary, CTL Transportation, LLC (“CTL”). CTL provides short-haul delivery services to customers in the chemical industry, with operations in nine locations in the southeastern United States. On June 26, 2020, we closed on the asset acquisition for approximately $9.0 million in cash. This acquisition added approximately 163 tractors and 328 trailers to our existing transportation fleet, and these assets were included in our transportation segment. This acquisition added new customers, new market areas and new product lines to our transportation segment portfolio. As a result of the acquisition, we added services to new and existing customers in six new market areas, including new terminals in Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Georgia and Florida.
We also incurred approximately $0.1 million of acquisition costs in connection with this acquisition, which has been included in the allocation of the total purchase price of $9.2 million to the assets acquired.
The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price based on the estimated fair value of the assets acquired at the acquisition date (in thousands):
Property and equipment - tractors and trailers $ 5,901
Materials and supplies 87
Intangible assets - customer relationships 3,175
Total purchase price $ 9,163
The estimated fair value of the acquired property and equipment was determined using the estimated market value of each type of asset. The estimated fair value of the acquired customer relationship intangible assets was determined using an income approach, specifically a discounted cash flow analysis. The income approach estimates the future benefits of the customer relationships and deducts the expenses incurred in servicing the relationships and the contributions from the other business assets to derive the future net benefits of these assets. The future net benefits are discounted back to present value using the appropriate discount rate, which results in the value of the customer relationships.
A customer relationship intangible asset is the relationship between CTL and various customers to whom we did not have a previous relationship. The customer relationships we acquired in this transaction provide us with access to those customers to whom we did not have a previous relationship and allows us to enter product markets in which we have not previously participated. Because of the highly competitive and fragmented transportation market, we believe access to these customers will provide us with an entry into new market areas.
The discounted cash flow analysis used to estimate the fair value of the CTL customer relationships relied on Level 3 fair value inputs. Level 3 fair values are based on unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs are used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset at the measurement date. With respect to the CTL customer relationships, the Level 3 inputs included the rate of retention of the current customers of CTL as of the valuation date, our transportation segment’s historical customer retention rate and projected future revenues associated with the customers. The CTL customers expected to remain with us after the transaction were included in the valuation of the customer relationships. We are amortizing the customer relationship intangible assets over a period of seven years, using a modified straight-line approach. See Note 8 for further information regarding our intangible assets.
In connection with the acquisition, we entered into a finance lease agreement for an additional 40 trailers with a six year term. See Note 17 for further information regarding finance leases.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 7. Other Assets
Components of other assets were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021
Amounts associated with liability insurance program:
Insurance collateral deposits
$ 463 $ 721
Excess loss fund
- 622
Accumulated interest income
- 489
Other amounts:
State collateral deposits
23 36
Materials and supplies
1,257 574
Debt issuance costs 1,595 292
Other 360 293
Total other assets
$ 3,698 $ 3,027
We have established certain deposits to support participation in our liability insurance program and remittance of state crude oil severance taxes and other state collateral deposits. Insurance collateral deposits are held by the insurance company to cover past or potential open claims based upon a percentage of the expected losses under the insurance programs. Excess amounts in our loss fund represented premium payments in excess of claims incurred to date that we may be entitled to recover through settlement or commutation as claim periods are closed. As of December 31, 2022, all previous insurance policies that were funded through a loss fund have been fully commuted and any excess loss fund has been refunded. Interest income was earned on the majority of amounts held by the insurance companies and was paid to us upon commutation of policy years.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 8. Intangible Assets and Goodwill
Intangible Assets
The following table summarizes our intangible assets at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021
Gross Accumulated Gross Accumulated
Value Amortization Net Value Amortization Net
Customer relationships:
EH Transport (1)
$ 1,703 $ (1,010) $ 693 $ 1,703 $ (765) $ 938
CTL (2)
3,173 (1,286) 1,887 3,173 (794) 2,379
Phoenix (3)
5,072 (360) 4,712 - - -
Total customer relationships 9,948 (2,656) 7,292 4,876 (1,559) 3,317
Trade names (3)
2,218 (57) 2,161 - - -
Noncompete agreements (3)
317 (25) 292 - - -
Intangible assets, net $ 12,483 $ (2,738) $ 9,745 $ 4,876 $ (1,559) $ 3,317
____________
(1)Amount relates to the acquisition of transportation assets from EH Transport, Inc. in 2019, and are included in our transportation segment. These assets are being amortized using a modified straight-line approach and have a remaining useful life of approximately 3.5 years.
(2)Amounts relates to the acquisition of transportation assets from Comcar in 2020, and are included in our transportation segment. These assets are being amortized using a modified straight-line approach and have a remaining useful life of approximately 4.5 years.
(3)Amounts relate to the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix in 2022, and are included in our logistics and repurposing segment. Customer relationships, trade names and noncompete agreements have remaining useful lives of approximately 9.5 years, 14.5 years and 4.5 years, respectively. See Note 6 for further information.
During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, we recorded $1.2 million, $0.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively, of amortization expense related to these intangible assets.
The following table presents our forecast of amortization expense associated with these intangible assets for the years indicated (in thousands):
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Amortization expense $ 1,792 $ 1,658 $ 1,555 $ 1,306 $ 908
Customer Relationship Intangible Assets. Customer relationship intangible assets represent the estimated economic value assigned to commercial relationships acquired in connection with business and asset acquisitions. The estimated fair value of each customer relationship intangible asset was determined at the time of acquisition using a discounted cash flow analysis, which incorporated various assumptions regarding the acquired business or assets. The assumptions may include Level 3 fair value inputs, including the rate of retention of the customers of the acquisition, the rate of retention of our existing business and projected future revenues associated with the customers. The customer relationship intangible assets are being amortized in a manner that closely resembles the pattern in which we expect to benefit from the relationships.
