# Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (CWCO) FY 2022 MD&A

Verbatim Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis from Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.'s 10-K for fiscal year 2022.

SEC filing source: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/928340/000155837023005147/cwco-20221231x10k.htm
Accession: 0001558370-23-005147
Filing date: 2023-03-30
Report date: 2022-12-31
Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary.
Confidence: high

Company profile: /company/CWCO/
All MD&A years: /company/CWCO/mda/
Previous year: /company/CWCO/mda/fy2021/ (FY 2021)
Next year: /company/CWCO/mda/fy2023/ (FY 2023)

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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Overview

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Our water production operations and activities, and those of our affiliate OC-BVI, are conducted at 11 plants in three countries: the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, and the British Virgin Islands. The following table sets forth the comparative combined production capacity of our retail and bulk segments and our affiliate as of December 31 of each year.

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(1) In millions of gallons per day.

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Our water treatment and reuse facilities are conducted at 27 plants in the United States. The following table sets forth the comparative combined estimated production capacity of our services segment as of December 31 of each year.

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(1) In estimated millions of gallons per day.

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Cayman Islands

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We have been operating our business on Grand Cayman since 1973 and have been using reverse osmosis technology to convert seawater to potable water since 1989. The Cayman Islands have a limited natural supply of fresh water. We have an exclusive license from the Cayman Islands government to process potable water from seawater and then sell and distribute that water by pipeline to the Seven Mile Beach and West Bay areas of Grand Cayman. This license expired in January 2018 but as discussed in the following paragraph we continue to provide water under the terms of this license. Our Grand Cayman operations consist of four company-owned seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants which provide water to approximately 7,950 retail residential and commercial connections within a government licensed area and three government-owned seawater reverse osmosis plants which supply bulk water to the WAC. Our pipeline system on Grand Cayman Island covers the Seven Mile Beach and West Bay areas of Grand Cayman and consists of approximately 100 miles of potable water pipe.

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Our exclusive license from the Cayman Islands government was originally scheduled to expire in July 2010 but was extended several times by the Cayman Islands government in order to provide the parties with additional time to negotiate the terms of a new license agreement. The most recent express extension of the license expired on January 31, 2018. We continue to operate under the terms of the 1990 license, providing water services to the level and quality specified in the 1990 license and in accordance with our understanding of its legal obligations, treating those obligations set forth in the 1990 license as operative notwithstanding the expiration of the express extension. We continue to pay the royalty required under the 1990 license. We have been informed during our retail license negotiations that the Cayman Islands government seeks to restructure the terms of our license in a manner that could significantly reduce the operating income and cash flows we have historically generated from our retail license. Our retail license negotiations have also been impacted by the passage of new legislation and the establishment of a new water regulatory body in the Cayman Islands. See further discussion of this matter at ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - Material Commitments, Expenditures and Contingencies - Cayman Water Retail License.

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The Bahamas

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CW-Bahamas produces potable water from two seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants. The Windsor plant and the Blue Hills plant are located in Nassau, New Providence and have a total installed capacity of 14.8 million gallons per day. CW-Bahamas supplies water from these plants to the Water and Sewerage Corporation of The Bahamas (“WSC”) under long-term supply agreements. During 2022, we supplied approximately 4.6 billion gallons of water to the WSC from these plants, as compared to 4.4 billion gallons during 2021.

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From time to time (including presently), CW-Bahamas has experienced delays in collecting its accounts receivable. Representatives of the Bahamas government have informed us that their delays in paying our accounts receivables did/do not reflect any type of dispute with us with respect to the amounts owed. To date, we have not been required to provide an allowance for any delinquent CW-Bahamas accounts receivable as such amounts were eventually paid in full. Based upon our experience, we believe that the present accounts receivable from the WSC are fully collectible and therefore have not provided any allowance for possible non-payment of these receivables. Such accounts receivable balances due from The Bahamas government amounted to $16.3 million as of December 31, 2022. See further discussion of this matter at ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES - CW-Bahamas Liquidity.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our critical accounting policies relate to (i) the valuations of our goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets; and (ii) revenue recognition on our construction and manufacturing contracts.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Our actual results could differ significantly from such estimates and assumptions.

The application of our critical accounting policies involve estimates or assumptions that constitute “critical accounting estimates” for us because:

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[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
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Goodwill and Intangible Assets

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Goodwill represents the excess cost of an acquired business over the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the acquired business. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually or upon the identification of a triggering event. Intangible assets with estimable useful lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values and reviewed periodically for impairment. We evaluate the possible impairment of goodwill annually as part of our reporting process for the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. Management identifies our reporting units for goodwill impairment testing purposes, which consist of Cayman Water, the bulk segment (which is comprised of CW-Bahamas and OC-Cayman), PERC, and the manufacturing segment (i.e., Aerex), and determines the carrying value of each reporting unit by assigning the assets and liabilities, including the existing goodwill and intangible assets, to those reporting units. We determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare these fair values to the carrying amounts of the reporting units. To the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment loss is recorded.

For 2021, we estimated the fair value of our reporting units by applying the discounted cash flow method, which relied upon seven-year discrete projections of operating results, working capital and capital expenditures, along with a terminal value subsequent to the discrete period. These seven-year projections were based upon historical and anticipated future results, general economic and market conditions, and considered the impact of planned business and operational strategies. The discount rates for the calculations represented the estimated cost of capital for market participants at the time of each analysis.

