CARBO CERAMICS INC (Form: 10-Q, Received: 07/28/2016 06:15:19)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016

o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to .

Commission File No. 001-15903

CARBO CERAMICS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE	72-1100013
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification Number)

575 North Dairy Ashford

Suite 300

Houston, TX 77079

(Address of principal executive offices)

(281) 921-6400

(Registrant's telephone number)

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

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 x No o

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

Large accelerated filer	x		Accelerated filer	o

Non-accelerated filer	o	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	o

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

As of July 22, 2016, 23,498,241 shares of the registrant's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, were outstanding.

CARBO CERAMIC S INC.

Index to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION		PAGES

Item 1.	Financial Statements	3

	Consolidated Balance Sheets - June 30, 2016 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2015	3

	Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - Three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015	4

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) - Three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015	5

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - Six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015	6

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	7-12

Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	13-17

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	18

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	18

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	19

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	19-20

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	20

Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	20

Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosure	20

Item 5.	Other Information	21

Item 6.	Exhibits	21

Signatures		22

Exhibit Index		23

PART I. FINANCI AL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CARBO CERAMICS INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

($ in thousands, except per share data)

	June 30,			December 31,
	2016			2015
	(Unaudited)			(Note 1)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	80,723		$	78,866
Trade accounts and other receivables, net		21,914			48,596
Inventories:
Finished goods		81,390			77,537
Raw materials and supplies		22,771			27,021
Total inventories		104,161			104,558
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		4,430			3,762
Prepaid income taxes		116			—
Deferred income taxes		—			49,495
Total current assets		211,344			285,277
Property, plant and equipment:
Land and land improvements		45,529			45,774
Land-use and mineral rights		19,696			19,877
Buildings		87,132			83,500
Machinery and equipment		645,695			642,396
Construction in progress		93,899			96,084
Total property, plant and equipment		891,951			887,631
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		374,792			349,900
Net property, plant and equipment		517,159			537,731
Goodwill		3,500			3,500
Intangible and other assets, net		10,675			9,861
Total assets	$	742,678		$	836,369
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt, current portion	$	12,566		$	33,000
Notes payable		1,468			—
Accounts payable		4,921			10,709
Accrued payroll and benefits		2,645			6,003
Accrued freight		409			3,068
Accrued utilities		1,310			2,414
Accrued income taxes		—			139
Derivative instruments		4,014			6,240
Other accrued expenses		6,753			8,717
Total current liabilities		34,086			70,290
Deferred income taxes		28,428			63,858
Long-term debt		48,780			55,000
Notes payable, related parties		25,000			—
Other long-term liabilities		3,553			4,915
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000 shares authorized, none outstanding		—			—
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 80,000,000 shares authorized; 23,498,241 and 23,280,696 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively		235			233
Additional paid-in capital		69,137			65,067
Retained earnings		568,591			614,708
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(35,132	)		(37,702	)
Total shareholders' equity		602,831			642,306
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	742,678		$	836,369

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements .

CARBO CERAMICS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

($ in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended						Six months ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenues	$	20,651		$	73,252		$	53,753		$	146,999
Cost of sales		40,663			83,554			97,406			183,299
Gross loss		(20,012	)		(10,302	)		(43,653	)		(36,300	)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		10,034			14,746			21,509			31,292
(Gain) loss on disposal or impairment of assets		(23	)		(131	)		925			(163	)
Operating loss		(30,023	)		(24,917	)		(66,087	)		(67,429	)
Other expense:
Interest expense, net		(1,623	)		(29	)		(2,419	)		(31	)
Other, net		8			25			83			(105	)
		(1,615	)		(4	)		(2,336	)		(136	)
Loss before income taxes		(31,638	)		(24,921	)		(68,423	)		(67,565	)
Income tax benefit		(11,342	)		(7,917	)		(23,443	)		(21,959	)
Net loss	$	(20,296	)	$	(17,004	)	$	(44,980	)	$	(45,606	)
Loss per share:
Basic	$	(0.88	)	$	(0.74	)	$	(1.95	)	$	(1.98	)
Diluted	$	(0.88	)	$	(0.74	)	$	(1.95	)	$	(1.98	)
Other information:
Dividends declared per common share	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	0.43

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

CARBO CERAMICS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

($ in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Three months ended						Six months ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Net loss	$	(20,296	)	$	(17,004	)	$	(44,980	)	$	(45,606	)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment		1,127			965			2,570			563
Deferred income taxes		—			—			—			—
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		1,127			965			2,570			563
Comprehensive loss	$	(19,169	)	$	(16,039	)	$	(42,410	)	$	(45,043	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

CARBO CERAMICS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

($ in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Six months ended
	June 30,
	2016			2015
Operating activities
Net loss	$	(44,980	)	$	(45,606	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		24,448			27,006
Provision for doubtful accounts		829			201
Deferred income taxes		(23,340	)		(23,512	)
Lower of cost or market inventory adjustment		—			4,372
Loss (gain) on disposal or impairment of assets		925			(163	)
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss), net		(111	)		49
Stock compensation expense		3,399			4,457
Change in fair value of derivative instruments		(3,725	)		10,958
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts and other receivables		26,210			63,418
Inventories		(1,207	)		17,647
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		833			(866	)
Long-term other assets		144			801
Accounts payable		(2,194	)		(5,072	)
Accrued expenses		(9,136	)		(10,304	)
Other long-term liabilities		139			—
Income tax receivable, net		37,200			16,064
Net cash provided by operating activities		9,434			59,450
Investing activities
Capital expenditures		(6,439	)		(36,660	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(6,439	)		(36,660	)
Financing activities
Proceeds from long-term debt		—			70,000
Repayments on long-term debt		(26,033	)		—
Payments of debt issuance costs		(339	)		—
Proceeds from notes payable, related parties		25,000			—
Dividends paid		—			(10,009	)
Purchase of common stock		(441	)		(549	)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(1,813	)		59,442
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		675			54
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		1,857			82,286
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		78,866			24,298
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	80,723		$	106,584
Supplemental cash flow information
Interest paid	$	1,824		$	674
Income taxes paid	$	—		$	—

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

CARBO CERAMICS INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

($ in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

1.	Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of CARBO Ceramics Inc. have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results of the interim periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or the full year. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2015 included in the annual report on Form 10-K of CARBO Ceramics Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CARBO Ceramics Inc. and its operating subsidiaries (the “Company”). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

In late 2014 and early 2015, a severe decline in oil and natural gas prices led to a significant decline in oil and natural gas industry drilling activities and capital spending. Beginning in early 2015, the Company implemented a number of initiatives to preserve cash and lower costs, including: (1) reducing workforce across the organization, (2) lowering production output levels in order to align with lower demand, (3) limiting capital expenditures and (4) eliminating dividends. As a result of these measures, the Company temporarily idled production and furloughed employees at alternating manufacturing plants. The Company continues to depreciate these assets. During 2016, the Company also implemented programs that allow it to further reduce cash compensation. Further, during 2016, the Company idled the majority of the production activities at its New Iberia, Louisiana plant and its Toomsboro, Georgia facility until such time as market conditions warrant bringing them back online. The Company continues to assess liquidity needs and manage cash flows and, if industry conditions do not improve and/or demand for its products does not otherwise increase, the Company would expect to temporarily idle all or a portion of our currently active facilities in the short term. Given continuing uncertainties with regards to the length of the industry downturn, the Company is evaluating alternative sources of capital. As a result of the steps the Company has taken to enhance its liquidity, the Company currently believes that cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and cash flow from other liquidity-generating transactions will enable the Company to meet its working capital, capital expenditure, debt service and other funding requirements for the next twelve months.

Additionally, the construction projects relating to the second production line at Millen, Georgia and the second phase of the retrofit of an existing plant with the new KRYPTOSPHERE® technology remain suspended. As of June 30, 2016, the value of the temporarily suspended projects relating to these two projects totaled approximately 90% of the Company’s total construction in progress, and both projects are over 90% complete.

Lower of Cost or Market Adjustments

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company reviewed the carrying values of all inventories and concluded that certain inventories in China had been impacted by changes in market conditions. Current market prices had fallen below carrying costs for certain inventories. Consequently, during the three-month period ended March 31, 2015, the Company recognized a $4,372 loss in cost of sales, primarily to adjust finished goods and raw materials carrying values to the lower market prices on inventories inside China. The adjustments were based on current market prices for these or similar products, as determined by actual sales, bids, and/or quotes from third parties. As of June 30, 2016, the Company reviewed the carrying values of all inventories and concluded that no adjustments were warranted for finished goods and raw materials intended for use in the Company’s manufacturing process.

