Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

PRESENTATION OF INTERIM INFORMATION

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PRESENTATION OF INTERIM INFORMATION
3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2019
PRESENTATION OF INTERIM INFORMATION [Abstract]  
PRESENTATION OF INTERIM INFORMATION
NOTE 1 – PRESENTATION OF INTERIM INFORMATION

The November 30, 2019 consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, the consolidated statements of shareholders’ equity for the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018 have been prepared by Pure Cycle Corporation (the “Company”) and have not been audited. The unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows at November 30, 2019, and for all periods presented.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted. It is suggested that these consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019 (the “2019 Annual Report”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 12, 2019. The results of operations for interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year. The August 31, 2019 balance sheet was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are used to account for certain items such as revenue recognition, reimbursable costs and expenses, costs of revenue for lot sales, share-based compensation, deferred tax asset valuation, and the recoverability of long lived  assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less. The Company’s cash equivalents are comprised entirely of money market funds maintained at a reputable financial institution and U.S. Treasury debt securities. At various times during the three months ended November 30, 2019, the Company’s main operating account exceeded federally insured limits. To date, the Company has not suffered a loss due to such excess balance.

Land Development Inventories

Inventories primarily include land held for development and sale. Inventories are stated at cost. Capitalized lot development costs at Sky Ranch are costs incurred to construct lots at Sky Ranch that meet the Company’s capitalization criteria for improvements to a lot and are capitalized as incurred. The Company capitalizes certain legal, engineering, design, permitting, land acquisition, and construction costs related to the development of lots at Sky Ranch. The Company accumulates land development costs and allocates costs to each lot to determine the cost basis for each lot sale. The Company records all land cost of sales over time based on inputs of costs incurred to date to total estimated costs to complete.

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 360, Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”), the Company values land held for sale at the lower of the carrying value or net realizable value. In determining net realizable value, the Company primarily relies upon the most recent negotiated price that is a Level 2 input (see Note 3 – Fair Value Measurements for definitions of fair value inputs). If a negotiated price is not available, the Company will consider several factors, including, but not limited to, current market conditions, recent comparable sales transactions and market analysis studies. If the net realizable value is lower than the current carrying value, the land is written down to its estimated net realizable value.

Contract Asset

Contract receivables are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Credit is extended based on the evaluation of a customer’s financial condition and collateral is not required. Contract asset is revenue which has been earned but not yet invoiced. The contract assets are transferred to the receivables when the Company has the right to bill such amounts and they are invoiced.

Investments

Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in U.S. Treasury debt securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such determinations each reporting period.

Securities that the Company does not have the positive intent or ability to hold to maturity, including U.S. Treasury debt securities, are reported at their fair value. Changes in value of such securities are recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. As of November 30, 2019, the Company’s U.S. Treasury debt securities had no maturity dates greater than 90 days and were classified as cash and cash equivalents in the Balance Sheet.

Concentration of Credit Risk and Fair Value

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and investments. From time to time, the Company places its cash in money market instruments, certificates of deposit and U.S. Treasury obligations. To date, the Company has not experienced significant losses on any of these investments.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument for which it is practicable to estimate that value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are reported using the values as reported by the financial institution where the funds are held. These securities primarily include balances in the Company’s operating and savings accounts. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximate fair value.

Trade Accounts Receivable – The Company records accounts receivable net of allowances for uncollectible accounts and the carrying value approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of the receivables.

Investments – The carrying amounts of investments are recorded at fair value. Investments are described further in Note 2 – Fair Value Measurements.

Accounts Payable – The carrying amounts of accounts payable approximate fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity for these instruments.

Long-Term Financial Liabilities The Comprehensive Amendment Agreement No. 1 (the “CAA”) is comprised of a recorded balance sheet and an off-balance sheet or “contingent” obligation associated with the Company’s acquisition of its “Rangeview Water Supply” (as defined in Note 4 – Water and Land Assets in Part II, Item 8 of the 2019 Annual Report). The amount payable is a fixed amount but is repayable only upon the sale of “Export Water” (as defined in Note 4 – Water and Land Assets in Part II, Item 8 of the 2019 Annual Report). Because of the uncertainty of the sale of Export Water, the Company has determined that the contingent portion of the CAA does not have a determinable fair value. The CAA is described further in Note 4 – Long-Term Obligations and Operating Lease – Participating Interests in Export Water Supply.