Trade Names and Noncompete Agreements Intangible Assets. Trade names intangible assets represent the estimated economic value of the commercial trade names acquired in connection with the Firebird and Phoenix acquisition in August 2022. The trade names intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the period in which we expect to benefit from the use of the trade names.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Noncompete agreements intangible assets represent the estimated economic value of the three noncompete agreements that we entered into with the former owners of Firebird and Phoenix. The noncompete agreements intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the agreements.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the cost of an acquired business in excess of the fair value of the net assets at acquisition. Our goodwill balance was $6.4 million at December 31, 2022 and relates to the Firebird and Phoenix acquisition included in our logistics and repurposing segment.
Note 9. Segment Reporting
We operate and report in four business segments: (i) crude oil marketing, transportation and storage; (ii) tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, pressurized gases, asphalt and dry bulk; (iii) pipeline transportation, terminalling and storage of crude oil; and (iv) beginning in the third quarter of 2022, interstate bulk transportation logistics of crude oil, condensate, fuels, oils and other petroleum products and recycling and repurposing of off-specification fuels, lubricants, crude oil and other chemicals, which includes the businesses we acquired in August 2022 (see Note 6 for further information regarding our acquisition). Our business segments are generally organized and managed according to the types of services rendered. See Note 3 for a summary of the types of products and services from which each segment derives its revenues.
Our Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) (our Chief Executive Officer) evaluates segment performance based on measures including segment operating earnings (losses) and capital spending (property and equipment additions). Segment operating earnings (losses) is calculated as segment revenues less segment operating costs and depreciation and amortization expense.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Financial information by reporting segment was as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Reporting Segments
Crude oil marketing Trans-portation Pipeline and storage Logistics and repurposing (1)
Other Total
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Segment revenues (2)
$ 3,232,193 $ 112,653 $ 3,804 $ 24,654 $ - $ 3,373,304
Less: Intersegment revenues (2)
- (277) (3,804) (2,306) - (6,387)
Revenues $ 3,232,193 $ 112,376 $ - $ 22,348 $ - $ 3,366,917
Segment operating earnings (losses) (3)
15,874 10,891 (3,579) 303 - 23,489
Depreciation and amortization 7,724 11,512 1,077 2,394 - 22,707
Property and equipment additions (4) (5)
4,534 1,608 1,050 282 17 7,491
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Segment revenues (2)
$ 1,930,042 $ 94,824 $ 4,524 $ - $ - $ 2,029,390
Less: Intersegment revenues (2)
- (326) (3,860) - - (4,186)
Revenues $ 1,930,042 $ 94,498 $ 664 $ - $ - $ 2,025,204
Segment operating earnings (losses) (3)
25,243 7,104 (2,487) - - 29,860
Depreciation and amortization 6,673 12,099 1,025 - - 19,797
Property and equipment additions (4) (5)
3,245 7,960 1,169 - 8 12,382
Year Ended December 31, 2020
Segment revenues (2)
$ 950,426 $ 71,724 $ 272 $ - $ - $ 1,022,422
Less: Intersegment revenues (2)
- - - - - -
Revenues $ 950,426 $ 71,724 $ 272 $ - $ - $ 1,022,422
Segment operating earnings (losses) (3)
2,974 1,873 (310) - - 4,537
Depreciation and amortization 7,421 10,963 189 - - 18,573
Property and equipment additions (4) (5)
3,130 1,355 - - 523 5,008
_______________
(1)On August 12, 2022, we acquired a transportation logistics and recycling and repurposing business, resulting in a new operating segment. See Note 6 for further information.
(2)Segment revenues include intersegment amounts that are eliminated in operating costs and expenses in our consolidated statements of operations. Intersegment activities are conducted at posted tariff rates where applicable, or otherwise at rates similar to those charged to third parties or rates that we believe approximate market at the time the agreement is executed.
(3)Our crude oil marketing segment’s operating earnings included net inventory valuation losses of $2.0 million, net inventory liquidation gains of $10.3 million, and net inventory valuation losses of $15.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(4)Our segment property and equipment additions do not include assets acquired under finance leases during the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020. See Note 17 for further information.
(5)Amounts included in property and equipment additions for Other are additions for leasehold improvements and computer equipment at our corporate headquarters, which were not attributed or allocated to any of our reporting segments.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Segment operating earnings reflect revenues net of operating costs and depreciation and amortization expense and are reconciled to earnings (losses) before income taxes, as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Segment operating earnings
$ 23,489 $ 29,860 $ 4,537
General and administrative
(17,718) (13,701) (10,284)
Operating earnings (losses)
5,771 16,159 (5,747)
Interest income
921 243 656
Interest expense
(1,287) (746) (444)
Earnings (losses) before income taxes
$ 5,405 $ 15,656 $ (5,535)
Identifiable assets by industry segment were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Reporting segment:
Marketing
$ 215,813 $ 162,770 $ 128,441
Transportation
60,405 67,167 72,247
Pipeline and storage 25,815 25,569 24,541
Logistics and repurposing (1)
45,307 - -
Cash and other (2)
36,819 119,197 70,958
Total assets
$ 384,159 $ 374,703 $ 296,187
_________________
(1)On August 12, 2022, we acquired a transportation logistics and recycling and repurposing business, resulting in a new operating segment. See Note 6 for further information.
(2)Other identifiable assets are primarily corporate cash, corporate accounts receivable, properties and operating lease right-of-use assets not identified with any specific segment of our business.
All of our property and equipment is located in the U.S. Substantially all of our consolidated revenues are earned in the U.S. and derived from a wide customer base. Accounting policies for transactions between business segments are consistent with applicable accounting policies as disclosed herein.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 10. Transactions with Affiliates
We enter into certain transactions in the normal course of business with affiliated entities. Activities with affiliates were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
KSA and affiliate billings to us $ 7 $ 13 $ 18
Billings to KSA and affiliates 21 14 5
Rentals paid to affiliate of KSA 549 605 644
Payments to KSA and affiliates for purchase of vehicles (1)
78 469 -
Rentals paid to Scott Bosard (2)
170 - -
_________________
(1)Amounts paid to West Point Buick GMC are for the purchase of two and twelve pickup trucks during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and are net of trade-in values.
