AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. - Annual Report: 2009 (Form 10-K)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
x ANNUAL
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For the
fiscal year ended March 31,
2009
or
¨ TRANSITION
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
Commission
file number 000-30234
ENERJEX
RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
|
88-0422242
|
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification
No.)
|
27
Corporate Woods, Suite 350
|
|
10975
Grandview Drive
|
|
Overland
Park, Kansas
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66210
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
7300
W. 110th,
7th
Floor
|
|
Overland
Park, Kansas
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66210
|
(Former
Address of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code (913)
754-7754
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: Common Stock, $0.001 par
value
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
¨
Yes x
No
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act.
¨
Yes x
No
Indicate
by checkmark 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. x Yes ¨
No
Indicate by checkmark if disclosure of
delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this
chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of
registrant’s, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by
reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form
10-K. x
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 ¨
|
Accelerated
filer ¨
|
|
Non-accelerated
filer ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
|
|
Smaller
reporting company x
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ¨ No
x
State the
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by
non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was
last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the
last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal
quarter: $15,197,050
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date: 4,443,512 shares of common
stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding on July 14, 2009.
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
List
hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of
the Form 10-K (e.g., Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is
incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any proxy or
information statement; and (3) Any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or
(c) under the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be clearly
described for identification purposes (e.g., annual report to security holders
for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).
NONE.
ENERJEX
RESOURCES, INC.
FORM
10-K
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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PART
I
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2
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Items
1 and 2.
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Business
and Properties
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2
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Item
1A.
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Risk
Factors
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28
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Item
1B.
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Unresolved
Staff Comments
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48
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Item
3.
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Legal
Proceedings
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48
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Item
4.
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Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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48
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PART
II
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49
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||
Item
5.
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Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
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49
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Item
6.
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Selected
Financial Data
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51
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Item
7.
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Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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51
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Item
7A.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
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65
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Item
8.
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Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
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66
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Item
9.
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Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
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66
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Item
9A(T).
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Controls
and Procedures
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66
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Item
9B.
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Other
Information
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67
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Part
III
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67
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||
Item
10.
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Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
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67
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Item
11.
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Executive
Compensation
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72
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Item
12.
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Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
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74
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Item
13.
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Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
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76
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Item
14.
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Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
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76
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Part
IV
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78
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Item
15.
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Exhibits,
Financial Statement Schedules
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78
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FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
report contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our
control. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in
this report, including statements regarding future events, our future financial
performance, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future
operations, are forward-looking statements. We have attempted to identify
forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,”
“can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,”
“potential,” “predicts” or “should” or the negative of these terms or other
comparable terminology. Although we do not make forward-looking statements
unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee
their accuracy. These statements are only predictions and involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks outlined
under “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in this report, which may cause our or our
industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Moreover,
we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks
emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risk
factors, nor can we address the impact of all factors on our business or the
extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause our actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statements. The factors impacting these risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to:
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·
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inability
to attract and obtain additional development
capital;
|
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·
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inability
to achieve sufficient future sales levels or other operating
results;
|
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·
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inability
to efficiently manage our
operations;
|
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·
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potential
default under our secured obligations or material debt
agreements;
|
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·
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estimated
quantities and quality of oil and natural gas
reserves;
|
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·
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declining
local, national and worldwide economic
conditions;
|
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·
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fluctuations
in the price of oil and natural
gas;
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·
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the
inability of management to effectively implement our strategies and
business plans;
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·
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approval
of certain parts of our operations by state
regulators;
|
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·
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inability
to hire or retain sufficient qualified operating field
personnel;
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·
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increases
in interest rates or our cost of
borrowing;
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·
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deterioration
in general or regional (especially Eastern Kansas) economic
conditions;
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·
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occurrence
of natural disasters, unforeseen weather conditions, or other events or
circumstances that could impact our operations or could impact the
operations of companies or contractors we depend upon in our
operations;
|
|
·
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inability
to acquire mineral leases at a favorable economic value that will allow us
to expand our development efforts;
|
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·
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adverse
state or federal legislation or regulation that increases the costs of
compliance, or adverse findings by a regulator with respect to existing
operations; and
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1
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·
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changes
in U.S. GAAP or in the legal, regulatory and legislative environments in
the markets in which we operate.
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You
should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, each of which
applies only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we
undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this report to conform our statements to actual
results or changed expectations. For a detailed description of these
and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in any forward-looking statement, please see “Risk Factors” in
this document under ITEM 1A.
All references in this report to “we,”
“us,” “our,” “company” and “EnerJex” refer to EnerJex Resources, Inc. and our
wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, EnerJex Kansas, Inc. and DD Energy, Inc.,
unless the context requires otherwise. We report our financial information on
the basis of a March 31 fiscal year end. We have provided definitions
for the oil and natural gas industry terms used in this report in the “Glossary”
beginning on page 23 of this report.
AVAILABLE
INFORMATION
We file
annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the
SEC. You can read these SEC filings and reports over the Internet at
the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or on our website at www.enerjexresources.com. You
can also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the
Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549 on
official business days between the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00
pm. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 for further information on
the operations of the public reference facilities. We will provide a copy of our
annual report to security holders, including audited financial statements, at no
charge upon receipt to of a written request to us at EnerJex Resources, Inc., 27
Corporate Woods, Suite 350, 10975 Grandview Drive, Overland Park,
Kansas 66210.
INDUSTRY
AND MARKET DATA
The
market data and certain other statistical information used throughout this
report are based on independent industry publications, government publications,
reports by market research firms or other published independent sources. In
addition, some data are based on our good faith estimates.
PART
I
Items
1 and 2. Business and Properties.
Our Business
EnerJex,
formerly known as Millennium Plastics Corporation, is an oil and natural gas
acquisition, exploration and development company. Midwest Energy, Inc. was
incorporated in the State of Nevada on December 30, 2005. In August of 2006,
Millennium Plastics Corporation, following a reverse merger by and among us,
Millennium Acquisition Sub (our wholly-owned subsidiary) and Midwest Energy,
changed the focus of its business plan from the development of
biodegradable plastic materials and entered into the oil and natural gas
industry. In conjunction with the change, the company was renamed EnerJex
Resources, Inc.
2
Our
principal strategy is to focus on the acquisition of oil and natural gas mineral
leases that have existing production and cash flow. Once acquired, subject to
availability of capital, we strive to implement an accelerated development
program utilizing capital resources, a regional operating focus, an experienced
management and technical team, and enhanced recovery technologies to attempt to
increase production and increase returns for our stockholders. Our oil and
natural gas acquisition and development activities are currently focused in
Eastern Kansas.
From the
beginning of fiscal 2008 through the end of fiscal 2009, we deployed
approximately $12 million in capital resources to acquire and develop five
operating projects and drill 179 new wells (111 producing wells and 65
water injection wells and 3 dry holes). As a result, our estimated total
net proved oil reserves increased from zero at March 31, 2007 to 1.3
million barrels of oil equivalent, or BOE, as of March 31, 2009. Of the
1.3 million BOE of total proved reserves, approximately 39% are proved
developed and approximately 61% are proved undeveloped. The proved developed
reserves consist of 82% proved developed producing reserves and 18% proved
developed non-producing reserves.
The total
proved PV10 (present value) of our reserves (“PV10”) as of March 31, 2009 was
$10.63 million. PV10 means the estimated future gross revenue to be
generated from the production of proved reserves, net of estimated production
and future development and abandonment costs, using prices and costs in effect
at the determination date, before income taxes, and without giving effect to
non-property related expenses, discounted to a present value using an annual
discount rate of 10% in accordance with the guidelines of the SEC. PV10 is a
non-GAAP financial measure and generally differs from the standardized measure
of discounted future net cash flows, the most directly comparable GAAP financial
measure, because it does not include the effects of income taxes on future net
revenues. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations-Reserves” page 57, for a reconciliation to the comparable
GAAP financial measure.
In response to economic conditions and
capital market constraints, we have recently begun to explore and evaluate
various strategic initiatives that would allow us to continue our plans to grow
production and reserves in the mid-continent region of the United States.
Initiatives include creating joint ventures to further develop current leases,
restructuring current debt, as well as evaluating other options ranging from
capital formation to some type of business combination. Though there
can be no assurance that any particular outcome will result from this process,
we believe there are significant opportunities to increase our growth rates
given current market conditions. We believe this process may create
options that will allow us to better position EnerJex to take advantage of these
opportunities.
The Opportunity in
Kansas
According
to the Kansas Geological Survey, the State of Kansas has historically been one
of the top 10 domestic oil producing regions in the United States. For the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, 39.6 million barrels and 36.6
million barrels of oil were produced in Kansas. Of the total barrels
produced in Kansas in the calendar year ended December 2007, 15 companies
accounted for approximately 29% of the total production, with the remaining 71%
produced by over 1,750 active producers.
3
In
addition to significant historical oil and natural gas production levels in the
region, we believe that a confluence of the following factors in Eastern Kansas
and the surrounding region make it an attractive area for oil and natural gas
development activities:
|
·
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Traditional Roll-Up
Strategy. We are seeking to employ a traditional roll-up
strategy utilizing a combination of capital resources, operational and
management expertise, technology, and our strategic partnership with Haas
Petroleum, which has experience operating in the region for nearly 70
years.
|
|
·
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Numerous Acquisition
Opportunities. There are many small producers and owners
of mineral rights in the region, which afford us numerous opportunities to
pursue negotiated lease transactions instead of having to competitively
bid on fundamentally sound assets.
|
|
·
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Fragmented Ownership
Structure. There are numerous opportunities to acquire
producing properties at attractive prices, because of the currently
inefficient and fragmented ownership
structure.
|
Our Properties
The table
below summarizes our acreage by project name as of March 31, 2009.
Project Name
|
Developed Acreage
|
Undeveloped Acreage
|
Total Acreage
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Gross
|
Net(1)
|
Gross
|
Net(1)
|
Gross
|
Net(1)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Black
Oaks Project
|
550 | 522 | 1,850 | 1,758 | 2,400 | 2,280 | ||||||||||||||||||
Thoren
Project
|
135 | 135 | 591 | 591 | 726 | 726 | ||||||||||||||||||
DD
Energy Project
|
400 | 400 | 1,370 | 1,370 | 1,770 | 1,770 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tri-County
Project
|
610 | 606 | 652 | 651 | 1,262 | 1,257 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gas
City Project
|
600 | 600 | 4,713 | 4,713 | 5,313 | 5,313 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
2,295 | 2,263 | 9,176 | 9,083 | 11,471 | 11,346 |
|
(1)
|
Net
acreage is based on our net working interest as of March 31,
2009.
|
Black Oaks Project
On April
9, 2007, we entered into a “Joint Exploration Agreement” with a shareholder,
MorMeg, LLC, (MorMeg) whereby we agreed to advance $4.0 million to a joint
operating account for further development of MorMeg’s Black Oaks leaseholds in
exchange for a 95% working interest in the Black Oaks Project. The Black Oaks Project
encompasses approximately 2,400 gross acres in Woodson and Greenwood Counties, Kansas, which
at the time of acquisition had approximately 35 oil wells producing an average
of approximately 32 barrels of oil per day, or BOPD.
4
The Black Oaks Project is a primary and
enhanced secondary recovery project between us and MorMeg. Phase I of the Black
Oaks Project development plan commenced shortly after closing with the drilling
of 44 in-fill wells. During fiscal 2008, we began injecting water into the first
five water injection wells at an average rate of approximately 50 barrels of
water per day per well. This pilot program was expanded so that by June 2008, we
were injecting approximately 200 barrels of water per day (bbls water/day) per
well in the initial 5 injection wells. Adjacent oil wells showed increased
production from an average of approximately 5 BOPD to 25 BOPD. As of March
31, 2009, we are maintaining the 200 bbls water/day average on the injection
wells in the pilot program area. We have seen no additional response on this
area as of yet. We are also injecting an average of 100 bbls
water/day per well in 4 injection wells adjacent to the pilot program area and
are closely monitoring data and activities for any resulting increase in
production. Based upon the results of our testing, we expect to
continue the development plan, subject to availability of capital. Phase II of
the plan contemplates drilling over 25 additional water injection wells and
drilling over 20 additional producer wells. Project-wide production was an
average of approximately 96 BOPD as of March 31, 2009.
We will maintain
our 95% working interest until “payout”, at which time the MorMeg 5% carried
working interest will be converted to a 30% working interest and our working
interest becomes 70%. Payout is generally the point in time when the total
cumulative revenue from the project equals all of the project’s development
expenditures and costs associated with funding. Through an additional extension,
we have until December 31, 2009 to contribute additional capital toward the
Black Oaks Project development. If we elect not to contribute further capital to
the Black Oaks Project prior to the project’s full development while it is
economically viable to do so, or if there is more than a thirty day delay in
project activities due to lack of capital, MorMeg has the option to cease
further joint development and we will receive an undivided interest in the Black
Oaks Project. The extension will have no force and effect, however, upon a
material default by EnerJex under the Credit Facility. The undivided interest
will be the proportionate amount equal to the amount that our investment bears
to our investment plus $2.0 million, with MorMeg receiving an undivided interest
in what remains.
As of
March 31, 2009, we had proved oil reserves on Phase I of this project
of:
Gross STB(1)
|
Net STB(2)
|
PV10(3)
(before tax)
|
||||||||||
Proved,
Developed Producing
|
420,080 | 197,640 | $ | 3,781,690 | ||||||||
Proved,
Developed Non-Producing
|
50,440 | 30,450 | $ | 650,430 | ||||||||
Proved,
Undeveloped
|
875,300 | 352,370 | $ | 944,100 | ||||||||
Total
Proved
|
1,345,820 | 580,460 | $ | 5,376,220 |
(1)
STB = one stock-tank
barrel.
(2)
Net STB is based upon our net
revenue interest, including any applicable reversionary
interest.
|
(3)
|
See
“Glossary” on page 23 for our definition of PV10 and “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations-Reserves” page 57, for a reconciliation to the comparable GAAP
financial measure.
|
Thoren
Project
On April
27, 2007, we acquired a 100% working interest in the Thoren Project for $400,000
from MorMeg. This project, at the time of acquisition, contained 240 acres in
Douglas County, Kansas, with 12 oil wells producing an average of approximately
10 BOPD, 4 water injection wells, and one water supply well. We have leased an
additional 486 acres increasing the total acreage of this project to 726
acres.
5
Through
March 31, 2009, we have invested approximately $800,000 for the development of
this project and as of March 31, 2009, we had 32 oil wells producing an average
of approximately 38 BOPD; along with 16 water injection wells and one water
supply well.
As of
March 31, 2009, we had proved oil reserves on this project of:
Gross STB(1)
|
Net STB(2)
|
PV10(3)
(before tax)
|
||||||
Proved,
Developed Producing
|
48,030
|
24,600
|
$
|
539,510
|
||||
Proved,
Developed Non-Producing
|
24,920
|
7,690
|
$
|
146,490
|
||||
Proved,
Undeveloped
|
43,020
|
37,640
|
$
|
85,970
|
||||
Total
Proved
|
115,970
|
69,930
|
$
|
771,970
|
|
(1)
|
STB = one stock-tank
barrel.
|
|
(2)
|
Net STB is based upon our net
revenue interest, including any applicable reversionary
interest.
|
|
(3)
|
See
“Glossary” on page 23 for our definition of PV10 and “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations-Reserves” page 57, for a reconciliation to the comparable GAAP
financial measure.
|
We will
maintain our 100% working interest until “payout” and our working interest will
become 75%, at which time the MorMeg working interest will be converted to a 25%
working interest. Payout for this project occurs at that point in time when the
total cumulative revenue from production equals the total amount of the purchase
price, all costs and expenses incurred by us in the development and operation,
and loan and interest costs incurred in the finance and funding of the
purchase.
We have
identified an additional 7 drillable producer locations and 8 drillable injector
locations on this project.
DD Energy
Project
Effective
September 1, 2007, we acquired a 100% working interest in the DD Energy Project
for $2.7 million, which consisted of approximately 1,500 acres in Johnson,
Anderson and Linn Counties, Kansas. At the time of acquisition, this project was
producing an average of approximately 45 BOPD.
In
addition, we have acquired additional leases bringing the total acreage for this
project to approximately 1,700 acres. As of March 31, 2009, we had 110 oil
wells, 41 water injection wells and 2 water supply wells on this project with
production averaging approximately 61 BOPD. Through March 31, 2009, we have
invested an additional $2.4 million in this project and have drilled 41 water
injection wells and 34 producing wells. We have seen some indication
of an initial response from 5 of the injectors and are closely monitoring data
and activities for any resulting increase in production.
6
As of March 31, 2009, we had proved oil
reserves on this project of:
Gross STB(1)
|
Net STB(2)
|
PV10(3)
(before tax)
|
||||||||||
Proved,
Developed Producing
|
75,510 | 64,700 | $ | 972,220 | ||||||||
Proved,
Developed Non-Producing
|
23,070 | 19,470 | $ | 183,090 | ||||||||
Proved,
Undeveloped
|
39,390 | 31,840 | $ | 85,030 | ||||||||
Total
Proved
|
137,970 | 116,010 | $ | 1,240,340 |
|
(1)
|
STB = one stock-tank
barrel.
|
|
(2)
|
Net STB is based upon our net
revenue interest, including any applicable reversionary
interest.
|
|
(3)
|
See
“Glossary” on page 23 for our definition of PV10 and “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations-Reserves” page 57, for a reconciliation to the comparable
GAAP financial measure.
|
We
have identified an additional 88 drillable producer locations and 86 drillable
injector locations on this project.
Tri-County
Project
On
September 14, 2007, we acquired nearly a 100% working interest in the Tri-County
Project for $800,000, which consisted of approximately 1,100 acres in Miami,
Johnson and Franklin Counties, Kansas. At the time of acquisition, this project
was producing an average of approximately 25 BOPD.
Through
March 31, 2009, we have invested approximately $700,000 towards the development
of this project. Funds have been used to drill four producer wells, make
infrastructure upgrades, and perform work-overs on approximately 20 wells in
this project. We have also acquired additional leases, bringing the total
project to approximately 1,300 acres.
As of
March 31, 2009, the Tri-County Project consisted of 166 producing wells and 59
water injection wells with production averaging approximately 49
BOPD.
As of
March 31, 2009, we had proved oil reserves on this project of:
Gross STB(1)
|
Net STB(2)
|
PV10(3)
(before tax)
|
||||||||||
Proved,
Developed Producing
|
177,560 | 141,330 | $ | 1,369,700 | ||||||||
Proved,
Developed Non-Producing
|
48,190 | 37,940 | $ | 479,270 | ||||||||
Proved,
Undeveloped
|
474,210 | 380,030 | $ | 1,361,430 | ||||||||
Total
Proved
|
699,960 | 559,300 | $ | 3,210,400 |
|
(1)
|
STB = one stock-tank
barrel.
|
|
(2)
|
Net STB is based upon our net
revenue interest, including any applicable reversionary
interest.
|
|
(3)
|
See
“Glossary” on page 23 for our definition of PV10 and “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations-Reserves” page 57, for a reconciliation to the comparable
GAAP financial measure.
|
We have
identified an additional 83 drillable producer locations and 90 drillable
injector locations on this project.
7
Gas City
Project
In August
of 2007, we entered into a development agreement with Euramerica Energy, Inc.,
or Euramerica, to further the development and expansion of the Gas City
Project, which included 6,600 acres, whereby Euramerica contributed $524,000 in
capital toward the project. Euramerica was granted an option to purchase this
project for $1.2 million with a requirement to invest an additional $2.0 million
for project development by August 31, 2008. We were the operator of the project
at a cost plus 17.5% basis. We received $600,000 of the $1.2 million purchase
price and $500,000 of the $2.0 million development funds.
On
September 15, 2008, we amended the well development agreement to extend the date
on which Euramerica was required to make its third and fourth quarterly
installment payments of the purchase price to October 15, 2008. The
amendment also extended until November 15, 2008 the requirement to fund the
remaining $1.5 million in development capital.
On
October 15, 2008, we again amended the agreement with Euramerica for the
purchase of the Gas City Project to include the following material changes to
the Euramerica agreement, as amended, extended and supplemented:
|
·
|
Euramerica
was granted an extension until January 15, 2009 (with no further
grace periods) to pay the remaining $600,000 of the purchase price for its
option to purchase an approximately 6,600 acre portion of the Gas City
Project and $1.5 million in previously due development funds for the Gas
City Project;
|
|
·
|
If
Euramerica fails to fully fund both the purchase price and these
development funds by January 15, 2009, Euramerica will lose all rights to
the Gas City Project and assets and there will be no payout from
the revenue of the wells on this
project;
|
|
·
|
The
oil zones and production from such oil zones in two oil
wells then became 100% owned by
EnerJex;
|
|
·
|
We
may deduct from the development funds all amounts owed to us prior to
applying the funds to any actual
development;
|
|
·
|
Euramerica
specifically recognized that we can shut in or stop the development of the
project if the project is not producing in paying quantities or if the
project is operating at a loss. The decision to shut in the project and
cease all operations was made on October 15,
2008; and
|
|
·
|
If
Euramerica funds the remaining portion of the purchase price for its
option and the development funds in the Gas City Project on or before
January 15, 2009, “Payout” as used in the Assignment and other documents
is now based on “drilling and completion costs on a well-by-well
basis.”
|
Subsequently,
Euramerica failed to fully fund by January 15, 2009 both the balance of the
purchase price and the remaining development capital owed under the Amended and
Restated Well Development Agreement and Option for “Gas City Property” between
us and Euramerica. Therefore, Euramerica has forfeited all of its
interest in the property, including all interests in any wells, improvements or
assets, and all of Euramerica's interest in the property reverts back to
us. In addition, all operating agreements between us and Euramerica
relating to the Gas City Project are null and void.
8
We
drilled 22 wells on behalf of Euramerica under the development agreement. We are
currently exploring options to sell or further develop the Gas City Project
through joint venture partnerships or other opportunities. The gas
project remains shut in and certain leases approximating 1,300 acres were not
renewed upon expiration. As of March 31, 2009 we were producing an
average of approximately 10 BOPD from the two oil wells now 100% owned by
us.
As of
March 31, 2009, we had proved oil and natural gas reserves on this project
of:
Gross
STB(1)
|
Net
STB(2)
|
Gross
MCF(3)
|
Net
MCF(4)
|
PV10(5)
(before tax)
|
||||||||||||||||
Proved,
Developed Producing
|
1,400 | 1,150 | - | - | $ | 28,430 | ||||||||||||||
Proved,
Developed Non-Producing
|
- | - | - | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||
Proved,
Undeveloped
|
11,850 | 9,780 | - | - | $ | 1,970 | ||||||||||||||
Total
Proved
|
13,250 | 10,930 | - | - | $ | 30,400 |
|
(1)
|
STB
= one stock-tank barrel.
|
|
(2)
|
Net STB is based upon our net
revenue interest, including any applicable reversionary
interest.
|
|
(3)
|
MCF = thousand cubic feet of
natural gas. There were no natural gas reserves at March 31,
2009.
|
|
(4)
|
Net MCF is based upon our net
revenue interest. There were no natural gas reserves at March
31, 2009.
|
|
(5)
|
See
“Glossary” on page 23 for our definition of PV10 and “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations-Reserves” page 57, for reconciliation to the comparable GAAP
financial measure.
|
Brownrigg
Project
We entered into an agreement with
Pharyn Resources (Pharyn) on June 1, 2009 to begin a 20 well development program
on EnerJex’s Brownrigg lease in Linn County, Kansas. We contributed the 320 acre
property in exchange for a 10% carried working interest and a cost-plus
management fee. Pharyn will contribute up to $700,000 in initial development
capital. We intend to develop the project and remain the operator of the
property. We will be working with Pharyn in this, our first joint venture
project and feel we have an agreement that pairs our drilling and operating
background with Pharyn’s investment objectives, which is intended to build
long-term sustainable earnings growth for both companies. As of the date of this
report, we have drilled 5 wells and are in various stages of
completion.
Our Business
Strategy
Our
principal strategy has been to focus on the acquisition of oil and natural gas
mineral leases that have existing production and cash flow. Once acquired,
subject to availability of capital, we strive to implement an accelerated
development program utilizing capital resources, a regional operating focus, an
experienced management and technical team, and enhanced recovery technologies to
attempt to increase production and increase returns for our stockholders. Our
oil and natural gas acquisition and development activities are currently focused
in Eastern Kansas. Depending on availability
of capital, and other restraints, our goal is to increase
stockholder value by finding and developing oil
and natural
gas reserves
at costs that provide an attractive rate of return on our investments. The
principal elements of our business strategy are:
9
|
·
|
Develop Our Existing
Properties. We intend to create reserve and production
growth from over 400 additional drilling locations we have identified on
our properties. We have identified an additional 193
drillable producer locations and 213 drillable injector
locations. The structure and the continuous oil accumulation in
Eastern Kansas, and the expected long-life production and reserves of our
properties, are
anticipated to enhance our opportunities for long-term
profitability.
|
|
·
|
Maximize Operational
Control. We seek to operate our properties and maintain
a substantial working interest. We believe the ability to control our
drilling inventory will provide us with the opportunity to more
efficiently allocate capital, manage resources, control operating and
development costs, and utilize our experience and knowledge of oilfield
technologies.
|
|
·
|
Pursue Selective Acquisitions
and Joint Ventures. Due to our local presence in Eastern
Kansas and strategic partnership with Haas Petroleum, we believe we are
well-positioned to pursue selected acquisitions, subject to availability
of capital, from the fragmented and capital-constrained owners of mineral
rights throughout Eastern Kansas.
|
|
·
|
Reduce Unit Costs Through
Economies of Scale and Efficient
Operations. As we increase our oil production and
develop our existing properties, we expect that our unit cost structure
will benefit from economies of scale. In particular, we anticipate
reducing unit costs by greater utilization of our existing infrastructure
over a larger number of wells.
|
We are
continually evaluating oil and natural gas opportunities in Eastern Kansas and
are also in various stages of discussions with potential joint venture (“JV”)
partners who would contribute capital to develop leases we currently own or
would acquire for the JV. Subsequent to year-end (in June 2009), we entered
into one such opportunity on the Brownrigg lease in Linn County, Kansas, as
discussed above. This economic strategy is anticipated to allow us to
utilize our own financial assets toward the growth of our leased acreage
holdings, pursue the acquisition of strategic oil and natural gas producing
properties or companies and generally expand our existing operations while
further diversifying risk. Subject to availability of capital, we plan to
continue to bring potential acquisition and JV opportunities to various
financial partners for evaluation and funding options. It is our
vision to grow the business in a disciplined and well-planned
manner.
We began
generating revenues from the sale of oil during the fiscal year ended March 31,
2008. Subject to availability of capital, we expect our production to continue
to increase, both through development of wells, through our acquisition
strategy, and other strategic initiatives. Our future financial results will
continue to depend on: (i) our ability to source and screen potential projects;
(ii) our ability to discover commercial quantities of natural gas and oil; (iii)
the market price for oil and natural gas; and (iv) our ability to fully
implement our exploration, work-over and development program, which is in part
dependent on the availability of capital resources. There can be no assurance
that we will be successful in any of these respects, that the prices of oil and
natural gas prevailing at the time of production will be at a level allowing for
profitable production, or that we will be able to obtain additional funding at
terms favorable to us to increase our currently limited capital
resources. For a detailed description of these and other
factors that could materially impact actual results, please see “Risk Factors”
in this document under ITEM 1A.
10
The board
of directors has implemented a crude oil and natural gas hedging strategy that
will allow management to hedge up to 80% of our net production to mitigate a
majority of our exposure to changing oil prices in the intermediate
term.
