Note 11 - Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 11

. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

In August 2013, Avalon created a new Ohio limited liability company, AWMS Holdings, LLC, to act as a holding company to form and own a series of wholly owned subsidiaries that will own and operate Class II salt water injection wells and facilities (together the “facilities”). AWMS Holdings, LLC, offers investment opportunities to accredited investors by selling membership units of AWMS Holdings, LLC through private placement offerings. The monies received from these offerings, along with internally contributed capital, are used to construct the facilities necessary for the operation of salt water injection wells. AWMS Water Solutions, LLC (formerly American Water Management Services, LLC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Avalon, manages all the salt water injection well operations, including the marketing and sales function and all decisions regarding the well operations for a percentage of the gross revenues.

In 2014 and 2013, Avalon, through a wholly owned subsidiary made capital contributions totaling approximately $3.4 million, which included cash and certain well assets, including the permits, in exchange for membership units of AWMS Holdings, LLC. Through a private placement offering for the purchase of membership units, AWMS Holdings, LLC raised approximately $3.8 million from accredited investors in 2014 and 2013. Management and outside directors of Avalon, who qualified as accredited investors, invested approximately $1.0 million in AWMS Holdings, LLC.

As a result of a private placement offering, Avalon is not the majority owner of AWMS Holdings, LLC. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, Avalon owns approximately 47% of AWMS Holdings, LLC. In accordance with ASC 810-10

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Consolidations-Overall

(“ASC 810-10”)due to the managerial control of AWMS Water Solutions, LLC, AWMS Holdings, LLC is a variable interest entity, and the financial statements of AWMS Holdings, LLC and subsidiaries are included in Avalon’s condensed consolidated financial statements. ASC 810-10 requires noncontrolling interests to be reported as a separate component of equity. The amount of net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest is recorded in “net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest” in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.