(2)Amounts for rentals paid to Scott Bosard are from the period from August 12, 2022 through December 31, 2022, the period in which Scott Bosard is a related party.
Affiliated transactions include direct cost reimbursement for shared phone and administrative services from KSA Industries, Inc. (“KSA”), an affiliated entity. We lease our corporate office space in a building operated by 17 South Briar Hollow Lane, LLC, an affiliate of KSA. In addition, we purchase pickup trucks from West Point Buick GMC, an affiliate of KSA.
On October 31, 2022, we entered into a Stock Repurchase Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with KSA and certain members of the family of the late Kenneth Stanley Adams, Jr., our founder (collectively, the “KSA Sellers”). Prior to the transaction, KSA was our largest shareholder. Under the terms of the Repurchase Agreement, we purchased an aggregate of 1,942,433 shares of our common stock from the KSA Sellers for an aggregate purchase price of $69.9 million, at a price of $36.00 per share. The purchase price was funded with the proceeds of the $25.0 million term loan under our new credit agreement with Cadence Bank (see Note 12 for further information), with the balance funded with cash on hand at the time of the transaction.
In connection with the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix (see Note 6 for further information), we entered into four operating lease agreements for office and terminal locations with Scott Bosard, one of the Sellers, for periods ranging from two to five years.
Note 11. Other Current Liabilities
The components of other current liabilities were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021
Accrual for payroll, benefits and bonuses $ 6,435 $ 5,210
Accrued automobile and workers’ compensation claims 5,579 4,127
Contingent consideration for acquisition (see Note 6)
2,566 -
Accrued medical claims 1,007 1,100
Accrued taxes 2,208 534
Other 1,419 651
Total other current liabilities $ 19,214 $ 11,622
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 12. Long-Term Debt
Wells Fargo Credit Agreement
On May 4, 2021, we entered into a credit agreement (“Wells Fargo Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent and Issuing Lender, under which we could borrow or issue letters of credit in an aggregate of up to $40.0 million under a revolving credit facility (the “Wells Fargo Revolving Credit Facility”), which was to mature on May 4, 2024. On August 11, 2022, we entered into an amendment to our Wells Fargo Credit Agreement, which increased our borrowing capacity up to $60.0 million and extended the maturity of the facility to August 11, 2025.
The Wells Fargo Credit Agreement amendment also provided for the replacement of LIBOR with the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (“SOFR”). Borrowings under the Wells Fargo Revolving Credit Facility bore interest, at our election, at (i) the Base Rate plus Applicable Margin; or (ii) the Adjusted Term SOFR plus Applicable Margin. Base Rate was the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate, plus 0.50 percent and (c) Adjusted TERM SOFR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00 percent. The Applicable Margin to be added to a Base Rate borrowing was 0.75 percent. The Applicable Margin to be added to an Adjusted Term SOFR borrowing was 1.75 percent. A commitment fee of 0.25 percent per annum accrued on the daily average unused amount of the commitments under the Wells Fargo Revolving Credit Facility.
On October 27, 2022, we terminated the Wells Fargo Credit Agreement, and we wrote off $0.4 million of unamortized debt issuance costs to interest expense. No further amounts are outstanding under this credit agreement.
Cadence Bank Credit Agreement
On October 27, 2022, we entered into a new Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Cadence Bank, as administrative agent, swingline lender and issuing lender, and the other lenders party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”). The Credit Agreement provides for (a) a revolving credit facility that allows for borrowings up to $60.0 million in aggregate principal amount from time to time (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and (b) a Term Loan in aggregate principal amount of $25.0 million (the “Term Loan”).
For each borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility, we may elect whether such loans bear interest at (i) the Base Rate plus Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans; or (ii) Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin for SOFR Loans. The Base Rate is the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5 percent and (c) Adjusted Term SOFR for a one month tenor in effect on the date of determination plus 1.0 percent. The Applicable Margin to be added to a Base Rate borrowing under either (a), (b) or (c) in the preceding sentence is an amount determined quarterly between 1.0 percent and 2.0 percent depending on our consolidated total leverage ratio. The Applicable Margin to be added to a Term SOFR borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility is an amount determined quarterly between 2.0 percent and 3.0 percent depending on our consolidated total leverage ratio. A commitment fee of 0.25 percent per annum accrues on the daily average unused amount of the commitments of the Lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility. We may obtain letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility up to a maximum amount of $30.0 million. The amount of our outstanding letters of credit reduces availability under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on October 27, 2027 unless earlier terminated.
The Term Loan amortizes on a ten year schedule with quarterly payments beginning December 31, 2022, and matures on October 27, 2027 unless earlier accelerated. The Term Loan may be prepaid in whole or in part without premium or penalty, and must be prepaid with proceeds of any future debt issuance, the proceeds of any equity issuance to the extent proceeds exceed $2.0 million in any quarter with limited exceptions, and the proceeds of certain asset dispositions. The Term Loan bears interest at the SOFR Rate plus the Applicable Margin for SOFR Rate Loans as described above. In connection with the KSA stock repurchase (see Note 10), we borrowed $25.0 million under the Term Loan. At December 31, 2022, the weighted average interest rate for the amount outstanding under the Term Loan was 6.29 percent.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, we are required to maintain compliance with the following financial covenants on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to any borrowings (in each case commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2022): (i) the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio shall not be greater than 2.50 to 1.00; (ii) the Asset Coverage Ratio shall not be less than 2.00 to 1.00; and (iii) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall not be less than 1.25 to 1.00. Each of such ratios is calculated as outlined in the Credit Agreement and subject to certain exclusions and qualifications described therein.
