10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[☒] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2020

[☐] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________ to _________.

Commission File Number: 001-37921

FORTERRA, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	37-1830464
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

511 East John Carpenter Freeway, 6th Floor, Irving, TX 75062

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(469) 458-7973

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share	FRTA	Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes [X] No [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	Accelerated filer	Non-accelerated filer	Smaller reporting company	Emerging growth company
o	x	o	☒	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [☐] No [X]

There were 65,673,670 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the registrant outstanding as of October 26, 2020.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
Part I	Financial Information
Item 1.	Financial Statements	1
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations	1
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	2
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	3
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	6
	Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7
Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	28
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	41
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	42
Part II	Other Information
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	44
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	44
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	45
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	45
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	45
Item 5.	Other Information	45
Item 6.	Exhibits	46

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

FORTERRA, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share data)

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
	(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Net sales	$	457,557	$	464,526	$	1,214,619	$	1,166,603
Cost of goods sold	331,284		362,362		924,025		936,820
Gross profit	126,273		102,164		290,594		229,783
Selling, general & administrative expenses	(57,050)		(55,234)		(164,573)		(165,265)
Impairment and exit charges	(1,389)		(510)		(2,478)		(1,323)
Other operating income (loss), net	224		815		(447)		1,018
	(58,215)		(54,929)		(167,498)		(165,570)
Income from operations	68,058		47,235		123,096		64,213
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(20,055)		(23,272)		(60,502)		(73,720)
(Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt	(11,547)		374		(11,481)		374
Earnings from equity method investee	2,295		3,990		8,220		8,959
Income (loss) before income taxes	38,751		28,327		59,333		(174)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(9,924)		(5,897)		(17,457)		519
Net income	$	28,827	$	22,430	$	41,876	$	345
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.44	$	0.35	$	0.64	$	0.01
Diluted	$	0.42	$	0.34	$	0.62	$	0.01
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	65,336		64,210		65,078		64,119
Diluted	68,717		64,998		67,878		64,528

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

1

FORTERRA, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands)

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
	(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Net income	$	28,827	$	22,430	$	41,876	$	345
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	—		—		(681)		373
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,275		(710)		(1,987)		2,118
Comprehensive income	$	30,102	$	21,720	$	39,208	$	2,836

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

2

FORTERRA, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
ASSETS	(unaudited)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	32,758	$	34,800
Receivables, net	276,818		205,801
Inventories	219,336		238,483
Prepaid expenses	11,782		11,021
Other current assets	1,456		8,890
Total current assets	542,150		498,995
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	444,668		475,575
Operating lease right-of-use assets	55,800		60,253
Goodwill	508,460		508,826
Intangible assets, net	111,682		142,674
Investment in equity method investee	50,754		50,034
Other long-term assets	5,215		3,701
Total assets	$	1,718,729	$	1,740,058
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities
Trade payables	$	143,279	$	102,426
Accrued liabilities	109,927		88,839
Deferred revenue	8,232		9,527
Current portion of long-term debt	12,510		12,510
Current portion of tax receivable agreement	8,734		13,145
Total current liabilities	282,682		226,447
Non-current liabilities
Senior term loan	456,698		1,085,793
Senior secured notes	491,601		—
Long-term finance lease liabilities	141,396		137,365
Long-term operating lease liabilities	51,623		54,411
Deferred tax liabilities	25,456		28,929
Other long-term liabilities	35,369		21,906
Long-term tax receivable agreement	64,240		64,240
Total liabilities	1,549,065		1,619,091
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 190,000 shares authorized; 65,673 and 64,741 shares issued and outstanding	19		19
Additional paid-in-capital	253,861		244,372
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,731)		(7,063)
Retained deficit	(74,485)		(116,361)
Total shareholders' equity	169,664		120,967
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,718,729	$	1,740,058

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

3

FORTERRA, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

	Common Stock
	Shares	Amount		Additional Paid-in-Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Retained Deficit		Total Shareholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 2019	64,740,667	$	19	$	244,372	$	(7,063)	$	(116,361)	$	120,967
Share-based compensation expense	—	—		2,864		—		—		2,864
Stock-based plan activity	336,752	—		(194)		—		—		(194)
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss	—	—		—		—		(14,066)		(14,066)
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	—	—		—		(681)		—		(681)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—	—		—		(5,699)		—		(5,699)
Balance at March 31, 2020	65,077,419	19		247,042		(13,443)		(130,427)		103,191
Share-based compensation expense	—	—		2,607		—		—		2,607
Stock-based plan activity	133,488	—		46		—		—		46
Comprehensive income:
Net income	—	—		—		—		27,115		27,115
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—	—		—		2,437		—		2,437
Balance at June 30, 2020	65,210,907	19		249,695		(11,006)		(103,312)		135,396
Share-based compensation expense	—	—		2,330		—		—		2,330
Stock-based plan activity	462,495	—		1,836		—		—		1,836
Comprehensive income:
Net income	—	—		—		—		28,827		28,827
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—	—		—		1,275		—		1,275
Balance at September 30, 2020	65,673,402	$	19	$	253,861	$	(9,731)	$	(74,485)	$	169,664

4

	Common Stock
	Shares	Amount		Additional Paid-in-Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Retained Deficit		Total Shareholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 2018	64,205,604	$	18	$	234,931	$	(10,740)	$	(115,987)	$	108,222
Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax	—	—		—		—		6,957		6,957
Share-based compensation expense	—	—		1,529		—		—		1,529
Stock-based plan activity	57,106	—		(26)		—		—		(26)
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss	—	—		—		—		(25,039)		(25,039)
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	—	—		—		373		—		373
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—	—		—		1,508		—		1,508
Balance at March 31, 2019	64,262,710	18		236,434		(8,859)		(134,069)		93,524
Share-based compensation expense	—	—		1,132		—		—		1,132
Stock-based plan activity	35,447	—		(88)		—		—		(88)
Comprehensive income:
Net income	—	—		—		—		2,954		2,954
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—	—		—		1,320		—		1,320
Balance at June 30, 2019	64,298,157	18		237,478		(7,539)		(131,115)		98,842
Share-based compensation expense	—	—		2,172		—		—		2,172
Stock-based plan activity	241,433	—		1,270		—		—		1,270
Comprehensive income:
Net income	—	—		—		—		22,430		22,430
Foreign currency translation adjustment	—	—		—		(710)		—		(710)
Balance at September 30, 2019	64,539,590	$	18	$	240,920	$	(8,249)	$	(108,685)	$	124,004

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

5

FORTERRA, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

	Nine months ended
	September 30,
	2020		2019
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(unaudited)
Net income	$	41,876	$	345
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation & amortization expense	67,271		72,954
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment	1,949		1,551
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	11,481		(374)
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs	5,292		6,022
Stock-based compensation expense	7,801		4,833
Impairment charges	1,332		—
Earnings from equity method investee	(8,220)		(8,959)
Distributions from equity method investee	7,500		6,500
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net	894		5,892
Unrealized foreign currency loss, net	261		35
Provision (recoveries) for doubtful accounts	166		511
Deferred taxes	(3,473)		(11,672)
Other non-cash items	3,841		(188)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net	(71,203)		(88,138)
Inventories	18,775		29,109
Other current assets	6,350		1,296
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	59,307		37,259
Other assets and liabilities	11,427		8,746
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	162,627		65,722
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets	(15,454)		(44,321)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	10,678		10,580
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(4,776)		(33,741)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from senior secured notes	500,000		—
Payment of debt issuance costs	(11,299)		—
Repayments of term loans	(644,923)		(25,110)
Proceeds from revolver	180,000		54,000
Repayments of revolver	(180,000)		(54,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	2,275		1,282
Payment pursuant to tax receivable agreement	(4,411)		—
Other financing activities	(1,172)		(552)
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(159,530)		(24,380)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(363)		458
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(2,042)		8,059
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	34,800		35,793
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	32,758	$	43,852
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Cash interest paid	$	44,333	$	59,138
Income taxes paid, net	8,770		5,054

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

6

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Description of the business

    Forterra, Inc. (“Forterra” or the ‘‘Company’’) is involved in the manufacturing, sale and distribution of building products in the United States (“U.S.”) and Eastern Canada. Forterra’s primary products are concrete drainage pipe, precast concrete structures, and water transmission pipe used in drinking and wastewater systems. These products are used in the infrastructure, residential and non-residential sectors of the construction industry.

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

General

    The Company's condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

    The condensed consolidated balance sheets and the condensed consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and equity for the periods presented herein reflect all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary for a fair statement of the results of the periods shown. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

    The results of operations for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020. Seasonal changes and other conditions can affect the sales volumes of the Company's products. The financial results for any interim period do not necessarily indicate the expected results for the year.

    These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2019 as provided in Forterra, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020 (the “2019 10-K”). The Company has continued to follow the accounting policies set forth in those financial statements, except as supplemented and documented below. Certain prior year numbers were reclassified to conform with current year presentation. Such reclassification had no impact on the previously reported results of operations.

Use of estimates

    The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the reporting date, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future. The more significant estimates made by management relate to fair value estimates for assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations; estimates for accrued liabilities for environmental cleanup, bodily injury and insurance claims; estimates for commitments and contingencies; and estimates for the realizability of deferred tax assets, the tax receivable agreement obligation, inventory reserves, allowance for doubtful accounts and impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets.

    Certain accounting matters that generally require consideration of forecasted financial information were assessed in light of the impact from the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic. The accounting matters assessed included, but were not limited to, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, goodwill impairment, impairment of property and equipment and valuation allowances for tax assets.

7

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

While the assessments resulted in no material impacts to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company believes the full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak remains uncertain and will continue to assess if ongoing developments related to the outbreak may cause future material impacts to its consolidated financial statements.

Concentration of Credit Risk

    The Company had an individual customer within its Water Pipe & Products segment that accounted for approximately 16% and 14% of the Company's total net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and receivables at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 representing 17% and 13% of the Company's total receivables, net, respectively.

Credit Losses

    Trade accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay.

    The Company's exposure to credit losses may increase if one or more of its customers are adversely affected by changes in laws or other government recommendations or mandates, economic pressures or uncertainty associated with local or global economic recessions, disruption or other impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, or other customer-specific factors. Although the Company has historically not experienced significant credit losses, it is possible that there could be a material adverse impact from potential adjustments of the carrying amount of trade receivables as customers are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted

    In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, Financial Instruments–Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology under current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires the use of a forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivables, loans, and other financial instruments. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2020 using a modified retrospective approach, which did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

    In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in the ASU provide optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The guidance was effective upon issuance and generally can be applied through December 31, 2022 and has not had any material impact to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

    In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). The new guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, hybrid taxes, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences.  It also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes.  For public companies, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted in interim or annual periods with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning

8

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

of the annual period that includes that interim period.  Additionally, entities that elect early adoption must adopt all the amendments in the same period.  Amendments are to be applied prospectively, except for certain amendments that are to be applied either retrospectively or with a modified retrospective approach through a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to retained earnings.  The effects of this standard on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements are not expected to be material.

3. Acquisitions

    On March 1, 2019, the Company acquired certain assets of Texas limited liability companies Houston Buckner Precast, LLC, Buckner Precast, LLC, Montgomery 18905 E. Industrial, LLC, and 1763 Old Denton Road, LLC (altogether "Buckner") for consideration of $11.8 million in cash, inclusive of a working capital adjustment.  The acquired Buckner assets did not meet the definition of a business and, as such, the transaction was accounted for as an asset acquisition pursuant to the guidance in subsection 805-50 of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, Business Combinations. The assets operate as part of the Company’s Drainage Pipe & Products segment.     

4. Receivables, net

    Receivables consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Trade receivables	$	249,311	$	178,698
Amounts billed but not yet paid under retainage provisions	4,328		3,093
Other receivables	25,026		26,078
Total receivables	278,665		207,869
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,847)		(2,068)
Receivables, net	$	276,818	$	205,801

5. Inventories

    Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Finished goods	$	138,426	$	161,440
Raw materials	80,333		76,237
Work in process	577		806
Total inventories	$	219,336	$	238,483

6. Investment in equity method investee

    The Company owns 50% of the Common Unit voting shares of Concrete Pipe & Precast LLC ("CP&P") and consequently, has recorded its investment in the Common Unit voting shares in accordance with ASC 323, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures, under the equity method of accounting.

    The Company's investment in the joint venture was $50.8 million at September 30, 2020, which is included within the Drainage Pipe & Products segment. At September 30, 2020, the difference between the amount at which the Company's investment is carried and the amount of the Company's share of the underlying equity in net assets of CP&P was approximately $13.0 million. The basis difference is primarily attributed to the value of land and equity method goodwill associated with the investment.

9

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

    The following reflects the Company's distribution and earnings in the equity investment (in thousands):

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Distribution received from CP&P	$	(3,000)	$	(5,000)	$	(7,500)	$	(6,500)
Share of earnings in CP&P	2,313		4,008		8,274		9,013
Amortization of excess fair value of investment	(18)		(18)		(54)		(54)

    Selected financial data for CP&P on a 100% basis is as follows (in thousands):

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net sales	$	33,094	$	38,210	$	103,884	$	103,812
Gross profit	9,047		12,632		30,517		32,307
Income from operations	4,608		8,021		16,487		18,041
Net income	4,547		7,959		16,314		17,852

7. Property, plant and equipment, net

    Property, plant and equipment, net, consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Machinery and equipment	$	413,148	$	398,127
Land, buildings and improvements	231,958		240,403
Other equipment	12,548		8,660
Construction-in-progress	14,107		29,157
Total property, plant and equipment	671,761		676,347
Less: accumulated depreciation	(227,093)		(200,772)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	444,668	$	475,575

    Depreciation expense totaled $12.0 million and $36.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, and $12.3 million and $37.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, which is included in cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

8. Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

    The Company has recorded goodwill in connection with its acquisition of businesses. The following table summarizes the changes in goodwill by operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 (in thousands):

	Drainage Pipe & Products		Water Pipe & Products		Total
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	190,466	$	318,360	$	508,826
Foreign currency and other adjustments	(366)		—		(366)
Balance at September 30, 2020	$	190,100	$	318,360	$	508,460

10

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

    Intangible assets other than goodwill at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 included the following (in thousands):

	Net carrying value as of September 30, 2020		Net carrying value as of December 31, 2019
Customer relationships	$	78,095	$	100,869
Trade names	16,108		19,626
Patents	5,690		7,673
Non-compete agreements	5,696		8,070
Developed technology	5,700		5,980
Other	393		456
Total intangible assets	$	111,682	$	142,674

    Amortization expense totaled $10.3 million and $31.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, and $11.9 million and $35.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. All of the Company's intangible assets are amortizable.

9. Fair value measurement

    The Company's financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, derivative instruments, accounts payable, long-term debt, operating and finance lease liabilities, accrued liabilities and the tax receivable agreement obligation. The carrying value of the Company's trade receivables, other receivables, trade payables, the asset-based revolver and accrued liabilities approximates fair value due to their short-term maturity or other terms related to these financial instruments. The Company may adjust the carrying amount of certain non-financial assets to fair value on a non-recurring basis when they are impaired.

    The estimated carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows for the dates indicated (in thousands):

	Fair value measurements at September 30, 2020 using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value September 30, 2020
Liabilities:
Derivative liability	$	—	$	636	$	—	$	636
	Fair value measurements at December 31, 2019 using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value December 31, 2019
Assets:
Derivative asset	$	—	$	258	$	—	$	258

Liabilities and assets classified as level 2 which are recorded at fair value are valued using observable market inputs. The fair values of derivative assets and liabilities are determined using quantitative models that utilize multiple market inputs including interest rates and exchange rates to generate continuous yield or pricing curves and volatility factors to value the position. The majority of market inputs are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, including brokers, market transactions and third-party pricing services. The fair values of derivative assets and liabilities include adjustments for market liquidity, counter-party credit quality,

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

and other instrument-specific factors, where appropriate. In addition, the Company incorporates within its fair value measurements a valuation adjustment to reflect the credit risk associated with the net position. Positions are netted by counterparties, and fair value for net long exposures is adjusted for counter-party credit risk while the fair value for net short exposures is adjusted for the Company’s own credit risk.

    The estimated carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments and liabilities for which fair value is only disclosed is as follows (in thousands):

			Fair value measurements at September 30, 2020 using
	Carrying Amount September 30, 2020		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value September 30, 2020
Liabilities:
Term Loan	$	469,208	$	—	$	473,638	$	—	$	473,638
Senior Secured Notes	$	491,601	—		$	529,715	—		529,715
Tax receivable agreement payable	72,974		—		—		46,044		46,044

			Fair value measurements at December 31, 2019 using
	Carrying Amount December 31, 2019		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value December 31, 2019
Liabilities:
Term Loan	$	1,098,303	$	—	$	1,102,295	$	—	$	1,102,295
Tax receivable agreement payable	77,385		—		—		47,625		47,625

The fair value of debt is valued using a market approach based on indicative quoted prices for the Company's debt instruments traded in over-the-counter markets and, therefore, is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. See Note 11, Debt and deferred financing costs, for a further discussion of Company debt.

    The determination of the fair value of the Company's tax receivable agreement payable was made using a discounted cash flow methodology with level 3 inputs as defined by ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. The determination of fair value required significant judgment, including estimates of the timing and amounts of various tax attributes. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future. Actual results could differ from these estimates. See Note 14, Commitments and contingencies, for a further discussion of the Company's tax receivable agreement.

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

10.    Accrued liabilities

    Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	$	42,541	$	32,815
Short-term finance leases	17,001		16,542
Short-term operating leases	7,979		8,784
Accrued taxes	16,483		5,354
Warranty	5,960		5,536
Accrued rebates	14,685		9,895
Short-term derivative liability	332		—
Environmental obligation	63		718
Other miscellaneous accrued liabilities	4,883		9,195
Total accrued liabilities	$	109,927	$	88,839

11. Debt and deferred financing costs

    The Company’s debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Term Loan, net of debt issuance costs and original issuance discount of $8,611 and $25,055, respectively	$	469,208	$	1,098,303
Senior Secured Notes, net of debt issuance costs and original issuance discount of $8,399 and $0, respectively	491,601		—
Total debt	$	960,809	$	1,098,303
Less: current portion debt	(12,510)		(12,510)
Total long-term debt	$	948,299	$	1,085,793

As of September 30, 2020, Forterra had no borrowings under its $350 million asset based revolving credit facility under its ABL Credit Agreement dated October 25, 2016 (the “ABL Credit Agreement”) for working capital and general corporate purposes (“Revolver”), $477.8 million outstanding under its senior term loan facility (“Term Loan”) and $500 million senior secured notes due 2025 (the “Notes”).

Senior Secured Notes

On July 16, 2020, Forterra Finance, LLC and FRTA Finance Corp., both wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, completed the issuance of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due in 2025. The Notes have a fixed annual interest rate of 6.50% which will be paid semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The Notes will mature on July 15, 2025. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering to repay $492.5 million of the principal amount of the Term Loan at par, plus accrued interest. The Company incurred debt issuance costs of $8.8 million and will amortize them over the term of the Notes under the effective interest method.

Obligations under the Notes are guaranteed by the Company and the Company’s existing and future subsidiaries (other than the issuing companies) that guarantee the Term Loan and the obligations of the U.S. borrowers under the Revolver. The Notes and the related guarantees are secured by first-priority liens on the collateral that secures the Term Loan on a first-priority basis (which is generally all assets other than those that secure the Revolver on a first-priority basis as set forth below) and second-priority liens on the collateral that secures the Revolver on a first-priority basis (which is generally inventory, accounts receivable, deposit accounts,

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

securities accounts, certain intercompany loans and related assets), which second-priority liens will be ratable with the liens on such assets securing the obligations under the Term Loan and junior to the liens on such assets securing the Revolver.

At any time prior to July 15, 2022, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus a “make whole premium” as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, subject to the right of holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date. In addition, at any time prior to July 15, 2022, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to the issuance of any additional notes) issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 106.500% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date), with the net cash proceeds of an equity offering. Furthermore, at any time on or after July 15, 2022, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or part of the Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on July 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of holders of Notes on a relevant record date to receive interest on an interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date:

	Percentage
2022	103.250	%
2023	101.625	%
2024 and thereafter	100.000	%

The Notes contain customary negative covenants, including, among other things, limitations or prohibitions on restricted payments, incurrence of additional indebtedness, liens, mergers, asset sales and transactions with affiliates. In addition, the Indenture contains customary events of default.        