Our Competitive
Strengths
We have a
number of strengths that we believe will help us successfully execute our
strategy:
|
·
|
Acquisition and Development
Strategy. We have what we believe to be a relatively
low-risk acquisition and development strategy compared to some of our
competitors. We generally buy properties that have proven current
production, with a projected pay-back within a relatively short period of
time, and with potential growth and upside in terms of development,
enhancement and efficiency. We also plan to minimize the risk of natural
gas and oil price volatility by developing a sales portfolio of pricing
for our production as it expands and as market conditions
permit.
|
|
·
|
Significant Production Growth
Opportunities. We have acquired an attractive acreage
position with favorable lease terms in a region with historical
hydrocarbon production. Based on drilling success we have had within our
acreage position and subject to availability of capital, we expect to
increase our reserves, production and cash
flow.
|
|
·
|
Experienced Management Team
and Strategic Partner with Strong Technical
Capability. Our CEO has over 20 years of experience in
the energy industry, primarily related to gas/electric utilities, but
including experience related to energy trading and production, and members
of our board of directors have considerable industry experience and
technical expertise in engineering, horizontal drilling, geoscience and
field operations. In addition, our strategic partner, Haas Petroleum, has
over 70 years of experience in Eastern Kansas, including completion and
secondary recovery techniques and technologies. Our board of directors and
Mark Haas of Haas Petroleum work closely with management during the
initial phases of any major project to ensure its feasibility and to
consider the appropriate recovery techniques to be
utilized.
|
|
·
|
Incentivized Management
Ownership. The equity ownership of our directors and
executive officers is strongly aligned with that of our stockholders. As
of July 14, 2009, our directors and executive officers owned approximately
9.1% of our outstanding common stock, with options that upon exercise
would increase their ownership of our outstanding common stock to
15.6%.
|
11
Company History
Midwest
Energy, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Nevada on December 30, 2005. Prior
to the reverse merger with Midwest Energy in August of 2006, we operated under
the name Millennium Plastics Corporation and focused on the development of
biodegradable plastic materials. This business plan was ultimately abandoned
following its unsuccessful implementation. Following the merger, we assumed the
business plan of Midwest Energy and entered into the oil and natural gas
industry. Concurrent with the effectiveness of the merger, we changed our name
to “EnerJex Resources, Inc.” The result of the merger was that the former
stockholders of Midwest Energy controlled approximately 98% of our outstanding
shares of common stock. In addition, Midwest Energy was deemed to be the
acquiring company for financial reporting purposes and the merger was accounted
for as a reverse merger. In November 2007 Midwest Energy changed its name to
EnerJex Kansas. All of our current operations are conducted through EnerJex
Kansas and DD Energy, our wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Significant
Developments in Fiscal 2009
The
following is a brief description of our most significant corporate developments
that occurred in fiscal 2009:
|
·
|
On March 6, 2008 we
entered into an agreement with Shell Trading (US) Company, or
Shell, whereby we agreed to an 18-month fixed-price swap with Shell for
130 BOPD at a fixed price per barrel of $96.90, before transportation
costs from April 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. This represented
approximately 60% of our total oil production on a net revenue basis at
that time and locked in approximately $6.8 million in gross revenue before
transportation costs over the 18 month period. In addition, we agreed to
sell all of our remaining oil production at current spot market pricing
beginning April 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009 to
Shell. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, the positive
impact on our net revenue from the fixed-price swap was approximately
$506,000.
|
|
·
|
On
July 3, 2008, EnerJex, EnerJex Kansas, and DD Energy entered into a
three-year $50 million Senior Secured Credit Facility (the “Credit
Facility”) with Texas Capital Bank, N.A. Borrowings under the
Credit Facility will be subject to a borrowing base limitation based on
our current proved oil and gas reserves and will be subject to semi-annual
redeterminations and other interim adjustments. The initial
borrowing base was set at $10.75 million and was reduced to $7.428 million
following the liquidation of the BP hedging instrument in November
2008. The borrowing base was reviewed by Texas Capital Bank in
February 2009 and it was determined that it shall be reduced by $200,000
per month beginning April 2009 with the expectation that this
monthly reduction would continue through December 2009. We had borrowings
$7.328 million outstanding at March 31, 2009. Subsequent to
year-end, we have made an additional $200,000 of payments to reduce the
borrowing base. The Credit Facility is secured by a lien on
substantially all assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Credit
Facility has a term of three years, and matures on July 3,
2011. The Credit Facility also provides for the issuance of
letters-of-credit up to a $750,000 sub-limit under the borrowing base and
up to an additional $2.25 million limit not subject to the borrowing base
to support our hedging program.
|
12
|
·
|
On
July 7, 2008, we amended the $2.7 million of aggregate principal amount of
our 10% debentures that remain outstanding to, among other things, permit
the indebtedness under our Credit Facility, subordinate the security
interests of the debentures to the Credit Facility, provide for the
redemption of the remaining debentures with the net proceeds from any next
debt or equity offering, eliminate the covenant to maintain certain
production thresholds and waive all known defaults. Subsequent
to year-end, we again amended the debentures to extend the maturity date
to September 30, 2010, to allow us to pay interest in either cash or
payment-in-kind interest (an increase in the amount of principal due) or
payment of interest through the issuance of shares of common stock, and
add a provision for the conversion of the debentures into shares of our
common stock. Through May 31, 2010
the conversion price per share equals $3.00. From June 1, 2010
through the Maturity Date,
assuming the debenture has not
been redeemed, the conversion
price
per share equals that price which
shall be computed as 100.0% of the arithmetic average of the Weighted
Average Price of the Common Stock on each of the thirty (30) consecutive
Trading Days immediately preceding the Conversion Date, and considering
adjustments, if any, as specified in the
amendment.
|
|
·
|
As
of July 3, 2008, we entered into an ISDA master agreement and a costless
collar with BP Corporation North America Inc., or BP, for 130 barrels of
oil per day with a price floor of $132.50 per barrel and a price ceiling
of $155.70 per barrel for NYMEX West Texas Intermediate for the
period of October 1, 2009 until March 31, 2011. We liquidated
this costless collar in November 2008 and received proceeds of
approximately $3.9 million from BP. We reduced the debt
outstanding under our Credit Facility by approximately $3.3 million and
used the remainder for general operating
purposes.
|
|
·
|
On
August 1, 2008, we executed three-year employment agreements with C.
Stephen Cochennet, our chief executive officer, and Dierdre P. Jones, our
chief financial officer. Mr. Cochennet and Ms. Jones have
agreed to amend their employment agreements to reflect options rescinded
in November 2008.
|
|
·
|
Euramerica
failed to fully fund by January 15, 2009 both the balance of the purchase
price and the remaining development capital owed under the Amended and
Restated Well Development Agreement and Option for “Gas City Property”
between us and Euramerica. Therefore, Euramerica has forfeited
all of its interest in the property, including all interests in any wells,
improvements or assets, and all of Euramerica's interest in the property
reverts back to us. In addition, all operating agreements
between us and Euramerica relating to the Gas City Project are null and
void.
|
|
·
|
In
February 2009, we entered into a fixed price swap transaction under the
terms of the BP ISDA for a total of 120,000 gross barrels at a price of
$57.30 per barrel before transportation costs for the period beginning
October 1, 2009 and ending on December 31,
2013.
|
13
|
·
|
We
recorded a non-cash impairment of $4,777,723 to the carrying value of our
proved oil and gas properties during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.
The impairment is primarily attributable to lower prices for both oil and
natural gas. The charge results from the application of the
“ceiling test” under the full cost method of accounting at December 31,
2008. Under full cost accounting requirements, the carrying value may not
exceed an amount equal to the sum of the present value of estimated future
net revenues (adjusted for cash flow hedges) less estimated future
expenditures to be incurred in developing and producing the proved
reserves, less any related income tax effects. In calculating future net
revenues, current prices and costs used are those as of the end of the
appropriate quarterly period. Such prices are utilized except where
different prices are fixed and determinable from applicable contracts for
the remaining term of those contracts, including the effects of
derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges. A ceiling test charge occurs
when the carrying value of the oil and gas properties exceeds the full
cost ceiling.
|
|
·
|
We
accrued but did not pay interest due at March 31, 2009 to our subordinated
debenture holders on the $2.7 million outstanding as of that
date. Subsequent to year-end, we agreed to pay the accrued
interest on a payment-in-kind
basis.
|
Relationship with Haas Petroleum
In April
of 2007, we entered into a consulting agreement with Mark Haas, President of
Haas Petroleum and managing member of MorMeg. This agreement provides that Mr.
Haas will consult with us at an executive level regarding field development,
acquisition evaluation, identification of additional acquisition opportunities
and overall business strategy. Haas Petroleum has been in the oil exploration
and production business for over 70 years and Mark Haas has been in the business
for over 30 years.
We
believe that this relationship provides us with a competitive advantage when
evaluating and sourcing acquisition opportunities. As a long-term producer and
oil field service provider, Haas Petroleum has existing relationships with
numerous oil and natural gas producers in Eastern Kansas and is generally aware
of existing opportunities to enhance many of these properties through the
deployment of capital, and application of enhanced drilling and production
technologies. We believe that we will be able to leverage the experience and
relationships of Mr. Haas to compliment our business strategy. To date, Mr. Haas
has helped us identify and evaluate all of our property acquisitions, and has
been instrumental in the creation and implementation of our development
plans of these properties.
One
of our fundamental goals with respect to the consulting arrangement is to align
the interests of Mr. Haas with those of ours as much as possible. As a result,
the consulting agreement provides that we will pay him five thousand dollars per
month. In addition, we have granted Mr. Haas options to purchase 60,000 shares
of our common stock at an exercise price of $6.25 per share, expiring on May 3,
2011. Finally, we have utilized our common stock, in part, for the purchase of
assets owned by MorMeg, which we believe will further align our business
interests with those of Mr. Haas.
14
Drilling Activity
The
following table sets forth the results of our drilling activities during the
2007, 2008 and 2009 fiscal years.
Drilling Activity
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Wells
|
Net Wells(1)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Year
|
Total
|
Producing
|
Dry
|
Total
|
Producing
|
Dry
|
||||||||||||||||||
2007
Exploratory
|
-0- | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- | ||||||||||||||||||
2008
Exploratory
|
10 | 10 | -0- | 10 | 10 | -0- | ||||||||||||||||||
2009
Exploratory(2)
|
12 | 12 | -0- | 12 | 12 | -0- | ||||||||||||||||||
2007
Development
|
-0- | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- | -0- | ||||||||||||||||||
2008
Development
|
59 | 57 | 2 | 58 | 56 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
2009
Development
|
96 | 95 | 1 | 96 | 95 | 1 |
|
(1)
|
Net
wells are based on our net working interest as of March 31,
2009.
|
|
(2)
|
We
incurred some exploration costs related to exploratory wells drilled on
behalf of Euramerica.
|
Net Production, Average Sales Price
and Average Production and Lifting Costs
The table
below sets forth our net oil and natural gas production (net of all royalties,
overriding royalties and production due to others) for the fiscal years ended
March 31, 2009 and 2008 and 2007, the average sales prices, average
production costs and direct lifting costs per unit of production.
Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2009
|
Fiscal Year Ended
March 31, 2008
|
Fiscal Year Ended
March 31,2007
|
||||||||||
Net Production
|
||||||||||||
Oil
(Bbl)
|
74,289 | 43,697 | -0- | |||||||||
Natural
gas (Mcf)
|
12,275 | 17,762 | 19,254 | |||||||||
Average
Sales Prices
|
||||||||||||
Oil
(per Bbl)
|
$ | 85.67 | $ | 79.71 | $ | -0- | ||||||
Natural
gas (per Mcf)
|
$ | 5.57 | $ | 6.20 | $ | 4.72 | ||||||
Average
Production Cost (1)
|
||||||||||||
Per
Bbl of oil
|
$ | 45.01 | $ | 56.65 | $ | -0- | ||||||
Per
Mcf of natural gas
|
$ | 15.11 | $ | 13.12 | $ | 9.55 | ||||||
Average
Lifting Costs (2)
|
||||||||||||
Per
Bbl of oil
|
$ | 33.01 | $ | 37.08 | $ | -0- | ||||||
Per
Mcf of natural gas
|
$ | 15.11 | $ | 9.86 | $ | 8.95 |
|
(1)
|
Production
costs include all operating expenses, depreciation, depletion and
amortization, lease operating expenses and all associated taxes.
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties is not included in production
costs.
|
|
(2)
|
Direct
lifting costs do not include impairment expense or depreciation, depletion
and amortization.
|
15
Results of Oil and Natural Gas
Producing Activities
The
following table shows the results of operations from our oil and natural gas
producing activities from fiscal years ended March 31, 2007 through March
31, 2009. Results of operations from these activities have been determined using
historical revenues, production costs, depreciation, depletion and amortization
of the capitalized costs subject to amortization. General and administrative
expenses and interest expense have been excluded from this
determination.
For the
Fiscal Year
Ended
March 31, 2009
|
For the
Fiscal Year
Ended
March 31, 2008
|
For the
Fiscal Year
Ended
March 31, 2007
|
||||||||||
Production
revenues
|
$ | 6,436,805 | $ | 3,602,798 | $ | 90,800 | ||||||
Production
costs
|
(2,637,333 | ) | (1,795,188 | ) | (172,417 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization
|
(872,230 | ) | (913,224 | ) | (11,477 | ) | ||||||
Results
of operations for producing activities
|
$ | 2,972,242 | $ | 894,386 | $ | (93,094 | ) |
Producing Wells
The
following table sets forth the number of productive oil and natural gas wells in
which we owned an interest as of March 31, 2009.
Producing
|
||||||||||||||||
Project
|
Gross Oil
|
Net Oil(1)
|
Gross
Natural
Gas
|
Net
Natural
Gas(1)
|
||||||||||||
Black
Oaks Project
|
62 | 59 | -0- | -0- | ||||||||||||
Thoren
Project
|
33 | 33 | -0- | -0- | ||||||||||||
DD
Energy Project
|
114 | 114 | -0- | -0- | ||||||||||||
Tri-County
Project
|
170 | 170 | -0- | -0- | ||||||||||||
Gas
City Project
|
-0- | -0- | 22 | 22 | ||||||||||||
Total
|
379 | 376 | 22 | 22 |
|
(1)
|
Net
wells are based on our net working interest as of March 31,
2009.
|
Reserves
Our
estimated total proved PV10 (present value) before tax of reserves as of March
31, 2009 was $10.63 million, versus $39.6 million as of March 31,
2008. Though total proved reserves were comparable at March 31,
2009 and 2008; 1.3 million and 1.4 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE),
respectively, the PV10 declined dramatically due to the estimated average
price of oil at March 31, 2009 of $42.65 versus $94.53 at March 31,
2008. Of the 1.3 million BOE at March 31, 2009 approximately 39% are
proved developed and approximately 61% are proved undeveloped. The proved
developed reserves consist of proved developed producing (82%) and proved
developed non-producing (18%). See “Glossary” on page 23 for our definition
of PV10.
Based on
an estimated oil price of $42.65 as of March 31, 2009, and applying an annual
discount rate of 10% of the future net cash flow, the estimated PV10 of the 1.3
million BOE, before tax, is calculated as set forth in the following
table:
16
Summary
of Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
as
of March 31, 2009
Proved Reserves
Category
|
Gross
STB(1)
|
Net
STB(2)
|
Gross
MCF(3)
|
Net
MCF(4)
|
PV10(5)
(before tax)
|
|||||||||||||||
Proved,
Developed Producing
|
722,590 | 429,420 | - | - | $ | 6,691,550 | ||||||||||||||
Proved,
Developed Non-Producing
|
146,620 | 95,560 | - | - | 1,459,280 | |||||||||||||||
Proved,
Undeveloped
|
1,440,760 | 811,650 | - | - | 2,478,510 | |||||||||||||||
Total
Proved
|
2,309,970 | 1,336,630 | - | - | $ | 10,629,340 |
|
(1)
|
STB
= one stock-tank barrel.
|
|
(2)
|
Net STB is based upon our net
revenue interest, including any applicable reversionary
interest.
|
|
(3)
|
MCF = thousand cubic feet of
natural gas. There we no natural gas reserves at March 31,
2009.
|
|
(4)
|
Net MCF is based upon our net
revenue interest. There we no natural gas reserves at March 31,
2009.
|
|
(5)
|
See
“Glossary” on page 23 for our definition of PV10 and “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations-Reserves” page 57, for a reconciliation to the comparable
GAAP financial measure.
|
Oil and Natural Gas Reserves Reported
to Other Agencies
We did
not file any estimates of total proved net oil or natural gas reserves with, or
include such information in reports to, any federal authority or agency, other
than the SEC, during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.
Title to
Properties
Our
properties are subject to customary royalty interests, liens under indebtedness,
liens incident to operating agreements and liens for current taxes and other
burdens, including mineral encumbrances and restrictions. Further, our debt is
secured by first and second liens substantially on all of our assets. These
burdens have not materially interfered with the use of our properties in the
operation of our business to date, though there can be no assurance that such
burdens will not materially impact our operations in the future.
We
believe that we have satisfactory title to or rights in all of our producing
properties. As is customary in the natural gas and oil industry, minimal
investigation of title is made at the time of acquisition of undeveloped
properties. In most cases, we investigate title and obtain title opinions from
counsel or have title reviewed by professional landmen only when we acquire
producing properties or before we begin drilling operations. However, any
acquisition of producing properties without obtaining title opinions are subject
to a greater risk of title defects.
17
Sale of Natural Gas and
Oil
We do not
intend to refine our natural gas or oil production. We expect to sell all or
most of our production to a small number of purchasers in a manner consistent
with industry practices at prevailing rates by means of long-term and short-term
sales contracts, some of which may have fixed price components. We have a
long-term purchase contract with Shell to sell all of our current oil production
beginning April 1, 2008 through September of 2009. We also have an
ISDA master agreement and a fixed price swap with BP beginning October 1,
2009 through December 31, 2013. Under current conditions, we should be able
to find other purchasers, if needed. All of our produced oil is held in tank
batteries and then each respective purchaser transports the oil by truck to the
refinery. In addition, our board of directors has implemented a crude oil and
natural gas hedging strategy that will allow management to hedge up to 80% of
our net production in an effort to mitigate a majority of our exposure to
changing oil prices in the intermediate term.
Secondary Recovery and Other Production Enhancement
Strategies
When an
oil field is first produced, the oil typically is recovered as a result of
natural pressure within the producing formation, often assisted by pumps of
various types. The only natural force present to move the crude oil to the
wellbore is the pressure differential between the higher pressure in the
formation and the lower pressure in the wellbore. At the same time, there are
many factors that act to impede the flow of crude oil, depending on the
nature of the formation and fluid properties, such as pressure,
permeability, viscosity and water saturation. This stage of production is
referred to as “primary production,” which in Eastern Kansas normally only
recovers up to 15% of the crude oil originally in place in a producing
formation.
Many, but
not all, oil fields are amenable to assistance from a waterflood, a form of
“secondary recovery,” which is used to maintain or increase reservoir pressure
and to help sweep oil to the wellbore. In a waterflood, certain wells are used
to inject water into the reservoir while other wells are used to recover the oil
in place. We utilize waterflooding as a secondary recovery technique for
the majority of our oil field projects.
As the
waterflood matures, the fluid produced contains increasing amounts of water and
decreasing amounts of oil. Surface equipment is used to separate the oil from
the water, with the oil going to holding tanks for sale and the water being
recycled to the injection facilities. In the Black Oaks Project, we realized an
initial increase of approximately 20 barrels per day in oil production as a
result of the waterflood pilot program.
In
addition, we may utilize 3-D seismic analysis, horizontal drilling, and other
technologies and production techniques to improve drilling results and
ultimately enhance our production and returns. We also believe use of such
technologies and production techniques in exploring for, developing and
exploiting oil and natural gas properties will help us reduce drilling risks,
lower finding costs and provide for more efficient production of oil and natural
gas from our properties.
Markets and
Marketing
The
natural gas and oil industry has experienced dramatic price volatility in recent
years, and especially in recent months. As a commodity, global natural gas and
oil prices respond to macro-economic factors affecting supply and demand. In
particular, world oil prices have risen and fallen in response to political
unrest and supply uncertainty in the United States, Iraq, Venezuela, Nigeria,
Russia and Iran, and changing demand for energy in rapidly growing economies,
notably India and China. North American prospects have become more attractive as
efforts to stimulate the US economy and reduce dependence on foreign oil
increase. Escalating conflicts in the Middle East and the ability of OPEC to
control supply and pricing are some of the factors impacting the availability of
global supply. The costs of steel and other products used to construct drilling
rigs and pipeline infrastructure, as well as drilling and well-servicing
rig rates, are impacted by the commodity price volatility.
18
Our
market is affected by many factors beyond our control, such as the availability
of other domestic production, commodity prices, the proximity and capacity of
natural gas and oil pipelines, and general fluctuations of global and domestic
supply and demand. We have entered into two sales contracts (with Shell and BP)
at this time, and we do not anticipate difficulty in finding additional sales
opportunities, as and when needed.
Natural
gas and oil sales prices are negotiated based on factors such as the spot price
for natural gas or posted price for oil, price regulations, regional price
variations, hydrocarbon quality, distances from wells to pipelines, well
pressure, and estimated reserves. Many of these factors are outside our control.
Natural gas and oil prices have historically experienced high volatility,
related in part to ever-changing perceptions within the industry of future
supply and demand.
Competition
The
natural gas and oil industry is intensely competitive and we must compete
against larger companies that may have greater financial and technical resources
than we do and substantially more experience in our industry. These competitive
advantages may better enable our competitors to sustain the impact of higher
exploration and production costs, natural gas and oil price volatility,
productivity variances between properties, overall industry cycles and other
factors related to our industry. Their advantage may also negatively impact our
ability to acquire prospective properties, develop reserves, attract and retain
quality personnel and raise capital.
Research
and Development Activities
We have not spent any material amount
of time in the last two fiscal years on research and development
activities.
Governmental
Regulations
Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas
Production. Our oil and natural gas exploration, production
and related operations, when developed, are subject to extensive rules and
regulations promulgated by federal, state, tribal and local authorities and
agencies. For example, some states in which we may operate, including Kansas,
require permits for drilling operations, drilling bonds and
reports concerning operations and impose other requirements relating to the
exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Such states may also have
statutes or regulations addressing conservation matters, including provisions
for the unitization or pooling of oil and natural gas properties, the
establishment of maximum rates of production from wells, and the regulation of
spacing, plugging and abandonment of such wells. Failure to comply with any such
rules and regulations can result in substantial penalties. Moreover, such
states may place burdens from previous operations on current lease owners, and
the burdens could be significant. The regulatory burden on the oil and natural
gas industry will most likely increase our cost of doing business and may affect
our profitability. Although we believe we are currently in substantial
compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, because such rules and
regulations are frequently amended or reinterpreted, we are unable to predict
the future cost or impact of complying with such laws. Significant expenditures
may be required to comply with governmental laws and regulations and may have a
material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of
operations.
19
Federal Regulation
of Natural Gas. The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) regulates interstate natural gas
transportation rates and service conditions, which may affect the marketing of
natural gas produced by us, as well as the revenues that may be received by us for sales of such
production. Since the mid-1980’s, FERC has issued a series of orders,
culminating in Order Nos. 636, 636-A and 636-B (“Order 636”), that have
significantly altered the marketing and transportation of natural gas. Order 636
mandated a fundamental restructuring of interstate pipeline sales and
transportation service, including the unbundling by interstate pipelines of the
sale, transportation, storage and other components of the city-gate sales
services such pipelines previously performed. One of FERC’s purposes in issuing
the order was to increase competition within all phases of the natural gas
industry. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit largely upheld Order 636 and the Supreme Court has declined to hear the
appeal from that decision. Generally, Order 636 has eliminated or substantially
reduced the interstate pipelines’ traditional role as wholesalers of natural gas
in favor of providing only storage and transportation service, and has
substantially increased competition and volatility in natural gas
markets.
The price we may receive from the sale
of oil and natural gas liquids will be affected by the cost of transporting
products to markets. Effective January 1, 1995, FERC implemented regulations establishing an
indexing system for transportation rates for oil pipelines, which, generally,
would index such rates to inflation, subject to certain conditions and
limitations. We are not able to predict with certainty the effect, if
any, of these regulations on our intended
operations. However, the regulations may increase transportation costs or reduce
well head prices for oil and natural gas liquids.
Environmental
Matters
Our operations and properties are
subject to extensive and changing federal, state and local laws
and regulations relating to environmental protection, including the generation,
storage, handling, emission, transportation and discharge of materials into the
environment, and relating to safety and health. The recent trend in environmental legislation and
regulation generally is toward stricter standards, and this trend will likely
continue.
These laws and regulations
may:
|
·
|
require the acquisition of a
permit or other authorization before construction or drilling commences
and for certain other
activities;
|
|
·
|
limit or prohibit construction,
drilling and other activities on certain lands lying within wilderness and
other protected
areas; and
|
20
|
·
|
impose substantial liabilities for
pollution resulting from its operations, or due to previous operations
conducted on any leased
lands.
|
The permits required for our operations
may be subject to revocation, modification and renewal by issuing authorities. Governmental
authorities have the power to enforce their regulations, and violations are
subject to fines or injunctions, or both. In the opinion of management, we are
in substantial compliance with current applicable environmental laws and regulations, and have no
material commitments for capital expenditures to comply with existing
environmental requirements. Nevertheless, changes in existing environmental laws
and regulations or in interpretations thereof could have a
significant impact on us, as well as the oil and
natural gas industry in general.
The Comprehensive Environmental,
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (“CERCLA”), and comparable state statutes impose
strict, joint and several liability on owners and operators of sites and on persons who
disposed of or arranged for the disposal of “hazardous substances” found at such sites. It is not uncommon
for the neighboring land owners and other third parties to file claims for
personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the hazardous
substances released into the environment. The Federal Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, as amended (“RCRA”), and comparable state statutes govern
the disposal of “solid
waste” and “hazardous waste” and authorize the imposition of substantial fines and
penalties for noncompliance. Although CERCLA currently excludes petroleum from
its definition of “hazardous substance,” state laws affecting our operations may
impose clean-up liability relating to petroleum and petroleum related
products. In addition, although
RCRA classifies certain oil field wastes as “non-hazardous,” such exploration and production wastes
could be reclassified as hazardous wastes thereby making such wastes subject to
more stringent handling and disposal requirements.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act
of 1972, as amended (“Clean
Water Act”), and analogous
state laws impose restrictions and controls on the discharge of pollutants into
federal and state waters. These laws also regulate the discharge of storm water in process areas.
Pursuant to these laws and regulations, we are required to obtain and maintain
approvals or permits for the discharge of wastewater and storm water and develop
and implement spill prevention, control and countermeasure plans, also referred to as
“SPCC plans,” in connection with on-site
storage of greater than threshold quantities of oil. The EPA issued revised SPCC
rules in July 2002 whereby SPCC plans are subject to more rigorous review and
certification procedures. We believe that our operations are in substantial
compliance with applicable Clean Water Act and analogous state requirements,
including those relating to wastewater and storm water discharges and SPCC
plans.
The Endangered Species Act, as amended
(“ESA”), seeks to ensure that activities do
not jeopardize endangered or threatened animal, fish and plant species, nor
destroy or modify the critical habitat of such species. Under ESA, exploration
and production operations, as well as actions by federal agencies, may not significantly impair or
jeopardize the species or its habitat. ESA provides for criminal penalties for
willful violations of the Act. Other statutes that provide protection to animal
and plant species and that may apply to our operations include, but are not necessarily limited to,
the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
Although we believe that our operations will be in substantial compliance with such statutes,
any change in these statutes or any reclassification of a species as endangered
could subject us to significant expenses to modify our operations or could force
us to discontinue certain operations altogether.
21
Personnel
As of March 31, 2009, we had
14 full-time employees, an increase from 9 full time employees
at our fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. We hired a number of former
independent field
contractors to help secure
a more stable work base during the months where extremely high oil prices could
have limited our access to products and services needed to develop
and operate our properties. Since November 2008, we have
reduced personnel levels by 5 full time employees and one independent contractor
in response to declining
economic conditions and in an effort to reduce our operating and general
expenses, and cash outlay. As production and drilling activities increase or decrease, we may have to adjust our technical, operational and
administrative personnel as
appropriate. We are using and will continue to use independent consultants and contractors
to perform various professional services, particularly in the area of land
services, reservoir engineering, geology drilling, water hauling, pipeline
construction, well design,
well-site monitoring and surveillance, permitting and environmental assessment.
We believe that this use of third-party service providers may enhance our
ability to contain operating and general expenses, and capital costs.
Facilities
We
currently lease our executive offices at 27 Corporate Woods, Suite
350, 10975 Grandview Drive, Overland Park, Kansas 66210, which
expires in September 30, 2013. Future minimum payments are
$71,180 for the year ending March 31, 2010.
22
GLOSSARY
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Barrel
(bbl)
|
The standard unit of measurement
of liquids in the petroleum industry, it contains 42 U.S. standard
gallons. Abbreviated to “bbl”.
|
|
Basin
|
A depression in the crust of the
Earth, caused by plate tectonic activity and subsidence, in which sediments accumulate.