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We also estimated the fair value of each of our reporting units for 2021 by applying the guideline public company method.

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We weighted the fair values estimated for each of our reporting units under each method and summed such weighted fair values to estimate the overall fair value for each reporting unit. The respective weightings we applied to each method for 2021 were 80% to the discounted cash flow method and 20% to the guideline public company method.

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The fair values we estimated for our Cayman Water, bulk segment, PERC and manufacturing reporting units exceeded their carrying amounts by 32%, 51%, 15% and 15%, respectively, as of December 31, 2021.

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For 2022, we elected to assess qualitative factors to determine whether it was necessary to perform the quantitative goodwill impairment testing we have conducted in prior years for all goodwill reporting units other than the manufacturing unit. We assessed the relevant events and circumstances to evaluate whether it is more likely than not that the fair values of such reporting units are less than their carrying values. The events and circumstances assessed for each unit included

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macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance, and other relevant events. Based upon this qualitative assessment we determined that it is more likely than not that the fair values of our Cayman Water and bulk segment reporting units exceeded their carrying values as of December 31, 2022. Based upon our negotiated, arms-length purchase of the remaining 39% equity interest in PERC from its minority shareholders for $7.8 million in January 2023, the fair value of our PERC reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by 79% as of December 31, 2022.

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Due to the factors discussed in the following paragraphs, we elected to test the goodwill associated with our manufacturing reporting unit for possible impairment using the quantitative tests applied in prior years.

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In connection with our acquisition of Aerex in 2016, we recorded goodwill of $8,035,211. Aerex’s actual results of operations for 2016 fell significantly short of the projected results that were included in the cash flow projections we utilized to determine the purchase price for Aerex and the fair values of its assets and liabilities. Due to this shortfall in Aerex’s results of operations, we tested our manufacturing segment’s goodwill for possible impairment and recorded an impairment loss of ($1,750,000) in 2016. As part of our annual impairment testing of goodwill performed during the fourth quarter, in 2017 we updated our projections for Aerex’s future cash flows, determined that the carrying value of our manufacturing reporting unit exceeded its fair value, and recorded an impairment loss of ($1,400,000) for December 31, 2017 to further reduce the carrying value of our manufacturing segment goodwill to $4,885,211.

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Approximately 80% of Aerex’s revenue, and 89% of Aerex’s gross profit, for the year ended December 31, 2020 were generated from sales to one customer. While Aerex sells various products to this customer, Aerex’s revenue from this customer has historically been derived primarily from one specialized product. In October 2020, this customer informed Aerex that, for inventory management purposes, it was suspending its purchases of the specialized product from Aerex following 2020 for a period of approximately one year. This customer informed Aerex at that time that it expected to recommence its purchases of the specialized product from Aerex beginning with the first quarter of 2022. As a result of this anticipated loss of revenue for Aerex, we updated our projections for our manufacturing reporting unit’s future cash flows. Such projections assumed, in part, that Aerex’s major customer would recommence its purchases from Aerex in 2022 but at a reduced aggregate amount, as compared to 2020. Based upon these updated projections, we tested our manufacturing reporting unit’s goodwill for possible impairment as of December 31, 2020 using the discounted cash flow and guideline public company methods, with a weighting of 80% and 20% applied to these two methods, respectively. As a result of these impairment tests, we determined that the estimated fair value of our manufacturing reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by approximately 31% as of December 31, 2020.

In late July 2021, this former major customer communicated to Aerex that it expected to recommence its purchases of the specialized product from Aerex in 2022 and subsequent years, but informed Aerex that such purchases would be at substantially reduced annual amounts, as compared to the amounts it had purchased from Aerex in 2020 and prior years. Our updated sales estimate for this customer based on this new information was substantially below the sales we anticipated to this customer for 2022 and subsequent years that we used in the discounted cash flow projections we prepared for purposes of testing our manufacturing reporting unit’s goodwill for possible impairment as of December 31, 2020. Furthermore, Aerex’s efforts to replace the revenue previously generated from this customer with revenue from existing and new customers were adversely impacted by the negative economic conditions (caused in part by the COVID-19 pandemic). These negative economic conditions also increased Aerex’s raw material costs, resulted in raw material shortages and extended delivery times for such materials, and adversely affected the overall financial condition of Aerex’s current and prospective customers. Accordingly, in light of this new information from Aerex’s former major customer, and the on-going weak economic conditions that we believed would continue through 2022, we updated our projections of future cash flows for the manufacturing reporting unit and tested its goodwill for possible impairment as of June 30, 2021 using the discounted cash flow and guideline public company methods, with a weighting of 80% and 20% applied to these two methods, respectively. Based upon this testing, we determined that the carrying value of our manufacturing reporting unit exceeded its fair value by $2.9 million, and we recorded an impairment loss to reduce our manufacturing segment’s goodwill by this amount for the three months ended June 30, 2021.