Senior Term Loan

The Term Loan provides for a $1.25 billion senior secured term loan. Subject to the conditions set forth in the term loan agreement, the Term Loan may be increased by (i) up to the greater of $285.0 million and 1.0x consolidated EBITDA (defined below) of Forterra and its restricted subsidiaries for the four quarters most recently ended prior to such incurrence plus (ii) the aggregate amount of any voluntary prepayments, plus (iii) an additional unlimited amount, provided (x) in the case of any incremental debt that is secured by a lien that is pari passu with the liens securing the Term Loan, the first lien leverage ratio does not exceed 4.10 to 1.00, (y) in the case of incremental debt that is secured by a lien that is junior to the liens securing the Term Loan, the total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.50 to 1.00 and (z) in the case of incremental debt that is unsecured, the total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.75 to 1.00, in each case, determined on a pro forma basis.

    The Term Loan matures on October 25, 2023 and is subject to quarterly amortization equal to 0.25% of the initial principal amount. Interest accrues on outstanding borrowings thereunder at a rate equal to adjusted LIBOR (with a floor of 1.0%) or an alternate base rate (the base rate, which is the highest of the then current federal funds rate plus 0.50%, the prime rate most recently announced by the administrative agent under the Term Loan, and the one-month adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00%), in each case plus a margin of 3.00% or 2.00%, respectively. The weighted average interest rates for the Term Loan were 4.0%, 4.2%, 5.2% and 5.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

    During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company repurchased $636.1 million of the Term Loan before its maturity at a market value of $635.5 million. Consequently, the Company wrote off a proportionate share of debt issuance costs of $12.1 million and recognized a net loss of $11.5 million which was included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

    Outstanding borrowings under the Term Loan are guaranteed by Forterra and each of its direct and indirect material wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries except certain excluded subsidiaries (the "Guarantors"). The Term Loan is secured by substantially all of the assets of Forterra, the borrower and the Guarantors; provided that the obligations under the Term Loan are not secured by any liens on more than 65% of the voting stock of foreign subsidiaries or assets of foreign subsidiaries. The Term Loan contains customary representations and warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants, that, among other things, restrict the ability of Forterra and its restricted subsidiaries to incur additional debt, incur or permit liens on assets, make investments and acquisitions, consolidate or merge with any other company, engage in asset sales and pay dividends and make distributions. The Term Loan does not contain any financial covenants. Obligations under the Term Loan may be accelerated upon certain customary events of default (subject to grace periods, as appropriate).

Asset Based Revolving Facility

    On June 17, 2020, the Company entered into a First Amendment (the “Amendment”) to the ABL Credit Agreement. The Amendment, among other things, (i) increased the size of the Revolver from $300.0 million to $350.0 million of aggregate commitments, with up to $330.0 million to be made available to the U.S. Borrowers and up to $20.0 million to be made available to the Canadian Borrowers (the allocation may be modified periodically at the Company's request), (ii) extended the maturity date of the Revolver to June 17, 2025, subject to earlier maturity if greater than $75.0 million of the Company’s Term Loan remains outstanding 91 days prior to the scheduled maturity of the term loan credit facility or any refinancing thereof, and (iii) modified the interest rates on outstanding borrowings under the Revolver to a rate equal to LIBOR or CDOR plus a margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.25% per annum, or an alternate base rate, Canadian prime rate or Canadian base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.75% to 1.25% per annum, in each case, based upon the average excess availability under the Revolver for the most recently completed calendar quarter and the Company’s total leverage ratio as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered. The Company incurred $2.6 million of fees and expenses in connection with this Amendment and recorded it to “Other Long-term Assets” in its condensed consolidated balance sheet. In addition, the Company wrote off $0.4 million of previously deferred issuance cost related to the banks that are no longer part of the ABL Credit Facility.

Subject to the conditions set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement, as amended, the Revolver may be increased by up to the greater of (i) $100.0 million and (ii) such amount as would not cause the aggregate borrowing base to be exceeded by more than $50.0 million. Borrowings under the Revolver may not exceed a borrowing base equal to the sum of (i) 100% of eligible cash, (ii) 85% of eligible accounts receivable and (iii) the lesser of (a) 75% of eligible inventory and (b) 85% of the orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory, with the U.S. and Canadian borrowings being subject to separate borrowing base limitations. The advance rates for accounts receivable and inventory are subject to increase by 2.5% during certain periods. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Revolver had no outstanding borrowings. The weighted average interest rates for the borrowings under the Revolver were 2.00% and 3.72% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

    The Revolver also provides for the issuance of letters of credit of up to an agreed sublimit. The obligations of the borrowers under the Revolver are guaranteed by Forterra and its direct and indirect wholly-owned restricted subsidiaries other than certain excluded subsidiaries; provided that the obligations of the U.S. borrowers are not guaranteed by the Canadian subsidiaries. The Revolver is secured by substantially all of the assets of the borrowers; provided that the obligations of the U.S. borrowers are not secured by any liens on more than 65% of the voting stock of foreign subsidiaries or assets of foreign subsidiaries.

    In addition, Forterra pays a facility fee of between 20.0 and 32.5 basis points per annum based upon the utilization of the total Revolver. Availability under the Revolver, based on draws, outstanding letters of credit of $26.8 million, as well as allowable borrowing base as of September 30, 2020, was $250.6 million.

    The Revolver and the Term Loan contain customary representations and warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants, including representations, warranties, and covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of Forterra and its restricted subsidiaries to incur additional debt, incur or permit liens on assets, make

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

investments and acquisitions, consolidate or merge with any other company, engage in asset sales and pay dividends and make distributions. The Revolver contains a financial covenant restricting Forterra from allowing its fixed charge coverage ratio to drop below 1.00:1.00 during a compliance period, which is triggered when the availability under the Revolver falls below a threshold set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement, as amended. Obligations under the Revolver and the Term Loan may be accelerated upon certain customary events of default (subject to grace periods, as appropriate). The fixed charge coverage ratio is the ratio of consolidated earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA’’) less cash payments for capital expenditures and income taxes to consolidated fixed charges (interest expense plus scheduled payments of principal on indebtedness).

    As of September 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants under the Revolver, the Term Loan, and the Notes.

    As of September 30, 2020, scheduled maturities of long-term debt were as follows (in thousands).

	Total		Term Loan		Notes
2020	$	3,128	$	3,128	$	—
2021	12,510		12,510		—
2022	12,510		12,510		—
2023	449,671		449,671		—
2024	—		—		—
2025	500,000		—		500,000
	$	977,819	$	477,819	$	500,000

12. Derivatives and hedging

    The Company uses derivatives to manage selected foreign exchange and interest rate exposures. The Company does not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes, and cash flows from derivative instruments are included in net cash provided by operating activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

    On March 30, 2020, Forterra entered into an interest rate swap transaction with a notional value of $400 million to reduce exposure to interest rate fluctuations associated with a portion of the Term Loan. Under the terms of the swap transaction, Forterra agreed to pay a fixed rate of interest of 1.08% and receive floating rate of interest indexed to one-month LIBOR, subject to a minimum of 1.00%, with monthly settlement terms with the swap counterparty. The swap has a 30-month term and expires on September 30, 2022. The interest rate swap is not designated as a cash flow hedge, therefore all changes in the fair value of the instrument are captured as a component of interest expense in the statements of operations. Accordingly, cash flows from the monthly interest rate swap settlements are included in net cash provided by (used in) operating activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

    On February 9, 2017, Forterra entered into interest rate swap transactions with a combined notional value of $525 million.  Under the terms of the swap transactions, Forterra agreed to pay a fixed rate of interest of 1.52% and receive floating rate interest indexed to one-month LIBOR with monthly settlement terms with the swap counterparties.  The swaps were not designated as cash flow hedges, had a three-year term, and expired on March 31, 2020.

    The Company elects to present all derivative assets and derivative liabilities on a net basis on its condensed consolidated balance sheets when a legally enforceable International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Agreement exists. An ISDA Master Agreement is an agreement between two counterparties, which may have multiple derivative transactions with each other governed by such agreement, and such ISDA Master Agreement generally provides for the net settlement of all or a specified group of these

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

derivative transactions, through a single payment, in a single currency, in the event of a default on, or affecting any, one derivative transaction or a termination event affecting all, or a specified group of, derivative transactions. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company’s derivative instruments fall under an ISDA master netting agreement.

    The following table presents the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	September 30, 2020
	Derivative Assets				Derivative Liabilities
	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Notional Amount		Fair Value
Interest rate swaps	$	—	$	—	$	400,000	$	636
Total derivatives, gross			—				636
Less: Legally enforceable master netting agreements			—				—
Total derivatives, net			$	—			$	636

	December 31, 2019
	Derivative Assets				Derivative Liabilities
	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Notional Amount		Fair Value
Interest rate swaps	$	525,000	$	258	$	—	$	—
Total derivatives, gross			258				—
Less: Legally enforceable master netting agreements			—				—
Total derivatives, net			$	258			$	—

The following table presents the effect of derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):

	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2020	2019	2020	2019
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Interest rate swaps
Gain (loss) on derivatives not designated as hedges included in interest expense	27	(868)	(894)	(5,892)

13.    Leases

    The Company leases land and buildings, office spaces, vehicles, machinery and equipment under various lease agreements. A large portion of the Company’s leases were the result of the 2016 sale and leaseback of land and buildings related to certain production facilities. These leases have an initial term of 25 years, followed by one optional renewal term of approximately ten years that may be exercised at the Company’s discretion. These leases, with the exception of certain land leases, are classified as finance leases. The Company’s operating leases are mainly comprised of land and buildings, office spaces, vehicles, machinery and equipment leases, and have remaining terms of one to 25 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 10 years.

    The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Leases with an initial term of less than 12 months are not recorded on the balance sheet. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use, or ROU, assets, accrued liabilities, and long-term operating lease liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property, plant and equipment, accrued liabilities, and long-term finance lease liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

14. Commitments and contingencies

Legal matters

    The Company is involved in legal proceedings and litigation in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. Other than routine litigation incidental to the Company's business and those matters described below, there are no material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or to which any of the Company’s properties are subject.

Earnout Dispute

    On March 13, 2015, through an indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Lone Star Fund IX (U.S.), L.P. (which is referred to, along with its affiliates and associates, but excluding Forterra and other companies that it owns as a result of its investment activity, as "Lone Star") acquired the building products business of HeidelbergCement AG, ("Heidelberg"), in the United States and Eastern Canada, (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition purchase agreement included an earnout, which provided for the payment of contingent consideration of up to $100.0 million, if and to the extent the 2015 financial results of the businesses acquired by Lone Star in the Acquisition, including the Company and Heidelberg's former building products business in the United Kingdom, exceeded a specified Adjusted EBITDA target for fiscal year 2015, as calculated pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement. If such Adjusted EBITDA calculation exceeded the specified target, LSF9 Concrete Holdings Ltd. ("LSF9") and, as a result of the internal reorganization transaction effected prior to the Company's initial public offering ("IPO"), the Company would be required to pay the U.S. affiliate of Heidelberg an amount equal to a multiple of such excess Adjusted EBITDA, with any payment capped at $100.0 million. In April 2016, the Company provided an earnout statement to affiliates of Heidelberg demonstrating that no payment was required. On June 13, 2016, Heidelberg provided notification that it disputed, among other things, the Company’s calculation of Adjusted EBITDA under the purchase agreement and asserting that a payment should be made in the amount of $100.0 million. The Company does not believe Heidelberg’s position has merit and is vigorously opposing Heidelberg's assertions. On October 5, 2016, affiliates of Heidelberg filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery seeking specific performance and claiming access to the Company's books, records, and personnel; seeking a declaratory judgment concerning the scope of the neutral accounting expert’s authority; and in the alternative, claiming a breach of contract and seeking the $100.0 million and other damages (the "Delaware Action"). On December 8, 2017, the court granted the defendants' Motion to Dismiss the First Amended Complaint in the Delaware Action, finding that the earnout dispute should be heard before a neutral accounting arbitrator as set forth in the purchase agreement and that any claims that were required to be brought as indemnification claims under the purchase agreement were time-barred by the contractual limitations period. Following the dismissal of the Delaware Action, the Company and Heidelberg jointly engaged a neutral accounting expert to act as an arbitrator in the dispute as required by the purchase agreement. After briefing certain preliminary matters for the arbitrator and the production of additional documents, the parties began briefing the issues on the merits for the neutral accounting arbitrator, which was completed in April 2020. A hearing on the dispute was held in June 2020, and a written decision was issued by the neutral accounting arbitrator on September 10, 2020 in which the arbitrator ruled that no earnout payment was owed in the matter. The Company expects to seek confirmation of the award and a judgment based on it in the coming weeks. As of September 30, 2020, no liability for this contingency has been accrued as payment of any earnout is not considered probable. It is possible that Heidelberg will decide to dispute the arbitrator's decision that no earnout payment is owed, and a decision against the Company in any such dispute could cause the Company to recognize a material charge to its earnings.

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Securities Action and Derivative Actions

    Beginning on August 14, 2017, four plaintiffs filed putative class action complaints in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against various defendants. On July 27, 2018, an order was entered consolidating the lawsuits into a single action (the "Securities Action") and transferring the venue of the case from the Eastern District of New York to the Northern District of Texas. Pursuant to an agreed scheduling order, plaintiffs in the Securities Action filed their Consolidated Amended Complaint on November 30, 2018.

    The Securities Action is brought by two plaintiffs individually and on behalf of all persons that purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's common stock issued pursuant to and/or traceable to the IPO and is brought against the Company, certain of its current and former officers and directors, Lone Star and certain of its affiliates, and certain banks that acted as underwriters of the IPO (collectively, the “Securities Defendants”). The Securities Action generally alleges that the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 filed in connection with the IPO (the "Registration Statement") contained false or misleading statements and/or omissions of material facts. Specifically, plaintiffs allege the Registration Statement (1) made false and/or misleading statements about the Company's ability to generate organic growth through cross-selling initiatives amongst the Company's various businesses while failing to disclose that the Company had not adequately integrated acquisitions, had not begun rolling out its cross-selling initiative, and that its businesses were submitting competing bids against one another, and (2) made false or misleading statements regarding the existence of certain accounting practices and alleged material weaknesses in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting, including the existence of and accounting for bill and hold transactions, the lack of sufficient accounting personnel, the lack of effective internal controls to ensure costs were properly and accurately accrued, resulting in misstated costs and profits in the Company's 2016 financial statements, and the making of inventory accounting entries without adequate substantiation or documentation. The Securities Action asserts claims under Section 11 and Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act") and seeks (1) class certification under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, (2) damages suffered by plaintiffs and other class members, (3) prejudgment and post-judgment interest, (4) reasonable counsel fees and expert fees, and other costs and expenses reasonably incurred, and (5) other relief the court deems appropriate.

    On February 15, 2019, the Securities Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss all claims in the case based on plaintiffs' failure to state a claim. Briefing on the motion to dismiss was completed on May 1, 2019, and the court has not yet ruled on the motion. A mediation of the Securities Action occurred in August 2019. On November 4, 2019, the parties to the Securities Action entered into a settlement agreement to fully and finally resolve all claims in the Securities Action for a payment of $5.5 million. On January 4, 2020, the court issued an order granting preliminary approval for the settlement and providing for notice. Following a hearing on July 28, 2020, the court issued orders dated August 12, 2020, in which it approved the settlement in the Securities Action; no appeal of that order occurred within thirty (30) days, and it became final and unappealable on September 12, 2020. The settlement was largely funded by the Company's insurance after payment of a retention amount.

    On July 31, 2018, a putative shareholder derivative complaint captioned Maloney v. Bradley, et al., was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, alleging that certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers had breached their fiduciary duties, committed constructive fraud, wasted corporate assets, and that certain of them had been unjustly enriched (the "Maloney Texas Action"). On July 30, 2019, the court in the Maloney Texas Action granted the defendants' motion to dismiss on the grounds that the case should have been brought in Delaware according to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. On September 23, 2019, the same plaintiff filed a putative shareholder derivative complaint captioned Maloney v. Bradley, et al. in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, naming as defendants certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers (the "Maloney Delaware Action"). The complaint alleges the defendants violated Sections 14A and 20(A) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, breached their fiduciary duties, and wasted corporate assets, and also asserts unjust enrichment claims against certain defendants. The complaint seeks, on behalf of the Company, unspecified damages, an order directing the return of certain payments to the defendants and imposing a constructive trust thereon, certain injunctive relief, reasonable costs and attorneys' fees, and punitive damages.

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

    On January 15, 2019, a putative shareholder derivative complaint captioned Lee v. Bradley, et al., was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, naming as defendants certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers (the "Lee Action"). The complaint alleges the defendants violated Section 14A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and related rules by failing to make certain disclosures in the Company's proxy solicitation in advance of the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and that defendants breached their fiduciary duties, wasted corporate assets, and committed constructive fraud. The complaint also asserts unjust enrichment claims against certain defendants. The complaint seeks, on behalf of the Company, unspecified damages, an order directing the return of certain payments to the defendants, certain injunctive relief, and reasonable costs and attorneys' fees. On April 18, 2019, the court entered an agreed stipulation staying the Lee Action until the court in the Securities Action rules on the motion to dismiss in that case. On December 11, 2019, the court in the Lee Action entered a Stipulation and Order consolidating the Lee Action and the Maloney Delaware Action into a single case (the "Consolidated Lee Action"), and providing a schedule for filing of an amended complaint and motions to dismiss, which has been further extended by agreement of the parties. A mediation of the dispute was held on June 12, 2020 but was not successful in resolving the dispute. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in August 2020 and Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint in September 2020.

    The Company and other defendants are vigorously defending the Consolidated Lee Action. Given the stage of the proceedings, the Company cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may arise from the Consolidated Lee Action.

Long-term Incentive Plan

    Following the Acquisition, Lone Star implemented a cash-based long term incentive plan (the “LTIP”) which entitles the participants in the LTIP to a potential cash payout upon a monetization event as defined by the LTIP. Potential monetization events include the sale, transfer or otherwise disposition of all or a portion of the Company or successor entities of LSF9, an initial public offering where Lone Star reduces its ownership interest in the Company or successor entities of LSF9, or through certain cash distribution as defined in the LTIP. Before the payout of any cash the LTIP requires Lone Star realize in cash the full return of their investment plus a specified internal rate of return, which is calculated by comparing the return to Lone Star over the timeline of its investment in the Company and certain successor entities of LSF9. As of September 30, 2020, no such monetization events that meet the required return for an LTIP payment have occurred, and therefore no amounts were accrued in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. While no payments have occurred thus far, payments under the LTIP could be significant depending upon future monetization events. The timing and amount of such payments are unknown and are dependent upon future monetization events and market conditions that are outside of the control of the Company or the participants of the plan. Subsequent to the IPO, Forterra became directly liable for any payment obligations triggered under the LTIP, but LSF9 or one of its affiliates will remain obligated to make payments to the Company in amounts equal to any payment obligations triggered under the LTIP as and when such payment obligations are triggered.

Leases

    The Company leases certain property and equipment for various periods under non-cancelable operating and finance leases.

Tax receivable agreement

    The Company has a tax receivable agreement (the "TRA") with Lone Star that provides for, among other things, the payment by the Company to Lone Star of 85% of the amount of certain covered tax benefits, which may reduce the actual liability for certain taxes that the Company might otherwise be required to pay. The tax benefits subject to the TRA include: (i) all depreciation and amortization deductions, and any offset to taxable income and gain or increase to taxable loss, resulting from the tax basis that the Company had in its assets as of the time of the consummation of the IPO, (ii) the utilization of the Company's and its subsidiaries’ net operating losses and tax credits, if any, attributable to periods prior to the IPO, (iii) deductions in respect of payments made, funded or reimbursed by an initial party to the tax receivable agreement (other than the Company or one of its

20

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

subsidiaries) or an affiliate thereof to participants under the LTIP, (iv) deductions in respect of transaction expenses attributable to the acquisition of USP Holdings, Inc. and (v) certain other tax benefits attributable to payments made under the tax receivable agreement.

    For purposes of the TRA, the aggregate reduction in income tax payable by the Company will be computed by comparing the Company's actual income tax liability with its hypothetical liability had it not been able to utilize the related tax benefits. The agreement will remain in effect for the period of time in which any such related tax benefits remain. The Company accounts for potential payments under the TRA as a contingent liability, with amounts accrued when considered probable and reasonably estimable. The liability recorded by the Company for the TRA at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $73.0 million and $77.4 million, respectively. The timing and amount of future tax benefits associated with the TRA are subject to change, and additional payments may be required which could be materially different from the current accrued liability. The Company anticipates that it will have sufficient taxable income in future periods to realize the full value of the obligation recorded. Future tax receivable agreement payments related to the tax basis of assets at the time of the IPO will be recorded as a reduction to the liability and will be recorded as a financing activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company paid $4.4 million on the TRA to Lone Star.