Sedimentary basins vary from bowl-shaped to elongated troughs. Basins can
be bounded by faults. Rift basins are commonly symmetrical; basins along
continental margins tend to be asymmetrical. If rich hydrocarbon source
rocks occur in combination with
appropriate depth and duration of burial, then a petroleum system can
develop within the basin.
|
|
BOPD
|
Abbreviation for barrels of oil
per day, a common unit of measurement for volume of crude oil. The volume
of a barrel is equivalent to 42 U.S. standard
gallons.
|
|
Carried Working
Interest
|
The owner of this type of working
interest in the drilling of a well incurs no capital contribution
requirement for drilling or completion costs associated with a well and,
if specified in the particular contract, may not incur
capital contribution requirements beyond the completion of the
well.
|
|
Completion /
Completing
|
A well made ready to produce oil
or natural gas.
|
|
Development
|
The phase in which a proven oil or
natural gas field is brought into production by drilling
development wells.
|
|
Development
Drilling
|
Wells drilled during the
Development phase.
|
|
Division
order
|
A directive signed by the royalty
owners verifying to the purchaser or operator of a well the decimal
interest of production owned by the royalty owner. The
Division Order generally includes the decimal interest, a legal
description of the property, the operator’s name, and several legal
agreements associated with the process. Completion of this step generally
precedes placing the royalty owner on pay status to
begin receiving revenue payments.
|
|
Drilling
|
Act of boring a hole through which
oil and/or natural gas may be produced.
|
|
Dry Wells
|
A well found to be incapable of
producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds from the sale of such
production exceed production expenses and taxes.
|
|
Exploration
|
The phase of operations which
covers the search for oil or natural gas generally in unproven or
semi-proven
territory.
|
23
Exploratory
Drilling
|
Drilling of a relatively high percentage of
properties which are unproven.
|
|
Farm out
|
An arrangement whereby the owner
of a lease assigns all or some portion of the lease or licenses to another
company for undertaking exploration or development
activity.
|
|
Field
|
An area consisting of a single reservoir or
multiple reservoirs all grouped on, or related to, the same individual
geological structural feature or stratigraphic condition. The field name
refers to the surface area, although it may refer to both the surface and
the underground productive
formations.
|
|
Fixed price
swap
|
A derivative instrument that
exchanges or “swaps” the “floating” or daily price of a specified
volume of natural gas, oil or NGL, over a specified period, for a fixed
price for the specified volume over the same period (typically three
months or longer).
|
|
Gathering line /
system
|
Pipelines and other facilities
that transport oil or natural gas from wells and bring it by separate and
individual lines to a central delivery point for delivery into a
transmission line or
mainline.
|
|
Gross acre
|
The number of acres in which the
Company owns any working interest.
|
|
Gross Producing
Well
|
A well in which a working interest
is owned and is producing oil or natural gas or other liquids or
hydrocarbons. The number of gross producing wells is the total
number of wells producing oil or natural gas or other liquids or
hydrocarbons in which a working interest is
owned.
|
|
Gross well
|
A well in which a working interest
is owned. The number of gross wells is the total number of wells in which a working
interest is owned.
|
|
Held-By-Production
(HBP)
|
Refers to an oil and natural gas
property under lease, in which the lease continues to be in force, because
of production from the property.
|
|
Horizontal
drilling
|
A drilling technique used in certain formations where
a well is drilled vertically to a certain depth and then turned and
drilled horizontally. Horizontal drilling allows the wellbore to follow
the desired formation.
|
|
In-fill
wells
|
In-fill wells refers to wells
drilled between
established producing wells; a drilling program to reduce the spacing
between wells in order to increase production and recovery of in-place
hydrocarbons.
|
|
Oil and Natural Gas
Lease
|
A legal instrument executed by a
mineral owner granting the right to another to explore, drill, and
produce subsurface oil and natural gas. An oil and natural gas lease
embodies the legal rights, privileges and duties pertaining to the lessor
and lessee.
|
|
Lifting
Costs
|
The expenses of producing oil from
a well. Lifting costs
are the operating costs of the wells including the gathering and
separating equipment. Lifting costs do not include the costs of drilling
and completing the wells or transporting the
oil.
|
24
Mcf
|
Thousand cubic
feet.
|
|
Mmcf
|
Million cubic
feet.
|
|
Net acres
|
Determined by multiplying gross
acres by the working interest that the Company owns in such
acres.
|
|
Net Producing
Wells
|
The number of producing wells
multiplied by the working interest in such
wells.
|
|
Net Revenue
Interest
|
A share of production
revenues after all
royalties, overriding royalties and other nonoperating interests have been
taken out of production for a well(s).
|
|
Operator
|
A person, acting for itself, or as
an agent for others, designated to conduct the operations on its or the
joint interest
owners’ behalf.
|
|
Overriding
Royalty
|
Ownership in a percentage of
production or production revenues, free of the cost of production, created
by the lessee, company and/or working interest owner and paid by the
lessee, company and/or working interest owner out of revenue from the
well.
|
|
Pooled Unit
|
A term frequently used
interchangeably with “Unitization” but more properly used to
denominate the bringing together of small tracts sufficient for the
granting of a well permit under applicable spacing
rules.
|
|
Proved Developed
Reserves
|
Proved reserves that can be
expected to be recovered from existing wells with existing equipment and
operating methods. This definition of proved developed reserves has been
abbreviated from the applicable definitions contained in Rule 4-10(a)(2-4) of
Regulation
S-X.
|
|
Proved Developed
Non-Producing
|
Proved developed reserves expected
to be recovered from zones behind casings in existing
wells.
|
|
Proved Undeveloped
Reserves
|
Proved undeveloped reserves are
the portion of proved reserves which can be expected to
be recovered from new wells on undrilled proved acreage, or from existing
wells where a relatively major expenditure is required for completion.
This definition of proved undeveloped reserves has been abbreviated from
the applicable definitions contained in
Rule 4-10(a)(2-4) of Regulation
S-X.
|
|
PV10
|
PV10 means the estimated future
gross revenue to be generated from the production of proved reserves, net
of estimated production and future development and abandonment costs,
using prices and
costs in effect at the determination date, before income taxes, and
without giving effect to non-property related expenses, discounted to a
present value using an annual discount rate of 10% in accordance with the
guidelines of the SEC. PV10 is a non-GAAP financial measure.
See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Reserves” on page 57 for a reconciliation to the
comparable GAAP financial
measure.
|
25
Re-completion
|
Completion of an existing
well for production
from one formation or reservoir to another formation or reservoir that
exists behind casing of the same well.
|
|
Reservoir
|
The underground rock formation
where oil and natural gas has accumulated. It consists of a porous rock to
hold the oil or
natural gas, and a cap rock that prevents its
escape.
|
|
Reservoir
Pressure
|
The pressure at the face of the
producing formation when the well is shut-in. It equals the shut-in
pressure at the wellhead plus the weight of the column of oil and natural
gas in the
well.
|
|
Roll-Up
Strategy
|
A “roll-up strategy” is a
common business term used to describe a business plan whereby a company
accumulates multiple small operators in a particular business sector with
a goal to generate synergies, stimulate growth and optimize the value of
the individual pieces.
|
|
Secondary
Recovery
|
The stage of hydrocarbon
production during which an external fluid such as water or natural gas is
injected into the reservoir through injection wells located in rock that
has fluid communication with production wells.
The purpose of secondary recovery is to maintain reservoir pressure and to
displace hydrocarbons toward the wellbore.
The most common secondary recovery
techniques are natural gas injection and waterflooding. Normally,
natural gas is
injected into the natural gas cap and water is injected into the
production zone to sweep oil from the reservoir. A pressure-maintenance
program can begin during the primary recovery stage, but it is a form of
enhanced recovery.
|
|
Shut-in
well
|
A well which is capable of
producing but is not presently producing. Reasons for a well being shut-in
may be lack of equipment, market or other.
|
|
Stock Tank Barrel or
STB
|
A stock tank barrel of oil is the
equivalent of 42 U.S. Gallons at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
|
|
Undeveloped
acreage
|
Lease acreage on which wells have
not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production
of commercial quantities of oil and natural gas regardless of whether such
acreage contains proved reserves.
|
|
Unitize, Unitization
|
When owners of oil and/or natural
gas reservoir pool their individual interests in return for an interest in
the overall unit.
|
|
Waterflood
|
The injection of water into an oil
reservoir to “push” additional oil out of the
reservoir rock and into the wellbores of producing wells.
Typically a secondary recovery process.
|
|
Water Injection
Wells
|
A well in which fluids are
injected rather than produced, the primary objective typically being to
maintain or increase reservoir pressure, often pursuant to a
waterflood.
|
26
Water Supply
Wells
|
A well in which fluids are being
produced for use in a Water Injection Well.
|
|
Wellbore
|
A borehole; the hole drilled by
the bit. A wellbore may have casing in it or it may be open (uncased); or
part of it may be cased, and part of it may be open. Also
called a borehole or hole.
|
|
Working
Interest
|
An interest in an oil and natural
gas lease entitling the owner to receive a specified percentage of the
proceeds of the sale of oil and natural gas production or a percentage
of the production,
but requiring the owner of the working interest to bear the cost to
explore for, develop and produce such oil and natural
gas.
|
27
Item
1A. Risk Factors.
Declining economic conditions could
negatively impact our business
Our operations are affected by local, national and
worldwide economic conditions. Markets in the United States and
elsewhere have been experiencing extreme volatility and disruption for more than
12 months, due in part to the financial stresses affecting the liquidity
of the banking system and the financial
markets generally. In recent months, this volatility and disruption has
reached unprecedented levels. The consequences of a potential or
prolonged recession may include a lower level of economic activity and
uncertainty regarding
energy prices and the capital and commodity markets. While the ultimate outcome
and impact of the current economic conditions cannot be predicted, a lower level
of economic activity might result in a decline in energy consumption, which
may materially adversely affect the price of oil, our
revenues, liquidity and future growth. Instability in the financial
markets, as a result of recession or otherwise, also may affect the cost of
capital and our ability to raise capital.
We have sustained losses, which raises doubt as to our
ability to successfully develop profitable business
operations.
Our prospects must be considered in
light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered in
establishing and maintaining a business in the oil and natural gas industries. There
is nothing conclusive at this time on which to base an assumption that our
business operations will prove to be successful or that we will be able to
operate profitably. Our future operating results will depend on many factors,
including:
|
·
|
the future prices of natural gas and
oil;
|
|
·
|
our ability to raise adequate working
capital;
|
|
·
|
success of our development and
exploration efforts;
|
|
·
|
demand for natural gas and
oil;
|
|
·
|
the level of our
competition;
|
|
·
|
our ability to attract and maintain key management,
employees and operators;
|
|
·
|
transportation
and processing fees on our
facilities;
|
|
·
|
fuel conservation
measures;
|
|
·
|
alternate fuel
requirements or
advancements;
|
|
·
|
government regulation and
taxation;
|
|
·
|
technical advances in
fuel economy and
energy generation devices;
and
|
|
·
|
our ability to efficiently
explore, develop and produce sufficient quantities of marketable natural
gas or oil in a highly competitive and speculative environment while
maintaining quality and controlling costs.
|
To achieve profitable operations, we
must, alone or with others, successfully execute on the factors stated above,
along with continually developing ways to enhance our production efforts.
Despite our best efforts, we may not be successful in our development efforts or obtain required
regulatory approvals. There is a possibility that some of our wells may never
produce natural gas or oil in sustainable or economic
quantities.
28
We will need additional capital in the
future to finance our planned growth, which we may not be able to raise or
may only be available on terms unfavorable to us or our stockholders, which may
result in our inability to fund our working capital requirements and harm our
operational results.
We have and expect to continue to
have substantial capital
expenditure and working capital needs. We will need to rely on cash flow from
operations and borrowings under our Credit Facility or raise additional cash to
fund our operations, pay outstanding long-term debt, fund our anticipated
reserve replacement needs and implement
our growth strategy, or respond to competitive pressures and/or perceived
opportunities, such as investment, acquisition, exploration, work-over and
development activities.
If low natural gas and oil prices,
operating difficulties, constrained capital
sources or other factors, many of which are beyond
our control, cause our revenues or cash flows from operations to decrease, we
may be limited in our ability to spend the capital necessary to complete our
development, production
exploitation and exploration programs. If our resources or cash flows do not
satisfy our operational needs, we will require additional financing, in addition
to anticipated cash generated from our operations, to fund our planned growth.
Additional financing might not be available on
terms favorable to us, or at all. If adequate funds were not available or were
not available on acceptable terms, our ability to fund our operations, take
advantage of opportunities, develop or enhance our business or otherwise respond to competitive
pressures would be significantly limited. In such a capital restricted situation,
we may curtail our acquisition, drilling, development, and exploration
activities or be forced to sell some of our assets on an untimely or
unfavorable
basis. Our
current plans to address lower crude and natural gas prices are primarily to
reduce both capital and operating expenditures to a level equal to or below cash
flow from operations. However, our plans may not be successful in
improving our results of
operations and liquidity.
If we raise additional funds through the
issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of
our stockholders would be reduced, and these newly issued securities might have
rights, preferences or
privileges senior to those of existing stockholders.
Our
auditor’s report reflects the fact that without realization of additional
capital, it would be unlikely for us to continue as a going
concern.
As a
result of our deficiency in working capital at March 31, 2009 and other factors,
our auditors have included a paragraph in their audit report regarding
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our plans in
this regard are to increase production, seek strategic alternatives and to seek
additional capital through future equity private placements or debt
facilities.
Natural gas and oil prices are volatile.
This volatility may occur in the future, causing negative change in cash flows
which may result in our inability to cover our operating or capital
expenditures.
29
Our future revenues, profitability,
future growth and the carrying value of our properties is anticipated to depend
substantially on the prices we may realize for our natural gas and oil
production. Our realized
prices may also affect the amount of cash flow available for operating or
capital expenditures and our ability to borrow and raise additional
capital.
Natural gas and oil prices are subject
to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in or perceptions regarding supply and
demand. Historically, the markets for natural gas and oil have been volatile,
and they are likely to continue to be volatile in the future. Among the factors
that can cause this volatility are:
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local, national and worldwide economic
conditions;
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worldwide or regional demand for
energy, which is affected by economic
conditions;
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the domestic and foreign supply of
natural gas and oil;
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weather
conditions;
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natural
disasters;
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acts of
terrorism;
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domestic and foreign governmental regulations and
taxation;
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political and economic conditions
in oil and natural gas producing countries, including those in the
Middle East and South America;
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impact
of the U.S. dollar exchange rates on oil and natural gas
prices;
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the availability of refining
capacity;
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actions of the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, and other state controlled oil
companies relating to oil price and production controls;
and
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the price and availability of
other fuels.
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It is impossible to predict natural gas and oil
price movements with certainty. Lower natural gas and oil prices may not only
decrease our future revenues on a per unit basis but also may reduce the amount
of natural gas and oil that we can produce economically. A substantial or extended decline in
natural gas and oil prices may materially and adversely affect our future
business enough to force us to cease our business operations. In addition, our
reserves, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to finance and execute planned
capital expenditures will also suffer in such a price decline. Further, natural
gas and oil prices do not necessarily move together.
Approximately 68% of our total proved reserves as of
March 31, 2009 consist of undeveloped and developed non-producing
reserves, and those reserves may not ultimately be developed or
produced.
Our
estimated total proved PV 10 (present value) before tax of reserves as of March
31, 2009 was $10.63 million, versus $39.6 million as of March 31,
2008. The decline in PV10 is primarily due to the estimated
average price of oil at March 31, 2009 of $42.65 versus $94.53 at March 31,
2008. We developed total proved reserves to 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent, or
BOE, as of March 31, 2009.
Of the 1.3 million BOE of total proved reserves,
approximately 39% are proved developed and approximately
61% are proved undeveloped. The proved
developed reserves consist of 82% proved developed producing reserves
and 18% proved developed
non-producing reserves.
See “Glossary” on page 23 for our definition of
PV10.
30
As of March 31, 2009, approximately 61% of our total proved reserves were
undeveloped and approximately 7% were developed non-producing. We plan
to develop and produce all of our proved reserves, but ultimately some of these
reserves may not be developed or produced. Furthermore, not all of our
undeveloped or developed non-producing reserves may be ultimately produced in
the time periods we have planned, at the costs we have budgeted, or
at all.
Because we face uncertainties in
estimating proven recoverable reserves, you should not place undue reliance on
such reserve information.
Our reserve estimate and the future net
cash flows attributable to those reserves at March 31, 2009 was prepared by Miller and Lents, Ltd., an independent petroleum
consultant. Prior to this fiscal year,
our reserves were evaluated and estimates were prepared by McCune Engineering,
an independent petroleum and geological
engineer. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of
proved reserves and cash flows from such reserves, including factors beyond our
control and the control of
these independent consultants and engineers. Reserve engineering is a subjective
process of estimating underground accumulations of natural gas and oil
that can be economically extracted, which cannot be measured in an exact manner.
The accuracy of an estimate of quantities of reserves, or of cash flows
attributable to these reserves, is a function of the available data, assumptions regarding future
natural gas and oil prices, expenditures for future development and exploitation
activities, and engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Reserves
and future cash flows may also be subject to material downward or upward revisions based upon
production history, development and exploitation activities and natural gas and
oil prices. Actual future production, revenue, taxes, development expenditures,
operating expenses, quantities of recoverable reserves and value of cash flows from those reserves
may vary significantly from the assumptions and estimates in our reserve
reports. Any significant variance from these assumptions to actual figures could
greatly affect our estimates of reserves, the economically recoverable quantities of natural gas and
oil attributable to any particular group of properties, the classification of
reserves based on risk of recovery, and estimates of the future net cash flows.
In addition, reserve engineers may make different estimates of reserves and cash flows based on the
same available data. The estimated quantities of proved reserves and the
discounted present value of future net cash flows attributable to those reserves
included in this report were prepared by Miller and Lents, Ltd. in accordance with rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and are not intended to represent
the fair market value of such reserves.
The present value of future net cash
flows from our proved reserves is not necessarily the same as the current market value of our estimated
reserves. We base the estimated discounted future net cash flows from our proved
reserves on prices and costs. However, actual future net cash flows from our
natural gas and oil properties also will be affected by factors such as:
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geological
conditions;
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assumptions governing
future oil and natural gas prices;
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amount
and timing of actual production;
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availability
of funds;
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future
operating and development
costs;
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31
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actual
prices we receive for natural gas and
oil;
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supply
and demand for our natural gas and
oil;
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changes
in government regulations and taxation;
and
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capital
costs of drilling new wells.
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The timing of both our production and
our incurrence of expenses in connection with the development and production of
our properties will affect
the timing of actual future net cash flows from proved reserves, and thus their
actual present value. In addition, the 10% discount factor we use when
calculating discounted future net cash flows may not be the most appropriate
discount factor based on interest rates in
effect from time to time and risks associated with our business or the natural
gas and oil industry in general.
Currently, The SEC permits natural gas
and oil companies, in their public filings, to disclose only proved reserves
that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation
tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and
operating conditions. These current SEC guidelines strictly prohibit us from
including “probable reserves” and “possible reserves” in such filings.
Effective January 1, 2010,
however, the SEC is adopting revisions to its oil and
gas reporting disclosures which are intended to provide investors with a more
meaningful and comprehensive understanding of oil and gas reserves, which should
help investors evaluate the relative value of oil and gas companies. Oil and gas
companies will be permitted, but not required, to disclose probable reserves
(i.e., reserves less likely to be recovered than proved reserves, but as likely
as not to be recovered) and possible reserves (i.e., reserves less certain to be
recovered than probable reserves).We also caution you that the SEC has, in
the past, viewed such probable and possible reserve estimates as inherently
unreliable and these estimates may be seen as misleading to investors unless the
reader is an expert in the natural gas and oil industry. Unless you have such
expertise, you should not place undue reliance on these estimates. Potential investors should also be aware
that such “probable” and “possible” reserve estimates will not be contained in
any filing with the SEC, any “resale” or other registration statement filed by
us that offers or sells shares on behalf of purchasers of our common stock and
may have an impact on the valuation of the resale of the shares until permitted
by SEC rules. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no duty to
update this information.
The differential between the New York
Mercantile Exchange, or NYMEX, or other benchmark price of oil and natural gas and
the wellhead price we receive could have a material adverse effect on our
results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The prices that we receive
for our oil and natural gas production
typically trade at a discount to the relevant benchmark
prices, such as NYMEX, that are used for calculating hedge positions. The
difference between the benchmark price and the price we receive is called a
differential. While we have
fixed this differential under the terms of our agreement with Shell through
September 31, 2009, the
differential on physical sales after that date is still under negotiation. We cannot accurately predict oil and
natural gas differentials. In recent years for example, production increases from
competing Canadian and
Rocky Mountain producers, in conjunction with limited refining and pipeline
capacity from the Rocky Mountain area, have gradually widened this differential.
Recent economic conditions,
including volatility in the price of oil and natural gas, have resulted in both increases and
decreases in the
differential between the benchmark price for oil and natural gas and the
wellhead price we receive. These
fluctuations could have a
material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows by
decreasing the proceeds we receive for our oil and natural gas production in
comparison to what we would receive if not for the
differential.
32
The natural gas and oil business
involves numerous uncertainties and operating risks that can prevent us from realizing
profits and can cause substantial losses.
Our development, exploitation and
exploration activities may be unsuccessful for many reasons, including weather,
cost overruns, equipment shortages and mechanical difficulties. Moreover, the successful drilling
of a natural gas and oil well does not ensure a profit on investment. A variety
of factors, both geological and market-related, can cause a well to become
uneconomical or only marginally economical. In addition to their cost, unsuccessful wells can hurt our
efforts to replace reserves.
The natural gas and oil business
involves a variety of operating risks, including:
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unexpected operational events and/or
conditions;
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unusual or unexpected geological
formations;
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reductions in natural gas and oil
prices;
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limitations in the market for oil
and natural gas;
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adverse weather
conditions;
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facility
or equipment malfunctions;
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title
problems;
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natural gas and oil quality
issues;
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pipe, casing, cement or pipeline
failures;
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natural
disasters;
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fires, explosions, blowouts,
surface cratering, pollution and other risks or
accidents;
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environmental hazards, such as
natural gas leaks,
oil spills, pipeline ruptures and discharges of toxic
gases;
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compliance with environmental and
other governmental requirements;
and
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uncontrollable flows of oil,
natural gas or well fluids.
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If we experience any of these problems,
it could affect well bores,
gathering systems and processing facilities, which could adversely affect our
ability to conduct operations. We could also incur substantial losses as a
result of:
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injury or loss of
life;
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severe damage to and destruction
of property, natural
resources and equipment;
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pollution and other environmental
damage;
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clean-up
responsibilities;
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regulatory investigation and
penalties;
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33
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suspension of our operations;
and
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repairs to resume
operations.
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Because we use third-party
drilling contractors to
drill our wells, we may not realize the full benefit of worker compensation laws
in dealing with their employees. Our insurance does not protect us against all
operational risks. We do not carry business interruption insurance at levels
that would provide enough funds for us to
continue operating without access to other funds. For some risks, we may not
obtain insurance if we believe the cost of available insurance is excessive
relative to the risks presented. In addition, pollution and environmental risks generally are not
fully insurable. If a significant accident or other event occurs and is not
fully covered by insurance, it could impact our operations enough to force us to
cease our operations.
Drilling wells is speculative, often
involving significant costs
that may be more than our estimates, and may not result in any addition to our
production or reserves. Any material inaccuracies in drilling costs, estimates
or underlying assumptions will materially affect our
business.
Developing and exploring for natural gas and oil
involves a high degree of operational and financial risk, which precludes
definitive statements as to the time required and costs involved in reaching
certain objectives. The budgeted costs of drilling, completing and operating wells are often exceeded and
can increase significantly when drilling costs rise due to a tightening in the
supply of various types of oilfield equipment and related services. Drilling may
be unsuccessful for many reasons, including geological conditions, weather, cost overruns,
equipment shortages and mechanical difficulties. Moreover, the successful
drilling of a natural gas or oil well does not ensure a profit on investment.
Exploratory wells bear a much greater risk of loss than development wells. Substantially all of our wells drilled
through March 31, 2009
have been development
wells. A variety of
factors, both geological and market-related, can cause a well to become
uneconomical or only marginally economic. Our initial drilling and
development sites, and any
potential additional sites that may be developed, require significant additional
exploration and development, regulatory approval and commitments of resources
prior to commercial development. If our actual drilling and development
costs are significantly more than our
estimated costs, we may not be able to continue our business operations as
proposed and would be forced to modify our plan of
operation.
Development of our reserves, when
established, may not occur
as scheduled and the actual
results may not be as anticipated. Drilling activity and lack of access to economically acceptable capital may result in downward
adjustments in reserves or higher than anticipated costs. Our estimates will be
based on various assumptions, including assumptions over which we have control
and assumptions required by the SEC relating to natural gas and oil prices,
drilling and operating expenses, capital expenditures, taxes and availability of
funds. We have control over our operations that affect, among other things, acquisitions and
dispositions of properties, availability of funds, use of applicable
technologies, hydrocarbon recovery efficiency, drainage volume and production
decline rates that are part of these estimates and assumptions and any
variance in our operations that affects these
items within our control may have a material effect on reserves. The
process of estimating our natural gas and oil reserves is extremely complex, and
requires significant decisions and assumptions
in the evaluation of
available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data for each
reservoir. Our estimates
may not be reliable enough to allow us to be successful in our intended business
operations. Our actual production, revenues, taxes, development
expenditures and operating
expenses will likely vary from those anticipated. These variances may be
material.
34
Unless we replace our oil and natural
gas reserves, our reserves and production will decline, which would adversely
affect our cash flows and income.
Unless we conduct successful development,
exploitation and exploration activities or acquire properties containing proved
reserves, our proved reserves will decline as those reserves are produced.
Producing oil and natural gas reservoirs generally are characterized by declining production rates
that vary depending upon reservoir characteristics and other factors. Our future
oil and natural gas reserves and production, and, therefore our cash flow and
income, are highly dependent on our success in efficiently developing and exploiting our current
reserves and economically finding or acquiring additional recoverable reserves.
We may be unable to make such acquisitions because we are:
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unable to identify attractive
acquisition candidates or negotiate acceptable purchase contracts with
them;
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unable
to obtain financing for these acquisitions on economically acceptable
terms;
or
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outbid by
competitors.
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If we are unable to develop, exploit,
find or acquire additional reserves to replace our current and future
production, our cash flow
and income will decline as production declines, until our existing properties
would be incapable of sustaining commercial production.
A significant portion of our potential
future reserves and our business plan depend upon secondary recovery techniques to establish
production. There are significant risks associated with such
techniques.
We anticipate that a significant portion
of our future reserves and our business plan will be associated with secondary
recovery projects that are either in the early stage of implementation or are scheduled
for implementation subject
to availability of capital.
We anticipate that secondary recovery will affect our reserves and our business
plan, and the exact project initiation dates and, by the very nature of waterflood operations, the
exact completion dates of such projects are uncertain. In addition, the reserves
and our business plan associated with these secondary recovery projects, as with
any reserves, are estimates only, as the success of any development project, including these
waterflood projects, cannot be ascertained in advance. If we are not successful
in developing a significant portion of our reserves associated with secondary
recovery methods, then the project may be uneconomic or generate less cash flow and reserves than we
had estimated prior to investing the capital. Risks associated with secondary
recovery techniques include, but are not limited to, the
following:
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higher than projected operating
costs;
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lower-than-expected
production;
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35
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longer response
times;
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higher costs associated with
obtaining capital;
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unusual or unexpected geological
formations;
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fluctuations in natural gas and
oil prices;
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regulatory
changes;
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shortages of equipment;
and
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lack of technical
expertise.
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If any of these risks occur, it could
adversely affect our financial condition or results of
operations.
Any acquisitions we complete are subject
to considerable risk.
Even when we make acquisitions that we believe are
good for our business, any acquisition involves potential risks, including,
among other things:
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the validity of our assumptions
about reserves, future production, revenues and costs, including
synergies;
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an inability to integrate successfully the
businesses we acquire;
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a decrease in our liquidity by
using our available cash or borrowing capacity to finance
acquisitions;
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a significant increase in our
interest expense or financial leverage if we incur additional debt to finance
acquisitions;
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the assumption of unknown
liabilities, losses or costs for which we are not indemnified or for which
our indemnity is inadequate;
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the diversion of
management’s attention from other business
concerns;
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an inability to hire, train or retain qualified
personnel to manage the acquired properties or
assets;
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the incurrence of other
significant charges, such as impairment of goodwill or other intangible
assets, asset devaluation or restructuring
charges;
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unforeseen difficulties encountered in operating in new
geographic or geological areas;
and
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customer or key employee losses at
the acquired businesses.
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Our decision to acquire a property will
depend in part on the evaluation of data obtained from production reports and
engineering studies,
geophysical and geological analyses and seismic and other information, the
results of which are often incomplete or inconclusive.
Our reviews of acquired properties can
be inherently incomplete because it is not always feasible to
perform an in-depth review
of the individual properties involved in each acquisition. Even a detailed
review of records and properties may not necessarily reveal existing or
potential problems, nor will it permit a buyer to become sufficiently familiar
with the properties to assess fully their
deficiencies and potential. Inspections may not always be performed on every
well, and environmental problems, such as ground water contamination, plugging
or orphaned well liability are not necessarily observable even when an inspection is
undertaken.
