UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

Commission File Number: 001-34112

Energy Recovery, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(510) 483-7370

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including area code)

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 ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).

Yes ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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.

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 Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).  

Yes ☐ No ☑

As of May 1, 2017, there were 53,985,275 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share data and par value)

(unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

Note 1 — The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The Company

Energy Recovery, Inc. (the “Company,” “Energy Recovery,” “our,” “us,” and “we”) is an energy solutions provider to industrial fluid flow markets worldwide. Our core competencies are fluid dynamics and advanced material science. Our products make industrial processes more operating and capital expenditure efficient. Our solutions convert wasted pressure energy into a reusable asset and preserve or eliminate pumping technology in hostile processing environments. Our solutions are marketed and sold in fluid flow markets, such as water, oil & gas, and chemical processing, under the trademarks ERI^®, PX^®, Pressure Exchanger^®, PX Pressure Exchanger^®, AT™, AquaBold™, VorTeq™, IsoBoost^®, and IsoGen^®. Our solutions are owned, manufactured, and/or developed, in whole or in part, in the United States of America, (“U.S.”) and the Republic of Ireland.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires our management to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The accounting policies that reflect our more significant estimates and judgments and that we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results are revenue recognition, including percentage-of-completion accounting for oil & gas projects; allowance for doubtful accounts; allowance for product warranty; valuation of stock options; valuation and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets; useful lives for depreciation and amortization; valuation adjustments for excess and obsolete inventory; deferred taxes and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets; and evaluation and measurement of contingencies. Those estimates could change, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those estimates. For example, the Company records impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations when events and circumstances indicate that long-lived assets might be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amounts of those assets. The Company’s estimate of undiscounted cash flows, at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 indicated that such carrying amounts were expected to be recovered. Nonetheless, it is possible that the estimate of undiscounted cash flows may change in the future resulting in the need to write down those assets to fair value.

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Energy Recovery, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by us, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The December 31, 2016 condensed consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, and may not include all disclosures required by GAAP; however, we believe that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The March 31, 2017 unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2017.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods, have been made. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full fiscal year or any future periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The update requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers and will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The update also requires more detailed disclosures to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. ASU 2014-09 was originally effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. On July 9, 2015, the FASB voted to approve a one-year deferral of the effective date of ASU 2014-09. Additionally, the FASB decided to permit early adoption, but not before the original effective date (that is, annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016).

In March and April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) and ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, respectively. The amendments in these updates are intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations and to clarify two aspects of Topic 606: identifying performance obligations and the licensing implementation guidance, while retaining the related principles for those areas. The effective date and transition requirements for both ASU 2016-08 and ASU 2016-10 are the same as those for ASU 2014-09 as deferred.

We expect to adopt the guidance of ASU 2014-09 as of January 1, 2018. ASU 2014-09 permits the use of either the full retrospective or cumulative effect transition (modified retrospective) method. We formed a project team, which has operated since 2014, to evaluate internal processes and to implement the standard. We are still in the process of deciding whether we will use the full retrospective method or the modified retrospective method, and we have not yet selected a transition method. We continue to evaluate the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on our financial statements and related disclosures. For revenue streams related to water desalination products, we do not expect the impact to be material, however, for transactions accounted for under the percentage-of-completion method, as well as some long-term contracts, including our license and development revenue, there may be a material difference in the timing of revenue recognition under the new standard. At this time, we are still performing our analysis and we will continue to assess the impact on our revenue streams in 2017.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 modifies certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. For public entities, ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 impacts any entity that enters into a lease with some specified scope exceptions. The guidance updates and supersedes Topic 840, Leases. For public entities, ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. We are in the preliminary phases of assessing the effect of this guidance. While this assessment continues, we have not yet selected a transition date nor have we determined the impact of this guidance on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718). ASU 2016-09 requires excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies (the difference between the deduction for tax purposes and the compensation cost recognized for financial reporting purposes) be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement. Previously, these amounts were recognized directly to shareholder’s equity. The excess tax benefit from share-based compensation, previously classified as a financing activity, will be classified as an operating activity. Additionally, cash paid when directly withholding shares on an employee’s behalf for tax withholding purposes, is classified as a financing activity. For public entities, ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. We adopted this guidance effective January 1, 2017.  The adoption resulted in an increase to the net operating loss carryforward deferred tax asset and a corresponding increase in valuation allowance of $6.9 million attributable to excess tax benefits not previously recognized as they did not reduce income taxes payable.  We elected to continue to estimate forfeitures as part of the recognition of cost associated with equity awards. We applied prospectively all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies resulting from settlement of awards after the date of adoption. No adjustments were recorded for any windfall benefits previously recorded in additional paid-in capital. We withheld shares for tax withholding purposes during the three months ended March 31, 2017 of $0.2 million and reflected this in the cash flow statement as a financing activity.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. ASU 2016-15 impacts all entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under Topic 230. The amendment provides guidance on eight specific cash flow issues. For public entities, ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted and should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. ASU 2016-16 requires recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of an intra-entity asset transfer, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs, as opposed to current GAAP, which requires companies to defer the income tax effects of intra-entity asset transfers until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The income tax effects of intra-entity inventory transfers will continue to be deferred until the inventory is sold. ASU 2016-16 is effective on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The update is required to be adopted on a modified retrospective basis with the cumulative-effect adjustment recorded to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. ASU 2016-18 is intended to reduce diversity in practice in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. ASU 2016-18 requires that the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows explain the change in total cash and equivalents and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts. The standard also requires reconciliation between the total cash and equivalents and restricted cash presented on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the cash and cash equivalents balance presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. ASU 2016-18 is effective retrospectively on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We have not yet selected a transition date. Other than presentation, we do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 eliminates Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test and allows for the determination of impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount. The amendments in this updates should be applied on a prospective basis. For public entities which are Securities and Exchange Commission filers, this amendment is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for testing dates after January 1, 2017. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on our financial statements.