15. Earnings per share

    Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive securities include employee stock options and shares of restricted stock. Diluted EPS reflects the assumed exercise, vesting or conversion of all dilutive securities.

    The calculations of the basic and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 are presented below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net income	$	28,827	$	22,430	$	41,876	$	345
Less: Earnings allocated to unvested restricted stock awards	16		40		34		—
Earnings allocated to common shareholders	$	28,811	$	22,390	$	41,842	$	345
Common stock:
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	65,336		64,210		65,078		64,119
Effect of dilutive securities	3,381		788		2,800		409
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	68,717		64,998		67,878		64,528
Basic earnings per share:
Net income	$	0.44	$	0.35	$	0.64	$	0.01
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income	$	0.42	$	0.34	$	0.62	$	0.01

    The number of stock options and restricted shares that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would result in an anti-dilutive effect on per share amounts for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 and the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 were 210,077, 2,015,399, 221,040 and 3,963,041, respectively.

21

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

16. Income taxes

    The Company recorded income tax expense of $9.9 million and $17.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, and income tax expense of $5.9 million and an income tax benefit of $0.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.

    The income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was calculated under the ASC 740-270 principles. The income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 differs from the expense computed at the federal statutory rate primarily due to the state income tax expense and the movement of the valuation allowance recorded in the quarter.

    The income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 differs from the expense computed at the federal statutory rate primarily due to the movement of the valuation allowance recorded in the period and state income tax expense.

    The income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2019 differs from the expense computed at the federal statutory rate primarily due to the unfavorable permanent add-back of non-deductible items, offset by the favorable return-to-provision adjustment recorded in the quarter.

    The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 differs from the benefit computed at the federal statutory rate primarily due to the unfavorable permanent add-back of the non-deductible one-time executive severance payment, offset by the favorable return-to-provision adjustment recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

    The Company evaluates the recoverability of its deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required or should be adjusted. The Company assesses whether valuation allowances should be established against deferred tax assets based on consideration of all available evidence, both positive and negative, using a “more likely than not” criterion. The analysis used in determining the valuation allowance involves considerable judgment and assumptions. The Company's history of pretax losses limits its ability to rely on projections of future pretax income, therefore, realization of deferred tax assets is based primarily on reversal of taxable temporary differences. As positive factors continue to be present given recent business performance, the potential result would be a partial or full release of the valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset recognized in prior periods.

    On March 27, 2020, the U.S. government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"), that, among other things, increased the net interest expense deduction limit from 30% to 50% of adjusted taxable income for tax years beginning January 1, 2019 and 2020, and changed the depreciable life of the qualified improvement property from 39 years to 15 years, thereby making it eligible for 100% bonus depreciation, which the Company intends to claim. On July 28, 2020, the Treasury Department released the final regulations with guidance on applying the limitations on the deductibility of the business interest expense under IRC Section 163(j), which was significantly modified by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("TCJA") and then temporarily modified by the CARES Act. The Company has considered the favorable impact of the released final regulations in the preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company has taken, and will continue to take advantage of deferral of the employer portion of the social security taxes that would otherwise be due in 2020, but will be delayed with 50% due by December 31, 2021 and the remaining 50% by December 31, 2022.

22

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

17. Segment reporting

    Segment information is presented in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting, which establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments. It also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and geographic areas. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in business activities that earn revenues, incur expenses and prepare separate financial information that is evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in order to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company's Chief Executive Officer is its CODM. The Corporate and Other segment includes expenses related to certain executive salaries, interest costs related to the Company's credit agreements, acquisition-related costs, and other corporate costs that are not directly attributable to the Company's operating segments. The Company's segments follow the same accounting policies as the Company.

    Net sales from the major products sold to external customers include drainage pipe and precast products and concrete and steel water transmission pipe.

    The Company’s three geographic areas consist of the United States, Canada, and Mexico for which it reports net sales, fixed assets and total assets. For purposes of evaluating segment profit, the CODM reviews EBITDA as a basis for making the decisions to allocate resources and assess performance.

23

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

    The following tables set forth the disaggregation of revenue earned from contracts with customers based on the Company's reportable segments as well as other financial information attributable to the Company's reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net sales:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	256,597	$	280,678	$	662,427	$	686,092
Water Pipe & Products	200,960		183,848		552,192		480,511
Corporate and Other	—		—		—		—
Total	$	457,557	$	464,526	$	1,214,619	$	1,166,603
Depreciation and amortization:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	8,275	$	9,317	$	24,820	$	27,975
Water Pipe & Products	13,489		14,511		40,861		43,981
Corporate and Other	599		344		1,589		998
Total	$	22,363	$	24,172	$	67,270	$	72,954
Segment EBITDA and reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	64,781	$	67,361	$	148,247	$	141,424
Water Pipe & Products	46,994		25,557		109,584		59,271
Corporate and Other	(30,606)		(17,147)		(70,726)		(54,195)
Less: Interest expense	(20,055)		(23,272)		(60,502)		(73,720)
Depreciation and amortization	(22,363)		(24,172)		(67,270)		(72,954)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	38,751	$	28,327	$	59,333	$	(174)
Capital expenditures:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	4,500	$	3,302	$	9,897	$	18,750
Water Pipe & Products	3,743		3,232		6,866		7,757
Corporate and Other	195		61		557		2,524
Total	$	8,438	$	6,595	$	17,320	$	29,031
					September 30,		December 31,
					2020		2019
Total assets:
Drainage Pipe & Products					$	830,626	$	819,373
Water Pipe & Products					842,905		862,542
Corporate and Other					45,198		58,143
Total					$	1,718,729	$	1,740,058

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FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company has an investment in an equity method investee included in the Drainage Pipe & Products segment for which earnings from equity method investee were $2.3 million, $8.2 million, $4.0 million and $9.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, and with the following balances (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Investment in equity method investee	$	50,754	$	50,034

    Disaggregated revenue by geographic location is provided in the tables below. The Company has operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The economic characteristics of the Company's customers do not significantly vary across geographic locations or product lines. The Company has both revenues and long-lived assets in each country; and those assets and revenues are recorded within geographic location as follows (in thousands):

Property, plant, and equipment, net:	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
United States	$	405,320	$	422,486
Canada	30,660		43,754
Mexico	8,688		9,335
	$	444,668	$	475,575

Net sales:	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
United States	$	432,085	$	435,706	$	1,155,229	$	1,104,164
Canada	23,098		26,458		52,906		56,113
Mexico	2,374		2,362		6,484		6,326
	$	457,557	$	464,526	$	1,214,619	$	1,166,603

18. Related party transactions

Tax receivable agreement

    The Company has a TRA with Lone Star that provides for, among other things, the payment by the Company to Lone Star of 85% of the amount of certain covered tax benefits, which may reduce the actual liability for certain taxes that the Company might otherwise be required to pay. See Note 14, Commitments and contingencies, for additional information on the tax receivable agreement.

CP&P

    The Company sold certain goods and services to its joint venture, CP&P, including spare parts for repairs, and property rentals. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Forterra sold $1.2 million of product to CP&P and purchased goods and services from CP&P for an amount of $0.8 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, Forterra sold $0.3 million of product to CP&P and purchased $0.2 million of goods and services from CP&P.

25

FORTERRA, INC.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity, capital resources and other financial and operating information. We have used the words “approximately,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will” and similar terms and phrases to identify forward-looking statements. All of our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we are expecting, including:

•the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, demand for our products and our business, financial condition and results of operations, including the measures taken by governmental authorities in response;

•government funding of infrastructure and related construction activities;

•the level of construction activity, particularly in the residential construction and non-residential construction markets;

•the highly competitive nature of our industry and our ability to effectively compete;

•the availability and price of the raw materials we use in our business;

•our dependence on key customers and the absence of long-term agreements with these customers;

•the level of construction activity in Texas;

•disruption at one or more of our manufacturing facilities or in our supply chain;

•construction project delays and our inventory management;

•the seasonality of our business and its susceptibility to adverse weather;

•our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions;

•labor disruptions and other union activity;

•compliance with applicable regulations;

•a tightening of mortgage lending or mortgage financing requirements;

•the ability to implement our growth strategy;

•the possibility that HeidelbergCement will dispute the arbitrator's recent decision that no earnout payment is owed;

•compliance with environmental laws and regulations;

•energy costs;

•changes in tax laws could adversely affect us;

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•compliance with health and safety laws and regulations;

•our dependence on key executives and key management personnel;

•our ability and that of our customers with which we work to retain and attract additional skilled and non-skilled technical or sales personnel;

•credit and non-payment risks of our customers;

•warranty and related claims;

•legal and regulatory claims;

•our contract backlog;

•our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and ensure adequate financing or guarantees for large projects;

•delays or outages in our information technology systems and computer networks;

•security breaches in our information technology systems and other cybersecurity incidents; and

•additional factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.

The forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are based on historical performance and management’s current plans, estimates and expectations in light of information currently available to us and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, regional or local political, economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, as well as the other factors described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our 2019 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020, as supplemented in Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The COVID-19 pandemic may also precipitate or exacerbate these and other unknown risks and uncertainties. Additional factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may also emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of our assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary in material respects from what we may have expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution that you should not place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us speaks only as of the date on which we make it. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 

    The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020, or the 2019 10-K.

    This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” for a discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions associated with those statements.

    Unless otherwise specified or where the context otherwise requires, references in this Report to “our,” “we,” “us,” “Forterra”, the “Company” and “our business” refer to Forterra, Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries.

Overview

Our Company

    We are a manufacturer of ductile iron pipe and concrete pipe and precast products in the United States and Eastern Canada for a variety of essential water-related infrastructure applications. We provide critical infrastructure components for a broad spectrum of construction projects across infrastructure, residential and non-residential markets. Our suite of products ranges from large diameter pipe that transports water to and from treatment centers and manages drainage along major transportation corridors, to smaller diameter pipe that delivers potable water to, and removes wastewater from, end users in residential and commercial settings.

Our Segments

    Our operations are organized into the following reportable segments:

•Drainage Pipe & Products - We are a producer of concrete drainage pipe and precast products.

•Water Pipe & Products - We are a producer of ductile iron pipe, or DIP, and concrete pressure pipe.

•Corporate and Other - Corporate, general and administrative expenses not allocated to our revenue-generating segments such as certain shared services, executive and other administrative functions.

COVID-19 Pandemic

    Beginning in mid-March, local, state, provincial and federal authorities began issuing stay at home orders in response to the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, which has quickly spread throughout the United States and worldwide. These government-instituted restrictions, together with the economic volatility and uncertainty the pandemic has created, have had a significant impact on the United States economy in general and certain parts of our end-markets. Despite these events and the related uncertainty, we have continued to operate as an essential business under the government orders, and the COVID-19 pandemic has not materially affected our liquidity, financial results or business operations thus far. During the initial phase of the pandemic in the early part of the second quarter, we experienced temporary delays in certain projects primarily related to governmental stay at home orders in place at that time and the reactions of certain customers to those orders, specifically in our residential end-markets. Late in the second quarter and continuing through the third quarter, as most states started gradually resuming their normal economic activities, there was some correction in these trends in the residential housing market.

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    Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have focused on protecting the health and safety of our team members while maintaining our operations, which have been deemed essential under relevant pandemic-related government regulations, and continuing to meet our customers’ needs. Although a small number of our team members have tested positive for COVID-19, and we encountered temporary closures of a small number of our manufacturing facilities in the second quarter due to such cases or due to government mandate, through the third quarter these events have not had a significant impact on our operations or our ability to serve our customers' needs. We are, however, utilizing the option under the CARES Act to defer the employer portion of the social security taxes that would otherwise be due in 2020, but will be delayed with 50% due by December 31, 2021 and the remaining 50% by December 31, 2022.

    There is still considerable uncertainty regarding the extent and duration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pandemic and related economic impacts may affect our operations in the fourth quarter of 2020 and into 2021, in particular due to the uncertainty of future funding and demand in our infrastructure and municipal end-markets, as well as increased case numbers in locations where we have large numbers of employees or significant customer concentration. Based on recent trends in our backlogs, along with other factors, we expect shipment volumes in the fourth quarter to continue to be lower than the prior year level; however, we believe the decline in Drainage will be less than what we experienced during the third quarter, and Water will be about the same.

    Due to the fluidity and unprecedented and uncertain nature of the pandemic, we cannot predict the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, or that of our customers, and participants in our supply chain, or on economic conditions generally, including the effects on infrastructure and other construction activity. The ultimate scope and extent of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, and such effects could exist for an extended period of time, even after the pandemic might end.

    For additional information on risk factors that could impact our results, please refer to “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q.

Principal Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

    Our financial performance and results of operations are influenced by a variety of factors, including conditions in the residential, non-residential and infrastructure construction markets, general economic conditions, changes in cost of goods sold, and seasonality and weather conditions. Some of the more important factors are discussed in the 2019 10-K, to which there were no material changes during the period covered by this report, with the exception of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which are discussed above.

Principal Components of Results of Operations

Net Sales

    Net sales consist of the consideration which we expect to be entitled to for the sale of products in the ordinary course of business and include the billable costs of delivery of our products to customers. Net sales include any outbound freight charged to the end user. Revenue for certain contracts related to our structural precast products that are designed and engineered specifically for the customer is recognized over time using an acceptable input method which utilizes our cost incurred to date relative to total estimated costs at completion to measure progress.

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Cost of Goods Sold

    Cost of goods sold includes raw materials (cement, aggregates, scrap, steel and clay) and supplies, labor (including contract labor), freight (including outbound freight for delivery of products to end users and other charges such as inbound freight), energy, depreciation and amortization, repairs and maintenance and other cost of goods sold.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

    Selling, general and administrative expenses include expenses for sales, marketing, legal, accounting and finance services, human resources, customer support, treasury and other general corporate services. Selling, general and administrative expenses also include transaction costs directly related to any business combinations and other costs incurred with respect to cost savings initiatives.

Impairment and Exit Charges

    Impairment and exit charges are primarily comprised of severance and other charges incurred to consolidate certain plants in an effort to optimize our portfolio, as well as asset impairment charges.

Other Operating Income, Net

    The remaining categories of operating income and expenses consist of scrap income (associated with scrap from the manufacturing process or remaining scrap after plants are closed), insurance gains, rental income and the gain or loss generated on the sale of assets including property, plant and equipment.

Interest Expense

    Interest expense represents interest on indebtedness, including finance lease obligations, the amortization of deferred financing costs, as well as the gain and loss associated with our interest rate swaps.

Earnings from Equity Method Investee

    Earnings from equity method investee represents our share of the income of the CP&P joint venture we entered into with Americast, Inc. CP&P is engaged primarily in the manufacture, marketing, sale and distribution of concrete pipe and precast products in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina with sales to contiguous states. See Note 6, Investment in Equity Method Investee, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information on CP&P.

Income Tax (Expense) Benefit

    Income tax (expense) benefit consists of federal, state, provincial, local and foreign taxes based on income in the jurisdictions in which we operate.

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Results of Operations

Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 as Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2019

Total Company

    The following table summarizes certain financial information relating to our operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 (in thousands).

Statements of Income Data:	Three months ended September 30, 2020		Three months ended September 30, 2019		% Change
Net sales	$	457,557	$	464,526	(1.5)	%
Cost of goods sold	331,284		362,362		(8.6)	%
Gross profit	126,273		102,164		23.6	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(57,050)		(55,234)		3.3	%
Impairment and exit charges	(1,389)		(510)		*
Other operating income, net	224		815		(72.5)	%
	(58,215)		(54,929)		6.0	%
Income from operations	68,058		47,235		44.1	%
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense	(20,055)		(23,272)		(13.8)	%
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	(11,547)		374		*
Earnings from equity method investee	2,295		3,990		(42.5)	%
Income before income taxes	38,751		28,327		*
Income tax expense	(9,924)		(5,897)		68.3	%
Net income	$	28,827	$	22,430	28.5	%

* Represents positive or negative change in excess of 100%

Net Sales

    Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2020 were $457.6 million, a decrease of $6.9 million, or 1.5%, from $464.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The small change in net sales was the net effect of a $24.1 million decrease in our Drainage Pipe & Products segment primarily driven by lower shipments compared to prior year, in part due to less favorable weather conditions during the quarter compared to prior year, and our margin-enhancing "value before volume" commercial strategy, partially offset by a $17.2 million increase in net sales in our Water Pipe & Products segment driven by higher average selling prices compared to prior year while shipment volumes remained relatively flat year-over-year.

Cost of Goods Sold

    Cost of goods sold were $331.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $31.1 million, or 8.6%, from $362.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease was primarily in the Drainage Pipe & Products segment driven by the lower shipment volume.

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Gross Profit

    Gross profit increased by $24.1 million, or 23.6%, to $126.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2020 from $102.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. Most of the increase in gross profit is attributable to our Water Pipe & Products segment and is driven by higher average selling prices.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses    

    Selling, general and administrative expenses were $57.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $1.9 million, or 3.3%, from $55.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to a non-recurring legal accrual, partially offset by decrease in travel expenses this year due to COVID-19.

Interest Expense

    Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $20.1 million, a decrease of $3.2 million or 13.8% from $23.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease was primarily due to both lower LIBOR and lower outstanding debt balances in the third quarter of 2020 compared to prior year, partially offset by the incremental interest expense from the $500 million senior secured notes at a higher rate that were issued in July 2020.

Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt

    The loss on extinguishment of debt for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $11.5 million compared to a gain of $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The 2020 loss was primarily due to the write-off of debt issuance costs related to the at-par term loan prepayments of $592.5 million in total.

Income Tax Expense

    Income tax expense in the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $9.9 million, a change of $4.0 million from an income tax expense of $5.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The change is primarily due to the higher federal and state tax expense based on the greater pretax income during the three months ended September 30, 2020.

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Segments

	For the three months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2020		2019		% Change
Net sales:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	256,597	$	280,678	(8.6)	%
Water Pipe & Products	200,960		183,848		9.3	%
Corporate and Other	—		—		*
Total	$	457,557	$	464,526	(1.5)	%
Gross profit (loss):
Drainage Pipe & Products	71,876		74,269		(3.2)	%
Water Pipe & Products	54,402		27,864		95.2	%
Corporate and Other	(5)		31		*
Total	$	126,273	$	102,164	23.6	%
Segment EBITDA(1):
Drainage Pipe & Products	64,781		67,361		(3.8)	%
Water Pipe & Products	46,994		25,557		83.9	%
Corporate and Other	(30,606)		(17,147)		78.5	%

(1)     For the purposes of evaluating segment performance, the Company’s chief operating decision maker reviews earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) as a basis for making the decisions to allocate resources and assess performance. Our discussion below includes the primary drivers of EBITDA. See Note 17, Segment Reporting, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for segment EBITDA reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes.

*    Represents positive or negative change in excess of 100%.

Drainage Pipe & Products

Net Sales

Net sales in the three months ended September 30, 2020 were $256.6 million, a decrease of $24.1 million or 8.6% from $280.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease was driven by lower shipments primarily due to less favorable weather conditions as compared to 2019, as well as our margin-enhancing "value before volume" commercial strategy, partially offset by higher average selling prices.

Gross Profit

    Gross profit in the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $71.9 million, a slight decrease of $2.4 million or 3.2% from $74.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease was primarily due to lower shipment volumes, partially offset by higher average selling prices and manufacturing efficiencies.

Water Pipe & Products

Net Sales

    Net sales in the three months ended September 30, 2020 were $201.0 million, an increase of $17.1 million or 9.3% from $183.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to higher average selling prices while shipment volumes remained relatively flat.

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Gross Profit

    Gross profit in the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $54.4 million, an increase of $26.5 million or 95.2% from $27.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to higher average selling prices, as well as manufacturing efficiencies.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 as Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

Total Company

    The following table summarizes certain financial information relating to our operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 (in thousands).

