Acquisitions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Business Combination, Description [Abstract]

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 $39.7 million, consisting of a cash payment of $35.8 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 operated 123 tractors and 216 trailers largely in the Eagle Ford basin at the time of the acquisition. 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	$	35,793
Value of AE common shares issued	1,364
Contingent consideration arrangement	2,566
Fair value of total consideration transferred	$	39,723

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 indentifiable 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	4,921
Inventory	643
Other current assets	137
Property and equipment	24,709
Intangible assets	7,734
Goodwill	5,755
Other assets	457
Total assets acquired	$	46,559

Liabilities assumed:
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	$	(1,945)
Deferred tax liabilities	(4,891)
Total liabilities assumed	$	(6,836)
Net assets acquired	$	39,723

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 $5.2 million for customer relationships, $2.2 million for trade names, and $0.3 million for noncompete agreements entered into 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.

The goodwill of approximately $5.8 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 $4.9 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.

The contribution of this newly acquired business to our consolidated revenues and net earnings was $8.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. We incurred approximately $0.3 million of acquisition costs in connection with this acquisition, which have been expensed in general and administrative expense as incurred.

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).


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2022		2021		2022		2021

Revenues	$	860,771	$	581,334	$	2,663,447	$	1,417,475
Net earnings	2,295		2,056		12,867		10,430

Basic net earnings per common share	$	0.52	$	0.48	$	2.93	$	2.44
Diluted net earnings per common share	$	0.52	$	0.48	$	2.91	$	2.43