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ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. - Quarter Report: 2012 September (Form 10-Q)

form_10q.htm


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 September 30, 2012
Commission File Number 1-7908

ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
74-1753147
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

17 South Briar Hollow Lane, Suite 100, Houston, Texas  77027
(Address of principal executive office & Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (713) 881-3600

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 definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 126-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one)

Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer x   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

A total of 4,217,596 shares of Common Stock were outstanding at November 6, 2012.

 
 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited)

ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)

   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
REVENUES:
                       
Marketing
  $ 2,442,884     $ 2,137,741     $ 774,732     $ 737,077  
Transportation
    50,137       49,547       16,741       15,398  
Oil and natural gas
    11,467       10,091       4,052       3,520  
      2,504,488       2,197,379       795,525       755,995  
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
                               
Marketing                  
    2,407,607       2,107,098       759,669       719,994  
Transportation
    38,032       39,629       12,560       12,279  
Oil and gas operations
    5,670       6,933       1,948       3,098  
Oil and gas property sale (gain)
    (475 )     (2,833 )     (475 )     -  
General and administrative
    7,300       7,324       2,603       2,727  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    14,639       11,061       5,450       3,953  
      2,472,773       2,169,212       781,755       742,051  
                                 
Operating earnings
    31,715       28,167       13,770       13,944  
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    120       233       78       142  
Interest expense
    (4 )     (7 )     (1 )     -  
                                 
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes
    31,831       28,393       13,847       14,086  
                                 
Income tax (provision)
    (11,947 )     (9,994 )     (5,510 )     (4,820 )
                                 
Earnings from continuing operations
    19,884       18,399       8,337       9,266  
                                 
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations net of tax
                               
(provision) benefit of ( $183), ( $108), $40 and ($128),
                               
respectively
    340       (201 )     (74 )     (240 )
                                 
Net earnings
  $ 20,224     $ 18,198     $ 8,263     $ 9,026  
                                 
EARNINGS PER SHARE:
                               
From continuing operations
  $ 4.71     $ 4.36     $ 1.98     $ 2.20  
From discontinued operations
    .08       (.05 )     (.02 )     (.06 )
Basic and diluted net earnings per common share
  $ 4.79     $ 4.31     $ 1.96     $ 2.14  
                                 
                                 
DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


 
1

 

ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
ASSETS
           
Current Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 52,054     $ 37,066  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
               
accounts of $308 and $357, respectively
    199,628       225,393  
Inventory
    26,159       18,464  
Fair value contracts
    1,540       2,064  
Income tax receivable
    -       480  
Prepayments
    9,171       10,651  
Current assets of discontinued operations
    196       10,847  
                 
Total current assets
    288,748       304,965  
                 
Property and Equipment
               
Marketing
    42,695       33,004  
Transportation
    60,027       54,359  
Oil and gas (successful efforts method)
    95,068       81,668  
Other
    1,406       2,772  
      199,196       171,803  
                 
Less – Accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization
    (103,725 )     (102,946 )
      95,471       68,857  
Other Assets:
               
Deferred income tax asset
    587       473  
Cash deposits and other
    3,849       4,167  
Long-term assets of discontinued operations
    -       378  
    $ 388,655     $ 378,840  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 224,945     $ 243,615  
Accounts payable – related party
    68       58  
Fair value contracts
    2,712       681  
Accrued and other liabilities
    13,332       6,095  
Current deferred income taxes
    -       505  
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
    -       5,140  
Total current liabilities
    241,057       256,094  
                 
Other Liabilities:
               
Asset retirement obligations
    1,866       1,568  
Deferred taxes and other liabilities
    14,826       10,496  
      257,749       268,158  
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 5)
               
                 
Shareholders’ Equity:
               
Preferred stock - $1.00 par value, 960,000 shares
               
authorized, none outstanding
    -       -  
Common stock - $.10 par value, 7,500,000 shares
               
authorized, 4,217,596 shares outstanding
    422       422  
Contributed capital
    11,693       11,693  
Retained earnings
    118,791       98,567  
Total shareholders’ equity
    130,906       110,682  
    $ 388,655     $ 378,840  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 
2

 

ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)


   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATIONS:
           
Net earnings
  $ 20,224     $ 18,198  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
               
from operating activities -
               
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    14,639       11,370  
Property sale (gains) losses
    (4,364 )     (4,035 )
Dry hole costs incurred
    43       1,165  
Impairment of oil and gas properties
    878       1,208  
Provision for doubtful accounts
    (49 )     750  
Deferred income taxes
    3,728       8,703  
Net change in fair value contracts
    2,555       2,728  
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
    34,740       773  
Decrease (increase) in inventories
    (7,516 )     (3,824 )
Decrease (increase) in income tax receivable
    417       2,554  
Decrease (increase) in prepayments
    1,480       (1,987 )
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
    (22,797 )     15,296  
Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities
    6,870       4,680  
Other changes, net
    394       (137 )
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    51,242       57,442  
                 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Property and equipment additions
    (43,129 )     (41,206 )
Insurance and state collateral (deposits) refunds
    268       (308 )
Proceeds from property sales
    3,061       8,032  
Proceeds from discontinued operations
    3,546       -  
Investment in marketable securities
    -       7,666  
Redemption of marketable securities
    -       (11,098 )
                 
Net cash (used in) investing activities
    (36,254 )     (36,914 )
                 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    14,988       20,528  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    37,066       29,032  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 52,054     $ 49,560  
                 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

 
3

 

ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of the Company's management, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for the fair presentation of its financial position at September 30, 2012, its results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and its cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations.  The impact on the accompanying financial statements of events occurring after September 30, 2012, has been evaluated through the date these financial statements were issued.  During the first quarter of 2012, the Company discontinued its refined products marketing operation (See Note 6) and as a result, certain prior year balances were reclassified for consistency of presentation.

Although the Company believes the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, it is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements, and the notes thereto, included in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K. The interim statement of operations is not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year.

Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations and Principles of Consolidation

The Company is engaged in the business of crude oil and natural gas marketing, as well as tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals and oil and gas exploration and production.  Its primary area of operation is within a 1,000 mile radius of Houston, Texas.  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Adams Resources & Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the "Company") after elimination of all intercompany accounts and transactions.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include any Treasury bill, commercial paper, money market fund or federal funds with maturity of 90 days or less.  Depending on cash availability and market conditions, investments in corporate and municipal bonds, which are classified as investments in marketable securities, may also be made from time to time.  Cash and cash equivalents are maintained with major financial institutions and such deposits exceed the amount of federally backed insurance provided.  While the Company regularly monitors the financial stability of such institutions, cash and cash equivalents ultimately remain at risk subject to financial viability of such institutions.

Inventory

Inventory consists of crude oil held in storage tanks and at third-party pipelines as part of the Company’s crude oil marketing operations.  Crude oil inventory is carried at the lower of average cost or market.

 
4

 

Prepayments

The components of prepayments and other are as follows (in thousands):

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Cash collateral deposits for commodity purchases
  $ 5,000     $ 6,521  
Insurance premiums
    2,033       2,033  
Commodity imbalances and futures
    1,061       1,452  
Rents, license and other
    1,077       645  
                 
    $ 9,171     $ 10,651  

Property and Equipment

Expenditures for major renewals and betterments are capitalized, and expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.  Interest costs incurred in connection with major capital expenditures are capitalized and amortized over the lives of the related assets. When properties are retired or sold, the related cost and accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DD&A") is removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in earnings.

Oil and gas exploration and development expenditures are accounted for in accordance with the successful efforts method of accounting.  Direct costs of acquiring developed or undeveloped leasehold acreage, including lease bonus, brokerage and other fees, are capitalized. Exploratory drilling costs are initially capitalized until the properties are evaluated and determined to be either productive or nonproductive.  Such evaluations are made on a quarterly basis.  If an exploratory well is determined to be nonproductive, the costs of drilling the well are charged to expense. Costs incurred to drill and complete development wells, including dry holes, are capitalized.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company had no unevaluated or suspended exploratory drilling costs.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization of the cost of proved oil and gas properties is calculated using the unit-of-production method.  The reserve base used to calculate depreciation, depletion and amortization for leasehold acquisition costs and the cost to acquire proved properties is the sum of proved developed reserves and proved undeveloped reserves.  For lease and well equipment, development costs and successful exploration drilling costs, the reserve base includes only proved developed reserves.  All other property and equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated average useful lives of three to twenty years.

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever undiscounted cash flow models indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable.  Any impairment recognized is permanent and may not be restored.  Producing oil and gas properties are reviewed on a field-by-field basis.  The fair value of each oil and gas property is estimated based on an internal discounted cash-flow model.  Cash flows are developed based on estimated future production and prices and then discounted using a market based rate of return consistent with that used by the Company in evaluating cash flows for other assets of a similar nature.  For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, there were $90,000 and $252,000, respectively, of impairment provisions on producing oil and gas properties.  Such impairment provisions were $19,000 and $252,000 for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 
5

 

On a quarterly basis, management evaluates the carrying value of non-producing oil and gas leasehold properties and may deem them impaired based on remaining lease term, area drilling activity  and the Company’s plans for the property.  This fair value measure depends highly on management’s assessment of the likelihood of continued exploration efforts in a given area and, as such, data inputs are categorized as “unobservable or Level 3” inputs.  Importantly, this fair value measure only applies to the write-down of capitalized costs and will never result in an increase to reported earnings. Accordingly, impairment provisions on non-producing properties totaling $788,000 and $956,000 were recorded for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Such impairment provisions were $230,000 and $395,000 for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Capitalized costs for non-producing oil and gas leasehold interests currently represent approximately four percent of total oil and gas property costs and are categorized as follows (in thousands):
 
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
South Texas Project acreage
  $ 3,073     $ 2,212  
West Texas Project acreage
    206       288  
Napoleonville, Louisiana acreage
    323       320  
Other acreage areas
    268       475  
                 
Total Non-producing Leasehold Costs
  $ 3,870     $ 3,295  

The South Texas, West Texas and Napoleonville acreage areas have active or scheduled drilling operations underway and holding the underlying acreage is essential to the ongoing exploration effort.  The “Other Acreage Areas” category consists of smaller onshore interests dispersed over a wide geographical area. Since the Company is generally not the operator of its oil and gas property interests, it  does not maintain underlying detail acreage data and is dependent on the operator when determining which specific acreage will ultimately be drilled.  The capitalized cost detail on a property-by-property basis is reviewed however, by management, and deemed impaired if development is not anticipated prior to lease expiration.  Onshore leasehold periods are normally three years and may contain renewal options.  Capitalized cost activity on the “Other Acreage Areas” was as follows (in thousands):

   
Leasehold
 
   
Costs
 
Balance December 31, 2011
  $ 475  
Property additions
    675  
Property sale
    (94 )
Impairments
    (788 )
         
Balance September 30, 2012
  $ 268  

During the third quarter of 2012, the Company sold half of its interest in certain non-producing Kansas oil and gas properties.  Proceeds from the sale totaled $578,000 and the Company recorded a $475,000 gain from this sale.  In January 2011, the Company completed the sale of its interest in certain producing oil and gas properties located in the on-shore Gulf Coast region of Texas.  Proceeds from the sale totaled $6.2 million and the pre-tax gain from this transaction totaled $2,708,000.  Also during the first quarter 2011, the Company sold a portion of its interest in certain non-producing oil and gas properties located in West Texas.  Total proceeds from the sale were $329,000 and the Company recorded a $125,000 gain from this transaction.

During the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, the Company sold certain used trucks and equipment from its transportation segment and recorded gains totaling $2,399,000 and $1,024,000, respectively.  For the comparative third quarters of 2012 and 2011, gains included in such amounts totaled $1,070,000 and $632,000, respectively.