36
We must obtain governmental permits and
approvals for drilling operations, which can result in delays in our operations,
be a costly and time consuming process, and result in restrictions on our
operations.
Regulatory authorities exercise considerable discretion in
the timing and scope of permit issuances in the region in which we operate.
Compliance with the requirements imposed by these authorities can be costly and
time consuming and may result in delays in the commencement or continuation of our exploration or
production operations and/or fines. Regulatory or legal actions in the future
may materially interfere with our operations or otherwise have a material
adverse effect on us. In addition, we are often required to prepare and present to federal, state or
local authorities data pertaining to the effect or impact that a proposed
project may have on the environment, threatened and endangered species, and
cultural and archaeological artifacts. Accordingly, the permits we
need may not be issued, or if issued, may
not be issued in a timely fashion, or may involve requirements that restrict our
ability to conduct our operations or to do so profitably.
Due to our lack of geographic
diversification, adverse developments in our operating areas would materially affect
our business.
We currently only lease and operate oil
and natural gas properties located in Eastern Kansas. As a result of this
concentration, we may be disproportionately exposed to the impact of delays or
interruptions of production
from these properties caused by significant governmental regulation,
transportation capacity constraints, curtailment of production, natural
disasters, adverse weather conditions or other events which impact this
area.
We depend on a small number of customers for all, or a
substantial amount of our sales. If these customers reduce the volumes of oil
and natural gas they purchase from us, our revenue and cash available for
distribution will decline to the extent we are not able to find new customers for our
production.
We have contracted with Shell for the
sale of all of our oil through September 2009 and will likely contract for the
sale of our natural gas with one, or a small number, of buyers if and when we resume operations on the
Gas City
Project. It is not likely
that there will be a large pool of available purchasers. If a key purchaser were
to reduce the volume of oil or natural gas it purchases from us, our revenue and
cash available for operations will decline to the extent we are not able to find new customers to
purchase our production at equivalent prices.
We are not the operator of some of our
properties and we have limited control over the activities on those
properties.
We are not the operator on our Black
Oaks Project. We have only
limited ability to influence or control the operation or future development of
the Black Oaks Project or the amount of capital expenditures that we can fund
with respect to it. In the case of the Black Oaks Project, our dependence on the
operator, Haas Petroleum, limits our ability to
influence or control the operation or future development of the project. Such
limitations could materially adversely affect the realization of our targeted
returns on capital related to exploration, drilling or production activities and lead to unexpected
future costs.
37
We may suffer losses or incur liability
for events for which we or the operator of a property have chosen not to obtain
insurance.
Our operations are subject to hazards
and risks inherent in producing and transporting natural gas and oil,
such as fires, natural disasters, explosions, pipeline ruptures, spills, and
acts of terrorism, all of which can result in the loss of hydrocarbons,
environmental pollution, personal injury claims and other damage to our and others’ properties. As protection against
operating hazards, we maintain insurance coverage against some, but not all,
potential losses. In addition, pollution and environmental risks generally are
not fully insurable. As a result of market conditions, existing insurance policies may
not be renewed and other desirable insurance may not be available on
commercially reasonable terms, if at all. The occurrence of an event that is not
covered, or not fully covered, by insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Our hedging activities could result in
financial losses or could reduce our available funds or income and therefore
adversely affect our financial position.
To achieve more predictable cash flow and to reduce our
exposure to adverse fluctuations in the prices of oil and natural gas, we have
entered into derivative arrangements from April 1, 2008 until December 31, 2013
for between 30 and 130 barrels of oil per day that could
result in both realized and
unrealized hedging losses. As of March 31, 2009 we had not incurred any such
losses. The extent of our
commodity price exposure is related largely to the effectiveness and scope of
our derivative activities. For example, the derivative instruments we may utilize may be
based on posted market prices, which may differ significantly from the actual
crude oil, natural gas and NGL prices we realize in our
operations.
Our
actual future production may be significantly higher or lower than we estimate
at the time we enter into derivative transactions for such period. If the actual
amount is higher than we estimate, we will have greater commodity price exposure
than we intended. If the actual amount is lower than the nominal amount that is
subject to our derivative financial instruments, we might be forced to satisfy
all or a portion of our derivative transactions without the benefit of the cash
flow from our sale or purchase of the underlying physical commodity, resulting
in a substantial diminution of our liquidity. As a result of these factors, our
derivative activities may not be as effective as we intend in reducing the
volatility of our cash flows, and in certain circumstances may actually increase
the volatility of our cash flows. In addition, while we believe our existing
derivative activities are with creditworthy counterparties (Shell and BP),
continued deterioration in the credit markets may cause a counterparty not to
perform its obligation under the applicable derivative instrument or impact
their willingness to enter into future transactions with us.
38
Our business depends in part on
gathering and transportation facilities owned by others. Any limitation in the
availability of those facilities could interfere with our ability to
market our oil and natural
gas production and could harm our business.
The marketability of our oil and natural
gas production will depend in a very large part on the availability, proximity
and capacity of pipelines, oil and natural gas gathering systems and processing facilities. The amount of
oil and natural gas that can be produced and sold is subject to curtailment in
certain circumstances, such as pipeline interruptions due to scheduled and
unscheduled maintenance, excessive pressure, physical damage or lack of available capacity on such
systems. The curtailments arising from these and similar circumstances may last
from a few days to several months. In many cases, we will be provided only with
limited, if any, notice as to when these circumstances will arise and their duration. Any
significant curtailment in gathering system or pipeline capacity could
significantly reduce our ability to market our oil and natural gas production and could materially harm our business.
Cost and availability of drilling rigs, equipment, supplies, personnel and
other services could adversely affect our ability to execute on a timely basis
our development, exploitation and exploration plans.
Shortages or an increase in cost of
drilling rigs, equipment, supplies or personnel could delay or interrupt our operations,
which could impact our financial condition and results of operations. Drilling
activity in the geographic areas in which we conduct drilling activities may
increase, which would lead to increases in associated costs, including those related to drilling
rigs, equipment, supplies and personnel and the services and products of other
vendors to the industry. Increased drilling activity in these areas may also
decrease the availability of rigs. Although Haas Petroleum has agreed to provide up to two drilling rigs to the Black Oaks
Project when needed, subject to availability of
capital, we do not have any contracts for drilling
rigs and drilling rigs may not be readily available when we need them. Drilling
and other costs may
increase further and necessary equipment and services may not be available to us
at economical prices.
Our exposure to possible leasehold
defects and potential title failure could materially adversely impact our
ability to conduct drilling operations.
We obtain the right and access to
properties for drilling by obtaining oil and natural gas leases either directly
from the hydrocarbon owner, or through a third party that owns the lease. The
leases may be taken or assigned to us without title insurance. There is a risk of title failure with
respect to such leases, and such title failures could materially adversely
impact our business by causing us to be unable to access properties to conduct
drilling operations.
Our reserves are subject to the risk of
depletion because many of
our leases are in mature fields that have produced large quantities of oil and
natural gas to date.
Our operations are located in
established fields in Eastern Kansas. As a result, many of our leases are in, or
directly offset, areas that
have produced large quantities of oil and natural gas to date. As
such, our reserves may be partially or completely depleted by offsetting wells
or previously drilled wells, which could significantly harm our
business.
39
Our lease ownership may be diluted due to financing strategies we
may employ in the future due to our lack of capital.
To accelerate our development efforts we
plan to take on working interest partners who will contribute to the costs of
drilling and completion and then share in revenues derived from production. In
addition, we may in the future, due to a lack of capital or other strategic
reasons, establish joint venture partnerships or farm out all or part of our
development efforts. These economic strategies may have a dilutive effect on our lease ownership and could
significantly reduce our operating revenues.
We are subject to complex laws and
regulations, including environmental regulations, which can adversely affect the
cost, manner or feasibility of doing business.
Development, production and sale of natural
gas and oil in the United States are subject to extensive laws and regulations,
including environmental laws and regulations. We may be required to make large
expenditures to comply with environmental and other governmental regulations. Matters subject to
regulation include, but are not limited to:
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location
and density of wells;
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the handling of drilling fluids
and obtaining discharge permits for drilling
operations;
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accounting for and payment of
royalties on production from state, federal and
Indian lands;
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bonds for ownership, development
and production of natural gas and oil
properties;
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transportation of natural gas and
oil by pipelines;
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operation of wells and reports
concerning operations; and
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taxation.
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Under these laws and regulations, we
could be liable for personal injuries, property damage, oil spills, discharge of
hazardous materials, remediation and clean-up costs and other environmental
damages. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations also may result in the suspension or
termination of our operations and subject us to administrative, civil and
criminal penalties. Moreover, these laws and regulations could change in ways
that substantially increase our costs. Accordingly, any of these liabilities, penalties, suspensions,
terminations or regulatory changes could materially adversely affect our
financial condition and results of operations enough to possibly force us to
cease our business operations.
40
Our
operations may expose us to significant costs and liabilities with respect to
environmental, operational safety and other matters.
We may
incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of environmental and safety
requirements applicable to our oil and natural gas exploration and production
activities. We may also be exposed to the risk of costs associated with Kansas
Corporation Commission requirements to plug orphaned and abandoned wells on our
oil and natural gas leases from wells previously drilled by third parties. In
addition, we may indemnify sellers or lessors of oil and natural gas properties
for environmental liabilities they or their predecessors may have created. These
costs and liabilities could arise under a wide range of federal, state and local
environmental and safety laws and regulations, including regulations and
enforcement policies, which have tended to become increasingly strict over time.
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment
of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, imposition of cleanup and site
restoration costs, liens and to a lesser extent, issuance of injunctions to
limit or cease operations. In addition, claims for damages to persons or
property may result from environmental and other impacts of our
operations.
Strict,
joint and several liability may be imposed under certain environmental laws,
which could cause us to become liable for the conduct of others or for
consequences of our own actions that were in compliance with all applicable laws
at the time those actions were taken. New laws, regulations or enforcement
policies could be more stringent and impose unforeseen liabilities or
significantly increase compliance costs. If we are not able to recover the
resulting costs through insurance or increased revenues, our ability to operate
effectively could be adversely affected.
Our
facilities and activities could be subject to regulation by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission or the Department of Transportation, which could take
actions that could result in a material adverse effect on our financial
condition.
Although
it is anticipated that our natural gas gathering systems will be exempt from
FERC and DOT regulation, any revisions to this understanding may affect our
rights, liabilities, and access to midstream or interstate natural gas
transportation, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and
financial condition. In addition, the cost of compliance with any revisions to
FERC or DOT rules, regulations or requirements could be substantial and could
adversely affect our ability to operate in an economic manner. Additional FERC
and DOT rules and legislation pertaining to matters that could affect our
operations are considered and adopted from time to time. We cannot predict what
effect, if any, such regulatory changes and legislation might have on our
operations, but we could be required to incur additional capital expenditures
and increased costs.
Although
our natural gas sales activities are not currently projected to be subject to
rate regulation by FERC, if FERC finds that in connection with making sales in
the future, we (i) failed to comply with any applicable FERC administered
statutes, rules, regulations or orders, (ii) engaged in certain fraudulent acts,
or (iii) engaged in market manipulation, we could be subject to substantial
penalties and fines of up to $1.0 million per day per violation.
We
operate in a highly competitive environment and our competitors may have greater
resources than us.
The
natural gas and oil industry is intensely competitive and we compete with other
companies, many of which are larger and have greater financial, technological,
human and other resources. Many of these companies not only explore for and
produce crude oil and natural gas but also carry on refining operations and
market petroleum and other products on a regional, national or worldwide basis.
Such companies may be able to pay more for productive natural gas and oil
properties and exploratory prospects or define, evaluate, bid for and
purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our financial or
human resources permit. In addition, such companies may have a greater ability
to continue exploration activities during periods of low oil and natural gas
market prices. Our ability to acquire additional properties and to discover
reserves in the future will be dependent upon our ability to evaluate and select
suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a highly competitive
environment. If we are unable to compete, our operating results and financial
position may be adversely affected.
41
We
may incur substantial write-downs of the carrying value of our natural gas and
oil properties, which would adversely impact our earnings.
We review
the carrying value of our natural gas and oil properties under the full-cost
accounting rules of the SEC on a quarterly basis. This quarterly review is
referred to as a ceiling test. Under the ceiling test, capitalized costs, less
accumulated amortization and related deferred income taxes, may not exceed an
amount equal to the sum of the present value of estimated future net revenues
(adjusted for cash flow hedges) less estimated future expenditures to be
incurred in developing and producing the proved reserves, less any related
income tax effects. In calculating future net revenues, current prices and costs
used are those as of the end of the appropriate quarterly period. Such prices
are utilized except where different prices are fixed and determinable from
applicable contracts for the remaining term of those contracts, including the
effects of derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges. Two primary factors
impacting this test are reserve levels and current prices, and their associated
impact on the present value of estimated future net revenues. Revisions to
estimates of natural gas and oil reserves and/or an increase or decrease in
prices can have a material impact on the present value of estimated future net
revenues. Any excess of the net book value, less deferred income taxes, is
generally written off as an expense. Under SEC regulations, the excess above the
ceiling is not expensed (or is reduced) if, subsequent to the end of the period,
but prior to the release of the financial statements, natural gas and oil prices
increase sufficiently such that an excess above the ceiling would have been
eliminated (or reduced) if the increased prices were used in the
calculations.
As
previously announced, in December 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) issued new regulations for oil and gas reserve reporting which go into
effect effective for fiscal years ending on or after December 31,
2009. One of the key elements of the new regulations relate to the
commodity prices which are used to calculate reserves and their present
value. The new regulations provide for disclosure of oil and gas
reserves evaluated using annual average prices based on the prices in effect on
the first day of each month rather than the current regulations which utilize
commodity prices on the last day of the year.
There was
no impairment for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. We recorded
an impairment of $4,777,723 during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009
primarily attributable to lower prices for both oil and natural gas at December
31, 2008.
42
Our
success depends on our key management and professional personnel, including C.
Stephen Cochennet, the loss of whom would harm our ability to execute our
business plan.
Our
success depends heavily upon the continued contributions of C. Stephen
Cochennet, whose knowledge, leadership and technical expertise would be
difficult to replace, and on our ability to retain and attract experienced
engineers, geoscientists and other technical and professional staff. We have
entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Cochennet, and we maintain $1.0
million in key person insurance on Mr. Cochennet. However, if we were to lose
his services, our ability to execute our business plan would be harmed and we
may be forced to significantly alter our operations until such time as we could
hire a suitable replacement for Mr. Cochennet.
Risks Associated with our
Debt Financing
Significant
and prolonged declines in commodity prices may negatively impact our borrowing
base and our ability to borrow overall.
Our
borrowing base, which is based on our oil and gas reserves and is subject to
review and adjustment on a semi-annual basis and other interim adjustments, has
been and may be further reduced when it is reviewed. A reduction in
our base results in a “loan excess” which is required to be eliminated through
payment of a portion of the loan and/or cash collateralization of Letters of
Credit obligations; or adding properties to the borrowing base sufficient to
offset the “loan excess”. A reduction in our borrowing base or the
ability to borrow under our Credit Facility, combined with a reduction in cash
flow from operations resulting from a decline in oil prices, may require us to
further reduce our capital expenditures and our operating
activities.
Until
we repay the full amount of our outstanding debentures and Credit Facility, we
may continue to have substantial indebtedness, which is secured by substantially
all of our assets.
On March
31, 2009, $2.7 million in debentures and approximately $7.3 million of bank
loans were outstanding. Under a default situation with respect to the debentures
or other secured debt, the lenders may enforce their rights as a secured party
and we may lose all or a portion of our assets or be forced to materially reduce
our business activities.
Our
substantial indebtedness could make it more difficult for us to fulfill our
obligations under our Credit Facility and our debentures and, therefore,
adversely affect our business.
On
July 3, 2008, we entered into a three-year, Senior Secured Credit
Facility providing for aggregate borrowings of up to $50 million. As
of March 31, 2009, we had total indebtedness of $10.1 million, including $7.328
million of borrowings under the Credit Facility and $2.7 million of remaining
debentures, as well as other notes payable totaling approximately $109,000. We
had no outstanding letters of credit under the new facility on March 31,
2009. Our substantial indebtedness, and the related interest expense,
could have important consequences to us, including:
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limiting
our ability to borrow additional amounts for working capital, capital
expenditures, debt service requirements, execution of our business
strategy, or other general corporate
purposes;
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·
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being
forced to use cash flow to reduce our outstanding balance as a result of
an unfavorable borrowing base
redetermination;
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43
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·
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limiting
our ability to use operating cash flow in other areas of our business
because we must dedicate a substantial portion of these funds to service
our indebtedness;
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increasing
our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry
conditions;
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placing
us at a competitive disadvantage as compared to our competitors that have
less leverage;
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limiting
our ability to capitalize on business opportunities and to react to
competitive pressures and changes in government
regulation;
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limiting
our ability to, or increasing the cost of, refinancing our
indebtedness; and
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limiting
our ability to enter into marketing, hedging, optimization and trading
transactions by reducing the number of counterparties with whom we can
enter into such transactions as well as the volume of those
transactions.
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The
covenants in our Credit Facility and debentures impose significant operating and
financial restrictions on us.
The
Credit Facility and our debentures impose significant operating and financial
restrictions on us. These restrictions limit our ability and the ability of our
subsidiaries, among other things, to:
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incur
additional indebtedness and provide additional
guarantees;
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pay
dividends and make other restricted
payments;
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create
or permit certain liens;
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use
the proceeds from the sales of our oil and natural gas
properties;
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use
the proceeds from the unwinding of certain financial
hedges;
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engage
in certain transactions with affiliates;
and
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consolidate,
merge, sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets or the
assets of our subsidiaries.
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The
Credit Facility and our debentures also contain various affirmative covenants
with which we are required to comply. We obtained a waiver of default from
Texas Capital Bank on two technical covenants at March 31, 2009. We
are taking steps in an effort to comply with these same covenants in future
quarters, including but not limited to, a reduction in principal of
approximately $3.3 million with proceeds from liquidating a costless collar we
entered into on July 3, 2008 and the reduction of our operating and general
expenses. We may be unable to comply with some or all of these
covenants in the future as well. If we do not comply with these covenants and
are unable to obtain waivers from our lenders, we would be unable to make
additional borrowings under these facilities, our indebtedness under these
agreements would be in default and could be accelerated by our
lenders. In addition, it could cause a cross-default under our other
indebtedness, including our debentures. If our indebtedness is accelerated, we
may not be able to repay our indebtedness or borrow sufficient funds to
refinance it. In addition, if we incur additional indebtedness in the future, we
may be subject to additional covenants, which may be more restrictive than those
to which we are currently subject.
44
Risks Associated with our
Common Stock
We
have the ability to issue additional shares of our common stock and shares of
preferred stock without asking for stockholder approval, which could cause your
investment to be diluted.
Our
Articles of Incorporation authorizes the Board of Directors to issue up to
100,000,000 shares of common stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred
stock. The power of the Board of Directors to issue shares of common
stock, preferred stock or warrants or options to purchase shares of common stock
or preferred stock is generally not subject to shareholder
approval. Accordingly, any additional issuance of our common stock,
or preferred stock that may be convertible into common stock, or debt
instruments that may be convertible into common or preferred stock, may have the
effect of diluting one’s investment.
Our
common stock is traded on an illiquid market, making it difficult for investors
to sell their shares.
Our
common stock trades on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol
“ENRJ,” but trading has been minimal. Therefore, the market for our common stock
is limited. The trading price of our common stock could be subject to wide
fluctuations. Investors may not be able to purchase additional shares or sell
their shares within the time frame or at a price they desire.
The
price of our common stock may be volatile and you may not be able to resell your
shares at a favorable price.
Regardless
of whether an active trading market for our common stock develops, the market
price of our common stock may be volatile and you may not be able to resell your
shares at or above the price you paid for such shares. The following factors
could affect our stock price:
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our
operating and financial performance and
prospects;
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quarterly
variations in the rate of growth of our financial indicators, such as net
income or loss per share, net income or loss and
revenues;
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changes
in revenue or earnings estimates or publication of research reports by
analysts about us or the exploration and production
industry;
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potentially
limited liquidity;
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actual
or anticipated variations in our reserve estimates and quarterly operating
results;
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changes
in natural gas and oil prices;
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sales
of our common stock by significant stockholders and future issuances of
our common stock;
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increases
in our cost of capital;
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changes
in applicable laws or regulations, court rulings and enforcement and legal
actions;
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commencement
of or involvement in litigation;
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changes
in market valuations of similar
companies;
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45
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additions
or departures of key management
personnel;
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general
market conditions, including fluctuations in and the occurrence of events
or trends affecting the price of natural gas and oil;
and
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domestic
and international economic, legal and regulatory factors unrelated to our
performance.
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Our
articles of incorporation, bylaws and Nevada Law contain provisions that could
discourage an acquisition or change of control of us.
Our
articles of incorporation authorize our board of directors to issue preferred
stock and common stock without stockholder approval. If our board of directors
elects to issue preferred stock, it could be more difficult for a third party to
acquire control of us. In addition, provisions of the articles of incorporation
and bylaws could also make it more difficult for a third party to acquire
control of us. In addition, Nevada’s “Combination with Interested Stockholders’
Statute” and its “Control Share Acquisition Statute” may have the effect in the
future of delaying or making it more difficult to effect a change in control of
us.
These
statutory anti-takeover measures may have certain negative consequences,
including an effect on the ability of our stockholders or other individuals to
(i) change the composition of the incumbent board of directors; (ii) benefit
from certain transactions which are opposed by the incumbent board of directors;
and (iii) make a tender offer or attempt to gain control of us, even if such
attempt were beneficial to us and our stockholders. Since such measures may also
discourage the accumulations of large blocks of our common stock by purchasers
whose objective is to seek control of us or have such common stock repurchased
by us or other persons at a premium, these measures could also depress the
market price of our common stock. Accordingly, our stockholders may be deprived
of certain opportunities to realize the “control premium” associated with
take-over attempts.
We
have no plans to pay dividends on our common stock. You may not receive funds
without selling your stock.
We do not
anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable
future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the
expansion of our business. Our future dividend policy is within the discretion
of our board of directors and will depend upon various factors, including our
business, financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements,
investment opportunities and restrictions imposed by our debentures and Credit
Facility.
We
may issue shares of preferred stock with greater rights than our common
stock.
Although
we have no current plans, arrangements, understandings or agreements to issue
any preferred stock, our articles of incorporation authorizes our board of
directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock and set the terms of
the preferred stock without seeking any further approval from our stockholders.
Any preferred stock that is issued may rank ahead of our common stock, with
respect to dividends, liquidation rights and voting rights, among other
things.
46
We
have derivative securities currently outstanding. Exercise of these derivatives
will cause dilution to existing and new stockholders.
As of
March 31, 2009, we had options and warrants to purchase approximately 438,500
shares of common stock outstanding in addition to 2,500 shares issuable upon
conversion of a convertible note. The exercise of our outstanding options and
warrants, and the conversion of the note, will cause additional shares of common
stock to be issued, resulting in dilution to our existing common
stockholders.
Because
our common stock is deemed a low-priced “Penny” stock, an investment in our
common stock should be considered high risk and subject to marketability
restrictions.
Our
common stock is currently deemed to be a penny stock, as defined in Rule 3a51-1
under the Securities Exchange Act, which may make it more difficult for
investors to liquidate their investment even if and when a market develops for
the common stock. Until the trading price of the common stock consistently
trades above $5.00 per share, if ever, trading in the common stock may be
subject to the penny stock rules of the Securities Exchange Act specified in
rules 15g-1 through 15g-10. Those rules require broker-dealers, before effecting
transactions in any penny stock, to:
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Deliver
to the customer, and obtain a written receipt for, a disclosure
document;
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Disclose
certain price information about the
stock;
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Disclose
the amount of compensation received by the broker-dealer or any associated
person of the broker-dealer;
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Send
monthly statements to customers with market and price information about
the penny stock; and
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In
some circumstances, approve the purchaser’s account under certain
standards and deliver written statements to the customer with information
specified in the rules.
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Consequently,
the penny stock rules may restrict the ability or willingness of broker-dealers
to sell the common stock and may affect the ability of holders to sell their
common stock in the secondary market and the price at which such holders can
sell any such securities. These additional procedures could also limit our ability to raise
additional capital in the future.
If
we fail to remain current on our reporting requirements, we could be removed
from the OTC Bulletin Board, which would limit the ability of broker-dealers to
sell our securities and the ability of stockholders to sell their securities in
the secondary market.
Companies
trading on the OTC Bulletin Board, such as us, must be reporting issuers under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and must be
current in their reports under Section 13, in order to maintain price quotation
privileges on the OTC Bulletin Board. More specifically, FINRA has enacted
Rule 6530, which determines eligibility of issuers quoted on the OTC Bulletin
Board by requiring an issuer to be current in its filings with the
Commission. Pursuant to Rule 6530(e), if we file our reports late with the
Commission three times in a two-year period or our securities are removed from
the OTC Bulletin Board for failure to timely file twice in a two-year period
then we will be ineligible for quotation on the OTC Bulletin
Board. As a result, the market liquidity for our securities could be
severely adversely affected by limiting the ability of broker-dealers to sell
our securities and the ability of stockholders to sell their securities in the
secondary market.
47
FINRA
sales practice requirements may limit a stockholder's ability to buy and sell
our stock.
In
addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, FINRA has adopted rules
that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer
must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for
that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their
non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to
obtain information about the customer's financial status, tax status, investment
objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, the
FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced
securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. The FINRA
requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their
customers buy our common stock, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our
stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.
Additional Risks and
Uncertainties
We are an
oil and natural gas acquisition, exploration and development company. If any of
the risks that we face actually occur, irrespective of whether those risks are
described in this section or elsewhere in this report, our business, financial
condition and operating results could be materially adversely
affected.
Item
1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
Not applicable.
Item
3. Legal Proceedings.
We may become involved in various
routine legal proceedings incidental to our business. However, to our knowledge
as of the date of this report, there are no material pending legal proceedings
to which we are a party or to which any of our property is subject.
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
We did not submit any matters to a vote
of our security holders during the fourth quarter ended March 31,
2009.
48
PART
II
Item
5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities.
(a)
Market Information
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON
STOCK
Prior to
completion of the reverse merger with Midwest Energy in August of 2006, our
common stock was sporadically traded in the inter-dealer markets of the OTC:BB,
“pink sheets” and “gray sheets” under the symbol “MPCO.” Our common stock
currently trades on the OTC:BB under the symbol “ENRJ.” Our common stock has
traded infrequently on the OTC:BB, which limits our ability to locate accurate
high and low bid prices for each quarter within the last two fiscal years.
Therefore, the following table lists the quotations for the high and low bid
prices as reported by a Quarterly Trade and Quote Summary Report of the OTC
Bulletin Board and Yahoo! Finance for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. The quotations
reflect inter-dealer prices without retail mark-up, markdown, or commissions and
may not represent actual transactions.
Low
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High
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|||||||
Fiscal
2008
|
||||||||
Quarter
ended June 30, 2007
|
1.00 | 1.25 | ||||||
Quarter
ended September 30, 2007
|
0.75 | 1.35 | ||||||
Quarter
ended December 31, 2007
|
0.70 | 1.20 | ||||||
Quarter
ended March 31, 2008
|
0.81 | 1.20 | ||||||
Fiscal
2009
|
||||||||
Quarter
ended June 30, 2008
|
0.95 | 1.20 | ||||||
Quarter
ended September 30, 2008
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4.20 | 5.00 | ||||||
Quarter
ended December 31, 2008
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0.45 | 3.16 | ||||||
Quarter
ended March 31, 2009
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0.25 | 1.88 |
The last
reported sale price of our common stock on the OTC:BB was $0.79 per share on
July 8, 2009.
(b)
Holders of Common Stock
As of
July 14, 2009, there were 1,121 holders of record of our common
stock.
(c)
Dividends
We have
never paid or declared any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently
intend to retain any future earnings to finance the growth and development of
our business and we do not expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock
in the foreseeable future. In addition, we are contractually prohibited by the
terms of our outstanding debt from paying cash dividends on our common stock.
Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of
directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations,
capital requirements, restrictions contained in current or future financing
instruments, including the consent of debt holders, if applicable at such time,
and other factors our board of directors deems relevant.
49
(d)
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
2000/2001
Stock Option Plan
The Board of Directors approved the
2000/2001 Stock Option Plan and our stockholders ratified the plan on September
25, 2000. The total number of options that can be granted under the
plan is 200,000 shares.