Statements of Income Data:	Nine months ended September 30, 2020		Nine months ended September 30, 2019		% Change
Net sales	$	1,214,619	$	1,166,603	4.1	%
Cost of goods sold	924,025		936,820		(1.4)	%
Gross profit	290,594		229,783		26.5	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(164,573)		(165,265)		(0.4)	%
Impairment and exit charges	(2,478)		(1,323)		87.3	%
Other operating income, net	(447)		1,018		*
	(167,498)		(165,570)		1.2	%
Income from operations	123,096		64,213		91.7	%
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense	(60,502)		(73,720)		(17.9)	%
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	(11,481)		374		*
Earnings from equity method investee	8,220		8,959		(8.2)	%
Income (loss) before income taxes	59,333		(174)		*
Income tax (expense) benefit	(17,457)		519		*
Net income	$	41,876	$	345	*

* Represents positive or negative change in excess of 100%

Net Sales

    Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $1,214.6 million, an increase of $48.0 million, or 4.1%, from $1,166.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase in sales was the net of a $71.7 million increase in the Water Pipe & Products segment primarily driven by higher average selling prices, offset by a $23.7 million decrease in the Drainage Pipe & Products segment compared to prior year, primarily due to lower shipments caused by COVID-19-related project slowdowns, less favorable weather compared to the prior year, and our margin-enhancing "value before volume" commercial strategy, partially offset by higher average selling prices in both segments.

Cost of Goods Sold

    Cost of goods sold were $924.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $12.8 million, or 1.4%, from $936.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease in cost of goods sold was the net of a decrease of $26.1 million in the Drainage Pipe & Products segment primarily driven by the lower shipment volume for the reasons described above, offset by a $13.7 million increase in the Water Pipe & Products segment primarily driven by slightly higher shipment volume.

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Gross Profit

    Gross profit was $290.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of $60.8 million, or 26.5%, from $229.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Most of the increase in gross profit related to our Water Pipe & Products segment driven by higher average selling prices, slightly higher shipments, as well as a slight decline in raw material cost compared to prior year.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses    

    Selling, general and administrative expenses were $164.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 0.4%, from $165.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Interest Expense

    Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $60.5 million, a decrease of $13.2 million or 17.9% from $73.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease was primarily due to both lower LIBOR and lower outstanding debt balances in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to prior year, partially offset by the incremental interest expense from the $500 million senior secured notes at a higher rate that were issued in July 2020.

Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt

    The loss on extinguishment of debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $11.5 million compared to a gain of $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The 2020 loss is primarily due to the write-off of debt issuance costs related to the at-par term loan prepayments of $592.5 million in total.

Income Tax (Expense) Benefit

    Income tax expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $17.5 million, a change of $18.0 million from an income tax benefit of $0.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The change is primarily due to the higher federal and state tax expense based on the greater pretax income during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as well as additional expense related to the federal and state valuation allowance for the same period.

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Segments

	For the nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)	2020		2019		% Change
Net sales:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	662,427	$	686,092	(3.4)	%
Water Pipe & Products	552,192		480,511		14.9	%
Corporate and Other	—		—		*
Total	$	1,214,619	$	1,166,603	4.1	%
Gross profit (loss):
Drainage Pipe & Products	165,824		163,419		1.5	%
Water Pipe & Products	124,747		66,746		86.9	%
Corporate and Other	23		(382)		*
Total	$	290,594	$	229,783	26.5	%
Segment EBITDA(1):
Drainage Pipe & Products	148,247		141,424		4.8	%
Water Pipe & Products	109,584		59,271		84.9	%
Corporate and Other	(70,726)		(54,195)		30.5	%

(1)     For the purposes of evaluating segment performance, the Company’s chief operating decision maker reviews EBITDA as a basis for making the decisions to allocate resources and assess performance. Our discussion below includes the primary drivers of EBITDA. See Note 17, Segment Reporting, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for segment EBITDA reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes.

*    Represents positive or negative change in excess of 100%.

Drainage Pipe & Products

Net Sales

Net sales in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $662.4 million, a slight decrease compared to $686.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Lower shipments due primarily to project slowdowns caused by COVID-19, less favorable weather compared to the prior year, and our margin-enhancing "value before volume" commercial strategy, were partially offset by higher average selling prices.

Gross Profit

    Gross profit in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $165.8 million, an increase of $2.4 million or 1.5% from $163.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to higher average selling prices and manufacturing efficiencies, partially offset by lower shipment volumes.

Water Pipe & Products

Net Sales

    Net sales in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $552.2 million, an increase of $71.7 million or 14.9% from $480.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was due primarily to higher average selling prices as well as higher shipment volumes.

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Gross Profit

    Gross profit in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $124.8 million, an increase of $58.1 million, or 86.9% from $66.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The increase was primarily due to higher average selling prices, manufacturing efficiencies and lower raw material cost as well as slightly higher volumes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

    Our available cash and cash equivalents, borrowing availability under our $350.0 million Revolver, and funds generated from operations are our most significant sources of liquidity. While we believe these sources will be sufficient to finance our working capital requirements, planned capital expenditures that are essential, debt service obligations and other cash requirements for at least the next 12 months, our future liquidity will depend in part upon our operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. See “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q.

    As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had approximately $32.8 million and $34.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, respectively, of which $12.1 million and $12.6 million, respectively, were held by foreign subsidiaries. All of the cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were readily convertible as of such dates into currencies used in the Company’s operations, including the U.S. dollar. 

    We have a tax receivable agreement with Lone Star that provides for the payment by us to Lone Star of specified amounts in respect of any cash savings as a result of the utilization of certain tax benefits. The actual utilization of the relevant tax benefits as well as the timing of any payments under the tax receivable agreement will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the amount, character and timing of our and our subsidiaries’ taxable income in the future. However, we expect that the payments we make under the tax receivable agreement could be substantial. The tax receivable agreement also includes provisions which restrict the incurrence of debt and that require that we make an accelerated payment to Lone Star equal to the present value of all future payments due under the tax receivable agreement, in each case under certain circumstances. Because of the foregoing, our obligations under the tax receivable agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control. See Note 14, Commitments and contingencies, to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the tax receivable agreement. Our forecasted payments under the tax receivable agreement in 2020, pertaining to the 2019 tax year, are expected to be in the range of $8 to $10 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we paid $4.4 million on the tax receivable agreement to Lone Star. We expect that future annual payments under the tax receivable agreement will decline each year in accordance with our tax basis depreciation and amortization schedule unless future unplanned transactions result in an acceleration of our tax benefits under the agreement.

    During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we voluntarily prepaid $143.7 million of our senior term loan. In addition, we prepaid $492.5 million of our senior term loan using the net proceeds from the offering of $500 million senior secured notes, as further described below. As of September 30, 2020, we had $477.8 million outstanding balance under our senior term loan as amended, or the Term Loan, and no borrowings outstanding under the Revolver. Availability under the Revolver, based on draws, outstanding letters of credit of $26.8 million, as well as allowable borrowing base as of September 30, 2020, was $250.6 million.

    In June 2020, we entered into a First Amendment to our revolving credit agreement. The Amendment, among other things, (i) increased the size of the Revolver from $300.0 million to $350.0 million of aggregate commitments, with up to $330.0 million to be made available to the U.S. borrowers and up to $20.0 million to be made available to the Canadian borrowers, (ii) extended the maturity date of the Revolver to June 17, 2025, subject to earlier maturity if greater than $75.0 million of our Term Loan remains outstanding 91 days prior to the scheduled maturity of the term loan credit facility or any refinancing thereof, and (iii) modified the interest rates on

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outstanding borrowings under the Revolver to a rate equal to LIBOR or CDOR plus a margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.25% per annum, or an alternate base rate, Canadian prime rate or Canadian base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.75% to 1.25% per annum, in each case, based upon the average excess availability under the Revolver for the most recently completed calendar quarter and our total leverage ratio as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered.

    Subject to the conditions set forth in the revolving credit agreement, as amended, the Revolver may be increased by up to the greater of (i) $100.0 million and (ii) such amount as would not cause the aggregate borrowing base to be exceeded by more than $50.0 million. Borrowings under the Revolver may not exceed a borrowing base equal to the sum of (i) 100% of eligible cash, (ii) 85% of eligible accounts receivable and (iii) the lesser of (a) 75% of eligible inventory and (b) 85% of the orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory, with the U.S. and Canadian borrowings being subject to separate borrowing base limitations.

    Our Term Loan provides for a $1.25 billion senior secured term loan. Subject to the conditions set forth in the term loan agreement, the Term Loan may be increased by (i) up to the greater of $285.0 million and 1.0x consolidated EBITDA of Forterra, Inc. and its restricted subsidiaries for the four quarters most recently ended prior to such incurrence plus (ii) the aggregate amount of any voluntary prepayments, plus (iii) an additional unlimited amount, provided (x) in the case of any incremental debt that is secured by a lien that is pari passu with the liens securing the Term Loan, the first lien leverage ratio does not exceed 4.10 to 1.00, (y) in the case of incremental debt that is secured by a lien that is junior to the liens securing the Term Loan, the total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.50 to 1.00 and (z) in the case of incremental debt that is unsecured, the total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.75 to 1.00, in each case, determined on a pro forma basis. The Term Loan matures on October 25, 2023 and is subject to quarterly amortization equal to 0.25% of the initial principal amount. Interest will accrue on outstanding borrowings thereunder at a rate equal to adjusted LIBOR (with a floor of 1.0%) or an alternate base rate, in each case plus a margin of 3.00% or 2.00%, respectively.

    The Revolver and the Term Loan contain customary representations and warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants, that, among other things, restrict our ability to incur additional debt, incur or permit liens on assets, make investments and acquisitions, consolidate or merge with any other company, engage in asset sales and pay dividends and make distributions. The Revolver contains a financial covenant restricting us from allowing our fixed charge coverage ratio to drop below 1.00:1.00 during a compliance period, which is triggered when the availability under the Revolver falls below a threshold. The fixed charge coverage ratio is the ratio of consolidated earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortization, less cash payments for capital expenditures and income taxes to consolidated fixed charges (interest expense plus scheduled payments of principal on indebtedness). The Term Loan does not contain any financial covenants. Obligations under the Revolver and the Term Loan may be accelerated upon certain customary events of default (subject to grace periods, as appropriate). As of September 30, 2020, we were in compliance with all applicable covenants under the Revolver and the Term Loan.

On July 16, 2020, two of our subsidiaries, Forterra Finance, LLC and FRTA Finance Corp., completed the issuance of $500 million senior secured notes, or the Notes, that are due July 15, 2025. The Notes have a fixed annual interest rate of 6.50%. Obligations under the Notes are guaranteed by us and our existing and future subsidiaries (other than the issuers) that guarantee the Term Loan and the obligations of the U.S. borrowers under the Revolver. The Notes and the related guarantees are secured by first-priority liens on the collateral that secures the Term Loan on a first-priority basis (which is generally all assets other than those that secure the Revolver on a first-priority basis as set forth below) and second-priority liens on the collateral that secures the Revolver on a first-priority basis (which is generally inventory, accounts receivable, deposit accounts, securities accounts, certain intercompany loans and related assets), which second-priority liens is ratable with the liens on such assets securing the obligations under the Term Loan and junior to the liens on such assets securing the Revolver. Upon closing, we used the net proceeds from this offering to repay $492.5 million of the principal amount of the Term Loan at par, plus accrued interest.

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Parent Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantor Summarized Financial Information

The following information contains the summarized financial information for the parent (Forterra, Inc.) and subsidiary guarantors.

This consolidated summarized financial information has been prepared from the Company's financial information on the same basis of accounting as the Company's consolidated financial statements. Transactions between the parent and subsidiary guarantors presented on a combined basis have been eliminated. The principal elimination entries relate to investments in subsidiaries and intercompany balances and transactions. Certain costs have been partially allocated to all of the subsidiaries of the Company.

The subsidiary guarantors are 100% owned by the Company. All guarantees are full and unconditional and are joint and several. There are no significant restrictions on the ability of the Company to obtain funds from its U.S. subsidiaries, including the guarantors.

Summarized financial information for the year-to-date interim period and the most recent annual period was as follows (in thousands):

	Parent - Forterra, Inc. and Subsidiary Guarantors
	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
Current assets	$	496,277	$	459,437
Intercompany payable to non-guarantor subsidiaries	8,280		6,087
Non-current assets	1,125,596		1,175,697
Current liabilities	269,934		217,766
Non-current liabilities	1,257,901		1,383,697

	Parent - Forterra, Inc. and Subsidiary Guarantors
	Nine months ended September 30, 2020		Year ended December 31, 2019
Net sales	$	1,155,230	$	1,448,492
Gross profit	269,754		272,489
Income before taxes	49,035		21,557
Net income	34,959		14,813

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Cash Flow Information

    The following table sets forth a summary of the net cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the periods presented (in thousands):

	For the nine months ended
	September 30, 2020		September 30, 2019
Statement of Cash Flows data:
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	162,627	$	65,722
Net cash used in investing activities	(4,776)		(33,741)
Net cash used in financing activities	(159,530)		(24,380)

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

    Net cash provided by operating activities was $162.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $65.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Changes between the periods are primarily due to the increase in income from operations, as well as the improvements in our working capital.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

    Net cash used in investing activities was $4.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020, due to $15.5 million of capital expenditures, partially offset by $10.7 million proceeds from sale of fixed assets. Net cash used in investing activities was $33.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to capital expenditures of $33.5 million and the acquisition of Buckner assets of $10.8 million, partially offset by $10.6 million proceeds from sale of fixed assets.

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

    Net cash used in financing activities was $159.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 primarily due to $644.9 million repayments of principal on the Term Loan and $11.3 million payment of debt issuance costs, partially offset by proceeds from senior secured notes of $500.0 million. Net cash used in financing activities was $24.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 due primarily to $25.1 million repayments of principal on the Term Loan.

Secondary Public Offering

    On September 21, 2020, Forterra US Holdings, LLC (the “Selling Stockholder”), an affiliate of Lone Star, sold 10,000,000 shares of our common stock at $13.50 per share. The Selling Stockholder also granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 shares of our common stock. On October 13, 2020, the underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 200,000 shares of our common stock. As a result of the sale, the aggregate beneficial ownership of Lone Star decreased from 68.9% to 53.2% of our outstanding shares of common stock as of October 13, 2020, and we remain a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq corporate governance standards. We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common stock by the Selling Stockholder.

Capital Expenditures

    Under normal circumstances, our annual sustaining capital expenditures would average $45.0 million to $55.0 million. However, as a precautionary measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in order to preserve liquidity, we delayed some non-essential capital spending projects during the second quarter. During the third quarter, given the improvements in cash generation and liquidity, we resumed capital spending projects. Total capital expenditures were $15.5 million and $33.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively. The majority of our planned capital spending now is related to equipment,

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such as plant and mobile equipment, upgrade and expansion of existing facilities, and environmental and permit compliance projects.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

    In the ordinary course of our business, we are required to provide surety bonds and standby letters of credit to secure performance commitments. As of September 30, 2020, outstanding stand-by letters of credit amounted to $26.8 million.

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates  

    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The accounting policies that we believe are critical to or require subjective and/or complex judgments that could potentially affect 2020 reported results are discussed in greater detail in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the 2019 10-K. There have been no significant changes to those accounting policies or our assessment of which accounting policies we would consider to be critical accounting policies.

Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted

    A summary of recent accounting pronouncements and our assessment of any expected impact of these pronouncements, if known, is included in Note 2 to the audited consolidated financial statements included the 2019 10-K and Note 2, Summary of significant accounting policies, to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to financial risks such as changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity price risk associated with our input costs. We utilize derivative instruments to manage selected foreign exchange and interest rate exposures. See Note 12, Derivatives and hedging to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Interest Rate Risk

    Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our long-term debt. The interest expense associated with our long-term debt will vary with market rates. During March 2020, the Company entered into an interest rate swap transaction with a notional value of $400 million to limit our exposure to interest rate increases related to a portion of our floating rate indebtedness.  We agreed to pay a fixed rate of interest of 1.08% and receive floating rate of interest indexed to one-month LIBOR, subject to a minimum of 1.00%, with monthly settlement terms with the swap counterparty. The swap has a 30-month term and expires on September 30, 2022. At September 30, 2020, we estimate that a 1% increase in the rates relating to our floating rate debt would increase annual interest requirements by approximately $5.8 million.

    Borrowings under our Term Loan and our Revolver may use LIBOR as a benchmark for establishing the applicable interest rate. LIBOR is the subject of recent regulatory guidance and proposals for reform, which are expected to ultimately lead to the discontinuation of LIBOR or to cause LIBOR to become unavailable as a benchmark rate. The consequences of these developments with respect to LIBOR cannot be entirely predicted but could result in a significant increase in the cost of our variable rate indebtedness causing a negative impact on our financial position, liquidity and results of operations. We plan to carefully monitor the situation and may seek to renegotiate the benchmark for establishing the applicable interest rate with our lenders in the future.

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Foreign Currency Risk

    Approximately 4.9% of our net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, were made in countries outside of the U.S. As a result, we are exposed to movements in foreign exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies. Based upon our net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we estimate that a 1% change in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies would affect net sales by approximately $0.6 million. This may differ from actual results depending on the levels of net sales outside of the U.S.

Commodity Price Risk

    We are subject to commodity price risks with respect to price changes mainly in the electricity and natural gas markets and other raw material costs, such as cement, aggregates, steel and clay. Price fluctuations on our key inputs have a significant effect on our financial performance. The markets for most of these commodities are cyclical and are affected by factors such as the global economic conditions, changes in or disruptions to industry production capacity, changes in inventory levels and other factors beyond our control.

Credit Risk

    Financial instruments that potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. We provide our products to customers based on an evaluation of the financial condition of our customers, generally without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally dependent on each customer's financial condition. We monitor the exposure for credit losses and maintain allowances for anticipated losses. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to our accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers comprising our customer base and their dispersion among many different geographies.

    At September 30, 2020, we had an individual customer within our Water Pipe & Products segment that accounted for more than 10% of total net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The customer represented approximately 16% of our total net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, and amounts receivable from the customer at September 30, 2020 represented approximately 17% of our total receivables, net.

    The COVID-19 pandemic may increase our risk of, or exposure to, credit losses. See Note 2, Summary of significant accounting policies, to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) as of September 30, 2020.

Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of September 30, 2020.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our system of internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed or operated, can provide only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system of internal control are met. The design of our control system reflects the fact that there are resource constraints, and that the benefits of such control system must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control failures and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the intentional acts of individuals, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is also based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that the design of any particular control will always succeed in achieving its objective under all potential future conditions.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The information set forth in Note 14, Commitments and contingencies, to the condensed consolidated financial statements is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our business faces many risks and uncertainties that we cannot control. The risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of our 2019 10-K, as supplemented in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 ,2020 and June 30, 2020, and as further supplemented below, should be carefully considered, together with the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could also impact, or amplify, many of the risk factors included in our 2019 10-K. However, given the unpredictable and unprecedented nature of the pandemic, the potential impact it could have remains uncertain. Additionally, other risks that we do not presently know about, or that we presently believe are not material, could also adversely affect us.

