EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORP - Quarter Report: 2018 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
ý QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 001-32942
EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 41-1781991 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1155 Dairy Ashford Road, Suite 425, Houston, Texas 77079
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(713) 935-0122
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes: ý No: o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes: ý No: o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer x |
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | |
Smaller reporting company o | Emerging growth company o |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.). Yes: o No: ý
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001, as of May 4, 2018, was 33,171,514.
EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
1
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2018 | June 30, 2017 | ||||||
Assets | |||||||
Current assets | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 27,186,809 | $ | 23,028,153 | |||
Receivables | 3,949,973 | 2,726,702 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 682,645 | 387,672 | |||||
Total current assets | 31,819,427 | 26,142,527 | |||||
Oil and natural gas property and equipment, net (full-cost method of accounting) | 59,589,750 | 61,790,068 | |||||
Other property and equipment, net | 34,144 | 40,689 | |||||
Total property and equipment | 59,623,894 | 61,830,757 | |||||
Other assets | 243,011 | 295,384 | |||||
Total assets | $ | 91,686,332 | $ | 88,268,668 | |||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||
Current liabilities | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 2,786,518 | $ | 1,994,255 | |||
Accrued liabilities and other | 628,663 | 724,639 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 3,415,181 | 2,718,894 | |||||
Long term liabilities | |||||||
Senior secured credit facility (Note 13) | — | — | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 10,754,077 | 15,826,291 | |||||
Asset retirement obligations | 1,319,291 | 1,253,628 | |||||
Total liabilities | 15,488,549 | 19,798,813 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14) | |||||||
Stockholders’ equity | |||||||
Common stock; par value $0.001; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 33,171,514 and 33,087,308 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, respectively | 33,171 | 33,087 | |||||
Additional paid-in capital | 41,890,553 | 40,961,957 | |||||
Retained earnings | 34,274,059 | 27,474,811 | |||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 76,197,783 | 68,469,855 | |||||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 91,686,332 | $ | 88,268,668 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
2
Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, | Nine Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||||||||
Crude oil | $ | 9,639,238 | $ | 9,060,796 | $ | 27,654,128 | $ | 25,184,468 | |||||||
Natural gas liquids | 610,328 | 464,641 | 2,200,220 | 464,730 | |||||||||||
Natural gas | — | — | — | (4 | ) | ||||||||||
Total revenues | 10,249,566 | 9,525,437 | 29,854,348 | 25,649,194 | |||||||||||
Operating costs | |||||||||||||||
Production costs | 3,360,603 | 2,811,258 | 9,166,701 | 7,448,320 | |||||||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 1,360,885 | 1,523,475 | 4,513,296 | 4,104,424 | |||||||||||
Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations | 22,263 | 13,562 | 66,865 | 39,892 | |||||||||||
General and administrative expenses * | 1,842,548 | 1,283,906 | 5,078,508 | 3,760,348 | |||||||||||
Total operating costs | 6,586,299 | 5,632,201 | 18,825,370 | 15,352,984 | |||||||||||
Income from operations | 3,663,267 | 3,893,236 | 11,028,978 | 10,296,210 | |||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||||||
Gain on realized derivative instruments, net | — | 3,350 | — | 3,440 | |||||||||||
Gain on unrealized derivative instruments, net | — | 47,965 | — | 33,833 | |||||||||||
Interest and other income | 21,345 | 13,099 | 52,036 | 39,905 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | (30,525 | ) | (20,317 | ) | (71,436 | ) | (61,373 | ) | |||||||
Income before income taxes | 3,654,087 | 3,937,333 | 11,009,578 | 10,312,015 | |||||||||||
Income tax provision (benefit) | 585,733 | 1,518,190 | (4,076,156 | ) | 3,768,463 | ||||||||||
Net income attributable to the Company | 3,068,354 | 2,419,143 | 15,085,734 | 6,543,552 | |||||||||||
Dividends on preferred stock | — | — | — | 250,990 | |||||||||||
Deemed dividend on redeemed preferred shares | — | — | — | 1,002,440 | |||||||||||
Net income available to common stockholders | $ | 3,068,354 | $ | 2,419,143 | $ | 15,085,734 | $ | 5,290,122 | |||||||
Earnings per common share | |||||||||||||||
Basic | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.16 | |||||||
Diluted | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.16 | |||||||
Weighted average number of common shares | |||||||||||||||
Basic | 33,171,514 | 33,062,297 | 33,123,185 | 33,021,865 | |||||||||||
Diluted | 33,191,312 | 33,115,699 | 33,155,870 | 33,064,708 |
* General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 included non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $352,420 and $291,151, respectively. For the corresponding nine month periods, non-cash stock-based compensation expense was $1,324,230 and $878,023, respectively.