Stock
Option Plan
The Board
of Directors approved the EnerJex Resources, Inc. Stock Option Plan on August 1,
2002 (the “2002-2003 Stock Option Plan”). Originally, the total
number of options that could be granted under the plan was not to exceed 400,000
shares. On May 4, 2007, the Governance, Compensation, and Nominating
Committee amended and restated the stock option plan to rename the plan and to
increase the number of shares issuable to 1,000,000. Our stockholders
approved this plan in September of 2007. In no event may the option price with
respect to any stock option granted under the 2002-2003 Stock Option Plan be
less than the fair market value of such common stock. However the
price of an incentive stock option will not be less than 110% of the fair market
value per share on the date of the grant in the case of an individual then
owning more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
of the corporation.
Each
option granted under the 2002-2003 Stock Option Plan will be assigned a time
period for exercising not to exceed ten years after the date of the
grant. Certain other restrictions will apply in connection with this
plan when some awards may be exercised.
In the
event of a change of control (as defined in the plan), the date on which all
options outstanding under the plan may first be exercised will be
accelerated. Generally, all options terminate 90 days after a change
of control.
General
Terms of Stock Option Plans
Officers (including officers who are
members of the board of directors), directors, and other employees and
consultants and our subsidiaries (if established) will be eligible to receive
options under the stock option plans. The Governance, Compensation
and Nominating Committee, or GCNC, of the Board of Directors will administer the
stock option plans and will determine those persons to whom options will be
granted, the number of options to be granted, the provisions applicable to each
grant and the time periods during which the options may be
exercised. No options may be granted more than ten years after the
date of the adoption of the stock option plans.
50
Non-qualified
stock options will be granted by the committee with an option price equal to the
fair market value of the shares of common stock to which the non-qualified stock
option relates on the date of grant. The committee may, in its
discretion, determine to price the non-qualified option at a different
price. In no event may the option price with respect to an incentive
stock option granted under the stock option plans be less than the fair market
value of such common stock to which the incentive stock option relates on the
date the incentive stock option is granted. However the price of an incentive
stock option will not be less than 110% of the fair market value per share on
the date of the grant in the case of an individual then owning more than 10% of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
corporation.
Each option granted under the stock
option plans will be exercisable for a term of not more than ten years after the
date of grant. Certain other restrictions will apply in connection
with the plans when some awards may be exercised. In the event of a
change of control (as defined in the stock option plans), the date on which all
options outstanding under the stock option plans may first be exercised will be
accelerated. Generally, all options terminate 90 days after a change
of control.
These plans are intended to encourage
directors, officers, employees and consultants to acquire ownership of common
stock. The opportunity so provided is intended to foster in
participants a strong incentive to put forth maximum effort for our continued
success and growth, to aid in retaining individuals who put forth such effort,
and to assist in attracting the best available individuals in the
future.
Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not repurchase any of our equity
securities during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009 or 2008.
Item
6. Selected Financial Data.
Not applicable.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion of our
financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with
our financial statements and the related notes to our financial statements
included elsewhere in
this report. In addition to historical financial information, the following
discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results and timing of selected events
may differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors,
including those discussed under ITEM 1A. Risk Factors and elsewhere in this
report.
51
Overview
Our
principal strategy is to focus on the acquisition of oil and natural gas mineral
leases that have existing production and cash flow. Once acquired, we strive to
implement an accelerated development program utilizing capital resources, a
regional operating focus, an experienced management and technical team, and
enhanced recovery technologies to attempt to increase production and increase
returns for our stockholders. Our oil and natural gas acquisition and
development activities are currently focused in Eastern Kansas.
Since the
beginning of fiscal 2008 and throughout fiscal 2009, we deployed approximately
$12 million in capital resources to acquire and develop five operating projects
and drill 179 new wells (111 producing wells, 65 water injection wells, and 3
dry holes). Our estimated total proved PV 10 (present value) of reserves as of
March 31, 2009 was $10.63 million, versus $39.6 million as of March 31,
2008. We developed total proved reserves to 1.3 million barrels of
oil equivalent, or BOE, as of March 31, 2009. Of the 1.3 million BOE of
total proved reserves, approximately 39% are proved developed and approximately
61% are proved undeveloped. The proved developed reserves consist of 82% proved
developed producing reserves and 18% proved developed non-producing
reserves. See “Glossary” on page 23 for our definition of
PV10.
The total
proved PV10 (present value) of our reserves as of March 31, 2009 was $10.63
million. PV10 is a non-GAAP financial measure and generally differs from the
standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows, the most directly
comparable GAAP financial measure, because it does not include the effects of
income taxes on future net revenues. See “Glossary” on page 24 for our
definition of PV10 and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations-Reserves” page 57, for
a reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure.
We are
continually evaluating oil and natural gas opportunities in Eastern Kansas and
are also in various stages of discussions with potential joint venture (“JV”)
partners who would contribute capital to develop leases we currently own or
would acquire for the JV. We recently entered into one such opportunity on the
Brownrigg lease in Linn County, Kansas. This economic strategy will
allow us to utilize our own financial assets toward the growth of our leased
acreage holdings, pursue the acquisition of strategic oil and natural gas
producing properties or companies and generally expand our existing operations
while further diversifying risk. Subject to availability of capital, we plan to
continue to bring potential acquisition and JV opportunities to various
financial partners for evaluation and funding options. It is our
vision to grow the business in a disciplined and well-planned
manner.
We began
generating revenues from the sale of oil during the fiscal year ended March 31,
2008. Subject to availability of capital, we expect our production to continue
to increase, both through development of wells, through our acquisition
strategy, and other strategic initiatives. Our future financial results will
continue to depend on: (i) our ability to source and screen potential projects;
(ii) our ability to discover commercial quantities of natural gas and oil; (iii)
the market price for oil and natural gas; and (iv) our ability to fully
implement our exploration, work-over and development program, which is in part
dependent on the availability of capital resources. There can be no assurance
that we will be successful in any of these respects, that the prices of oil and
natural gas prevailing at the time of production will be at a level allowing for
profitable production, or that we will be able to obtain additional funding at
terms favorable to us to increase our currently limited capital
resources.
52
The board
of directors has implemented a crude oil and natural gas hedging strategy that
will allow management to hedge up to 80% of our net production to mitigate a
majority of our exposure to changing oil prices in the intermediate
term.
Recent
Developments
We entered into an agreement with Shell
Trading (US) Company, or Shell, whereby we agreed to an 18-month fixed-price
swap with Shell for 130 BOPD at a fixed price per barrel of $96.90, before
transportation costs from April 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. This
represented approximately 60% of our total oil production on a net revenue basis
at that time and locked in approximately $6.8 million in gross revenue before
transportation costs over the 18 month period. In addition, we agreed to sell
all of our remaining oil production at current spot market pricing beginning
April 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009 to Shell. For the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2009, the positive impact on our net revenue from the
fixed-price swap was approximately $506,000.
On July 3, 2008, EnerJex, EnerJex
Kansas, and DD Energy entered into a three-year $50 million Senior Secured
Credit Facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Texas Capital Bank,
N.A. Borrowings under the Credit Facility will be subject to a
borrowing base limitation based on our current proved oil and gas reserves and
will be subject to semi-annual redeterminations and interim
adjustments. The initial borrowing base was set at $10.75 million and
was reduced to $7.428 million following the liquidation of the BP hedging
instrument in November 2008. The Borrowing Base was reviewed by Texas
Capital Bank in February 2009 and it was determined that it should be reduced by
$200,000 per month beginning April 2009 and likely continuing through December
2009, primarily as a result of commodity oil prices. The Credit Facility is
secured by a lien on substantially all assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries. The Credit Facility has a term of three years, and all unpaid
principal and interest will be due and payable in full on July 3,
2011. The Credit Facility also provides for the issuance of
letters-of-credit up to a $750,000 sub-limit under the borrowing base and up to
an additional $2.25 million limit not subject to the borrowing base to support
our hedging program. We had borrowings $7.328 million outstanding at
March 31, 2009. Subsequent to year-end, we have made Borrowing Base
Reduction payments of $200,000.
On July 7, 2008, we amended the $2.7
million of aggregate principal amount of our 10% debentures that remain
outstanding to, among other things, permit the indebtedness under our Credit
Facility, subordinate the security interests of the debentures to the Credit
Facility, provide for the redemption of the remaining debentures with the net
proceeds from any next debt or equity offering, eliminate the covenant to
maintain certain production thresholds and waive all known
defaults. Subsequent to year-end, we again amended the debentures to
extend the maturity date to September 30, 2010, and allow us to pay interest in
either cash or payment-in-kind interest (an increase in the amount of principal
due) or pay interest through the issuance of shares of common stock, and add a
provision for the conversion of the debentures into shares of our common stock.
53
As of July 3, 2008, we entered into an
ISDA master agreement and a costless collar with BP Corporation North America
Inc., or BP, for 130 barrels of oil per day with a price floor of $132.50 per
barrel and a price ceiling of $155.70 per barrel for NYMEX West Texas
Intermediate for the period of October 1, 2009 until March 31,
2011. We liquidated this costless collar in November 2008 and
received proceeds of approximately $3.9 million from BP. We reduced
the debt outstanding under our Credit Facility by approximately $3.3 million and
used the remainder for general operating purposes.
On August 1, 2008, we executed
three-year employment agreements with C. Stephen Cochennet, our chief executive
officer, and Dierdre P. Jones, our chief financial officer. Mr.
Cochennet and Ms. Jones have agreed to amend their employment agreements to
reflect options rescinded in November 2008.
In February 2009, we entered into a
fixed price swap transaction under the terms of the BP ISDA for a total of
120,000 gross barrels at a price of $57.30 per barrel before transportation
costs for the period beginning October 1, 2009 and ending on December 31,
2013.
Euramerica failed to fully fund by
January 15, 2009 both the balance of the purchase price and the remaining
development capital owed under the Amended and Restated Well Development
Agreement and Option for “Gas City Property” between us and
Euramerica. Therefore, Euramerica has forfeited all of its interest
in the property, including all interests in any wells, improvements or assets,
and all of Euramerica's interest in the property reverts back to
us. In addition, all operating agreements between us and Euramerica
relating to the Gas City Project are null and void.
We recorded a non-cash impairment of
$4,777,723 to the carrying value of our proved oil and gas properties during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. The impairment is primarily attributable to
lower prices for both oil and natural gas at December 31, 2008. The charge
results from the application of the “ceiling test” under the full cost method of
accounting. Under full cost accounting requirements, the carrying value may not
exceed an amount equal to the sum of the present value of estimated future net
revenues (adjusted for cash flow hedges) less estimated future expenditures to
be incurred in developing and producing the proved reserves, less any related
income tax effects. In calculating future net revenues, current prices and costs
used are those as of the end of the appropriate quarterly period. Such prices
are utilized except where different prices are fixed and determinable from
applicable contracts for the remaining term of those contracts, including the
effects of derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges. A ceiling test charge
occurs when the carrying value of the oil and gas properties exceeds the full
cost ceiling.
On March 3, 2009, we
withdrew our Form S-1 Registration Statement after deciding to terminate the
registered public offering. As global economic
conditions deteriorated and the commodity prices of oil and natural gas
experienced significant declines, the availability of equity capital became
severely constrained. While we intend to return to the equity market
when conditions improve and are conducive to raising capital, there can be no
assurance that we will be successful in doing so.
54
On March
23, 2009 we received a Monthly Commitment Notice from Texas Capital Bank
requiring a $200,000 Borrowing Base Reduction payment on or before April 1,
2009. This reduction was in response to decreased oil commodity
prices. Notices in April, May and June of 2009 called for $200,000 monthly
payments as well. We have made three separate $100,000 payments
towards that Borrowing Base Reduction request. As of the date of this
report, we have not received a default notification from Texas Capital Bank,
even though we have paid them less than the amount requested as part of their
redetermination. We have been working closely with Texas Capital
Bank, as oil commodity prices rebound, and our Independent Reserve Engineers to
revalue our reserves in light of commodity prices and improved production levels
since Texas Capital’s redetermination.
In April and May of 2009, we redeemed
$450,000 of the subordinated debentures. The balance remaining as of
the date of this report is $2.25 million and these debentures mature on
September 30, 2010.
Results
of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
compared.
We began
acquiring oil properties with existing production in April of 2007, the first
month of our fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. These acquisitions
included the Black Oaks and Thoren Projects. We acquired both the DD
Energy and the Tri-County Projects in November of 2007, or about mid-year of
that same fiscal year. We owned these projects throughout the entire
fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. Comparisons between the fiscal
years, then, will reflect a full year of revenues and expenses for all projects
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 and a partial year of revenues and
expenses for the two of the four projects for the fiscal year ended March 31,
2008.
Income:
Fiscal
Year Ended
March
31,
|
||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
Increase
/ (Decrease)
|
||||||||||
Amount
|
Amount
|
$
|
||||||||||
Oil
and natural gas revenues
|
$ | 6,436,805 | $ | 3,602,798 | $ | 2,834,007 |
Revenues
Oil and
natural gas revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 were
$6,436,805 compared to revenues of $3,602,798 in the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2008. The increase in revenues is primarily the result of the greater
oil production levels as well as a higher average price per barrel of
oil. The average price per barrel we received for oil sold during the
twelve months ended March 31, 2009 was $85.67 compared to $79.71 for the twelve
months ended March 31, 2008. Natural gas sales accounted for less than 1% of the
total revenues. The average price per Mcf for natural gas sales during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 was $5.57, compared to $6.20 during the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2008.
55
Expenses:
Fiscal
Year Ended
March
31,
|
||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
Increase
/ (Decrease)
|
||||||||||
Amount
|
Amount
|
$
|
||||||||||
Expenses:
|
||||||||||||
Direct
operating costs
|
$ | 2,637,333 | $ | 1,795,188 | $ | 842,145 | ||||||
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization
|
872,230 | 913,224 | (40,994 | ) | ||||||||
Total
production expenses
|
3,509,563 | 2,708,412 | 801,151 | |||||||||
Professional
fees
|
1,320,332 | 1,226,998 | 93,334 | |||||||||
Salaries
|
849,340 | 1,703,099 | (853,759 | ) | ||||||||
Depreciation
on other fixed assets
|
39,063 | 22,106 | 16,957 | |||||||||
Administrative
expenses
|
1,392,645 | 887,872 | 504,773 | |||||||||
Impairment
of oil & gas properties
|
4,777,723 | - | 4,777,723 | |||||||||
Total
expenses
|
11,888,666 | 6,548,487 | 5,340,179 |
Direct
Operating Costs
Direct
operating costs for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 were $2,637,517
compared to $1,795,188 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. The increase
over the prior period results from the operating costs on a greater number of
wells on our existing and acquired oil leases during the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2009. Direct operating costs include pumping, gauging, pulling,
repairs, certain contract labor costs, and other non-capitalized
expenses.
Depreciation, Depletion and
Amortization
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 was
$872,230, compared to $913,224 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. The
decrease was primarily a result of the lower cost per barrel of depletion of oil
reserves. The rate of depletion was $12.02 per barrel for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2009 as compared to $19.57 per barrel for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2008.
Professional
Fees
Professional
fees for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 were $1,320,332 compared to
$1,226,998 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. Payments for services
rendered in connection with acquisition and financing activities, our audit,
legal, and consulting fees are recorded as professional fees and remained
relatively constant over the two fiscal years.
Salaries
Salaries
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 were $849,340 compared to $1,703,099
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. There were expenses totaling
$1,204,102 during the prior fiscal year related to non-cash equity based
payments made by issuing stock options to our management. No such
issuances were made in the current fiscal year. In addition, the
number of full-time employees increased from 9 at March 31, 2008 to 19 at
one point during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, then settled at
14 on March 31, 2009. As a result, cash based salary
expense increased by approximately $500,000 during the current fiscal
year.
56
Depreciation
on Other Fixed Assets
Depreciation on other fixed assets
fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 was $39,063 compared to $22,106 for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to
depreciation on fixed assets acquired during the period.
Administrative Expenses
Administrative
expenses for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 were $1,392,645compared to
$887,872 in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. The administrative expenses
increased in relation to the addition of employees, office space, and corporate
activity related to growth in operations.
Impairment
of Oil & Gas Properties
The
impairment of oil and natural gas properties in the year ended March 31, 2009 of
$4,777,723 represented an impairment through applying the full-cost ceiling test
method. This ceiling test was applied to all of the cost of our oil
and natural gas properties accounted for under the full-cost method that were
subject to amortization at March 31, 2009. We took this impairment
based on the ceiling test results during the quarter ended December 31, 2008,
and was primarily due to depressed commodity prices at the time.
Reserves
Our
estimated total proved PV 10 (present value) of reserves as of March 31,
2009 decreased to $10.63 million from $39.6 million as of March 31, 2008.
Though total proved reserves were comparable at March 31, 2009 and 2008; 1.3
million and 1.4 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), respectively, the PV10
declined dramatically due to the estimated average price of oil at March
31, 2009 of $42.65 versus $94.53 at March 31, 2008. Of the 1.3
million BOE at March 31, 2009 approximately 39% are proved developed and
approximately 61% are proved undeveloped. The proved developed reserves consist
of proved developed producing (82%) and proved developed non-producing
(18%).
The
following table presents summary information regarding our estimated net proved
reserves as of March 31, 2009. All calculations of estimated net proved reserves
have been made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and,
except as otherwise indicated, give no effect to federal or state income taxes.
The estimates of net proved reserves are based on the reserve reports prepared
by Miller and Lents, Ltd., our independent petroleum consultants. For additional
information regarding our reserves, please see Note 11 to our audited financial
statements as of and for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.
57
Summary
of Proved Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
as
of March 31, 2009
Proved
Reserves Category
|
Gross
|
Net
|
PV10
(before tax)(1)
|
|||||||||
Proved,
Developed Producing
|
||||||||||||
Oil
(stock-tank barrels)
|
722,590 | 429,420 | $ | 6,691,550 | ||||||||
Natural
Gas (mcf)(2)
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Proved,
Developed Non-Producing
|
||||||||||||
Oil
(stock-tank barrels)
|
146,620 | 95,560 | $ | 1,459,280 | ||||||||
Natural
Gas (mcf)
(2)
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Proved,
Undeveloped
|
||||||||||||
Oil
(stock-tank barrels)
|
1,440,760 | 811,650 | $ | 2,478,510 | ||||||||
Natural
Gas (mcf)
(2)
|
- | - | - | |||||||||
Total
Proved Reserves
|
||||||||||||
Oil
(stock-tank barrels)
|
2,309,970 | 1,136,630 | $ | 10,629,340 | ||||||||
Natural
Gas (mcf)
(2)
|
- | - | - |
|
(1)
|
The
following table shows our reconciliation of our PV10 to our standardized
measure of discounted future net cash flows (the most direct comparable
measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP). PV10 is our
estimate of the present value of future net revenues from estimated proved
natural gas reserves after deducting estimated production and ad valorem
taxes, future capital costs and operating expenses, but before deducting
any estimates of future income taxes. The estimated future net revenues
are discounted at an annual rate of 10% to determine their “present
value.” We believe PV10 to be an important measure for evaluating the
relative significance of our oil and natural gas properties and that the
presentation of the non-GAAP financial measure of PV10 provides useful
information to investors because it is widely used by professional
analysts and sophisticated investors in evaluating oil and gas companies.
Because there are many unique factors that can impact an individual
company when estimating the amount of future income taxes to be paid, we
believe the use of a pre-tax measure is valuable for evaluating our
company. We believe that most other companies in the oil and gas industry
calculate PV10 on the same basis. PV10 should not be considered as an
alternative to the standardized measure of discounted future net cash
flows as computed under GAAP.
|
As
of
March
31,
2009
|
||||
PV10
(before tax)
|
$ | 10,629,340 | ||
Future
income taxes, net of 10% discount
|
- | |||
Standardized
measure of discounted future net cash flows
|
$ | 10,629,340 |
|
(2)
|
There
were no natural gas reserves at March 31,
2009.
|
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Liquidity
is a measure of a company’s ability to meet potential cash requirements. We have
historically met our capital requirements through debt financing, revenues from
operations and the issuance of equity securities. As a result of the $200,000
monthly reduction of our borrowing base beginning April 2009, with
the expectation that this monthly reduction would continue through December
2009, we have classified $1.7 million of the borrowings outstanding under our
Credit Facility as a current liability. As we may be unable to
provide the necessary liquidity we need by the revenues generated from our net
interests in our oil and natural gas production at current commodity prices, we
are exploring strategic initiative and JV partnerships, as well as sales of
reserves in our existing properties to finance our operations and to service our
debt obligations.
58
The
following table summarizes total current assets, total current liabilities and
working capital at March 31, 2009 as compared to March 31, 2008.
March
31,
2009
|
March
31,
2008
|
Increase
/ (Decrease) $ |
||||||||||
Current
Assets
|
$ | 898,941 | $ | 1,511,595 | (612,654 | ) | ||||||
Current
Liabilities
|
$ | 2,827,015 | $ | 2,117,176 | 709,839 | |||||||
Working
Capital (deficit)
|
$ | (1,928,074 | ) | $ | (605,581 | ) | (1,322,493 | ) |
Senior
Secured Credit Facility
On July 3, 2008, EnerJex, EnerJex
Kansas, and DD Energy entered into a three-year $50 million Senior Secured
Credit Facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Texas Capital Bank,
N.A. Borrowings under the Credit Facility will be subject to a
borrowing base limitation based on our current proved oil and gas reserves and
will be subject to semi-annual redeterminations and interim
adjustments. The initial borrowing base was set at $10.75 million and
was reduced to $7.428 million following the liquidation of the BP hedging
instrument in November 2008. The borrowing base was reviewed by Texas
Capital Bank in February 2009 and was reduced by $200,000 per month beginning
April 2009 with the expectation that this monthly reduction would continue
through December 2009. We had borrowings $7.328 million outstanding at March 31,
2009. Subsequent to year-end, we have made $200,000 of Borrowing Base
Reduction payments. The Credit Facility is secured by a lien on
substantially all assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Credit
Facility has a term of three years, and matures on July 3, 2011. The
Credit Facility also provides for the issuance of letters-of-credit up to a
$750,000 sub-limit under the borrowing base and up to an additional $2.25
million limit not subject to the borrowing base to support our hedging
program.
Proceeds
from the initial extension of credit under the Credit Facility were used: (1) to
redeem our 10% Senior Secured Debentures in an aggregate principal amount of
$6.3 million plus accrued interest (the “April Debentures”), (2) for Texas
Capital Bank’s acquisition of the Company’s approximately $ 2 million
indebtedness to Cornerstone Bank, (3) for complete repayment of promissory notes
issued to the sellers in connection with the Company’s purchase of the DD Energy
project in an aggregate principal amount of $965,000 plus accrued interest, and
(4) transaction costs, fees and expenses related to the new
facility. Future borrowings may be used for the acquisition,
development and exploration of oil and gas properties, capital expenditures and
general corporate purposes.
59
Advances
under the Credit Facility will be in the form of either base rate loans or
Eurodollar loans. The interest rate on the base rate loans fluctuates based upon
the higher of (1) the lender’s “prime rate” and (2) the Federal Funds rate plus
a margin of 0.50%, plus a margin of between 0.0% and 0.5% depending on the
percent of the borrowing base utilized at the time of the credit extension. The
interest rate on the Eurodollar loans fluctuates based upon the British Bankers’
Association Interest Settlement Rate appearing on the display designated as page
3750 on Moneyline Telerate, Inc., plus a margin of 2.25% to 2.75% depending on
the percent of the borrowing base utilized at the time of the credit
extensionon. Eurodollar loans of one, two, three and six months may be selected
by the Company. A commitment fee of 0.375% on the unused portion of the
borrowing base will accrue, and be payable quarterly in arrears.
The
Credit Facility includes usual and customary affirmative covenants for credit
facilities of this type and size, as well as customary negative covenants,
including, among others, limitations on liens, mergers, asset sales or
dispositions, payments of dividends, incurrence of additional indebtedness, and
investments. The Credit Facility also requires the Company, at the end of each
fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2008, to maintain
a minimum current assets to current liabilities ratio, and minimum ratios of
EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to
interest expense and to senior funded debt.
Additionally,
Texas Capital Bank, N.A. and the holders of the Senior Secured Debentures
entered into a Subordination Agreement whereby the Senior Secured Debentures
issued on June 21, 2007 will be subordinated to the Credit
Facility.
Debenture
Financing.
On April
11, 2007, we completed a $9.0 million private placement of senior secured
debentures. In accordance with the terms of the debentures, we received $6.3
million (before expenses and placement fees) at the first closing and an
additional $2.7 million (before closing fees and expenses) at the second closing
on June 21, 2007. In connection with the sale of the debentures, we issued the
lenders 9,000,000 shares of common stock. On July 7, 2008, we redeemed $6.3
million aggregate principal amount of our debentures.
The
debentures originally matured on March 31, 2010, absent earlier redemption by
us, and carry an interest rate of 10%. Interest on the debentures began accruing
on April 11, 2007 and is payable quarterly in arrears on the first day of each
succeeding quarter during the term of the debentures, beginning on or about May
11, 2007 and ending on the maturity date of September 30, 2010 - the maturity
date was amended subsequent to March 31, 2009 year-end. We may, under certain
conditions specified in the debentures, pay interest payments in shares of our
registered common stock. Additionally, on the maturity date, we are required to
pay the amount equal to the principal, as well as all accrued but unpaid
interest.
60
In connection with the Credit Facility,
we entered into an agreement amending the Securities Purchase Agreement,
Registration Rights Agreement, the Pledge and Security Agreement and the Senior
Secured Debentures issued on June 21, 2007 (the “Debenture Agreements”), with
the holders (the “Buyers”) of the Senior Secured Debentures issued on June 21,
2007 (the “June Debentures”). Pursuant to this agreement, we, among other
things, (i) redeem the April Debentures, (ii) agreed to use the net proceeds
from the Company’s next debt or equity offering to redeem the June Debentures,
(iii) agreed to update the Buyers’ registration statements to sell our common
stock owned by the Buyers, (iv) amended certain terms of the Debenture
Agreements in recognition of the indebtedness under the Credit Facility, (v)
amended the Securities Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement to
remove the covenant to issue and register additional shares of common stock in
the event that our oil production does not meet certain thresholds over time
among other things, and (vi) the Buyers agreed to waive all known events of
default. Subsequent to March 31,
2009 year-end, we again amended the debentures to extend the maturity date to
September 30, 2010, and allow us to pay interest in either cash or
payment-in-kind interest (an increase in the amount of principal due) or
payment-in-kind shares (issuance of shares of common stock), and add a provision
for the conversion of the debentures into shares of EnerJex’s common
stock.
Going
Concern
Our
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that
we will continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern
is dependent upon attaining profitable operations based on increased production
and prices of oil and natural gas. We intend to use borrowings, equity and asset
sales, and other strategic initiatives to mitigate the effects of our cash
position, however, no assurance can be given that debt or equity financing, if
and when required, will be available. The financial statements do not include
any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded
assets and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should we be
unable to continue in existence.
Satisfaction of our cash obligations
for the next 12 months.
A
critical component of our operating plan is the ability to obtain additional
capital through additional equity and/or debt financing and working interest
participants. During fiscal 2009, we were in the midst of a public equity
offering when global economic conditions deteriorated and the commodity prices
of oil and natural gas experienced significant declines. Our cash revenues from
operations have been significantly impacted as has our ability to meet our
monthly operating expenses and service our debt obligations. In the event we
cannot obtain additional capital through other means to allow us to pursue our
strategic plan, this would materially impact our ability to continue our desired
growth. There is no assurance we would be able to obtain such financing on
commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
We
intend to implement and execute our business and marketing strategy, respond to
competitive developments, and attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel.
There can be no assurance that we will be successful in addressing such risks,
and the failure to do so can have a material adverse effect on our business
prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Summary of product research and
development that we will perform for the term of our plan.
We do not
anticipate performing any significant product research and development under our
plan of operation until such time as we can raise adequate working capital to
sustain our operations.
61
Expected purchase or sale of any
significant equipment.
We
anticipate that we will purchase the necessary production and field service
equipment required to produce oil and natural gas during our normal course of
operations over the next twelve months.
Significant changes in the number of
employees.
As of March 31, 2009, we had 14
full-time employees, an increase from 9 full time employees at our fiscal year
ended March 31, 2008. We hired a number of former independent field
contractors to help secure
a more stable work base during the months where extremely high oil prices could
have limited our access to products and services needed to develop and operate
our properties. Since November 2008, we have reduced personnel levels
by 5 full time employees and one independent contractor in
response to declining economic conditions and in an effort to reduce our
operating and general expenses and cash outlay. As drilling production
activities increase or decrease, we may have to adjust our technical,
operational and administrative personnel as
appropriate. We are using and will continue to use the services of independent
consultants and contractors to perform various professional services,
particularly in the area of land services, reservoir engineering, geology drilling, water hauling,
pipeline construction, well design, well-site monitoring and surveillance,
permitting and environmental assessment. We believe that this use of third-party
service providers may enhance our ability to contain operating and general expenses, and capital
costs.