Note 2 — Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill was $12.8 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, which was the result of our acquisition of Pump Engineering, LLC in December 2009. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, there were no changes in the recognized amount of goodwill, and there has been no impairment of goodwill to date.

The components of identifiable other intangible assets, all of which are finite-lived, as of the dates indicated were as follows (in thousands):

Accumulated impairment losses at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include impairment charges for trademarks in 2012 and impairment charges for patents in 2007 and 2010.

Note 3 — Loss per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Potential dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation of loss per share, as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted loss per share (in thousands, except per share data):

The following potential common shares were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive (in thousands):

Note 4 — Other Financial Information

Restricted Cash

We have pledged cash in connection with certain stand-by letters of credit and company credit cards. We have deposited corresponding amounts into accounts at several financial institutions for these items as follows (in thousands):

Inventories

Our inventories are stated at the lower of cost (using the first-in, first-out method) or market and consisted of the following (in thousands):

Prepaid and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the three months ended March 31, 2017, were as follows (in thousands):

There were no reclassifications of amounts out of accumulated other comprehensive loss, as there have been no sales of securities or translation adjustments that impacted other comprehensive loss during the quarter. The tax impact of the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss were not material.

Note 5 — Investments

Our short-term investments are all classified as available-for-sale. There were no sales of available-for-sale securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Available-for-sale securities as of the dates indicated consisted of the following (in thousands):

Gross unrealized losses and fair values of our investments in an unrealized loss position as of the dates indicated, aggregated by investment category and length of time that the security has been in a continuous loss position, were as follows (in thousands):

Expected maturities can differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to prepay obligations without prepayment penalties. The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities that had stated maturities as of March 31, 2017 are shown below by contractual maturity (in thousands):

Note 6 — Long-Term Debt and Line of Credit

Debt

In March 2015, we entered into a loan agreement with a financial institution for a $55,000 fixed-rate installment loan carrying an annual interest rate of 6.35%. The loan is payable in equal monthly installments and matures on April 2, 2020. The note is secured by the asset purchased.

Long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

Future minimum principal payments due under long-term debt arrangements consist of the following (in thousands):

Line of Credit

In June 2012, we entered into a loan agreement with a financial institution. The loan agreement was amended in June 2015, (as amended, the “Loan Agreement”). The Loan Agreement provided for a total available credit line of $16.0 million. Under the Loan Agreement, we were allowed to draw advances not to exceed the lesser of the $16 million credit line or the credit line minus all outstanding revolving loans. Revolving loans could be in the form of a base rate loan that bore interest equal to the prime rate or a Eurodollar loan that bore interest equal to the adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1.25%. Stand-by letters of credit were subject to customary fees and expenses for issuance or renewal. The unused portion of the credit facility was subject to a facility fee in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the average unused portion of the revolving line. The Loan Agreement also required us to maintain a cash collateral balance equal to 101% of all outstanding advances and all outstanding stand-by letters of credit collateralized by the line of credit. This Loan Agreement was terminated on January 24, 2017. With the termination of the Loan Agreement, the cash collateral requirement was increased to 105% on all outstanding stand-by letters of credit and all outstanding corporate credit cards that survived the termination.

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were no advances drawn under the Loan Agreement. Stand-by letters of credit collateralized by restricted cash totaled $2.9 million and $3.1 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Total cash restricted related to these stand-by letters of credit totaled $3.1 million and $3.1 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

On January 27, 2017, we entered into a loan and pledge agreement (the “Loan and Pledge Agreement”) with another financial institution. The Loan and Pledge Agreement provides for a committed revolving credit line of $16.0 million and an uncommitted revolving credit line of $4.0 million. Under the Loan and Pledge Agreement we are allowed to borrow and request letters of credit against the eligible assets held from time to time in the pledged account maintained with the financial institution. Stand-by letters of credit are secured by pledged U.S. investments and there is no cash collateral balance required. Stand-by letters of credit are subject to fees, in an amount equal to 0.7% per annum of the face amount of the letter of credit, that are payable quarterly and are non-refundable. Revolving loans incur interest per annum at a base rate equal to the LIBOR rate plus 1.5%. Any default bears the aforementioned interest rate plus an additional 2%. The unused portion of the credit line is subject to a fee equal to the product of 0.2% per annum multiplied by the difference, if positive, between $16.0 million and the average daily balance of all advances under the committed facility plus aggregate average daily undrawn amounts of all letters of credit issued under the committed facility during the immediately preceding month or portion thereof.

The Loan and Pledge Agreement was amended on March 17, 2017 to increase the amount of allowable stand-by letters of credit held with other financial institutions from $4.1 million to $5.1 million. At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had stand-by letters of credit at this financial institution totaling $3.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively. Total cash restricted related to these stand-by letters of credit totaled $0 and $0.3 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we also had stand-by letters of credit collateralized by restricted cash at another financial institution totaling $1.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Total cash restricted related to these stand-by letters of credit totaled $1.0 million and $1.0 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Restricted cash related to all stand-by letters of credit at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 totaled $4.1 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

Note 7 — Equity

Stock Repurchase Program

In March 2017, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company, at the discretion of management, could repurchase up to $15.0 million in aggregate cost of our outstanding common stock through September 30, 2017. As of March 31, 2017 no shares had been repurchased under the authorization. We account for stock repurchases using the cost method. Cost includes fees charged in connection with acquiring the outstanding common stock.