Manufacturing Production Levels Below Normal Capacity

As a result of the Company substantially reducing manufacturing production levels, including by idling certain facilities, certain production costs have been expensed instead of being capitalized into inventory. The Company expenses fixed production overhead amounts in excess of amounts that would have been allocated to each unit of production at normal production levels. For the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company expensed $13,515 and $11,208, respectively, in production costs. For the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company expensed $23,222 and $19,629, respectively, in production costs.

Long-lived and other noncurrent assets impairment considerations

As noted, the Company has temporarily idled production at various manufacturing facilities throughout 2016. The Company does not necessarily assess temporarily idled assets for impairment unless events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of those assets may not be recoverable. Short-term stoppages of production for less than one year do not generally significantly impact the long-term expected cash flows of the idled facility. As of March 31, 2016, as a result of changes in the planned usage of certain long-term bauxite raw materials, the Company evaluated the carrying value of those bauxite raw materials. Based upon this evaluation, during the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $1,065 on these bauxite raw material inventories. As of June 30, 2016, the Company concluded that there were no events or circumstances that would indicate that carrying amounts of other long-lived and other noncurrent assets might be further impaired. However, the Company continues to monitor market conditions closely. Further deterioration of market conditions could result in impairment charges being taken on these and/or other long-lived and other noncurrent assets, including the Company’s manufacturing plants, goodwill and intangible assets. The Company will evaluate long-lived and other noncurrent assets for impairment at such time that events or circumstances indicate that carrying amounts might be impaired.

2.	Loss Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted loss per share under the two-class method:

	Three months ended						Six months ended
	June 30,						June 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Numerator for basic and diluted loss per share:
Net loss	$	(20,296	)	$	(17,004	)	$	(44,980	)	$	(45,606	)
Effect of reallocating undistributed earnings of participating securities		—			—			—			—
Net loss available under the two-class method	$	(20,296	)	$	(17,004	)	$	(44,980	)	$	(45,606	)
Denominator:
Denominator for basic loss per share--weighted-average shares		23,108,889			22,999,157			23,085,725			22,987,086
Effect of dilutive potential common shares		—			—			—			—
Denominator for diluted loss per share--adjusted weighted-average shares		23,108,889			22,999,157			23,085,725			22,987,086
Basic loss per share	$	(0.88	)	$	(0.74	)	$	(1.95	)	$	(1.98	)
Diluted loss per share	$	(0.88	)	$	(0.74	)	$	(1.95	)	$	(1.98	)

3.	Common Stock Repurchase Program

On January 28, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to two million shares of the Company’s common stock. Shares are effectively retired at the time of purchase. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had not repurchased any shares under the plan.

4.	Natural Gas Derivative Instruments

Natural gas is used to fire the kilns at the Company’s domestic manufacturing plants. In an effort to mitigate potential volatility in the cost of natural gas purchases and reduce exposure to short-term spikes in the price of this commodity, from time to time, the Company enters into contracts to purchase a portion of the anticipated monthly natural gas requirements at specified prices. Contracts are geographic by plant location. As a result of the Company’s significantly reducing production levels and not taking delivery of all of the contracted natural gas quantities, the Company accounts for relevant contracts as derivative instruments.

Derivative accounting requires the natural gas contracts to be recognized as either assets or liabilities at fair value with an offsetting entry in earnings. The Company uses the income approach in determining the fair value of these derivative instruments. The model used considers the difference, as of each balance sheet date, between the contracted prices and the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) forward strip price for each contracted period. The estimated cash flows from these contracts are discounted using a discount rate of 5.5%, which reflects the nature of the contracts as well as the timing and risk of estimated cash flows associated with the contracts. The discount rate had an immaterial impact on the fair value of the contracts for the six months ended June 30, 2016. The last of these natural gas contracts will expire in December 2018. During the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized an $824 gain and $58 loss, respectively, in cost of sales on derivatives instruments. During the six

months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized a $597 gain and $12,605 loss, respectively, in cost of sales on derivatives instruments. The cumulative present value of these natural gas derivative contracts as of June 30, 2016 are presented as current and long-term liabilities, as applicable, in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

At June 30, 2016, the Company had contracted for delivery a total of 6,120,000 MMBtu of natural gas at an average price of $4.44 per MMBtu through December 31, 2018. Contracts covering 5,820,000 MMBtu are subject to accounting as derivative instruments. Future decreases in the NYMEX forward strip prices will result in additional derivative losses while future increases in the NYMEX forward strip prices will result in derivative gains. Future gains or losses will approximate the change in NYMEX natural gas prices relative to the total quantity of natural gas under contracts now subject to accounting as derivatives. The historical average NYMEX natural gas contract settlement prices for the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 were $1.95 per MMBtu and $2.64 per MMBtu, respectively.

5.	Fair Value Measurements

The Company’s derivative instruments are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. U.S. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine the fair value. These levels include: (1) Level 1, defined as inputs such as unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; (2) Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and (3) Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs for use when little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

The Company’s natural gas derivative instruments are included within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy (see Note 4 herein for additional information on the derivative instruments). The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company’s assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value:

	Fair value as of June 30, 2016
	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Assets	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments		—		(7,429	)		—		(7,429	)
Total fair value	$	—	$	(7,429	)	$	—	$	(7,429	)

	Fair value as of December 31, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Assets	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivative instruments		—		(11,155	)		—		(11,155	)
Total fair value	$	—	$	(11,155	)	$	—	$	(11,155	)

At June 30, 2016, the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt approximated the carrying value.

6.	Stock Based Compensation

The 2014 CARBO Ceramics Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan”) provides for the granting of cash-based awards, stock options (both non-qualified and incentive) and other equity-based awards (including stock appreciation rights, phantom stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, deferred share units or share-denominated performance units) to employees and non-employee directors. As of June 30, 2016, 295,833 shares were available for issuance under the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Although the 2009 CARBO Ceramics Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan”) has expired, certain nonvested restricted shares granted under that plan remain outstanding in accordance with its terms. Additionally, certain units of phantom stock remain outstanding under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as described below.

A summary of restricted stock activity and related information for the six months ended June 30, 2016 is presented below:

	Shares			Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value Per Share
Nonvested at January 1, 2016		266,152		$	51.39
Granted		234,412		$	17.27
Vested		(106,885	)	$	58.34
Forfeited		(28,941	)	$	30.68
Nonvested at June 30, 2016		364,738		$	29.07

As of June 30, 2016, there was $8,111 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted shares granted under both the expired 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $6,236.

The Company made market-based cash awards to certain executives of the Company pursuant to the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan. As of June 30, 2016, the total target award outstanding was $2,077. The payout of awards can range from 0% to 200% based on the Company’s Relative Total Shareholder Return calculated over a three year period beginning January 1 of the year each grant was made.

The Company also made phantom stock awards to key international employees pursuant to the expired 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan prior to its expiration and pursuant to the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The units subject to a phantom stock award vest and cease to be forfeitable in equal annual installments over a three-year period. Participants awarded units of phantom stock are entitled to a lump sum cash payment equal to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the vesting date. In no event will Common Stock of the Company be issued with regard to outstanding phantom stock awards. As of June 30, 2016, there were 18,180 units of phantom stock granted under the expired 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan, of which 13,737 have vested and 3,954 have been forfeited. As of June 30, 2016, there were 11,115 units of phantom stock granted under the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, of which 1,302 have vested and 2,292 have been forfeited. As of June 30, 2016, nonvested units of phantom stock under the 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan had a total value of $105, a portion of which is accrued as a liability within Accrued Payroll and Benefits.

7.	Long-Term Debt and Notes Payable

The Company maintains a credit agreement, which until April 2016 included a revolving line of credit, with a bank lender. As of January 31, 2016, February 29, 2016 and March 31, 2016, the Company failed to comply with the asset coverage ratio covenant in such credit agreement. In connection with entering into Agreement and Amendment No. 7 to the Credit Agreement referred to below (the “Amended Credit Agreement”), the bank lender waived non-compliance with the asset coverage ratio for the months of January, February and March 2016.