 
6

 

Cash Deposits and Other Assets

The Company has established certain deposits to support participation in its liability insurance program and remittance of state crude oil severance taxes and other state collateral deposits.  Insurance collateral deposits are invested at the discretion of the Company’s insurance carrier and such investments primarily consist of intermediate term federal government bonds and bonds backed by federal agencies.  Components of cash deposits and other assets are as follows (in thousands):

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Insurance collateral deposits
  $ 3,086     $ 3,331  
State collateral deposits
    145       168  
Materials and supplies
    618       668  
    $ 3,849     $ 4,167  

Revenue Recognition

Certain commodity purchase and sale contracts utilized by the Company’s marketing businesses qualify as derivative instruments.  Further, all natural gas, as well as certain specifically identified crude oil purchase and sale contracts, are designated as trading activities.  From the time of contract origination, such trading activity contracts are marked-to-market and recorded on a net revenue basis in the accompanying financial statements.

Most crude oil purchase contracts and sale contracts qualify and are designated as non-trading activities and the Company considers such contracts as normal purchases and sales activity.  For normal purchases and sales, the Company’s customers are invoiced monthly based upon contractually agreed upon terms with revenue recognized in the month in which the physical product is delivered to the customer.  Such sales are recorded gross in the financial statements because the Company takes title, has risk of loss for the products, is the primary obligor for the purchase, establishes the sale price independently with a third party and maintains credit risk associated with the sale of the product.

Certain crude oil contracts may be with a single counterparty to provide for similar quantities of crude oil to be bought and sold at different locations.  These contracts are entered into for a variety of reasons, including effecting the transportation of the commodity, to minimize credit exposure, and/or to meet the competitive demands of the customer.  Such buy/sell arrangements are reflected on a net revenue basis in the accompanying financial statements.

Transportation customers are invoiced, and the related revenue is recognized, as the service is provided. Oil and gas revenue from the Company’s interests in producing wells is recognized as title and physical possession of the oil and gas passes to the purchaser.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company’s largest customers consist of large multinational integrated oil companies and utilities.  In addition, the Company transacts business with independent oil producers, major chemical concerns, crude oil and natural gas trading companies and a variety of commercial energy users.  Within this group of customers the Company generally derives up to 50 percent of its revenues from two to three large crude oil refining concerns.  While the Company has ongoing established relationships with certain domestic refiners of crude oil, alternative markets are readily available since the Company supplies less than one percent of U.S. domestic refiner demand.  As a fungible commodity delivered to major Gulf Coast supply points, the Company’s crude oil sales can be readily delivered to alternative end markets.  Management believes that a loss of any of those customers where the Company currently derives more than 10 percent of its revenues would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations.

 
7

 

Accounts receivable associated with crude oil and natural gas marketing activities comprise approximately 90 percent of the Company’s total receivables and industry practice requires payment for such sales to occur within 25 days of the end of the month following a transaction.  The Company’s customer makeup, credit policies and the relatively short duration of receivables mitigate the uncertainty typically associated with receivables management.

Letter of Credit Facility

The Company maintains a Credit and Security Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank to provide a $60 million stand-by letter of credit facility that is used to support the Company’s crude oil and natural gas purchases within the marketing segment.  This facility is collateralized by the eligible accounts receivable within those operations and certain marketing and transportation equipment.  Stand-by letters of credit issued totaled $53.8 million and $38.9 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.  The issued stand-by letters of credit are cancelled as the underlying purchase obligations are satisfied by cash payment when due.  The letter of credit facility places certain restrictions on the Company’s Gulfmark Energy, Inc. and Adams Resources Marketing, Ltd. subsidiaries.  Such restrictions included the maintenance of a combined 1.1 to 1.0 current ratio and the maintenance of positive net earnings excluding inventory valuation changes, as defined, among other restrictions.  The Company is currently in compliance with all such financial covenants.
 
 
Statement of Cash Flows

Interest paid totaled $4,000 and $7,000 during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, while taxes paid during these same periods totaled $6,636,000 and $508,000, respectively.  In addition during the first half 2011, the Company received state and federal income tax refunds totaling $2,095,000.  Non-cash investing activities for property and equipment were $2,962,000 and $4,070,000 as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively and $3,207,000 and $2,868,000 as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  There were no significant non-cash financing activities in any of the periods reported.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potentially dilutive common stock shares outstanding during the periods presented herein. The weighted average number of shares outstanding was 4,217,596 for 2012, 2011 and 2010.  There were no potentially dilutive securities during those periods.

Share-Based Payments

During the periods presented herein, the Company had no stock-based employee compensation plans and no other share-based payment arrangements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates. Examples of significant estimates used in the accompanying consolidated financial statements include the oil and gas reserve volumes that form the foundation for (1) calculating depreciation, depletion and amortization and (2) deriving cash flow estimates to assess impairment triggers or estimated values associated with oil and gas property, revenue accruals, the provision for bad debts, insurance related accruals, income tax timing differences, contingencies and valuation of fair value contracts.

 
8

 

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method.  Under this approach, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on anticipated future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective income tax basis.

Use of Derivative Instruments

The Company’s marketing segment is involved in the purchase and sale of crude oil and natural gas.  The Company seeks to make a profit by procuring such commodities as they are produced and then delivering such products to the end users or intermediate use marketplace.  As is typical for the industry, such transactions are made pursuant to the terms of forward month commodity purchase and/or sale contracts.  Certain of these contracts meet the definition of a derivative instrument, and therefore, the Company accounts for such contracts at fair value, unless the normal purchase and sale exception is applicable.  Such underlying contracts are standard for the industry and are the governing document for the Company’s crude oil and natural gas wholesale distribution businesses.  The accounting methodology utilized by the Company for its commodity contracts is further discussed below under the caption “Fair Value Measurements”.

