Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Organization and Description of Business

v3.21.2
Organization and Description of Business
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]  
Organization and Description of Business
NOTE 1 - Organization and Description of Business
Archaea Energy Inc. ("Archaea" or the "Company"), a Delaware corporation (formerly named Rice Acquisition Corp.), is one of the largest RNG producers in the U.S., with an industry-leading RNG platform primarily focused on capturing and converting waste emissions from landfills and anaerobic digesters into low-carbon RNG and electricity. As of September 30, 2021, Archaea owns and operates a diversified portfolio of 23 LFG recovery and processing projects across 12 states, including 13 LFG to electric projects and 10 projects that produce pipeline-quality RNG.
On September 15, 2021, Archaea consummated the previously announced business combinations pursuant to (i) the Business Combination Agreement, dated April 7, 2021 (as amended, the “Aria Merger Agreement”), by and among Rice Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation ("RAC"), Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct subsidiary of RAC (“RAC Opco”), LFG Intermediate Co, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct subsidiary of RAC Opco (“RAC Intermediate”), LFG Buyer Co, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct subsidiary of RAC Intermediate (“RAC Buyer”), Inigo Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct subsidiary of RAC Buyer (“Aria Merger Sub”), Aria Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Aria”), and Aria Renewable Energy Systems LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to which, among other things, Aria Merger Sub was merged with and into Aria, with Aria surviving the merger and becoming a direct subsidiary of RAC Buyer, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (the transactions contemplated by the Aria Merger Agreement, the “Aria Merger”), and (ii) the Business Combination Agreement, dated April 7, 2021 (as amended, the “Archaea Merger Agreement” and, together with the Aria Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination Agreements”), by and among RAC, RAC Opco, RAC Intermediate, RAC Buyer, Fezzik Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct subsidiary of RAC Buyer (“Archaea Merger Sub”), Archaea Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Archaea Energy II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Legacy Archaea”), pursuant to which, among other things, Archaea Merger Sub was merged with and into Legacy Archaea, with Legacy Archaea surviving the merger and becoming a direct subsidiary of RAC Buyer, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein (the transactions contemplated by the Archaea Merger Agreement, the “Archaea Merger” and, together with the Aria Merger, the “Business Combinations”). As further discussed in Note 4 - Business Combinations and Reverse Recapitalization, Legacy Archaea was determined to be the accounting acquirer of the Business Combinations, and Aria was the predecessor to the Company.
Archaea has retained its “up-C” structure, whereby all of the equity interests in Aria and Legacy Archaea are held by RAC Buyer, all of the equity interests in RAC Buyer are held by RAC Intermediate, all of the equity interests in RAC Intermediate are held by Opco and Archaea’s only assets are its equity interests in Opco. In connection with the consummation of the Business Combinations, Opco, or Rice Acquisition Holdings LLC was renamed LFG Acquisition Holdings LLC. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810 - Consolidation, Opco is considered a variable interest entity ("VIE") where Archaea is the sole managing member of Opco, and therefore, the primary beneficiary. As such, Archaea consolidates Opco, and the remaining unitholders that hold economic interest directly at Opco are presented as redeemable noncontrolling interests on the Company’s financial statements.
Opco issued additional Class A Common Units as part of the consideration in the Business Combinations. The ownership structure of Opco upon closing of the Business Combinations, which gives rise to the redeemable noncontrolling interest at Archaea, is as follows:
Equity Holder
Class A Common Units
% Interest
Archaea
 52,847,195  45.9  %
Total controlling interests
 52,847,195  45.9  %
Aria Holders
 23,000,000  20.0  %
Legacy Archaea Holders
 33,350,385  29.0  %
Sponsor, Atlas and RAC independent directors
 5,931,350  5.2  %
Total redeemable noncontrolling interests
 62,281,735  54.1  %
Total
 115,128,930  100.0  %
Aria Energy LLC  
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]  
Organization and Description of Business Description of Business - Predecessor
Aria Energy LLC and its subsidiaries ("Aria") design, install, own, and operate long-lived energy projects. Aria was originally formed on September 6, 2007, as EIF Renewable Energy Holdings LLC, a Delaware LLC, headquartered in Novi, Michigan. Aria generates its revenue from customers located throughout the United States from the production and sale of electrical energy from landfill gas fuel engines and related Environmental Attributes, production and sale of RNG and related Environmental Attributes, operating and maintaining landfill gas projects owned by third parties, and constructing energy projects.
Revenue is generated from the sale of commodities (power and gas), sale of capacity (power market) and from the sale of Environmental Attributes, including RECs in the power market and RINs and LCFS credits in the RNG market.
Aria benefits from Federal and state renewable fuel standards and Federal compliance requirements for landfill owners and operators.
Funds managed by Ares EIF Management LLC held 94.35% of the ownership interests in Aria before the Closing of the Business Combinations.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements present the consolidated financial position and results of operations of Aria Energy LLC and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
The impact of the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) and measures to prevent its spread have been impactful and continue to affect Aria's business in several ways. In March of 2020, Aria implemented a COVID-19 response team, led by senior management, which initially met on a daily basis to report health status and develop guidelines to protect our workforce. Daily health monitoring and internal contact tracing protocols were implemented. The response team sought feedback from employees, particularly those working in our plants, in developing policies and protocols. Work-from-home protocols were implemented immediately where possible for non-operations personnel. For on-site employees, PPE was provided and enhanced hygiene and physical distancing protocols were implemented. The necessary IT improvements were initiated to facilitate a remote work environment, and we leveraged supplier networks to source COVID-19 specific PPE. Communications from senior leadership to all employees were enhanced, with weekly updates provided. Through the Closing Date, Aria has not experienced any spread of the disease within its operating and management locations or any material interruptions to its business operations.