As of June 30, 2016, the Company’s outstanding debt under its Amended Credit Agreement was $61,967, of which $12,566 was classified as current and $49,401 was classified as long-term. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had $621 of debt issuance costs that are presented as a direct reduction from the carrying amount of the long-term debt obligation. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, the weighted average interest rate was 5.604% based on LIBOR-based rate borrowings. The Company had $9,355 and $8,875 in standby letters of credit issued as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, primarily as collateral relating to our natural gas commitments. As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s outstanding debt under the prior credit agreement was $88,000, of which $33,000 was classified as current and $55,000 was classified as long-term. As of December 31, 2015, the weighted average interest rate was 4.664% based on LIBOR-based rate borrowings. Interest cost for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was $2,747 and $937, respectively, of which $80 and $639 was capitalized into the cost of property, plant and equipment in the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

In April 2016, the Company restructured its revolving credit agreement by entering into the Amended Credit Agreement, as it is reasonably likely the Company would have been unable to comply with certain financial covenants under the prior credit agreement. The Amended Credit Agreement consists of a $65,000 fully drawn term loan, which replaced the previous $90,000 revolving line of credit, and up to $15,000 in standby letters of credit. The Company’s obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement are secured by a pledge of substantially all of the Company’s domestic assets and guaranteed by its two domestic operating subsidiaries. Such obligations bear interest at a floating rate of LIBOR plus 7.00%. Under the Amended Credit Agreement, all of the cash of the Company, including any of the subsidiary guarantors, that is held in U.S. banks must be deposited into accounts at the administrative agent and therefore will be subject to set-off in the event, and to the extent, CARBO Ceramics Inc. or any of the subsidiary guarantors

is unable to satisfy its obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement. The Amended Credit Agreement requires minimum quarterly repayments of principal of $3,033 during each remaining quarter in 2016, and $3,250 per quarter thereafter until its maturity on December 31, 2018. The Amended Credit Agreement eliminates the financial covenants contained in th e prior credit agreement, but instead requires the Company to maintain minimum cash amounts held with the administrative agent at the end of each calendar month commencing August 2016 as follows: $40,000 from August 2016 until March 2017; $30,000 from Apri l 2017 until December 2017; and $25,000 thereafter. The Company is required to use proceeds from the sale of certain assets to repay principal amounts outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement. As of July 28, 2016, the Company’s outstanding debt und er the Amended Credit Agreement was $58,934.

In May 2016, the Company received proceeds of $25,000 from the issuance of separate unsecured Promissory Notes (the “Notes”) to two of the Company’s Directors. Each Note matures on April 1, 2019 and bears interest at 7.00%. Additionally, in May 2016, each of those directors entered into a Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement with the Company’s bank lender, which, among other things, provides that each Note is subordinated to the indebtedness outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement.

In June 2016, the Company entered into an agreement with a financing company to finance certain insurance premiums in the amount of $1,468. Payments are due monthly through April 1, 2017 with an effective interest rate of 0.75%. The liability is included in Notes Payable within Current Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

8.	Foreign Currencies

As of June 30, 2016, the Company’s net investment that is subject to foreign currency fluctuations totaled $17,789, and the Company has recorded a cumulative foreign currency translation loss of $35,132, all related to the Russian Ruble. This cumulative translation loss is included in and is the only component of accumulated other comprehensive loss within shareholders’ equity. No income tax benefits have been recorded on these losses as a result of the uncertainty about recoverability of the related deferred income tax benefits.

9.	New Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “ Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) ,” which amends and simplifies the accounting for stock compensation. The guidance addresses various stock compensation aspects including accounting for income taxes, classification of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, forfeitures, minimum statutory tax withholding requirements, and classification of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares for tax withholding purposes, among other things. In order to simplify the accounting for stock-based compensation, the Company made a change in accounting policy to account for forfeitures when they occur, and as a result, the Company recognized a $697 cumulative-effect reduction to retained earnings under the modified retrospective approach. The Company elected prospective transition for the requirement to classify excess tax benefits as an operating activity. No prior periods have been adjusted. Additionally, as a result of the new guidance requirements, on a prospective basis, the Company now recognizes all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement as a discrete item in the period in which restricted shares vest. During the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recognized $1,540, or $0.07 per share, in tax deficiencies, which reduced our income tax benefit. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows, other than the cumulative-effect reduction to retained earnings and income tax benefit effect.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “ Leases (Topic 842) ,” which amends current lease guidance. This guidance requires, among other things, that lessees recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Lessees and lessors must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The new guidance will be effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting this new guidance on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) – Deferral of the Effective Date, ” which revises the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09, “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ,” (“ASU 2014-09”) to interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted no earlier than interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, which amends current revenue guidance. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods

or services. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of adopting thi s new guidance on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330),” (“ASU 2015-11”), which amends and simplifies the measurement of inventory. The main provisions of the standard require that inventory be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Prior to the issuance of the standard, inventory was measured at the lower of cost or market (where market was defined as replacement cost, with a ceiling of net realizable value and floor of net realizable value less a normal profit margin). ASU 2015-11 will be effective for the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of adopting this new guidance on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest – Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30),” (“ASU 2015-03”), which amends and simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs. The main provisions of the standard require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, and amortization of the debt issuance costs must be reported as interest expense. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15, “Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements – Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting (SEC Update),” which clarified that the SEC (as defined below) staff will not object to an entity presenting the costs of securing line-of-credit arrangements as an asset. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2016 on a retroactive basis. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

10.	Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, management does not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

11.	Subsequent Events

On July 20, 2016, the Company repaid $3,033 under its Amended Credit Agreement.

On July 28, 2016, the Company filed a prospectus supplement and associated sales agreement related to an “at-the-market” equity offering program pursuant to which the Company may sell, from time to time, common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000 through Cowen and Company LLC, as sales agent, for general corporate purposes.

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Overview

CARBO Ceramics Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our” or our “Company”) is an oilfield services technology company that generates revenue primarily through the sale of production enhancement technology products and services to the oil and natural gas industry. Our principal business consists of manufacturing and selling proppant products for use primarily in the hydraulic fracturing of oil and natural gas wells. These proppant products include ceramic, resin-coated proppants and raw frac sand. We also provide one of the industry’s most widely used hydraulic fracture simulation software, FracPro®, as well as hydraulic fracture design and consulting services. In addition, we provide a broad range of technologies for spill prevention, containment and countermeasures.

We focus on integrating technologies to produce engineered solutions in our Design, Build, and Optimize the Frac ® technology businesses, delivering important value to E&P operators by increasing well production and Estimated Ultimate Recovery (EUR), thereby lowering overall finding and development costs.

As a result, our business is dependent to a large extent on the level of drilling and hydraulic fracturing activity in the oil and natural gas industry worldwide. Gross margin for our ceramic proppant business is principally impacted by sales volume, product mix, sales price, distribution costs, manufacturing costs, including natural gas, and our production levels as a percentage of our capacity. In 2013, we began selling raw frac sand. Raw frac sand products sell at much lower prices than our ceramic proppant. Given the lower price of sand, our gross (loss) profit is generally more impacted by the sale of ceramic proppant.

In 2015, we suspended completion of the second production line at Millen, Georgia and the second phase of the retrofit of an existing plant with our new KRYPTOSPHERE® technology. As of June 30, 2016, the value of the temporarily suspended assets relating to these two projects totaled approximately 90% of the Company’s total construction in progress and we estimate that both projects are over 90% complete.

Industry Conditions

Our proppant business is primarily impacted by the number of natural gas and oil wells drilled in North America, and the need to hydraulically fracture these wells. In markets outside North America, sales of our products are also influenced by the overall level of drilling and hydraulic fracturing activity. Furthermore, because the use of ceramic proppant by our customers is based on comparing the higher initial costs with the future value derived from increased production and recovery rates, our business is influenced by the current and expected prices of oil and natural gas.

Beginning in late 2014 and continuing into the second quarter of 2016, a severe decline in oil and natural gas prices led to a significant decline in oil and natural gas industry drilling activities and capital spending. We expect that these low oil and natural gas prices will continue to negatively impact both pricing and demand for proppant. During the three months ended June 30, 2016, the average price of West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) crude oil fell 22% to $45.41 per barrel compared to $57.84 per barrel during the same period in 2015. The average North American rig count fell 53% during the three months ended June 30, 2016 to 469 rigs compared to 1,008 rigs during the same period in 2015. In addition, exploration and production (“E&P”) operators continued to use more raw frac sand as a percentage of overall proppant consumption during the three months ended June 30, 2016, a trend that we expect to continue as our customers are under increasing pressure to consider lower cost alternatives in the current commodity price environment, notwithstanding the superior performance results of our products. These events, along with an oversupplied ceramic proppant market that is liquidating inventory, and low oil and natural gas prices, drove lower demand and lower average prices for our proppants during the three months ended June 30, 2016, when compared to the same period in 2015.