For 2022, we estimated the fair value of our manufacturing reporting unit by applying the discounted cash flow method, which relied upon seven-year discrete projections of operating results, working capital and capital expenditures, along with a terminal value subsequent to the discrete period. These seven-year projections were based upon historical and anticipated future results, general economic and market conditions, and considered the impact of planned business and

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operational strategies. The discount rates for the calculations represented the estimated cost of capital for market participants at the time of each analysis. We also estimated the fair value of our manufacturing reporting unit for the year ended December 31, 2022 by applying the guideline public company method. We weighted the fair values estimated for our manufacturing reporting unit under each method and summed such weighted fair values to estimate the overall fair value for the reporting unit. The respective weightings we applied to each method for the year ended December 31, 2022 were 80% to the discounted cash flow method and 20% to the guideline public company method.

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The fair value we estimated for our manufacturing reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount by 63% as of December 31, 2022.

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We believe the inherent uncertainties associated with the accounting estimates and assumptions we use for our estimates of our manufacturing reporting unit’s fair value have increased due to the current, less predictable economic conditions, which have resulted in increasing raw material prices, extended and unexpected delays in the procurement and delivery of our raw materials, and have also, we believe, adversely affected our customers. Should interest rates rise significantly in the future we would likely be required to increase the discount rate we use under the discounted cash flow method we use to estimate the fair value of this reporting unit, and such increased discount rate in and of itself could decrease the estimated fair value of our manufacturing reporting unit under the discounted cash flow method.

As noted previously, based upon our estimation prepared as of December 31, 2022, the fair value of our manufacturing reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by 63%. However, if we determine in the future that Aerex’s discounted future cash inflows will be less than our present expectations, we may be required to record additional impairment losses to reduce the remaining carrying values of our manufacturing segment’s goodwill and its remaining unamortized intangible assets balances, which amounted to $1,985,211 and $754,444, respectively, as of December 31, 2022. Any such impairment losses could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated results of operations.

Long-lived Assets

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We review the carrying amounts of our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets might not be recoverable. Conditions that would necessitate an impairment assessment include a significant decline in the observable market value of an asset, a significant change in the extent or manner in which an asset is used, or a significant adverse change that would indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets is not recoverable. For long-lived assets to be held and used, we recognize an impairment loss only if its carrying amount is not recoverable through its undiscounted cash flows and measure the impairment loss based on the difference between the carrying amount and fair value.

On June 29, 2020, our Mexico subsidiary, AdR, received a letter from the State of Baja California (the “State”) terminating AdR’s contract with the State involving the construction and operation of a desalination plant in Rosarito California and accompanying aqueduct to deliver the water produced by this plant to the Mexican public water system. As a result of the cancellation of this contract, we recorded an impairment loss for rights of way acquired for the contract’s proposed aqueduct of approximately ($3.0 million) in 2020.

Through our former subsidiary, PT Consolidated Water Bali (“CW-Bali”), we built and operated a seawater reverse osmosis plant with a productive capacity of approximately 264,000 gallons per day located in Nusa Dua, one of the primary tourist areas of Bali, Indonesia. We recorded operating losses for CW-Bali as the sales volumes for its plant were insufficient to cover its operating costs. In 2017 we determined, based upon probability-weighted scenarios for CW-Bali’s future undiscounted cash flows, that the carrying values of CW-Bali’s long-lived assets and our investment in CW-Bali were not recoverable. Consequently, we recorded impairment losses of ($1.6 million) in 2017 to reduce the carrying values of these assets to their fair values.

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Construction and Manufacturing Contract Revenue Recognition

We design, construct, and sell desalination infrastructure through DesalCo, which serves customers in the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, and the British Virgin Islands. We design, construct, and sell wastewater and water reuse infrastructure in the U.S. through PERC. Aerex, is a custom and specialty manufacturer in the U.S. of water treatment-related systems and products applicable to commercial, municipal and industrial water production.

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We recognize revenue for our construction and our specialized/custom manufacturing contracts over time under the input method using costs incurred (which represents work performed) to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress toward satisfying a contract’s performance obligations as such measure best reflects the transfer of control of the promised good to the customer. Contract costs include labor, materials and amounts payable to subcontractors. We follow this method since we can make reasonably dependable estimates of the revenue and costs applicable to the various stages of a contract. Under this input method, we record revenue and recognize profit or loss as work on the contract progresses. We estimate total project or manufacturing costs and profit to be earned on each long-term, fixed price contract prior to commencement of work on the contract and update these estimates as work on the contract progresses. The cumulative amount of revenue recorded on a contract at a specified point in time is that percentage of total estimated revenue that incurred costs to date comprises of estimated total contract costs. If, as work progresses, the actual contract costs exceed estimates, the profit recognized on revenue from that contract decreases. We recognize the full amount of any estimated loss on a contract at the time the estimates indicate such a loss.

The cost estimates we prepare in connection with our construction and manufacturing contracts are subject to inherent uncertainties. Because we base our contract prices on our estimation of future construction and manufacturing costs, the profitability of our construction and manufacturing contracts is highly dependent on our ability to estimate these costs accurately, as almost all of our construction and manufacturing contracts are fixed-price contracts. The cost of materials, labor and subcontractors could increase significantly after we sign a construction or manufacturing contract, which could cause the gross profit for a contract to decline from our previous estimates, adversely affecting our recognition of revenue and gross profit for the contract. Construction or manufacturing contract costs that significantly exceed our initial estimates could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

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Results of Operations

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The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included under Part II, ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA, of this Annual Report.

