Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(2)  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring accruals) considered necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, and the results of the Company’s operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The Company has no items of other comprehensive income (loss); therefore, net income (loss) is equal to comprehensive income (loss).

Certain costs of doing business incurred and charged to the Company by Antero Resources have been reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. These costs include general and administrative expenses provided to the Company by Antero Resources in exchange for:

● business services, such as payroll, accounts payable and facilities management;

● corporate services, such as finance and accounting, legal, human resources, investor relations and public and regulatory policy; and

● employee compensation, including equity-based compensation.

Transactions between the Company and Antero Resources have been identified in the consolidated financial statements (see Note 4—Transactions with Affiliates).

(b) Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Antero Midstream Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Investments in entities for which the Company exercises significant influence, but not control, are accounted for under the equity method. The Company’s judgment regarding the level of influence over its equity investments includes considering key factors such as Antero Midstream’s ownership interest, representation on the Board of Directors and participation in the policy-making decisions of equity method investees. Such investments are included in Investments in unconsolidated affiliates on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Income from investees that are accounted for under the equity method is included in Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and cash flows. When the Company records its proportionate share of net income, it increases equity income in the statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and the

carrying value of that investment on the Company’s balance sheet. When a distribution is received, it is recorded as a reduction to the carrying value of that investment on the balance sheet.

The Company accounts for distributions received from equity method investees under the “nature of the distribution” approach. Under this approach, distributions received from equity method investees are classified on the basis of the nature of the activity or activities of the investee that generated the distribution as either a return on investment (classified as cash inflows from operating activities) or a return of investment (classified as cash inflows from investing activities).

(c) Revenue Recognition

The Company provides gathering, compression and water handling services under fee-based contracts primarily based on throughput or at cost plus a margin. Certain of these contracts contain operating leases of the Company’s assets under GAAP. Under these arrangements, the Company receives fees for gathering, compression and water handling services. The revenue the Company earns from these arrangements is directly related to (i) in the case of natural gas gathering and compression, the volumes of metered natural gas that it gathers, compresses and delivers to natural gas compression sites or other transmission delivery points, (ii) in the case of fresh water services, the quantities of fresh water delivered to its customers for use in their well completion operations, (iii) in the case of other fluid handling services provided by third parties, the third-party costs the Company incurs plus 3% or (iv) in the case of other fluid handling services performed by the Company, a cost of service fee based on the costs incurred by the Company. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by delivering a service to a customer or the use of leased assets to a customer. The Company includes lease revenue within revenues by service. See Note 5—Revenue.

(d) Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements and notes in conformity with GAAP requires that management formulate estimates and assumptions that affect revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities. Items subject to estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of property and equipment, evaluating impairments of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets, as well as the valuation of accrued liabilities and deferred and current income taxes, among others. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates.

(e) Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all liquid investments purchased with an initial maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

(f) Property and Equipment

Property and equipment primarily consists of (i) gathering pipelines, (ii) compressor stations, (iii) the wastewater treatment facility (the “Clearwater Facility”), (iv) other flowback and produced water facilities and (v) water handling pipelines and facilities stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation, amortization and impairment. The Company capitalizes construction-related direct labor and material costs. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation of property and equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives and salvage values of assets. The depreciation of fixed assets recorded under operating lease agreements is included in depreciation expense. Uncertainties that may impact these estimates of useful lives include, among others, changes in laws and regulations relating to environmental matters, including air and water quality, restoration and abandonment requirements, economic conditions and supply and demand for the Company’s services in the areas in which it operates. When assets are placed into service, management makes estimates with respect to useful lives and salvage values that management believes are reasonable.

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying values of the assets may not be recoverable.  Generally, the basis for making such assessments is undiscounted future cash flow projections for the assets being assessed.  If the carrying values of the assets are deemed not recoverable, the carrying values are reduced to the estimated fair values, which are based on discounted future cash flows using assumptions as to revenues, costs and discount rates typical of third-party market participants, which is a Level 3 fair value measurement. See Note 6— Property and Equipment for further information on property and equipment impairments.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company acquired certain Marcellus gas gathering and compression assets and Utica compression assets. These transactions were accounted for as asset acquisitions in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 805-50, Business Combinations, Related Issues (“ASC 805-50”). Accordingly, the acquired assets were recorded based upon the cash consideration paid, with all value assigned to Property and equipment in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 6— Property and Equipment for further information on asset acquisitions.