Notes Receivable – Related PartiesThe carrying amounts of the Notes receivable – related parties (including with the Rangeview Metropolitan District (the “Rangeview District”) and the Sky Ranch Community Authority Board (the “CAB”)) approximate their fair value because the interest rates on the notes approximate market rates.

Off-Balance Sheet Instruments – The Company’s off-balance sheet instruments consist entirely of the contingent portion of the CAA. Because repayment of this portion of the CAA is contingent on the sale of Export Water, which is not reasonably estimable, the Company has determined that the contingent portion of the CAA does not have a determinable fair value. See further discussion in Note 4 – Long-Term Obligations and Operating Lease – Participating Interests in Export Water Supply.

Revenue Recognition

The Company disaggregates revenue by major product line as reported on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.

Wholesale Water and Wastewater Fees

The Company generates revenues through two lines of business. Revenues are derived through its wholesale water and wastewater business and through the sale of developed land primarily for residential lots, both of which businesses are described below.

The Company generates revenues through its wholesale water and wastewater business predominantly from three sources: (i) monthly wholesale water usage fees and wastewater service fees, (ii) one-time water and wastewater tap fees and construction fees/Special Facility funding, and (iii) consulting fees. Because these items are separately delivered and distinct, the Company accounts for each of the items separately, as described below.


(i)
Monthly water usage and wastewater treatment fees  Monthly wholesale water usage charges are assessed to the Company’s customers based on actual metered usage each month plus a base monthly service fee assessed per single family equivalent (“SFE”) unit served. One SFE is a customer, whether residential, commercial or industrial, that imparts a demand on the Company’s water or wastewater systems similar to the demand of a family of four persons living in a single-family house on a standard-sized lot. Water usage pricing uses a tiered pricing structure. The Company recognizes wholesale water usage revenues at a point in time upon delivering water to its customers or its governmental customers’ end-use customers, as applicable. Revenues recognized by the Company from the sale of “Export Water” and other portions of its “Rangeview Water Supply” off the Lowry Range are shown gross of royalties to the State of Colorado Board of Land Commissioners (the “Land Board”). The Company is the primary distributor of the “Export Water” and sets pricing for the sale of Export Water. Revenues recognized by the Company from the sale of water on the Lowry Range are shown net of royalties paid to the Land Board and amounts retained by the Rangeview District. For water sales on the Lowry Range, the Rangeview District is directly selling the water and deemed the primary distributor of the water. The Rangeview District sets the price for the water sales on the Lowry Range. See further description of Export Water, the Lowry Range, and the Rangeview Water Supply in Note 4 – Water and Land Assets under “Rangeview Water Supply and Water System” in Part II, Item 8 of the 2019 Annual Report.

In addition to providing domestic water, the Company provides raw water for hydraulic fracturing to industrial customers in the oil and gas industry that are located in and adjacent to its service areas. Frack water revenues are recognized at a point in time upon delivering water to a customer.

The Company delivered 748,000 and 114.5 million gallons of water to customers during the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, of which 6% and 86% was used for oil and gas exploration.

The Company recognizes wastewater treatment revenues monthly based on a flat monthly fee and actual usage charges. The monthly wastewater treatment fees are shown net of amounts retained by the Rangeview District. Costs of delivering water and providing wastewater service to customers are recognized as incurred.


(ii)
Water and wastewater tap fees/Special Facility funding – The Company recognizes water and wastewater tap fees as revenue at the time the Company grants a right for the customer to tap into the water or wastewater service line to obtain service. The Company recognized $1,401,900 and $226,900 of water tap fee revenues during the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The water tap fees recognized are based on the amounts billed by the Rangeview District and any amounts paid to third parties pursuant to the CAA as further described in Note 4 – Long-Term Obligations and Operating LeaseParticipating Interests in Export Water Supply below. The Company recognized $270,200 and $28,000 of wastewater tap fee revenues during the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Company recognizes construction fees, including fees received to construct “Special Facilities,” over time as the construction is completed because the customer is generally able to use the property improvement to enhance the value of other assets during the construction period. Special Facilities are facilities that enable water to be delivered to a single customer and are not otherwise classified as a typical wholesale facility or retail facility. Temporary infrastructure required prior to construction of permanent water and wastewater systems or transmission pipelines to transfer water from one location to another are examples of Special Facilities. Management has determined that Special Facilities are separate and distinct performance obligations because these projects are contracted to construct a specific water and wastewater system or transmission pipeline and typically do not include multiple performance obligations in a contract with a customer. No Special Facilities revenue has been recognized during the three months ended November 30, 2019 or 2018.


