Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis of Presentation??and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation
These unaudited, interim, consolidated financial statements and notes are prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim reporting and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These unaudited interim financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods presented. The Company’s accounting policies conform to GAAP and have been consistently applied in the presentation of financial statements. The Company’s consolidated financial statements include all wholly-owned subsidiaries and all VIEs with respect to which the Company determined it is the primary beneficiary. Certain information and disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. Accordingly, these unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements included in the 2021 Annual Report.
The Archaea Merger with RAC was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization with Legacy Archaea deemed the accounting acquirer, and therefore, there was no step-up to fair value of any RAC assets or liabilities and no goodwill or other intangible assets were recorded. The Aria Merger was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting with Aria deemed to be the acquiree for accounting purposes. The Company also determined that Aria is the Company’s predecessor and therefore has included the historical financial statements of Aria as predecessor beginning on page 36.
Principles of Consolidation
Principles of Consolidation
As the Company completed its Business Combinations on September 15, 2021, these unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and as of December 31, 2021 include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the combined results of the businesses of Legacy Archaea and Aria as operated by the Company after the Business Combinations; whereas, the unaudited results of operations prior to the September 15, 2021 reverse recapitalization are those of Legacy Archaea, the accounting acquirer.
The Company has determined that Opco is a VIE and the Company is the primary beneficiary. Therefore, the Company consolidates Opco, and ownership interests of Opco not owned by the Company are reflected as redeemable noncontrolling interests due to certain features of the redemption right. See “Note 15 - Redeemable and Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest and Stockholders’ Equity.” Entities that are majority-owned by Opco are consolidated. Certain investments in entities are accounted for as equity method investments and included separately in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
The Company has determined that the Lightning JV is a VIE and the Company is the primary beneficiary; therefore, the Company consolidates the Lightning JV. The ownership interests of the Lightning JV not owned by the Company are reflected as nonredeemable noncontrolling interests.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as contingent assets and liabilities. The estimates and assumptions used in the accompanying financial statements are based upon management’s evaluation of the relevant facts and circumstances as of the date of the financial statements. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition Revenue RecognitionThe Company generates revenues from the production and sales of RNG, Power, and associated Environmental Attributes, as well as from the performance of other landfill energy operations and maintenance (“O&M”) services and construction management (“EPC”) services. The Company also manufactures and sells customized pollution control equipment and performs associated maintenance agreement services. Prior to the January 1, 2022 adoption of ASC 842 - Leases as discussed in “Note 3 - Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards,” a portion of the Company’s revenue was accounted for under ASC 840 - Leases and a portion under ASC 606 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers based on requirements of GAAP. Under ASC 840, lease revenue is recognized generally upon delivery of RNG and electricity. Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized when (or as) the Company satisfies its performance obligation(s) under the contract by transferring the promised product or service either when (or as) its customer obtains control of the product or service, including RNG, electricity and their related Environmental Attributes. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct product or service to a customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring its products or services. Based on the terms of the related sales agreements, the amounts recorded under ASC 840 as lease revenue are generally consistent with revenue recognized under ASC 606. After the January 1, 2022 adoption of ASC 842, revenue is accounted for solely under ASC 606 as our facilities no longer meet the definition of leased assets under ASC 842.
Business Combinations
Business Combinations
For business combinations that meet the accounting definition of a business, the Company determines and allocates the purchase price of an acquired company to the tangible and intangible assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interest, if applicable, as of the date of acquisition at fair value. Fair value may be estimated using comparable market data, a discounted cash flow method, or a combination of the two. In the discounted cash flow method, estimated future cash flows are based on management’s expectations for the future and can include estimates of future biogas production, commodity prices, operating and development costs, and a risk-adjusted discount rate. Revenues and costs of the acquired companies are included in the Company’s operating results from the date of acquisition.
The Company uses its best estimates and assumptions as part of the purchase price allocation process to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, and these estimates and assumptions are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement during the measurement period not to exceed one year from the acquisition date. As a result, any adjustment identified subsequent to the measurement period is included in operating results in the period in which the amount is determined. The Company’s acquisitions are discussed in “Note 4 - Business Combinations and Reverse Recapitalization.”
Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards
NOTE 3 – Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Standards
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The main difference between previous generally accepted accounting principles and the new requirements under Topic 842 is the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases with a term greater than 12 months classified as operating leases under previous GAAP.
Upon adoption of Topic 842 as of January 1, 2022, the Company recognized $5.1 million of right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities on its consolidated balance sheet related to operating leases existing on the adoption date. Prior period financial statements were not adjusted. The adoption of Topic 842 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations or consolidated statement of cash flows. See “Note 11 - Leases” for additional information.
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2021-08 requires all entities to recognize and measure contract assets and liabilities in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The guidance aims to improve comparability for revenue contracts with customers by providing consistent recognition and measurement guidance for all revenue contracts with customers. ASU 2021-08 is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt this ASU as of January 1, 2023 and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.