Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Summary of significant accounting policies

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial

statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include useful lives of property and equipment, asset retirement obligations, and the allocation of the transaction price to performance obligations and lease components. Management evaluates its estimates and related assumptions regularly. Changes in facts and circumstances or additional information may result in revised estimates, and actual results may differ from these estimates.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company performed a review of the estimated useful lives of our FSRU vessels. As a relatively new asset class, being first built in 2005, we initially estimated a useful life of 30 years with no salvage value. As the vessels approach almost 20 years of life, there has been improved visibility into the expected term of FSRU productive capabilities, demand, and salvage potential. As a result, the Company changed the useful lives of our FSRU vessel assets to 40 years and added an estimated salvage value. This change in accounting estimate resulted in a decrease in depreciation expense of $6.0 million, an increase in net income of $5.7 million, and an increase to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.04 and $0.04, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, entities controlled by the Company through its direct or indirect ownership of a majority interest and any other entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. The Company eliminates all significant intercompany accounts and transactions in consolidation. The Company consolidates VIEs where the Company holds direct or implicit variable interests and is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the party that has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The primary beneficiary determination is both qualitative and quantitative and requires the Company to make judgments and assumptions about the entity’s total equity investment at risk, its forecasted financial performance, and the volatility inherent in those forecasted results. Events are considered for all existing entities to determine if they may result in an entity becoming a VIE or the Company becoming the primary beneficiary of an existing VIE. The ownership interest of other investors in consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs is recorded as non-controlling interests.

The Company had determined that ENE Onshore was a VIE based on the results of the analysis described above. As of December 31, 2020, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, ENE Lateral, was the provider of a promissory note to ENE Onshore in the amount of $102.0 million and used capacity rights in a pipeline secured by ENE Onshore from a third party. As the Company and its related parties had the power to direct the activities related to the capacity rights and the obligation to absorb losses which could be significant to ENE Onshore, the Company determined that it was the primary beneficiary. As such, we consolidated the assets and liabilities of ENE Onshore and showed its net loss as non-controlling interest – ENE Onshore on our consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2021 and through October 2022. In September 2021, the promissory note from ENE Onshore was repaid, and an agreement was entered into that significantly limited the ability of ENE Lateral to receive benefits from the use of the pipeline capacity. However, ENE Lateral still controlled the capacity rights, and therefore, ENE Lateral continued to be the primary beneficiary as of December 31, 2021. In October 2022, ENE Onshore was merged with and into ENE Lateral. For more details, see Note 1 – General business information.

In addition, these consolidated financial statements include accounts of the Northeast Companies consolidated on the basis of common control since prior to the contribution. All accounts of the Northeast Companies, including equity accounts, are consolidated with accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions, balances, income, and expenses are eliminated, and accounting policies have been conformed to the Company’s accounting policy.

Investments in equity method investee

All investments in which the Company owns 20% to 50%, exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies, and does not consolidate are accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method of accounting, investments are stated at initial cost and are adjusted for subsequent additional investments and the Company’s proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions. The Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying values of such investments may have experienced an other-than-temporary decline in value below their carrying values. If an equity method investment experiences an other-than-temporary decline in value and if the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, the carrying value is written down to its estimated fair value and the resulting impairment is recorded in the Company's consolidated statements of income.

In June 2018, the Company acquired a 45% interest in Nakilat Excelerate LLC, its equity method investment (the “Nakilat JV”), which is recorded using the equity method. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company’s share of net earnings in the Nakilat JV were $0.9 million, $2.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

Equity interests

Prior to the IPO, equity interests represented the contributions from and distributions to the general and limited partners of the Company and the Northeast Companies, the accumulated earnings of EELP and the Northeast Companies, and share-based compensation of EELP.

Non-controlling interest

Non-controlling interest is primarily comprised of Kaiser’s 75.7% ownership interest in EELP. In addition, it is also comprised of third-party equity interests in two of the Company’s other consolidated subsidiaries: 1) a 20% interest in Excelerate Energy Bangladesh LLC and 2) a 10% interest in Excelerate Albania Holding sphk. Net income attributable to non-controlling interests represents the Company’s net income (loss) that is not allocable to Excelerate shareholders.