The Credit Agreement contains certain customary representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants. The affirmative covenants require us to provide the Lenders with certain financial statements, business plans, compliance certificates and other documents and reports and to comply with certain laws. The negative covenants restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness, create additional liens on our assets, make certain investments, dispose of our assets or engage in a merger or other similar transaction or engage in transactions with affiliates, subject, in each case, to the various exceptions and conditions described in the Credit Agreement. The negative covenants further restrict our ability to make certain restricted payments.
Our obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by a pledge of substantially all of our personal property and substantially all of the personal property of certain other our direct and indirect subsidiaries.
At December 31, 2022, we had $24.4 million outstanding under the Term Loan, no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility, and $8.4 million letters of credit outstanding. The following table presents the scheduled maturities of principal amounts of our debt obligations at December 31, 2022 for the next five years, and in total thereafter (in thousands):
2023 $ 2,500
2024 2,500
2025 2,500
2026 2,500
2027 14,375
Thereafter -
Total debt maturities $ 24,375
At December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement. We incurred $1.6 million of debt issuance costs in connection with our entry into the Credit Agreement, which are included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheet and are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the Credit Agreement.
Note 13. Derivative Instruments and Fair Value Measurements
Derivative Instruments
At December 31, 2022, we had in place three commodity purchase and sale contracts, entered into in 2022 for a total of 300,000 barrels of crude oil to be purchased and sold in January 2023, and a commodity purchase contract, also entered into in 2022, for the purchase of 126,000 gallons of diesel fuel per month during January 2023 through December 2023.
At December 31, 2021, we had in place four commodity purchase and sale contracts, of which two had a fair value associated with them as the contractual prices of crude oil were outside the range of prices specified in the agreements. These commodity purchase and sale contracts encompassed approximately 324 barrels per day of crude oil during January 2022 through December 2022.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The estimated fair value of forward month commodity contracts (derivatives) reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
Balance Sheet Location and Amount
Current Other Current Other
December 31, 2022
Assets
Assets Liabilities Liabilities
Asset derivatives:
Fair value forward hydrocarbon commodity
contracts at gross valuation $ - $ - $ - $ -
Liability derivatives:
Fair value forward hydrocarbon commodity
contracts at gross valuation - - 330 -
Less counterparty offsets - - - -
As reported fair value contracts $ - $ - $ 330 $ -
December 31, 2021
Asset derivatives:
Fair value forward hydrocarbon commodity
contracts at gross valuation $ 347 $ - $ - $ -
Liability derivatives:
Fair value forward hydrocarbon commodity
contracts at gross valuation - - 324 -
Less counterparty offsets - - - -
As reported fair value contracts $ 347 $ - $ 324 $ -
We only enter into commodity contracts with creditworthy counterparties and evaluate our exposure to significant counterparties on an ongoing basis. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, we were not holding nor have we posted any collateral to support our forward month fair value derivative activity. We are not subject to any credit-risk related trigger events. We have no other financial investment arrangements that would serve to offset our derivative contracts.
Forward month commodity contracts (derivatives) reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Gains (Losses)
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Revenues - marketing
$ (23) $ 14 $ 9
Costs and expenses - marketing 330 - -
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Fair Value Measurements
The following table reflects, by level with the Level 1, 2 and 3 fair value hierarchy, the carrying values of our financial assets and liabilities at the dates indicated (in thousands):
Fair Value Measurements Using
Quoted Prices
in Active Significant
Markets for Other Significant
Identical Assets Observable Unobservable
and Liabilities Inputs Inputs Counterparty
(Level 1) (Level 2) (Level 3) Offsets Total
December 31, 2022
Derivatives:
Current assets $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Current liabilities - (330) - - (330)
Net value $ - $ (330) $ - $ - $ (330)
December 31, 2021
Derivatives:
Current assets $ - $ 347 $ - $ - $ 347
Current liabilities - (324) - - (324)
Net value $ - $ 23 $ - $ - $ 23
These assets and liabilities are measured on a recurring basis and are classified based on the lowest level of input used to estimate their fair value. Our assessment of the relative significance of these inputs requires judgments.
When determining fair value measurements, we make credit valuation adjustments to reflect both our own nonperformance risk and our counterparty’s nonperformance risk. When adjusting the fair value of derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, we consider the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements. Credit valuation adjustments utilize Level 3 inputs, such as credit scores to evaluate the likelihood of default by us or our counterparties. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, credit valuation adjustments were not significant to the overall valuation of our fair value contracts. As a result, applicable fair value assets and liabilities are included in their entirety in the fair value hierarchy.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 14. Income Taxes
The components of our income tax (provision) benefit were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Current:
Federal $ (3,766) $ (4,811) $ 13,246
State (288) (358) (327)
Total current (4,054) (5,169) 12,919
Deferred:
Federal 2,386 1,347 (6,631)
State (250) 54 242
Total deferred 2,136 1,401 (6,389)
Total (provision for) benefit from income taxes
$ (1,918) $ (3,768) $ 6,530
A reconciliation of the (provision for) benefit from income taxes with amounts determined by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to income before income taxes was as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Pre-tax net book income (loss)
$ 5,405 $ 15,656 $ (5,535)
Statutory federal income tax (provision) benefit $ (1,135) $ (3,288) $ 1,162
State income tax provision (478) (224) (16)
Permanent differences (296) (94) (18)
2018/2019 carryback - - 2,664
2020 carryback - - 2,642
Return to provision adjustments 8 (88) 13
Other (17) (74) 83
Total (provision for) benefit from income taxes $ (1,918) $ (3,768) $ 6,530
Effective income tax rate (1) (2)
35 % 24 % 118 %
_______________
(1)Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2022 is higher than our statutory tax rate primarily due to non-deductible expenses, the mix of earnings in states with higher tax rates and less earnings before income taxes as compared to prior years.