3
Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Cash flows from operating activities | |||||||
Net income attributable to the Company | $ | 15,085,734 | $ | 6,543,552 | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 4,555,496 | 4,146,898 | |||||
Stock-based compensation | 1,324,230 | 878,023 | |||||
Accretion of discount on asset retirement obligations | 66,865 | 39,892 | |||||
Settlements of asset retirement obligations | — | (157,910 | ) | ||||
Deferred income taxes (benefit) | (5,072,214 | ) | 3,079,342 | ||||
Gain on derivative instruments, net | — | (37,273 | ) | ||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
Receivables | (1,223,271 | ) | (723,161 | ) | |||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (294,973 | ) | (445,597 | ) | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 73,678 | (1,808,566 | ) | ||||
Income taxes payable | — | (164,544 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 14,515,545 | 11,350,656 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities | |||||||
Derivative settlement payments paid | — | (318,618 | ) | ||||
Capital expenditures for oil and natural gas properties | (1,668,820 | ) | (10,096,475 | ) | |||
Capital expenditures for other property and equipment | (6,033 | ) | (32,260 | ) | |||
Net cash used in investing activities | (1,674,853 | ) | (10,447,353 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities | |||||||
Cash dividends to preferred stockholders | — | (250,990 | ) | ||||
Cash dividends to common stockholders | (8,286,486 | ) | (6,116,323 | ) | |||
Common share repurchases, including shares surrendered for tax withholding | (395,550 | ) | (459,858 | ) | |||
Redemption of preferred shares | — | (7,932,975 | ) | ||||
Other | — | 32 | |||||
Net cash used in financing activities | (8,682,036 | ) | (14,760,114 | ) | |||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 4,158,656 | (13,856,811 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 23,028,153 | 34,077,060 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 27,186,809 | $ | 20,220,249 |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | Nine Months Ended March 31, | ||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Income taxes paid | $ | 1,456,754 | $ | 1,383,773 | |||
Non-cash transactions: | |||||||
Change in accounts payable used to acquire property and equipment | 622,185 | (3,181,640 | ) | ||||
Oil and natural gas property costs incurred through recognition of asset retirement obligations | (778 | ) | 14,119 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
4
Evolution Petroleum Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
For the Nine Months Ended March 31, 2018
(Unaudited)
Common Stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Treasury Stock | Total Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||
Shares | Par Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at June 30, 2017 | 33,087,308 | $ | 33,087 | $ | 40,961,957 | $ | 27,474,811 | $ | — | $ | 68,469,855 | ||||||||||||
Issuance of restricted common stock | 158,785 | 158 | (158 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||
Forfeitures of restricted stock | (19,561 | ) | (20 | ) | 20 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Common share repurchases, including shares surrendered for tax withholding | (55,018 | ) | — | — | — | (395,550 | ) | (395,550 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Retirements of treasury stock | — | (54 | ) | (395,496 | ) | — | 395,550 | — | |||||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | 1,324,230 | — | — | 1,324,230 | |||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to the Company | — | — | — | 15,085,734 | — | 15,085,734 | |||||||||||||||||
Common stock cash dividends | — | — | — | (8,286,486 | ) | — | (8,286,486 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2018 | 33,171,514 | $ | 33,171 | $ | 41,890,553 | $ | 34,274,059 | $ | — | $ | 76,197,783 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
5
Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
Note 1 — Organization and Basis of Preparation
Nature of Operations. Evolution Petroleum Corporation ("EPM"), together with its subsidiaries (the "Company", "we", "our" or "us"), is an independent petroleum company headquartered in Houston, Texas and incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada. We are engaged primarily in the development and production of oil and gas reserves.
Interim Financial Statements. The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the appropriate rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. All adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented have been included. The interim financial information and notes hereto should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, as filed with the SEC. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full fiscal year.