Off-Balance Sheet
Arrangements
We do not
have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to
have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial
condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital
expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our
critical accounting estimates include our oil and gas properties, asset
retirement obligations and the value of share-based payments.
Oil and Gas
Properties:
The
accounting for our business is subject to special accounting rules that are
unique to the gas and oil industry. There are two allowable methods of
accounting for oil and gas business activities: the successful efforts method
and the full-cost method. We follow the full-cost method of accounting under
which all costs associated with property acquisition, exploration and
development activities are capitalized. We also capitalize internal costs that
can be directly identified with our acquisition, exploration and development
activities and do not include any costs related to production, general corporate
overhead or similar activities.
62
Under the
full-cost method, capitalized costs are amortized on a composite
unit-of-production method based on proved gas and oil reserves. Depreciation,
depletion and amortization expense is also based on the amount of estimated
reserves. If we maintain the same level of production year over year, the
depreciation, depletion and amortization expense may be significantly different
if our estimate of remaining reserves changes significantly. Proceeds from the
sale of properties are accounted for as reductions of capitalized costs unless
such sales involve a significant change in the relationship between costs and
the value of proved reserves or the underlying value of unproved properties, in
which case a gain or loss is recognized. The costs of unproved properties are
excluded from amortization until the properties are evaluated. We review all of
our unevaluated properties quarterly to determine whether or not and to what
extent proved reserves have been assigned to the properties, and otherwise if
impairment has occurred. Unevaluated properties are assessed individually when
individual costs are significant.
We review
the carrying value of our gas and oil properties under the full-cost accounting
rules of the SEC on a quarterly basis. This quarterly review is referred to as a
ceiling test. Under the ceiling test, capitalized costs, less accumulated
amortization and related deferred income taxes, may not exceed an amount equal
to the sum of the present value of estimated future net revenues (adjusted for
cash flow hedges) less estimated future expenditures to be incurred in
developing and producing the proved reserves, less any related income tax
effects. In calculating future net revenues, current prices and costs used are
those as of the end of the appropriate quarterly period. Such prices are
utilized except where different prices are fixed and determinable from
applicable contracts for the remaining term of those contracts, including the
effects of derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges. Two primary factors
impacting this test are reserve levels and current prices, and their associated
impact on the present value of estimated future net revenues. Revisions to
estimates of gas and oil reserves and/or an increase or decrease in prices can
have a material impact on the present value of estimated future net revenues.
Any excess of the net book value, less deferred income taxes, is generally
written off as an expense. Under SEC regulations, the excess above the ceiling
is not expensed (or is reduced) if, subsequent to the end of the period, but
prior to the release of the financial statements, gas and oil prices increase
sufficiently such that an excess above the ceiling would have been eliminated
(or reduced) if the increased prices were used in the calculations.
The
process of estimating gas and oil reserves is very complex, requiring
significant decisions in the evaluation of available geological, geophysical,
engineering and economic data. The data for a given property may also change
substantially over time as a result of numerous factors, including additional
development activity, evolving production history and a continual reassessment
of the viability of production under changing economic conditions. As a result,
material revisions to existing reserve estimates occur from time to time.
Although every reasonable effort is made to ensure that reserve estimates
reported represent the most accurate assessments possible, the subjective
decisions and variances in available data for various properties increase the
likelihood of significant changes in these estimates.
As of
March 31, 2009, approximately 100% of our proved reserves were evaluated by an
independent petroleum consultant. All reserve estimates are prepared based upon
a review of production histories and other geologic, economic, ownership and
engineering data.
63
Asset
Retirement Obligations:
The asset
retirement obligation relates to the plug and abandonment costs when our wells
are no longer useful. We determine the value of the liability by obtaining
quotes for this service and estimate the increase we will face in the future. We
then discount the future value based on an intrinsic interest rate that is
appropriate for us. If costs rise more than what we have expected there could be
additional charges in the future however we monitor the costs of the abandoned
wells and we will adjust this liability if necessary.
Share-Based
Payments:
The value
we assign to the options and warrants that we issue is based on the fair market
value as calculated by the Black-Scholes pricing model. To perform a calculation
of the value of our options and warrants, we determine an estimate of the
volatility of our stock. We need to estimate volatility because there
has not been enough trading of our stock to determine an appropriate measure of
volatility. We believe our estimate of volatility is reasonable, and we review
the assumptions used to determine this whenever we issue a new equity
instruments. If we have a material error in our estimate of the
volatility of our stock, our expenses could be understated or
overstated.
Recent
Issued Accounting Standards
In May
2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 163,
“Accounting for Financial
Guarantee Insurance Contracts – An interpretation of FASB Statement No.
60”. SFAS No. 163 requires that an insurance enterprise recognize a claim
liability prior to an event of default when there is evidence that credit
deterioration has occurred in an insured financial obligation. It also clarifies
how Statement 60 applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts, including
the recognition and measurement to be used to account for premium revenue and
claim liabilities, and requires expanded disclosures about financial guarantee
insurance contracts. It is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2008, except for some disclosures about the
insurance enterprise’s risk-management activities. SFAS No. 163 requires that
disclosures about the risk-management activities of the insurance enterprise be
effective for the first period beginning after issuance. Except for those
disclosures, earlier application is not permitted. The adoption of this
statement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial
statements.
In May
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles”. SFAS No. 162 identifies the sources of accounting
principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the
preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are
presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States. It is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in
Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. The adoption
of this statement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s
financial statements.
64
In March
2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 161,
“Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment to FASB Statement No.
133”. SFAS No. 161 is intended to improve financial standards for
derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures
to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity's financial
position, financial performance, and cash flows. Entities are required to
provide enhanced disclosures about: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative
instruments; (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are
accounted for under Statement 133 and its related interpretations; and (c) how
derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial
position, financial performance, and cash flows. It is effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, with early
adoption encouraged. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No.
161 on its financial statements, and the adoption of this statement is not
expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial
statements.
In
December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No.
141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations”. This statement replaces SFAS No.
141 and defines the acquirer in a business combination as the entity that
obtains control of one or more businesses in a business combination and
establishes the acquisition date as the date that the acquirer achieves control.
SFAS 141 (revised 2007) requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired,
the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquired at the
acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that date. SFAS 141
(revised 2007) also requires the acquirer to recognize contingent consideration
at the acquisition date, measured at its fair value at that date. This statement
is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years,
beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The
adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material effect on the
Company's financial statements.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements Liabilities –an Amendment of ARB No. 51”. This
statement amends ARB 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the
Non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a
subsidiary. This statement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods
within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier
adoption is prohibited. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a
material effect on the Company's financial statements.
Effects
of Inflation and Pricing
The oil
and natural gas industry is very cyclical and the demand for goods and services
of oil field companies, suppliers and others associated with the industry puts
extreme pressure on the economic stability and pricing structure within the
industry. Material changes in prices impact revenue stream, estimates of future
reserves, borrowing base calculations of bank loans and value of properties in
purchase and sale transactions. Material changes in prices can impact the value
of oil and natural gas companies and their ability to raise capital, borrow
money and retain personnel. We anticipate business costs and the demand for
services related to production and exploration will fluctuate while the
commodity prices for oil and natural gas, both remain volatile.
Item
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Not applicable.
65
Item
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Management
Responsibility for Financial Information
We are
responsible for the preparation, integrity and fair presentation of our
financial statements and the other information that appears in this annual
report on Form 10-K. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and include
estimates based on our best judgment.
We
maintain a comprehensive system of internal controls and procedures designed to
provide reasonable assurance, at an appropriate cost-benefit relationship, that
our financial information is accurate and reliable, our assets are safeguarded
and our transactions are executed in accordance with established
procedures.
Weaver
& Martin, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, is retained
to audit our consolidated financial statements. Its accompanying report is based
on audits conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
The Audit
Committee, which is comprised of two independent directors, meets with our
management and the independent registered public accounting firm to ensure that
each is properly fulfilling its responsibilities. The Committee oversees our
systems of internal control, accounting practices, financial reporting and
audits to ensure their quality, integrity and objectivity are sufficient to
protect stockholders’ investments.
Our
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, and other information
required by this Item 8 are included in this report beginning on page
F-1.
Item
9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants On Accounting and Financial
Disclosure.
None.
Item
9A(T). Controls and Procedures.
Our Chief
Executive Officer, C. Stephen Cochennet, and our Chief Financial Officer,
Dierdre P. Jones, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this
Report. Based on the evaluation, Mr. Cochennet and Ms. Jones
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely
alerting them to material information relating to us (including our consolidated
subsidiaries) required to be included in our periodic SEC filings.
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred
during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
66
Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting, as is defined in the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934. These internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance
that the reported financial information is presented fairly, that disclosures
are adequate and that the judgments inherent in the preparation of financial
statements are reasonable. There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness
of any system of internal control, including the possibility of human error and
overriding of controls. Consequently, an effective internal control system can
only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance, with respect to reporting
financial information.
Management
conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting based on the framework and criteria established in Internal
Control — Integrated Framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management
concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of
March 31, 2009.
This
annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public
accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public
accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual
report.
Item
9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III
Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The following table sets forth certain
information regarding our current
directors and executive officers. Our executive officers serve one-year
terms.
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
Board Committee(s)(1)
|
|||
C. Stephen
Cochennet
|
52
|
President, Chief Executive
Officer, and Chairman
|
None
|
|||
Dierdre P.
Jones
|
44
|
Chief Financial
Officer
|
None
|
|||
Robert G.
Wonish
|
55
|
Director
|
GCNC (Chairman)
and
Audit
|
|||
Daran G.
Dammeyer
|
48
|
Director
|
Audit (Chairman)
and
GCNC
|
|||
Darrel G.
Palmer
|
51
|
Director
|
GCNC
|
|||
Dr. James W.
Rector
|
|
48
|
|
Director
|
|
None
|
|
(1)
|
“GCNC”
means the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board
of Directors. “Audit” means the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors.
|
67
C. Stephen Cochennet, has
been our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since August 15,
2006. From July 2002 to present, Mr. Cochennet has been
President of CSC Group, LLC. Mr. Cochennet formed the CSC Group, LLC through
which he supports a number of clients that include Fortune 500 corporations,
international companies, natural gas/electric utilities, outsource service
providers, as well as various start up organizations. The services provided
include strategic planning, capital formation, corporate development, executive
networking and transaction structuring. Mr. Cochennet currently spends less than
10 hours per month on activities associated with CSC Group, LLC. From 1985 to
2002, he held several executive positions with UtiliCorp United Inc. (Aquila) in
Kansas City. His responsibilities included finance, administration, operations,
human resources, corporate development, natural gas/energy marketing, and
managing several new start up operations. Prior to his experience at UtiliCorp
United Inc., Mr. Cochennet served 6 years with the Federal Reserve System. Mr.
Cochennet graduated from the University of Nebraska with a B.A. in Finance and
Economics.
Dierdre P. Jones was promoted
to Chief Financial Officer on July 23, 2008. Ms. Jones was our Director of
Finance and Accounting from August 2007 through July 2008. From May 2007
through August 2007, Ms. Jones provided independent consulting services for the
company, primarily in the testing and implementation of financial accounting and
reporting software. From May 2002 through May 2007, Ms. Jones was sole
proprietor of These Faux
Walls, a specialty design company. She holds the professional
designations of Certified Public Accountant and Certified Internal
Auditor. Prior to joining EnerJex, Ms. Jones held management positions
with UtiliCorp United Inc. (Aquila), and served three years in public accounting
with Arthur Andersen & Co. Ms. Jones graduated with distinction from the
University of Kansas with a B.S. in Accounting and Business
Administration.
Robert G. Wonish has served
as a member of our board of directors since May 2007. Effective April 7, 2009,
Mr. Wonish was appointed President & Chief Operating Officer of Petrodome
Energy, LLC, a privately held firm. From December 2004 to June 30, 2007, Mr.
Wonish was Vice President of Petroleum Engineers Inc., a subsidiary of The CYMRI
Corporation, now CYMRI, L.L.C., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stratum
Holdings, Inc. On July 1, 2007, Mr. Wonish was appointed President and Chief
Operating Officer of Petroleum Engineers Inc. Mr. Wonish was also President of
CYMRI, L.L.C. After the sale of Petroleum Engineers Inc. in March of 2008, Mr.
Wonish resigned all positions in Petroleum Engineers Inc. and CYMRI, L.L.C. as
well as resigning as a member of the Stratum Holdings, Inc. board of directors.
Mr. Wonish held the position of President & Chief Operating Officer of
Striker Oil & Gas, Inc. prior to his engagement with Petrodome Energy,
LLC.. He previously achieved positions of increasing responsibility
with PANACO, Inc., a public oil and natural gas company, ultimately serving as
that company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. He began his engineering
career at Amoco in 1975 and joined Panaco’s engineering staff in
1992. Mr. Wonish serves as EnerJex’s chairman of the Governance,
Compensation and Nominating committee and is a member of the company’s audit
committee. Mr. Wonish received his Mechanical Engineering degree from the
University of Missouri-Rolla.
68
Daran G. Dammeyer, has served
as a member of our board of directors since May 2007. Since July 1999, Mr.
Dammeyer has served as President of D-Two Solutions through which he supports
clients by primarily providing merger and acquisition support, strategic
planning, budgeting and forecasting process development and
implementation. From March 1999 through July 1999, Mr. Dammeyer was a
Director of International Financial Management for UtiliCorp United Inc.
(Aquila), a multinational energy solutions provider in Kansas City,
Missouri. From November 1995 through March 1999, Mr. Dammeyer served
as the Chief Financial Controller of United Energy Limited in Melbourne,
Australia. Mr. Dammeyer also served in numerous management positions
at Michigan Energy Resources Company, including Director of Internal
Audit. Mr. Dammeyer earned his Bachelor of Business Administration
degree, with dual majors in Accounting and Corporate Financial Management from
The University of Toledo, Ohio.
Darrel G. Palmer, has served
as a member of our board of directors since May of 2007. Since January 1997, Mr.
Palmer has been President of Energy Management Resources, an energy process
management firm serving industrial and large commercial companies throughout the
U. S. and Canada. Mr. Palmer has 25 years of expertise in the natural
gas arena. His experiences encompass a wide area of the natural gas
industry and include working for natural gas marketing companies, local
distribution companies, and FERC regulated pipelines. Prior to
becoming an independent energy consultant in 1997, Mr. Palmer’s last position
was Vice President/National Account Sales at UtiliCorp United Inc. (Aquila) of
Kansas City, Missouri. Over the years Mr. Palmer has worked in many civic
organizations including United Way and has been a President of the local Kiwanis
Club. Junior Achievement of Minnesota awarded him the Bronze
Leadership Award for his accomplishments which included being an advisor,
program manager, holding various Board positions, and ultimately being Board
President.
Dr. James W. Rector, has
served as a member of our board of directors since March 19, 2008. Dr. Rector is
the author of numerous technical papers along with a number of patents on
seismic technology. He was a co-founder of two seismic technology startups that
were later sold to NYSE-listed companies, and he regularly consults for many of
the major oil companies including Chevron and BP. In 1998, he founded Berkeley
GeoImaging LLC, which has completed five equity private placements for oil and
natural gas exploration and development projects. Dr. Rector is a tenured
professor of Geophysics at the University of California at Berkeley and a
faculty staff scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has
been the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Applied Geophysics
and has also served on the Society of Exploration Geophysicists Executive
Committee. He received his Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Geophysics from Stanford
University.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires our executive officers and
directors, and persons who beneficially own more than ten percent of our common
stock, to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership
with the SEC. Executive officers, directors and greater than ten percent
beneficial owners are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of
all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based upon a review of the copies of such forms furnished to us and
written representations from our executive officers and directors, we believe
that as of the date of this report they were all current in their 16(a)
reports.
69
Board
of Directors
Our board of directors currently
consists of five members. Our directors serve one-year terms. Our board of
directors has affirmatively determined that Messrs. Wonish, Dammeyer, Palmer and
Dr. Rector are independent directors, as defined by Section 803 of the American
Stock Exchange Company Guide.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has two standing
committees: an audit committee and a governance, compensation and nominating
committee. Each of those committees has the composition and responsibilities set
forth below.
Audit
Committee
On May 4,
2007, we established and appointed initial members to the audit committee of our
board of directors. Mr. Dammeyer is the chairman and Mr. Wonish serves as the
other member of the committee. Currently, none of the members of the
audit committee are, or have been, our officers or employees, and each member
qualifies as an independent director as defined by Section 803 of the American
Stock Exchange Company Guide and Section 10A(m) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, and Rule 10A-3 thereunder. The Board of Directors has
determined that Mr. Dammeyer is an “audit committee financial expert” as
that term is used in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act. The audit committee held five meetings during fiscal
2009.
The audit
committee has the sole authority to appoint and, when deemed appropriate,
replace our independent registered public accounting firm, and has established a
policy of pre-approving all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by
our independent registered public accounting firm. The audit committee has,
among other things, the responsibility to evaluate the qualifications and
independence of our independent registered public accounting firm; to review and
approve the scope and results of the annual audit; to review and discuss with
management and the independent registered public accounting firm the content of
our financial statements prior to the filing of our quarterly reports and annual
reports; to review the content and clarity of our proposed communications with
investors regarding our operating results and other financial matters; to review
significant changes in our accounting policies; to establish procedures for
receiving, retaining, and investigating reports of illegal acts involving us or
complaints or concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters,
and supervise the investigation of any such reports, complaints or concerns; to
establish procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees
of concerns or complaints regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters;
and to provide sufficient opportunity for the independent auditors to meet with
the committee without management present.
70
Governance, Compensation and Nominating
Committee
The governance, compensation and
nominating committee is comprised of Messrs. Wonish, Dammeyer and
Palmer. Mr. Wonish serves as the chairman of the governance,
compensation and nominating committee. The governance, compensation
and nominating committee is responsible for,
among other things; identifying, reviewing,
and evaluating individuals qualified to become members of the Board, setting the
compensation of the Chief Executive Officer and performing other compensation
oversight, reviewing and recommending the nomination of Board members, and
administering our equity compensation plans. The governance, compensation and
nominating committee held five meetings during fiscal 2009.
Code
of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of
Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and
employees, as well as to directors, officers and employees of each subsidiary of
the Company. Our Code of Ethics
was filed as Exhibit 99.6 to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended
March 31, 2007 which was filed on June 13, 2007.
A copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics will be provided to any
person, without charge, upon request. It is available on our
website: enerjexresources.com, or you may contact C. Stephen
Cochennet at 913-754-7754 to request a copy of the Code or send your request to
EnerJex Resources, Inc., Attn: C. Stephen Cochennet, 27 Corporate Woods, Suite
350, 10975 Grandview Drive, Overland Park, Kansas 66210. If any substantive
amendments are made to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or if we grant
any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code to any
of our officers and directors, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or
waiver in a report on Form 8-K.
Limitation of
Liability of
Directors
Pursuant
to the Nevada General Corporation Law, our Articles of Incorporation exclude
personal liability for our Directors for monetary damages based upon any
violation of their fiduciary duties as Directors, except as to liability for any
breach of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or any transaction
from which a Director receives an improper personal benefit. This exclusion of
liability does not limit any right which a Director may have to be indemnified
and does not affect any Director’s liability under federal or applicable state
securities laws. We have agreed to indemnify our directors against expenses,
judgments, and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any claim against a
Director if he acted in good faith and in a manner he believed to be in our best
interests.
Nevada Anti-Takeover
Law and Charter and By-law Provisions
Depending on the number of residents in
the state of Nevada who own
our shares, we could be subject to the provisions of Sections 78.378
et
seq. of the Nevada Revised
Statutes which, unless otherwise provided in a company’s articles of incorporation or by-laws,
restricts the ability of an acquiring person to obtain a controlling interest of 20% or more
of our voting shares. Our articles of incorporation and by-laws do not contain
any provision which would currently keep the change of control restrictions of
Section 78.378 from applying to us.
71
We are subject to the provisions of Sections 78.411
et
seq. of the Nevada Revised
Statutes. In general, this statute prohibits a publicly held Nevada corporation
from engaging in a “combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the
date of the transaction in
which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the combination or the
transaction by which the person became an interested stockholder is approved by
the corporation’s board of directors before the person
becomes an interested stockholder. After the expiration of the
three-year period, the corporation may engage in a combination with an
interested stockholder under certain circumstances, including if the combination
is approved by the board of directors and/or stockholders in a prescribed
manner, or if specified requirements are met regarding consideration. The term
“combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in
a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain
exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with
affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years did own, 10% or more of
the corporation’s voting stock. A Nevada corporation may “opt out” from the
application of Section 78.411 et seq. through a provision
in its articles of incorporation or by-laws. We have not “opted out” from the
application of this section.
Apart from Nevada law, however, our
articles of incorporation and by-laws do not contain any provisions which are
sometimes associated with
inhibiting a change of control from occurring (i.e., we do not provide for a
staggered board, or for “super-majority” votes on major corporate issues).
However, we do have 10,000,000 shares of authorized “blank check” preferred stock, which could
be used to inhibit a change in
control.
Item
11. Executive Compensation.
The following table sets forth summary
compensation information for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 for our chief executive officer and
chief financial officer. We did not have any other executive officers
as of the end of fiscal 2009 whose total compensation exceeded
$100,000. We refer to these persons as our named executive
officers elsewhere in this
report.
Summary Compensation
Table
Name and Principal Position
|
Fiscal
Year
|
Salary
($)
|
Bonus
($)
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
All Other
Compen-
sation
($)
|
Total
($)
|
||||||||||||||||
C.
Stephen Cochennet
|
2009
|
$ | 186,525 | $ | 50,000 | $ | - |
(2)
|
$ | - | $ | 236,525 | ||||||||||
President,
Chief Executive Officer
|
2008
|
$ | 156,000 | - | 859,622 |
(1)
|
- | $ | 1,015,622 | |||||||||||||
Dierdre
P. Jones
|
2009
|
$ | 128,808 | $ | 10,000 | - |
(2)
|
- | $ | 138,808 | ||||||||||||
Chief
Financial Officer
|
2008
|
- |
(3)
|
- |
(3)
|
- |
(3)
|
- |
(3)
|
- |
(3)
|
|
(1)
|
Amount represents the estimated
total fair value of stock options granted to Mr. Cochennet under SFAS
123(R).
|
|
(2)
|
In August, 2008, we granted
C. Stephen Cochennet, our chief executive officer, an option to purchase
75,000 shares of our common stock at $6.25 per share and we granted
Dierdre P. Jones, our chief financial officer, and option to purchase
40,000 shares of our common stock at $6.25 per share under SFAS 123(R) as discussed in
Note 3 to our financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2009
included elsewhere in this report. These options were rescinded in
November 2008 at the request of the board’s compensation committee and the
approval of each option holder.
|
72
|
(3)
|
Ms.
Jones was promoted to chief financial officer during fiscal 2009 and was
not a named executive officer in fiscal
2008.
|
Outstanding Equity
Awards at 2008 Fiscal Year-End
The following table lists the outstanding equity incentive
awards held by our named executive officers as of March 31, 2009.
Option Awards
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal
Year
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Exercisable
(#)
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
Unexercisable
(#)
|
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
|
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
|
Option
Expiration
Date
|
||||||||||||||
C.
Stephen Cochennet
|
2009
|
200,000 | - | - | $ | 6.25 |
05/03/2011
|
||||||||||||
Dierdre
P. Jones
|
2009
|
20,000 | - | - | $ | 6.30 |
07/31/2011
|
Option Exercises for fiscal 2009
There were no options exercised by our
named executive officers in fiscal 2009. See “Securities Authorized for Issuance under
Equity Compensation Plans”
on page 49 for a description of our outstanding
equity compensation
plans.
Potential Payments
Upon Termination or Change in Control
We entered into employment agreements with both of our named executive officers which
could result in payments to such officers
because of their resignation, incapacity or disability, or other termination of employment
with us or our subsidiaries, or a change in control, or a change in the person’s responsibilities following a change in
control.
Director
Compensation
The following table sets forth summary
compensation information for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 for each of our non-employee
directors.
Name
|
Fees
Earned
or Paid in
Cash
$
|
Stock
Awards
$
|
Option
Awards (2)
$
|
All Other
Compensation
$
|
Total
$
|
|||||||||||||||
Daran
G. Dammeyer
|
$ | 58,000 | $ | 12,000 |
(1)
|
$ | -0- | $ | -0- | $ | 70,000 | |||||||||
Darrel
G. Palmer
|
$ | 26,500 | $ | -0- | $ | -0- | $ | 20,000 |
(3)
|
$ | 46,500 | |||||||||
Robert
G. Wonish
|
$ | 49,000 | $ | -0- | $ | -0- | $ | -0- | $ | 49,000 | ||||||||||
Dr.
James W. Rector
|
$ | 22,500 | $ | -0- | $ | -0- | $ | -0- | $ | 22,500 |
73
(1)
|
Amount represents the estimated
total fair market
value of 2,182 shares of common stock issued to Mr. Dammeyer for services
as audit committee chairman under SFAS 123(R), as discussed in Note 3 to
our audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2009
included elsewhere in this
report.
|
(2)
|
In July, 2008, 28,000 stock options
were granted to each of Messrs. Dammeyer, Palmer and Wonish and 38,000
stock options were granted to Dr. Rector under SFAS 123(R), as discussed
in Note 3 to our financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2009
included elsewhere in this report. These
total 122,000 options granted to Messrs. Dammeyer, Palmer and Wonish and
to Dr. Rector were rescinded in November
2008.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Palmer was paid $20,000 for assisting in the establishment and development
of the audit committee and for his involvement and assistance to the chief
executive officer in finalizing the hedging instrument with
BP.
|
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters.
The
following table presents information, to the best of EnerJex’s knowledge, about the ownership
of EnerJex’s common stock on July 14, 2009 relating to those persons known to
beneficially own more than 5% of EnerJex’s capital stock and by EnerJex’s
directors and executive officers. The percentage of beneficial ownership for the
following table is based on 4,443,512 shares of common stock
outstanding.
Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for
any other purpose. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes those shares
of common stock over which the stockholder has sole or shared voting or
investment power. It also includes shares of common stock that the stockholder
has a right to acquire within 60 days after July 14, 2009 pursuant to options,
warrants, conversion privileges or other right. The percentage ownership of the
outstanding common stock, however, is based on the assumption, expressly
required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, that only the
person or entity whose ownership is being reported has converted options or
warrants into shares of EnerJex’s common stock.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner, Officer
or
Director(1)
|
Number
of Shares
|
Percent of
Outstanding
Shares of
Common Stock(2)
|
||||||
C.
Stephen Cochennet, President & Chief Executive Officer(3)
|
600,000 |
(4)
|
12.5 | % | ||||
Dierdre
P. Jones, Chief Financial Officer
|
20,000 | * | ||||||
Robert
(Bob) G. Wonish, Director(3)
|
40,000 |
(5)
|
* | |||||
Darrel
G. Palmer, Director(3)
|
40,000 |
(5)
|
* | |||||
Daran
G. Dammeyer, Director(3)
|
44,102 |
(5)
|
* | |||||
Dr.
James W. Rector, Director(3)
|
-0- | * | ||||||
Directors
and Officers as a Group
|
15.6 | % | ||||||
West
Coast Opportunity Fund LLC(6)
West
Coast Asset Management, Inc.
Paul
Orfalea, Lance Helfert & R. Atticus Lowe
2151
Alessandro Drive, #100
Ventura,
CA 93001
|
1,000,000 | 22.5 | % | |||||
Enable
Growth Partners L.P.(7)
Enable
Capital Management, LLC
Mitchell
S. Levine
One
Ferry Building, Suite 225
San
Francisco, CA 94111
|
353,800 | 8.7 | % |
74
|
*
|
Represents beneficial ownership of
less than 1%
|
|
(1)
|
As
used in this table, “beneficial ownership” means the sole or shared power
to vote, or to direct the voting of, a security, or the sole or shared
investment power with respect to a security (i.e., the power to dispose
of, or to direct the disposition of, a
security).
|
|
(2)
|
Figures
are rounded to the nearest tenth of a
percent.
|
|
(3)
|
The
address of each person is care of EnerJex Resources: Corporate Woods 27,
Suite 350, 10975 Grandview Drive, Overland Park,
Kansas 66210.
|
|
(4)
|
Includes
200,000 options, exercisable at $6.25 per share through May 3,
2011.
|
|
(5)
|
Includes
40,000 options, exercisable at $6.25 per share through May 3,
2011.
|
|
(6)
|
Based
on a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on February 13, 2009, the investment
manager of West Coast Opportunity Fund, LLC (“WCOF”) is West Coast Asset
Management (“WCAM”). WCAM has the authority to take any and all
actions on behalf of WCOF, including voting any shares held by
WCOF. Paul Orfalea, Lance Helfert and R. Atticus Lowe
constitute the Investment Committee of WCOF. Messrs. Orfalea,
Helfert and Lowe disclaim beneficial ownership of the
shares.
|
|
(7)
|
Based
on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 11, 2009, Enable
Capital Management, LLC, as general and investment manager of Enable
Growth Partners L.P. and other clients, may be deemed to have the power to
direct the voting or disposition of shares of common stock held by Enable
Growth Partners L.P. (353,800 shares of common stock) and other clients
(285,040 shares of common stock). Therefore, Energy Capital
Management, LLC, as Enable Growth Partners L.P.’s and those other
accounts’ general partner and investment manager, and Mitchell S. Levine,
as managing member and majority owner of Enable Capital Management, LLC,
may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of common stock owned by
Enable Growth Partners L.P. and such other
accounts.
|
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
following table sets forth information as of March 31, 2009 regarding
outstanding options granted under our stock option plans and options reserved
for future grant under the plans.