(iii)
Consulting fees – Consulting fees are fees that the Company receives, typically on a monthly basis, from municipalities and area water providers along the I-70 corridor, for contract operations services over time as services are consumed. Consulting fees are recognized monthly based on a flat monthly fee plus charges for additional work performed. The Company recognized $12,700 and $47,800 of consulting fees during the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company is reducing its consulting services in order to focus its resources on the water systems at Sky Ranch. The Company expects consulting fees to be minimal in future periods.

Land Development Activities

The Company generates revenues through the sale of finished lots at its Sky Ranch development primarily from several sources of revenues: (i) the sale of finished lots, (ii) construction support activities, (iii) project management services, and (iv) reimbursable expenses incurred to develop certain public improvements.


(i)
Land development through the sale of finished lots – The Company acquired approximately 930 acres of land zoned as a Master Planned Community known as Sky Ranch along the I-70 corridor east of Denver, Colorado. The Company has entered into purchase and sale agreements with three separate home builders pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell, and each builder agreed to purchase, residential lots at the property. The Company began construction of lots in March 2018 and segments its reporting of the activity relating to the costs and revenues from the construction and sale of lots at Sky Ranch.
 

The Company sells lots at Sky Ranch pursuant to distinct agreements with each builder. These agreements follow one of two formats. One format is the sale of a finished lot, whereby the purchaser pays for a ready-to-build finished lot and payment is a lump-sum payment upon completion of the finished lot that is permit ready. The Company will recognize revenues at the point in time of the closing of the sale of a finished lot in which control transfers to the builder as the transaction cycle will be complete and the Company will have no further obligations for the lot. During the three months ended November 30, 2019, the Company received payment and recognized revenue of $1,430,600 from one home builder in exchange for the delivery of 21 finished lots. No revenue was recognized for lot sales at a point in time for the three months ended November 30, 2018.

The Company’s second format is the sale of finished lots pursuant to a development agreement with builders, whereby the Company receives payments in stages that include (i) payment upon the delivery of platted lots (which requires the Company to deliver deeded title to individual lots), (ii) a second payment upon the completion of certain infrastructure milestones, and (iii) final payment upon the delivery of the finished lot. Ownership and control of the platted lots pass to the builders once the Company closes the sale of the platted lots. Because the builder (i.e., the customer) takes control of the lot at the first closing and subsequent improvements made by the Company improve the builder’s lot as construction progresses, the Company accounts for revenue over time with progress measured based upon costs incurred to date compared to total expected costs.  Any revenue in excess of amounts entitled to be billed is reflected on the balance sheet as a contract asset, and amounts received in excess of revenue recognized are recorded as deferred revenue. As of November 30, 2019, the Company had received cumulative payments of approximately $18 million under development agreements relating to 293 lots from two home builders, of which approximately $17.0 million of revenue was recognized over time based on the costs incurred to date compared to total expected costs for full completion of the 293 lots. For the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $7,111,000 and $1,381,200 of lot sales over time, respectively. The Company had deferred revenue related to lot sales of $1,143,800 as of November 30, 2019. The Company had a contract asset of $1,020,100 as of November 30, 2018. The Company does not have any material significant payment terms as all payments are expected to be received within 12 months after the delivery of each platted lot.  The Company adopted the practical expedient for financing components and does not need to account for a financing component of these lot sales as the delivery of lot sales is expected to occur within one year or less.


(ii)
Construction support activities – The Company performs certain construction activities at Sky Ranch. The activities performed include construction and maintenance of the grading erosion and sediment control best management practices and other construction-related services. These activities are invoiced upon completion and are included in Inventories and subsequently expensed through Land development construction costs until bonds are issued by the Sky Ranch Districts (as defined in Note 6 – Related Party Transactions) and/or the CAB and the CAB reimburses the Company for public improvements. Refer to section (iv) Reimbursable Costs for Public Improvements for details on repayment of reimbursable costs. To date, the Company has invoiced the CAB $533,500 for construction support activities, which amount is included in Inventories.