In January 2016, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program under which the Company, at the discretion of management, could repurchase up to $6.0 million in aggregate cost of our outstanding common stock through June 30, 2016 (the “January Authorization”). In May 2016, our Board of Directors rescinded the January Authorization and authorized a new stock repurchase program under which the Company, at the discretion of management, could repurchase up to $10.0 million in aggregate cost of our outstanding common stock through October 31, 2016 (the “May Authorization”). At December 31, 2016, 673,700 shares, at an aggregate cost of $4.1 million, had been repurchased under the January Authorization and 568,500 shares, at an aggregate cost of $5.3 million, had been repurchased under the May Authorization. The May Authorization expired in October 2016 and there was no repurchase authorization in place at December 31, 2016.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, we recognized share-based compensation expense related to employees and consultants as follows (in thousands):

Stock Option Plan

In June 2016, our stockholders approved the 2016 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), that permits the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock (“RS” or “RSA”), stock units (“RSUs”), performance units, performance shares, and other stock-based awards to employees, officers, directors, and consultants. Prior to the approval of the Plan, we maintained the Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”). Stock-based awards granted under the Plan and the Prior Plan, generally vest over four years and expire no more than ten years after the date of grant. Subject to adjustments, as provided in the Plan, the number of shares of common stock initially authorized for issuance under the Plan was 4,441,083 (which consist of 3,830,000 new shares plus 611,083 shares that were authorized and unissued under the Prior Plan) plus up to 7,635,410 shares that were set aside for awards granted under the Prior Plan that are subsequently forfeited. The Plan supersedes all previously issued stock incentive plans (including the Prior Plan) and is currently the only available plan from which equity awards may be granted.

Stock Option Activity

The following table summarizes the stock option activity under the Plan and includes options granted under all previous plans.

As of March 31, 2017, total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested option awards, net of estimated forfeitures, was $6.1 million, which is expected to be recognized as expense over a weighted average period of approximately 3.0 years.

Restricted Stock Unit Activity

The following table summarizes the restricted stock unit activity under the Plan and includes restricted stock units granted under all previous plans.

As of March 31, 2017, total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock units, net of estimated forfeitures, was $2.1 million, which is expected to be recognized as expense over a weighted average period of approximately 3.4 years.

Note 8 — Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was 14.6% and 9.4%, respectively. As of December 31, 2016, a valuation allowance of approximately $21.1 million had been established to reduce our deferred income tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The tax benefit recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2017, was primarily related to losses in our Ireland subsidiary.

Note 9 — Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Lease Obligations

We lease facilities under fixed non-cancellable operating leases that expire on various dates through July 2021. Future minimum lease payments consist of the following (in thousands):

Product Warranty

The following table summarizes the activity related to the product warranty liability during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):

Purchase Obligations

We enter into purchase order arrangements with our vendors. As of March 31, 2017, there were open purchase orders for which we had not yet received the related goods or services. These arrangements are subject to change based on our sales demand forecasts, and we have the right to cancel the arrangements prior to the date of delivery. As of March 31, 2017, we had approximately $7.3 million of cancellable open purchase order arrangements related primarily to materials and parts.

Guarantees 

We enter into indemnification provisions under our agreements with other companies in the ordinary course of business, typically with customers. Under these provisions, we generally indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party as a result of our activities, generally limited to personal injury and property damage caused by our employees at a customer’s desalination plant in proportion to the employee’s percentage of fault for the accident. Damages incurred for these indemnifications would be covered by our general liability insurance to the extent provided by the policy limitations. We have not incurred material costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements. As a result, the estimated fair value of these agreements is not material. Accordingly, we have no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

In certain cases, we issue warranty and product performance guarantees to our customers for amounts generally equal to 10% or less of the total sales agreement to endorse the execution of product delivery and the warranty of design work, fabrication, and operating performance. These guarantees are generally stand-by letters of credit that typically remain in place for periods ranging up to twenty-four (24) months, and in some cases up to sixty-eight (68) months. All stand-by letters of credit at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, totaled $6.9 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

Litigation

The Company is named in and subject to various proceedings and claims in connection with our business. We are contesting the allegations in these claims, and we believe that there are meritorious defenses in each of these matters. The outcome of matters we have been and currently are involved in cannot be determined at this time, and the results cannot be predicted with certainty. There can be no assurance that these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in any future period and a significant judgment could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We may in the future become involved in additional litigation in the ordinary course of our business, including litigation that could be material to our business. Based on currently available information and review with outside counsel, management does not believe that the currently known actions or threats against the Company will result in any material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

On September 10, 2014, the Company terminated the employment of its Senior Vice President, Sales, Borja Blanco, on the basis of breach of duty of trust and conduct leading to conflict of interest. On October 24, 2014, Mr. Blanco filed a labor claim against ERI Iberia in Madrid, Spain, challenging the fairness of his dismissal and seeking compensation (“Case 1”). A hearing was held on November 13, 2015, after which the labor court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction over the matter. Mr. Blanco has appealed and the Company has filed statements of counter appeal. Based on currently available information and review with outside counsel, the Company has determined that an award to Mr. Blanco is not probable. While a loss may be reasonably possible, an estimate of loss, if any, cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

On November 24, 2014, Mr. Blanco filed a second action based on breach of contract theories in the same court as Case 1, but the cases are separate. In Case 2, Mr. Blanco seeks payment of an unpaid bonus, stock options, and non-compete compensation. The court ruled that this case is stayed until a final ruling is issued in Case 1. Based on currently available information and review with outside counsel, the Company has determined that an award to Mr. Blanco is not probable. While a loss may be reasonably possible, an estimate of loss, if any, cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

On January 20 and 27, 2015, two stockholder class action complaints were filed against the Company in the United States District Court of the Northern District of California, on behalf of Energy Recovery stockholders under the captions, Joseph Sabatino v. Energy Recovery, Inc. et al., Case No. 3:15-cv-00265 EMC, and Thomas C. Mowdy v. Energy Recovery, Inc, et al., Case No. 3:15-cv-00374 EMC. The complaints have now been consolidated under the caption, In Re Energy Recovery Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No. 3:15-cv-00265 EMC. The consolidated complaint alleges violations of Section 10(b), Rule 10b-5, and Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 based upon alleged public misrepresentations and seeks the recovery of unspecified monetary damages. On October 12, 2016, the Company and the attorneys representing the class reached an agreement in principle to settle all outstanding claims in the case. As part of the settlement agreement, the Company has agreed to pay the class an undisclosed sum, the entirety of which will be borne by the Company’s insurer. On April 11, 2017, the United States District Court of the Northern District of California granted preliminary approval of the settlement agreement and set a final hearing date of August 24, 2017.