Principles of Consolidation and Reporting. Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of EPM and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements for the previous year may include certain reclassifications to conform to the current presentation. Any such reclassifications have no impact on previously reported net income or stockholders' equity.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates include (a) reserve quantities and estimated future cash flows associated with proved reserves, which significantly impact depreciation, depletion and amortization expense and potential impairments of oil and natural gas properties, (b) asset retirement obligations, (c) stock-based compensation, (d) fair values of derivative assets and liabilities, (e) income taxes and the valuation of deferred tax assets and (f) commitments and contingencies. We analyze our estimates based on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. While we believe that our estimates and assumptions used in preparation of the consolidated financial statements are appropriate, actual results could differ from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements.
In August 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (" ASU 2014-09") by one year and allows entities the option to early adopt the new revenue standard as of the original effective date, which for public business entities was for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2016. Issued in May 2014, ASU 2014-09 provided guidance on revenue recognition for contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or for contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets. ASU 2014-09 requires that revenue recognition for contracts with customers depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. For public business entities, ASU 2014-09 is now effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The standard provides for either the full retrospective or modified retrospective transition methods. We expect to adopt this standard using the modified retrospective method. The Company expects that additional disclosures will be required as a result of adopting ASU 2014-09 and is currently assessing the impact of the guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ("ASU 2016-01"). The pronouncement requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting, or those that result in consolidation of the investee) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes, requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset, and eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost. These changes become effective for fiscal years beginning after
6
Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
December 15, 2017. The expected adoption method of ASU 2016-01 is being evaluated by the Company and the adoption is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”), which relates to the accounting for leasing transactions. This standard requires a lessee to record on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leases with lease terms of more than twelve months. In addition, this standard requires both lessees and lessors to disclose certain key information about lease transactions. This standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15”), which is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The guidance addresses eight specific cash flow issues for which current GAAP is either unclear or does not include specific guidance. This standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted, provided that it is adopted in its entirety in the same period. Currently, the Company does not expect the impact of adopting ASU 2016-15 to have a material effect on its consolidated statements of cash flows.
Note 2 — Receivables
As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, our receivables consisted of the following:
March 31, 2018 | June 30, 2017 | ||||||
Receivables from oil and NGL sales | $ | 3,949,863 | $ | 2,722,880 | |||
Other | 110 | 3,822 | |||||
Total receivables | $ | 3,949,973 | $ | 2,726,702 |
Note 3 — Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, our prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:
March 31, 2018 | June 30, 2017 | ||||||
Prepaid insurance | $ | 31,269 | $ | 169,416 | |||
Retainers and deposits | 6,089 | 7,553 | |||||
Prepaid federal and state income taxes | 581,991 | 121,232 | |||||
Other prepaid expenses | 63,296 | 89,471 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | $ | 682,645 | $ | 387,672 |
7
Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
Note 4 — Property and Equipment
As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, our oil and natural gas properties and other property and equipment consisted of the following:
March 31, 2018 | June 30, 2017 | ||||||
Oil and natural gas properties | |||||||
Property costs subject to amortization | $ | 87,253,160 | $ | 84,962,933 | |||
Less: Accumulated depreciation, depletion, and amortization | (27,663,410 | ) | (23,172,865 | ) | |||
Unproved properties not subject to amortization | — | — | |||||
Oil and natural gas properties, net | $ | 59,589,750 | $ | 61,790,068 | |||
Other property and equipment | |||||||
Furniture, fixtures, office equipment and other, at cost | $ | 141,410 | $ | 135,377 | |||
Less: Accumulated depreciation | (107,266 | ) | (94,688 | ) | |||
Other property and equipment, net | $ | 34,144 | $ | 40,689 |
During the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company incurred capital expenditures of $2.3 million and $6.9 million, respectively, in the Delhi field.