(2)Excluding the adjustment related to the carryback of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 net operating losses, the effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 22 percent.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Deferred income taxes reflect the net difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and the underlying income tax basis in these items. The components of the federal deferred tax asset (liability) were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021
Long-term deferred tax asset (liability):
Prepaid and other insurance $ (707) $ (832)
Property (15,208) (9,677)
ROU assets 1,701 1,388
ROU liabilities (1,701) (1,389)
Amortization (869) (1,773)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate 537 525
Valuation allowance related to investment in unconsolidated affiliate (537) (525)
Net operating loss 239 621
Other 1168 355
Net long-term deferred tax liability (15,377) (11,307)
Net deferred tax liability $ (15,377) $ (11,307)
Financial statement recognition and measurement of positions taken, or expected to be taken, by an entity in its income tax returns must consider the uncertainty and judgment involved in the determination and filing of income taxes. Tax positions taken in an income tax return that are recognized in the financial statements must satisfy a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, assuming that the tax position will be examined by taxing authorities with full knowledge of all relevant information. We have no significant unrecognized tax benefits. Interest and penalties associated with income tax liabilities are classified as income tax expense.
The earliest tax years remaining open for audit for federal and major states of operations are as follows:
Earliest Open
Tax Year
Federal 2016
Texas 2018
Louisiana 2019
Michigan 2018
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 15. Stock-Based Compensation Plan
In May 2018, our shareholders approved the 2018 LTIP, a long-term incentive plan under which any employee or non-employee director who provides services to us is eligible to participate in the plan. The 2018 LTIP, which is overseen by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, provides for the grant of various types of equity awards, of which restricted stock unit awards and performance-based compensation awards have been granted. We began awarding stock-based compensation to eligible employees and directors in June 2018. In May 2022, our shareholders approved an amendment and restatement of the 2018 LTIP, in which the maximum number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2018 LTIP was increased by 150,000 shares to a total of 300,000 shares, and the term of the 2018 LTIP was extended through February 23, 2032. After giving effect to awards granted and forfeitures made under the 2018 LTIP, and the achievement of performance factors through December 31, 2022, a total of 170,048 shares were available for issuance.
Compensation expense recognized in connection with equity-based awards was as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Compensation expense $ 1,022 $ 854 $ 643
On August 12, 2022, we granted equity inducement awards to each of Trey Bosard and Tyler Bosard in connection with the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix (see Note 6 for further information), pursuant to their respective employment agreements. As an inducement material to each of their accepting employment with Phoenix following the acquisition, the Board of Directors approved a grant of $0.5 million of restricted stock units to each of Trey Bosard and Tyler Bosard. The inducement awards were granted outside the terms of the 2018 LTIP. The inducement awards vest in three separate tranches on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date.
If dividends are paid with respect to our common shares during the vesting period, an equivalent amount will accrue and be held by us without interest until the restricted stock unit awards and performance share unit awards vest, at which time the amount will be paid to the recipient. If the award is forfeited prior to vesting, the accrued dividends will also be forfeited. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had $140,300 and $82,500, respectively, of accrued dividend amounts for awards granted under the 2018 LTIP.
Restricted Stock Unit Awards
A restricted stock unit award is a grant of a right to receive our common shares in the future at no cost to the recipient apart from fulfilling service and other conditions once a defined vesting period expires, subject to customary forfeiture provisions. A restricted stock unit award will either be settled by the delivery of common shares or by the payment of cash based upon the fair market value of a specified number of shares, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, subject to the terms of the applicable award agreement. The Compensation Committee intends for these awards to vest with the settlement of common shares. Restricted stock unit awards generally vest at a rate of approximately 33 percent per year beginning one year after the grant date and are non-vested until the required service periods expire.
The fair value of a restricted stock unit award is based on the market price per share of our common shares on the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized based on the grant date fair value over the requisite service or vesting period.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following table presents restricted stock unit award activity for the periods indicated:
Weighted-
Average Grant
Number of Date Fair Value
Shares per Share (1)
Restricted stock unit awards at January 1, 2020
18,782 $ 37.05
Granted under 2018 LTIP (2)
20,346 $ 24.85
Vested (9,578) $ 36.36
Forfeited (2,060) $ 30.07
Restricted stock unit awards at December 31, 2020
27,490 $ 28.64
Granted under 2018 LTIP (3)
26,369 $ 29.70
Vested (14,244) $ 30.20
Forfeited (1,350) $ 28.92
Restricted stock unit awards at December 31, 2021
38,265 $ 28.78
Granted under 2018 LTIP (4)
26,796 $ 31.83
Granted as inducement awards (5)
30,518 $ 33.75
Vested (21,814) $ 29.22
Forfeited (3,521) $ 30.33
Restricted stock unit awards at December 31, 2022
70,244 $ 31.89
____________________
(1)Determined by dividing the aggregate grant date fair value of awards by the number of awards issued.
(2)The aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock unit awards issued during 2020 was $0.5 million based on a grant date market price of our common shares ranging from $24.77 to $26.23 per share.
(3)The aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock unit awards issued during 2021 was $0.8 million based on grant date market prices of our common shares ranging from $29.70 to $30.00 per share.
(4)The aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock unit awards issued during 2022 was $0.9 million based on grant date market prices of our common shares ranging from $31.80 to $37.42 per share.
(5)These awards were granted in connection with the acquisition of Firebird and Phoenix (see Note 6 for further information). The aggregate grant date fair value of these restricted stock unit awards issued on August 12, 2022 was $1.0 million based on a grant date market price of our common shares of $33.75 per share.
Unrecognized compensation cost associated with restricted stock unit awards was approximately $0.4 million at December 31, 2022. Due to the graded vesting provisions of these awards, we expect to recognize the remaining compensation cost for these awards over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years.
Performance Share Unit Awards
An award granted as performance-based compensation is awarded to a participant contingent upon attainment of our future performance goals during a performance cycle. Performance goals are pre-established by the Compensation Committee. Following the end of the performance period, the holder of a performance-based compensation award is entitled to receive payment of an amount not exceeding the number of shares of common stock subject to, or the maximum value of, the performance-based compensation award, based on the achievement of the performance measures for the performance period. The performance share unit awards generally vest in full approximately three years after grant date, and are non-vested until the required service period expires.