Plan
Category
|
Number
of shares to be issued
upon exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
|
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
|
Number of shares
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding shares
reflected in column (a)
(c)
|
|||||||||
Equity compensation plans
approved by
stockholders
|
438,500 | $ | 6.30 | 761,500 | ||||||||
Equity compensation plans not
approved by
stockholders
|
— | — | — | |||||||||
Total
|
438,500 | $ | 6.30 | 761,500 |
75
On May 4,
2007, we granted a non-qualified option to C. Stephen Cochennet for all 200,000
options available under our 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.
As of
March 31, 2009, we have granted 254,330 non-qualified options under our
2002-2003 Stock Option Plan at prices ranging from $6.25 to $6.30 per
share.
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence.
We describe below transactions and
series of similar transactions that have occurred during this fiscal year to
which we were a party or will be a party in which:
|
•
|
The amounts involved exceeds the
lesser of $120,000 or
one percent of the
average of our total assets at year end for the last two completed
fiscal
years ($93,280);
and
|
|
•
|
A director, executive officer,
holder of more than 5% of our common stock or any member of their
immediate family had or will have a direct or indirect material
interest.
|
Our board
of directors has affirmatively determined that Messrs. Wonish, Dammeyer, Palmer
and Dr. Rector are independent directors, as defined by Section 803 of the
American Stock Exchange Company Guide. Mr. Palmer is not eligible to serve on
our Audit Committee pursuant to Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.
Item
14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Weaver & Martin, LLC served as our
principal independent public accountants for fiscal 2009 and 2008 years.
Aggregate fees billed to us for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
by Weaver & Martin, LLC were as follows:
For
the Fiscal Years
Ended
March
31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Audit
Fees(1)
|
$ | 56,000 | $ | 105,000 | ||||
Audit-Related
Fees(2)
|
-0- | -0- | ||||||
Tax
Fees(3)
|
10,000 | 13,000 | ||||||
All
Other Fees(4)
|
19,718 | -0- | ||||||
Total
fees
paid or accrued to our principal accountant
|
$ | 85,718 | $ | 118,000 |
|
(1)
|
Audit Fees include fees billed and
expected to be billed for services performed to comply with Generally
Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), including the recurring audit of the
Company’s consolidated financial
statements for such period included in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K and for the reviews of the consolidated quarterly financial
statements included in the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This category also
includes fees for audits provided in connection with statutory filings or
procedures related to audit of income tax provisions and related reserves,
consents and assistance with and review of documents filed with the
SEC.
|
76
|
(2)
|
Audit-Related Fees include fees
for services associated with assurance and reasonably related to the
performance of the audit or review of the Company’s financial statements. This
category includes fees related to assistance in financial due diligence
related to mergers
and acquisitions, consultations regarding Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles, reviews and evaluations of the impact of new regulatory
pronouncements, general assistance with implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 requirements and audit services not required
by statute or regulation.
|
|
(3)
|
Tax fees consist of fees related
to the preparation and review of the Company’s federal and state income tax
returns.
|
|
(4)
|
Other fees include fees related to
the preparation and review of the Form S-1 Registration
Statement.
|
Audit Committee Policies and
Procedures
Our Audit
Committee pre-approves all services to be provided to us by our independent
auditor. This process involves obtaining (i) a written description of the
proposed services, (ii) the confirmation of our Principal Accounting
Officer that the services are compatible with maintaining specific principles
relating to independence, and (iii) confirmation from our securities
counsel that the services are not among those that our independent auditors have
been prohibited from performing under SEC rules, as outlined in the Audit
Committee charter. The members of the Audit Committee then make a determination
to approve or disapprove the engagement of Weaver & Martin for the proposed
services. In fiscal 2009, all fees paid to Weaver & Martin were unanimously
pre-approved in accordance with this policy.
Less than
50 percent of hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement to audit
the registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were
attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant's
full-time, permanent employees.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE AND INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
Qualification
Of Audit Committee Members
Our
Audit Committee consists of two independent directors, each of whom has been
selected for membership on the Audit Committee by the Board of Directors based
on the Board's determination that he is fully qualified to oversee EnerJex's
internal audit function, assess and select independent auditors, and oversee
EnerJex's financial reporting processes and overall risk management. The Audit
Committee has the authority to seek advice and assistance from outside legal,
accounting or other advisors and exercises such authority as it deems necessary.
The full text of the charter of the Audit Committee can be found in the investor
section of our website at www.enerjexresources.com.
Through
a range of education, experiences in business and executive leadership and
service on the boards of directors, and through experience on EnerJex's Board of
Directors and Audit Committee, each member of the Committee has an understanding
of generally accepted accounting principles and has experience in evaluating the
financial performance of public companies. Moreover, the Audit Committee members
have gained valuable special knowledge of the financial condition and
performance of EnerJex. The Board has determined that Daran G. Dammeyer is a
"financial expert" as that term is used in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act.
77
Report
Of The Audit Committee Of The Board
The
Company’s management is responsible for preparing our financial statements and
ensuring they are complete and accurate and prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. Weaver & Martin, LLC, our
independent registered public accounting firm, is responsible for performing an
independent audit of our consolidated financial statements and expressing an
opinion on the conformity of those financial statements with generally accepted
accounting principles.
The Audit
Committee has reviewed and discussed with our management the audited financial
statements of the Company included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 (“10-K”).
The Audit
Committee has also reviewed and discussed with Weaver & Martin, LLC the
audited financial statements in the 10-K. In addition, the Audit Committee
discussed with Weaver & Martin, LLC those matters required to be discussed
by the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended. Additionally,
Weaver & Martin, LLC provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures
and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications
with the Audit Committee concerning independence. The Audit Committee also
discussed with Weaver & Martin, LLC its independence from the
Company.
Based
upon the review and discussions described above, the Audit Committee recommended
to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in
the Company’s 10-K for filing with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Submitted
by the following members of the Audit Committee:
Daran G.
Dammeyer (Chairman)
Robert G.
Wonish
PART IV
Item
15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
The
following information required under this item is filed as part of this
report:
(a) 1.
Financial Statements
Page
|
|
Management
Responsibility for Financial Information
|
65
|
Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
|
66
|
Index
to Financial Statements
|
F-1
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-2
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
|
F-3
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
|
F-4
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders Equity
|
F-5
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
|
F-6
|
78
2.
Financial Statement Schedules
None.
3. Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
|
Description
|
|
2.1
|
Agreement
and Plan of Merger between Millennium Plastics Corporation and Midwest
Energy, Inc. effective August 15, 2006 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 2.3 to the Form 8-K filed on August 16, 2006)
|
|
3.1
|
Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as currently in effect
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 10-Q filed on August
14, 2008)
|
|
3.2
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws, as currently in effect (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 3.3 to the Form SB-2 filed on February 23,
2001)
|
|
4.1
|
Article
VI of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Millennium
Plastics Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 to the Form
8-K filed on December 6, 1999)
|
|
4.2
|
Article
II and Article VIII, Sections 3 & 6 of Amended and Restated Bylaws of
Millennium Plastics Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
to the Form SB-2 filed on February 23, 2001)
|
|
4.3
|
Specimen
common stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the
Form S-1/A filed on May 27, 2008)
|
|
10.1
|
Credit Agreement with Texas Capital Bank, N.A.
dated July
3, 2008 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.33 to the Form 10-K filed on July 10,
2008)
|
|
10.2
|
Promissory Note to Texas Capital
Bank, N.A. dated July
3, 2008 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.34 to the Form 10-K filed on July 10,
2008)
|
|
10.3
|
Amended and Restated Mortgage, Security Agreement,
Financing Statement and Assignment of Production and Revenues with Texas
Capital Bank, N.A. dated July 3, 2008 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.35 to the Form 10-K filed on July 10,
2008)
|
|
10.4
|
Security Agreement with Texas
Capital Bank, N.A. dated July 3, 2008 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.36 to the Form 10-K filed on July 10,
2008)
|
|
10.5
|
Letter Agreement with Debenture
Holders dated July
3, 2008 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.37 to the Form 10-K filed on July 10,
2008)
|
|
10.6†
|
C.
Stephen Cochennet Employment Agreement dated August 1, 2008 (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed on August 1,
2008)
|
|
10.7†
|
Dierdre P. Jones Employment Agreement
dated August 1, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to
the Form 8-K filed on August 1, 2008)
|
|
10.8†
|
Amended and Restated EnerJex
Resources, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2008)
|
|
10.9
|
Form of Officer and Director
Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.2 to the Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2008)
|
|
10.10
|
Euramerica Letter Agreement
Amendment dated September 15, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Form 8-K filed on September 18,
2008)
|
|
10.11
|
Euramerica Letter Agreement
Amendment dated October 15, 2008 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.11 to the Form 8-K filed on October 21,
2008)
|
|
10.12(a) †
|
C. Stephen Cochennet Rescission of
Option Grant Agreement dated November 17, 2008 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.38(a) to the Form 10-Q filed on February 23,
2009)
|
79
10.12(b) †
|
Dierdre P. Jones Rescission of
Option Grant Agreement dated November 17, 2008 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.38(b) to the Form 10-Q filed on February 23,
2009)
|
|
10.12(c)
|
Daran G. Dammeyer Rescission of Option Grant
Agreement dated November 17, 2008 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.38(c) to the Form 10-Q filed on February 23,
2009)
|
|
10.12(d)
|
Darrel G. Palmer Rescission of Option Grant
Agreement dated November 17, 2008 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.38(d) to the Form 10-Q filed on February 23,
2009)
|
|
10.12(e)
|
Dr. James W. Rector Rescission of Option Grant Agreement
dated November 17, 2008 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.38(e) to the Form 10-Q filed on February 23,
2009)
|
|
10.12(f)
|
Robert G. Wonish Rescission of Option Grant
Agreement dated November 17, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38(f) to the
Form 10-Q filed on February 23, 2009)
|
|
10.13
|
Letter
Agreement with Debenture Holders dated June 11, 2009 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed on June 16,
2009)
|
|
10.14
|
Joint
Operating Agreement with Pharyn Resources to explore and develop the
Brownrigg Lease Press Release dated June 1, 2009 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K filed on June 5,
2009)
|
|
10.15
|
Amendment 4 to Joint Exploration
Agreement effective as of November 6, 2008 between MorMeg, LLC and
EnerJex Resources, Inc.
|
|
10.16
|
Waiver
from Texas Capital Bank, N.A. dated July 14,
2009
|
|
21.1
|
List
of Subsidiaries
|
|
23.1
|
Miller
& Lents, Ltd. Consent Of Independent Petroleum Engineers and
Geologists Letter dated June 24, 2009 and effective March 31,
2009
|
|
23.2
|
Consent
of Weaver & Martin, LLC
|
|
31.1
|
Certification of Chief Executive
Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
|
31.2
|
Certification of Chief
Financial
Officer pursuant to
Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
|
32.1
|
Certification of Chief Executive
Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
|
32.2
|
Certification of Chief
Financial
Officer pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002
|
†
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or
arrangement.
80
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section
13 or 15(d) 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.
ENERJEX
RESOURCES, INC.
|
|
By:
|
/s/ C. Stephen Cochennet |
C.
Stephen Cochennet, Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Date:
July 14,
2009
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
ENERJEX
RESOURCES, INC.
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Dierdre P Jones
|
Dierdre
P Jones, Chief Financial Officer
|
|
Date:
July 14,
2009
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
/s/ C. Stephen Cochennet |
President,
Chief Executive Officer,
|
July
14, 2009
|
||
C.
Stephen Cochennet
|
(Principal
Executive Officer),
|
|||
Secretary,
Chairman
|
||||
/s/ Dierdre P Jones |
Chief
Financial Officer
|
July
14, 2009
|
||
Dierdre
P. Jones
|
||||
/s/
Robert G. Wonish
|
Director
|
July
14, 2009
|
||
Robert
G. Wonish
|
||||
/s/
Daran G. Dammeyer
|
Director
|
July
14, 2009
|
||
Daran
G. Dammeyer
|
||||
/s/
Darrel G. Palmer
|
Director
|
July
14, 2009
|
||
Darrel
G. Palmer
|
||||
/s/
Dr. James W. Rector
|
Director
|
July
14, 2009
|
||
Dr.
James W. Rector
|
|
|
81
Index
to Financial Statements
Page
|
|
Index
to Financial Statements
|
F-1
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-2
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets at March 31, 2009 and 2008
|
F-3
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2009 and
2008
|
F-4
|
Consolidated
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity(Deficit) for the Fiscal Years Ended
March 31, 2009 and 2008
|
F-5
|
Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2009 and
2008
|
F-6
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
F-7
|
F-1
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Stockholders
and Directors
EnerJex
Resources, Inc.
Overland
Park, Kansas
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of EnerJex Resources, Inc.
as of March 31, 2009 and 2008 and the related consolidated statements of
operations, stockholders’ equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years
in the two-year period ended March 31, 2009. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatements. The Company is not required to
have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over
financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal
control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that
are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an
opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An
audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well
as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of EnerJex Resources,
Inc. as of March 31, 2009 and 2008 and the consolidated results of its
operations and cash flows for each of the years in the two–year period ended
March 31, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company
will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial
statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses and had negative cash
flows that raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a
going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are described in
the Note 2. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might
result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/S/
Weaver
& Martin, LLC
Kansas
City, Missouri
July 9,
2009
F-2
EnerJex
Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
March
31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Assets
|
||||||||
Current
assets:
|
||||||||
Cash
|
$ | 127,585 | $ | 951,004 | ||||
Accounts
receivable
|
462,044 | 227,055 | ||||||
Prepaid
debt issue costs
|
45,929 | 157,191 | ||||||
Deposits
and prepaid expenses
|
263,383 | 176,345 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
898,941 | 1,511,595 | ||||||
Fixed
assets
|
365,019 | 185,299 | ||||||
Less:
Accumulated depreciation
|
63,988 | 30,982 | ||||||
Total
fixed assets
|
301,031 | 154,317 | ||||||
Other
assets:
|
||||||||
Prepaid
debt issue costs
|
- | 157,191 | ||||||
Oil
and gas properties using full-cost accounting:
|
||||||||
Properties
not subject to amortization
|
31,183 | 62,216 | ||||||
Properties
subject to amortization
|
6,449,023 | 8,982,510 | ||||||
Total
other assets
|
6,480,206 | 9,201,917 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 7,680,178 | $ | 10,867,829 | ||||
Liabilities
and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
|
||||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ | 1,016,168 | $ | 416,834 | ||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
87,811 | 70,461 | ||||||
Notes
payable
|
- | 965,000 | ||||||
Deferred
payments from Euramerica development
|
- | 251,951 | ||||||
Long-term
debt, current
|
1,723,036 | 412,930 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
2,827,015 | 2,117,176 | ||||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
803,624 | 459,689 | ||||||
Convertible
note payable
|
25,000 | 25,000 | ||||||
Long-term
debt, net of discount of $596,108
|
7,818,163 | 6,831,972 | ||||||
Total
liabilities
|
11,473,802 | 9,433,837 | ||||||
Contingencies
and commitments
|
||||||||
Stockholders’
Equity (Deficit):
|
||||||||
Preferred
stock, $0.001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued
and outstanding
|
- | - | ||||||
Common
stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued and
outstanding –4,443,512 at March 31, 2009 and 4,440,651 at March 31,
2008
|
4,444 | 4,441 | ||||||
Paid
in capital
|
8,932,906 | 8,853,457 | ||||||
Retained
(deficit)
|
(12,730,974 | ) | (7,423,906 | ) | ||||
Total
stockholders’ equity (deficit)
|
(3,793,624 | ) | 1,433,992 | |||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)
|
$ | 7,680,178 | $ | 10,867,829 |
See
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-3
EnerJex
Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
For the Fiscal Years Ended
|
||||||||
March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Oil
and natural gas revenues
|
$ | 6,436,805 | $ | 3,602,798 | ||||
Expenses:
|
||||||||
Direct
operating costs
|
2,637,333 | 1,795,188 | ||||||
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization
|
911,293 | 935,330 | ||||||
Impairment
of oil and gas properties
|
4,777,723 | - | ||||||
Professional
fees
|
1,320,332 | 1,226,998 | ||||||
Salaries
|
849,340 | 1,703,099 | ||||||
Administrative
expense
|
1,392,645 | 887,872 | ||||||
Total
expenses
|
11,888,666 | 6,548,487 | ||||||
Loss
from operations
|
(5,451,861 | ) | (2,945,689 | ) | ||||
Other
income (expense):
|
||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(882,426 | ) | (792,448 | ) | ||||
Loan
interest accretion
|
(2,814,095 | ) | (1,089,798 | ) | ||||
Gain
on liquidation of hedging instrument
|
3,879,050 | - | ||||||
Other
Gain/(Loss)
|
(37,736 | ) | - | |||||
Total
other income (expense)
|
144,793 | (1,882,246 | ) | |||||
Net
income - (loss)
|
$ | (5,307,068 | ) | $ | (4,827,935 | ) | ||
Weighted
average shares outstanding - basic
|
4,443,249 | 4,284,144 | ||||||
Net
income (loss) per share - basic
|
$ | (1.19 | ) | $ | (1.13 | ) |
See
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-4
EnerJex
Resources, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Common Stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Par Value
|
Owed but not
issued
|
Paid in
Capital
|
Retained Deficit
|
Total
Stockholders’
Equity (Deficit)
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
April 1, 2007
|
2,635,731 | $ | 2,636 | $ | 3 | $ | 2,548,742 | $ | ( 2,595,971 | ) | $ | (44,590 | ) | |||||||||||
Stock
sold
|
1,800,000 | 1,800 | - | 4,311,956 | - | 4,313,756 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock
issued for services
|
1,920 | 2 | - | 14,998 | - | 15,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Previously
authorized but unissued stock
|
3,000 | 3 | (3 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Stock
options issued for services
|
- | - | - | 1,977,761 | - | 1,977,761 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
(loss) for the year
|
- | - | - | - | (4,827,935 | ) | (4,827,935 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Balance,
March 31, 2008
|
4,440,651 | 4,441 | - | 8,853,457 | (7,423,906 | ) | 1,433,992 | |||||||||||||||||
Stock
options issued for services
|
- | - | - | 67,452 | - | 67,452 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock
issued for services
|
2,182 | 2 | - | 11,998 | - | 12,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stock
issued in reverse stock split
|
679 | 1 | - | (1 | ) | - | - | |||||||||||||||||
Net
loss for the year
|
- | - | - | - | $ | (5,307,068 | ) | (5,307,068 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance,
March 31, 2009
|
4,443,512 | $ | 4,444 | $ | - | $ | 8,932,906 | $ | ( 12,730,974 | ) | $ | (3,793,624 | ) |
See
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-5
EnerJex
Resources, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
For the Fiscal Years Ended
|
||||||||
March 31,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
||||||||
Net
(loss)
|
$ | (5,307,068 | ) | $ | (4,827,935 | ) | ||
Depreciation
and depletion
|
950,357 | 935,330 | ||||||
Debt
issue cost amortization
|
157,191 | 152,453 | ||||||
Stock
and options issued for services
|
79,452 | 1,992,761 | ||||||
Accretion
of interest on long-term debt discount
|
2,814,095 | 1,089,798 | ||||||
Accretion
of asset retirement obligation
|
60,864 | 30,331 | ||||||
Impairment
of oil & gas properties
|
4,777,723 | - | ||||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net (loss) to cash used in operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
(234,989 | ) | (222,917 | ) | ||||
Notes
and interest receivable
|
- | 10,300 | ||||||
Deposits
and prepaid expenses
|
24,224 | (169,672 | ) | |||||
Accounts
payable
|
599,334 | 374,535 | ||||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
17,350 | (25,429 | ) | |||||
Deferred
payment from Euramerica for development
|
(251,951 | ) | 251,951 | |||||
Cash
used in operating activities
|
3,686,582 | (408,494 | ) | |||||
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
||||||||
Purchase
of fixed assets
|
(204,200 | ) | (149,799 | ) | ||||
Additions
to oil & gas properties
|
(3,123,003 | ) | (9,530,321 | ) | ||||
Sale
of oil & gas properties
|
300,000 | 300,000 | ||||||
Note
and interest receivable from officer
|
- | 23,100 | ||||||
Proceeds
from sale of vehicle
|
- | |||||||
Cash
used in investing activities
|
(3,027,203 | ) | (9,357,020 | ) | ||||
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
||||||||
Proceeds
from (repayment of) note payable, net
|
(965,000 | ) | 615,000 | |||||
Proceeds
from sales of common stock
|
- | 4,313,756 | ||||||
Debt
issue costs
|
(466,835 | ) | ||||||
Borrowings
on long-term debt
|
11,274,843 | 6,344,816 | ||||||
Payments
on long-term debt
|
(11,792,641 | ) | (189,712 | ) | ||||
Cash
provided from financing activities
|
(1,482,798 | ) | 10,617,025 | |||||
Increase
(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
(823,419 | ) | 851,511 | |||||
Cash
and cash equivalents, beginning
|
951,004 | 99,493 | ||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents, end
|
$ | 127,585 | $ | 951,004 | ||||
Supplemental
disclosures:
|
||||||||
Interest
paid
|
$ | 768,053 | $ | 733,972 | ||||
Income
taxes paid
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
Non-cash
transactions:
|
||||||||
Share-based
payments issued for services
|
$ | - | $ | 280,591 |
See
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-6
EnerJex
Resources, Inc.
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note
1 – Summary of Accounting Policies
Nature
of Business
We are an
independent energy company engaged in the business of producing and selling
crude oil and natural gas. This crude oil and natural gas is obtained primarily
by the acquisition and subsequent exploration and development of mineral
leases. Development and exploration may include drilling new
exploratory or development wells on these leases. These operations are conducted
primarily in Eastern Kansas.
Principles
of Consolidation
Our
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our wholly-owned
subsidiaries, EnerJex Kansas, Inc., DD Energy, Inc.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of these financial statements requires the use of estimates by
management in determining our assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and
related disclosures. Actual amounts could differ from those
estimates.
Trade
Accounts Receivable
Trade
accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear any
interest. We regularly review receivables to insure that the amounts
will be collected and establish or adjust an allowance for uncollectible amounts
as necessary using the specific identification method. Account
balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection
have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. There
were no reserves for uncollectible amounts in the periods
presented.
Share-Based
Payments
The value
we assign to the options and warrants that we issue is based on the fair market
value as calculated by the Black-Scholes pricing model. To perform a calculation
of the value of our options and warrants, we determine an estimate of the
volatility of our stock. We need to estimate volatility because there
has not been enough trading of our stock to determine an appropriate measure of
volatility. We believe our estimate of volatility is reasonable, and we review
the assumptions used to determine this whenever we issue a new equity
instruments. If we have a material error in our estimate of the
volatility of our stock, our expenses could be understated or
overstated.
F-7
Income
Taxes
We
account for income taxes under the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
“SFAS” Statement 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. The asset and
liability approach requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and
assets for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between
the carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. The
provision for income taxes differs from the amount currently payable because of
temporary differences in the recognition of certain income and expense items for
financial reporting and tax reporting purposes.
We
adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board “FASB” Interpretation No. 48,
“Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB
Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”) as of April 1, 2007. FIN 48 clarifies the
accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in companies’ financial
statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income
Taxes”. As a result, we apply a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold for
all tax uncertainties. FIN 48 only allows the recognition of those tax benefits
that have a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being sustained upon
examination by the taxing authorities. As a result of implementing FIN 48, we
have reviewed our tax positions and determined there were no outstanding or
retroactive tax positions with less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained
upon examination by the taxing authorities, therefore the implementation of this
standard has not had a material effect on the Company.
We
classify tax-related penalties and net interest on income taxes as income tax
expense. As of March 31, 2009 and 2008, no income tax expense had been
incurred.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
Our
financial instruments consist of accounts receivable and notes payable. Interest
rates currently available to us for debt with similar terms and remaining
maturities are used to estimate fair value of such financial instruments.
Accordingly the carrying amounts are a reasonable estimate of fair
value.
Earnings
Per Share
SFAS No.
128, “Earnings Per Share”, requires dual presentation of basic and diluted
earnings per share on the face of the income statement for all entities with
complex capital structures and requires a reconciliation of the numerator and
denominator of the diluted income or loss per share computation.
For the
year ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, there were 513,500 and 533,500,
respectively, of potentially issuable shares of common stock pursuant to
outstanding stock options and warrants. These have been excluded from
the denominator of the diluted earnings per share computation, as their effect
would be anti-dilutive.
F-8
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
We
consider all highly liquid investment instruments purchased with original
maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents for purposes of the
consolidated statements of cash flows and other statements. We maintain cash on
deposit, which, at times, exceed federally insured limits. We have not
experienced any losses on such accounts and believe we are not exposed to any
significant credit risk on cash and equivalents.
Revenue
Recognition and Imbalances
Oil and
gas revenues are recognized net of royalties when production is sold to a
purchaser at a fixed or determinable price, when delivery has occurred and title
has transferred, and if collection of the revenue is probable. Cash received
relating to future revenues is deferred and recognized when all revenue
recognition criteria are met.
We use
the sales method of accounting for gas production imbalances. The volumes of gas
sold may differ from the volumes to which we are entitled based on our interests
in the properties. These differences create imbalances that are recognized as a
liability only when the properties’ estimated remaining reserves net to us will
not be sufficient to enable the under-produced owner to recoup its entitled
share through production. No receivables are recorded for those wells where we
have taken less than our share of production. Gas imbalances are reflected as
adjustments to estimates of proved gas reserves and future cash flows
in the supplemental oil and gas disclosures. There was no
imbalance at March 31, 2009 and 2008.
Goodwill
Goodwill
represents the excess of the purchase price of an entity over the estimated fair
value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We assess the carrying
amount of goodwill by testing the goodwill for impairment annually and when
impairment indicators arise. The impairment test requires allocating goodwill
and all other assets and liabilities to assigned reporting units. The fair value
of each unit is determined and compared to the book value of the reporting unit.
If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the book value, including
goodwill, then the goodwill is written down to the implied fair value of the
goodwill through a charge to expense.
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is on a straight-line method
using the estimated lives of the assets. (3-15 years). Expenditures
for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense.
Debt
issue costs
Debt
issuance costs incurred are capitalized and subsequently amortized over the term
of the related debt on the straight-line method of amortization over the
estimated life of the debt.
F-9
Oil
and Gas Properties
The
accounting for our business is subject to special accounting rules that are
unique to the gas and oil industry. There are two allowable methods of
accounting for oil and gas business activities: the successful efforts method
and the full-cost method. We follow the full-cost method of accounting under
which all costs associated with property acquisition, exploration and
development activities are capitalized. We also capitalize internal costs that
can be directly identified with our acquisition, exploration and development
activities and do not include any costs related to production, general corporate
overhead or similar activities.
Under the
full-cost method, capitalized costs are amortized on a composite
unit-of-production method based on proved gas and oil reserves. Depreciation,
depletion and amortization expense is also based on the amount of estimated
reserves. If we maintain the same level of production year over year, the
depreciation, depletion and amortization expense may be significantly different
if our estimate of remaining reserves changes significantly. Proceeds from the
sale of properties are accounted for as reductions of capitalized costs unless
such sales involve a significant change in the relationship between costs and
the value of proved reserves or the underlying value of unproved properties, in
which case a gain or loss is recognized. The costs of unproved properties are
excluded from amortization until the properties are evaluated. We review all of
our unevaluated properties quarterly to determine whether or not and to what
extent proved reserves have been assigned to the properties, and otherwise if
impairment has occurred. Unevaluated properties are assessed individually when
individual costs are significant.