None of the Company’s derivative instruments have been designated as hedging instruments and the estimated fair value of forward month commodity contracts (derivatives) is reflected in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2012 as follows (in thousands):

   
Balance Sheet Location and Amount
 
   
Current
   
Other
   
Current
   
Other
 
   
Assets
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
   
Liabilities
 
Asset Derivatives
                       
- Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity
                       
Contracts at Gross Valuation
  $ 4,267     $ -     $ -     $ -  
Liability Derivatives
                               
- Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity
                               
Contracts at Gross Valuation
    -       -       (5,439 )     -  
Counterparty Offsets
    (2,727 )     -       2,727       -  
                                 
As Reported Fair Value Contracts
  $ 1,540     $ -     $ (2,712 )   $ -  

Forward month commodity contracts (derivatives) are reflected in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2011 as follows (in thousands):

   
Balance Sheet Location and Amount
 
   
Current
   
Other
   
Current
   
Other
 
   
Assets
   
Assets
   
Liabilities
   
Liabilities
 
Asset Derivatives
                       
- Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity
                       
Contracts at Gross Valuation
  $ 3,500     $ -     $ -     $ -  
Liability Derivatives
                               
- Fair Value Forward Hydrocarbon Commodity
                               
Contracts at Gross Valuation
    -       -       2,117       -  
Counterparty Offsets
    (1,436 )     -       (1,436 )     -  
                                 
As Reported Fair Value Contracts
  $ 2,064     $ -     $ 681     $ -  


 
9

 

The Company only enters into commodity contracts with credit worthy counterparties or obtains collateral support for such activities.  As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company was not holding nor has it posted any collateral to support its forward month fair value derivative activity. The Company is not subject to any credit-risk related trigger events.

Forward month commodity contracts (derivatives) are reflected in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 as follows (in thousands):

   
Earnings (Loss)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
   
Earnings (Loss)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
                         
Revenues – marketing
  $ (2,555 )   $ (2,728 )   $ (1,562 )   $ (3,236 )
                                 

Fair Value Measurements

The carrying amount reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments.  Marketable securities are recorded at fair value based on market quotations from actively traded liquid markets.

Fair value contracts consist of derivative financial instruments and are recorded as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value.  Changes in fair value are recognized immediately in earnings unless the derivatives qualify for, and the Company elects, cash flow hedge accounting.  The Company had no contracts designated for hedge accounting during any current reporting periods.

Fair value estimates are based on assumptions that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability and the Company uses a fair value hierarchy of three levels that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions.  Currently, for all items presented herein, the Company utilizes a market approach to valuing its contracts.  On a contract by contract, forward month by forward month basis, the Company obtains observable market data for valuing its contracts.  The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets and the lowest priority to unobservable data.  The fair value hierarchy is summarized as follows:

 
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that may be accessed at the measurement date.  Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.  For Level 1 valuation of marketable securities, the Company utilizes market quotations provided by its primary financial institution and for the valuation of derivative financial instruments the Company utilizes the New York Mercantile Exchange “NYMEX” for such valuations.

 
Level 2 –  (a) quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, (b) quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities but in markets that are not actively traded or in which little information is released to the public, (c) observable inputs other than quoted prices and (d) inputs derived from observable market data.  Source data for Level 2 inputs include information provided by the NYMEX, the Intercontinental Exchange “ICE”, published price data and indices, third party price survey data and broker provided forward price statistics.

 
Level 3 – Unobservable market data inputs for assets or liabilities.

 
10

 

As of September 30, 2012, the Company’s fair value assets and liabilities are summarized and categorized as follows (in thousands):

   
Market Data Inputs
             
   
Gross Level 1
   
Gross Level 2
   
Gross Level 3
   
Counterparty
       
   
Quoted Prices
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
   
Offsets
   
Total
 
Derivatives
                             
- Current assets
  $ -     $ 4,267     $ -     $ (2,727 )   $ 1,540  
- Current liabilities
    (1,391 )     (4,048 )     -       2,727       (2,712 )
Net Value
  $ (1,391 )   $ 219     $ -     $ -     $ (1,172 )

As of December 31, 2011, the Company’s fair value assets and liabilities are summarized and categorized as follows (in thousands):

   
Market Data Inputs
             
   
Gross Level 1
   
Gross Level 2
   
Gross Level 3
   
Counterparty
       
   
Quoted Prices
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
   
Offsets
   
Total
 
Derivatives
                             
- Current assets
  $ 1,455     $ 2,045     $ -     $ (1,436 )   $ 2,064  
- Current liabilities
    (675 )     (1,442 )     -       1,436       (681 )
Net Value
  $ 780     $ 603     $ -     $ -     $ 1,383  

When determining fair value measurements, the Company makes credit valuation adjustments to reflect both its own nonperformance risk and its counterparty’s nonperformance risk.  When adjusting the fair value of derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, the impact of netting and any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, thresholds, and guarantees are considered.  Credit valuation adjustments utilize Level 3 inputs, such as credit scores to evaluate the likelihood of default by the Company or its counterparties.  As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, credit valuation adjustments were not significant to the overall valuation of the Company’s fair value contracts.  As a result, fair value assets and liabilities are included in their entirety in the fair value hierarchy amounts.

Recent Accounting Pronouncement

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-04, which further amends the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the Accounting Standards Codification.  Among other provisions, ASU 2011-04 expands and modifies certain principles and requirements for measuring fair value and disclosing fair value measurement information.  The Company adopted ASU 2011-04 effective January 1, 2012 and the adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements, but additional disclosures regarding fair value measurements resulted.

Management believes the impact of other recently issued standards and updates, which are not yet effective, will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption.