Prior to the ENE Onshore Merger, we also separately presented a non-controlling interest related to ENE Onshore, which was consolidated as a VIE.

Foreign currency transactions and translation

The consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, which is the Company’s reporting currency and the functional currency for all but one of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries. The Company has one subsidiary that uses the euro as its functional currency.

For all international entities, foreign currency transactions are translated into U.S. dollars, using exchange rates at the dates of the transactions or using the average exchange rate prevailing during the period. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized in the consolidated statements of income in other income, net. Foreign exchange gains/(losses) amounted to $(4.1) million, $(7.2) million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Fair value measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes place in either the principal market for the asset or liability, or, in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. The Company utilized market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation techniques. The Company uses estimates that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data is available to measure fair value, maximizing the use of relevant observable inputs and minimizing the use of unobservable inputs. The Company categorizes its fair value estimates for all assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the consolidated financial statements using a fair value hierarchy based on the transparency of inputs used to measure fair value.

The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value as follows:

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs, that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the contract; and

Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

Categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash not available for general use by the Company due to loan restrictions are classified as restricted cash.

Restricted cash is cash restricted due to terms in certain debt agreements and is to be used to service the debt and for certain designated uses including payment of working capital, operations, and maintenance related expenses. Distributions of maintenance related expenses are subject to “waterfall” provisions that allocate cash flows from revenues to specific priorities of use in a defined

order before equity distributions can be made in compliance with other debt service requirements. To the extent that restrictions on cash extend beyond one year, the Company has classified those balances as non-current in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Derivative financial instruments

Derivative instruments are initially recorded at fair value as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets and are subsequently remeasured to fair value, regardless of the purpose or intent for holding the derivative. To be considered a derivative an agreement would need to have a notional and an underlying, require little or no initial net investment and could be net settled. The method of recognizing the changes in fair value is dependent on whether the contract is designated as a hedging instrument and qualifies for hedge accounting. The changes in the fair values of derivative instruments that are not designated or that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recognized in other income, net, in the consolidated statements of income.

The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates by converting a portion of our debt from a floating rate to a fixed rate. The maximum length of time over which the Company is hedging the exposure to the variability in future cash flows is based on the duration of the loans. The interest rate swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges. The Company has formally documented the hedge relationships, including identification of the hedging instruments and the hedged items, as well as the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transactions. Effectiveness is evaluated using regression analysis at inception and over the course of the hedge as required, unless the hedge is designated utilizing the shortcut method. The interest rate swaps are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets on a gross basis at fair value.

For such designated cash flow hedges, the gain or loss resulting from fair value adjustments on cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income. In the periods when the hedged items affect earnings, the associated fair value changes on the hedging derivatives are transferred from total equity to interest expense, net in the consolidated statements of income. The Company performs periodic assessments of the effectiveness of the derivative contracts designated as hedges, including the possibility of counterparty default. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as hedges are recognized in other comprehensive income.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable is presented net of the allowance for doubtful accounts on the consolidated balance sheets. The allowance for doubtful accounts is management’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing accounts receivable based on age of accounts past due, historical write-off experience and customer economic data. The Company has a limited number of customers and continuously reviews amounts owed to us. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when management believes that the receivable will not be recovered.

The allowance for doubtful accounts was $0.2 million and $0.6 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Inventories

LNG and natural gas inventories are recorded at the lower of cost or net realizable value, which is the known or estimated selling price less cost to sell. Cost for inventories is calculated using the first-in-first-out (FIFO) method and is comprised of the purchase price and other directly related costs. At each reporting date, inventories are assessed for impairment. If inventory is impaired, the carrying amount is reduced to its selling price less costs to complete and sell, and an impairment loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of income. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company recorded a lower of cost or net realizable value write-down of $1.0 million and $4.4 million, respectively, which is included in direct cost of gas sales on our consolidated statements of income. No impairment was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2021.