(g) Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company’s asset retirement obligations include its obligation to close, maintain and monitor landfill cells and support facilities. After the landfill is certified closed, the Company must continue to maintain and monitor the landfill for a post-closure period, which generally extends for 30 years. The Company records the fair value of its landfill retirement obligations as a liability in the period in which the regulatory obligation to retire a specific asset is triggered. For the Company’s individual landfill cells, the required closure and post-closure obligations under the terms of its permits and its intended operation of the landfill cell are triggered and recorded when the cell is placed into service and salt is initially disposed in the landfill cell. The fair value is based on the total estimated costs to close the landfill cell and perform post-closure activities once the landfill cell has reached capacity and is no longer accepting salt. Retirement obligations are increased each year to reflect the passage of time by accreting the balance at the weighted average credit-adjusted risk-free rate that is used to calculate the recorded liability, with accretion charged to direct costs. Actual cash expenditures to perform closure and post-closure activities reduce the retirement obligation liabilities as incurred. After initial measurement, asset retirement obligations are adjusted at the end of each period to reflect changes, if any, in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation. Landfill retirement assets are capitalized as the related retirement obligations are incurred, and are amortized on a units-of-consumption basis as the disposal capacity is consumed. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company commenced closure and reclamation operations on the landfill, and such closure and reclamation operations are currently ongoing as of December 31, 2022.

Asset retirement obligations are recorded for water impoundments and wastewater pits when an abandonment date is identified. The Company records the fair value of its water impoundment and wastewater pit retirement obligations as liabilities in the period in which the regulatory obligation to retire a specific asset is triggered. The fair value is based on the total reclamation costs of the assets. Retirement obligations are increased each year to reflect the passage of time by accreting the balance at the weighted average credit-adjusted risk-free rate that is used to calculate the recorded liability, with accretion charged to direct costs. Actual cash expenditures to perform remediation activities reduce the retirement obligation liabilities as incurred. After initial measurement, asset retirement obligations are adjusted at the end of each period to reflect changes, if any, in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation. Water impoundments and wastewater pit retirement assets are capitalized as the related retirement obligations are incurred, and are amortized on a straight-line basis until reclamation.

The Company (i) is under no legal obligations, neither contractually nor under the doctrine of promissory estoppel, to restore or dismantle its gathering pipelines, compressor stations, water delivery pipelines, flowback and produced water facilities and the Clearwater Facility upon abandonment or (ii) intends to operate and maintain its assets as long as supply and demand for natural gas exists, which the Company expects to continue into the foreseeable future.

(h) Litigation and Other Contingencies

A liability is recorded for a loss contingency when its occurrence is probable and damages can be reasonably estimated based on the anticipated most likely outcome or the minimum amount within a range of possible outcomes. The Company regularly reviews contingencies to determine the adequacy of our accruals and related disclosures. The ultimate amount of losses, if any, may differ from these estimates. Any contingency that could result in a gain is recorded when realized.

The Company accrues losses associated with environmental obligations when such losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Accruals for estimated environmental losses are recognized no later than at the time a remediation feasibility study or an evaluation of response options, is complete. These accruals are adjusted as additional information becomes available or as circumstances change. Future environmental expenditures are not discounted to their present value. Recoveries of environmental costs from other parties are recorded separately as assets at their undiscounted value when receipt of such recoveries is probable.

As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Company had not recorded any liabilities for litigation, environmental or other contingencies.

(i) Equity-Based Compensation

The Company’s consolidated financial statements include equity-based compensation costs related to awards granted by its own plans, as in place before and after March 12, 2019, as well as costs allocated by Antero Resources for grants made prior to March 12, 2019. Costs allocated from Antero Resources are offset to additional paid in capital on the consolidated balance sheet. See Note 4—Transactions with Affiliates for additional information regarding Antero Resources’ allocation of expenses to the Company. For awards granted under its own plan, the Company recognizes compensation cost related to all equity-based awards in the financial statements based on the estimated grant date fair value. The Company is authorized to grant various types of equity-based compensation awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards, dividend equivalent awards and other types of awards. The grant date fair values of such awards are determined based on the type of award and may utilize market prices on the date of grant, Black-Scholes option-pricing model, Monte Carlo simulations or other acceptable valuation methodologies, as appropriate for the type of equity-based award. Compensation cost is recognized ratably over the applicable vesting or service period. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur by reversing the expense previously recognized for awards that were forfeited during the period. See Note 10—Equity-Based Compensation and Cash Awards.