Note 3 – Segment Reporting

The Company is engaged in the business of crude oil and natural gas marketing as well as tank truck transportation of liquid chemicals, and oil and gas exploration and production.  Information concerning the Company's various business activities is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 
11

 

- Nine Month Comparison

         
Segment
   
Depreciation
   
Property and
 
         
Operating
   
Depletion and
   
Equipment
 
   
Revenues
   
Earnings
   
Amortization
   
Additions
 
Period Ended September 30, 2012
                       
Marketing
                       
- Crude Oil
  $ 2,438,815     $ 29,880     $ 4,324     $ 9,079  
- Natural gas
    4,069       1,057       16       -  
Marketing Total
    2,442,884       30,937       4,340       9,079  
Transportation
    50,137       7,919       4,186       15,484  
Oil and gas
    11,467       159       6,113       18,566  
    $ 2,504,488     $ 39,015     $ 14,639     $ 43,129  
Period Ended September 30, 2011
                               
Marketing
                               
- Crude Oil
  $ 2,133,485     $ 26,341     $ 2,565     $ 10,565  
- Natural gas
    4,256       1,734       3       64  
Marketing Total
    2,137,741       28,075       2,568       10,629  
Transportation
    49,547       7,003       2,915       9,810  
Oil and gas
    10,091       413       5,578       20,701  
    $ 2,197,379     $ 35,491     $ 11,061     $ 41,140  

- Three Month Comparison

         
Segment
   
Depreciation
   
Property and
 
         
Operating
   
Depletion and
   
Equipment
 
   
Revenues
   
Earnings
   
Amortization
   
Additions
 
Period Ended September 30, 2012
                       
Marketing
                       
- Crude Oil
  $ 773,611     $ 13,278     $ 1,596     $ 1,673  
- Natural gas
    1,121       174       15       -  
Marketing Total
    774,732       13,452       1,611       1,673  
Transportation
    16,741       2,607       1,574       4,740  
Oil and gas
    4,052       314       2,265       5,106  
    $ 795,525     $ 16,373     $ 5,450     $ 11,519  
Period Ended September 30, 2011
                               
Marketing
                               
- Crude Oil
  $ 735,514     $ 15,401     $ 1,027     $ 1,937  
- Natural gas
    1,563       654       1       8  
Marketing Total
    737,077       16,055       1,028       1,945  
Transportation
    15,398       2,078       1,041       682  
Oil and gas
    3,520       (1,462 )     1,884       8,306  
    $ 755,995     $ 16,671     $ 3,953     $ 10,933  

Segment operating earnings reflect revenues net of operating costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization and are reconciled to earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, as follows (in thousands):

 
12

 


   
Nine months ended
   
Three months ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
Segment operating earnings (loss)
  $ 39,015     $ 35,491     $ 16,373     $ 16,671  
- General and administrative
    (7,300 )     (7,324 )     (2,603 )     (2,727 )
Operating earnings
    31,715       28,167       13,770       13,944  
- Interest income
    120       233       78       142  
- Interest expense
    (4 )     (7 )     (1 )     -  
Earnings from continuing operations
                               
before income taxes and
                               
discontinued operations
  $ 31,831     $ 28,393     $ 13,847     $ 14,086  

Identifiable assets by industry segment are as follows (in thousands):

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
Marketing
           
- Crude oil
  $ 238,930     $ 253,817  
- Natural gas
    9,570       12,246  
Marketing Total
    248,500       266,063  
Transportation
    41,155       27,221  
Oil and gas
    40,531       29,105  
Other
    58,469       56,451  
    $ 388,655     $ 378,840  

Intersegment sales are insignificant.  Other identifiable assets are primarily corporate cash and assets not identified with any specific segment of the Company’s business.  All sales by the Company occurred in the United States.

Note 4 - Transactions with Affiliates

Mr. K. S. Adams, Jr., Chairman and certain of his family partnerships and affiliates have participated as working interest owners with the Company’s subsidiary, Adams Resources Exploration Corporation.  Mr. Adams and such affiliates participate on terms similar to those afforded other non-affiliated working interest owners. In recent years, such related party transactions generally result after the Company has first identified oil and gas prospects of interest.  Typically the available dollar commitment to participate in such transactions is greater than the amount management is comfortable putting at risk.  In such event, the Company first determines the percentage of the transaction it wants to obtain, which allows a related party to participate in the investment to the extent there is excess available.  In those instances where there was no excess availability there has been no related party participation.  Similarly, related parties are not required to participate, nor is the Company obligated to offer any such participation to a related or other party.  When such related party transactions occur, they are individually reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee comprised of the independent directors on the Company’s Board of Directors.  For the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, the Company’s investment commitments totaled approximately $18.3 million and $20.7 million, respectively, in those oil and gas projects where a related party was also participating in such investments.  As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company owed a combined net total of $68,000 and $58,000, respectively, to these related parties.  In connection with the operation of certain oil and gas properties, the Company also charges such related parties for administrative overhead primarily as prescribed by the Council of Petroleum Accountants Society Bulletin 5. Such overhead recoveries totaled $113,000 and $126,000 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 
13

 

The Company also enters into certain transactions in the normal course of business with other affiliated entities including direct cost reimbursement for shared phone and secretarial services.  For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the affiliated entities charged the Company $52,000 and $34,000, respectively, of expense reimbursement and the Company charged the affiliates $73,000 and $89,000, respectively, for such expense reimbursements.  In January 2012, the Company relocated its primary office lease space to a building operated by an affiliated entity.  Estimated annual rental expense, including pro rata building operating expense is $480,000 per year under a seven year lease term.  The lease rental rate was determined by an independent appraisal.  Rental expense paid to the related party for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 totaled $322,000.

Note 5 - Commitments and Contingencies

Under certain of the Company’s automobile and workers’ compensation insurance policies, the Company can either receive a return of premium paid or be assessed for additional premiums up to pre-established limits. Additionally under the policies, in certain instances the risk of insured losses is shared with a group of similarly situated entities.  The Company has appropriately recognized estimated expenses and related liabilities for losses incurred but not reported to the Company or its insurance carrier of $1,645,000 as of September 30, 2012 and $1,285,000 as of December 31, 2011.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Company began a self-insurance program for managing employee medical claims.  On a monthly basis, the Company establishes a liability for expected claims incurred.  As claims are paid, the liability is relieved.  As of September 30, 2012, accrued medical claims totaled $506,000 and the Company has purchased third party insurance stop-loss coverage for annual individual medical claims exceeding $100,000.  In addition, the Company maintains $1 million of umbrella insurance coverage for aggregate medical claims exceeding approximately $4.5 million in a given calendar year.