(iii)
Project management services – The Company entered into two Service Agreements for Project Management Services with the CAB beginning on May 2, 2018. Pursuant to these agreements, the Company acts as the project manager and provides any and all services required to deliver the CAB-eligible improvements, including but not limited to CAB compliance; planning design and approvals; project administration; contractor agreements; and construction management and administration. The Company must submit to the CAB a monthly invoice, in a form acceptable to the CAB, detailing all project management activities during the period. The Company is responsible for all expenses it incurs in the performance of the agreements and is not entitled to any reimbursement or compensation except as defined in the agreements, unless otherwise approved in advance by the CAB in writing. The CAB is subject to annual budget and appropriation procedures and does not intend to create a multiple-fiscal year direct or indirect debt or other financial obligation. The Company receives a project management fee of five percent (5%) of actual construction costs of CAB-eligible improvements. The project management fee qualifies as a reimbursable cost to the Company. The project management fee is based only on the actual costs of the improvements; thus, items such as fees, permits, review fees, consultant or other soft costs, and land acquisition or any other costs that are not directly related to the cost of construction of CAB-eligible improvements are not included in the calculation of the project management fee. Soft costs and other costs that are not directly related to the construction of CAB-eligible improvements are included in Inventories and accounted for in the same manner as construction support activities as described above. The Company and the CAB have agreed that no payment is required by the CAB with respect to project management fees unless and until the CAB and/or the Sky Ranch Districts issue municipal bonds in an amount sufficient to reimburse the Company for all or a portion of advances provided or expenses incurred for reimbursables. Due to this contingency, the project management fees are being accrued to revenue with a corresponding allowance until the point in time when bonds are issued by the Sky Ranch Districts and/or the CAB and the CAB reimburses the Company for the public improvements. At that point, the portion of the project management fees repaid will be recognized as revenue. To date, the Company has accrued $869,900 in project management services to the CAB.


(iv)
Reimbursable Costs for Public Improvements – The CAB is required to construct certain public improvements, such as water distribution systems, sewer collection systems, storm water systems, drainage improvements, roads, curb, sidewalks, landscaping and parks, the costs of which may qualify as reimbursable costs. The Company is obligated to finance this infrastructure pursuant to its agreements with the CAB (see Note 6 – Related Party Transactions). These public improvements are constructed pursuant to design standards specified by the Sky Ranch Districts and/or the CAB, and, after inspection and acceptance, are turned over to the applicable governmental entity to operate and maintain. As these public improvements are owned and operated on behalf of a governmental entity, they may qualify for reimbursement.

The Company and the CAB have agreed that no payment is required with respect to advances made by the Company or expenses incurred related to construction of public improvements unless and until the CAB and/or the Sky Ranch Districts issue bonds in an amount sufficient to reimburse the Company for all or a portion of the advances made and expenses incurred. Due to this contingency, the reimbursable costs for the construction of public improvements, including reimbursable costs for construction support activities, are included in Inventories and subsequently expensed through Land development construction costs until the point in time when the CAB reimburses the Company for such public improvements. The Company submits specific costs for reimbursement to the CAB.  Based on the specific costs being reimbursed by the CAB, the Company records those costs that have been previously expensed in cost of sales as other income and those costs that remain capitalized as inventory costs as a reduction of the related inventory costs held in Inventories. Any reimbursable costs repaid after all capitalized expenses and lot revenues have been fully recognized will be recorded as other income.

All amounts owed under the 2018 FFAA (as defined in Note 6 – Related Party Transactions) bear interest at a rate of 6% per annum. No payment is required of the CAB for advances made to the CAB or expenses incurred related to construction of public improvements unless and until the CAB and/or Sky Ranch Districts issue bonds in an amount sufficient to reimburse the Company for all or a portion of advances or other expenses incurred. Due to this contingency, interest is accrued to Interest Income with a corresponding allowance until the point in time when bonds are issued. At that point, the allowance will be reversed for the portion of the accrued interest repaid and the accrued interest will be recognized. To date, the Company has accrued $1,031,700 for accrued interest for advances made to the CAB.

On November 19, 2019, the CAB sold tax-exempt, fixed rate senior bonds in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $11,435,000 and tax-exempt, fixed-rate subordinate bonds in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $1,765,000 (collectively, the “Bonds”). Upon the sale of the Bonds approximately $10.5 million of the net proceeds from the Bonds were used to partially reimburse the Company for advances it made to the CAB pursuant to the 2018 FFAA to fund the construction of public improvements to the Sky Ranch property. Approximately $2.7 million of the bond proceeds were retained by the CAB in cash in order to repay debt service through 2021, when the CAB expects to generate enough revenue through mill levies, to repay bond holders.