(j) Income Taxes

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences resulting from net operating loss and charitable contribution carryforwards and the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities. The effect of changes in tax laws or tax rates is recognized in income during the period such changes are enacted. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company regularly reviews its tax positions in each significant taxing jurisdiction during the process of evaluating its tax provision. The Company makes adjustments to its tax provision when: (i) facts and circumstances regarding a tax position change, causing a change in management’s judgment regarding that tax position; and/or (ii) a tax position is effectively settled with a tax authority at a differing amount.

In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was enacted. The CARES Act allows corporations with NOL carryforwards incurred in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to carryback such NOL carryforwards to each of the five years preceding the year of the NOL carryforwards, beginning with the earliest year in which there was taxable income, and claim an income tax refund in the applicable carryback years. As a result of this NOL carryforwards carryback provision in the CARES Act, the Company was able to recognize an income tax refund receivable in March 2020 of $55 million, including $11 million in income tax benefit for the current year and $44 million of previously recognized deferred income tax benefit. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had received all of this refund.

(k) Fair Value Measures

The FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance also relates to all nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are not recognized or disclosed on a recurring basis (e.g., the initial recognition of asset retirement obligations and impairments of long-lived assets). The fair value is the price that the Company estimates would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize inputs to valuation techniques used to estimate fair value. An asset or liability subject to the fair value requirements is categorized within the hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. The highest priority (Level 1) is given to unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, and the lowest priority (Level 3) is given to unobservable inputs. Level 2 inputs are data, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

The carrying values on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable—Antero Resources, accounts receivable—third party, other current assets, accounts payable—Antero Resources, accounts payable—third party, accrued liabilities and, other current liabilities approximate fair values due to their short-term maturities. The Company uses certain valuation techniques in performing its annual goodwill impairment test described below and in determining the fair value of property and equipment. See Note 13—Fair Value Measurement.

(l) Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates

The Company uses the equity method to account for its investments in companies if the investment provides the Company with the ability to exercise significant influence over, but not control of, the operating and financial policies of the investee. The Company’s consolidated net income includes the Company’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of such companies. The Company’s judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investee includes considering key factors such as the Company’s ownership interest, representation on the Board of Directors and participation in policy-making decisions of the investee and material intercompany transactions. See Note 14—Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates.

(m) Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired in the acquisition of a business.  Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit with goodwill has been reduced below its carrying value.  The impairment test requires allocating goodwill and other assets and liabilities to reporting units.  The fair value of each reporting unit is determined and compared to the carrying value of the reporting unit.  The fair value is calculated using the expected present value of future cash flows method. Significant assumptions used in the cash flow forecasts include future net operating margins, future volumes, discount rates and future capital requirements. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, including goodwill, the excess of the book value over the fair value of goodwill is charged to net income as an impairment expense. As of March 31, 2020, the Company’s goodwill was fully impaired. See Note 3—Goodwill and Intangibles.

Amortization of intangible assets with definite lives is calculated using the straight-line method, which is reflective of the benefit pattern in which the estimated economic benefit is expected to be received over the estimated useful life of the intangible asset. Intangible assets subject to amortization are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the intangible asset may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows related to the asset is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized based on the fair value of the asset.

(n)Dividends

Preferred and common dividends declared are recorded as a reduction of retained earnings to the extent that retained earnings were available at the close of the quarter prior to the dividend declaration date, with any excess recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

(o) Treasury Share Retirement

The Company periodically retires treasury shares acquired through share repurchases and returns those shares to the status of authorized but unissued. When treasury shares are retired, the Company’s policy is to allocate the excess of the repurchase price over the par value of shares acquired first, to additional paid-in capital, and then to retained earnings (accumulated deficit). The portion allocable to additional paid-in capital is determined by applying a percentage, determined by dividing the number of shares to be retired by the number of shares outstanding, to the balance of additional paid-in capital as of retirement.

(p) Recently Adopted Accounting Standard

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This ASU removes certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”) and also simplifies portions of ASC 740 by clarifying and amending existing guidance. It is effective for interim and annual reporting periods after December 15, 2020. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2021, and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.