Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Organization and Background of Business

v3.22.0.1
Organization and Background of Business
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Organization and Background of Business  
Organization and Background of Business

1.Organization and Background of Business

Aris Water Solutions, Inc. (”Aris Inc.”, the “Company”, “we”, “our, or “us”) is an independent, environmentally-focused company headquartered in Houston, Texas, that, through its controlling interest in Solaris Midstream Holdings, LLC (“Solaris LLC”), provides sustainability-enhancing services to oil and natural gas operators. We strive to build long-term value through the development, construction and operation of integrated produced water handling and recycling infrastructure that provides high-capacity, comprehensive produced water management, recycling and supply solutions for operators in the Permian Basin.

We were incorporated on May 26, 2021 as a Delaware corporation and were formed to serve as the issuer in an initial public offering of equity (the “IPO” or “Offering”). Concurrent with the completion of the IPO, we became the new parent holding company of Solaris LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

As a holding company, our principal asset is a membership interest in Solaris LLC. As the sole managing member of Solaris LLC, we operate and control all of the business and affairs of Solaris, LLC, and through Solaris LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct its business. We consolidate the financial results of Solaris LLC and report noncontrolling interest related to the portion of Solaris LLC units not owned by us.

Initial Public Offering

On October 21, 2021, we announced the pricing of our Offering of 17,650,000 shares of its Class A common stock at a price to the public of $13.00 per share. In addition, we granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2,647,500 shares of our Class A common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. On October 22, 2021, the underwriters fully exercised such option to purchase an additional 2,647,500 shares of Class A common stock. The Offering, including the underwriters’ option, closed on October 26, 2021.

The closing of the Offering, including the underwriters’ option, resulted in net proceeds of approximately $246.4 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other issuance costs. We contributed all of the net IPO proceeds to Solaris LLC in exchange for a single class of units in Solaris LLC and shares of our Class B common stock. Solaris LLC distributed approximately $213.2 million of the net proceeds to the Legacy Owners of Solaris LLC units and retained the remaining $33.2 million of the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures, working capital and potential acquisitions and strategic transactions.

Amended and Restated Solaris LLC Agreement

On October 26, 2021, in connection with the IPO, the Solaris LLC Agreement was amended and restated. The amendments to the Solaris LLC Agreement, include, among other things:

(i) provisions to convert all of the membership interests in Solaris LLC into (a) a single class of units in Solaris LLC representing in the aggregate 33,202,500 Solaris LLC units and (b) the right to receive the distributions of proceeds described above and an aggregate of 33,202,500 shares of Aris Inc.’s Class B Common Stock and
(ii) the admission of Aris Inc. as the sole managing member of Solaris LLC.

In accordance with the terms of the amended and restated Solaris LLC Agreement, the holders of Solaris LLC units generally have the right to exchange their Solaris LLC units (and a corresponding number of shares of the Class B Common Stock), for an aggregate of 33,202,500 shares of the Class A Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Class A Common Stock for each Solaris LLC unit (and corresponding share of

Class B Common Stock) exchanged, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications.

Redemption Rights

Following the Offering, under the Solaris LLC Agreement, Legacy Owners of Solaris LLC units, subject to certain limitations, have the right, pursuant to a redemption right, to cause Solaris LLC to acquire all or a portion of their Solaris LLC units for, at Solaris LLC’s election, (x) shares of our Class A common stock at a redemption ratio of one share of Class A common stock for each Solaris LLC unit redeemed, subject to conversion rate adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends and reclassifications or (y) an equivalent amount of cash. Alternatively, upon the exercise of the redemption right, we have the right, pursuant to a call right, to acquire each tendered Solaris LLC unit directly from the Legacy Owner for, at our election, (x) one share of Class A common stock or (y) an equivalent amount of cash.

On December 6, 2021, 1,486,396 Solaris LLC units were converted to shares of our Class A common stock. As of December 31, 2021, we own approximately 41% of Solaris LLC. On February 28, 2022, an additional 148,087 Solaris LLC units were converted to shares of our Class A common stock.

Corporate Reorganization

The transactions described above, (altogether, the “Corporate Reorganization”) have been accounted for as a reorganization of entities under common control. As a result, our consolidated financial statements recognize the assets and liabilities received in the Corporate Reorganization at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the historical financial statements of Solaris LLC.