The fair value of a performance share unit award is based on the market price per share of our common shares on the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized based on the grant date fair value over the requisite service or vesting period. Compensation expense is generally adjusted for the performance goals on a quarterly basis.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following table presents performance share unit award activity for the periods indicated:
Weighted-
Average Grant
Number of Date Fair Value
Shares per Share (1)
Performance share unit awards at January 1, 2020
2,787 $ 43.00
Granted under 2018 LTIP (2)
10,781 $ 24.92
Performance factor increase (3)
3,981 $ 24.92
Vested (713) $ 28.55
Forfeited (595) $ 30.22
Performance share unit awards at December 31, 2020
16,241 $ 27.67
Granted under 2018 LTIP (4)
12,205 $ 29.70
Performance factor decrease (3)
(4,493) $ 29.70
Vested (2,461) $ 43.00
Forfeited - $ -
Performance share unit awards at December 31, 2021
21,492 $ 26.64
Granted under 2018 LTIP (5)
13,458 $ 31.80
Performance factor increase (3)
159 $ 31.80
Vested (3,125) $ 28.22
Forfeited (1,297) $ 30.87
Performance share unit awards at December 31, 2022
30,687 $ 28.59
____________________
(1)Determined by dividing the aggregate grant date fair value of awards by the number of awards issued.
(2)The aggregate grant date fair value of performance share unit awards issued during 2020 was $0.3 million based on a grant date market price of our common shares ranging from $24.77 to $26.23 per share and assuming a performance factor of 100 percent.
(3)The performance factor for awards granted in 2020 increased to 138.5 percent based on a comparison of actual results for 2020 to performance goals. The performance factor for awards granted in 2021 decreased to 63.1 percent based upon a comparison of actual results for 2021 to performance goals. The performance factor for awards granted in 2022 increased to 101.4 percent based upon a comparison of actual results for 2022 to performance goals.
(4)The aggregate grant date fair value of performance share unit awards issued during 2021 was $0.4 million based on a grant date market price of our common shares of $29.70 per share and assuming a performance factor of 100 percent.
(5)The aggregate grant date fair value of performance share unit awards issued during 2022 was $0.4 million based on a grant date market price of our common shares of $31.80 per share and assuming a performance factor of 100 percent.
Unrecognized compensation cost associated with performance share unit awards was approximately $0.4 million at December 31, 2022. We expect to recognize the remaining compensation cost for these awards over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 16. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Supplemental cash flows and non-cash transactions were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Cash paid for interest
$ 425 $ 746 $ 444
Cash paid for federal and state income taxes
3,020 2,251 418
Cash refund for NOL carryback under CARES Act 6,907 3,712 2,703
Non-cash transactions:
Change in accounts payable related to property and equipment
additions
(52) - (1,237)
Property and equipment acquired under finance leases
7,873 2,083 11,412
Issuance of common shares in acquisition (see Note 6)
425 - -
See Note 17 for information related to non-cash transactions related to leases.
Note 17. Leases
We account for leases under ASC 842, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize a ROU asset and a corresponding lease liability for leases with terms longer than twelve months. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease ROU assets, current liabilities and long-term operating lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, current liabilities and long-term finance lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. For determining the present value of lease payments, we use the discount rate implicit in the lease when readily determinable. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use an incremental borrowing rate in determining the present value of lease payments that approximates the rate of interest we would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term. At adoption, the ROU asset also includes any lease payment made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
We are a lessee in noncancellable (i) operating leases for office space, equipment and lease and terminal access contracts for tank storage and dock access for our crude oil marketing business, and (ii) finance leases for tractors, trailers, a tank storage and throughput arrangement in our crude oil marketing business and office equipment. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. Our lease agreements have remaining lease terms ranging from one year to approximately eight years. Fourteen of our finance lease agreements for tractors and trailers contain residual value guarantee provisions, which would become due at the expiration of the finance lease if the fair value of the lease vehicles is less than the guaranteed residual value. At December 31, 2022, we have recorded a liability of $3.4 million for the estimated end of term loss related to these residual value guarantees as we expect that we will pay the full amount of the guarantees at the end of the leases.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our lease agreements do not contain any leases with material variable lease payments (i.e., payments that depend on a percentage of sales of a lessee or payments that increase based upon an index such as CPI), residual value guarantees probable of being paid other than those noted above or material restrictive covenants. Lease agreements with lease and non-lease components are generally accounted for separately when practical. For leases where the lease and non-lease component are comingled and the non-lease component is determined to be insignificant when compared to the lease component, the lease and the non-lease components are treated as a single lease component for all asset classes.
Some leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term for generally one year with exercise of lease renewal options being at our sole discretion as lessee.
The following table provides the components of lease expense for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of ROU assets $ 5,200 $ 4,744 $ 2,547
Interest on lease liabilities 364 413 300
Operating lease cost 3,019 2,560 2,718
Short-term lease cost 14,573 13,880 11,020
Variable lease cost 20 7 -
Total lease expense $ 23,176 $ 21,604 $ 16,585
The following table provides supplemental cash flow and other information related to leases for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Cash paid for amounts included in measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases (1)
$ 2,929 $ 2,560 $ 2,717
Operating cash flows from finance leases (1)
356 326 291
Financing cash flows from finance leases 4,741 4,367 2,336
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities:
Finance leases (2)
7,873 2,083 11,412
Operating leases (3)
3,269 1,385 819
______________
(1)Amounts are included in Other operating activities on the consolidated cash flow statements.
(2)2020 amount consists of finance lease agreements for 58 tractors with five year terms, 40 trailers with a six year term that we entered into in connection with the CTL acquisition (see Note 6 for further information) and other office equipment.
(3)2022 amount includes four operating lease agreements for office and terminal locations with Scott Bosard, one of the Sellers of Firebird and Phoenix, for periods ranging from two to five years (see Note 6 and Note 10 for further information).