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Year Ended December 31, 2022 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2021

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Discontinued Operations – Mexico Project Development

In 2010, we began the pursuit, through our Netherlands subsidiary, Consolidated Water Cooperatief, U.A. (“CW-Cooperatief”), and our Mexico subsidiary, N.S.C. Agua, S.A. de C.V. (“NSC”), of a project (the “Project”) that encompassed the construction, operation and minority ownership of a 100 million gallon per day seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant to be located in northern Baja California, Mexico and accompanying pipelines to deliver water to the Mexican potable water system.

Through a series of transactions that began in 2012, NSC purchased 20.1 hectares of land for approximately $21.1 million on which the proposed Project’s plant was to be constructed.

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Following an assessment by the State of Baja, California (the “State”) of the need for such a desalination plant and the passage of enabling legislation in November 2015, the State officially commenced the required public tender for the Project. A consortium (the “Consortium”) comprised of NSC, Suez Medio Ambiente México, S.A. de C.V. (“Suez MA”), a subsidiary of SUEZ International, S.A.S., and NuWater S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“NuWater”) submitted its tender for the Project in April 2016 and in June 2016, the State designated the Consortium as the winner of the tender process for the Project.

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In August 2016, NSC and NuWater incorporated a new company under the name Aguas de Rosarito S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“AdR”) to pursue completion of the Project and executed a shareholders agreement for AdR agreeing among other things that (i) AdR would purchase the land and other Project assets from NSC on the date that the Project begins commercial operation and (ii) AdR would enter into a Management and Technical Services Agreement with NSC effective on the first day that the Project begins commercial operation. NSC initially owned 99.6% of the equity of AdR. In February 2018, we acquired the remaining 0.4% ownership in AdR from NuWater.

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On August 22, 2016, the Public Private Partnership Agreement for the Project (the “APP Contract”) was executed between AdR, the State Water Commission of Baja California (“CEA”), the Government of Baja California as represented by the Secretary of Planning and Finance and the Public Utilities Commission of Tijuana (“CESPT”). The APP Contract required AdR to design, construct, finance and operate a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant (and accompanying aqueduct) with a capacity of up to 100 million gallons per day in two phases: the first with a capacity of 50 million gallons per day and an aqueduct to the Mexican potable water system in Tijuana, Baja California and the second phase with a capacity of 50 million gallons per day. The first phase was to be operational within 36 months of commencing construction and the second phase was to be operational by July 2024. The APP Contract further required AdR to operate and maintain the plant and aqueduct for a period of 37 years starting from the commencement of operation of the first phase. At the end of the operating period, ownership of the plant and aqueduct would have been transferred to CEA. The APP Contract was subsequently amended by the parties in June 2018 to increase the scope of Phase 1 and to allow for changes in the water tariff due to the changes in the exchange rate for the peso, interest rates and construction costs that had and would occur from the date the APP Contract was signed to the date construction commenced.

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On June 29, 2020, AdR received a letter (the “Letter”) from the Director General of CEA and the Director General of CESPT terminating the APP Contract. The Letter requested that AdR provide an inventory of the assets that currently comprise the “Project Works” (as defined in the APP Contract) for the purpose of acknowledging and paying the non-recoverable expenses made by AdR in connection with the Project, with such reimbursement to be calculated in accordance with the terms of the APP Contract. The applicable law required that this list of non-recoverable expenses made by AdR in connection with the Project be submitted to CEA and CESPT within 20 business days from the date of receipt of the Letter. AdR initiated an amparo claim before a federal district court in Tijuana, Baja California, to challenge the provision of the applicable law requiring submittal of the list of non-recoverable expenses within the 20 business days term, as AdR considered such term to be unreasonably short due to the magnitude of the Project and the scope of supporting documentation required to be provided with respect to the non-recoverable expenses. AdR obtained an initial provisional suspension of the lapsing of such 20-day term from the court, and on August 10, 2020 the court made such suspension definitive until the completion of the amparo trial. As such, the 20-day term for filing the list of non-recoverable expenses was suspended. Therefore, on August 28, 2020, AdR submitted their list of non-recoverable expenses, including those of NSC, to CEA and CESPT which was comprised of 51,144,525 United States dollars and an additional 137,333,114 Mexican pesos. In February 2021, AdR withdrew this amparo claim, and such withdrawal was accepted by the federal district court in Tijuana. To date, AdR has not received a formal response from CEA or CESPT to its submission of non-recoverable expenses.

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We believe CW-Cooperatief, as a Netherlands company, has certain rights relating to its investments in NSC and AdR under the Agreement on Promotion, Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Mexican States entered into force as of October 1, 1999 (the “Treaty”). On April 16, 2021, CW-Cooperatief submitted a letter to the President of Mexico and other Mexican federal government officials alleging that the State’s termination of the APP Contract constituted a breach by Mexico of its international obligations under the Treaty, entitling CW-Cooperatief to full reparation, including monetary damages. This letter invited Mexico to seek a resolution of this investment dispute through consultation and negotiation, but stated that if the dispute cannot be resolved in this manner, CW-Cooperatief elects to refer the dispute to the International Centre for the Settlement of International Disputes for arbitration, as provided for in the Treaty. On June 29, 2021, the Mexican Ministry of Economy responded to CW-Cooperatief’s letter and proposed to hold a consultation meeting. Two such meetings were held on July 9, 2021 and August 2, 2021 on a confidential basis, without a resolution of our investment dispute.