Capitalization of costs incurred during drydocking

Generally, the Company is required to drydock each of the vessels every five years, but vessels older than 15 years of age require a shorter duration drydocking or in place bottom survey every two and a half years. Costs incurred related to routine repairs and maintenance performed during drydocking are expensed. Costs incurred during drydocking out of convenience to appreciably extend the useful life, increase the earnings capacity, or improve the efficiency of vessels are capitalized as property and equipment and amortized over the remaining useful life of the vessels. Costs that are incurred on major repair work, which is non-routine in nature, are accounted for under the built-in overhaul method and capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period from when the drydocking occurs until the next anticipated drydocking. Drydocking costs incurred to meet regulatory requirements are accounted for under the deferral method, whereby the actual costs incurred are deferred into other assets and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period from when the drydocking occurs until the next anticipated drydocking. If the vessel is drydocked earlier than originally anticipated, any remaining overhaul and regulatory capitalized costs that have not been amortized are accelerated. When a vessel is

disposed, any unamortized capitalized costs are charged against income in the period of disposal. Capitalized costs are presented within either property and equipment, net or other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Property and equipment, net

Property and equipment, net are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, less an estimated salvage value. Modifications to property and equipment, including the addition of new equipment, which improves or increases the operational efficiency, functionality, or safety of the assets, are capitalized. These expenditures are amortized over the estimated useful life of the modification. Expenditures covering recurring routine repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

Useful lives applied in depreciation are as follows:


Vessels		5-40 years
Buoy and pipeline		20 years
Finance lease right-of-use assets		Lesser of useful life or lease term
Other equipment		3-7 years

Gains and losses on disposals and retirements are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognized in the consolidated statements of income.

Asset retirement obligations (“ARO”)

The Company recognizes liabilities for retirement obligations associated with tangible long-lived assets when there is a legal obligation associated with the retirement of such assets and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The fair value of a liability for an ARO is recognized in the period in which it is incurred, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. In order to estimate the fair value, we use judgments and assumptions for factors: including the existence of legal obligations for an ARO; technical assessments of the assets; discount rate; inflation rate; and estimated amounts and timing of settlements. The offsetting asset retirement cost is recorded as an increase to the carrying value of the associated property and equipment, net on the consolidated balance sheets and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset. In periods subsequent to the initial measurement of an ARO, the Company recognizes period-to-period changes in the liability resulting from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or the amount of the original estimate of undiscounted cash flows. Increases in the ARO liability due to the passage of time impact net income as accretion expense.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company performs a recoverability assessment of each of its long-lived assets when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than their carrying amounts. Indicators may include, but are not limited to, adverse changes in the regulatory environment in a jurisdiction where the Company operates, unfavorable events impacting the Company’s operations, a decision to discontinue the development of a long-lived asset, early termination of a significant customer contract or the introduction of newer technology. If indicators of impairment are present, the Company performs an analysis of the anticipated undiscounted future net cash flows to be derived from the related long-lived assets. In the event that an asset does not meet the recoverability test, the carrying value of the asset will be adjusted to fair value resulting in an impairment charge. The Company did not record any material impairments during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021.

Long-term debt and debt issuance costs

Debt issuance costs, including arrangement fees and legal expenses related to long-term notes, are deferred and presented as a direct deduction from the outstanding principal of the related debt in the consolidated balance sheets and amortized using the effective interest rate method over the term of the relevant loan. Amortization of debt issuance costs is included as a component of interest expense. If a loan or part of a loan is repaid early, the unamortized portion of the deferred debt issuance costs is recognized as interest expense proportionate to the amount of the early repayment in the period in which the loan is repaid.

Financing costs incurred related to the Amended Credit Agreement (as defined herein) and the First Amendment (as defined herein) are reported as other current assets and other assets on the balance sheet. Financing costs related to the Term Loan Facility (as defined herein) are reported as current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt, net on the balance sheet. These costs will be amortized through March 2027, at which time the Amended Credit Agreement will mature. Amortization of these deferred financing costs is included as a component of interest expense.