The Company applied approximately $4.2 million of the net proceeds to partially reduce the remaining capitalized expenses in Inventories and the excess of the capitalized public improvement expenses of approximately $6.3 million was recognized as Income from reimbursement of construction costs (related party) in other income. As a result of the reimbursed costs, the margin from land development revenues is expected to increase to approximately 27%.

The Company records all reimbursable costs to Inventories and subsequently expenses these costs through Land development construction costs. All unpaid reimbursable costs, that the Company believes are recoverable from the CAB are accrued to a Note Receivable from the CAB pursuant to the 2018 FFAA. Each period, the Company performs an impairment analysis on the recoverability of the outstanding reimbursable costs. The following table summarizes all reimbursable costs incurred to date, payments made from the CAB and any outstanding reimbursable amounts.

   
As of November 30, 2019
 
   
Costs incurred to date
   
Payments repaid by
CAB
   
Net costs incurred to date
 
Construction support activities
 
$
533,500
   
$
   
$
533,500
 
Project management services
   
869,900
     
     
869,900
 
Public Improvements
   
22,966,400
     
10,505,000
     
12,461,400
 
Accrued interest
   
1,031,700
     
     
1,031,700
 
Total reimbursable costs
 
$
25,401,500
   
$
10,505,000
   
$
14,896,500
 

The Company expects to incur approximately an additional $6.0 million of construction costs related to public improvements and expects to be reimbursed approximately an additional $18.5 million.
 
The Company evaluated disaggregation of revenue and has determined that no additional disaggregation of revenue is necessary.

Contract asset by segment is as follows:

The Company did not have a contract asset at November 30, 2019 or August 30, 2019.  The contract asset at November 30, 2018, related solely to the Company’s land development activities.

Changes in contract asset were as follows:

   
November 30, 2019
   
August 31, 2019
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
   
$
 
Recognition of revenue contract asset
   
     
1,020,146
 
Contract asset invoiced
   
     
(1,020,146
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
   
$
 

Deferred revenue by segment is as follows:

   
November 30, 2019
   
August 31, 2019
 
Land development activities
 
$
1,143,771
   
$
3,991,535
 
Oil and gas leases and water sales payment
   
1,861,496
     
1,067,348
 
Balance, end of period
 
$
3,005,267
   
$
5,058,883
 

The current portion of deferred revenue for oil and gas leases and water sales payment as of November 30, 2019 and August 31, 2019,  is $1,548,063 and $706,464, respectively. There were no water segment deferred revenues as of November 30, 2019 and August 31, 2019.

Changes in deferred revenue were as follows:

   
November 30, 2019
   
August 31, 2019
 
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
5,058,883
   
$
1,846,630
 
Deferral of revenue
   
8,469,154
     
12,700,065
 
Recognition of unearned revenue
   
(10,522,770
)
   
(9,487,812
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
3,005,267
   
$
5,058,883
 

The recognition of unearned revenue was $8,541,643 and $5,920,319 from land development activities and $1,981,127 and $3,567,493 from oil and gas leases and water sales payments for the three months ended November 30, 2019 and August 31, 2019, respectively.

Revenue allocated to remaining performance obligations represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized (“contracted not recognized revenue”), which includes unearned revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized as revenue in future periods. At November 30, 2019, the Company had outstanding open contracts for $13,739,100, which primarily related to the sale of 506 lots at Sky Ranch. The Company expects to recognize approximately 84% of such revenue over the next 12 months.

Inventories

Inventories primarily include land held for development and sale, which the Company has begun developing and are stated at cost. Capitalized lot development costs at Sky Ranch are costs incurred to construct finished lots at Sky Ranch that meet the Company’s capitalization criteria for improvements to a lot and are capitalized as incurred. The Company capitalizes certain legal, engineering, design, permitting, land acquisition, and construction costs related to the development of lots at Sky Ranch. The Company uses the specific identification method for purposes of accumulating land development costs and allocates costs to each lot to determine the cost basis for each lot sale. The Company records all land cost of sales when a lot is completed and sold on a lot-by-lot basis. Costs included in Inventories include common area costs that the Company funded through the CAB. The Company expects that such costs will be reimbursable by the CAB. The Company will record future reimbursements as a reduction of reimbursable capitalized costs remaining in Inventories once the CAB has the ability to reimburse the costs (i.e., once the Sky Ranch Districts and/or the CAB has issued bonds).