From time to time as incidental to its operations, the Company may become involved in various lawsuits and/or disputes.  Primarily as an operator of an extensive trucking fleet, the Company is a party to motor vehicle accidents, worker compensation claims and other items of general liability typical for the industry. Management of the Company is presently unaware of any claims against the Company that are either outside the scope of insurance coverage or that may exceed the level of insurance coverage and could potentially represent a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Note 6 – Discontinued Operation

On February 27, 2012, the Company completed the sale of contracts, inventory and certain equipment associated with the refined products segment of its marketing business.  Revenues from this segment included in net earnings from discontinued operations totaled $25,707,000 and $125,709,000 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  This business experienced marginal results in recent years including an operating loss of $788,000 for the year 2011.  The Company received $2 million in cash proceeds plus a cash payment of $1,546,000 for the agreed value of refined product inventories on the date of sale.  The net gain recognized upon this sale totaled $1,622,000.  The Company is conducting an orderly wind-down of the operation which primarily consists of collecting outstanding accounts receivable and satisfying all existing obligations.  The Company’s fee interest in certain parcels of real estate was retained and the estimated fair value of such properties exceeded the Company’s cost basis in the properties.  Therefore, an impairment assessment of long-lived assets was not necessary.  The proceeds secured from this transaction exceeded the sum of carrying costs of the assets sold plus severance and other wind-down costs and, as a result, pre-tax earnings from this former segment totaled $523,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 with net wind-down expenses totaling $114,000 during the third quarter of 2012.  The pre-tax results from this segment for the first nine months of 2011 produced a loss of $309,000.  Retained accounts receivable and payable obligations were substantially collected or satisfied as of the date of this report.

 
14

 


Item 2.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations

 
-
Marketing

Marketing segment revenues, operating earnings and depreciation were as follows (in thousands):

   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
Revenues
                       
Crude oil
  $ 2,438,815     $ 2,133,485     $ 773,611     $ 735,514  
Natural gas
    4,069       4,256       1,121       1,563  
Total
  $ 2,442,884     $ 2,137,741     $ 774,732     $ 737,077  
                                 
Operating Earnings
                               
Crude oil
  $ 29,880     $ 26,341     $ 13,278     $ 15,401  
Natural gas
    1,057       1,734       174       654  
Total
  $ 30,937     $ 28,075     $ 13,452     $ 16,055  
                                 
Depreciation
                               
Crude oil
  $ 4,324     $ 2,565     $ 1,596     $ 1,027  
Natural gas
    16       3       15       1  
Total
  $ 4,340     $ 2,568     $ 1,611     $ 1,028  

Supplemental volume and price information is as follows:

   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
Field Level Purchase Volumes – Per day (1)
                       
Crude oil – barrels
    87,022       79,057       86,301       83,002  
Natural gas – mmbtu’s
    130,566       187,367       94,568       182,302  
                                 
Average Purchase Price
                               
Crude oil – per barrel
  $ 100.90     $ 95.36     $ 96.44     $ 91.71  
Natural Gas – per mmbtu’s
  $ 2.40     $ 4.14     $ 2.75     $ 4.08  



_____________________________
(1) Reflects the volume purchased from third parties at the oil and gas wellhead or lease level.

 
15

 


Crude oil revenues were greater in 2012 because of increased field level purchase volumes and generally higher average crude oil prices as shown in the table above.  Volume increases resulted from new well production established by the Company’s customer base in the Eagle Ford shale trend of South Texas, while prices fluctuated with general market trends.

Two significant factors affecting comparative crude oil segment operating earnings are inventory valuations and forward commodity contract (derivatives or mark-to-market) valuations.  As a purchaser and shipper of crude oil, the Company holds inventory in storage tanks and third-party pipelines.  Inventory sales turnover occurs approximately every three days, but the quantity held in stock at the end of a given period is reasonably consistent.  As a result, during periods of increasing crude oil prices, the Company recognizes inventory liquidation gains while during periods of falling prices, the Company recognizes liquidation and valuation losses.  Over time, these gains and losses tend to offset and have limited impact on cash flow.  While crude oil prices are fluctuating in 2012, the net impact through September 30, 2012 has yielded inventory liquidation losses totaling $1,543,000 for the first nine months of 2012.  However, during the third quarter of 2012, prices trended up from $85 per barrel in the beginning of the quarter to $98 per barrel at the end of the quarter.  This produced a $3,217,000 inventory liquidation gain for the quarter.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company held 266,860 barrels of crude oil inventory at an average price of $98.03 per barrel.

Crude oil marketing operating earnings are also affected by the differing report date valuations of the Company’s forward month commodity contracts (derivative instruments).  Such non-cash valuations are calculated and recorded at each period end based on the underlying data existing as of such date.  The Company generally enters into these derivative instruments as part of a pricing strategy based on crude oil purchases at the wellhead (field-lease level).  The valuation of derivative instruments at each period end requires the recognition of “mark-to-market” gains and losses.  The impact on crude oil operating earnings of inventory liquidations and derivative valuations is summarized as follows (in thousands):

   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
                         
As reported segment operating earnings
  $ 29,880     $ 26,341     $ 13,278     $ 15,401  
Add (less) -
                               
Inventory liquidation (gains) losses
    1,543       (156 )     (3,217 )     2,185  
Derivative valuation (gains) losses
    3,278       3,229       1,509       3,305  
                                 
Field level segment operating earnings
  $ 34,701     $ 29,414     $ 11,570     $ 20,891  

Comparative field level crude oil operating earnings increased in 2012 with the noted volume additions and overall improved unit margins for the comparative nine month current period.  Unit margins first began to widen during the third quarter of 2011 when South Texas sourced production started selling at a discount to world crude oil prices due to its relative abundance in relation to the infrastructure available to deliver such oil to market.  The initial burst in unit margins was most prevalent during the third quarter of 2011 as shown in the table above.  Favorable unit margins continued into 2012, although they diminished as competition and additional industry infrastructure development progressed in the region.