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​On February 9, 2022, CW-Cooperatief, filed a Request for Arbitration with the International Centre for Settlement of International Disputes requesting that the United Mexican States pay CW-Cooperatief damages in excess of US$51 million plus MXN$137 million (with the exact amount to be quantified in the proceedings), plus fees, costs and pre- and post-award interest.

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CW-Cooperatief intends to pursue vigorously the relief sought in the arbitration, in addition to pursuing all other legal remedies and courses of action available under the operative contracts and applicable law with respect to its rights, damages, fees and expenses. We cannot provide any assurances that CW Cooperatief will be able to obtain the relief sought in the arbitration, and we will incur legal and other arbitration-related expenses that we expect will be material to our consolidated results of operations and cash flows.

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During July 2022, the State initiated discussions with us to potentially resolve the issues related to the cancellation by the government of the Rosarito desalination plant contract as well as potentially addressing the State’s acute water shortage issues. We cannot presently determine the outcome of the discussions and we have not terminated our efforts to obtain relief through the international arbitration process as a result of these discussions.

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We cannot provide any assurances that we will be able to obtain reimbursement for any expenses or investments made with respect to the Project.

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As a result of the cancellation of the APP Contract, in 2020 we discontinued all development activities associated with the Project and commenced active marketing efforts to sell the land NSC purchased for the Project. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of CW-Cooperatief, NSC and AdR, as well as the costs for our legal and administrative activities to pursue reimbursement from the State of Baja California following the cancellation of the APP Contract, are classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Our net losses from discontinued operations for 2022 and 2021 were ($2,371,049) and ($2,574,079), respectively. Our net losses from discontinued operations for 2022 and 2021 includes provisions of $377,326 and $963,540, respectively, for uncollectible value added taxes paid to, and reimbursable by, the Mexican federal government.

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Consolidated Results

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Including discontinued operations, net income attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders for 2022 was $5,856,294 ($0.38 per share on a fully diluted basis), as compared to $875,579 ($0.06 per share on a fully diluted basis) for 2021.

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The following discussion and analysis of our consolidated results of operations and results of operations by segment for the year ended December 31, 2022 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 relates only to our continuing operations.

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Net income from continuing operations attributable to Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. stockholders for 2022 was $8,227,343 ($0.54 per share on a fully diluted basis), as compared to $3,449,658 ($0.23 per share on a fully diluted basis) for 2021.

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Revenue for 2022 increased to $94,104,972 from $66,863,502 in 2021, as all four segments experienced revenue increases. Gross profit for 2022 was $30,355,123 (32% of total revenue) as compared to $23,507,191 (35% of total revenue) for 2021. For further discussion of revenue and gross profit see the “Results by Segment” discussion and analysis that follows.

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General and administrative expenses (“G&A expenses”) on a consolidated basis increased to $21,070,234 for 2022 as compared to $18,350,359 for 2021. The most significant components of the increase in G&A expenses for 2022 were incremental bonus accruals and stock compensation expense aggregating $1,248,242 arising from the improved financial performance of the Company. Other components of the G&A expenses increase relate to (i) other employee costs, which increased by $399,268 due to salary increases and new hires; (ii) professional and legal fees, which increased by $148,663; (iii) insurance expense, which increased $254,599 due to higher premiums and (iv) incremental business development expenses of $170,461. The rise in G&A for 2022 is also due in part to inflationary factors which have increased many of our G&A expenses.

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Other income, net, decreased to $464,810 in 2022, as compared to $1,623,595 in 2021 primarily due to a loss of ($128,000) recorded in 2022 for the valuation of the put/call options associated with the acquisition of PERC, as compared to a gain recorded on these options of $818,000 in 2021. In addition, interest income decreased by approximately $238,000 for 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily due to the decrease in CW-Bahamas’ average delinquent accounts receivable balances due from the WSC.

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Results by Segment

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Retail Segment:

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The retail segment incurred a loss from operations of ($1,187,013) for 2022 as compared to a loss from operations of ($2,044,094) for 2021.

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Revenue generated by our retail water operations increased to $25,954,013 in 2022 from $22,104,953 in 2021 in part due to a 12.5% increase in the volume of water sold. The sales volumes for both 2022 and 2021 were below the historical volumes for the retail segment prior to 2020 due to the cessation of tourism on Grand Cayman resulting from border restrictions that lasted from March 2020 through August 2022 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in the volume of water sold in 2022 as compared to 2021 resulted from the lifting in August 2022 of such pandemic related travel restrictions. Retail revenue also increased due to higher energy costs which increased the energy pass-through component of our water rates and a more favorable rate mix, as much of the volume increase for the quarter was due to higher sales volumes to tourist industry related businesses, which in general purchase higher volumes and therefore pay higher per gallon rates than other retail customers.

