OPAL Fuels (OPAL) risk factors, FY2024 10-K

Risks Related to Our Business

1. 01The owners and operators of biogas project sites generally make no warranties to us as to the quality or quantity of gas produced
2. 02The success of our business depends, in part, on maintaining good relationships with biogas conversion project site owners and operators. As a result, our business may be adversely affected if we are unable to maintain these relationships
3. 03If we are unable to maintain good relationships with these site owners and operators, or if they take any actions that disrupt or halt production of RNG or Renewable Power, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected
4. 04We are subject to risks associated with litigation or administrative proceedings that could materially impact our operations, including proceedings in the future related to our projects we subsequently acquire
5. 05We currently own, and in the future may acquire, certain assets in which we have limited control over management decisions, including through joint ventures, and our interests in such assets may be subject to transfer or other related restrictions
6. 06A reduction in the prices we can obtain for the Environmental Attributes generated from RNG, which include RINs, ISCC Carbon Credits, LCFS credits, and other incentives, could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations
7. 07The volatility in the price of oil, gasoline, diesel, natural gas, RNG, or Environmental Attribute prices could adversely affect our business
8. 08We face significant upward pricing pressure in the market with respect to our securing the biogas rights necessary for proposed new Biogas Conversion Projects and our conversion of existing Renewable Power rights to RNG rights on existing Biogas Conversion Projects that we plan to convert
9. 09In addition, we face similar pricing pressures when we attempt to renew our biogas rights on existing Biogas Conversion Projects at the end of their contractual periods and in situations where we plan to convert existing Renewable Power projects to RNG projects
10. 10We currently face declining market prices for LCFS credits specifically within California as well as significant upward pressure on the costs associated with dispensing RNG specifically within California to generate the LCFS credits
11. 11A prolonged environment of low prices or reduced demand for Renewable Power could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations
12. 12Increased rates of recycling and legislation encouraging recycling, increased use of waste incineration, advances in waste disposal technology, decreased demand for meat and livestock products could decrease the availability or change the composition of waste for biogas conversion project gas
13. 13We currently use, and may continue in the future to use, forward-sale and hedging arrangements, to mitigate certain risks, but the use of such arrangements could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations
14. 14Our ability to acquire, convert, develop and operate Biogas Conversion Projects, as well as expand production at current Biogas Conversion Projects, is subject to many risks
15. 15Acquiring Biogas Conversion Projects involves numerous risks, including potential exposure to pre-existing liabilities, unanticipated costs in acquiring and implementing the project, and lack of or limited experience in new geographic markets
16. 16Construction, development and operation of our Biogas Conversion Projects involves significant risks and hazards
17. 17maximum potential payment to NextEra under these provisions would be approximately $9.9 million based on current market prices for such Environmental Attributes
18. 18Maintenance, expansion and refurbishment of our Biogas Conversion Projects involve the risk of unplanned outages or reduced output, resulting from among other things periodic upgrading and improvement, unplanned breakdowns in equipment, and forced outages
19. 19In order to secure development, operational, dispensing and other necessary contract rights for our Biogas Conversion Projects, we typically face a long and variable development cycle that requires significant resource commitments and a long lead time before we realize revenues
20. 20Our Biogas Conversion Projects may not produce expected levels of output, and the amount of Renewable Power or RNG actually produced at each of our respective projects will vary over time, and, therefore so will generation of associated Environmental Attributes
21. 21Our gas and manure rights agreements for Biogas Conversion Projects are subject to certain conditions. A failure to satisfy such conditions could result in the loss of such rights
22. 22Our commercial success depends in part on our ability to identify, acquire, develop and operate public and private Fueling Stations for public and commercial fleet vehicles in order to dispense RNG for use as vehicle fuel and generate the associated Environmental Attributes
23. 23Our success is dependent on the willingness of commercial fleets and other counterparties to adopt, and continue use of RNG, which may not occur in a timely manner, at expected levels or at all. Our vehicle fleet counterparties may choose to invest in renewable vehicle fuels other than RNG
24. 24Acquisition, financing, construction, and development of Fueling Station projects by us or our partners that own projects may not commence on anticipated timelines or at all
25. 25In addition, new projects have no operating history. A new project may be unable to fund principal and interest payments under its debt service obligations or may operate at a loss
26. 26Certain of our Biogas Conversion Projects and Fueling Stations are newly constructed or are under construction and may not perform as we expect
27. 27Our cash could be adversely affected if the financial institutions in which we hold our cash fail
28. 28We have a history of accounting losses and may incur additional losses in the future
29. 29We are dependent on the efforts of our key management. Although we believe qualified replacements could be found for any departures of key executives, the loss of their services could adversely affect our performance and the value of our Class A common stock
30. 30Litigation or legal proceedings could expose us to significant liabilities and have a negative impact on our reputations or business
31. 31Our business and operations could be negatively affected if we become subject to any securities litigation or shareholder activism, which could cause us to incur significant expense, hinder execution of business and growth strategy and impact its stock price
32. 32Our only material assets are our direct interests in OPAL Fuels, and we are accordingly dependent upon distributions from OPAL Fuels to pay dividends and taxes and other expenses
33. 33If we are deemed an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act as a result of our ownership of OPAL Fuels, applicable restrictions could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on its business
34. 34In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement may be accelerated and/or significantly exceed the actual benefits that we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement
35. 35accrue interest until paid, which could negatively impact our results of operations and could also affect our liquidity in periods in which such payments are made
36. 36Our business may be impacted by macroeconomic conditions, including fears concerning the financial services industry, inflation, rising interest rates and volatile market conditions, and other uncertainties beyond our control

Risks Related to Regulations or Governmental Actions

1. 37The financial performance of our business depends upon tax and other government incentives for the generation of RNG and Renewable Power, any of which could change at any time and such changes may negatively impact our growth strategy
2. 38The Company may incur contractual obligations from the indemnification of third parties if tax authorities challenge the amount or availability of ITCs or related tax benefits that the Company is obligated to provide to such third parties under such contractual arrangements
3. 39We are subject to changing law and regulations regarding regulatory matters, corporate governance and public disclosure that will increase both our costs and the risk of noncompliance

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

1. 40As of December 31, 2024, our total indebtedness was $307.5 million, excluding deferred financing costs. Additionally, we have redeemable preferred non-controlling interests outstanding of $130.0 million

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Class A Common Stock

1. 41Future sales and issuances of our Class A common stock could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our shareholders and could cause our share price to fall
2. 42Future sales of a substantial number of shares of our Class A common stock, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares of Class A common stock intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our Class A common stock
3. 43We are an “emerging growth company,” and our election to comply with the reduced disclosure requirements as a public company may make our Class A common stock less attractive to investors
4. 44We are a controlled company, and thus not subject to all of the corporate governance rules of Nasdaq. You will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements
5. 45The dual-class structure of our common stock may adversely affect the trading market for the shares of Class A common stock
6. 46There can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with the continued listing standards of Nasdaq
7. 47Because there are no current plans to pay cash dividends on shares of common stock for the foreseeable future, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your shares of common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it
8. 48Anti-takeover provisions are contained in our certificate of incorporation that could delay or prevent a change of control
9. 49The trading price of the Class A common stock has been, and is likely to continue to be, volatile and could fluctuate in response to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control
10. 50Credit rating agencies continually revise their ratings for companies they follow. The condition of the financial and credit markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future