Beginning early in 2015, we implemented a number of initiatives to preserve cash and lower costs, including: (1) reducing workforce across our organization, (2) lowering our production output levels in order to align with lower demand, (3) limiting capital expenditures and (4) eliminating dividends. As a result of these measures, in the United States, during the six months ended June 30, 2016, we temporarily idled production (including furloughing employees) at certain manufacturing plants. In the event that the market demand for proppants further decreases, we may further reduce operations at our active manufacturing plants. As a result of operating these plants below their normal production capacity, we expensed $23.2 million of production overhead costs in excess of amounts that would have been allocated to each unit of production at normal production levels. Our efforts to preserve cash and reduce the cost structure of the organization continued during the six months ended June 30, 2016. In addition to continued headcount rationalizing, we also implemented programs that allow us to further reduce cash compensation. Also, we did not take delivery of all of the contracted natural gas quantities and, as a result, we accounted for relevant contracts as derivative instruments and recorded a gain on these contracts of $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016.

Further, we have idled the majority of the production activities at our New Iberia, Louisiana plant along with our Toomsboro, Georgia facil ity until such time as market conditions warrant bringing them back online. Our facilities in McIntyre and Millen, Georgia, and Marshfield, Wisconsin remain idled due to market conditions.

Critical Accounting Policies

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which require us to make estimates and assumptions (see Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015). We believe that some of our accounting policies involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity than others. As of December 31, 2015, our critical accounting policies included revenue recognition, estimating the recoverability of accounts receivable, inventory valuation, accounting for income taxes and accounting for long-lived assets. These critical accounting policies are discussed more fully in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

There have been no changes in our evaluation of our critical accounting policies since December 31, 2015.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended June 30, 2016

Revenues . Revenues of $20.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 decreased 72% compared to $73.3 million for the same period in 2015. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in proppant sales volumes, market-driven reductions in the average proppant selling prices, and a move to lowest-cost completions. The decline in ceramic sales volume was largely attributable to a 53% reduction in the North American rig count and a depressed commodity price for oil and the resulting negative impact on industry activity levels, along with an increased number of operators using a higher percentage of raw frac sand as an alternative to ceramic proppant due to its lower cost. The reduction in revenue in our other business units resulted from the depressed commodity prices. Our worldwide proppant sales volumes and average selling price per pound in the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 were as follows:

	Three months ended
Proppant Sales	June 30,
(Volumes in million lbs)	2016				2015
	Volumes		Average Price / lb		Volumes		Average Price / lb
Ceramic		71	$	0.22		190	$	0.30
Resin Coated Sand		—		—		10		0.15
Northern White Sand		41		0.02		258		0.03
Total		112	$	0.15		458	$	0.14

North American (defined as Canada and U.S.) proppant sales volume decreased 81% in the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, primarily due to lower sales of ceramic, resin coated and Northern White Sand. North American ceramic proppant sales volume decreased 74%. International (excluding Canada) sales volumes decreased 16%.

Primarily due to the change in product mix, the average selling price per pound of all proppant was $0.15 during the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $0.14 for the same period in 2015.

Gross Loss. Gross loss for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was $20.0 million, or 97% of revenues, compared to gross loss of $10.3 million, or 14% of revenues, for the same period in 2015. Gross loss was negatively affected by a 62% decline in ceramic proppant sales volumes and a decrease in the average selling price of ceramic proppant. We expensed $13.5 million and $11.2 million in production costs as a result of low production levels and idled facilities in the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In the three months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, we recorded a $0.8 million gain and $0.1 million loss on natural gas derivatives, respectively, as a result of changes in the NYMEX forward strip prices.

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) and Other Operating Expenses. SG&A and other operating expenses totaled $10.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $14.6 million for the same period in 2015. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A and other operating expenses increased to 48.5% in the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to 20.0% for the same period in 2015, primarily due to the decrease in revenues. We continued to reduce our cost base as a result of our cash preservation initiatives that we began in early 2015.

Income Tax Benefit. Income tax benefit was $11.3 million, or 35.8% of pretax loss, for the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to income tax benefit of $7.9 million, or 31.8% of pretax income, for the same period in 2015.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2016

Revenues. Revenues of $53.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 decreased 63% compared to $147.0 million for the same period in 2015. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in proppant sales volumes, market-driven reductions in the average proppant selling prices, and a move to lowest-cost completions. The decline in ceramic sales volume was largely attributable to a 56% reduction in the North American rig count and a depressed commodity price for oil and the resulting negative impact on industry activity levels, along with an increased number of operators using a higher percentage of raw frac sand as an alternative to ceramic proppant due to its lower cost. The reduction in revenue in our other business units resulted from the depressed commodity prices. Our worldwide proppant sales volumes and average selling price per pound in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 were as follows:

	Six months ended
Proppant Sales	June 30,
(Volumes in million lbs)	2016				2015
	Volumes		Average Price / lb		Volumes		Average Price / lb
Ceramic		191	$	0.22		367	$	0.30
Resin Coated Sand		—		—		19		0.18
Northern White Sand		116		0.02		601		0.03
Total		307	$	0.15		987	$	0.13

North American (defined as Canada and U.S.) proppant sales volume decreased 74% in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, primarily due to lower sales of ceramic, resin coated and Northern White Sand. North American ceramic proppant sales volume decreased 57%. International (excluding Canada) sales volumes decreased 17%.

Primarily due to the change in product mix, the average selling price per pound of all proppant was $0.15 during the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $0.13 for the same period in 2015.

Gross Loss. Gross loss for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was $43.7 million, or 81% of revenues, compared to gross loss of $36.3 million, or 25% of revenues, for the same period in 2015. Gross loss was negatively affected by a 48% decline in ceramic proppant sales volumes and a decrease in the average selling price of ceramic proppant. In addition, we incurred $6.2 million and $4.8 million in severance costs during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We expensed $23.2 million and $19.6 million in production costs as a result of low production levels and idled facilities in the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In the six months ended June 30, 2016, we recorded a $0.6 million gain on natural gas derivatives as a result of changes in the NYMEX forward strip prices, whereas in the six months ended June 30, 2015, we recorded a $12.6 million loss on natural gas derivative instruments as a result of beginning to account for relevant natural gas contracts as derivative instruments. In addition, in the six months ended June 30, 2015, we recognized a $3.9 million adjustment in cost of sales to reduce the value of certain inventories down to lower market prices, which did not reoccur in the six months ended June 30, 2016.

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) and Other Operating Expenses. SG&A and other operating expenses totaled $22.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $31.1 million for the same period in 2015. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A and other operating expenses increased to 41.7% in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to 21.2% for the same period in 2015, primarily due to the decrease in revenues. We continued to reduce our cost base as a result of our cash preservation initiatives that we began in early 2015. Loss (gain) on disposal or impairment of assets was primarily composed of a $1.1 million impairment of the long-term portion of bauxite raw materials offset by gains on asset disposals during the six months ended June 30, 2016.

Income Tax Benefit. Income tax benefit was $23.4 million, or 34.3% of pretax loss, for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to income tax benefit of $22.0 million, or 32.5% of pretax income, for the same period in 2015.

Outlook

Over the last twelve months, we have taken significant steps to reduce future costs, right-size the organization and align production levels with lower customer demands resulting from the severe decline in oil and natural gas completion activity. The impact on the entire ceramic proppant industry has been severe, leading other domestic proppant suppliers to make similar decisions to idle ceramic proppant manufacturing capacity.

The continuing decline in commodity prices during 2016 has maintained a challenging operating environment as completion activity by operators remained depressed. This environment, along with the inventory liquidation of low-quality Chinese ceramic proppant in North America, led to additional pressure on our ceramic proppant sales volumes during the second quarter of 2016.

Exiting the second quarter, we are becoming more optimistic on the industry operating environment, given the i mprovement in the oil and natural gas commodity price environment from the first quarter of 2016. Communications with our clients lead us to believe third quarter 2016 ceramic proppant sales may increase from second quarter 2016 levels. In addition, the third quarter typically sees an increase in industry activity due to coming out of Canadian spring breakup and fewer weather associated issues in the northern regions. We anticipate an environment where E&P operators gradually step back in to using more d urable, high conductivity proppants, likely concentrated on tail-in applications.

Efforts to reduce our cost structure continued during the second quarter, including the renegotiation of our railcar lease contracts and reducing SG&A costs. In addition, higher natural gas commodity prices provided a cash benefit relating to our excess natural gas commitments as these contracts are net settled. As a result of these cost reduction efforts, coupled with our efforts to further lower inventory levels, we anticipate our quarterly cash burn to improve next quarter.