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Retail segment gross profit increased to $13,405,250 (52% of retail revenue) for 2022 as compared to $11,044,016 (50% of retail revenue) for 2021 due to the revenue increase.

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Consistent with prior periods, we record all non-direct G&A expenses in our retail segment and do not allocate any of these non-direct costs to our other three business segments. Retail G&A expenses increased to $14,552,866 for 2022 as compared to $12,841,259 for 2021. The most significant components of the increase in G&A expenses for 2022 were incremental bonus accruals and stock compensation expense of $976,501 arising from the improved financial performance of the Company. Other components of the G&A expenses increase relate to (i) professional and legal fees, which increased by $167,445; (ii) incremental business development expenses of $170,461 and (iii) insurance costs, which increased by $123,938.

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Bulk Segment:

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The bulk segment contributed $8,393,729 and $7,677,362 to our income from operations for 2022 and 2021, respectively.

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Bulk segment revenue was $32,991,066 and $26,800,869 for 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in bulk segment revenue from 2021 to 2022 is attributable to an increase in energy costs for CW-Bahamas, which increased the energy pass-through component of CW-Bahamas’ rates.

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Gross profit for the bulk segment was $9,958,854 (30% of bulk segment revenue) and $9,041,597 (34% of bulk segment revenue) for 2022 and 2021, respectively. Gross profit in dollars increased in 2022 as compared to 2021 principally due to the increase in revenue. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue decreased in 2022 as compared to 2021 principally due to incremental repairs and maintenance expenses for CW-Bahamas of approximately $361,000 and incremental chemical costs of approximately $554,000 arising from higher chemical prices and greater chemicals usage.

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Bulk segment G&A expenses increased to $1,570,732 for 2022 as compared to $1,365,735 for 2021 primarily due to relatively small increases in a variety of expense categories.

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Services Segment:

The services segment contributed $2,424,217 and $414,394 to our income from operations for 2022 and 2021, respectively.

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Services segment revenue increased to $28,835,428 for 2022 compared to $13,884,857 for 2021 due to increases in both plant design and construction revenue and operating and maintenance revenue, with most of the revenue increase resulting from PERC’s progress on its contract with Liberty Utilities for the construction of a water treatment plant in Goodyear, Arizona which commenced in the third quarter of 2022. Revenue recognized on this contract in 2022 was approximately $9.5 million.

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​

The gross profit for the services segment was $5,861,794 (20% of services segment revenue) in 2022 as compared to $3,177,614 (23% of services revenue) for 2021. The increase in gross profit dollars results from the increased revenue. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of revenue from 2021 to 2022 results from the relatively lower gross profit percentage earned on PERC’s contract with Liberty Utilities compared to that earned from PERC’s operating and maintenance contracts.

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G&A expenses for the services segment increased to $3,461,294 for 2022 as compared to $2,762,735 for 2021 as a result of increased bonus accruals of $235,204 arising from the improved financial performance of PERC, $385,156 in incremental other employee costs attributable to salary increases and new hires and increased insurance expense.

Manufacturing Segment:

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The manufacturing segment incurred a loss from operations of ($358,748) for 2022 as compared to a loss of ($4,036,666) for 2021. The loss from operations for 2021 reflects an impairment loss recorded for our manufacturing segment’s goodwill of $2,900,000 due to a decline in Aerex’s projected future cash flows.

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Manufacturing segment revenue was $6,324,465 and $4,072,823 for 2022 and 2021, respectively. Manufacturing segment revenue increased from 2021 to 2022 due to an increase in production activity that resulted from an easing of some of the supply change difficulties that restricted production for 2021 and most of 2022.

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Manufacturing segment gross profit was $1,129,225 (18% of manufacturing segment revenue) and $243,964 (6% of manufacturing segment revenue) for 2022 and 2021, respectively. The increase in manufacturing segment gross profit in dollars reflects the increased revenue. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue increased due to the revenue increase and the resulting lesser relative impact of fixed factory overhead on this measure, as we elected to continue the employment of all of our highly skilled manufacturing personnel during 2022 and 2021 despite the decrease in production activity.

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G&A expenses for the manufacturing segment remained relatively consisted at $1,485,342 for 2022 as compared to $1,380,630 for 2021.

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The results of our manufacturing segment have been adversely affected by current economic conditions including, but not limited to, increasing raw materials prices, rising human resources costs, tight labor markets, and extended and unexpected delays in the procurement and delivery of raw materials. We believe these economic conditions have also resulted in product order delays from Aerex’s existing and prospective customers. The current economic conditions could continue (or further deteriorate) and therefore could continue to adversely impact the future results of our manufacturing segment.

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FINANCIAL CONDITION

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The significant changes in the components of our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2022 as compared to December 31, 2021 (other than the change in our cash and cash equivalents, which is discussed later in “LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES”) and the reasons for these changes are discussed in the following paragraphs.

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Current inventory increased by approximately $3.2 million primarily due to an increase in Aerex’s inventory, as Aerex began a major new contract in the fourth quarter of 2022. Some of Aerex’s manufacturing contracts have also been delayed, resulting in extended retention times for various inventory items purchased for these contracts.

Prepaid expenses and other current assets increased by approximately $3.1 million primarily due to advance payments to contractors and suppliers and the cost of PERC’s construction bond for the Liberty Utilities project.

