Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company’s corporate structure requires the filing of two separate consolidated U.S. Federal income tax returns and one Canadian income tax return which include Lynden US, Earthstone, and Lynden Corp. As such, taxable income of Earthstone cannot be offset by tax attributes, including net operating losses, of Lynden US, nor can taxable income of Lynden US be offset by tax attributes of Earthstone. Earthstone and Lynden US record a tax provision, respectively, for their share of the book income or loss of EEH, net of the non-controlling interest. As EEH is treated as a partnership for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, it is not subject to income tax at the federal level and only recognizes the Texas Margin Tax.

On February 15, 2022, the Company completed the Chisholm Acquisition which included the issuance of 19,417,476 shares of Class A Common Stock. When there is a change in ownership, as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), it results in a limitation that applies to all net operating losses (“NOLs”) and credits generated prior to the ownership change date that can be used to offset taxable income incurred after the ownership change date (the “382 Limitation”). The annual limitation is based on Earthstone’s stock value prior to the ownership change, multiplied by the applicable federal long-term, tax-exempt interest rate (the “FLTR”). Based on Earthstone’s stock price at the close of business on February 15, 2022 of $12.85 and the applicable FLTR of 1.46%, the current limitation is estimated to be $10.1 million per year. Additionally, unutilized 382 Limitation amounts can be carried forward to future years, cumulatively.

As of June, 2022 and December 31, 2021, a current liability of $0.8 million and $0.9 million, respectively, are included in Other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts represent current Texas Margin Tax payable.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recorded income tax expense of approximately $21.2 million which included (1) a deferred income tax expense for Earthstone of $17.9 million, which included a deferred income tax expense of $24.3 million resulting from its share of the distributable income from EEH, offset by a $6.4 million release of valuation allowance, (2) a deferred income tax expense for Lynden US of $2.0 million as a result of its share of the distributable loss from EEH and (3) income tax expense of $1.3 million related to state taxes. Lynden Corp incurred no material income or loss, or related income tax expense or benefit, for the six months ended June 30, 2022.

During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded income tax benefit of approximately $0.8 million which included (1) a deferred income tax benefit for Lynden US of $0.4 million as a result of its share of the distributable loss from EEH, (2) no net income tax benefit for Earthstone as the $2.6 million income tax benefit resulting from its share of the distributable loss from EEH had a full valuation allowance recorded against it as future realization of the net deferred tax asset cannot be assured and (3) deferred income tax benefit of $0.8 million related to the Texas Margin Tax, offset by (4) current income tax expense of $0.4 million related to the Texas Margin Tax. Lynden Corp incurred no material income or loss, or related income tax expense or benefit, for the six months ended June 30, 2021.