Our business, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and stock price have been and in the future may be adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Our operations and business have been adversely affected and could in the future be materially and adversely affected, whether directly or indirectly, by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting weakening of economic conditions in the United States and eastern Canada. Local, state, provincial and federal governmental authorities initially responded to the pandemic by implementing increasingly stringent measures in geographies where we operate to help control the spread of the virus, including restrictions on movement such as quarantines, “shelter in place,” “stay at home” orders, and travel restrictions, as well as restricting or prohibiting outright some or all forms of commercial and business activity, and other restrictions, including closures of school and childcare facilities. Although we were and have continued to be categorized as “essential” and therefore permitted to operate our facilities consistent with applicable local, state, provincial and federal orders, any changes in these governmental orders, including the imposition of new orders, changes to the extent or the duration thereof, or any further, more severe, actions taken by governmental authorities or that we may choose to take whether required or not could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

    Our customers have been and could continue to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including as a result of project delays and other adverse impacts on demand, which could result in adverse impacts on our sales and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Similarly, our suppliers and other parts of our supply chain could experience disruptions and other adverse impacts as a result of the pandemic that could cause us to be unable to obtain key raw materials and supplies on a timely or cost-effective basis, or in some cases, at all, any of which could result in our being unable to service our customers’ demands, and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

    The COVID-19 pandemic, including any actions we have taken in response, has disrupted our internal operations, including by heightening the risk that a significant portion of our workforce will suffer illness or otherwise not be permitted or be unable to work, and required that certain of our employees work remotely, which has heightened certain risks, including those related to cybersecurity and internal controls. For example, during the second quarter of 2020, a small number of employees tested positive for COVID-19, which required us to temporarily close a small number of our manufacturing facilities, and during the third quarter we have continued to experience small numbers of employees who test positive for COVID-19 and are required to quarantine. Additionally, we cannot predict whether these conditions and concerns will continue or whether we will experience more significant or frequent disruptions in the future, including the complete closure of one or more of our facilities. In addition, in the event demand for our products is significantly reduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic impacts, we may need to assess different corporate actions and cost-cutting measures, including reducing our workforce or closing one or more facilities, and these actions could cause us to

44

incur costs and expose us to other risks and inefficiencies, including whether we would be able to rehire our workforce or recommence operations at a given facility if our business experiences a subsequent recovery.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has also adversely affected economies worldwide and significantly disrupted financial and other capital markets, causing a significant deceleration of economic activity. This slowdown has decreased demand for a wide variety of goods and services, diminished trade levels, reduced production and led to widespread corporate downsizing, causing a sharp increase in unemployment. The impact of this outbreak on the U.S. and world economies is uncertain and, unless until the outbreak is contained, these adverse impacts could worsen, impacting all segments of the global economy, and result in a significant recession or worse. Although we initially took certain precautionary measures to preserve liquidity, including borrowing under our ABL Facility and suspending non-essential capital expenditures, we have since ended these measures and repaid the amounts borrowed under the ABL Facility, and a prolonged period of generating lower cash from operations or other pressures on our liquidity could adversely affect our financial condition, the achievement of our strategic objectives or require us to seek additional capital. Conditions in the financial and capital markets have been extremely volatile and may limit or entirely restrict the availability of funding or increase the cost of funding, which could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

    Considerable uncertainty still surrounds the COVID-19 virus and the pandemic's potential effects, and the extent and effectiveness of responses taken on local, national and global levels. No fully effective vaccines or treatments have been developed and one may not be discovered early enough to protect against a worsening of the pandemic or to prevent COVID-19 from becoming endemic. While we expect the pandemic and related events will continue to have a negative effect on us, the unpredictable and unprecedented nature and fluidity of current circumstances makes it impractical to identify all potential risks or estimate the full extent and scope of the impact on our business and industry, as well as national, regional and global markets and economies. However, our ability to conduct our business in the manner previously or currently expected could be materially and adversely affected, and any of the foregoing risks and uncertainties as well as those that have not yet manifested themselves or been identified could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

45

Item 6. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
4.1	Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2020 among Forterra Finance, LLC, FRTA Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee.	(a)
4.2	Form of Global Note for 6.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 hereto).	(a)
31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	*
31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	*
32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	^
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document -  the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.	*
101.SCH	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.	*
101.CAL	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.	*
101.DEF	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document.	*
101.LAB	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document.	*
101.PRE	Inline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document.	*
104.1	Cover page interactive data file - The cover page from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 is formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101).	*

*	Filed herewith
^	Exhibit 32.1 shall not be deemed filed with the SEC, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing with the SEC under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filings.
(a)	Previously filed on July 17, 2020 as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

46

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

FORTERRA, INC.
(Registrant)
	/s/ Karl Watson, Jr.	October 29, 2020
By:	Karl Watson, Jr.
	Chief Executive Officer
	(Principal Executive Officer)
	/s/ Charles R. Brown, II	October 29, 2020
By:	Charles R. Brown, II
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer)

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION

I, Karl Watson, Jr., certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Forterra, Inc.;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.         The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)     Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	October 29, 2020	/s/ Karl Watson, Jr.
		Karl Watson, Jr.
		Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION

I, Charles R. Brown II, certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Forterra, Inc.;

2.        Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.        Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.        The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.    The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. 

Date:	October 29, 2020	/s/ Charles R. Brown, II
		Charles R. Brown, II
		Executive Vice President and Chief
		Financial Officer

EX-32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2020 of Forterra, Inc. (the “Company”) as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, each of the undersigned officers of the Company certifies to his knowledge that:

•the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

•the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:	October 29, 2020	/s/ Karl Watson, Jr.
		Karl Watson, Jr.
		Chief Executive Officer

Date:	October 29, 2020	/s/ Charles R. Brown, II
		Charles R. Brown, II
		Executive Vice President and Chief
		Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

XML

Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 26, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-37921
Entity Registrant Name	FORTERRA, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	37-1830464
Entity Address, Address Line One	511 East John Carpenter Freeway
Entity Address, Address Line Two	6th Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	Irving
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	75062
City Area Code	469
Local Phone Number	458-7973
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	FRTA
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		65,673,670
Entity Central Index Key	0001678463
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 457,557	$ 464,526	$ 1,214,619	$ 1,166,603
Cost of goods sold	331,284	362,362	924,025	936,820
Gross profit	126,273	102,164	290,594	229,783
Selling, general & administrative expenses	(57,050)	(55,234)	(164,573)	(165,265)
Impairment and exit charges	(1,389)	(510)	(2,478)	(1,323)
Other operating income (loss), net	224	815	(447)	1,018
Operating expenses	(58,215)	(54,929)	(167,498)	(165,570)
Income from operations	68,058	47,235	123,096	64,213
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(20,055)	(23,272)	(60,502)	(73,720)
(Loss) gain on extinguishment of debt	(11,547)	374	(11,481)	374
Earnings from equity method investee	2,295	3,990	8,220	8,959
Income (loss) before income taxes	38,751	28,327	59,333	(174)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(9,924)	(5,897)	(17,457)	519
Net income	$ 28,827	$ 22,430	$ 41,876	$ 345
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	$ 0.35	$ 0.64	$ 0.01
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.34	$ 0.62	$ 0.01
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	65,336	64,210	65,078	64,119
Diluted (in shares)	68,717	64,998	67,878	64,528

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 28,827	$ 22,430	$ 41,876	$ 345
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	0	0	(681)	373
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,275	(710)	(1,987)	2,118
Comprehensive income	$ 30,102	$ 21,720	$ 39,208	$ 2,836

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 32,758	$ 34,800
Receivables, net	276,818	205,801
Inventories	219,336	238,483
Prepaid expenses	11,782	11,021
Other current assets	1,456	8,890
Total current assets	542,150	498,995
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net	444,668	475,575
Operating lease right-of-use assets	55,800	60,253
Goodwill	508,460	508,826
Intangible assets, net	111,682	142,674
Investment in equity method investee	50,754	50,034
Other long-term assets	5,215	3,701
Total assets	1,718,729	1,740,058
Current liabilities
Trade payables	143,279	102,426
Accrued liabilities	109,927	88,839
Deferred revenue	8,232	9,527
Current portion of long-term debt	12,510	12,510
Current portion of tax receivable agreement	8,734	13,145
Total current liabilities	282,682	226,447
Non-current liabilities
Senior term loan	456,698	1,085,793
Senior secured notes	491,601	0
Long-term finance lease liabilities	141,396	137,365
Long-term operating lease liabilities	51,623	54,411
Deferred tax liabilities	25,456	28,929
Other long-term liabilities	35,369	21,906
Long-term tax receivable agreement	64,240	64,240
Total liabilities	1,549,065	1,619,091
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)
Equity
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 190,000 shares authorized; 65,673 and 64,741 shares issued and outstanding	19	19
Additional paid-in-capital	253,861	244,372
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,731)	(7,063)
Retained deficit	(74,485)	(116,361)
Total shareholder's equity	169,664	120,967
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 1,718,729	$ 1,740,058
Common shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common shares, authorized (in shares)	190,000,000	190,000,000
Common shares, outstanding (in shares)	65,673,000	64,741,000

XML

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common shares, authorized (in shares)	190,000,000	190,000,000
Common shares, issued (in shares)	65,673,000	64,741,000
Common shares, outstanding (in shares)	65,673,000	64,741,000

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in-Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Deficit	Retained Deficit Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			64,205,604
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 108,222	$ 6,957	$ 18	$ 234,931	$ (10,740)	$ (115,987)	$ 6,957
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation expense	1,529			1,529
Stock-based plan activity (in shares)			57,106
Stock-based plan activity	(26)			(26)
Comprehensive loss:
Net income	(25,039)					(25,039)
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	373				373
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,508				1,508
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			64,262,710
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	93,524		$ 18	236,434	(8,859)	(134,069)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			64,205,604
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	108,222	$ 6,957	$ 18	234,931	(10,740)	(115,987)	$ 6,957
Comprehensive loss:
Net income	345
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	373
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,118
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			64,539,590
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	124,004		$ 18	240,920	(8,249)	(108,685)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			64,262,710
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	93,524		$ 18	236,434	(8,859)	(134,069)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation expense	1,132			1,132
Stock-based plan activity (in shares)			35,447
Stock-based plan activity	(88)			(88)
Comprehensive loss:
Net income	2,954					2,954
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,320				1,320
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019			64,298,157
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	98,842		$ 18	237,478	(7,539)	(131,115)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation expense	2,172			2,172
Stock-based plan activity (in shares)			241,433
Stock-based plan activity	1,270			1,270
Comprehensive loss:
Net income	22,430					22,430
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(710)				(710)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019			64,539,590
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 124,004		$ 18	240,920	(8,249)	(108,685)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	64,741,000		64,740,667
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 120,967		$ 19	244,372	(7,063)	(116,361)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation expense	2,864			2,864
Stock-based plan activity (in shares)			336,752
Stock-based plan activity	(194)			(194)
Comprehensive loss:
Net income	(14,066)					(14,066)
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	(681)				(681)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,699)				(5,699)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020			65,077,419
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 103,191		$ 19	247,042	(13,443)	(130,427)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	64,741,000		64,740,667
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 120,967		$ 19	244,372	(7,063)	(116,361)
Comprehensive loss:
Net income	41,876
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	(681)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ (1,987)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020	65,673,000		65,673,402
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 169,664		$ 19	253,861	(9,731)	(74,485)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020			65,077,419
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	103,191		$ 19	247,042	(13,443)	(130,427)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation expense	2,607			2,607
Stock-based plan activity (in shares)			133,488
Stock-based plan activity	46			46
Comprehensive loss:
Net income	27,115					27,115
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2,437				2,437
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020			65,210,907
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	135,396		$ 19	249,695	(11,006)	(103,312)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Share-based compensation expense	2,330			2,330
Stock-based plan activity (in shares)			462,495
Stock-based plan activity	1,836			1,836
Comprehensive loss:
Net income	28,827					28,827
Change in other postretirement benefit plans, net of tax	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ 1,275				1,275
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020	65,673,000		65,673,402
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 169,664		$ 19	$ 253,861	$ (9,731)	$ (74,485)

XML

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 41,876	$ 345
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation & amortization expense	67,271	72,954
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment	1,949	1,551
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	11,481	(374)
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs	5,292	6,022
Stock-based compensation expense	7,801	4,833
Impairment charges	1,332	0
Earnings from equity method investee	(8,220)	(8,959)
Distributions from equity method investee	7,500	6,500
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net	894	5,892
Unrealized foreign currency loss, net	261	35
Provision (recoveries) for doubtful accounts	166	511
Deferred taxes	(3,473)	(11,672)
Other non-cash items	3,841	(188)
Change in assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net	(71,203)	(88,138)
Inventories	18,775	29,109
Other current assets	6,350	1,296
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	59,307	37,259
Other assets and liabilities	11,427	8,746
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	162,627	65,722
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets	(15,454)	(44,321)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	10,678	10,580
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(4,776)	(33,741)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from senior secured notes	500,000	0
Payment of debt issuance costs	(11,299)	0
Repayments of term loans	(644,923)	(25,110)
Proceeds from revolver	180,000	54,000
Repayments of revolver	(180,000)	(54,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	2,275	1,282
Payment pursuant to tax receivable agreement	(4,411)	0
Other financing activities	(1,172)	(552)
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(159,530)	(24,380)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(363)	458
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(2,042)	8,059
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	34,800	35,793
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	32,758	43,852
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES:
Cash interest paid	44,333	59,138
Income taxes paid, net	$ 8,770	$ 5,054

XML

Description of the business	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of the business	Description of the business    Forterra, Inc. (“Forterra” or the ‘‘Company’’) is involved in the manufacturing, sale and distribution of building products in the United States (“U.S.”) and Eastern Canada. Forterra’s primary products are concrete drainage pipe, precast concrete structures, and water transmission pipe used in drinking and wastewater systems. These products are used in the infrastructure, residential and non-residential sectors of the construction industry.

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Summary of significant accounting policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of significant accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies

General

    The Company's condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

    The condensed consolidated balance sheets and the condensed consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and equity for the periods presented herein reflect all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and are necessary for a fair statement of the results of the periods shown. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

    The results of operations for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020. Seasonal changes and other conditions can affect the sales volumes of the Company's products. The financial results for any interim period do not necessarily indicate the expected results for the year.

    These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2019 as provided in Forterra, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020 (the “2019 10-K”). The Company has continued to follow the accounting policies set forth in those financial statements, except as supplemented and documented below. Certain prior year numbers were reclassified to conform with current year presentation. Such reclassification had no impact on the previously reported results of operations.

Use of estimates

    The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the reporting date, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future. The more significant estimates made by management relate to fair value estimates for assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations; estimates for accrued liabilities for environmental cleanup, bodily injury and insurance claims; estimates for commitments and contingencies; and estimates for the realizability of deferred tax assets, the tax receivable agreement obligation, inventory reserves, allowance for doubtful accounts and impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets.

    Certain accounting matters that generally require consideration of forecasted financial information were assessed in light of the impact from the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic. The accounting matters assessed included, but were not limited to, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, goodwill impairment, impairment of property and equipment and valuation allowances for tax assets.

While the assessments resulted in no material impacts to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company believes the full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak remains uncertain and will continue to assess if ongoing developments related to the outbreak may cause future material impacts to its consolidated financial statements.

Concentration of Credit Risk

    The Company had an individual customer within its Water Pipe & Products segment that accounted for approximately 16% and 14% of the Company's total net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and receivables at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 representing 17% and 13% of the Company's total receivables, net, respectively.

Credit Losses

    Trade accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay.

    The Company's exposure to credit losses may increase if one or more of its customers are adversely affected by changes in laws or other government recommendations or mandates, economic pressures or uncertainty associated with local or global economic recessions, disruption or other impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, or other customer-specific factors. Although the Company has historically not experienced significant credit losses, it is possible that there could be a material adverse impact from potential adjustments of the carrying amount of trade receivables as customers are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted

    In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, Financial Instruments–Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology under current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires the use of a forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivables, loans, and other financial instruments. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2020 using a modified retrospective approach, which did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

    In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in the ASU provide optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The guidance was effective upon issuance and generally can be applied through December 31, 2022 and has not had any material impact to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

    In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). The new guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, hybrid taxes, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences.  It also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes.  For public companies, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted in interim or annual periods with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning

of the annual period that includes that interim period.  Additionally, entities that elect early adoption must adopt all the amendments in the same period.  Amendments are to be applied prospectively, except for certain amendments that are to be applied either retrospectively or with a modified retrospective approach through a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to retained earnings.  The effects of this standard on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements are not expected to be material.

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Acquisitions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions    On March 1, 2019, the Company acquired certain assets of Texas limited liability companies Houston Buckner Precast, LLC, Buckner Precast, LLC, Montgomery 18905 E. Industrial, LLC, and 1763 Old Denton Road, LLC (altogether "Buckner") for consideration of $11.8 million in cash, inclusive of a working capital adjustment.  The acquired Buckner assets did not meet the definition of a business and, as such, the transaction was accounted for as an asset acquisition pursuant to the guidance in subsection 805-50 of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, Business Combinations. The assets operate as part of the Company’s Drainage Pipe & Products segment.

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Receivables, net

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Receivables [Abstract]

Receivables, net

Receivables, net

    Receivables consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Trade receivables	$	249,311	$	178,698
Amounts billed but not yet paid under retainage provisions	4,328		3,093
Other receivables	25,026		26,078
Total receivables	278,665		207,869
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,847)		(2,068)
Receivables, net	$	276,818	$	205,801

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Inventories

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventories

Inventories

    Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Finished goods	$	138,426	$	161,440
Raw materials	80,333		76,237
Work in process	577		806
Total inventories	$	219,336	$	238,483

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Investment in equity method investee

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Investment in equity method investee

Investment in equity method investee

    The Company owns 50% of the Common Unit voting shares of Concrete Pipe & Precast LLC ("CP&P") and consequently, has recorded its investment in the Common Unit voting shares in accordance with ASC 323, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures, under the equity method of accounting.

    The Company's investment in the joint venture was $50.8 million at September 30, 2020, which is included within the Drainage Pipe & Products segment. At September 30, 2020, the difference between the amount at which the Company's investment is carried and the amount of the Company's share of the underlying equity in net assets of CP&P was approximately $13.0 million. The basis difference is primarily attributed to the value of land and equity method goodwill associated with the investment.

    The following reflects the Company's distribution and earnings in the equity investment (in thousands):

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Distribution received from CP&P	$	(3,000)	$	(5,000)	$	(7,500)	$	(6,500)
Share of earnings in CP&P	2,313		4,008		8,274		9,013
Amortization of excess fair value of investment	(18)		(18)		(54)		(54)

    Selected financial data for CP&P on a 100% basis is as follows (in thousands):

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net sales	$	33,094	$	38,210	$	103,884	$	103,812
Gross profit	9,047		12,632		30,517		32,307
Income from operations	4,608		8,021		16,487		18,041
Net income	4,547		7,959		16,314		17,852

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Property, plant and equipment, net

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, plant and equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment, net

    Property, plant and equipment, net, consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Machinery and equipment	$	413,148	$	398,127
Land, buildings and improvements	231,958		240,403
Other equipment	12,548		8,660
Construction-in-progress	14,107		29,157
Total property, plant and equipment	671,761		676,347
Less: accumulated depreciation	(227,093)		(200,772)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	444,668	$	475,575

    Depreciation expense totaled $12.0 million and $36.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, and $12.3 million and $37.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, which is included in cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

    The Company has recorded goodwill in connection with its acquisition of businesses. The following table summarizes the changes in goodwill by operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 (in thousands):

	Drainage Pipe & Products		Water Pipe & Products		Total
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	190,466	$	318,360	$	508,826
Foreign currency and other adjustments	(366)		—		(366)
Balance at September 30, 2020	$	190,100	$	318,360	$	508,460

    Intangible assets other than goodwill at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 included the following (in thousands):

	Net carrying value as of September 30, 2020		Net carrying value as of December 31, 2019
Customer relationships	$	78,095	$	100,869
Trade names	16,108		19,626
Patents	5,690		7,673
Non-compete agreements	5,696		8,070
Developed technology	5,700		5,980
Other	393		456
Total intangible assets	$	111,682	$	142,674

    Amortization expense totaled $10.3 million and $31.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, and $11.9 million and $35.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. All of the Company's intangible assets are amortizable.

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Fair value measurement

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair value measurement

Fair value measurement

    The Company's financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, derivative instruments, accounts payable, long-term debt, operating and finance lease liabilities, accrued liabilities and the tax receivable agreement obligation. The carrying value of the Company's trade receivables, other receivables, trade payables, the asset-based revolver and accrued liabilities approximates fair value due to their short-term maturity or other terms related to these financial instruments. The Company may adjust the carrying amount of certain non-financial assets to fair value on a non-recurring basis when they are impaired.

    The estimated carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows for the dates indicated (in thousands):

	Fair value measurements at September 30, 2020 using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value September 30, 2020
Liabilities:
Derivative liability	$	—	$	636	$	—	$	636
	Fair value measurements at December 31, 2019 using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value December 31, 2019
Assets:
Derivative asset	$	—	$	258	$	—	$	258

Liabilities and assets classified as level 2 which are recorded at fair value are valued using observable market inputs. The fair values of derivative assets and liabilities are determined using quantitative models that utilize multiple market inputs including interest rates and exchange rates to generate continuous yield or pricing curves and volatility factors to value the position. The majority of market inputs are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, including brokers, market transactions and third-party pricing services. The fair values of derivative assets and liabilities include adjustments for market liquidity, counter-party credit quality,

and other instrument-specific factors, where appropriate. In addition, the Company incorporates within its fair value measurements a valuation adjustment to reflect the credit risk associated with the net position. Positions are netted by counterparties, and fair value for net long exposures is adjusted for counter-party credit risk while the fair value for net short exposures is adjusted for the Company’s own credit risk.

    The estimated carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments and liabilities for which fair value is only disclosed is as follows (in thousands):

			Fair value measurements at September 30, 2020 using
	Carrying Amount September 30, 2020		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value September 30, 2020
Liabilities:
Term Loan	$	469,208	$	—	$	473,638	$	—	$	473,638
Senior Secured Notes	$	491,601	—		$	529,715	—		529,715
Tax receivable agreement payable	72,974		—		—		46,044		46,044

			Fair value measurements at December 31, 2019 using
	Carrying Amount December 31, 2019		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value December 31, 2019
Liabilities:
Term Loan	$	1,098,303	$	—	$	1,102,295	$	—	$	1,102,295
Tax receivable agreement payable	77,385		—		—		47,625		47,625

The fair value of debt is valued using a market approach based on indicative quoted prices for the Company's debt instruments traded in over-the-counter markets and, therefore, is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. See Note 11, Debt and deferred financing costs, for a further discussion of Company debt.