Contract assets increased by approximately $2.4 million due to an increase in the Red Gate plant construction and Aerex's manufacturing activities.

Construction in progress increased by approximately $3.0 million due to construction activity for Cayman Water’s replacement of its West Bay desalination plant.

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Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities increased by approximately $5.6 million primarily due to an increase in subcontractor costs for PERC’s contract with Liberty Utilities and Aerex’s manufacturing projects.

Contract liabilities increased by $8.3 million primarily due to approximately $7.0 million in billings made by the services segment in connection with PERC’s new contract with Liberty Utilities. Aerex also had an increase of approximately $1.3 million in billings in the manufacturing segment.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

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Certain transfers from our Bahamas bank accounts to our bank accounts in other countries require the approval of the Central Bank of The Bahamas.

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The Cayman Islands does not have a tax treaty with the United States. Consequently, should we be required (or elect) to transfer any profits generated by our U.S. operations to our parent company in the Cayman Islands, the amount of any such profits transferred would be subject to a 30% withholding tax.

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Liquidity Position

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Our projected liquidity requirements for 2023 include capital expenditures for our existing operations of approximately $14.1 million, which includes $2.8 million to be incurred in 2023 for the replacement of the West Bay seawater desalination plant and approximately $7.5 million for construction of the WAC’s new Red Gate plant. We paid approximately $1.4 million for dividends in January 2023. Our liquidity requirements may also include future quarterly dividends, if such dividends are declared by our Board.

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On January 4, 2023, we purchased the remaining 39% of PERC from its minority shareholders for approximately $2.44 million in cash and 368,383 shares of the Company’s common stock.

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As of December 31, 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $50.7 million and working capital of $69.9 million.

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With the exception of the liquidity matter relating to CW-Bahamas that is discussed in the paragraphs that follow, we are not presently aware of anything that would lead us to believe that we will not have sufficient liquidity to meet our needs.

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CW-Bahamas Liquidity

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CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable balance (which include accrued interest) due from the WSC amounted to $16.3 million as of December 31, 2022. Approximately 65% of the December 31, 2022 accounts receivable balance was delinquent as of that date. The delay in collecting these accounts receivable has adversely impacted the liquidity of this subsidiary.

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From time to time, CW-Bahamas has experienced delays in collecting its accounts receivable from the WSC. When these delays occur, we hold discussions and meetings with representatives of the WSC and The Bahamas government, and as a result, payment schedules are developed for WSC’s delinquent accounts receivable. All previous delinquent accounts receivable from the WSC, including accrued interest thereon, were eventually paid in full. Based upon this payment history, CW-Bahamas has never been required to provide an allowance for doubtful accounts for any of its accounts receivable, despite the periodic accumulation of significant delinquent balances. As of December 31, 2022, we have not provided an allowance for doubtful accounts for CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable from the WSC.

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In February 2022, we received correspondence from the Ministry of Finance of the Government of the Bahamas that stated that the Government intends to return all of CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable from the WSC to current status.

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In its latest report dated October 6, 2022, Moody’s Investor Services (“Moody’s”) downgraded the Government of The Bahamas’ long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings to B1 from Ba3. Moody’s also lowered The Bahamas’ local currency ceiling to Baa3 from Baa2 and its foreign currency ceiling to Ba1 from Baa3. Based upon our review of this Moody’s report, we continue to believe no allowance for doubtful accounts is required for CW-Bahamas’ accounts receivable from the WSC.

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Discussion of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2022

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Our cash and cash equivalents increased to $50,711,751 as of December 31, 2022 from $40,358,059 as of December 31, 2021.

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Cash Flows from Operating Activities

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Net cash provided by our operating activities was $21,331,805. This net cash provided reflects net income generated for the year ended December 31, 2022 of $6,969,207 as adjusted for (i) various items included in the determination of net income that do not affect cash flows during the year; and (ii) changes in the other components of working capital. The more significant of such items and changes in working capital components included depreciation and amortization of $6,187,308, an increase in contract liabilities of $8,290,043, an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $6,756,433, an increase in inventory of $3,387,011, an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of $3,365,747 and an increase in contract assets of $2,423,761.

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Cash Flows from Investing Activities

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Net cash used by our investing activities was $4,981,036. Cash used was primarily for additions to property, plant and equipment and construction in progress of $7,542,761. We did not renew our CW-Bahamas $2.5 million certificate of deposit at year-end.

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Cash Flows from Financing Activities

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Net cash used by our financing activities was $6,304,873, almost all of which related to the payment of dividends.

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Material Commitments, Expenditures and Contingencies

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Cayman Water Retail License

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We sell water through our retail operations under a license issued in July 1990 by the Cayman Islands government (the “1990 license”) that granted Cayman Water the exclusive right to provide potable water to customers within its licensed service area. Although the 1990 license was not expressly extended after January 2018, we continue to supply water under the terms of the 1990 license, as discussed in the following paragraphs. Pursuant to the 1990 license, Cayman Water has the exclusive right to produce potable water and distribute it by pipeline to its licensed service area, which consists of two of the three most populated areas of Grand Cayman Island: Seven Mile Beach and West Bay. In 2022 and 2021, we generated approximately 27% and 33%, respectively, of our consolidated revenue and 44% and 47%, respectively, of our consolidated gross profit from the retail water operations conducted under the 1990 license.

