ProFrac Holding (ACDC) Risk Analysis

Environmental, health and safety laws and regulations are constantly evolving, and they may change or become more stringent in the future. Current and future claims and liabilities may have a material adverse effect on us because of potential adverse outcomes, defense costs, diversion of management resources, unavailability of insurance coverage and other factors. The ultimate costs of these liabilities are difficult to determine and may exceed any reserves we may have established. If existing environmental, health and safety requirements or enforcement policies change, we may be required to make significant unanticipated capital and operating expenditures.

We are subject to laws and regulations relating to human exposure to crystalline silica. For example, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act ("OSHA") has implemented rules establishing a more stringent permissible exposure limit for exposure to respirable crystalline silica and provided other provisions to protect employees. These rules require compliance with engineering control obligations to limit exposures to respirable crystalline silica in connection with hydraulic fracturing activities. In June 2022, the Department of Labor's ("DOL") Mine Safety and Health Administration ("MSHA") launched a new enforcement initiative to better protect U.S. miners from health hazards resulting from repeated overexposure to respirable crystalline silica. MSHA reports that silica dust affects thousands of miners each year and, without adequate protection, miners face risks of serious illnesses, many of which can be fatal. On July 13, 2023, the MSHA issued a proposed rule amending its existing standards and setting a permissible exposure limit of respirable crystalline silica. As part of the DOL's program, MSHA will conduct silica dust-related mine inspections and expand silica sampling at mines, while providing mine operators with compliance assistance and best practices to limit miners' exposure to silica dust. Specifically, the silica enforcement initiative will include: - Spot inspections at mines with a history of repeated silica overexposures to closely monitor and evaluate health and safety conditions. - Increased oversight and enforcement of known silica hazards at mines with previous citations for exposing miners to silica dust levels over the existing permissible exposure limit of 100 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3). For mines where the operator has not timely abated hazards, MSHA will issue a withdrawal order until the silica overexposure hazard has been abated. - Expanded silica sampling at mines to ensure inspectors' samples represent the mines, commodities and occupations known to have the highest risk for overexposure. - A focus on sampling during periods of the mining process that present the highest risk of silica exposure for miners. - Reminding miners about their rights to report hazardous health conditions, including any attempt to tamper with the sampling process. In addition, the DOL's Educational Field and Small Mine Services staff will provide compliance assistance and outreach to mine operators, unions and other mining community organizations to promote and advance protections for miners. The MSHA initiative is intended to take immediate action to reduce the risks of silica dust exposure as the DOL's development of a mining industry standard continues. If we are unable to satisfy these obligations, or are not able to do so in a manner that is cost effective or attractive to our customers, our business operations may be adversely affected or availability or demand for our frac sand could be significantly affected. Federal and state regulatory authorities, including OSHA, MSHA and analogous state agencies, may continue to propose changes in their regulations regarding workplace exposure to crystalline silica, such as permissible exposure limits and required controls and personal protective equipment, and we can provide no assurance that we will be able to comply with any future laws and regulations relating to exposure to crystalline silica that are adopted, or that costs of complying with such future laws and regulations would not have an adverse effect on our operating results by requiring us to modify or cease our operations. In addition, the inhalation of respirable crystalline silica is associated with health risks, including the lung disease silicosis. There is evidence of an association between crystalline silica exposure or silicosis and lung cancer and possible association with other diseases, including immune system disorders such as scleroderma. These health risks have been, and may continue to be, a significant issue confronting the hydraulic fracturing industry. Concerns over silicosis and other potential adverse health effects, as well as concerns regarding potential liability from the use of frac sand, may have the effect of discouraging our customers' use of frac sand. The actual or perceived health risks of handling frac sand could adversely affect hydraulic fracturing service providers, including us, through reduced use of frac sand, the threat of product liability or employee lawsuits naming us as a defendant, increased scrutiny by federal, state and local regulatory authorities of us and our customers or reduced financing sources available to the hydraulic fracturing industry. Over the past few decades, a number of companies that utilize silica in their operations have been named as a defendant, usually among many defendants, in product liability lawsuits brought by or on behalf of current or former employees or customers alleging damages caused by silica exposure. The silica- related litigation brought against us to date, and associated litigation costs, settlements and verdicts, have not resulted in a material liability to us, and we presently maintain insurance policies where available. However, we may continue to have silica exposure claims filed against us in the future, including claims that allege silica exposure for periods or in areas not covered by insurance, and the costs, outcome and impact to us of any pending or future claims is not certain. Any such pending or future claims or inadequacies of our insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations.