On February 18, 2016, a complaint captioned Goldberg v. Rooney, et al., HG 16804359, was filed in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Alameda, naming as defendants Thomas Rooney, Alexander J. Buehler, Joel Gay, Ole Peter Lorentzen, Audrey Bold, Arve Hanstveit, Fred Olav Johannessen, Robert Yu Lang Mao, Hans Peter Michelet, Maria Elisabeth Pate-Cornell, Paul Cook, Olav Fjell, and Dominique Trempont (“Individual Defendants”) and naming the Company as a nominal defendant. The complaint is styled as a derivative action being brought on behalf of the Company and generally alleges breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, and unjust enrichment causes of action against the Individual Defendants. Based on currently available information and review with outside counsel, the Company is not able to estimate a potential loss, if any, due to the early stage of the matter. While a loss may be reasonably possible, an estimate of loss, if any, cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

On July 27, 2016, a complaint captioned Gerald McManiman v. Gay, et al., RG 16824960, was filed in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Alameda, naming as defendants Joel Gay, Chris Gannon, Hans Peter Michelet, Alexander Buehler, Arve Hanstveit, Dominique Trempont, Robert Yu Lang Mao, Thomas S. Rooney, Jr., Borja Sanchez-Blanco, Audrey Bold, Paul M. Cook, Marie-Elisabeth Pate -Cornell, Fred Olav Johannessen (“Individual Defendants”) and naming the Company as a nominal defendant. The complaint is styled as a derivative action being brought on behalf of the Company and generally alleges breach of fiduciary duties and violations of laws against the Individual Defendants. Based on currently available information and review with outside counsel, the Company is not able to estimate a potential loss, if any, due to the early stage of the matter. While a loss may be reasonably possible, an estimate of loss, if any, cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

Note 10 — Business Segment and Geographic Information

We manufacture and sell high-efficiency energy recovery devices and pumps as well as related products and services. Our chief operating decision-maker (“CODM”) is the chief executive officer (“CEO”).

Our reportable operating segments consist of the Water Segment and the Oil & Gas Segment. These segments are based on the industries in which the products are sold, the type of energy recovery device sold, and the related products and services. The Water Segment consists of revenue associated with products sold for use in reverse osmosis water desalination, as well as the related identifiable expenses. The Oil & Gas Segment consists of product revenue associated with products sold for use in gas processing, chemical processing, and hydraulic fracturing and license and development revenue associated with hydraulic fracturing, as well as related identifiable expenses. Operating income for each segment excludes other income and expenses and certain expenses managed outside the operating segment. Costs excluded from operating income include various corporate expenses such as income taxes and other separately managed general and administrative expenses not related to the identified segments. Assets and liabilities are reviewed at the consolidated level by the CODM and are not accounted for by segment. The CODM allocates resources to and assesses the performance of each operating segment using information about its revenue and operating income (loss).

The following summarizes financial information by segment for the periods presented (in thousands):

The following geographic information includes net revenue to our domestic and international customers based on the customers’ requested delivery locations, except for certain cases in which the customer directed us to deliver our products to a location that differs from the known ultimate location of use. In such cases, the ultimate location of use, rather than the delivery location, is reflected in the table below (in thousands, except percentages):

All of our long-lived assets were located in the United States at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Note 11 — Concentrations

Customers accounting for 10% or more of our accounts receivable and unbilled receivables were as follows:

Revenue from customers representing 10% or more of product revenue varies from period to period. For the periods indicated, customers representing 10% or more of product revenue were:

No other customer accounted for more than 10% of our product revenue during any period presented.

One customer, Customer F, accounts for 100% of our license and development revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Vendors accounting for 10% or more of our accounts payable were as follows:

Note 12 — Fair Value Measurements

The authoritative guidance for measuring fair value provides a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions that market participants would use in pricing.

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, unbilled receivables, accounts payable, and other accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of those instruments. For our investments in available-for-sale securities, if quoted prices in active markets for identical investments are not available to determine fair value (Level 1), then we use quoted prices for similar assets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2). The investments included in Level 2 consist of corporate agency obligations.

The fair value of financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis for the indicated periods was as follows (in thousands):

Note 13 — Related Party Transactions

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company extended an employee loan to one of its employees for $21,786. The loan is repayable to the Company monthly over six months and is non-interest bearing. As of March 31, 2017 the loan balance was $21,786.

Note 14 - Subsequent Events

On April 5, 2017, the Company announced a licensing agreement with Alderley plc. The 10-year licensing agreement grants Alderley the exclusive right to sell and promote the Company’s centrifugal line of products, comprised of the IsoBoost and IsoGen systems, for gas processing and pipeline applications in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Middle East region. Energy Recovery will receive a royalty payment for each IsoBoost and IsoGen unit sold.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The discussion in this item and in other items of this Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this report include, but are not limited to, statements about our expectations, objectives, anticipations, plans, hopes, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and on management’s belief, assumptions, estimates, or projections and are not guarantees of future events or results. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements that represent our current expectations about future events are based on assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. If the risks or uncertainties occur or the assumptions prove incorrect, then our results may differ materially from those set forth or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events.

Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “assumes,” “intends,” “projects,” “predicts,” “plans,” “forecasts,” “outlook,” “sustain,” “could,” “may,” “strategy,” “will,” “would be,” “seek,” “target,” or variations of such words, and similar expressions are also intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict; therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this report include, without limitation, statements about the following:

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s opinions only as of the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements included in this document are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, as disclosed from time to time in our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K as well as in our Annual Reports to Stockholders and, if necessary, updated in “Part II, Item 1A: Risk Factors.” In preparing the MD&A below, we presume the readers have access to and have read the MD&A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, pursuant to Instruction 2 to paragraph (b) of Item 303 of Regulation S-K. We assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. It is important to note that our actual results could differ materially from the results set forth or implied by our forward-looking statements.

Overview

Energy Recovery, Inc. (the “Company,” “Energy Recovery,” “our,” “us,” and “we”) is an energy solutions provider to industrial fluid flow markets worldwide. Our core competencies are fluid dynamics and advanced material science. Our products make industrial processes more operating and capital expenditure efficient. Our solutions convert wasted pressure energy into a reusable asset and preserve or eliminate pumping technology in hostile processing environments. Our solutions are marketed and sold in fluid flow markets, such as water, oil & gas, and chemical processing, under the trademarks ERI^®, PX^®, Pressure Exchanger^®, PX Pressure Exchanger^®, AT™, AquaBold™, VorTeq™, IsoBoost^®, and IsoGen^®. Our solutions are owned, manufactured, and/or developed, in whole or in part, in the United States of America, (“U.S.”) and the Republic of Ireland.

Our reportable operating segments consist of the Water Segment and the Oil & Gas Segment. These segments are based on the industries in which the technology solutions are sold, the type of energy recovery device or other technology sold, and the related solution and service.

Water Segment

Our Water Segment consists of revenues and expenses associated with solutions sold for use in reverse osmosis desalination. Our Water Segment revenue is principally derived from the sale of energy recovery devices (“ERDs”). However, we also derive revenue from the sale of our high-pressure and circulation pumps, which we manufacture and sell in connection with our ERDs for use in desalination plants. Additionally, we receive revenue from the sale of spare parts and services, including start-up and commissioning services that we provide for our customers.

With respect to product revenue from our ERDs in our Water Segment, a significant portion of our revenue is typically generated by sales to a limited number of large engineering, procurement, and construction (“EPC”) firms, which are involved with the design and construction of larger desalination plants. Sales to these firms often involve a long sales cycle, which can range from sixteen (16) to thirty-six (36) months. A single large desalination project can generate an order for numerous ERDs and generally represents an opportunity for significant revenue. We also sell our devices to many small- to medium-sized original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”), which commission smaller desalination plants, order fewer ERDs per plant, and have shorter sales cycles.

We often experience substantial fluctuations in our Water Segment product revenue from quarter-to-quarter and from year-to-year because a single order for our ERDs by a large EPC firm for a particular plant may represent significant revenue. In addition, historically our EPC firm customers tend to order a significant amount of equipment for delivery in the fourth quarter, and as a consequence, a significant portion of our annual sales typically occurs during that quarter. Normal seasonality trends also generally lead to our lowest revenue being in the first quarter of the year.

A limited number of our customers account for a substantial portion of our product revenue and of our accounts receivable and unbilled receivables. Product revenue from customers representing 10% or more of product revenue varies from period to period. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, one Water Segment customer accounted for 34% of our total product revenue. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, one Water Segment customer accounted for 41% of our total product revenue. No other Water Segment customer accounted for more than 10% of our total product revenue during any of these periods.

At March 31, 2017, two Water Segment customers accounted for 27% and 10%, respectively, of our total accounts receivable and unbilled receivables balance. At December 31, 2016, one Water Segment customer accounted for 13% of our total accounts receivable and unbilled receivables balance.

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, no Water Segment vendor accounted for more than 10% of our accounts payable balance.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, most of our Water Segment product revenue was attributable to sales outside of the United States. We expect sales and accounts receivable outside of the United States to remain a significant portion of our Water Segment product revenue and accounts receivable for the next few years.

Oil &Gas Segment

Our Oil & Gas Segment consists of revenues and expenses associated with solutions sold or licensed for use in hydraulic fracturing, gas processing, and chemical processing. In the past several years, we have invested significantly in research and development to expand our business into pressurized fluid flow industries within the oil & gas industry.

In 2012, we introduced the IsoBoost and IsoGen products for use in the oil & gas industry. In 2014, we announced a new product for the hydraulic fracturing industry, the VorTeq. Field trials were initiated for the VorTeq in the second quarter of 2015 and completed in December 2015 with the successful delivery of proppant to a well located in the Bakken Formation.

In October 2015, through our subsidiary ERI Energy Recovery Ireland Ltd., we entered into a license agreement with Schlumberger Technology Corporation (“VorTeq License Agreement”). The VorTeq License Agreement has a term of fifteen (15) years and grants the licensee the exclusive, worldwide right to use our VorTeq technology for hydraulic fracturing onshore operations. The VorTeq License Agreement includes $125 million in pre-commercialization payments paid in stages: a $75 million upfront, exclusivity fee payment and two separate $25 million payments upon successful achievement of two milestone tests. Following product commercialization, the VorTeq License Agreement includes recurring royalty payments throughout the fifteen-year term.

The revenue related to the VorTeq License Agreement exclusivity fee will be recognized pro-ratably over the fifteen-year agreement. Revenue from each milestone payment will be recognized when the milestone is reached. Revenue from the recurring royalty payments will be recognized when earned throughout the term of the agreement.

In July 2016, we received our first major purchase order for multiple units of our IsoBoost technology for integration into a major gas processing plant to be constructed in the Middle East and we recognized Oil & Gas Segment product revenue using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting.

In March 2017, we announced a new partnership with Kemper Valve and Fittings Corp., a Caterpillar company, (“Kemper”). Under the partnership Kemper will design and manufacture the second generation manifold trailer, or missile, for the VorTeq hydraulic pumping system.