The timing of an industry recovery is uncertain and there is a risk that conditions regress or do not improve. In light of such risk and taking into account the minimum cash covenant set forth in our Amended Credit Agreement, we believe it will be necessary to raise additional capital. Under the Amended Credit Agreement, we are permitted to raise capital through issuance of common and certain types of preferred stock without the consent of our lender. We are planning to raise capital through the former means (see Liquidity and Capital Resources, below) and are also considering the monetization of certain technologies to further bolster our cash reserves. We received an income tax refund of $37.4 million in April 2016 related to the carryback of our 2015 net operating loss to our 2013 and 2014 income tax returns. Going forward, we will continue to assess our liquidity needs and make adjustments to manage cash flows.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 2016, we had cash and cash equivalents of $80.7 million compared to cash and cash equivalents of $78.9 million at December 31, 2015. During the six months ended June 30, 2016, we generated $9.4 million of cash from operating activities and $25.0 million in proceeds from notes payable. Uses of cash included $26.0 million in repayments on our line of credit, $6.4 million for capital expenditures, $0.4 million for purchases of our common stock, and $0.3 million for payments of debt issuance costs.

On January 19, 2016, our Board of Directors suspended our policy of paying quarterly cash dividends. We estimate that our total capital expenditures for the remainder of 2016 will be less than $3.0 million. Due to market conditions, the completion of the second line at the manufacturing facility in Millen, Georgia and the second phase of a plant retrofit with new KRYPTOSPHERE® technology have been suspended until such time that market conditions warrant completion.

In April 2016, we restructured our revolving credit agreement by entering into the Amended Credit Agreement, as it is reasonably likely we would have been unable to comply with certain financial covenants under the prior credit agreement. The Amended Credit Agreement consists of a $65.0 million fully drawn term loan, which replaced the previous $90.0 million revolver, and up to $15.0 million in standby letters of credit. Our obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement are secured by a pledge of substantially all of our domestic assets and guaranteed by our two domestic operating subsidiaries. Such obligations bear interest at LIBOR plus 7.00%. Under the Amended Credit Agreement, all of the cash of and the Company, including any of the subsidiary guarantors that is held in U.S. banks must be deposited into accounts with the administrative agent and therefore will be subject to set-off in the event, and to the extent, CARBO Ceramics Inc. or any of the subsidiary guarantors is unable to satisfy its obligations under the Amended Credit Agreement. The Amended Credit Agreement requires minimum quarterly repayments of principal of $3.033 million during each of the remaining quarters in 2016 and $3.250 million thereafter until its maturity on December 31, 2018. The Amended Credit Agreement eliminates the financial covenants contained in the prior credit agreement, but instead requires us to maintain minimum cash amounts held with the administrative agent at the end of each calendar month commencing August 2016 as follows: $40.0 million from August 2016 until March 2017; $30.0 million from April 2017 until December 2017; and $25.0 million thereafter. In connection with the Amended Credit Agreement, the lender waived non-compliance with the asset coverage ratio for the months of January, February, and March 2016. We are required to use proceeds from the sale of certain assets to repay principal amounts outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement. As of June 30, 2016, our outstanding debt under the credit agreement was $61.967 million, and we had issued $9.355 million in standby letters of credit. As of July 28, 2016, our outstanding debt under the Amended Credit Agreement was $58.934 million.

In May 2016, we received proceeds of $25.0 million from the issuance of separate unsecured Promissory Notes (the “Notes”) to two of our Directors. Each Note matures on April 1, 2019 and bears interest at 7.00%. Additionally, in May 2016, each of those directors entered into a Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement with our bank lender, which, among other things, provides that each Note is subordinated to the indebtedness outstanding under our Amended Credit Agreement.

In July 2016, we filed a prospectus supplement and associated sales agreement related to an “at-the-market” equity offering program pursuant to which the Company may sell, from time to time, common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $75.0 million through Cowen and Company LLC, as sales agent, for general corporate purposes.

The Company anticipates that cash on hand and suppleme ntal capital raises will be sufficient to meet planned operating expenses and other cash needs for the next 12 months, including the minimum cash covenant under the Amended Credit Agreement. However, there is no guarantee that our planned measures, includ ing our proposed equity offering, will provide enough capital to meet such needs. See Item 1A – Risk Factors.

Additional information as to the applicable definitions and requirements of these covenants is contained in the credit agreement.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2016.

Forward-Looking Information

The statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical statements, including statements regarding our future financial and operating performance and liquidity and capital resources, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results or strategies and can often be identified by the use of terminology such as “may”, “will”, “estimate”, “intend”, “continue”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “should”, “could”, “potential”, “opportunity”, or other similar terminology. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and estimates, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Among these factors are:

changes in overall economic conditions;

changes in the demand for, or price of, oil and natural gas;

changes in the cost of raw materials and natural gas used in manufacturing our products;

risks related to our ability to access needed cash and capital;

our ability to meet our current and future debt service obligations, including our ability to maintain compliance with our debt covenants;

our ability to manage distribution costs effectively;

changes in demand and prices charged for our products;

risks of increased competition;

technological, manufacturing and product development risks;

our dependence on and loss of key customers and end users;

changes in foreign and domestic government regulations, including environmental restrictions on operations and regulation of hydraulic fracturing;

changes in foreign and domestic political and legislative risks;

risks of war and international and domestic terrorism;

risks associated with foreign operations and foreign currency exchange rates and controls; and

weather-related risks and other risks and uncertainties.

Additional factors that could affect our future results or events are described from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Please see the discussion set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, under the caption “Risk Factors” in this report, and similar disclosures in subsequently filed reports with the SEC. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATI VE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk through foreign currency fluctuations that could impact our investments in Russia. As of June 30, 2016, our net investments subject to foreign currency fluctuations totaled $17.8 million and we had recorded cumulative foreign currency translation loss of $35.1 million, all related to the Russian Ruble. This cumulative translation loss is included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. From time to time, we may enter into forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. There were no such foreign exchange contracts outstanding at June 30, 2016. No income tax benefits have been recorded on these losses as a result of the uncertainty about recoverability of the related deferred income tax benefits.

We are also exposed to market risk in the price of natural gas, which is used in production by our domestic manufacturing facilities and is subject to volatility. In an effort to mitigate potential volatility in the cost of natural gas purchases and reduce exposure to short-term spikes in the price of the commodity, from time to time, we enter into contracts to purchase a portion of our anticipated monthly natural gas requirements at specified prices. At June 30, 2016, we had contracted for a total of 6,120,000 MMBtu of natural gas at an average price of $4.44 per MMBtu through December 31, 2018.

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a)	Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As of June 30, 2016, management had carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurances of achieving their control objectives. Based upon and as of the date of that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b)	Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2016 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHE R INFORMATION

I TEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are subject to legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, we do not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 except as follows. The risk factors below update the respective risk factor previously disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015:

We may not have sufficient cash and/or be able to access liquidity alternatives in the credit and capital markets, making it potentially difficult to meet our liquidity needs. In addition, an inability to comply with our obligations under our Amended Credit Agreement may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand and cash flow from operations. Our ability to fund our working capital, capital expenditures, debt service under our Amended Credit Agreement and other obligations and to comply with the restrictive covenants under our credit facility depends on our future operating performance and cash from operations and other liquidity-generating transactions, which are in turn subject to prevailing oil and natural gas prices, economic conditions and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Under the Amended Credit Agreement, our principal financial covenant requires us to have minimum cash on hand as described under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources”, which will be $40 million at August 31, 2016. Unless the Company is able to raise additional cash as described above or there is a significant improvement in operating conditions, there is a significant risk that the Company will not be able to satisfy that covenant.

If our future operating performance falls materially below our expectations, our plans prove to be materially inaccurate, or industry conditions do not materially improve, we may require additional financing. However, our Amended Credit Agreement imposes certain restrictions on our ability to obtain additional financing, the availability of which cannot be guaranteed even if permitted under our Amended Credit Agreement. Further, our Amended Credit Agreement imposes certain restrictions on our ability to sell certain assets and to engage in more than $2.5 million in non-ordinary course asset sales, and, subject to certain exceptions, also imposes restrictions on our ability to use the future proceeds from such transactions.

