Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

TRA Liability

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TRA Liability
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
TRA Liability  
TRA Liability

8.TRA Liability

At the closing of the IPO, we entered into a Tax Receivable Agreement (the “TRA”) with the Legacy Owners of Solaris LLC units (each such person, a “TRA Holder,” and together, the “TRA Holders”). The Tax Receivable Agreement generally provides for the payment by us to each TRA Holder of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax and franchise tax that we actually realize (computed using simplifying assumptions to address the impact of state and local taxes) or, are deemed to realize in certain circumstances, in periods after the IPO as a result of certain increases in tax basis that occur as a result of our acquisition or Solaris LLC’s redemption, respectively, of all or a portion of such TRA Holder’s Solaris LLC units in connection with the IPO or pursuant to the exercise of a redemption right or call right. We retain the remaining 15% of these cash savings. As of December 31, 2021, we accrued an estimated long-term TRA liability of $75.6 million associated with the purchase of Solaris LLC units by us with our Class A common stock Offering and for the conversions from Solaris LLC units to Class A common stock on December 6, 2021.

The calculation of the TRA liability is complex and data-intensive due to: 1) the intricacy of the provisions of the Tax Receivable Agreement; 2) historical tax data with asset step-ups in connection with previous acquisitions and/or equity offerings; 3) the need to make assumptions and allocations on an asset by asset basis for both the historical tax basis and the step-up tax basis due to transactions; 4) the need to identify the underlying attributes associated with numerous individual TRA Holders’ accounts in order to complete specific Legacy Owner calculations; and 5) various tax elections that can be made upon the filing of the tax return.

Therefore, the balance of the TRA liability resulting from IPO and the subsequent conversion of Solaris LLC units to Class A common stock on December 6, 2021, which was recorded in additional paid-in-capital, may change substantially in the future as we refine our initial estimates and calculations and consider tax elections to be made as part of our tax return filings for the 2021 tax year to be made later in 2022. Any change in the balance of the TRA liability related to the IPO and subsequent conversion of Solaris LLC units to Class A common stock will be recorded as an adjustment to additional paid-in-capital. Additionally, subsequent changes in the TRA liability due to future conversions of Solaris LLC units to shares of our Class A common stock will also be recorded as an adjustment to additional paid-in-capital. Future changes in the TRA liability due to changes in tax law and/or our historical and projected future tax profile will be recorded in earnings.

We estimate if all the remaining Solaris LLC units were converted to Class A common stock on December 31, 2021, the TRA liability would be approximately $221.8 million. If we experience a change of control (as defined under the TRA, which includes certain mergers, asset sales and other forms of business combinations and change of control events) or the TRA terminates early (at our election or as a result of our breach), we could be required to make an immediate lump-sum payment under the terms of the TRA. As of December 31, 2021, we estimate the liability associated with this lump-sum payment (or “early termination

payment”) would be approximately $193.4 million, discounted. The amount of this liability for a change of control can be significantly impacted by the closing price of our Class A shares on the applicable exchange date. We currently do not anticipate experiencing a change of control or an early termination of the TRA.