On April 5, 2017, the Company announced a licensing agreement with Alderley plc. The 10-year licensing agreement grants Alderley the exclusive right to sell and promote the Company’s centrifugal line of products, comprised of the IsoBoost and IsoGen systems, for gas processing and pipeline applications in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Middle East region. Energy Recovery will receive a royalty payment for each IsoBoost and IsoGen unit sold.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, we recognized Oil & Gas Segment revenue related to our VorTeq License Agreement and product revenue related to the sale of the IsoBoost systems. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, we recognized Oil & Gas Segment revenue related to our VorTeq License Agreement.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, one Oil & Gas Segment customer accounted for 13% of our total product revenue. No other Oil & Gas Segment customer accounted for more than 10% of our total product revenue during any of the periods presented.

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, one Oil & Gas Segment customer accounted for 23% and 16%, respectively, of our total accounts receivable and unbilled receivable balance.

At March 31, 2017, no Oil & Gas Segment vendor accounted for more than 10% of our accounts payable balance. At December 31, 2016, one Oil & Gas Segment vendor accounted for 18% of our accounts payable balance.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, one customer accounted for 100% of our Oil & Gas Segment license and development revenue.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, all of our Oil & Gas Segment product revenue was attributable to sales outside of the United States. There was no Oil & Gas Segment product revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Accounting Estimates

Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States. These accounting principles require us to make estimates and judgments that can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the periods presented. We believe that the estimates and judgments upon which we rely are reasonable based upon information available to us at the time that we make these estimates and judgments. To the extent that there are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our consolidated financial results will be affected. The accounting policies that reflect our more significant estimates and judgments and which we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results are revenue recognition, including percentage-of-completion accounting for oil & gas projects; allowance for doubtful accounts; allowance for product warranty; valuation of stock options; valuation and impairment of goodwill and acquired intangible assets; valuation adjustments for excess and obsolete inventory; deferred taxes and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets; and evaluation and measurement of contingencies, including contingent consideration.

Results of Operations

First Quarter of 2017 Compared to First Quarter of 2016

Total revenue

Product revenue

Total product revenue increased by $2.2 million, or 22%, to $12.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from $10.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Of the $2.2 million increase, $0.7 million was attributable to the Water Segment and $1.5 million was attributable to the Oil & Gas Segment.

The increase in Water Segment product revenue was primarily due to higher mega-project (“MPD”) shipments in the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. Of the $0.7 million increase in our Water Segment product revenue, $0.9 million related to MPD sales. The increase in MPD sales was offset by ($0.2) million lower aftermarket sales.

All of the $1.5 million increase in Oil & Gas Segment product revenue was due to the percentage-of-completion revenue recognition associated with the sale of multiple IsoBoost systems in the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016 when no percentage-of-completion revenue was recognized.

Product revenue attributable to domestic and international sales as a percentage of total product revenue was as follows:

License and development revenue

License and development revenue was the same at $1.3 million for the both the three months ended March 31, 2017 and the three months ended March 31, 2016. The $1.3 million is representative of three months of amortization of the deferred revenue related to the VorTeq License Agreement.

License and development revenue attributable to domestic and international sales as a percentage of total license and development revenue was as follows:

Product gross profit

Product gross profit represents our product revenue less our product cost of revenue. Our product cost of revenue consists primarily of raw materials, personnel costs (including stock-based compensation), manufacturing overhead, warranty costs, depreciation expense, and manufactured components.

Total product gross profit increased by $1.3 million, or 20%, to $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, total product gross margin (total product gross profit as a percentage of total product revenue) was 62% compared to 63% for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Water Segment product gross profit increased by $0.8 million, or 13%, to $7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to higher MPD sales in the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. Water Segment product gross margin was 67% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to 63% for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Oil & Gas Segment product gross profit increased to $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Oil & Gas Segment product gross margin was 30% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to 0% for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase in gross profit and gross margin are due to the percentage-of-completion revenue recognition in the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016, when no percentage-of-completion revenue was recognized.

Manufacturing headcount increased to 43 as of March 31, 2017 from 42 as of March 31, 2016.

Stock-based compensation expense included in cost of revenue was $0.05 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and $0.04 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Operating expenses

General and administrative

General and administrative expense decreased by ($0.5) million, or 10%, to $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from $4.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Of the ($0.5) million decrease in general and administrative expense, ($0.2) million related to professional, legal, and other administrative costs and ($0.3) million related to stock-based compensation expense.

General and administrative headcount increased to 30 as of March 31, 2017 from 27 as of March 31, 2016.

Stock-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expense was $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing expense increased by $0.4 million, or 19%, to $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Of the $0.4 million increase in sales and marketing expense, $0.3 million related to compensation, employee-related benefits, and commissions and $0.1 million related to marketing expense.

Sales and marketing headcount remained the same at 28 for both March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016.

Stock-based compensation expense included in sales and marketing expense was $0.2 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016.

Research and development

Research and development expense decreased by ($0.2) million, or 6%, to $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Of the ($0.2) million decrease in research and development expense, ($0.6) million related to direct research and development project costs associated with new product initiatives and other services. The decrease was offset by $0.4 million related to compensation, employee-related benefits, and stock-based compensation expense.

Research and development headcount increased to 24 as of March 31, 2017 from 19 as of March 31, 2016.

Stock-based compensation expense included in research and development expense was $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Amortization of intangible assets

Amortization of intangible assets is related to finite-lived intangible assets acquired as a result of our purchase of Pump Engineering, LLC in December 2009.

Other income (expense)

* less than 1%

Other income (expense) increased by $0.1 million, or 632%, to income of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 from expense of ($0.02) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The increase was primarily due to higher interest income associated with increased investment income from our investments in marketable securities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Income taxes

Our income tax benefit was ($0.1) million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to a tax benefit of ($0.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The tax benefit of ($0.1) million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was primarily related to a tax benefit from losses in our Ireland subsidiary which was partially offset by tax expense related to the deferred tax effects associated with the amortization of goodwill and to other taxes. The tax benefit of ($0.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was primarily related to a tax benefit from losses in our Ireland subsidiary which was partially offset by tax expense related to the deferred tax effects associated with the amortization of goodwill and to other taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Historically, our primary source of cash has been proceeds from customer payments for our products and services and the issuance of common stock. In October 2015, we received a payment of $75 million for an exclusive license to our VorTeq technology. As of March 31, 2017, we have issued common stock for aggregate net proceeds of $97.8 million, excluding common stock issued in exchange for promissory notes. The proceeds from the sales of common stock have been used to fund our operations and capital expenditures.

As of March 31, 2017, our principal sources of liquidity consisted of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $58.7 million that are invested primarily in money market funds; short-term investments of $38.7 million that are primarily invested in marketable debt securities; and accounts receivable of $9.2 million. We invest cash not needed for current operations predominantly in high-quality, investment-grade, marketable debt instruments with the intent to make such funds available for operating purposes as needed.

We currently have unbilled receivables pertaining to customer contractual holdback provisions, whereby we will invoice the final retention payment(s) due under a certain sales contract in the next two (2) to six (6) months. The customer holdbacks represent amounts intended to provide a form of security to the customer, accordingly, these receivables have not been discounted to present value. At March 31, 2017 we had $2.2 million of short-term unbilled receivables.

In June 2012, we entered into a loan agreement with a financial institution. The loan agreement was amended in June 2015, (as amended, the “Loan Agreement”). The Loan Agreement provided for a total available credit line of $16.0 million. Under the Loan Agreement, we were allowed to draw advances not to exceed the lesser of the $16 million credit line or the credit line minus all outstanding revolving loans. Revolving loans could be in the form of a base rate loan that bore interest equal to the prime rate or a Eurodollar loan that bore interest equal to the adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1.25%. Stand-by letters of credit were subject to customary fees and expenses for issuance or renewal. The unused portion of the credit facility was subject to a facility fee in an amount equal to 0.25% per annum of the average unused portion of the revolving line. The Loan Agreement also required us to maintain a cash collateral balance equal to 101% of all outstanding advances and all outstanding stand-by letters of credit collateralized by the line of credit. This Loan Agreement was terminated on January 24, 2017. With the termination of the Loan Agreement, the cash collateral requirement was increased to 105% on all outstanding stand-by letters of credit and all outstanding corporate credit cards that survived the termination.

At March 31, 2017 there were no advances drawn under the Loan Agreement. Stand-by letters of credit issued from this financial institution and collateralized by restricted cash totaled $2.9 million as of March 31, 2017. Total cash restricted related to these stand-by letters of credit totaled $3.1 million. Of the $3.1 million in restricted cash, $1.7 million was classified as current and $1.4 million was classified as non-current. As of March 31, 2017, restricted cash related to credit cards issued at this institution was $0.7 million, all of which was classified as current.

On January 27, 2017, we entered into a loan and pledge agreement (the “Loan and Pledge Agreement”) with another financial institution. The Loan and Pledge Agreement provides for a committed revolving credit line of $16.0 million and an uncommitted revolving credit line of $4.0 million. Under the Loan and Pledge Agreement we are allowed to borrow and request letters of credit against the eligible assets held from time to time in the pledged account maintained with the financial institution. Stand-by letters of credit are secured by pledged U.S. investments and there is no cash collateral balance required. Stand-by letters of credit are subject to fees, in an amount equal to 0.7% per annum of the face amount of the letter of credit, that are payable quarterly and are non-refundable. Revolving loans incur interest per annum at a base rate equal to the LIBOR rate plus 1.5%. Any default bears the aforementioned interest rate plus an additional 2%. The unused portion of the credit line is subject to a fee equal to the product of 0.20% per annum multiplied by the difference, if positive, between $16.0 million and the average daily balance of all advances under the committed facility plus aggregate average daily undrawn amounts of all letters of credit issued under the committed facility during the immediately preceding month or portion thereof.

The Loan and Pledge Agreement was amended on March 17, 2017 to increase the amount of allowable stand-by letters of credit held with other financial institutions from $4.1 million to $5.1 million. At March 31, 2017 we had stand-by letters of credit at this financial institution totaling $3.0 million. Total restricted cash related to these stand-by letters of credit totaled $0.

At March 31, 2017, we also had stand-by letters of credit collateralized by restricted cash at another financial institution totaling $1.0 million. Total restricted cash related to these stand-by letters of credit totaled $1.0 million as of March 31, 2017, all of which was classified as current.

Restricted cash related to all stand-by letters of credit at March 31, 2017 totaled $4.1 million.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities was ($4.8) million and ($0.3) million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, a net loss of ($0.4) million was adjusted to $1.6 million by non-cash items totaling $2.0 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, a net loss of ($2.0) million was adjusted to $0 by non-cash items totaling $2.0 million.

Non-cash adjustments of $2.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 primarily include share-based compensation of $1.1 million and depreciation and amortization of $0.9 million.

Non-cash adjustments of $2.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 primarily include share-based compensation of $1.2 million and depreciation and amortization of $0.9 million.

The net cash impact from changes in assets and liabilities was approximately ($6.4) million and ($0.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively. Net changes in assets and liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2017 of ($6.4) million was primarily attributable to a decrease of ($3.2) million in accrued expenses and other liabilities; an increase of ($2.0) million in unbilled receivables; an increase of ($1.5) million in cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings; a decrease of ($1.3) million in non-current deferred revenue related to the recognition of revenue related to the VorTeq License Agreement; an increase of ($0.5) million in prepaid expenses and other assets; an increase of ($0.3) million in inventory; and a decrease of ($0.3) million in product deferred revenue. These changes were offset by a decrease of $2.6 million in accounts receivable as a result of customer payments and an increase of $0.1 million in accounts payable.