Debt instruments are classified as current liabilities unless the Company has an unconditional right to defer the settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting date.

Segments

The chief operating decision maker allocates resources and assesses financial performance on a consolidated basis. As such, for purposes of financial reporting under GAAP during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company operated as a single operating and reportable segment.

Revenue recognition

The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company determines the amount of revenue to be recognized through application of the five-step model outlined in ASC 606 as follows: when (i) a customer contract is identified, (ii) the performance obligation(s) have been identified, (iii) the transaction price has been determined, (iv) the transaction price has been allocated to the performance obligation(s) in the contract, and (v) the performance obligation(s) are satisfied. The Company’s contracts with customers may contain one or several performance obligations usually consisting of FSRU and terminal services including time charter, regasification and other services and gas sales. The Company recognizes revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Sales, value-added, and other taxes collected concurrently with the provision of goods or services are excluded from revenue when the customer is the primary obligor of such taxes.

Time charter, regasification and other services

The Company determined that its long-term time charter and terminal use contracts typically contain a lease. These contracts contain a lease component for the use of the vessel and/or terminal and may contain non-lease components relating to operating the assets (i.e., provision of time charter, regasification and other services). The Company allocated the contract consideration between the lease component and non-lease components on a relative standalone selling price basis. The Company utilizes a combination of approaches to estimate the standalone selling prices, when the directly observable selling price is not available, by utilizing information available such as market conditions and prices, entity-specific factors, and internal estimates when market data is not available. Given that there are no observable standalone selling prices for any of these components, judgment is required in determining the standalone selling price of each component. As lessor in our leases classified as operating leases, the Company applied the practical expedient to combine the lease component with our drydocking requirements (a non-lease component). Certain time charter party (“TCP”) agreements with customers allow an option to extend the contract. Agreements which include renewal and termination options are included in the lease term if we believe they are “reasonably certain” to be exercised by the lessee or if an option to extend is controlled by the Company.

The lease of the vessel represents the use of the asset without any associated performance obligations or warranties and is accounted for in accordance with the provisions of ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). Leases are classified based upon defined criteria either as a sales-type, direct financing, or an operating lease.

For time charter contracts classified as operating leases, revenues from the lease component of the contracts are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the charter.

The lease component of time charter contracts that are accounted for as sales-type leases is recognized over the lease term using the effective interest rate method. The underlying asset is derecognized and the net investment in the lease is recorded. The net investment in the lease is increased by interest income and decreased by payments collected. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has two sales-type leases (for Summit LNG and Excellence).

The provision of time charter, regasification and other services on the time charter contracts is considered a non-lease component and is accounted for as a separate performance obligation in accordance with the provision of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Additionally, the Company has contracts with customers to provide time charter, regasification, and other services that do not contain a lease and are within the scope of ASC 606.

The provision of time charter, regasification and other services is considered a single performance obligation recognized evenly over time as our services are rendered or consistent with the customer’s proportionate right to use our assets. The Company considers our services as a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer to the customer. The Company recognizes revenue when obligations under the terms of our contracts with our customers are satisfied. We have applied the practical expedient to recognize revenue in proportion to the amount that we have the right to invoice. Certain charges incurred by the Company associated with the provision of services are reimbursable. This variable consideration is recognized in revenue once the performance obligation is complete and the receivable amount is determinable.

For time charter and terminal use contracts that are accounted for as sales-type leases, the provision of time charter, regasification, and other services includes a performance obligation for drydocking that occurs every five years. The Company engages third parties to perform the drydocking, but the Company is deemed to be the principal of the transaction as it does not transfer any risk to the third parties, therefore the Company recognizes drydock revenue on a gross basis. The Company allocates a portion of the contract revenues to the performance obligation for future drydocking costs. Revenue allocated to drydocking is deferred and recognized when the drydocking service is complete. The deferred drydock revenue is presented within other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Gas sales

As part of its operations, the Company sells natural gas and LNG generally through its use of its FSRU fleet and terminals. Gas sales revenues are recognized at the point in time each unit of natural gas or LNG is transferred to the control of the customer. Based on the contract, this typically occurs when the cargo is regasified and injected into a pipeline, when the LNG is transferred to another vessel, or when title and risk of loss of natural gas or LNG has otherwise transferred to a customer. Accommodation fees related to the diversion of cargos are recorded when the performance obligation is complete.