Even if such financing is permitted and is or becomes available, future financing transactions may significantly increase the Company’s interest expense, which could in turn reduce our financial flexibility and our ability to fund other activities and could make us more vulnerable to changes in operating performance or economic downturns generally. The inability to generate sufficient cash, modify our credit agreement, or obtain replacement or additional financing, or an event of default under our credit agreement, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

We therefore cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to access the capital or credit markets on acceptable terms or timing, or at all. Access to the capital markets and the cost and availability of credit may be adversely affected by factors beyond our control, including turmoil in the financial services industry, volatility in securities trading markets, the continuing downturn in the oil and gas industry and general economic conditions. Currently, we no longer qualify as a “well-known seasoned issuer,” which previously enabled us to, among other things, file automatically effective shelf registration statements. Now, even if we are able to access the capital markets, any attempt to do so could be more expensive or subject to significant delays when compared with previous periods.

We have no current plans to pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future and our Amended Credit Agreement contains restrictions on our ability to pay dividends; therefore, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your common stock for a price greater than you paid.

We do not plan to declare dividends on shares of our common stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, our Amended Credit Agreement prohibits us from paying such dividends. We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation of our business and meet our debt obligations. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our common stock if the market price of our common stock increases. Further, one of our financing options involves the issuance of equity securities which would dilute current stockholders and could reduce the stock price.

The outstanding indebtedness under our Amended Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of our domestic assets and guaranteed by our two domestic operating subsidiaries, subject to certain exceptions. A breach of certain covenants or payment obligations in the Amended Credit Agreement would result in a default. In the event of such a default, our lenders may (1) elect to declare all outstanding borrowings made under the Amended Credit Agreement and the guaranties of the two operating subsidiaries, together with accrued intere st and other fees, to be immediately due and payable; (2) exercise their set-off rights; and (3) enforce and foreclose on their security interest and liquidate some or all of such pledged assets.

We rely upon, and receive a significant percentage of our revenues from, a limited number of key customers and end users.

During 2015, our key customers included several of the largest participants in the worldwide petroleum pressure pumping industry. Two of these customers each accounted for more than 10% of our 2015 revenues. However, the end users of our products are numerous operators of natural gas and oil wells that hire pressure pumping service companies to hydraulically fracture wells. During 2015, a majority of our ceramic proppant sales were directed to a concentrated number of end users. We generally supply our domestic pumping service customers with products on a just-in-time basis, with transactions governed by individual purchase orders and/or a master supply agreement. Because of their purchasing power, our key customers may have greater bargaining leverage than us with respect to the negotiation of prices and other terms of sale in their supply contracts with us, which could adversely affect our profit margins associated with those contracts. Disparities in bargaining leverage, when combined with the Company’s desire to maintain long-term relationships with key customers, could limit our practical ability to assert certain terms of our supply agreements with them. Continuing sales of product depend on our direct customers and the end user well operators being satisfied with product quality, pricing, availability, and delivery performance. While we believe our relations with our customers and our end users are satisfactory, a material decline in the level of sales to any one of our major customers or loss of a key end user due to unsatisfactory product performance, pricing, delivery delays or any other reason could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table provides information about our repurchases of Common Stock during the quarter ended June 30, 2016:

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased			Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan ⁽¹⁾		Maximum Number of Shares that May be Purchased Under the Plan ⁽¹⁾
04/01/16 to 04/30/16		—			—		—		2,000,000
05/01/16 to 05/31/16		—			—		—		2,000,000
06/01/16 to 06/30/16		1,923		$	11.99		—		2,000,000
Total		1,923	⁽²⁾				—

(1)

On January 28, 2015, we announced the authorization by our Board of Directors for the repurchase of up to two million shares of our Common Stock. The Plan is effective until all shares have been purchased under the Plan, or until such date that our Board of Directors cancels the Plan. No shares have been purchased under the Plan.

(2)	Represents shares of stock withheld for the payment of withholding taxes upon the vesting of restricted stock.

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Our U.S. manufacturing facilities process mined minerals, and therefore are viewed as mine operations subject to regulation by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the recently proposed Item 106 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.106) is included in Exhibit 95 to this quarterly report.

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

Not applicable.

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

10.1		Amendment No. 6 to Proppant Supply Agreement dated as of April 30, 2016 between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

10.2		Promissory Note between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Williams C. Morris.

10.3		Promissory Note between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Robert S. Rubin.

10.4		Agreement and Amendment No. 7 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2016, by and among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swing line lender, and the lenders named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

10.5		Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2016, by and between CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

10.6		Patent and Trademark Security Agreement dated as of April 27, 2016 by and among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, certain Material Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

10.7		Waiver Agreement dated as of April 27, 2016, by and among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, certain Lenders parties thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

10.8		Guaranty Agreement dated as of April 27, 2016, by and among certain Guarantors of CARBO Ceramics Inc. thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

31.1		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Gary A. Kolstad.

31.2		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Ernesto Bautista III.

32		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

95		Mine Safety Disclosure.

101		The following financial information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

SIGNAT URES

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.


		CARBO CERAMICS INC.

		/s/ G ary A. Kolstad
		Gary A. Kolstad
		President and Chief Executive Officer

		/s/ Ernesto Bautista III
		Ernesto Bautista III
		Chief Financial Officer

	Date: July 28, 2016

EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT		DESCRIPTION

10.1		Amendment No. 6 to Proppant Supply Agreement dated as of April 30, 2016 between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

10.2		Promissory Note between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Williams C. Morris.

10.3		Promissory Note between CARBO Ceramics Inc. and Robert S. Rubin.

10.4		Agreement and Amendment No. 7 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2016, by and among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, issuing lender and swing line lender, and the lenders named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

10.5		Amended and Restated Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2016, by and between CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

10.6		Patent and Trademark Security Agreement dated as of April 27, 2016 by and among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, certain Material Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

10.7		Waiver Agreement dated as of April 27, 2016, by and among CARBO Ceramics Inc., as borrower, certain Lenders parties thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

10.8		Guaranty Agreement dated as of April 27, 2016, by and among certain Guarantors of CARBO Ceramics Inc. thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Registrant’s Form 10-Q Quarterly Report for the quarter ended March 31, 2016).

31.1		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Gary A. Kolstad.

31.2		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Ernesto Bautista III.

32		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

95		Mine Safety Disclosure.

101		The following financial information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, formatted in XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Exhibit 10.1

Amendment to

Agreement No. 9600048977.1

Amendment No. 6 to the Proppant Supply Agreement

This Amendment No. 6 to the Proppant Supply Agreement is entered into as of April 30, 2016 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. (“Halliburton”) and CARBO Ceramics Inc. (“Seller”).

WITNESSETH :

WHEREAS, Halliburton and Seller entered into a Proppant Supply Agreement dated August 28, 2008 (most recently amended on January 1, 2016, the “Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Halliburton and Seller wish to amend the Agreement to reflect certain changes as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the terms and conditions stated herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1.	Term . Section 7.1 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety by the following:

“7.1 Term. The term of this Agreement shall be for a period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on June 30, 2016 , unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or extended by agreement of the Parties. Unless provided otherwise in this Agreement, upon terminations of this Agreement neither Party shall have any liability or obligation under this Agreement of any kind except for any provisions which survive termination of the Agreement, including but not limited to Buyer’s liability for any accrued but unpaid penalties pursuant to Article IV for a failure of Buyer to satisfy its commitments pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Agreement existing as of the Purchase Commitment Termination Date set forth in Amendment No. 5.”

Except as otherwise expressly modified or amended herein, all terms and conditions contained in the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be altered or changed by this Amendment. The Agreement, as amended by this Amendment No.6, shall constitute the entire agreement of the parties. All references to Sections in the Amendment No.6 correspond to Sections contained in the Agreement unless otherwise expressly stated.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller and Halliburton have caused this Amendment No.6 to be duly executed by their authorized representatives as of the Effective Date.

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

CARBO Ceramics Inc.

Signature:

/s/ Edward Porter

Signature:

/s/ Don P. Conkle

Printed Name:

Edward Porter

Printed Name:

Don P. Conkle

Title:

Senior Director, PML

Title:

VP Marketing & Sales

Date:

5/12/2016

Date:

5/11/2016

Page 1 of 1

Exhibit 10.2

Execution Version

THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT PERTAINING TO THE NOTE UNDER SUCH ACT AND UNDER ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, UNLESS THE PAYOR HEREOF IS REASONABLY SATISFIED THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH OFFER, SALE, ASSIGNMENT, TRANSFER OR OTHER DISPOSITION.