    The determination of the fair value of the Company's tax receivable agreement payable was made using a discounted cash flow methodology with level 3 inputs as defined by ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. The determination of fair value required significant judgment, including estimates of the timing and amounts of various tax attributes. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future. Actual results could differ from these estimates. See Note 14, Commitments and contingencies, for a further discussion of the Company's tax receivable agreement.

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Accrued liabilities

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued liabilities

Accrued liabilities

    Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	$	42,541	$	32,815
Short-term finance leases	17,001		16,542
Short-term operating leases	7,979		8,784
Accrued taxes	16,483		5,354
Warranty	5,960		5,536
Accrued rebates	14,685		9,895
Short-term derivative liability	332		—
Environmental obligation	63		718
Other miscellaneous accrued liabilities	4,883		9,195
Total accrued liabilities	$	109,927	$	88,839

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Debt and deferred financing costs

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt and deferred financing costs

Debt and deferred financing costs

    The Company’s debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Term Loan, net of debt issuance costs and original issuance discount of $8,611 and $25,055, respectively	$	469,208	$	1,098,303
Senior Secured Notes, net of debt issuance costs and original issuance discount of $8,399 and $0, respectively	491,601		—
Total debt	$	960,809	$	1,098,303
Less: current portion debt	(12,510)		(12,510)
Total long-term debt	$	948,299	$	1,085,793

As of September 30, 2020, Forterra had no borrowings under its $350 million asset based revolving credit facility under its ABL Credit Agreement dated October 25, 2016 (the “ABL Credit Agreement”) for working capital and general corporate purposes (“Revolver”), $477.8 million outstanding under its senior term loan facility (“Term Loan”) and $500 million senior secured notes due 2025 (the “Notes”).

Senior Secured Notes

On July 16, 2020, Forterra Finance, LLC and FRTA Finance Corp., both wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, completed the issuance of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due in 2025. The Notes have a fixed annual interest rate of 6.50% which will be paid semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The Notes will mature on July 15, 2025. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering to repay $492.5 million of the principal amount of the Term Loan at par, plus accrued interest. The Company incurred debt issuance costs of $8.8 million and will amortize them over the term of the Notes under the effective interest method.

Obligations under the Notes are guaranteed by the Company and the Company’s existing and future subsidiaries (other than the issuing companies) that guarantee the Term Loan and the obligations of the U.S. borrowers under the Revolver. The Notes and the related guarantees are secured by first-priority liens on the collateral that secures the Term Loan on a first-priority basis (which is generally all assets other than those that secure the Revolver on a first-priority basis as set forth below) and second-priority liens on the collateral that secures the Revolver on a first-priority basis (which is generally inventory, accounts receivable, deposit accounts,

securities accounts, certain intercompany loans and related assets), which second-priority liens will be ratable with the liens on such assets securing the obligations under the Term Loan and junior to the liens on such assets securing the Revolver.

At any time prior to July 15, 2022, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or part of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus a “make whole premium” as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, subject to the right of holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date. In addition, at any time prior to July 15, 2022, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to the issuance of any additional notes) issued under the Indenture at a redemption price equal to 106.500% of the principal amount of Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption (subject to the right of holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date), with the net cash proceeds of an equity offering. Furthermore, at any time on or after July 15, 2022, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or part of the Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on July 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of holders of Notes on a relevant record date to receive interest on an interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date:

	Percentage
2022	103.250	%
2023	101.625	%
2024 and thereafter	100.000	%

The Notes contain customary negative covenants, including, among other things, limitations or prohibitions on restricted payments, incurrence of additional indebtedness, liens, mergers, asset sales and transactions with affiliates. In addition, the Indenture contains customary events of default.        

Senior Term Loan

The Term Loan provides for a $1.25 billion senior secured term loan. Subject to the conditions set forth in the term loan agreement, the Term Loan may be increased by (i) up to the greater of $285.0 million and 1.0x consolidated EBITDA (defined below) of Forterra and its restricted subsidiaries for the four quarters most recently ended prior to such incurrence plus (ii) the aggregate amount of any voluntary prepayments, plus (iii) an additional unlimited amount, provided (x) in the case of any incremental debt that is secured by a lien that is pari passu with the liens securing the Term Loan, the first lien leverage ratio does not exceed 4.10 to 1.00, (y) in the case of incremental debt that is secured by a lien that is junior to the liens securing the Term Loan, the total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.50 to 1.00 and (z) in the case of incremental debt that is unsecured, the total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.75 to 1.00, in each case, determined on a pro forma basis.

    The Term Loan matures on October 25, 2023 and is subject to quarterly amortization equal to 0.25% of the initial principal amount. Interest accrues on outstanding borrowings thereunder at a rate equal to adjusted LIBOR (with a floor of 1.0%) or an alternate base rate (the base rate, which is the highest of the then current federal funds rate plus 0.50%, the prime rate most recently announced by the administrative agent under the Term Loan, and the one-month adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00%), in each case plus a margin of 3.00% or 2.00%, respectively. The weighted average interest rates for the Term Loan were 4.0%, 4.2%, 5.2% and 5.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

    During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company repurchased $636.1 million of the Term Loan before its maturity at a market value of $635.5 million. Consequently, the Company wrote off a proportionate share of debt issuance costs of $12.1 million and recognized a net loss of $11.5 million which was included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

    Outstanding borrowings under the Term Loan are guaranteed by Forterra and each of its direct and indirect material wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries except certain excluded subsidiaries (the "Guarantors"). The Term Loan is secured by substantially all of the assets of Forterra, the borrower and the Guarantors; provided that the obligations under the Term Loan are not secured by any liens on more than 65% of the voting stock of foreign subsidiaries or assets of foreign subsidiaries. The Term Loan contains customary representations and warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants, that, among other things, restrict the ability of Forterra and its restricted subsidiaries to incur additional debt, incur or permit liens on assets, make investments and acquisitions, consolidate or merge with any other company, engage in asset sales and pay dividends and make distributions. The Term Loan does not contain any financial covenants. Obligations under the Term Loan may be accelerated upon certain customary events of default (subject to grace periods, as appropriate).

Asset Based Revolving Facility

    On June 17, 2020, the Company entered into a First Amendment (the “Amendment”) to the ABL Credit Agreement. The Amendment, among other things, (i) increased the size of the Revolver from $300.0 million to $350.0 million of aggregate commitments, with up to $330.0 million to be made available to the U.S. Borrowers and up to $20.0 million to be made available to the Canadian Borrowers (the allocation may be modified periodically at the Company's request), (ii) extended the maturity date of the Revolver to June 17, 2025, subject to earlier maturity if greater than $75.0 million of the Company’s Term Loan remains outstanding 91 days prior to the scheduled maturity of the term loan credit facility or any refinancing thereof, and (iii) modified the interest rates on outstanding borrowings under the Revolver to a rate equal to LIBOR or CDOR plus a margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.25% per annum, or an alternate base rate, Canadian prime rate or Canadian base rate plus a margin ranging from 0.75% to 1.25% per annum, in each case, based upon the average excess availability under the Revolver for the most recently completed calendar quarter and the Company’s total leverage ratio as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered. The Company incurred $2.6 million of fees and expenses in connection with this Amendment and recorded it to “Other Long-term Assets” in its condensed consolidated balance sheet. In addition, the Company wrote off $0.4 million of previously deferred issuance cost related to the banks that are no longer part of the ABL Credit Facility.

Subject to the conditions set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement, as amended, the Revolver may be increased by up to the greater of (i) $100.0 million and (ii) such amount as would not cause the aggregate borrowing base to be exceeded by more than $50.0 million. Borrowings under the Revolver may not exceed a borrowing base equal to the sum of (i) 100% of eligible cash, (ii) 85% of eligible accounts receivable and (iii) the lesser of (a) 75% of eligible inventory and (b) 85% of the orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory, with the U.S. and Canadian borrowings being subject to separate borrowing base limitations. The advance rates for accounts receivable and inventory are subject to increase by 2.5% during certain periods. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Revolver had no outstanding borrowings. The weighted average interest rates for the borrowings under the Revolver were 2.00% and 3.72% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.

    The Revolver also provides for the issuance of letters of credit of up to an agreed sublimit. The obligations of the borrowers under the Revolver are guaranteed by Forterra and its direct and indirect wholly-owned restricted subsidiaries other than certain excluded subsidiaries; provided that the obligations of the U.S. borrowers are not guaranteed by the Canadian subsidiaries. The Revolver is secured by substantially all of the assets of the borrowers; provided that the obligations of the U.S. borrowers are not secured by any liens on more than 65% of the voting stock of foreign subsidiaries or assets of foreign subsidiaries.

    In addition, Forterra pays a facility fee of between 20.0 and 32.5 basis points per annum based upon the utilization of the total Revolver. Availability under the Revolver, based on draws, outstanding letters of credit of $26.8 million, as well as allowable borrowing base as of September 30, 2020, was $250.6 million.

    The Revolver and the Term Loan contain customary representations and warranties, and affirmative and negative covenants, including representations, warranties, and covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of Forterra and its restricted subsidiaries to incur additional debt, incur or permit liens on assets, make

investments and acquisitions, consolidate or merge with any other company, engage in asset sales and pay dividends and make distributions. The Revolver contains a financial covenant restricting Forterra from allowing its fixed charge coverage ratio to drop below 1.00:1.00 during a compliance period, which is triggered when the availability under the Revolver falls below a threshold set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement, as amended. Obligations under the Revolver and the Term Loan may be accelerated upon certain customary events of default (subject to grace periods, as appropriate). The fixed charge coverage ratio is the ratio of consolidated earnings before interest, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA’’) less cash payments for capital expenditures and income taxes to consolidated fixed charges (interest expense plus scheduled payments of principal on indebtedness).

    As of September 30, 2020, the Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants under the Revolver, the Term Loan, and the Notes.

    As of September 30, 2020, scheduled maturities of long-term debt were as follows (in thousands).

	Total		Term Loan		Notes
2020	$	3,128	$	3,128	$	—
2021	12,510		12,510		—
2022	12,510		12,510		—
2023	449,671		449,671		—
2024	—		—		—
2025	500,000		—		500,000
	$	977,819	$	477,819	$	500,000

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Derivatives and hedging

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivatives and hedging

Derivatives and hedging

    The Company uses derivatives to manage selected foreign exchange and interest rate exposures. The Company does not use derivative instruments for speculative trading purposes, and cash flows from derivative instruments are included in net cash provided by operating activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

    On March 30, 2020, Forterra entered into an interest rate swap transaction with a notional value of $400 million to reduce exposure to interest rate fluctuations associated with a portion of the Term Loan. Under the terms of the swap transaction, Forterra agreed to pay a fixed rate of interest of 1.08% and receive floating rate of interest indexed to one-month LIBOR, subject to a minimum of 1.00%, with monthly settlement terms with the swap counterparty. The swap has a 30-month term and expires on September 30, 2022. The interest rate swap is not designated as a cash flow hedge, therefore all changes in the fair value of the instrument are captured as a component of interest expense in the statements of operations. Accordingly, cash flows from the monthly interest rate swap settlements are included in net cash provided by (used in) operating activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

    On February 9, 2017, Forterra entered into interest rate swap transactions with a combined notional value of $525 million.  Under the terms of the swap transactions, Forterra agreed to pay a fixed rate of interest of 1.52% and receive floating rate interest indexed to one-month LIBOR with monthly settlement terms with the swap counterparties.  The swaps were not designated as cash flow hedges, had a three-year term, and expired on March 31, 2020.

    The Company elects to present all derivative assets and derivative liabilities on a net basis on its condensed consolidated balance sheets when a legally enforceable International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) Master Agreement exists. An ISDA Master Agreement is an agreement between two counterparties, which may have multiple derivative transactions with each other governed by such agreement, and such ISDA Master Agreement generally provides for the net settlement of all or a specified group of these

derivative transactions, through a single payment, in a single currency, in the event of a default on, or affecting any, one derivative transaction or a termination event affecting all, or a specified group of, derivative transactions. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company’s derivative instruments fall under an ISDA master netting agreement.

    The following table presents the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	September 30, 2020
	Derivative Assets				Derivative Liabilities
	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Notional Amount		Fair Value
Interest rate swaps	$	—	$	—	$	400,000	$	636
Total derivatives, gross			—				636
Less: Legally enforceable master netting agreements			—				—
Total derivatives, net			$	—			$	636

	December 31, 2019
	Derivative Assets				Derivative Liabilities
	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Notional Amount		Fair Value
Interest rate swaps	$	525,000	$	258	$	—	$	—
Total derivatives, gross			258				—
Less: Legally enforceable master netting agreements			—				—
Total derivatives, net			$	258			$	—

The following table presents the effect of derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):

	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2020	2019	2020	2019
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Interest rate swaps
Gain (loss) on derivatives not designated as hedges included in interest expense	27	(868)	(894)	(5,892)

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Leases

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

Leases

    The Company leases land and buildings, office spaces, vehicles, machinery and equipment under various lease agreements. A large portion of the Company’s leases were the result of the 2016 sale and leaseback of land and buildings related to certain production facilities. These leases have an initial term of 25 years, followed by one optional renewal term of approximately ten years that may be exercised at the Company’s discretion. These leases, with the exception of certain land leases, are classified as finance leases. The Company’s operating leases are mainly comprised of land and buildings, office spaces, vehicles, machinery and equipment leases, and have remaining terms of one to 25 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 10 years.

    The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Leases with an initial term of less than 12 months are not recorded on the balance sheet. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use, or ROU, assets, accrued liabilities, and long-term operating lease liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property, plant and equipment, accrued liabilities, and long-term finance lease liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Leases

Leases

    The Company leases land and buildings, office spaces, vehicles, machinery and equipment under various lease agreements. A large portion of the Company’s leases were the result of the 2016 sale and leaseback of land and buildings related to certain production facilities. These leases have an initial term of 25 years, followed by one optional renewal term of approximately ten years that may be exercised at the Company’s discretion. These leases, with the exception of certain land leases, are classified as finance leases. The Company’s operating leases are mainly comprised of land and buildings, office spaces, vehicles, machinery and equipment leases, and have remaining terms of one to 25 years, some of which include options to extend the leases for up to 10 years.

    The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Leases with an initial term of less than 12 months are not recorded on the balance sheet. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use, or ROU, assets, accrued liabilities, and long-term operating lease liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property, plant and equipment, accrued liabilities, and long-term finance lease liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

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Commitments and contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and contingencies

Commitments and contingencies

Legal matters

    The Company is involved in legal proceedings and litigation in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. Other than routine litigation incidental to the Company's business and those matters described below, there are no material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or to which any of the Company’s properties are subject.

Earnout Dispute

    On March 13, 2015, through an indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Lone Star Fund IX (U.S.), L.P. (which is referred to, along with its affiliates and associates, but excluding Forterra and other companies that it owns as a result of its investment activity, as "Lone Star") acquired the building products business of HeidelbergCement AG, ("Heidelberg"), in the United States and Eastern Canada, (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition purchase agreement included an earnout, which provided for the payment of contingent consideration of up to $100.0 million, if and to the extent the 2015 financial results of the businesses acquired by Lone Star in the Acquisition, including the Company and Heidelberg's former building products business in the United Kingdom, exceeded a specified Adjusted EBITDA target for fiscal year 2015, as calculated pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement. If such Adjusted EBITDA calculation exceeded the specified target, LSF9 Concrete Holdings Ltd. ("LSF9") and, as a result of the internal reorganization transaction effected prior to the Company's initial public offering ("IPO"), the Company would be required to pay the U.S. affiliate of Heidelberg an amount equal to a multiple of such excess Adjusted EBITDA, with any payment capped at $100.0 million. In April 2016, the Company provided an earnout statement to affiliates of Heidelberg demonstrating that no payment was required. On June 13, 2016, Heidelberg provided notification that it disputed, among other things, the Company’s calculation of Adjusted EBITDA under the purchase agreement and asserting that a payment should be made in the amount of $100.0 million. The Company does not believe Heidelberg’s position has merit and is vigorously opposing Heidelberg's assertions. On October 5, 2016, affiliates of Heidelberg filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery seeking specific performance and claiming access to the Company's books, records, and personnel; seeking a declaratory judgment concerning the scope of the neutral accounting expert’s authority; and in the alternative, claiming a breach of contract and seeking the $100.0 million and other damages (the "Delaware Action"). On December 8, 2017, the court granted the defendants' Motion to Dismiss the First Amended Complaint in the Delaware Action, finding that the earnout dispute should be heard before a neutral accounting arbitrator as set forth in the purchase agreement and that any claims that were required to be brought as indemnification claims under the purchase agreement were time-barred by the contractual limitations period. Following the dismissal of the Delaware Action, the Company and Heidelberg jointly engaged a neutral accounting expert to act as an arbitrator in the dispute as required by the purchase agreement. After briefing certain preliminary matters for the arbitrator and the production of additional documents, the parties began briefing the issues on the merits for the neutral accounting arbitrator, which was completed in April 2020. A hearing on the dispute was held in June 2020, and a written decision was issued by the neutral accounting arbitrator on September 10, 2020 in which the arbitrator ruled that no earnout payment was owed in the matter. The Company expects to seek confirmation of the award and a judgment based on it in the coming weeks. As of September 30, 2020, no liability for this contingency has been accrued as payment of any earnout is not considered probable. It is possible that Heidelberg will decide to dispute the arbitrator's decision that no earnout payment is owed, and a decision against the Company in any such dispute could cause the Company to recognize a material charge to its earnings.

Securities Action and Derivative Actions

    Beginning on August 14, 2017, four plaintiffs filed putative class action complaints in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against various defendants. On July 27, 2018, an order was entered consolidating the lawsuits into a single action (the "Securities Action") and transferring the venue of the case from the Eastern District of New York to the Northern District of Texas. Pursuant to an agreed scheduling order, plaintiffs in the Securities Action filed their Consolidated Amended Complaint on November 30, 2018.

    The Securities Action is brought by two plaintiffs individually and on behalf of all persons that purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's common stock issued pursuant to and/or traceable to the IPO and is brought against the Company, certain of its current and former officers and directors, Lone Star and certain of its affiliates, and certain banks that acted as underwriters of the IPO (collectively, the “Securities Defendants”). The Securities Action generally alleges that the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 filed in connection with the IPO (the "Registration Statement") contained false or misleading statements and/or omissions of material facts. Specifically, plaintiffs allege the Registration Statement (1) made false and/or misleading statements about the Company's ability to generate organic growth through cross-selling initiatives amongst the Company's various businesses while failing to disclose that the Company had not adequately integrated acquisitions, had not begun rolling out its cross-selling initiative, and that its businesses were submitting competing bids against one another, and (2) made false or misleading statements regarding the existence of certain accounting practices and alleged material weaknesses in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting, including the existence of and accounting for bill and hold transactions, the lack of sufficient accounting personnel, the lack of effective internal controls to ensure costs were properly and accurately accrued, resulting in misstated costs and profits in the Company's 2016 financial statements, and the making of inventory accounting entries without adequate substantiation or documentation. The Securities Action asserts claims under Section 11 and Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Securities Act") and seeks (1) class certification under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, (2) damages suffered by plaintiffs and other class members, (3) prejudgment and post-judgment interest, (4) reasonable counsel fees and expert fees, and other costs and expenses reasonably incurred, and (5) other relief the court deems appropriate.

    On February 15, 2019, the Securities Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss all claims in the case based on plaintiffs' failure to state a claim. Briefing on the motion to dismiss was completed on May 1, 2019, and the court has not yet ruled on the motion. A mediation of the Securities Action occurred in August 2019. On November 4, 2019, the parties to the Securities Action entered into a settlement agreement to fully and finally resolve all claims in the Securities Action for a payment of $5.5 million. On January 4, 2020, the court issued an order granting preliminary approval for the settlement and providing for notice. Following a hearing on July 28, 2020, the court issued orders dated August 12, 2020, in which it approved the settlement in the Securities Action; no appeal of that order occurred within thirty (30) days, and it became final and unappealable on September 12, 2020. The settlement was largely funded by the Company's insurance after payment of a retention amount.