Contract assets and liabilities

The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in the recognition of receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities. Receivables represent the unconditional right to payment for services rendered and goods provided. Unbilled receivables, accrued revenue, or contract assets represent services rendered that have not been invoiced and are reported within accounts receivable, net or other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Contract liabilities arise from advanced payments and are recorded as deferred revenue on the consolidated balance sheets. The deferred revenue is either recognized as revenue when services are rendered or amortized over the life of the related lease, depending on the service. Contract assets and liabilities are reported in a net position for each customer contract or consolidated contracts at the end of each reporting period. Contract liabilities are classified as current and noncurrent based on the expected timing of recognition of the revenue.

Income taxes

We are a corporation for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes. EELP, is treated as a pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, is generally not subject to U.S. federal income tax at the entity level. Accordingly, unless otherwise specified, our historical results of operations prior to the IPO do not include any provision for U.S. federal income tax for EELP.

We account for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740. Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities by applying the enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Such net tax effects on temporary differences are reflected on the consolidated balance sheets as deferred tax assets and liabilities.

We record valuation allowances to reflect the estimated amount of certain deferred tax assets that, more likely than not, will not be realized. In making such a determination, we evaluate a variety of factors, including our operating history, accumulated deficit, and the existence of taxable or deductible temporary differences and reversal periods.

The effect of tax positions is recognized only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Conclusions reached regarding tax positions are continually reviewed based on ongoing analyses of tax laws, regulations, and interpretations thereof. To the extent that our assessment of the conclusions reached regarding tax positions changes as a result of the evaluation of new information, such change in estimate will be recorded in the period in which such determination is made. Interest and penalties relating to an underpayment of income taxes, if applicable, are recognized as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated financial statements.

We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax provision if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the tax position. Accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized as a component of income tax expense in the consolidated financial statements.

Leases

The Company accounts for leases under the provisions of ASC 842.

Lessee accounting

The Company determines if an arrangement is, or contains, a lease at the inception of the arrangement. Once it has been determined an arrangement is, or contains, a lease, the Company determines if the lease qualifies as either an operating lease or a finance lease. At contract inception, the Company separates its lease and non-lease component, and the consideration in the contract is allocated to each separate lease component and non-lease component on a relative standalone selling price basis. As of the lease commencement date, the Company recognizes a liability for its lease obligation, initially measured at the present value of lease payments related to lease components not yet paid, and an asset for its right to use the underlying asset, initially measured equal to the lease liability and adjusted for lease payments made at or before lease commencement, lease incentives, and any initial direct costs. The discount rate used to determine the present value of the lease payments is the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term for an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.

The initial recognition of the lease obligation and right-of-use asset excludes short-term leases. Short-term leases are leases with an original term of one year or less, excluding those leases with an option to extend the lease for greater than one year or an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is deemed reasonably certain to exercise. The Company has elected, as an accounting policy, not to apply the recognition requirements to short-term leases. Instead, the Company, may recognize the lease payments in the consolidated statements of income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Additionally, leases may include variable lease payments such as escalation clauses based on a consumer price index, property taxes and maintenance costs. The non-lease components are generally expensed as incurred. Variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate are included in the determination of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities using the index or rate at the lease commencement date, whereas variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate are recorded as lease expense in the period incurred. Short-term and variable lease expenses are presented within cost of revenue and vessel operating expenses and SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

For those leases classified as operating leases, the lease obligation and right-of-use asset are presented as operating lease liabilities and operating lease right-of-use assets in the consolidated balance sheets. For operating leases, lease interest and right-of-use asset amortization in aggregate result in a straight-line expense profile, or operating lease expense, that is presented in cost of revenue and vessel operating expenses or SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of income, dependent on the use of the leased asset, unless the right of-use asset becomes impaired. The right-of-use asset is assessed for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the asset or asset group may not be recoverable.