​

The 1990 license was originally scheduled to expire in July 2010 but was extended several times by the Cayman Islands government to provide the parties with additional time to negotiate the terms of a new license agreement. The most recent express extension of the license expired on January 31, 2018. We continue to operate under the terms of the 1990 license, providing water services to the level and quality specified in the 1990 license and in accordance with our understanding of its legal obligations, treating those obligations set forth in the 1990 license as operative notwithstanding the expiration of the express extension. We continue to pay the royalty of 7.5% of revenue we collect required under the 1990 license.

​

In October 2016, the Government of the Cayman Islands passed legislation which created a new utilities regulation and competition office (“OfReg”). OfReg is an independent and accountable regulatory body with a view of protecting the rights of consumers, encouraging affordable utility services and promoting competition. OfReg, which began operations in January 2017, has the ability to supervise, monitor and regulate multiple utility undertakings and markets. Supplemental legislation was passed by the Government of the Cayman Islands in April 2017, which transferred responsibility for economic regulation of the water utility sector and the retail license negotiations from the WAC to OfReg in May 2017. We began license negotiations with OfReg in July 2017 and such negotiations are continuing. We have been informed during our retail license negotiations, both by OfReg and its predecessor in these negotiations, that the Cayman Islands

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government seeks to restructure the terms of our license in a manner that could significantly reduce the operating income and cash flows we have historically generated from our retail license.

​

The Cayman Islands government could seek to grant a third party a license to service some or all of Cayman Water’s present service area. However, as set forth in the 1990 license, “the Governor hereby agrees that upon the expiry of the term of this Licence or any extension thereof, he will not grant a licence or franchise to any other person or company for the processing, distribution, sale and supply of water within the Licence Area without having first offered such a licence or franchise to the Company on terms no less favourable than the terms offered to such other person or company.”

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We are presently unable to determine what impact the resolution of our retail license negotiations will have on our cash flows, financial condition or results of operations but such resolution could result in a material reduction (or the loss) of the operating income and cash flows we have historically generated from our retail operations and could require us to record impairment losses to reduce the carrying value of our retail segment assets. Such impairment losses could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial condition, results of operation and cash flows.

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CW-Bahamas Performance Guarantees

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Our contracts to supply water to the WSC from our Blue Hills and Windsor plants require us to guarantee delivery of a minimum quantity of water per week. If the WSC requires the water and we do not meet this minimum, we are required to pay the WSC for the difference between the minimum and actual gallons delivered at a per gallon rate equal to the price per gallon that WSC is currently paying us under the contract. The Blue Hills contract expires in 2032 and requires us to deliver 63.0 million gallons of water each week. The Windsor contract expires in 2033 and requires us to deliver 16.8 million gallons of water each week.

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Adoption of new accounting standards

​

None.

Effect of newly issued but not yet effective accounting standards

​

None.

Dividends

​

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["\u25cf","On January 31, 2022, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on January 3, 2022."]]
[[/GREPCENT_TABLE]]

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["\u25cf","On April 29, 2022, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on April 1, 2022."]]
[[/GREPCENT_TABLE]]

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["\u25cf","On July 29, 2022, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on July 1, 2022."]]
[[/GREPCENT_TABLE]]

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["\u25cf","On October 31, 2022, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on October 3, 2022."]]
[[/GREPCENT_TABLE]]

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["\u25cf","On January 31, 2023, we paid a dividend of $0.085 to shareholders of record on January 3, 2023."]]
[[/GREPCENT_TABLE]]

[[GREPCENT_TABLE]]
[["\u25cf","On February 21, 2023, our Board declared a dividend of $0.085 payable on April 28, 2023 to shareholders of record on April 3, 2023."]]
[[/GREPCENT_TABLE]]

​

We have paid dividends to owners of our common stock and redeemable preferred stock since we began declaring dividends in 1985. Our payment of any future cash dividends will depend upon our earnings, financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant in determining the amount and timing of such dividends.

​

Dividend reinvestment and common stock purchase plan

​

This plan is available to our shareholders, who may reinvest all or a portion of their common stock dividends into shares of common stock at prevailing market prices and may also invest optional cash payments to purchase additional shares at prevailing market prices as part of this plan.

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Impact of inflation

​

Under the terms of our Cayman Islands license and our water sales agreements in The Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands, our water rates are automatically adjusted for inflation on an annual basis. Therefore, the impact of inflation on our gross profit, measured in consistent dollars, historically has not been material. However, we have not increased our retail water rates since January 2018 (despite the inflation that has occurred since that date) due to the lack of a resolution of our negotiations with OfReg for a new retail license. This lack of a rate increase has contributed to a decline in the gross profit generated by our retail segment. Furthermore, our manufacturing segment has been adversely impacted by recent significant increases in raw material costs and our services segment could suffer similar adverse impacts in the future. Should the current inflationary trend continue, our consolidated results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In general, our operating and maintenance contracts are adjusted annually for the impacts of inflation.

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Increases in fuel and energy costs and other items could create additional credit risks for us, as our customers’ ability to pay our invoices could be adversely affected by such increases.

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