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following table provides lease terms and discount rates for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31,
2022 2021 2020
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years):
Finance leases 3.54 3.60 4.16
Operating leases 3.52 3.85 4.57
Weighted-average discount rate:
Finance leases 3.5 % 2.6 % 3.0 %
Operating leases 4.0 % 3.8 % 4.3 %
The following table provides supplemental balance sheet information related to leases at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021
Assets
Finance lease ROU assets (1)
$ 15,264 $ 12,590
Operating lease ROU assets 7,720 7,113
Liabilities
Current
Finance lease liabilities 4,382 3,663
Operating lease liabilities 2,712 2,178
Noncurrent
Finance lease liabilities 12,085 9,672
Operating lease liabilities 5,007 4,938
______________
(1)Amounts are included in Property and equipment, net on the consolidated balance sheets.
The following table provides maturities of undiscounted lease liabilities at December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
Finance Operating
Lease Lease
2023 $ 4,870 $ 2,958
2024 3,629 2,617
2025 4,652 962
2026 2,482 879
2027 2,179 570
Thereafter - 237
Total lease payments 17,812 8,223
Less: Interest (1,345) (504)
Present value of lease liabilities 16,467 7,719
Less: Current portion of lease obligation (4,382) (2,712)
Total long-term lease obligation $ 12,085 $ 5,007
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following table provides maturities of undiscounted lease liabilities at December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
Finance Operating
Lease Lease
2022 $ 3,941 $ 2,399
2023 3,143 2,080
2024 2,348 1,911
2025 3,771 394
2026 801 333
Thereafter - 455
Total lease payments 14,004 7,572
Less: Interest (669) (456)
Present value of lease liabilities 13,335 7,116
Less: Current portion of lease obligation (3,663) (2,178)
Total long-term lease obligation $ 9,672 $ 4,938
Note 18. Commitments and Contingencies
Insurance
We have accrued liabilities for estimated workers’ compensation and other casualty claims incurred based upon claim reserves plus an estimate for loss development and incurred but not reported claims. We self-insure a significant portion of expected losses relating to workers’ compensation, general liability and automobile liability, with a self-insured retention of $1.0 million. Insurance is purchased over our retention to reduce our exposure to catastrophic events. Estimates are recorded for potential and incurred outstanding liabilities for workers’ compensation, auto and general liability claims and claims that are incurred but not reported. Estimates are based on adjusters’ estimates, historical experience and statistical methods commonly used within the insurance industry that we believe are reliable. We have also engaged a third-party actuary to perform a review of our accrued liability for these claims as well as potential funded losses in our captive insurance company. Insurance estimates include certain assumptions and management judgments regarding the frequency and severity of claims, claim development and settlement practices and the selection of estimated loss among estimates derived using different methods. Unanticipated changes in these factors may produce materially different amounts of expense that would be reported under these programs.
On October 1, 2020, we elected to utilize a wholly owned insurance captive to insure the self-insured retention for our workers’ compensation, general liability and automobile liability insurance programs. All accrued liabilities associated with periods from October 1, 2017 through current were transferred to the captive.
We maintain excess property and casualty programs with third-party insurers in an effort to limit the financial impact of significant events covered under these programs. Our operating subsidiaries pay premiums to both the excess and reinsurance carriers and our captive for the estimated losses based on an external actuarial analysis. These premiums held by our wholly owned captive are currently held in a restricted account, resulting in a transfer of risk from our operating subsidiaries to the captive.
We also maintain a self-insurance program for managing employee medical claims in excess of employee deductibles. As claims are paid, the liability is relieved. We also maintain third party insurance stop-loss coverage for individual medical claims exceeding a certain minimum threshold. In addition, we maintain $1.3 million of umbrella insurance coverage for annual aggregate medical claims exceeding approximately $11.3 million.
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our accruals for automobile, workers’ compensation and medical claims were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):
December 31,
2022 2021
Pre-funded premiums for losses incurred but not reported
$ - $ 50
Accrued automobile and workers’ compensation claims
5,579 4,127
Accrued medical claims 1,007 1,100
Litigation
From time to time as incidental to our operations, we may become involved in various lawsuits and/or disputes. As an operator of an extensive trucking fleet, we are a party to motor vehicle accidents, worker compensation claims and other items of general liability as would be typical for the industry. We are presently unaware of any claims against us that are either outside the scope of insurance coverage or that may exceed the level of insurance coverage and could potentially represent a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Guarantees
We issue parent guarantees of commitments associated with the activities of our subsidiary companies. The guarantees generally result from subsidiary commodity purchase obligations, subsidiary operating lease commitments and subsidiary banking transactions. The nature of these arrangements is to guarantee the performance of the subsidiary in meeting their respective underlying obligations. We would only be called upon to perform under the guarantee in the event of a payment default by the applicable subsidiary company. In satisfying these obligations, we would first look to the assets of the defaulting subsidiary company.
At December 31, 2022, parental guaranteed obligations were approximately $80.2 million. Currently, neither we nor any of our subsidiaries has any other types of guarantees outstanding that require liability recognition, except for the residual value guarantees for certain of our finance leases (see Note 17 for further discussion).
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 19. Concentration of Credit Risk
We may incur credit risk to the extent our customers do not fulfill their obligations to us pursuant to contractual terms. Risks of nonpayment and nonperformance by our customers are a major consideration in our business, and our credit procedures and policies may not be adequate to sufficiently eliminate customer credit risk. Managing credit risk involves a number of considerations, such as the financial profile of the customer, the value of collateral held, if any, specific terms and duration of the contractual agreement, and the customer’s sensitivity to economic developments. We have established various procedures to manage credit exposure, including initial credit approval, credit limits and rights of offset. We also utilize letters of credit and guarantees to limit exposure.