Note 5 — Other Assets
As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, other assets consisted of the following:
March 31, 2018 | June 30, 2017 | ||||||
Royalty rights | $ | 108,512 | $ | 108,512 | |||
Less: Accumulated amortization of royalty rights | (30,519 | ) | (20,346 | ) | |||
Investment in Well Lift Inc., at cost | 108,750 | 108,750 | |||||
Deferred loan costs | 168,972 | 168,972 | |||||
Less: Accumulated amortization of deferred loan costs | (112,704 | ) | (70,504 | ) | |||
Other assets, net | $ | 243,011 | $ | 295,384 |
Our royalty rights and investment in Well Lift, Inc. ("WLI") resulted from the separation of our artificial lift technology operations in December 2015. We conveyed our patents and other intellectual property to WLI and retained a 5% royalty on future gross revenues associated the technology. We own 17.5% of the common stock of WLI and account for our investment under the cost method. Any dividends paid are recorded as income and any return of capital reduces our cost basis in the investment. Our investment in WLI is evaluated for impairment at least quarterly or when management identifies any events or changes in circumstances that might have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment. There is no published market value for this private investment, so it is not practicable to value it at fair market value on a periodic basis.
8
Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
Note 6 — Accrued Liabilities and Other
As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, our other current liabilities consisted of the following:
March 31, 2018 | June 30, 2017 | ||||||
Accrued incentive and other compensation | $ | 412,439 | $ | 413,113 | |||
Asset retirement obligations due within one year | 35,539 | 35,115 | |||||
Accrued royalties, including suspended accounts | 11,499 | 17,708 | |||||
Accrued franchise taxes | 124,299 | 150,062 | |||||
Accrued ad valorem taxes | 44,887 | 108,641 | |||||
Accrued liabilities and other | $ | 628,663 | $ | 724,639 |
Note 7 — Asset Retirement Obligations
Our asset retirement obligations represent the estimated present value of the amount we expect to incur to plug, abandon and remediate our producing properties at the end of their productive lives in accordance with applicable laws. The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending asset retirement obligations for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and for the year ended June 30, 2017:
March 31, 2018 | June 30, 2017 | ||||||
Asset retirement obligations — beginning of period | $ | 1,288,743 | $ | 962,196 | |||
Liabilities incurred | — | 52,792 | |||||
Liabilities settled | — | (157,164 | ) | ||||
Liabilities sold | — | (47,817 | ) | ||||
Accretion of discount | 66,865 | 59,664 | |||||
Revision of previous estimates | (778 | ) | 419,072 | ||||
Asset retirement obligations — end of period | $ | 1,354,830 | $ | 1,288,743 | |||
Less current portion in accrued liabilities | (35,539 | ) | (35,115 | ) | |||
Long-term portion of asset retirement obligations | $ | 1,319,291 | $ | 1,253,628 |
Note 8 — Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock
As of March 31, 2018, we had 33,171,514 shares of common stock outstanding.
The Company began paying quarterly cash dividends on common stock in December 2013. We paid dividends of $8,286,486 and $6,116,323 to our common shareholders during the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The following table reflects the dividends paid in each quarter within the respective nine month periods:
Fiscal Year | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Third quarter ended March 31, | $ | 0.100 | $ | 0.070 | |||
Second quarter ended December 31, | $ | 0.075 | $ | 0.065 | |||
First quarter ended September 30, | $ | 0.075 | $ | 0.050 |
In May 2015, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program covering up to $5 million of the Company's common stock. Between June 2015 and December 2015, the Company spent $1,609,008 to repurchase 265,762 common shares at an average price of $6.05 per share. There have been no shares repurchased in the open market since December 2015. Under the program's terms, shares are repurchased only on the open market and in accordance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such shares are initially recorded as treasury stock, then subsequently canceled. The timing and
9
Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
amount of repurchases depends upon several factors, including financial resources and market and business conditions. There is no fixed termination date for this repurchase program, and it may be suspended or discontinued at any time.
During the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company acquired treasury stock from holders of newly vested stock-based awards to fund the recipients' payroll tax withholding obligations. The treasury shares were subsequently canceled. Such shares were valued at fair market value on the date of vesting, as reflected in the following table:
Nine Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
2018 | 2017 | ||||||
Number of treasury shares acquired | 55,018 | 73,455 | |||||
Average cost per share | $ | 7.19 | $ | 6.26 | |||
Total cost of treasury shares acquired | $ | 395,550 | $ | 459,858 |
Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock Called for Redemption
In September 2016, the Company announced the decision to redeem all 317,319 outstanding shares of its 8.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock. The redemption occurred in November 2016 at the stated value of $25.00 per share plus all accumulated and unpaid distributions, for an aggregate redemption cost of $7,932,975.