Natural gas sales are reported net of underlying natural gas acquisition costs and thus reflect gross margins.  Volume declines have reduced earnings during 2012 with the current low level of natural gas prices curtailing drilling activity and creating a generally stagnant period for the Company’s natural gas operation.

 
16

 

-           Transportation

Transportation segment revenues, earnings and depreciation are as follows (in thousands):

   
Nine Months Ended
         
Three Months Ended
       
   
September 30,
   
Increase
   
September 30,
   
Increase
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
(Decrease)
   
2012
   
2011
   
(Decrease)
 
                                     
Revenues
  $ 50,137     $ 49,547       1.2 %   $ 16,741     $ 15,398       8.7 %
                                                 
Operating earnings
  $ 7,919     $ 7,003       13.1 %   $ 2,607     $ 2,078       25.5 %
                                                 
Depreciation
  $ 4,186     $ 2,915       43.6 %   $ 1,574     $ 1,041       51.2 %

Customer demand and revenues for the transportation segment were consistent and strong during all periods presented. However, an industry wide shortage of qualified drivers has affected the Company by suppressing current year revenues and results of operations.  For 2012, the Company recognized $2,399,000 in gains from the sale of 128 used truck-tractors with gains totaling $1,070,000 occurring during the third quarter.  For the first nine months of 2011 equipment sales gains totaled $1,024,000 with $632,000 of such gains occurring during the third quarter of 2011.  The transport segment currently benefits from the present low price environment for natural gas, a basic feedstock for the Company’s petrochemical industry customer base.  The petrochemical industry has been expanding capacity and the long-term prospect for demand for chemical hauling services remains positive.  Presently, the Company has experienced a slowing of activity, but business has remained fundamentally sound.

Transportation segment depreciation increased in 2012 with higher capitalized equipment costs following the replacement of substantial portions of the fleet during 2010, 2011 and 2012.

-           Oil and Gas

Oil and gas segment revenues and operating earnings are primarily a function of crude oil and natural gas prices and volumes.  Comparative amounts for revenues, operating earnings and depreciation and depletion are as follows (in thousands):

   
Nine Months Ended
         
Three Months Ended
       
   
September 30,
   
Increase
   
September 30,
   
Increase
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
(Decrease)
   
2012
   
2011
   
(Decrease)
 
                                     
Revenues
  $ 11,467     $ 10,091       13.6 %   $ 4,052     $ 3,520       15.1 %
                                                 
Operating earnings (loss), excluding
                                               
gains from property sale
  $ (316 )   $ (2,420 )     (86.9 )%   $ (161 )   $ (1,462 )     (88.9 )%
                                                 
Gains from property sales
  $ 475     $ 2,833       (83.2 )%   $ 475     $ -       N/C  
                                                 
Depreciation and depletion
  $ 6,113     $ 5,578       9.6 %   $ 2,265     $ 1,884       20.2 %

Oil and gas segment revenues improved during 2012 with increased production volumes despite reduced natural gas prices as shown below.  Volume increases were the direct result of drilling efforts during 2012 and 2011.  Depreciation and depletion expense increased in 2012 consistent with increased production volumes, but such increase was partially offset by the effect from reduced capitalized costs following the recording of a year-end 2011 impairment of oil and gas property.  Oil and gas operating earnings excluding gains from property sales improved for 2012 with increased revenues and reduced dry hole and impairment expense (see table below) partially offset by the increased provision for depreciation and depletion.

 
17

 

Production volumes and price information is as follows (in thousands):

   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
Crude Oil
                       
Volume – barrels
    69,012       38,801       27,545       15,309  
Average price per barrel
  $ 87.59     $ 96.38     $ 79.76     $ 88.20  
                                 
Natural gas
                               
Volume – mcf
    1,939,167       1,344,271       642,661       487,601  
Average price per mcf
  $ 2.80     $ 4.72     $ 2.89     $ 4.45  

Comparative exploration costs are summarized in the table below.  Exploration cost components were as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Nine Months Ended
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2012
   
2011
   
2012
   
2011
 
Dry hole expense
  $ 43     $ 1,165     $ 2     $ 654  
Prospect and property impairments
    878       1,208       249       646  
Seismic and geological
    83       303       1       110  
Total
  $ 1,004     $ 2,676     $ 252     $ 1,410  

During the first nine months of 2012, the Company participated in the drilling of 86 successful wells with no dry holes.  Additionally, the Company has an interest in 38 wells that were in process on September 30, 2012.  Evaluation on the in-process wells is anticipated during the fourth quarter of 2012.  Participation in the drilling of approximately 34 wells is planned for the remainder of 2012 on the Company’s prospect acreage in Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and Louisiana.

- Oil and Gas Property Sales

In August 2012, the Company sold fifty percent of its interest in certain Kansas oil and gas properties.  The properties contained one producing oil and gas well with insignificant production history.  The sale was consummated to spur outside interests to further development on the properties.  Total proceeds from the sale were $578,000 and the Company recorded a $475,000 gain on sale.  The Company will continue to participate in the development of these Kansas properties.