The
process of estimating gas and oil reserves is very complex, requiring
significant decisions in the evaluation of available geological, geophysical,
engineering and economic data. The data for a given property may also change
substantially over time as a result of numerous factors, including additional
development activity, evolving production history and a continual reassessment
of the viability of production under changing economic conditions. As a result,
material revisions to existing reserve estimates occur from time to time.
Although every reasonable effort is made to ensure that reserve estimates
reported represent the most accurate assessments possible, the subjective
decisions and variances in available data for various properties increase the
likelihood of significant changes in these estimates.
We review
the carrying value of our gas and oil properties under the full-cost accounting
rules of the SEC on a quarterly basis. This quarterly review is referred to as a
ceiling test. Under the ceiling test, capitalized costs, less accumulated
amortization and related deferred income taxes, may not exceed an amount equal
to the sum of the present value of estimated future net revenues (adjusted for
cash flow hedges) less estimated future expenditures to be incurred in
developing and producing the proved reserves, less any related income tax
effects. In calculating future net revenues, current SEC regulations require us
to utilize prices at the end of the appropriate quarterly period. Such prices
are utilized except where different prices are fixed and determinable from
applicable contracts for the remaining term of those contracts, including the
effects of derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges. Two primary factors
impacting this test are reserve levels and current prices, and their associated
impact on the present value of estimated future net revenues. Revisions to
estimates of gas and oil reserves and/or an increase or decrease in prices can
have a material impact on the present value of estimated future net revenues.
Any excess of the net book value, less deferred income taxes, is generally
written off as an expense. Under SEC regulations, the excess above the ceiling
is not expensed (or is reduced) if, subsequent to the end of the period, but
prior to the release of the financial statements, gas and oil prices increase
sufficiently such that an excess above the ceiling would have been eliminated
(or reduced) if the increased prices were used in the
calculations.
F-10
As
previously announced, in December 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) issued new regulations for oil and gas reserve reporting which go into
effect effective for fiscal years ending on or after December 31,
2009. One of the key elements of the new regulations relate to the
commodity prices which are used to calculate reserves and their present
value. The new regulations provide for disclosure of oil and gas
reserves evaluated using annual average prices based on the prices in effect on
the first day of each month rather than the current regulations which utilize
commodity prices on the last day of the year.
All
reserve estimates are prepared based upon a review of production histories and
other geologic, economic, ownership and engineering data.
Long-Lived
Assets
Impairment
of long-lived assets is recorded when indicators of impairment are present and
the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less
than the assets’ carrying value. The carrying value of the assets is
then reduced to their estimated fair value that is usually measured based on an
estimate of future discounted cash flows.
Asset
Retirement Obligations
The asset
retirement obligation relates to the plug and abandonment costs when our wells
are no longer useful. We determine the value of the liability by obtaining
quotes for this service and estimate the increase we will face in the future. We
then discount the future value based on an intrinsic interest rate that is
appropriate for us. If costs rise more than what we have expected there could be
additional charges in the future, however, we monitor the costs of the abandoned
wells and we will adjust this liability if necessary.
Major
Purchasers
For the
years ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 we sold all of our natural gas production to
one purchaser. We sold all of our oil production to one purchaser during fiscal
2009 and to a single, but different purchaser in fiscal 2008.
Recent
Issued Accounting Standards
In May
2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 163,
“Accounting for Financial
Guarantee Insurance Contracts – An interpretation of FASB Statement No.
60”. SFAS No. 163 requires that an insurance enterprise recognize a claim
liability prior to an event of default when there is evidence that credit
deterioration has occurred in an insured financial obligation. It also clarifies
how Statement 60 applies to financial guarantee insurance contracts, including
the recognition and measurement to be used to account for premium revenue and
claim liabilities, and requires expanded disclosures about financial guarantee
insurance contracts. It is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2008, except for some disclosures about the
insurance enterprise’s risk-management activities. SFAS No. 163 requires that
disclosures about the risk-management activities of the insurance enterprise be
effective for the first period beginning after issuance. Except for those
disclosures, earlier application is not permitted. The adoption of this
statement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial
statements.
F-11
In May
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles”. SFAS No. 162 identifies the sources of accounting
principles and the framework for selecting the principles to be used in the
preparation of financial statements of nongovernmental entities that are
presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States. It is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in
Conformity With Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. The adoption
of this statement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s
financial statements.
In March
2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 161,
“Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities – an amendment to FASB Statement No.
133”. SFAS No. 161 is intended to improve financial standards for
derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures
to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity's financial
position, financial performance, and cash flows. Entities are required to
provide enhanced disclosures about: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative
instruments; (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are
accounted for under Statement 133 and its related interpretations; and (c) how
derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial
position, financial performance, and cash flows. It is effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, with early
adoption encouraged. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No.
161 on its financial statements, and the adoption of this statement is not
expected to have a material effect on the Company’s financial
statements.
In
December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No.
141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations”. This statement replaces SFAS No.
141 and defines the acquirer in a business combination as the entity that
obtains control of one or more businesses in a business combination and
establishes the acquisition date as the date that the acquirer achieves control.
SFAS 141 (revised 2007) requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired,
the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquired at the
acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that date. SFAS 141
(revised 2007) also requires the acquirer to recognize contingent consideration
at the acquisition date, measured at its fair value at that date. This statement
is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years,
beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier adoption is prohibited. The
adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material effect on the
Company's financial statements.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements Liabilities –an Amendment of ARB No. 51”. This
statement amends ARB 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the
Non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a
subsidiary. This statement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods
within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Earlier
adoption is prohibited. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a
material effect on the Company's financial statements.
F-12
Reclassifications
Certain
reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform to current
presentation.
Note
2 – Going Concern
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that
we will continue as a going concern. Our ability to continue as a going concern
is dependent upon attaining profitable operations based on the development of
products that can be sold. We intend to use borrowings, equity and asset sales,
and other strategic initiatives to mitigate the affects of our cash position,
however, no assurance can be given that debt or equity financing, if and when
required, will be available. The financial statements do not include any
adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded assets
and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should we be unable to
continue in existence.
Note
3 – Stock Transactions
Stock
transactions in fiscal 2009:
We issued
2,182 shares of common stock to a Director and chairman of our Audit Committee
for services over the next year. For the year ended March 31, 2009, we recorded
director compensation in the amount $13,000.
Option
and Warrant transactions:
Officers (including officers who are
members of the board of directors), directors, employees and consultants are
eligible to receive options under our stock option plans. We
administer the stock option plans and we determine those persons to whom options
will be granted, the number of options to be granted, the provisions applicable
to each grant and the time periods during which the options may be
exercised. No options may be granted more than ten years after the
date of the adoption of the stock option plans.
Each option granted under the stock
option plans will be exercisable for a term of not more than ten years after the
date of grant. Certain other restrictions will apply in connection
with the plans when some awards may be exercised. In the event of a
change of control (as defined in the stock option plans), the vesting date on
which all options outstanding under the stock option plans may first be
exercised will be accelerated. Generally, all options terminate 90
days after a change of control.
F-13
2000-2001
Stock Option Plan
The Board
of Directors approved a stock option plan and our stockholders ratified the plan
on September 25, 2000. The total number of options that can be
granted under the plan is 200,000 shares. At March 31, 2009, we had
granted 200,000 non-qualified options under this plan.
Stock
Option Plan
On May 4,
2007, we amended and restated the EnerJex Resources, Inc. Stock Option Plan to
rename the plan and to increase the number of shares issuable under the plan to
1,000,000. Our stockholders approved this plan in September of
2007. At March 31, 2009 we had granted 238,500 non-qualified options
under this plan.
Option
transactions in fiscal 2008:
The
unvested option issued in the year ended March 31, 2007, was unexercised and
cancelled in accordance with a separation agreement. We recognized
the remaining expense ($61,187) relating to the options in the year ended March
31, 2008.
We
granted 458,500 options in the year ended March 31, 2008. 30,000 of
the options were for services earned over a one-year period. We
measured the compensation cost of the options based on the vesting and the
market value as determined by the Black-Scholes pricing model.
For the
year ended March 31, 2008, we included as expense $1,977,761 relating to the
value of vested options.
The fair
value of each option award was estimated on the date of grant using the
assumptions noted in the following table. Volatility is based on the
historical volatility of stock trading, expected term was the estimated exercise
period, risk free rate was the rate of a U.S. Treasury instrument of the time
period in which the options would be outstanding, and dividend rate was
estimated to be zero as we cannot assume that there will be any future
dividends.
Weighted
average expected volatility
|
101 | % | ||
Weighted
average expected term (in years)
|
3.95 | |||
Weighted
average expected dividends
|
0 | % | ||
Weighted
average risk free rate
|
4.42 | % |
The
weighted average grant date fair value of the options granted in the year ended
March 31, 2009 was $4.35.
In the
year ended March 31, 2008, we granted warrants to purchase 75,000 shares of our
common stock as partial payment for services rendered in connection with our
financing activities. The warrants have an exercise price of $3.00 and expire on
April 11, 2010. The fair value of the warrants based on the Black-Scholes
pricing model totaled $280,591 (approximately $3.75 per warrant). The following
assumptions were used in the valuation: stock price-$1.00; exercise price-$0.60;
life- 3 years; volatility- 106%; yield-4.66%. We have included the value of the
warrants with the loan and equity transaction costs (See Note
5).
F-14
Option
transactions in fiscal 2009:
We
cancelled 20,000 options in accordance with the provisions regarding
terminations in the Stock Option Plan.
At March 31, 2009, we included as
expense $66,456 relating to the options that were for services earned over a
one-year period.
A summary
of stock options and warrants is as follows:
Options
|
Weighted
Ave. Exercise
Price
|
Warrants
|
Weighted
Ave. Exercise
Price
|
|||||||||||||
Outstanding
April 1, 2007
|
60,000 | $ | 6.25 | - | ||||||||||||
Granted
|
458,500 | 6.30 | 75,000 | $ | 3.00 | |||||||||||
Cancelled
|
(60,000 | ) | (6.25 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||
Exercised
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Outstanding
March 31, 2008
|
458,500 | $ | 6.30 | 75,000 | $ | 3.00 | ||||||||||
Granted
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Cancelled
|
(20,000 | ) | (6.25 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||
Exercised
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Outstanding
March 31, 2009
|
438,500 | $ | 6.30 | 75,000 | $ | 3.00 |
Note
4 – Asset Retirement Obligation
Our asset
retirement obligations relate to the abandonment of oil and natural gas wells.
The amounts recognized are based on numerous estimates and assumptions,
including future retirement costs, inflation rates and credit adjusted risk-free
interest rates. The following shows the changes in asset retirement
obligations:
Asset
retirement obligation at April 1, 2007
|
$ | 23,908 | ||
Liabilities
incurred during the period
|
405,450 | |||
Liabilities
settled during the period
|
- | |||
Accretion
|
30,331 | |||
Asset
retirement obligations, March 31, 2008
|
459,689 | |||
Liabilities
incurred during the period
|
283,071 | |||
Liabilities
settled during the period
|
- | |||
Accretion
|
60,864 | |||
Asset
retirement obligations, March 31, 2009
|
$ | 803,624 |
F-15
Note
5 - Long-Term Debt
Senior
Secured Credit Facility
On July
3, 2008, EnerJex, EnerJex Kansas, and DD Energy entered into a three-year $50
million Senior Secured Credit Facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Texas
Capital Bank, N.A. Borrowings under the Credit Facility will be
subject to a borrowing base limitation based on our current proved oil and gas
reserves and will be subject to semi-annual redeterminations and interim
adjustments. The initial borrowing base was set at $10.75 million and
was reduced to $7.428 million following the liquidation of the BP hedging
instrument. The Credit Facility is secured by a lien on substantially
all assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Credit Facility has a term
of three years, and all principal amounts, together with all accrued and unpaid
interest, will be due and payable in full on July 3, 2011. The Credit
Facility also provides for the issuance of letters-of-credit up to a $750,000
sub-limit under the borrowing base and up to an additional $2.25 million limit
not subject to the borrowing base to support our hedging program. We
had borrowings $7.328 million outstanding at March 31, 2009.
Advances
under the Credit Facility will be in the form of either base rate loans or
Eurodollar loans. The interest rate on the base rate loans fluctuates based upon
the higher of (1) the lender’s “prime rate” and (2) the Federal Funds rate plus
0.50%, plus, in either case, a margin of between 0.0% and 0.5% depending on the
percent of the borrowing base utilized at the time of the credit extension. The
interest rate on the Eurodollar loans fluctuates based upon the applicable Libor
rate, plus a margin of 2.25% to 2.75% depending on the percent of the borrowing
base utilized at the time of the credit extensionon. We may select Eurodollar
loans of one, two, three and six months. A commitment fee of 0.375% on the
unused portion of the borrowing base will accrue, and be payable quarterly in
arrears. There was no commitment fee due at March 31,
2009.
The
Credit Facility includes usual and customary affirmative covenants for credit
facilities of this type and size, as well as customary negative covenants,
including, among others, limitations on liens, mergers, asset sales or
dispositions, payments of dividends, incurrence of additional indebtedness, and
investments. The Credit Facility also requires that we, at the end of each
fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2008, maintain a
minimum current assets to current liabilities ratio and a minimum ratio of
EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to
interest expense and at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the
quarter ended September 30, 2008 to maintain a minimum ratio of EBITDA to senior
funded debt.
Additionally,
Texas Capital Bank, N.A. and the holders of the debentures entered into a
Subordination Agreement whereby the debentures issued on June 21, 2007 will be
subordinated to the Credit Facility.
F-16
Debentures
On April
11, 2007, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, Registration Rights
Agreements, Senior Secured Debentures, a Pledge and Security Agreement, a
Secured Guaranty, and other related agreements (the “Financing Agreements”) with
the “Buyers” of a new series of senior secured debentures (the “Debentures”).
Under the terms of the Financing Agreements, we agreed to sell Debentures for a
total purchase price of $9.0 million. In connection with the purchase, we agreed
to issue to the Buyers a total of 1,800,000 shares. The first closing occurred
on April 12, 2007 with a total of $6.3 million in Debentures being sold and the
remaining $2.7 million closing on June 21, 2007.
The
Debentures originally had a three-year term, maturing on March 31, 2010, and
bear interest at a rate equal to 10% per annum. Interest is payable quarterly in
arrears on the first day of each succeeding quarter. We may pay interest in
either cash or registered shares of our common stock. The Debentures have no
prepayment penalty so long as we maintain an effective registration statement
with the Securities Exchange Commission and provided we give six (6) business
days prior notice of redemption to the Buyers.
The
proceeds from the Debentures were allocated to the long-term debt and the stock
issued based on the fair market value of each item that we calculated to be $9.0
million for each item. Since each of the instruments had a value
equal to 50% of the total, we allocated $4.5 million to stock and $4.5 million
to the note. The loan discount costs of $4.5 million will accrete as
interest based on the interest method over the period of issue to maturity or
redemption. The amount of interest accreted for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2009 was $2,814,095 and $1,089,798 for the fiscal year ended March 31,
2008. Of the $2,814,095 interest accreted during the period ended
March 31, 2009, $2,112,267 relates to the redemption of $6.3 million of the
Debentures. The remaining amount of interest to accrete in future periods is
$596,108 as of March 31, 2009.
We incurred debt issue costs totaling
$466,835. The debt issue costs are initially recorded as assets and
are amortized to expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the
loan. The amount expensed in the twelve month period ended March 31,
2009 was $268,453. Of this amount, $195,559 was expensed upon the
redemption of $6.3 million of the Debentures. The remaining debt issue costs
totaling $45,929 will be expensed in the fiscal year ended March 31,
2010.
Effective July 7, 2008, we redeemed an
aggregate principal amount of $6.3 million of the Debentures and amended the
$2.7 million of aggregate principal amount of the remaining Debentures to, among
other things, permit the indebtedness under our new Credit Facility, subordinate
the security interests of the debentures to the new Credit Facility, provide for
the redemption of the remaining Debentures with the net proceeds from our next
debt or equity offering and eliminate the covenant to maintain certain
production thresholds.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, as amended, between us and
one of the Buyers, we were obligated to register 1,000,000 of the shares issued
under the Financing Agreements. These shares were registered effective December
24, 2008.
F-17
Convertible
and Other Long-Term Debt
On August
3, 2006, we sold a $25,000 convertible note that has an interest rate of 6% and
matures August 2, 2010. The note is convertible at any time at the
option of the note holder into shares of our common stock at a conversion rate
of $10.00 per share.
We
financed the purchase of vehicles through a bank. The notes are for
seven years and the weighted average interest is 6.99% per
annum. Vehicles collateralize these notes.
Long-term
debt consists of the following at March 31, 2009:
Credit
Facility
|
$ | 7,328,000 | ||
Debentures
|
2,700,000 | |||
Unaccreted
discount
|
(596,108 | ) | ||
Debentures,
net of unaccreted discount
|
2,103,892 | |||
Vehicle
notes payable
|
109,307 | |||
Total
long-term debt
|
9,541,199 | |||
Less
current portion
|
(1,723,036 | ) | ||
Long-term
debt
|
$ | 7,818,163 |
Principal
amounts are due on long-term and convertible debt as follows: Year ended March
31, 2010 -$1,723,036, March 31, 2011 -$8,377,636, March 31, 2012 -$25,243, March
31, 2013 -$16,044, March 31, 2014 -$13,171 and thereafter-$7,177.
Note
6 – Oil & Gas Properties
On April 9, 2007, we
entered into a “Joint Exploration
Agreement”
with a shareholder, MorMeg, LLC,
whereby we agreed to advance $4.0 million to a joint operating account for
further development of MorMeg’s Black Oaks leaseholds in
exchange for a 95% working interest in the Black Oaks
Project. We will maintain our 95% working interest until
“payout”, at which time the MorMeg 5% carried working interest will be converted
to a 30% working interest and our working interest becomes 70%. Payout is
generally the point in time when the total cumulative revenue from the project
equals all of the project’s development expenditures and costs associated with
funding. Through an additional extension, we have until December 31, 2009 to
contribute additional capital toward the Black Oaks Project development. If we
elect not to contribute further capital to the Black Oaks Project prior to the
project’s full development while it is economically viable to do so, or if there
is more than a thirty day delay in project activities due to lack of capital,
MorMeg has the option to cease further joint development and we will receive an
undivided interest in the Black Oaks Project. The extension will have no
force and effect, however, upon a material default by EnerJex under the Credit
Facility. The undivided interest will be the proportionate amount equal to the
amount that our investment bears to our investment plus $2.0 million, with
MorMeg receiving an undivided interest in what remains.
F-18
In August
of 2007, we entered into a development agreement with Euramerica Energy, Inc.,
or Euramerica, to further the development and expansion of the Gas City Project,
which included 6,600 acres, whereby Euramerica contributed $524,000 in capital
toward the project. Euramerica was granted an option to purchase this project
for $1.2 million with a requirement to invest an additional $2.0 million for
project development by August 31, 2008. We were the operator of the project at a
cost plus 17.5% basis. We received $600,000 of the $1.2 million purchase price
and $500,000 of the $2.0 million development funds. We have recorded a
reduction of $600,000 to our oil & gas properties using full-cost accounting
subject to amortization as of the year ended March 31, 2009. In
January 2009, Euramerica failed to fully fund both the balance of the
purchase price and the remaining development capital owed under the agreements
between us and Euramerica. Therefore, Euramerica has forfeited all of
its interest in the property, including all interests in any wells, improvements
or assets, and all of Euramerica's interest in the property reverts back to
us. In addition, all operating agreements between us and Euramerica
relating to the Gas City Project are null and void. We drilled 22 wells on
behalf of Euramerica under the development agreement. We are currently exploring
options to sell or further develop the Gas City Project through joint venture
partnerships or other opportunities. The gas project remains shut
in.
We
recorded a non-cash impairment of $4,777,723 to the carrying value of our proved
oil and gas properties during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. The
impairment is primarily attributable to lower prices for both oil and natural
gas at December 31, 2008. The charge results from the application of the
“ceiling test” under the full cost method of accounting. Under full cost
accounting requirements, the carrying value may not exceed an amount equal to
the sum of the present value of estimated future net revenues (adjusted for cash
flow hedges) less estimated future expenditures to be incurred in developing and
producing the proved reserves, less any related income tax effects. In
calculating future net revenues, current prices and costs used are those as of
the end of the appropriate quarterly period. Such prices are utilized except
where different prices are fixed and determinable from applicable contracts for
the remaining term of those contracts, including the effects of derivatives
qualifying as cash flow hedges. A ceiling test charge occurs when the carrying
value of the oil and gas properties exceeds the full cost ceiling.
Note
7 – Related party transactions
In August 2008, we paid $20,000 to a
non-employee director and former member of the audit committee for assisting in
the establishment and development of the audit committee and for his involvement
and assistance to the chief executive officer in finalizing the hedging
instrument with BP.
Note
8 – Commitments and Contingencies
We have a
lease agreement that expires in September 30, 2013. Future minimum
payments are $71,180 for the year ending March 31, 2010.
F-19
Note
9 – Income Taxes
Deferred
income taxes are determined based on the tax effect of items subject to
different treatment between book and tax bases. At March 31, 2009, there is
approximately $8,100,000 of net operating loss carry-forwards expiring in
2021-2023. The net deferred tax is as follows:
March 31,
2009
|
March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Non-current
deferred tax asset:
|
||||||||
Impaired
oil & gas costs and long-lived assets
|
$ | 1,864,700 | $ | 312,800 | ||||
Net
operating loss carry-forward
|
2,754,600 | 2,429,900 | ||||||
Valuation
allowance
|
(4,619,300 | ) | (2,742,700 | ) | ||||
Total
deferred tax net
|
$ | - | $ | - |
A reconciliation of the provision for
income taxes to the statutory federal rate for continuing operations is as
follows:
March 31,
2009
|
March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Statutory
tax rate
|
34 | % | 34 | % | ||||
Equity
based compensation
|
(1 | )% | (15 | )% | ||||
Oil
& gas costs and long-lived assets
|
(29 | )% | 1 | % | ||||
Change
in valuation allowance
|
(4 | )% | (20 | )% | ||||
Effective
tax rate
|
0 | % | 0 | % |
Note
10 – Subsequent Events
In April
and May of 2009, we retired $450,000 of the $2.7 million Debentures that were
outstanding at March 31, 2009, leaving a remaining balance of $2.25 million as
of the date of this report.
Subsequent
to year-end, we amended the Debentures to extend the maturity date to September
30, 2010, to allow us to pay interest in either cash or payment-in-kind interest
(an increase in the amount of principal due) or payment-in-kind shares (issuance
of shares of common stock), and add a provision for the conversion of the
debentures into shares of EnerJex’s common stock. See Note
5.
We have
made Borrowing Base Reduction payments of $200,000 on our Credit
Facility.
Note
11 – Supplemental Oil and Natural Gas Reserve Information
(Unaudited)
Results
of operations from oil and natural gas producing activities
The following table shows the results
of operations from the Company’s oil and gas producing
activities. Results of operations from these activities are
determined using historical revenues, production costs and depreciation,
depletion and amortization of the capitalized costs subject to
amortization. General and administrative expenses, professional,
investor relations and interest expense is excluded from this
determination.
F-20
March 31,
2009
|
March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Production
revenues
|
$ | 6,436,805 | $ | 3,602,798 | ||||
Production
costs
|
(2,637,333 | ) | (1,795,188 | ) | ||||
Depletion
and depreciation
|
(892,871 | ) | (913,224 | ) | ||||
Results
of operations for producing activities
|
$ | 2,906,601 | $ | 894,386 |
Capitalized costs of oil
and natural gas
producing properties
The Company’s aggregate capitalized
costs related to oil and natural gas producing activities are as
follows:
March 31,
2009
|
March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Proved
|
$ | 8,566,979 | $ | 10,207,596 | ||||
Unevaluated
and unproved
|
31,183 | 62,216 | ||||||
Accumulated
depreciation and depletion
|
(1,817,956 | ) | (925,086 | ) | ||||
Sale
of properties
|
(300,000 | ) | (300,000 | ) | ||||
Net
capitalized costs
|
$ | 6,480,206 | $ | 9,044,726 |
Unproved and unevaluated properties are
not included in the full-cost pool and are therefore not subject to depletion or
depreciation. These assets consist primarily of leases that have not been
evaluated. We will continue to evaluate our unproved and unevaluated properties;
however, the timing of such evaluation has not been
determined.
Capitalized
costs incurred for oil and natural gas producing activities
Costs incurred in oil and natural gas
property acquisition, exploration and development activities that have been
capitalized are summarized below:
March 31,
2009
|
March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Acquisition
of proved and unproved properties
|
$ | 123,040 | $ | 4,352,040 | ||||
Development
costs
|
2,999,963 | 5,178,281 | ||||||
Exploration
costs
|
- | - | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 3,123,003 | $ | 9,530,321 |
F-21
Gas
and oil Reserve Quantities
Our
ownership interests in estimated quantities of proved oil and gas reserves and
changes in net proved reserves all of which are located in the United States are
summarized below. Proved reserves are estimated quantities of natural
gas and oil that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable
certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing
economic and operating conditions. Proved developed reserves are those that are
expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and
operating methods. Reserves are stated in thousand cubic feet (mcf) of natural
gas and barrels (stb) of oil. Geological and engineering estimates of proved
natural gas and oil reserves at one point in time are highly interpretive,
inherently imprecise and subject to ongoing revisions that may be substantial in
amount. Although every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the reserve
estimates are accurate, by their nature reserve estimates are generally less
precise than other estimates presented in connection with financial statement
disclosures.
March 31, 2009
|
March 31, 2008
|
|||||||||||||||
Gas-mcf
|
Oil-stb
|
Gas-mcf
|
Oil-stb
|
|||||||||||||
Proved
reserves:
|
||||||||||||||||
Revisions
of previous estimates
|
(394,732 | ) | (14,575 | ) | - | - | ||||||||||
Purchase
of minerals in place
|
- | 53,280 | 418,959 | 347,228 | ||||||||||||
Extensions
and discoveries
|
- | - | 1,068,683 | |||||||||||||
Production
|
(6,465 | ) | (74,289 | ) | (17,762 | ) | (43,697 | ) | ||||||||
Total
|
- | 1,336,630 | 401,197 | 1,372,214 |
Proved
developed reserves at the end of the period:
Gas- mcf
|
Oil – stb
|
|||
March 31, 2009
|
March 31, 2009
|
|||
-
|
524,980 |
Gas- mcf
|
Oil stb
|
|||
March 31, 2008
|
March 31, 2008
|
|||
401,197
|
861,240 |
Standardized
measure of discounted future net cash flows
The
standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows from our proved
reserves for the periods presented in the financial statements is summarized
below. The standardized measure of future cash flows as of March 31, 2009 and
2008 is calculated using a price per Mcf of gas of $0 and $7.479, respectively
and a price for oil of $42.65 and $94.53, respectively. The resulting estimated
future cash inflows are reduced by estimated future costs to develop and produce
the estimated proved reserves. These costs are based on year-end cost
levels. Future income taxes are based on year-end statutory
rates. The future net cash flows are reduced to present value by
applying a 10% discount rate. The standardized measure of discounted
future cash flows is not intended to represent the replacement cost or fair
market value of the Company’s oil and gas properties.
F-22
March 31,
2009
|
March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Future
production revenue
|
$ | 57,007,970 | $ | 132,457,459 | ||||
Future
production costs
|
(24,732,440 | ) | (39,629,625 | ) | ||||
Future
development costs
|
(9,584,500 | ) | (18,827,013 | ) | ||||
Future
cash flows before income taxes
|
22,691,030 | 74,000,821 | ||||||
Future
income taxes
|
- | (19,241,954 | ) | |||||
Future
net cash flows
|
22,691,030 | 54,758,867 | ||||||
10%
annual discount for estimating of future cash
flows
|
(12,061,690 | ) | (26,558,364 | ) | ||||
Standardized
measure of discounted net cash
flows
|
$ | 10,629,340 | $ | 28,200,503 |
Changes
in Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
March 31,
2009
|
March 31,
2008
|
|||||||
Balance
beginning of year
|
$ | 28,200,503 | $ | - | ||||
Sales,
net of production costs
|
(5,697,410 | ) | (1,777,278 | ) | ||||
Net
change in pricing and production costs
|
(31,927,063 | ) | - | |||||
Net
change in future estimated development
costs
|
9,220,510 | - | ||||||
Purchase
of minerals in place
|
136,190 | 8,124,394 | ||||||
Extensions
and discoveries
|
518,297 | 21,853,387 | ||||||
Revisions
|
(1,089,039 | ) | - | |||||
Accretion
of discount
|
(143,477 | ) | - | |||||
Change
in income tax
|
11,410,829 | - | ||||||
Balance
end of year
|
$ | 10,629,340 | $ | 28,200,503 |
F-23