In the United States, the ESA restricts activities that may affect endangered or threatened species or their habitats and similar protections are offered to migratory birds under the MBTA and other federal and state statutes. To the extent species that are listed and protected under the ESA or similar state laws, or under the MBTA, inhabit the areas where we or our customers operate, our operations and the operations of our customers could be adversely impacted. Moreover, drilling and mining activities may be delayed, restricted or precluded in protected habitat areas or during certain seasons, such as breeding and nesting seasons. The listing of new species under the ESA or the designation of previously unidentified species in the areas where we or our customers operate similarly has the potential to adversely impact our operations and the operations of our customers, including by causing our operations to become subject to operating restrictions or bans and limiting future development activity in affected areas. Changes to existing rules could increase the portion of our or our customers' operating areas that could be designated as critical habitat. Such new species designations or more restrictive rules could materially restrict use of or access to federal, state and private lands. For example, on July 3, 2023, the FWS proposed that the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, which is found only in the active and semi-stable shinnery oak dunes of southeastern New Mexico and adjacent portions of Texas (including areas where we and our customers operate), be listed as endangered under the ESA. The comment period on the proposed rule ended on October 2, 2023. At this time, we cannot be sure of the precise potential effects of such proposed listing, if it is finalized, on our or our customers' operations. However, as discussed above, a decision by the FWS to list the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard as endangered could subject us and our customers to operating restrictions and/or limit areas of our current or future operations. The FWS has not yet proposed to designate critical habitat for the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard, which it may do so up to a year after a listing under the ESA. At this time, the effects of such designation on our or our customers' operations or the operations of our peers are likewise uncertain.

We typically enter into agreements with our customers governing the provision of our services, which usually include certain indemnification provisions for losses resulting from operations. Such agreements may require each party to indemnify the other against certain claims regardless of the negligence or other fault of the indemnified party; however, many states place limitations on contractual indemnity agreements, particularly agreements that indemnify a party against the consequences of its own negligence. Furthermore, certain states, including Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming, have enacted statutes generally referred to as "oilfield anti-indemnity acts" expressly prohibiting certain indemnity agreements contained in or related to oilfield services agreements. Such oilfield anti-indemnity acts may restrict or void a party's indemnification of us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects, and results of operations.

If we experience a change of control (as defined under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which includes certain mergers, asset sales and other forms of business combinations), we would be obligated to make a substantial immediate lump-sum payment, and such payment may be significantly in advance of, and may materially exceed, the actual realization, if any, of the future tax benefits to which the payment relates. As a result of this payment obligation, holders of our Class A Common Stock could receive substantially less consideration in connection with a change of control transaction than they would receive in the absence of such obligation. Further, any payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement are not conditioned upon the TRA Holders' having a continued interest in ProFrac or ProFrac LLC. Accordingly, the TRA Holders' interests may conflict with those of the holders of our Class A Common Stock.

If we experience a change of control (as defined under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which includes certain mergers, asset sales and other forms of business combinations) or the Tax Receivable Agreement otherwise terminates early (at our election or as a result of our breach or the commencement of bankruptcy or similar proceedings by or against us), our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement would accelerate and we would be required to make an immediate payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future payments to be made by it under the Tax Receivable Agreement (determined by applying a discount rate equal to (i) the greater of (A) 0.25% and (B) the 180-Day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"), plus (ii) 150 basis points) and such payment is expected to be substantial. The calculation of anticipated future payments will be based upon certain assumptions and deemed events set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement, including (i) that we have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement, and (ii) that any Units (other than those held by ProFrac) outstanding on the termination date are deemed to be redeemed on the termination date. Any early termination payment may be made significantly in advance of, and may materially exceed, the actual realization, if any, of the future tax benefits to which the termination payment relates. If we experience a change of control (as defined under the Tax Receivable Agreement) or the Tax Receivable Agreement otherwise terminates early, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, or other forms of business combinations or changes of control. For example, if we were to experience a change of control or the Tax Receivable Agreement had otherwise been terminated at December 31, 2023, the estimated termination payments could range up to more than $70 million. The foregoing amount is merely an estimate and the actual payment could differ materially. There can be no assurance that we will be able to satisfy our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.

Our business could be affected by moratoriums or increased regulation of other companies in the supply chain, such as sand mining by our proppant suppliers, or our chemical suppliers, which could limit our access to supplies and increase the costs of raw materials. At this time, it is not possible to estimate how these various restrictions could affect our ongoing operations.

Fuel conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements, increasing consumer demand for alternatives to oil and natural gas, technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices could reduce demand for oil and natural gas, resulting in reduced demand for oilfield services. For example, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has raised concerns about the potential for certain indoor gas appliances to emit harmful quantities of certain air pollutants. The impact of the changing demand for oil and natural gas services and products, and proposed laws and regulations, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The commercial development of economically viable non-fossil fuel energy sources and related products (such as electric vehicles, wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, fuel cells and biofuels) could have a similar effect. In addition, certain U.S. federal income tax deductions currently available with respect to oil and natural gas exploration and development, including the allowance of percentage depletion for oil and natural gas properties, may be eliminated by proposed legislation. Any future decreases in the rate at which oil and natural gas reserves are discovered or developed, whether due to the passage of legislation, increased governmental regulation leading to limitations, or prohibitions on exploration and drilling activity, including hydraulic fracturing, or other factors, could reduce demand for our products and services and have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition, even in a stronger oil and natural gas price environment.

Many states in which we operate require the disclosure of some or all the chemicals used in our pressure pumping operations. Certain aspects of one or more of these chemicals may be considered proprietary by us or our chemical suppliers. Disclosure of our proprietary chemical information to third parties or to the public, even if inadvertent, could diminish the value of our trade secrets or those of our chemical suppliers and could result in competitive harm to us, which could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, prospects and results of operations.