In January 2011, the Company completed the sale of its interest in certain producing oil and gas properties located in the on-shore Gulf Coast region of Texas.  Proceeds from the sale totaled $6.2 million and the pre-tax gain from this transaction totaled $2,708,000.  Total proved reserves sold were approximately 26,000 barrels of crude oil and 2,148,000 mcf of natural gas.  Sales negotiations were conducted by the third party operator of the properties on behalf of all working interest owners and the transaction was completed with a separate third party investment entity.  The Company’s proportionate interest in the transaction was approximately 5 percent and the Company elected to participate in the sale due to attractive pricing.  Also during the first quarter 2011, the Company sold a portion of its interest in certain non-producing oil and gas properties located in West Texas.  Total proceeds from the sale were $329,000 and the Company recorded a $125,000 gain from this transaction.  Proceeds from the sales were used for general working capital purposes and the Company is continuing with oil and gas exploration operations in the vicinity of the properties sold.

 
-
Discontinued Operation

During the first quarter of 2012, the Company sold contracts, inventory and certain equipment associated with its refined products market segment and discontinued that operation.  The pre-tax gain from this sale, net of operating expenses and wind-down cost totaled $523,000.  See also Note 6 – Discontinued Operation to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
18

 

- Outlook

The marketing and transportation segments are performing at expected levels, but narrowing unit margins are anticipated for the South Texas marketing region due to third party pipeline infrastructure projects being completed which increases competition in the area.  Oil and gas segment operating earnings are beginning to show positive results as new crude oil production is brought on line.  Absent price declines, this trend for the oil and gas segment should continue.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s liquidity primarily derives from net cash provided by operating activities and such amount was $51,242,000 and $57,442,000 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had no bank debt or other forms of debenture obligations.  Cash and cash equivalents totaled $52,054,000 as of September 30, 2012, and such balances are maintained in order to meet the timing of day-to-day cash needs.  Working capital, the excess of current assets over current liabilities, totaled $47,691,000 as of September 30, 2012.

Capital expenditures during the first nine months of 2012 included $24,563,000 for marketing and transportation equipment additions and $18,566,000 in property additions associated with oil and gas exploration and production activities.  Over the remainder of 2012, the Company anticipates expending approximately $5 million on oil and gas exploration projects while truck and trailer replacements and additions within the transportation and marketing fleets are substantially completed for the year.

From time to time, the Company may make cash prepayments to certain suppliers of crude oil and natural gas for the Company’s marketing operations.  Such prepayments totaled $5,000,000 as of September 30, 2012 and such amounts will be recouped and advanced from month to month as the suppliers deliver product to the Company.  The Company also requires certain counterparties to post cash collateral with the Company in order to support their purchases from the Company.  Such cash collateral held by the Company totaled $2,156,000 as of September 30, 2012.  Management believes current cash balances, together with expected cash generated from future operations and the ease of financing truck and trailer additions through leasing arrangements (should the need arise) will be sufficient to meet short-term and long-term liquidity needs.

The Company utilizes cash from operations to make discretionary investments in its oil and natural gas exploration, marketing and transportation businesses, which comprise substantially all of the Company’s investing cash outflows for each of the periods in this filing.  The Company does not look to proceeds from property sales to fund its cash flow needs.  Except for an approximate $10 million commitment for transportation equipment operating leases and storage tank terminal arrangements and office lease space, the Company’s future commitments and planned investments can be readily curtailed if operating cash flows contract.

Historically, the Company pays an annual dividend in the fourth quarter of each year.  In December 2011, the Company paid a $.57 per common share or $2,404,000 dividend to its shareholders.   The most significant item affecting future increases or decreases in liquidity is earnings from operations and such earnings are dependent on the success of future operations (see Item 1A Risk Factors in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011).

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

There have been no material changes to the Company’s “Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates” disclosures that have occurred since the disclosures provided in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

 
19

 


Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes to the Company’s “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” that have occurred since the disclosures provided in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Forward-Looking Statements – Safe Harbor Provisions

This quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2012 contains certain forward-looking statements covered by the safe harbors provided under federal securities law and regulations.  To the extent such statements are not recitations of historical fact forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.  In particular, statements included herein and/or in the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K under the captions (a) Production and Reserve Information, (b) Regulatory Status and Potential Environmental Liability, (c) Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, (d) Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates, (e) Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk, (f) Income Taxes, (g) Concentration of Credit Risk, (h) Fair Value Contract Activities, and (i) Commitments and Contingencies, among others, contain forward-looking statements.  Where the Company expresses an expectation or belief regarding future results of events, such expression is made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis in fact.  However, there can be no assurance that such expectation or belief will actually result or be achieved.

With the uncertainties of forward looking statements in mind, the reader should consider the risks discussed elsewhere in this report and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time and the important factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, under “Item 1A Risk Factor” that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of the Company.

Item 4.  Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely discussions regarding required disclosure.  As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that there is a reasonable assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s Exchange Act filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


 
20

 


PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

From time to time as incident to its operations, the Company becomes involved in various lawsuits and/or disputes.  Primarily as an operator of an extensive trucking fleet, the Company may be a party to motor vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation claims or other items of general liability as would be typical for the industry.  Management of the Company is presently unaware of any claims against the Company that are either outside the scope of insurance coverage or that may exceed the level of insurance coverage and could potentially represent a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Item 1A.
Risk Factors  - There are no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds -  None

Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities -  None

Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures - Not Applicable

Item 5.
Other Information -  None

Item 6.
Exhibits


The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 
21

 

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.


 
ADAMS RESOURCES & ENERGY, INC.
 
(Registrant)
   
   
   
Date:  November 13, 2012
By /s/Frank T. Webster
 
Frank T. Webster
 
President & Chief Executive Officer
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
   
 
By /s/Richard B. Abshire
 
Richard B. Abshire
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
(Principal Financial and
 
Accounting Officer)
   
   
   


 
22

 

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
 
Number
Description
   
*10.1
Tenth Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. and Frank T. Webster, dated effective September 22, 2012 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 24, 2012).
   
*31.1
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
*31.2
Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
*32.1
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
*32.2
Certificate of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
***101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
   
***101.SCH
XBRL Schema Document
   
***101.CAL
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
   
***101.LAB
XBRL Label Linkbase Document
   
***101.PRE
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document


*
Exhibits filed herewith

**
Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income – Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and (iv) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.