This instrument and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby are subordinate in the manner and to the extent set forth in THAT CERTAIN Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of May 18, 2016, BY AND AMONG WILLIAM C. mORRIS AND rOBERT S. rUBIN, EACH AS SUBORDINATED CREDITORS, AND WELLS fARGO bANK, nATIONAL aSSOCIATION (as administrative agent, as defined therein) (as the same may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the terms thereof, the “ subordination and intercreditor agreement ”) to the indebtedness (including interest) owed by the credit Parties (as defined in the senior credit facilities, as defined below) pursuant to the senior credit facilities; and each holder of this instrument, by its acceptance hereof, irrevocably agrees to be bound by the provisions of the Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement.

PROMISSORY NOTE

May 18, 2016

$20,000,000

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Carbo Ceramics Inc., a Delaware corporation (including its successors, “ Payor ”), hereby promises to pay to the order of William C. Morris (together with his successors and assigns, “ Payee ”), the principal amount (the “ Principal Amount ”) of this promissory note (this “ Note ”), together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, each due and payable on the dates and in the manner set forth below.

1. Principal Amount, Maturity and Prepayment .

a. Principal Amount : The Principal Amount of this Note is $20,000,000 .

b. Maturity : The Principal Amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable on April 1, 2019 (the “ Maturity Date ”).

c. Optional Prepayment : Payor may, at any time, prepay in cash all or any portion of the unpaid outstanding balance of this Note (without premium or penalty); provided that each such prepayment shall be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the prepaid portion of the Principal Amount calculated to the payment date of such portion of the Principal Amount.

2. Interest .

a. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid outstanding balance of the Principal Amount, from (and including) the date hereof, to (but excluding) the Maturity Date at seven percent (7.0%) per annum (the “ Interest Rate ”).

b. Payments of interest on this Note shall be due and payable semi-annually in arrears on (i) each October 1 and April 1 (each an “ Interest Payment Date ”), commencing on October 1, 2016, until the Maturity Date and on the Maturity Date or (ii) any prepayment date, if earlier, whereupon all accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the prepaid portion of the Principal Amount shall be due.

c. If any principal of or interest on the Note is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall (to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to nine percent (9.0%), payable on demand; provided , however, that two percent (2.0%) of such increased interest amount shall be payable only on the Maturity Date.

3. Payments Generally; Taxes .

a. All payments and prepayments in respect of this Note shall be paid by Payor by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account or accounts as Payee shall give notice of to Payor. If any Interest Payment Date or the date set for any payment of the Principal Amount is not a Business Day, such payments shall be due on the next succeeding Business Day.

b. Each payment hereunder shall be made in full without setoff, deduction or counterclaim.

c. Each payment by Payor under this Note shall, except as required by law, be made free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for or on account of, any present or future income, stamp, or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions, or withholdings imposed by the United States of America or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or any other jurisdiction from or through which Payor makes payment hereunder (collectively, the “ Taxes ”). In the event that Payor is required to withhold any amounts in respect of Taxes under applicable law, Payor shall withhold or deduct any Taxes required to be withheld or deducted from any payment due hereunder. Payor shall pay to the appropriate governmental authority any such Taxes withheld or deducted before penalties are payable or interest accrues thereon, and if any such penalties are payable or any such interest accrues, Payor shall also make payment thereof when due to the appropriate governmental authority. Within thirty (30) days after each such payment of Taxes, penalties, or interest, Payor shall deliver to Payee or its assigns a receipt evidencing such payment.

4. Guaranty .

a. Each Person executing this Note as a guarantor (individually, a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “ Guarantors ”) irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to Payee, jointly and severally with the other Guarantors, the due and punctual payment of the Note and performance of the obligations under this Note (the “ Note Obligations ”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Note Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, or amended or modified, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound by its guarantee hereunder notwithstanding any such extension or renewal, or amendment or modification, of any of the Note Obligations. Each Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to Payor or any other Guarantor of any of the Note Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment. In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that Payee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of Payor or any Guarantor to pay any Note Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid to Payee, in cash the amount of such unpaid Note Obligation.

b. Each Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether or not any bankruptcy or similar proceeding shall have stayed the accrual of collection of any of the Note Obligations or operated as a discharge thereof) and not merely of collection. Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee hereunder is continuing in nature and applies to all of the Note Obligations, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred.

c. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Note Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any of the Note Obligations, any impossibility in the performance of any of the Note Obligations or otherwise.

d. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of Payor or any Guarantor or the unenforceability of the Note Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of Payor or any Guarantor (other than payment in full of the Note Obligations). Payee may, at its election and in accordance with the terms of this Note, exercise any right or remedy available to it against Payor or any Guarantor, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Note Obligations have been paid in full. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against Payor or any other Guarantor, as the case may be.

e. Each Guarantor agrees that its guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Note Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by Payee upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization (or any analogous proceeding in any jurisdiction) of Payor or any Guarantor or otherwise.

f. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder at any time shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any other applicable law, in each case to the extent (if any) applicable to such Guarantor.

5. Representations and Warranties . Payor represents and warrants to Pay ee that as of the date of this Note:

a. Due Organization : Each of Payor and each Guarantor is (i) duly organized or incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation, as applicable and (ii) has the corporate or other organizational power and authority to own and operate its properties, to carry on its business as now conducted and to issue this Note.

b. Due Authorization; Enforceability : This Note has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Payor and each Guarantor, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Payor or such Guarantor, as the case may be, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

c. No Conflict : The execution, delivery and performance by Payor and each Guarantor of this Note will not (i) violate any provision of any law or any governmental regulation applicable to Payor or any Guarantor, or the Organizational Documents of Payor or any Guarantor, or any order, judgment or decree of any court or other agency of any government binding upon Payor or any Guarantor; (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under any agreement binding upon Payor or any Guarantor; or (iii) result in or require the imposition of any lien upon any of the properties or assets of Payor or any Guarantor.

d. Governmental Consents : The execution, delivery and performance by Payor and each Guarantor of this Note do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval of, notice to, or other action to, with or by any governmental authority.

e. No Default : Neither Payor nor any Guarantor is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of its respective obligations, covenants or conditions contained in the Senior Credit Facilities.

f. Compliance with Law : Payor and each Guarantor are in compliance with all applicable statutes, regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all governmental authorities in respect of the conduct of their respective business and the ownership of their respective properties, except such non-compliance that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

g. Solvency : Immediately after the issuance of this Note, Payor and its subsidiaries are, on a consolidated basis, Solvent.

h. Guarantors : Each subsidiary of Payor that is a Guarantor (as such term is defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) under the Senior Credit Facilities has executed a counterpart signature page to this Note as a Guarantor hereunder.

6. Covenant to add Additional Guarantors . Within three (3) Business Days of the designation of any subsidiary of Payor as a “Guarantor” (as such term is defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) under the Senior Credit Facilities, Payor shall cause any such subsidiary (each such subsidiary, an “ Additional Party ”) to become a Guarantor hereunder by delivering a counterpart signature page of this Note executed by such Additional Party as a Guarantor (the “ Guarantee Requirement ”). Upon delivery of such counterpart signature page to Payee, notice of which is hereby waived by Payor and the other Guarantors, each Additional Party shall be a Guarantor hereunder and shall be as fully a party hereto as if such Additional Party were an original signatory hereof. Payor and each Guarantor expressly agree that their respective obligations hereunder shall not be affected or diminished by the addition of any other Guarantor hereunder. This Note shall be fully effective as to any Guarantor that is or becomes a party hereto regardless of whether any other Person becomes or fails to become a Guarantor hereunder.

7. Events of Default . The occurrence at any time of any of the following events constitutes an event of default (an “ Event of Default ”) hereunder:

a. Payment Default : Payor fails to pay (i) any principal when due under this Note or (ii) within three (3) Business Days of when due, any other amount due under this Note, including payments of interest and indemnification; provided , that failure to pay any amount under this Note when due as a result of Payee’s failure to comply with its obligations contained in the second sentence of Section 8 of the Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement shall not constitute an Event of Default until Payee has complied therewith.

b. Breach of Representations and Warranties : Any representation or warranty made in this Note or in any document or statement given to Payee pursuant to this Note shall be false in any material respect as of the date made;

c. Breach of Covenant to add Additional Guarantors : Payor shall fail to comply with the Guarantee Requirement.

d. Acceleration under Senior Credit Facilities : Any failure to pay any principal amount due under the Senior Credit Facilities or an y default under the Senior Credit Facilities that results in the acceleration of the indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities;

e. Bankruptcy; Insolvency : (i) Payor or any Guarantor shall terminate its existence or dissolve or (ii) Payor or any Guarantor (A) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; consents to or acquiesces in the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, fiscal agent or trustee of itself or any of its property; files a petition under bankruptcy or other laws for the relief of debtors; or consents to any reorganization, arrangement, workout, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief; or (B) shall have had, without its consent: any court enter an order appointing a receiver, liquidator, fiscal agent or trustee of itself or any of its property; any petition filed against it seeking reorganization, arrangement, workout, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under bankruptcy or other laws for the relief of debtors and such petition shall not be dismissed, stayed or set aside for an aggregate of 60 days, whether or not consecutive.

Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, upon written notice by Payee and subject to the Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement , the unpaid Principal Amount and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall be and become due and payable; provided that in the case of any Event of Default under Section 7(e), such unpaid Principal Amount and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall become due and payable automatically without any written notice.

8. Definitions .

a. “ Action ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10(a).

b. “ Additional Party ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.

c. “ Affiliate ” means with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For the purpose of this definition, “control” (including the terms “controlling,” controlled by,” and under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the direct or indirect possession of the power to direct, cause or effect the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of securities or by contract or agency or otherwise.

d. “ Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

e. “ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banks in New York City are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

f. “ Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.

g. “ Guarantee Requirement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.

h. “ Guarantors ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4(a).

i. “ Indemnified Person ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10(a).

j. “ Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(b).

k. “ Interest Rate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2(a).

l. “ Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, financial condition or results of operations of Payor, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of Payor to fully and timely perform its obligations under this Note or (iii) the rights and remedies of Payee under this Note.

m. “ Maturity Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1(b).

n. “ Note ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

o. “ Note Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4(a).

p. “ Organizational Documents ” means, with respect to any Person, the charter, articles or certificate of organization or incorporation and bylaws or other orga nizational or governing documents of such Person.

q. “ Payee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

r. “ Payor ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

s. “ Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, governmental authority or other entity.

t. “ Principal Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble.

u. “ Senior Credit Facilities ” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 29, 2010, among Payor, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent and the other parties thereto, as amended by that certain Agreement and Amendment No. 7 to Credit Agreement, dated April 27, 2016 (as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time after the date hereof in accordance with the terms thereof and of the Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement).

v. “ Solvent ” means, that as of the date of determination, both (i)(a) the sum of Payor’s debts (including contingent liabilities) does not exceed the present fair saleable value of Payor’s present assets; (b) Payor’s capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business as contemplated on the date of issuance of this Note and as reasonably expected to be conducted thereafter; (c) Payor has not incurred and does not intend to incur, nor believes (nor should it reasonably believe) that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise); and (ii) Payor is “solvent” within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No.5).

w. “ Taxes ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3(c).

9. Assignments .

The terms and provisions of this Note shall inure to the benefit of Payee and its successors and permitted assigns. In the event of transfer or assignment, the rights and privileges conferred upon Payee shall automatically extend to and be vested in such assignee, subject to the terms and conditions hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Payee may not assign this Note to any Person without the prior written consent of Payor (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld); provided that Payee shall be entitled to assign this Note to any of its respective Affiliates. Any such assignment shall be valid upon delivery of written notice by Payee to Payor.

10. Indemnification; Enforcement Expenses .

a. Payor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Payee and its Affiliates, the respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives of the foregoing and their respective successors and permitted assigns (each, an “ Indemnified Person ”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses, joint or several, to which any such Indemnified Person may become subject arising out of, resulting from or in connection with this Note or any actual or threatened claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding (any of the foregoing, an “ Action ”) relating to this Note, whether or not such Action is brought by Payor, Payor’s shareholders, Affiliates, creditors or any other Person, and to reimburse each such Indemnified Person promptly after receipt of a written request together with reasonably detailed backup documentation for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal expenses or other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any of the foregoing; provided that the foregoing indemnity will not, as to any Indemnified Person, apply to losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses to the extent resulting from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnified Person, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Indemnified Person shall be obligated to refund and return promptly any and all amounts paid by Payor or any its Affiliates under this Section 10(a) to such Indemnified Person for any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to the extent such Indemnified Person is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment to not be entitled to payment of such amounts.

b. In the event that Payee is required to take any action to collect or otherwise enforce payment of this Note, Payor agrees to pay such attorneys’ fees, court costs and other expenses as Payee may incur as a result thereof, whether or not suit is commenced.

11. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial .

a. The provisions of this Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

b. Each of Payor and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating this Note, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of Payor and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of Payor and each Guarantor agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Note shall affect any right that Payee may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Note against Payor or any Guarantor in the courts of any jurisdiction.

c. Each of Payor and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section 11. Each of Payor and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

d. EACH OF PAYOR AND EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH OF PAYOR AND EACH GUARANTOR (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF PAYEE OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT IT WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT PAYEE HAS BEEN INDUCED TO LEND FUNDS TO PAYOR AND ACCEPT THIS NOTE BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11(D).

12. Notices .

Unless notice is given to the contrary, any notices pursuant to this Note shall be given as follows:

To Payee:

William C. Morris

Cove Point Holdings, LLC

60 East 42nd Street, Suite 3210

New York, New York 10165

Telephone: +1 212 599 3585

Facsimile : +1 212 599 3696

To Payor and each Guarantor:

c/o Carbo Ceramics Inc.

Energy Center II

575 N. Dairy Ashford Rd., Suite 300

Attn: Ernesto Bautista III, Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: +1 281 931 8884

Facsimile: +1 281 931 8302

13. Destruction, Loss, etc. of Note .

If this Note becomes mutilated or defaced, or is destroyed, lost, or stolen, Payor and each Guarantor shall execute and deliver a new note of like principal amount in exchange and substitution for the mutilated or defaced note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the destroyed, lost, or stolen note. If a note is mutilated or defaced, Payee shall surrender such note to Payor. If any note becomes destroyed, lost, or stolen, Payee shall furnish to Payor an affidavit of the destruction, loss, or theft of such note.

14. Miscellaneous .

Any term or provision of this Note may be amended only by a writing, signed by Payor and Payee. The observance of any term of this Note may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively only by a writing, signed by Payee). The waiver by Payee of any breach hereof or default in the performance hereof will not be deemed to constitute a waiver of any other default or any succeeding breach or default. No such waiver will be effective unless signed in writing by Payee. Any failure of Payee to enforce any of the provisions hereof will not be construed as a waiver of the right of Payee thereafter to enforce such provisions.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank. ]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be executed by its duly authorized officer on the day and year first written above.

Carbo ceramics inc.

By:		/s/ Ernesto Bautista, III
Name:		Ernesto Bautista, III
Title:		Chief Financial Officer

GUARANTEED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS AS GUARANTORS :

FALCON TECHNOLOGIES AND SERVICES, INC.

By:		/s/ Ernesto Bautista, III
Name:		Ernesto Bautista, III
Title:		Chief Financial Officer

STRATAGEN, INC.

By:		/s/ Ernesto Bautista, III
Name:		Ernesto Bautista, III
Title:		Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Promissory Note]

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

PROMISSORY NOTE

May 18, 2016

$5,000,000

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Carbo Ceramics Inc., a Delaware corporation (including its successors, “ Payor ”), hereby promises to pay to the order of Robert S. Rubin (together with his successors and assigns, “ Payee ”), the principal amount (the “ Principal Amount ”) of this promissory note (this “ Note ”), together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, each due and payable on the dates and in the manner set forth below.

1. Principal Amount, Maturity and Prepayment .

a. Principal Amount : The Principal Amount of this Note is $5,000,000 .

b. Maturity : The Principal Amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable on April 1, 2019 (the “ Maturity Date ”).

2. Interest .

3. Payments Generally; Taxes .

b. Each payment hereunder shall be made in full without setoff, deduction or counterclaim.

4. Guaranty .

avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any other applicable law, in each case to the extent (if any) applicable to such Guarantor.

5. Representations and Warranties . Payor represents and warrants to Payee that as of the date of this Note:

g. Solvency : Immediately after the issuance of this Note, Payor and its subsidiaries are, on a consolidated basis, Solvent.

7. Events of Default . The occurrence at any time of any of the following events constitutes an event of default (an “ Event of Default ”) hereunder:

c. Breach of Covenant to add Additional Guarantors : Payor shall fail to comply with the Guarantee Requirement.

d. Acceleration under Senior Credit Facilities : Any failure to pay any principal amount due under the Senior Credit Facilities or any default under the Senior Cred it Facilities that results in the acceleration of the indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities;