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Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Cash and cash equivalents consist of all cash balances. We consider investments in highly liquid financial instruments purchased with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents.

Trade Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Our determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts requires us to make estimates and judgments regarding our customers’ ability to pay amounts due. We continuously evaluate the financial strength of our customers based on payment history, the overall business climate in which our customers operate and specific identification of customer bad debt and make adjustments to the allowance as necessary. Our evaluation of our customers’ financial strength is based on the aging of their respective receivables balance, customer correspondence, financial information and third-party credit ratings. Our evaluation of the business climate in which our customers operate is based on a review of various publicly-available materials regarding our customers’ industries, including the solvency of various companies in the industry.

The USA Compression Predecessor determined its allowance for doubtful accounts based upon historical write-off experience and specific identification of unrecoverable amounts.

Inventory

Inventory consists of serialized and non-serialized parts used primarily in the repair of compression units. All inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Serialized parts inventory is determined using the specific identification method, while non-serialized parts inventory is determined using the weighted average cost method. Purchases of these assets are considered operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost except for (i) certain acquired assets which are recorded at fair value on their respective acquisition dates and (ii) impaired assets which are recorded at fair value on the last impairment evaluation date for which an adjustment was required. Overhauls and major improvements that increase the value or extend the life of compression equipment are capitalized and depreciated over 3 to 5 years. Ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to cost of operations, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.

When property and equipment is retired or sold, its carrying value and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from our accounts and any associated gains or losses are recorded on our statements of operations in the period of sale or disposition.

Capitalized interest is calculated by multiplying the Partnership’s monthly effective interest rate on outstanding debt by the amount of qualifying costs, which include upfront payments to acquire certain compression units. Capitalized interest was $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The USA Compression Predecessor had no capitalized interest for the years ended December 31, 2017 or 2016, as it did not hold any debt during either period.

Impairments of Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets with recorded values that are not expected to be recovered through future cash flows are written-down to estimated fair value. We test long-lived assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the assets’ carrying value may not be recoverable or will no longer be utilized in the operating fleet. The most common circumstance requiring compression units to be tested for impairment is when idle units do not meet the performance characteristics of our active revenue generating horsepower.

The carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If the carrying value exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows associated with the operating fleet, an impairment loss equal to the amount of the carrying value exceeding the fair value of the asset is recognized. The fair value of the asset is measured using quoted market prices or, in the absence of quoted market prices, based on an estimate of discounted cash flows, the expected net sale proceeds compared to the other similarly configured fleet units we recently sold or a review of other units recently offered for sale by third parties, or the estimated component value of the equipment we plan to use.

Refer to Note 7 for more detailed information about impairment charges during the year ended December 31, 2018.

Identifiable Intangible Assets

Identifiable intangible assets are recorded at cost and amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which is the period over which the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to our future cash flows. The estimated useful lives range from 15 to 25 years.

We assess identifiable intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. We did not record any impairment of identifiable intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 or 2016.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents consideration paid in excess of the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized, but is reviewed for impairment annually based on the carrying values as of October 1, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise that suggest the carrying value of goodwill may not be recovered.

The Partnership did not record any goodwill impairment during the year ended December 31, 2018. The USA Compression Predecessor recorded $223 million of goodwill impairment for the year ended December 31, 2017 and no goodwill impairment for the year ended December 31, 2016. Refer to the Goodwill section in Note 7 for more information about the goodwill impairment assessment performed during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Predecessor Parent Company Net Investment

The USA Compression Predecessor participated in a centralized cash management function managed by ETP. Balances payable to or due from ETP generated under this arrangement are reflected in Predecessor parent company net investment.

ETP’s net investment in the operations of the USA Compression Predecessor is presented as Predecessor parent company net investment within the consolidated balance sheets. Predecessor parent company net investment represents the accumulated net earnings of the operations of the USA Compression Predecessor and accumulated net contributions from ETP. Net contributions for the period January 1, 2018 to April 1, 2018 were primarily comprised of intercompany operations and expense, cash clearing and other financing activities, and general and administrative cost allocations to the USA Compression Predecessor.

Income Taxes

These consolidated financial statements do not include a provision for income taxes as the Partnership is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and state income tax purposes, with each partner being separately taxed on its distributive share of the Partnership’s items of income, gain, loss, or deduction. While the Partnership is generally not subject to entity-level income taxes, Texas imposes an entity-level income tax on partnerships. Refer to Note 9 for more detailed information about the Texas Franchise Tax for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Pass Through Taxes

Sales taxes incurred on behalf of, and passed through to, customers are accounted for on a net basis.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting standards on fair value measurements establish a framework for measuring fair value and stipulate disclosures about fair value measurements. The standards apply to recurring and non-recurring financial and non-financial assets and liabilities that require or permit fair value measurements. Among the required disclosures is the fair value hierarchy of inputs we use to value an asset or a liability. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described as follows:

Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 inputs are those other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

As of December 31, 2018, our financial instruments consisted primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable and long-term debt. The book values of cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, and trade accounts payable are representative of fair value due to their short-term maturities. The carrying amount of our revolving credit facility approximates fair value due to the floating interest rates associated with the debt.

The fair value of our 6.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Senior Notes”) was estimated using quoted prices in inactive markets and is considered a Level 2 measurement. The following table summarizes the carrying amount and fair value of these assets and liabilities (in thousands):


	December 31,
Assets (Liabilities)	2018		2017
Carrying amount of Senior Notes (1)	$	709,511	$	—
Fair value of Senior Notes		696,000		—

(1)

Carrying amount is shown net of unamortized deferred financing costs. As of December 31, 2018, the outstanding aggregate principal amount of our Senior Notes was $725.0 million. See Note 10 for further details.

As of December 31, 2017, the USA Compression Predecessor did not have financial instruments with fair values determined using available market information and valuation methodologies. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities.

As part of the impairment analysis of goodwill as of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the USA Compression Predecessor’s goodwill was re-measured using Level 3 inputs. Refer to the Goodwill section in Note 7 for more information about this valuation as of December 31, 2017.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these consolidated financial statements and the accompanying results. Although these estimates are based on management’s available knowledge of current and expected future events, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Operating Segment

We operate in a single business segment, the compression services business.