    On July 31, 2018, a putative shareholder derivative complaint captioned Maloney v. Bradley, et al., was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, alleging that certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers had breached their fiduciary duties, committed constructive fraud, wasted corporate assets, and that certain of them had been unjustly enriched (the "Maloney Texas Action"). On July 30, 2019, the court in the Maloney Texas Action granted the defendants' motion to dismiss on the grounds that the case should have been brought in Delaware according to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. On September 23, 2019, the same plaintiff filed a putative shareholder derivative complaint captioned Maloney v. Bradley, et al. in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, naming as defendants certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers (the "Maloney Delaware Action"). The complaint alleges the defendants violated Sections 14A and 20(A) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, breached their fiduciary duties, and wasted corporate assets, and also asserts unjust enrichment claims against certain defendants. The complaint seeks, on behalf of the Company, unspecified damages, an order directing the return of certain payments to the defendants and imposing a constructive trust thereon, certain injunctive relief, reasonable costs and attorneys' fees, and punitive damages.

    On January 15, 2019, a putative shareholder derivative complaint captioned Lee v. Bradley, et al., was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, naming as defendants certain of the Company’s current and former directors and officers (the "Lee Action"). The complaint alleges the defendants violated Section 14A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and related rules by failing to make certain disclosures in the Company's proxy solicitation in advance of the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and that defendants breached their fiduciary duties, wasted corporate assets, and committed constructive fraud. The complaint also asserts unjust enrichment claims against certain defendants. The complaint seeks, on behalf of the Company, unspecified damages, an order directing the return of certain payments to the defendants, certain injunctive relief, and reasonable costs and attorneys' fees. On April 18, 2019, the court entered an agreed stipulation staying the Lee Action until the court in the Securities Action rules on the motion to dismiss in that case. On December 11, 2019, the court in the Lee Action entered a Stipulation and Order consolidating the Lee Action and the Maloney Delaware Action into a single case (the "Consolidated Lee Action"), and providing a schedule for filing of an amended complaint and motions to dismiss, which has been further extended by agreement of the parties. A mediation of the dispute was held on June 12, 2020 but was not successful in resolving the dispute. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in August 2020 and Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint in September 2020.

    The Company and other defendants are vigorously defending the Consolidated Lee Action. Given the stage of the proceedings, the Company cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may arise from the Consolidated Lee Action.

Long-term Incentive Plan

    Following the Acquisition, Lone Star implemented a cash-based long term incentive plan (the “LTIP”) which entitles the participants in the LTIP to a potential cash payout upon a monetization event as defined by the LTIP. Potential monetization events include the sale, transfer or otherwise disposition of all or a portion of the Company or successor entities of LSF9, an initial public offering where Lone Star reduces its ownership interest in the Company or successor entities of LSF9, or through certain cash distribution as defined in the LTIP. Before the payout of any cash the LTIP requires Lone Star realize in cash the full return of their investment plus a specified internal rate of return, which is calculated by comparing the return to Lone Star over the timeline of its investment in the Company and certain successor entities of LSF9. As of September 30, 2020, no such monetization events that meet the required return for an LTIP payment have occurred, and therefore no amounts were accrued in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. While no payments have occurred thus far, payments under the LTIP could be significant depending upon future monetization events. The timing and amount of such payments are unknown and are dependent upon future monetization events and market conditions that are outside of the control of the Company or the participants of the plan. Subsequent to the IPO, Forterra became directly liable for any payment obligations triggered under the LTIP, but LSF9 or one of its affiliates will remain obligated to make payments to the Company in amounts equal to any payment obligations triggered under the LTIP as and when such payment obligations are triggered.

Leases

    The Company leases certain property and equipment for various periods under non-cancelable operating and finance leases.

Tax receivable agreement

    The Company has a tax receivable agreement (the "TRA") with Lone Star that provides for, among other things, the payment by the Company to Lone Star of 85% of the amount of certain covered tax benefits, which may reduce the actual liability for certain taxes that the Company might otherwise be required to pay. The tax benefits subject to the TRA include: (i) all depreciation and amortization deductions, and any offset to taxable income and gain or increase to taxable loss, resulting from the tax basis that the Company had in its assets as of the time of the consummation of the IPO, (ii) the utilization of the Company's and its subsidiaries’ net operating losses and tax credits, if any, attributable to periods prior to the IPO, (iii) deductions in respect of payments made, funded or reimbursed by an initial party to the tax receivable agreement (other than the Company or one of its

subsidiaries) or an affiliate thereof to participants under the LTIP, (iv) deductions in respect of transaction expenses attributable to the acquisition of USP Holdings, Inc. and (v) certain other tax benefits attributable to payments made under the tax receivable agreement.    For purposes of the TRA, the aggregate reduction in income tax payable by the Company will be computed by comparing the Company's actual income tax liability with its hypothetical liability had it not been able to utilize the related tax benefits. The agreement will remain in effect for the period of time in which any such related tax benefits remain. The Company accounts for potential payments under the TRA as a contingent liability, with amounts accrued when considered probable and reasonably estimable. The liability recorded by the Company for the TRA at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $73.0 million and $77.4 million, respectively. The timing and amount of future tax benefits associated with the TRA are subject to change, and additional payments may be required which could be materially different from the current accrued liability. The Company anticipates that it will have sufficient taxable income in future periods to realize the full value of the obligation recorded. Future tax receivable agreement payments related to the tax basis of assets at the time of the IPO will be recorded as a reduction to the liability and will be recorded as a financing activity in the consolidated statement of cash flows. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company paid $4.4 million on the TRA to Lone Star.

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Earnings per share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings per share

Earnings per share

    Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive securities include employee stock options and shares of restricted stock. Diluted EPS reflects the assumed exercise, vesting or conversion of all dilutive securities.

    The calculations of the basic and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 are presented below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net income	$	28,827	$	22,430	$	41,876	$	345
Less: Earnings allocated to unvested restricted stock awards	16		40		34		—
Earnings allocated to common shareholders	$	28,811	$	22,390	$	41,842	$	345
Common stock:
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	65,336		64,210		65,078		64,119
Effect of dilutive securities	3,381		788		2,800		409
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	68,717		64,998		67,878		64,528
Basic earnings per share:
Net income	$	0.44	$	0.35	$	0.64	$	0.01
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income	$	0.42	$	0.34	$	0.62	$	0.01

    The number of stock options and restricted shares that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would result in an anti-dilutive effect on per share amounts for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 and the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019 were 210,077, 2,015,399, 221,040 and 3,963,041, respectively.

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Income taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income taxes

Income taxes

    The Company recorded income tax expense of $9.9 million and $17.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, and income tax expense of $5.9 million and an income tax benefit of $0.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.

    The income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was calculated under the ASC 740-270 principles. The income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 differs from the expense computed at the federal statutory rate primarily due to the state income tax expense and the movement of the valuation allowance recorded in the quarter.

    The income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 differs from the expense computed at the federal statutory rate primarily due to the movement of the valuation allowance recorded in the period and state income tax expense.

    The income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2019 differs from the expense computed at the federal statutory rate primarily due to the unfavorable permanent add-back of non-deductible items, offset by the favorable return-to-provision adjustment recorded in the quarter.

    The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 differs from the benefit computed at the federal statutory rate primarily due to the unfavorable permanent add-back of the non-deductible one-time executive severance payment, offset by the favorable return-to-provision adjustment recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

    The Company evaluates the recoverability of its deferred tax assets quarterly to determine if valuation allowances are required or should be adjusted. The Company assesses whether valuation allowances should be established against deferred tax assets based on consideration of all available evidence, both positive and negative, using a “more likely than not” criterion. The analysis used in determining the valuation allowance involves considerable judgment and assumptions. The Company's history of pretax losses limits its ability to rely on projections of future pretax income, therefore, realization of deferred tax assets is based primarily on reversal of taxable temporary differences. As positive factors continue to be present given recent business performance, the potential result would be a partial or full release of the valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset recognized in prior periods.

    On March 27, 2020, the U.S. government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"), that, among other things, increased the net interest expense deduction limit from 30% to 50% of adjusted taxable income for tax years beginning January 1, 2019 and 2020, and changed the depreciable life of the qualified improvement property from 39 years to 15 years, thereby making it eligible for 100% bonus depreciation, which the Company intends to claim. On July 28, 2020, the Treasury Department released the final regulations with guidance on applying the limitations on the deductibility of the business interest expense under IRC Section 163(j), which was significantly modified by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("TCJA") and then temporarily modified by the CARES Act. The Company has considered the favorable impact of the released final regulations in the preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company has taken, and will continue to take advantage of deferral of the employer portion of the social security taxes that would otherwise be due in 2020, but will be delayed with 50% due by December 31, 2021 and the remaining 50% by December 31, 2022.

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Segment reporting

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment reporting

Segment reporting

    Segment information is presented in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting, which establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments. It also establishes standards for related disclosures about products and geographic areas. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise that engage in business activities that earn revenues, incur expenses and prepare separate financial information that is evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in order to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company's Chief Executive Officer is its CODM. The Corporate and Other segment includes expenses related to certain executive salaries, interest costs related to the Company's credit agreements, acquisition-related costs, and other corporate costs that are not directly attributable to the Company's operating segments. The Company's segments follow the same accounting policies as the Company.

    Net sales from the major products sold to external customers include drainage pipe and precast products and concrete and steel water transmission pipe.

    The Company’s three geographic areas consist of the United States, Canada, and Mexico for which it reports net sales, fixed assets and total assets. For purposes of evaluating segment profit, the CODM reviews EBITDA as a basis for making the decisions to allocate resources and assess performance.

    The following tables set forth the disaggregation of revenue earned from contracts with customers based on the Company's reportable segments as well as other financial information attributable to the Company's reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net sales:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	256,597	$	280,678	$	662,427	$	686,092
Water Pipe & Products	200,960		183,848		552,192		480,511
Corporate and Other	—		—		—		—
Total	$	457,557	$	464,526	$	1,214,619	$	1,166,603
Depreciation and amortization:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	8,275	$	9,317	$	24,820	$	27,975
Water Pipe & Products	13,489		14,511		40,861		43,981
Corporate and Other	599		344		1,589		998
Total	$	22,363	$	24,172	$	67,270	$	72,954
Segment EBITDA and reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	64,781	$	67,361	$	148,247	$	141,424
Water Pipe & Products	46,994		25,557		109,584		59,271
Corporate and Other	(30,606)		(17,147)		(70,726)		(54,195)
Less: Interest expense	(20,055)		(23,272)		(60,502)		(73,720)
Depreciation and amortization	(22,363)		(24,172)		(67,270)		(72,954)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	38,751	$	28,327	$	59,333	$	(174)
Capital expenditures:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	4,500	$	3,302	$	9,897	$	18,750
Water Pipe & Products	3,743		3,232		6,866		7,757
Corporate and Other	195		61		557		2,524
Total	$	8,438	$	6,595	$	17,320	$	29,031
					September 30,		December 31,
					2020		2019
Total assets:
Drainage Pipe & Products					$	830,626	$	819,373
Water Pipe & Products					842,905		862,542
Corporate and Other					45,198		58,143
Total					$	1,718,729	$	1,740,058

The Company has an investment in an equity method investee included in the Drainage Pipe & Products segment for which earnings from equity method investee were $2.3 million, $8.2 million, $4.0 million and $9.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, and with the following balances (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Investment in equity method investee	$	50,754	$	50,034

    Disaggregated revenue by geographic location is provided in the tables below. The Company has operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The economic characteristics of the Company's customers do not significantly vary across geographic locations or product lines. The Company has both revenues and long-lived assets in each country; and those assets and revenues are recorded within geographic location as follows (in thousands):

Property, plant, and equipment, net:	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
United States	$	405,320	$	422,486
Canada	30,660		43,754
Mexico	8,688		9,335
	$	444,668	$	475,575

Net sales:	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
United States	$	432,085	$	435,706	$	1,155,229	$	1,104,164
Canada	23,098		26,458		52,906		56,113
Mexico	2,374		2,362		6,484		6,326
	$	457,557	$	464,526	$	1,214,619	$	1,166,603

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Related party transactions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related party transactions

Related party transactions

Tax receivable agreement

    The Company has a TRA with Lone Star that provides for, among other things, the payment by the Company to Lone Star of 85% of the amount of certain covered tax benefits, which may reduce the actual liability for certain taxes that the Company might otherwise be required to pay. See Note 14, Commitments and contingencies, for additional information on the tax receivable agreement.

CP&P

    The Company sold certain goods and services to its joint venture, CP&P, including spare parts for repairs, and property rentals. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, Forterra sold $1.2 million of product to CP&P and purchased goods and services from CP&P for an amount of $0.8 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, Forterra sold $0.3 million of product to CP&P and purchased $0.2 million of goods and services from CP&P.

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Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

The Company's condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Consolidation

All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassifications

Certain prior year numbers were reclassified to conform with current year presentation. Such reclassification had no impact on the previously reported results of operations.

Use of Estimates

Use of estimates

    The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the reporting date, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions that the Company may undertake in the future. The more significant estimates made by management relate to fair value estimates for assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations; estimates for accrued liabilities for environmental cleanup, bodily injury and insurance claims; estimates for commitments and contingencies; and estimates for the realizability of deferred tax assets, the tax receivable agreement obligation, inventory reserves, allowance for doubtful accounts and impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets.

    Certain accounting matters that generally require consideration of forecasted financial information were assessed in light of the impact from the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic. The accounting matters assessed included, but were not limited to, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory reserves, goodwill impairment, impairment of property and equipment and valuation allowances for tax assets.

While the assessments resulted in no material impacts to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company believes the full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak remains uncertain and will continue to assess if ongoing developments related to the outbreak may cause future material impacts to its consolidated financial statements.

Credit Losses

Credit Losses

    Trade accounts receivable. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay.

    The Company's exposure to credit losses may increase if one or more of its customers are adversely affected by changes in laws or other government recommendations or mandates, economic pressures or uncertainty associated with local or global economic recessions, disruption or other impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, or other customer-specific factors. Although the Company has historically not experienced significant credit losses, it is possible that there could be a material adverse impact from potential adjustments of the carrying amount of trade receivables as customers are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted and Not Yet Adopted

Recent Accounting Guidance Adopted

    In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, Financial Instruments–Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The standard replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology under current U.S. GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires the use of a forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivables, loans, and other financial instruments. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2020 using a modified retrospective approach, which did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

    In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in the ASU provide optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. The guidance was effective upon issuance and generally can be applied through December 31, 2022 and has not had any material impact to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

    In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740). The new guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period, hybrid taxes, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences.  It also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes.  For public companies, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted in interim or annual periods with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning

of the annual period that includes that interim period.  Additionally, entities that elect early adoption must adopt all the amendments in the same period.  Amendments are to be applied prospectively, except for certain amendments that are to be applied either retrospectively or with a modified retrospective approach through a cumulative effect adjustment recorded to retained earnings.  The effects of this standard on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements are not expected to be material.

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Receivables, net (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Receivables [Abstract]

Schedule of receivables, net and allowance for doubtful accounts

Receivables consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Trade receivables	$	249,311	$	178,698
Amounts billed but not yet paid under retainage provisions	4,328		3,093
Other receivables	25,026		26,078
Total receivables	278,665		207,869
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,847)		(2,068)
Receivables, net	$	276,818	$	205,801

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Inventories (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of inventories

Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Finished goods	$	138,426	$	161,440
Raw materials	80,333		76,237
Work in process	577		806
Total inventories	$	219,336	$	238,483

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Investment in equity method investee (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Schedule of Company's distribution and earnings and selected financial data from equity investment

The following reflects the Company's distribution and earnings in the equity investment (in thousands):

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Distribution received from CP&P	$	(3,000)	$	(5,000)	$	(7,500)	$	(6,500)
Share of earnings in CP&P	2,313		4,008		8,274		9,013
Amortization of excess fair value of investment	(18)		(18)		(54)		(54)

    Selected financial data for CP&P on a 100% basis is as follows (in thousands):

	Three months ended				Nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net sales	$	33,094	$	38,210	$	103,884	$	103,812
Gross profit	9,047		12,632		30,517		32,307
Income from operations	4,608		8,021		16,487		18,041
Net income	4,547		7,959		16,314		17,852

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Property, plant and equipment, net (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of property, plant and equipment, net

Property, plant and equipment, net, consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Machinery and equipment	$	413,148	$	398,127
Land, buildings and improvements	231,958		240,403
Other equipment	12,548		8,660
Construction-in-progress	14,107		29,157
Total property, plant and equipment	671,761		676,347
Less: accumulated depreciation	(227,093)		(200,772)
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	444,668	$	475,575

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Goodwill and other intangible assets, net (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of goodwill by operating segment

The following table summarizes the changes in goodwill by operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 (in thousands):

	Drainage Pipe & Products		Water Pipe & Products		Total
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	190,466	$	318,360	$	508,826
Foreign currency and other adjustments	(366)		—		(366)
Balance at September 30, 2020	$	190,100	$	318,360	$	508,460

Schedule of intangible assets

Intangible assets other than goodwill at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 included the following (in thousands):

	Net carrying value as of September 30, 2020		Net carrying value as of December 31, 2019
Customer relationships	$	78,095	$	100,869
Trade names	16,108		19,626
Patents	5,690		7,673
Non-compete agreements	5,696		8,070
Developed technology	5,700		5,980
Other	393		456
Total intangible assets	$	111,682	$	142,674

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Fair value measurement (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of estimated carrying amount and fair value of financial instruments measured and recorded at fair value on recurring basis

The estimated carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows for the dates indicated (in thousands):

	Fair value measurements at September 30, 2020 using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value September 30, 2020
Liabilities:
Derivative liability	$	—	$	636	$	—	$	636
	Fair value measurements at December 31, 2019 using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value December 31, 2019
Assets:
Derivative asset	$	—	$	258	$	—	$	258

Schedule of carrying and fair value amounts for financial instruments

The estimated carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s financial instruments and liabilities for which fair value is only disclosed is as follows (in thousands):

			Fair value measurements at September 30, 2020 using
	Carrying Amount September 30, 2020		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value September 30, 2020
Liabilities:
Term Loan	$	469,208	$	—	$	473,638	$	—	$	473,638
Senior Secured Notes	$	491,601	—		$	529,715	—		529,715
Tax receivable agreement payable	72,974		—		—		46,044		46,044

			Fair value measurements at December 31, 2019 using
	Carrying Amount December 31, 2019		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total Fair Value December 31, 2019
Liabilities:
Term Loan	$	1,098,303	$	—	$	1,102,295	$	—	$	1,102,295
Tax receivable agreement payable	77,385		—		—		47,625		47,625

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Accrued liabilities (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of accrued liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	$	42,541	$	32,815
Short-term finance leases	17,001		16,542
Short-term operating leases	7,979		8,784
Accrued taxes	16,483		5,354
Warranty	5,960		5,536
Accrued rebates	14,685		9,895
Short-term derivative liability	332		—
Environmental obligation	63		718
Other miscellaneous accrued liabilities	4,883		9,195
Total accrued liabilities	$	109,927	$	88,839

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Debt and deferred financing costs (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of long-term debt

The Company’s debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Term Loan, net of debt issuance costs and original issuance discount of $8,611 and $25,055, respectively	$	469,208	$	1,098,303
Senior Secured Notes, net of debt issuance costs and original issuance discount of $8,399 and $0, respectively	491,601		—
Total debt	$	960,809	$	1,098,303
Less: current portion debt	(12,510)		(12,510)
Total long-term debt	$	948,299	$	1,085,793

Schedule of debt redemption price percentage

Furthermore, at any time on or after July 15, 2022, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or part of the Notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed, to the applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on July 15 of the years indicated below, subject to the rights of holders of Notes on a relevant record date to receive interest on an interest payment date occurring on or prior to the redemption date:

	Percentage
2022	103.250	%
2023	101.625	%
2024 and thereafter	100.000	%

Schedule of maturities of long-term debt

As of September 30, 2020, scheduled maturities of long-term debt were as follows (in thousands).

	Total		Term Loan		Notes
2020	$	3,128	$	3,128	$	—
2021	12,510		12,510		—
2022	12,510		12,510		—
2023	449,671		449,671		—
2024	—		—		—
2025	500,000		—		500,000
	$	977,819	$	477,819	$	500,000

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Derivatives and hedging (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of fair values of derivative assets and liabilities in condensed consolidated balance sheets

The following table presents the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

	September 30, 2020
	Derivative Assets				Derivative Liabilities
	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Notional Amount		Fair Value
Interest rate swaps	$	—	$	—	$	400,000	$	636
Total derivatives, gross			—				636
Less: Legally enforceable master netting agreements			—				—
Total derivatives, net			$	—			$	636

	December 31, 2019
	Derivative Assets				Derivative Liabilities
	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Notional Amount		Fair Value
Interest rate swaps	$	525,000	$	258	$	—	$	—
Total derivatives, gross			258				—
Less: Legally enforceable master netting agreements			—				—
Total derivatives, net			$	258			$	—

Schedule of effect of derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations

The following table presents the effect of derivative instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):

	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2020	2019	2020	2019
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Interest rate swaps
Gain (loss) on derivatives not designated as hedges included in interest expense	27	(868)	(894)	(5,892)

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Earnings per share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share

The calculations of the basic and diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 are presented below (in thousands, except per share amounts):

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net income	$	28,827	$	22,430	$	41,876	$	345
Less: Earnings allocated to unvested restricted stock awards	16		40		34		—
Earnings allocated to common shareholders	$	28,811	$	22,390	$	41,842	$	345
Common stock:
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	65,336		64,210		65,078		64,119
Effect of dilutive securities	3,381		788		2,800		409
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	68,717		64,998		67,878		64,528
Basic earnings per share:
Net income	$	0.44	$	0.35	$	0.64	$	0.01
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income	$	0.42	$	0.34	$	0.62	$	0.01

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Segment reporting (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of disaggregation of revenue earned from contracts with customers based on reportable segments as well as other financial information attributable to reportable segments

The following tables set forth the disaggregation of revenue earned from contracts with customers based on the Company's reportable segments as well as other financial information attributable to the Company's reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net sales:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	256,597	$	280,678	$	662,427	$	686,092
Water Pipe & Products	200,960		183,848		552,192		480,511
Corporate and Other	—		—		—		—
Total	$	457,557	$	464,526	$	1,214,619	$	1,166,603
Depreciation and amortization:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	8,275	$	9,317	$	24,820	$	27,975
Water Pipe & Products	13,489		14,511		40,861		43,981
Corporate and Other	599		344		1,589		998
Total	$	22,363	$	24,172	$	67,270	$	72,954
Segment EBITDA and reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	64,781	$	67,361	$	148,247	$	141,424
Water Pipe & Products	46,994		25,557		109,584		59,271
Corporate and Other	(30,606)		(17,147)		(70,726)		(54,195)
Less: Interest expense	(20,055)		(23,272)		(60,502)		(73,720)
Depreciation and amortization	(22,363)		(24,172)		(67,270)		(72,954)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	38,751	$	28,327	$	59,333	$	(174)
Capital expenditures:
Drainage Pipe & Products	$	4,500	$	3,302	$	9,897	$	18,750
Water Pipe & Products	3,743		3,232		6,866		7,757
Corporate and Other	195		61		557		2,524
Total	$	8,438	$	6,595	$	17,320	$	29,031
					September 30,		December 31,
					2020		2019
Total assets:
Drainage Pipe & Products					$	830,626	$	819,373
Water Pipe & Products					842,905		862,542
Corporate and Other					45,198		58,143
Total					$	1,718,729	$	1,740,058

The Company has an investment in an equity method investee included in the Drainage Pipe & Products segment for which earnings from equity method investee were $2.3 million, $8.2 million, $4.0 million and $9.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, and with the following balances (in thousands):

	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
Investment in equity method investee	$	50,754	$	50,034

Schedule of long-lived assets by geographic areas

Disaggregated revenue by geographic location is provided in the tables below. The Company has operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The economic characteristics of the Company's customers do not significantly vary across geographic locations or product lines. The Company has both revenues and long-lived assets in each country; and those assets and revenues are recorded within geographic location as follows (in thousands):

Property, plant, and equipment, net:	September 30,		December 31,
	2020		2019
United States	$	405,320	$	422,486
Canada	30,660		43,754
Mexico	8,688		9,335
	$	444,668	$	475,575

Schedule of disaggregation of revenue by geographic areas

Net sales:	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
United States	$	432,085	$	435,706	$	1,155,229	$	1,104,164
Canada	23,098		26,458		52,906		56,113
Mexico	2,374		2,362		6,484		6,326
	$	457,557	$	464,526	$	1,214,619	$	1,166,603

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Summary of significant accounting policies (Details) - Customer Concentration Risk - Customer A - Water Pipe & Products	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Sales Revenue, Net
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	16.00%	14.00%
Accounts Receivable
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	17.00%		13.00%

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Acquisitions (Details) $ in Millions	Mar. 01, 2019 USD ($)
TEXAS | Buckner
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash consideration paid for assets acquired	$ 11.8

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Receivables, net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Receivables, gross	$ 278,665	$ 207,869
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,847)	(2,068)
Receivables, net	276,818	205,801
Trade receivables
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Receivables, gross	249,311	178,698
Amounts billed but not yet paid under retainage provisions
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Receivables, gross	4,328	3,093
Other receivables
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Receivables, gross	$ 25,026	$ 26,078

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Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Finished goods	$ 138,426	$ 161,440
Raw materials	80,333	76,237
Work in process	577	806
Total inventories	$ 219,336	$ 238,483

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Investment in equity method investee - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment in equity method investee	$ 50,754	$ 50,034
Drainage Pipe & Products
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment in equity method investee	$ 50,754	$ 50,034
CP&P Joint Venture | Drainage Pipe & Products
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%
Investment in equity method investee	$ 50,800
Company's share of the underlying equity net assets of the investee	$ 13,000

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Investment in equity method investee - Company's Distribution and Earnings in Equity Method Investment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Distribution received from CP&P			$ (7,500)	$ (6,500)
Share of earnings in CP&P	$ 2,295	$ 3,990	8,220	8,959
CP&P Joint Venture
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Distribution received from CP&P	(3,000)	(5,000)	(7,500)	(6,500)
Share of earnings in CP&P	2,313	4,008	8,274	9,013
Amortization of excess fair value of investment	$ (18)	$ (18)	$ (54)	$ (54)

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Investment in equity method investee - Selected Financial Data from the Investee (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 457,557			$ 464,526			$ 1,214,619	$ 1,166,603
Gross profit	126,273			102,164			290,594	229,783
Income from operations	68,058			47,235			123,096	64,213
Net income	28,827	$ 27,115	$ (14,066)	22,430	$ 2,954	$ (25,039)	41,876	345
CP&P Joint Venture
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net sales	33,094			38,210			103,884	103,812
Gross profit	9,047			12,632			30,517	32,307
Income from operations	4,608			8,021			16,487	18,041
Net income	$ 4,547			$ 7,959			$ 16,314	$ 17,852

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Property, plant and equipment, net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 671,761		$ 671,761		$ 676,347
Less: accumulated depreciation	(227,093)		(227,093)		(200,772)
Property, plant and equipment, net	444,668		444,668		475,575
Depreciation expense	12,000	$ 12,300	36,300	$ 37,400
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	413,148		413,148		398,127
Land, buildings and improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	231,958		231,958		240,403
Other equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	12,548		12,548		8,660
Construction-in-progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Total property, plant and equipment	$ 14,107		$ 14,107		$ 29,157

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Goodwill and other intangible assets, net - Goodwill by Operating Segment (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2019	$ 508,826
Foreign currency and other adjustments	(366)
Balance at September 30, 2020	508,460
Drainage Pipe & Products
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2019	190,466
Foreign currency and other adjustments	(366)
Balance at September 30, 2020	190,100
Water Pipe & Products
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2019	318,360
Foreign currency and other adjustments	0
Balance at September 30, 2020	$ 318,360

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Goodwill and other intangible assets, net - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total intangible assets	$ 111,682	$ 142,674
Customer relationships
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total intangible assets	78,095	100,869
Trade names
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total intangible assets	16,108	19,626
Patents
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total intangible assets	5,690	7,673
Non-compete agreements
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total intangible assets	5,696	8,070
Developed technology
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total intangible assets	5,700	5,980
Other
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Total intangible assets	$ 393	$ 456

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Goodwill and other intangible assets, net - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense	$ 10.3	$ 11.9	$ 31.0	$ 35.5

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Fair value measurement - Estimated Carrying Amount and Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured and Recorded at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Liabilities:
Derivative liability	$ 636	$ 0
Assets:
Derivative asset	0	258
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Liabilities:
Derivative liability	636
Assets:
Derivative asset		258
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Liabilities:
Derivative liability	0
Assets:
Derivative asset		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Liabilities:
Derivative liability	636
Assets:
Derivative asset		258
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Liabilities:
Derivative liability	$ 0
Assets:
Derivative asset		$ 0

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Fair value measurement - Carrying Amount and Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Carrying Amount
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Tax receivable agreement payable	$ 72,974	$ 77,385
Carrying Amount | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable		1,098,303
Carrying Amount | Senior Notes | Term Loan
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	469,208
Carrying Amount | Senior Notes | Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	491,601
Fair Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Tax receivable agreement payable	46,044	47,625
Fair Value | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable		1,102,295
Fair Value | Senior Notes | Term Loan
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	473,638
Fair Value | Senior Notes | Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	529,715
Fair Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Tax receivable agreement payable	0	0
Fair Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable		0
Fair Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Senior Notes | Term Loan
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	0
Fair Value | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Senior Notes | Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	0
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Tax receivable agreement payable	0	0
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable		1,102,295
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Senior Notes | Term Loan
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	473,638
Fair Value | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Senior Notes | Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	529,715
Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Tax receivable agreement payable	46,044	47,625
Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Senior Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable		$ 0
Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Senior Notes | Term Loan
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	0
Fair Value | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Senior Notes | Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable	$ 0

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Accrued liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	$ 42,541	$ 32,815
Short-term finance leases	17,001	16,542
Short-term operating leases	7,979	8,784
Accrued taxes	16,483	5,354
Warranty	5,960	5,536
Accrued rebates	14,685	9,895
Short-term derivative liability	332	0
Environmental obligation	63	718
Other miscellaneous accrued liabilities	4,883	9,195
Total accrued liabilities	$ 109,927	$ 88,839

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Debt and deferred financing costs - Schedule of Debt (Details) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total debt	$ 960,809,000	$ 1,098,303,000
Less: current portion debt	(12,510,000)	(12,510,000)
Total long-term debt	948,299,000	1,085,793,000
Senior Notes | Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs and original issuance discount	8,611,000	25,055,000
Total debt	469,208,000	1,098,303,000
Senior Notes | Senior Secured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs and original issuance discount	8,399,000	0
Total debt	$ 491,601,000	$ 0

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Debt and deferred financing costs - Additional Information (Details)				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 16, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 17, 2020 USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of term loan						$ 644,923,000	$ 25,110,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				$ 11,547,000	$ (374,000)	11,481,000	(374,000)
Revolving Line of Credit | ABL Credit Agreement | Revolver
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowings outstanding under revolver				0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 350,000,000.0	$ 300,000,000.0
Credit facility increase limit		50,000,000.0
Weighted average interest rate						2.00%	3.72%
Write-off of debt discount and issuance costs		$ 400,000
Debt instrument, collateral covenant, percentage of voting stock, maximum		65.00%
Amount of debt outstanding subject to earlier maturity		$ 75,000,000.0
Period of debt outstanding subject to earlier maturity		91 days
Debt fees and expenses		$ 2,600,000
Aggregate maximum borrowing base		$ 100,000,000.0
Borrowing base limitation, percentage of eligible cash		100.00%
Borrowing base limitation, percentage of eligible accounts receivable		85.00%
Borrowing base limitation, percentage of eligible inventory		75.00%
Borrowing base limitation, percentage of orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory		85.00%
Borrowing base limitation, percentage of eligible accounts receivable and inventory		2.50%
Stand-by letters of credit outstanding				26,800,000		$ 26,800,000
Allowable borrowing base				250,600,000		$ 250,600,000
Fixed charge coverage ratio		1.00
Revolving Line of Credit | ABL Credit Agreement | Revolver | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, facility fee percentage						0.20%
Revolving Line of Credit | ABL Credit Agreement | Revolver | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, facility fee percentage						0.325%
Revolving Line of Credit | ABL Credit Agreement | Revolver | United States
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 330,000,000.0
Revolving Line of Credit | ABL Credit Agreement | Revolver | Canada
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 20,000,000.0
Revolving Line of Credit | ABL Credit Agreement | Revolver | LIBOR or CDOR | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Margin rate		1.75%
Revolving Line of Credit | ABL Credit Agreement | Revolver | LIBOR or CDOR | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Margin rate		2.25%
Revolving Line of Credit | ABL Credit Agreement | Revolver | CDOR | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Margin rate		0.75%
Revolving Line of Credit | ABL Credit Agreement | Revolver | CDOR | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Margin rate		1.25%
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt outstanding				977,819,000		$ 977,819,000
Senior Notes | Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt outstanding				500,000,000		500,000,000
Debt redemption period	12 months
Senior Notes | Notes | Make whole premium
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior Notes | Notes | After giving effect to the issuance of any additional Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt redemption price percentage	40.00%
Senior Notes | Notes | Subject to the right of holders of the Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt redemption price percentage	106.50%
Senior Notes | Notes | 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt redemption price percentage	103.25%
Senior Notes | Notes | 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt redemption price percentage	101.625%
Senior Notes | Notes | 2024 and thereafter
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior Notes | Notes | Wholly-owned Subsidiaries | Forterra Finance, LLC and FRTA Finance Corp.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt aggregate principal amount	$ 500,000,000							$ 500,000,000
Debt interest rate	6.50%
Senior Notes | Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt outstanding				$ 477,819,000		$ 477,819,000
Repayments of term loan	$ 492,500,000
Debt issuance costs	$ 8,800,000
Debt instrument, amortization percentage			0.25%
Weighted average interest rate				4.00%	5.20%	4.20%	5.40%
Aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt repurchased				$ 636,100,000		$ 636,100,000
Market value of debt repurchased				$ 635,500,000		635,500,000
Write-off of debt discount and issuance costs						12,100,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt						$ 11,500,000
Debt instrument, collateral covenant, percentage of voting stock, maximum			65.00%
Senior Notes | Term Loan | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, floor percentage			1.00%
Margin rate			3.00%
Senior Notes | Term Loan | Federal Funds Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, floor percentage			0.50%
Senior Notes | Term Loan | Adjusted LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate, floor percentage			1.00%
Senior Notes | Term Loan | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Margin rate			2.00%
Senior Notes | Senior Secured Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt aggregate principal amount			$ 1,250,000,000
Credit facility increase limit			$ 285,000,000.0
Consolidated EBITDA ratio			1.0
First lien leverage ratio			4.10
Total leverage ratio			5.50
Total leverage ration for unsecured debt			5.75

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Debt and deferred financing costs - Scheduled Maturities of Long-term Debt (Details) - Senior Notes $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2020	$ 3,128
2021	12,510
2022	12,510
2023	449,671
2024	0
2025	500,000
Total	977,819
Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2020	3,128
2021	12,510
2022	12,510
2023	449,671
2024	0
2025	0
Total	477,819
Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2020	0
2021	0
2022	0
2023	0
2024	0
2025	500,000
Total	$ 500,000

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Derivatives and hedging - Additional Information (Details) - Interest Rate Swap - USD ($)	Mar. 30, 2020	Feb. 09, 2017	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative notional amount			$ 0	$ 525,000,000
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative notional amount	$ 400,000,000	$ 525,000,000
Derivative, term of contract	30 months	3 years
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument | LIBOR
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, fixed interest rate to pay interest	1.08%	1.52%
Derivative, floating interest rate received (minimum)	1.00%

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Derivatives and hedging - Schedule of Fair Values of Derivative Assets and Liabilities in Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative Assets
Fair Value	$ 0	$ 258
Less: Legally enforceable master netting agreements	0	0
Total derivatives, net	0	258
Derivative Liabilities
Fair Value	636	0
Less: Legally enforceable master netting agreements	0	0
Total derivatives, net	636	0
Interest rate swaps
Derivative Assets
Notional Amount	0	525,000
Fair Value	0	258
Derivative Liabilities
Notional Amount	400,000	0
Fair Value	$ 636	$ 0

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Derivatives and hedging - Schedule of Effect of Derivative Instruments on Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Derivatives not designated as hedges | Interest rate swaps | Interest expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on derivatives not designated as hedges included in interest expense	$ 27	$ (868)	$ (894)	$ (5,892)

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Leases (Details)	Sep. 30, 2020 renewal_option
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Initial term of finance leases	25 years
Number of renewal options of finance leases	1
Renewal term of finance leases	10 years
Renewal term of operating leases (up to)	10 years
Minimum
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Remaining term of operating leases	1 year
Maximum
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items]
Remaining term of operating leases	25 years

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Commitments and contingencies (Details)					9 Months Ended
	Nov. 04, 2019 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2018 plaintiff	Aug. 14, 2017 plaintiff	Oct. 05, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 13, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 13, 2015 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments of TRA agreement					$ 4,411,000	$ 0
LTIP
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount accrued for long-term incentive plan					0
Payments for long-term incentive plan					$ 0
Lone Star | Affiliated Entities
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Certain covered tax benefits paid by related party, percentage					85.00%
Accrued liabilities related to tax receivable agreement					$ 73,000,000.0		$ 77,400,000
Payments of TRA agreement					4,400,000
Heidelberg
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Business acquisition, possible maximum earn out								$ 100,000,000.0	$ 100,000,000.0
Delaware Action | Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought				$ 100,000,000.0
Loss contingency liability					$ 0
Securities Action and Derivative Actions
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, number of plaintiffs | plaintiff		2	4
Settlement payment	$ 5,500,000

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Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 28,827	$ 27,115	$ (14,066)	$ 22,430	$ 2,954	$ (25,039)	$ 41,876	$ 345
Less: Earnings allocated to unvested restricted stock awards	16			40			34	0
Earnings allocated to common shareholders	$ 28,811			$ 22,390			$ 41,842	$ 345
Common stock:
Weighted average basic shares outstanding (in shares)	65,336			64,210			65,078	64,119
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	3,381			788			2,800	409
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	68,717			64,998			67,878	64,528
Basic earnings per share:
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44			$ 0.35			$ 0.64	$ 0.01
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42			$ 0.34			$ 0.62	$ 0.01

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Earnings per share - Additional Information (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Stock Options and Restricted Shares
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	210,077	2,015,399	221,040	3,963,041

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Income taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 9,924	$ 5,897	$ 17,457	$ (519)

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Segment reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($) geographic_area	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of geographic areas | geographic_area			3
Net sales	$ 457,557	$ 464,526	$ 1,214,619	$ 1,166,603
Depreciation and amortization	22,363	24,172	67,270	72,954
Less: Interest expense	(20,055)	(23,272)	(60,502)	(73,720)
Income (loss) before income taxes	38,751	28,327	59,333	(174)
Capital expenditures	8,438	6,595	17,320	29,031
Total assets	1,718,729		1,718,729		$ 1,740,058
Earnings from equity method investee	2,295	3,990	8,220	8,959
Investment in equity method investee	50,754		50,754		50,034
Property, plant and equipment, net	444,668		444,668		475,575
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	432,085	435,706	1,155,229	1,104,164
Property, plant and equipment, net	405,320		405,320		422,486
Canada
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	23,098	26,458	52,906	56,113
Property, plant and equipment, net	30,660		30,660		43,754
Mexico
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,374	2,362	6,484	6,326
Property, plant and equipment, net	8,688		8,688		9,335
Drainage Pipe & Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earnings from equity method investee	2,300	4,000	8,200	9,000
Investment in equity method investee	50,754		50,754		50,034
Operating Segments | Drainage Pipe & Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	256,597	280,678	662,427	686,092
Depreciation and amortization	8,275	9,317	24,820	27,975
Segment EBITDA and reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes	64,781	67,361	148,247	141,424
Capital expenditures	4,500	3,302	9,897	18,750
Total assets	830,626		830,626		819,373
Operating Segments | Water Pipe & Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	200,960	183,848	552,192	480,511
Depreciation and amortization	13,489	14,511	40,861	43,981
Segment EBITDA and reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes	46,994	25,557	109,584	59,271
Capital expenditures	3,743	3,232	6,866	7,757
Total assets	842,905		842,905		862,542
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	599	344	1,589	998
Segment EBITDA and reconciliation to income (loss) before income taxes	(30,606)	(17,147)	(70,726)	(54,195)
Capital expenditures	195	$ 61	557	$ 2,524
Total assets	$ 45,198		$ 45,198		$ 58,143

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Related party transactions (Details) - Affiliated Entities - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
CP&P Joint Venture
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales of products to related party	$ 1,200	$ 300
Purchased goods and services from related party	$ 800	$ 200
Lone Star
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment of certain covered tax benefits buy the Company, percentage	85.00%