In accordance with ASC 360, the Company measures land held for sale at the lower of the carrying value or net realizable value. In determining net realizable value, the Company primarily relies upon the most recent negotiated price. If a negotiated price is not available, the Company will consider several factors, including, but not limited to, current market conditions, recent comparable sales transactions and market analysis studies. If the net realizable value is lower than the current carrying value, the land is written down to its net realizable value.

Royalty and Other Obligations

Revenues from the sale of Export Water are shown gross of royalties payable to the Land Board. Revenues from the sale of water on the Lowry Range are invoiced directly by the Rangeview District, and a percentage of such collections are then paid to the Company by the Rangeview District. Water revenue from such sales are shown net of royalties paid to the Land Board and amounts retained by the Rangeview District.

Oil and Gas Lease Payments

As described in Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in Part II, Item 8 of the 2019 Annual Report, the Company entered into a Paid-Up Oil and Gas Lease (the “Sky Ranch O&G Lease”) and a Surface Use and Damage Agreement that were subsequently purchased by a wholly owned subsidiary of ConocoPhillips Company. Six wells have been drilled within the Company’s mineral interest and placed into service (four new wells beginning in fiscal 2020) and are producing oil and gas and accruing royalties to the Company. During the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company received $269,500 and $31,400 net of taxes, respectively, in royalties attributable to these wells. The Company classifies income from oil and gas lease and royalty payments as Other income in the statement of operations and comprehensive income as the Company does not consider these arrangements to be a primary operating business activity.

Deferred Revenue

In July 2019, the Company received an up-front payment of $573,700 from an Agreement on Locations of Oil and Gas Operations for a pad site covering approximately 16 acres with the operator of the Sky Ranch O&G Lease (the “OGOA”), which will be recognized as income on a straight-line basis over three years. If after three years the operator has not spud at least one well on the OGOA, the operator may extend the right to the OGOA one additional year by paying $75,000 to the Company. The operator may only extend the OGOA for two additional years for a total of five years. The Company recognizes the up-front payments on a straight-line basis over the terms of the respective agreements. During the three months ended November 30, 2019, the Company recognized $47,800 of income related to the up-front payments received pursuant to the OGOA. No revenue was recognized for the three months ended November 30, 2018 related to the up-front payments received pursuant to the OGOA. As of November 30, 2019, and August 31, 2019 the Company had deferred revenue of $499,700 and $547,500, respectively, related to the OGOA.

In September 2017, the Company entered into a Paid-Up Oil and Gas Lease with Bison Oil and Gas, LLP (the “Bison Lease”). Pursuant to the Bison Lease, the Company received an up-front payment of $167,200 in October 2017, which will be recognized as income on a straight-line basis over the three year term of the lease. The Company recognized lease income of $13,900 during the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018 related to the up-front payment received pursuant to the Bison Lease. As of November 30, 2019, and August 31, 2019, the Company had deferred revenue of $46,500 and $60,400, respectively, related to the Bison Lease that will be recognized as income ratably through September 2020.

The Company also received a payment of $425,800 in fiscal 2019 from one of its industrial water customers and $822,500 in the quarter ended November 30, 2019, to reserve first priority water for its oil and gas fracking needs for defined periods during 2020. As the Customer uses the forecasted volumes each month, the Company will recognize revenue based on the volumes used. The Customer may take such volumes up to one year from invoice date. If the Customer does not take the forecasted volumes in the anticipated period, such volumes are forfeited by the Customer. At that time, any payments received for unused volumes will be recognized as revenue. As of November 30, 2019, the Company had deferred revenue of $1.2 million as a result of these advanced water purchase payments.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the eventual use of the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

Capitalized Costs of Water and Wastewater Systems and Depletion and Depreciation of Water Assets