For leases classified as finance leases, the lease obligation is presented within finance lease liabilities and the right-of-use asset is presented within property and equipment, net on the consolidated balance sheets. For finance leases, the Company uses the effective interest rate method to subsequently account for the lease liability, whereby interest is recognized in interest expense in the Company's consolidated statements of income. For finance leases, the right-of-use asset is amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the remaining life of the asset or the life of the lease, with such amortization included in depreciation and amortization in the Company's consolidated statements of income.

The Company has certain lease agreements that provide for the option to renew or terminate early, which was evaluated on each lease to arrive at the lease term. If the Company was reasonably certain to exercise a renewal or termination option, this period was factored into the lease term. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not have any lease agreements with residual value guarantees or material restrictions or covenants.

Sale leaseback arrangements

Vessels sold and leased back by the Company, where the Company has a fixed price repurchase obligation or the leaseback would be classified as a finance lease, are accounted for as a failed sale of the vessel and a failed purchase of the vessel by the buyer-lessor (a financing transaction). For such transactions, the Company does not derecognize the vessel legally sold and continues to depreciate the vessel as if it was the legal owner. Proceeds received from the sale of the vessel are recognized as a financial liability and payments made by the Company to the lessor are allocated between interest expense and principal repayments on the financial liability.

Restructuring, transition and transaction expenses

We incurred restructuring, transition and transaction expenses during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, related to consulting, legal, and audit costs incurred as part of and in preparation for the IPO Transaction. There were no restructuring, transition or transaction expenses incurred during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Tax receivable agreement (“TRA”)

In connection with the IPO, we entered into the TRA for the benefit of EE Holdings and the George Kaiser Family Foundation (the “Foundation”) (or their affiliates) (together, the “TRA Beneficiaries”). The TRA will provide for payment by us to the TRA Beneficiaries of 85% of the amount of the net cash tax savings, if any, that we are deemed to realize as a result of our utilization of certain tax benefits resulting from (i) certain increases in the tax basis of assets of EELP and its subsidiaries resulting from exchanges of EELP partnership interests in the future, (ii) certain tax attributes of EELP and subsidiaries of EELP (including the existing tax basis of assets owned by EELP or its subsidiaries and the tax basis of certain assets purchased from the Foundation) that existed as of the time of the IPO or may exist at the time when Class B interests of EELP are exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock, and (iii) certain other tax benefits related to us entering into the TRA, including tax benefits attributable to payments that we make under the TRA.

The actual future payments to the TRA Beneficiaries will vary and estimating the amount and timing of payments that may be made under the TRA is by its nature imprecise, as the calculation of amounts payable depends on a variety of factors and future events. Decisions made in the course of running our business, such as with respect to mergers and other forms of business combinations that constitute changes in control, may influence the timing and amount of payments we make under the TRA in a manner that does not correspond to our use of the corresponding tax benefits.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to shareholders plus any tax affected net income amounts attributed to the Class B common shares by the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period after adjusting for the impact of potential securities that would have a dilutive effect on earnings per share.

As a result of the IPO Transaction, the presentation of earnings per share for the periods prior to the IPO Transaction is not meaningful and only earnings per share for periods subsequent to the IPO Transaction are presented herein. See Note 14 – Earnings per share for additional information.

Recent accounting pronouncements

New accounting standards implemented in this report

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting” (“ASU 2020-04”), which provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Scope” (“ASU 2021-01”), which permits entities to apply optional expedients in Topic 848 to derivative instruments modified because of discounting transition resulting from reference rate reform. ASU 2020-04 became effective upon issuance and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made on or before December 31, 2022. ASU 2021-01 became effective upon issuance and may be applied on a full retrospective basis as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, or prospectively for contract modifications made on or before December 31, 2022. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848”, which extended the effective date of the original guidance to December 31, 2024.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company has transitioned all contracts which previously referenced LIBOR to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), as described in Note 10 – Long-term debt, net. Our adoption of this standard has not had a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.