Net changes in assets and liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2016 of ($0.2) million were primarily attributable to a decrease of $4.0 million in accounts receivable and unbilled receivables as a result of the collections and the timing of invoices for projects shipped previously and an increase of $0.7 million in accounts payable due to the timing of payments to vendors. These changes were offset by a decrease of ($2.8) million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities due to the timing of payments to employees and other third parties; a decrease of ($1.3) million in non-current deferred revenue related to the recognition of revenue related to the VorTeq License Agreement; an increase of ($0.6) million in prepaid expenses, other current assets, and inventory; and a decrease of ($0.2) million in current deferred revenue due to the timing of invoices

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was ($0.7) million and ($0.5) million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively. Cash flows used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 of ($0.7) million were primarily due to ($9.4) million used to purchase additional marketable securities; ($0.5) million used for capital expenditures; and a ($0.5) million increase in restricted cash offset by $9.7 million of cash provided from the maturity of marketable securities .

Cash flows used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 of ($0.5) million were due to an increase in restricted cash to collateralize stand-by letters of credit and cash used for capital expenditures.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities was $2.8 million and ($2.6) million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively. Net cash provided by financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2017 of $2.8 million consisted of $3.0 million received for the issuance of common stock due to option exercises which was partially offset by ($0.2) million related to shares withheld from the vesting of restricted stock for tax withholdings.

Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2016 of ($2.6) million consisted of ($4.1) million used to repurchase our common stock related to a repurchase program which was partially offset by $1.5 million received for the issuance of common stock due to option exercises.

Liquidity and Capital Resource Requirements

We believe that our existing cash balances and cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated capital requirements for at least the next twelve months. However, we may need to raise additional capital or incur additional indebtedness to continue to fund our operations or to support acquisitions in the future. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including the continuing market acceptance of our products, our rate of revenue growth, the timing of new product introductions, the expansion of our research and development, manufacturing, and sales and marketing activities, the timing and extent of our expansion into new geographic territories, and the amount and timing of cash used for stock repurchases. In addition, we may enter into potential material investments in, or acquisitions of, complementary businesses, services, or technologies in the future, which could also require us to seek additional equity or debt financing. Should we need additional liquidity or capital funds, these funds may not be available to us on favorable terms or at all.

Contractual Obligations

We lease facilities and equipment under fixed non-cancellable operating leases that expire on various dates through 2021. Additionally, in the course of our normal operations, we have entered into cancellable purchase commitments with our suppliers for various key raw materials and component parts. The purchase commitments covered by these arrangements are subject to change based on sales forecasts for future deliveries.

We have agreements with guarantees or indemnity provisions that we have entered into with customers and others in the ordinary course of business. Based on our historical experience and information known to us as of March 31, 2017, we believe that our exposure related to these guarantees and indemnities was not material.

The following is a summary of our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2017 (in thousands):

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the periods presented, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities that would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 — “The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the condensed consolidated financial statements regarding the impact of certain recent accounting pronouncements on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

The information in this section should be read in connection with the information on financial market risk related to changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates in Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Foreign Currency Risk

The majority of our product revenue contracts have been denominated in United States Dollars. In some circumstances, we have priced certain international sales in Euros.

As we expand our international sales, we expect that a portion of our product revenue could continue to be denominated in foreign currencies. As a result, our cash and cash equivalents and operating results could be increasingly affected by changes in exchange rates. Our international sales and marketing operations incur expenses that are denominated in foreign currencies. These expenses could be materially affected by currency fluctuations. Our exposures are to fluctuations in exchange rates for the United States Dollar versus the Euro, AED, CNY, GBP, and CAD. Changes in currency exchange rates could adversely affect our consolidated operating results or financial position. Additionally, our international sales and marketing operations maintain cash balances denominated in foreign currencies. To decrease the inherent risk associated with translation of foreign cash balances into our reporting currency, we have not maintained excess cash balances in foreign currencies. We have not hedged our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates because expenses and cash balances in foreign currencies have been insignificant to date and exchange rate fluctuations have had little impact on our operating results and cash flows.

Interest Rate Risk and Credit Risk

We have an investment portfolio of fixed income marketable debt securities, including amounts classified as cash equivalents and short-term investments. At March 31, 2017, our short-term investments totaled $38.7 million. The primary objective of our investment activities is to preserve principal and liquidity while at the same time maximizing yields without significantly increasing risk. Our current investments are primarily in high-quality, short-term and long-term debt instruments of high-quality corporate issuers. These investments are subject to interest rate fluctuations and will decrease in market value if interest rates increase. To minimize the exposure due to adverse shifts in interest rates, we maintain investments with an average maturity of less than eighteen months. A hypothetical 1% increase in interest rates would have resulted in a $0.2 million decrease in the fair value of our fixed-income debt securities as of March 31, 2017.

Concentration of Credit Rate Risk

Our investments in marketable debt securities are subject to potential loss of value due to counterparty credit risk. To minimize this risk, we invest pursuant to a Board-approved investment policy. The policy mandates high-credit-rating requirements and restricts our exposure to any single corporate issuer or sector by imposing concentration limits.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Our management, with the participation of our President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and the Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer), have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Based on that evaluation, our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

(b) Changes in internal controls. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that, have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Note 9 – “Commitments and Contingencies,” under the caption “Litigation” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2017, provides information on certain litigation in which we are involved.

For an update on the litigation previously disclosed in our Form 10-K, see the discussion in Note 9 – “Commitments and Contingencies,” under the caption “Litigation” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which discussion is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There has been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 10, 2017.

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

None.

Item 3. Default Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

See the Exhibit Index following the Signature page to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a list of exhibits filed or furnished with this report, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

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.

Registrant: Energy Recovery, Inc.

Exhibit List

33