Our largest customers consist of large multinational integrated crude oil companies and independent domestic refiners of crude oil. In addition, we transact business with independent crude oil producers, major chemical companies, crude oil trading companies and a variety of commercial energy users. Within this group of customers, we derive approximately 50 percent of our revenues from four to five large crude oil refining customers. While we have ongoing established relationships with certain domestic refiners of crude oil, alternative markets are readily available since we supply less than one percent of U.S. domestic refiner demand. As a fungible commodity delivered to major Gulf Coast supply points, our crude oil sales can be readily delivered to alternative end markets.
The following tables reflect the percentages of individual customer sales in excess of 10 percent of our consolidated revenues and individual customer receivables in excess of 10 percent of our total consolidated receivables for the periods indicated. We believe that a loss of any of the customers where we currently derive more than 10 percent of our revenues would not have a material adverse effect on our operations as we would be able to replace that customer’s activity with a similar customer or customers.
Individual customer sales Individual customer receivables in excess
in excess of 10% of revenues of 10% of total receivables
Year Ended December 31, December 31,
2022 2021 2020 2022 2021 2020
22.4 % 23.7 % 24.0 % - % 11.5 % 11.3 %
11.3 % 11.6 % 10.8 % - % - % 10.9 %
- % - % 10.7 %
10.8 % 17.0 % 10.4 %
16.0 % 12.6 %

---

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

---

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this annual report, our management carried out an evaluation, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded:
(i) that our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosures; and
(ii) that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) during the fourth quarter of 2022, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL
OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022
Management of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022. In making this assessment, management used the criteria described in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on this assessment, management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2022.
As discussed in Note 6, the Company acquired Firebird and Phoenix on August 12, 2022. In the conduct of its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2022, management has excluded total assets of $48.4 million, or 12.6 percent of the Company’s total assets, and revenue of $22.3 million, or 0.7 percent of the Company’s total revenues, related to Firebird and Phoenix that are included in the consolidated financial statements of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022. Management must include Firebird and Phoenix in the conduct of its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting no later than August 12, 2023.
KPMG LLP has issued its attestation report regarding our internal control over financial reporting. That report is included within this Item 9A (See “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”).
Pursuant to the requirements of Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this annual report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in their respective capacities indicated below on March 16, 2023.
/s/ Kevin J. Roycraft
/s/ Tracy E. Ohmart
Kevin J. Roycraft
Tracy E. Ohmart
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc.:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and shareholders’ equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated March 16, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
The Company acquired Firebird and Phoenix during 2022, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, Firebird and Phoenix’s internal control over financial reporting associated with total assets of $48.4 million, or 12.6% of total assets, and total revenues of $22.3 million, or 0.7% of total revenue, included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of Firebird and Phoenix.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting as of December 31, 2022. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Houston, Texas
March 16, 2023

---

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.

---

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required by this item will be included in our definitive Proxy Statement in connection with our 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2023 Proxy Statement”), which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, under the headings “Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers” and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by this item will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, under the headings “Summary Compensation Table,” “Compensation Overview” and “2022 Director Compensation” and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The information required by this item will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required by this item will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, under the headings “Transactions with Related Persons” and “Director Independence” and is incorporated herein by reference.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Our independent registered accounting public accounting firm is KPMG LLP, Houston, TX, Auditor Firm ID: 185.
The information required by this item will be set forth in our 2023 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, under the heading “Principal Accountant Fees and Services” and is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV

---

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this annual report:
(1) Financial Statements: See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” beginning on page 48 of this annual report for the financial statements included herein.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules: The separate filing of financial statement schedules has been omitted because such schedules are either not applicable or the information called for therein appears in the footnotes of our Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3) Exhibits:
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
2.1 Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of May 18, 2020 by and among Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and Service Transport Company, as Buyer, and Comcar Industries, Inc., CTL Transportation, LLC and their Subsidiaries and Affiliates Signatory Hereto, as Sellers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2020).
2.2 Purchase and Sale Agreement by and among EnLink Midstream Operating, LP, GulfMark Energy, Inc., GulfMark Terminals, LLC, and for the limited purposes set forth therein, EnLink Midstream Partners, LP, dated as of October 22, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020).
2.3 Purchase Agreement dated August 12, 2022 by and among GulfMark Asset Holdings, LLC, Scott Bosard, Trey Bosard and Tyler Bosard (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 17, 2022).
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019).
3.2
Bylaws of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 1, 2022).
4.1 Specimen common stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019).
4.2 Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Exchange Act (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019).
10.1+
Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2015).
10.2+
Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, effective as of May 10, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2022).
10.3+
Form of Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2018).
10.4+
Form of Employee Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2018).
10.5+ Form of Employee Performance Share Unit Award Agreement for 2020 Awards under the Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2020).
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
10.6+ Form of Employee Performance Share Unit Award Agreement for 2021 Awards under the Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021).
10.7+ Form of Employee Performance Share Unit Award Agreement for 2022 Awards under the Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2022).
10.8 At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated December 23, 2020, by and between Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and B. Riley Securities, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2 of Form S-3 filed on December 23, 2020).
10.9+ Employment Agreement dated August 12, 2022 by and between Trey Bosard and Phoenix Oil, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 17, 2022).
10.10+ Change of Control Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 17, 2022).
10.11 Credit Agreement dated October 27, 2022 by and among Adams Resources & Energy, Inc., GulfMark Asset Holdings, LLC, Service Transport Company, and Cadence Bank, as administrative agent, swingline lender and issuing lender, and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 1, 2022).
10.12 Stock Repurchase Agreement dated October 31, 2022 by and among Adams Resources & Energy, Inc., KSA Industries, Inc. and the other parties identified as sellers therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 1, 2022).
21*
Subsidiaries of the registrant.
23.1* Consent of KPMG LLP.
31.1*
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 906 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18. U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 906 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18. U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document
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.LAB*
Inline XBRL Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Schema Document
104* Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
______________________
* Filed or furnished (in the case of Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2) with this report.
+ Management contract or compensation plan or arrangement.