Costs to construct water and wastewater systems that meet the Company’s capitalization criteria are capitalized as incurred, including any interest, and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of up to 30 years. The Company capitalizes design and construction costs related to construction activities, and it capitalizes certain legal, engineering and permitting costs relating to the adjudication and improvement of its water assets. The Company depletes its groundwater assets that are being utilized on the basis of units produced (i.e., thousands of gallons sold) divided by the total volume of water adjudicated in the water decrees.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company maintains a stock option plan for the benefit of its employees and non-employee directors. The Company records share-based compensation costs as expense over the applicable vesting period of the stock award using the straight-line method. The compensation costs to be expensed are measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award. The Company has adopted the alternative transition method for calculating the tax effects of share-based compensation, which allows for a simplified method of calculating the tax effects of employee share-based compensation. The impact on the income tax provision for the granting and exercise of stock options during the three months ended November 30, 2019 was a tax expense of approximately $26,000. Because the Company had a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets as of November 30, 2018 there was no effect on the tax provision during the period. The Company recognized $105,400 and $103,500 of share-based compensation expense during the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company uses a “more-likely-than-not” threshold for the recognition and de-recognition of tax positions, including any potential interest and penalties relating to tax positions taken by the Company. The Company did not have any significant unrecognized tax benefits as of November 30, 2019.

As a result of H.R.1, commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), signed into law on December 22, 2017, the Company has a $282,000 alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) deferred tax asset for which it did not have a valuation allowance as of November 30, 2019 and August 31, 2019.  The Company expects to receive the AMT as a refund in future years.  Most, if not all, of this credit will be refundable starting with the filing of the 2018 (fiscal year ending 2019) through 2021 (fiscal year ending 2022) tax returns, subject to limitations of Internal Revenue Code Section 382 (arises with ownership changes) and the sequestration limitation of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

The Company’s effective tax rate was 24.7% for the three months ended November 30, 2019. The effective tax rate was 0% for the three months ended November 30, 2018 due to the valuation allowance the Company maintained on its net deferred tax asset.

The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, as well as operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. The Company measures deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

The Company maintained a valuation allowance on the net deferred tax asset other than AMT credits as of November 30, 2018, as the Company had determined it was more likely than not that the Company would not realize its deferred tax assets as of November 30, 2018. Such assets primarily consisted of operating loss carryforwards. The Company assessed the realizability of its deferred tax asset using all available evidence. In particular, the Company considered both historical results and projections of profitability for the reasonably foreseeable future periods. The Company is required to reassess its conclusions regarding the realization of its deferred tax assets at each financial reporting date. As a result of the evaluation, the Company concluded that all of the valuation allowance was no longer necessary as of August 31, 2019 and released the valuation allowance.

The Company files income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Colorado. The tax years that remain subject to examination are fiscal year 2015 through fiscal year 2018.

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. At November 30, 2019, the Company did not have any accrued interest or penalties associated with any unrecognized tax benefits, nor was any interest expense recognized during the three months ended November 30, 2019 or 2018.

Income per Common Share

Income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period. Common stock options of 224,097 and 223,962 common share equivalents as of the three months ended November 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, were included in the calculation of income per common share as dilutive common stock equivalents using the treasury stock method. Common stock options aggregating 50,000 common share equivalents as of the three months ended November 30, 2018, have been excluded from the calculation of income per common share as their effect is anti-dilutive.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The Company continually assesses any new accounting pronouncements to determine their applicability. When it is determined that a new accounting pronouncement affects the Company’s financial reporting, the Company undertakes a study to determine the consequence of the change to its consolidated financial statements and to ensure that there are proper controls in place to ascertain that the Company’s consolidated financial statements properly reflect the change. New pronouncements assessed by the Company recently are discussed below:

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 provides guidance on the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. The new standard supersedes the present GAAP standard on leases and requires substantially all leases to be reported on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease obligations. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company adopted the standard effective September 1, 2019, and recorded a right-of-use asset of approximately $258,900 and a lease obligation liability of approximately $252,300.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Among other things, these amendments require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Companies will now use forward-looking information to better inform their credit loss estimates. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the provisions of the standard and the impact of the adoption on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220); Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The amendments in ASU 2018-02 allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act. Consequently, the amendments eliminate the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act and will improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period after issuance of the standard. The Company believes the impact of this standard on its condensed consolidated financial statements is immaterial.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2018-07 is intended to reduce cost and complexity and to improve financial reporting for share-based payments issued to nonemployees. This standard expands the scope of ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation, which currently only includes share-based payments issued to employees, to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods and services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. ASU 2018-07 supersedes ASC Subtopic 505-50, Equity — Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within these fiscal years. The Company believes that the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements is immaterial.