On September 30, 2016, in connection with the planned redemption, the Company recorded a deemed dividend of $1,002,440, representing the difference between the redemption consideration paid and the historical net issuance proceeds of the preferred shares. Accordingly, net income was adjusted for this deemed dividend to determine net income attributable to common shareholders and earnings per common share.
Dividends on the Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock were paid at a fixed rate of 8.5% per annum on the $25.00 per share liquidation preference, payable monthly. During the nine months ended March 31, 2016, we paid cash dividends of $250,990 to holders of our Series A Preferred Stock prior to the November 2016 redemption date.
Expected Tax Treatment of Dividends
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, all preferred and common dividends were treated for tax purposes as qualified dividend income to recipients. Based on our current projections for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, we expect all common dividends for such period to be treated as qualified dividend income. Such projections are based on our reasonable expectations as of March 31, 2018 and are subject to change based on our final tax calculations at the end of the fiscal year.
Note 9 — Stock-Based Incentive Plan
At the December 8, 2016 annual meeting, the stockholders approved the adoption of the Evolution Petroleum Corporation 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), which replaced the Evolution Petroleum Corporation Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan (the "2004 Plan"). The 2016 Plan authorizes the issuance of 1,100,000 shares of common stock prior to its expiration on December 8, 2026. Incentives under the 2016 Plan may be granted to employees, directors and consultants of the Company in any one or a combination of the following forms: incentive stock options and non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards, performance share awards, performance cash awards, and other forms of incentives valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, our common stock, including its appreciation in value. As of March 31, 2018, 987,845 shares remained available for grant under the 2016 Plan.
At December 8, 2016, there were no shares available for future grants under the 2004 Plan. All outstanding awards granted under the 2004 Plan continue to be subject to the terms and conditions as set forth in the agreements evidencing such awards and the terms of the 2004 Plan. Under these agreements, we have outstanding grants of restricted common stock awards ("Restricted Stock") and contingent restricted common stock awards ("Contingent Restricted Stock") to employees and directors of the Company.
10
Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
Restricted Stock and Contingent Restricted Stock
The Company awards grants of both Restricted Stock and Contingent Restricted Stock as part of its long-term incentive plan. Such grants, which expire after a maximum of four years if unvested, contain service-based, performance-based and market-based vesting provisions. The common shares underlying the Restricted Stock grants are issued on the date of grant. Contingent Restricted Stock grants vest only upon the attainment of higher performance-based or market-based vesting thresholds and are issued only upon vesting. Shares underlying Contingent Restricted Stock awards are reserved from the Plan they were granted under.
Service-based awards vest with continuous employment by the Company, generally in annual installments over a four-year period. Certain awards may contain other vesting periods, including quarterly installments and one-year vesting. Restricted Stock grants which vest based on service are valued at the fair market value on the date of grant and amortized over the service period. During the nine months ended March 31, 2018, we granted 112,155 service-based Restricted Stock awards, including 45,211 awards to employees and 66,944 awards to directors, substantially all of which have a one-year vesting period. We did not grant any performance-based or market based awards, nor any Contingent Restricted Stock awards, during this period.
Performance-based grants vest upon the attainment of earnings, revenue and other operational goals and require that the recipient remain an employee or director of the Company through the vesting date. The Company recognizes compensation expense for performance-based awards ratably over the expected vesting period based on the grant date fair value when it is deemed probable, for accounting purposes, that the performance criteria will be achieved. The expected vesting period may be deemed to be shorter than the four-year term. As of March 31, 2018, certain contingent performance-based awards were not considered probable of vesting for accounting purposes and no compensation expense has been recognized with regard to these awards. If these awards are later determined to be probable of vesting, cumulative compensation expense would be recorded at that time and amortization would continue over the remaining expected vesting period.
Market-based awards vest if the three-year trailing total return on the Company’s common stock exceeds the corresponding total returns of various quartiles of indices consisting of either peer companies or a broad market index of companies in our industry. The fair values and expected vesting periods of these awards are determined using a Monte Carlo simulation based on the historical volatility of the Company's total return compared to the historical volatilities of the other companies in the index. Compensation expense for market-based awards is recognized over the expected vesting period using the straight-line method, so long as the holder remains an employee or director of the Company. Total compensation expense is based on the fair value of the awards at the date of grant and is independent of vesting or expiration of the awards, except for termination of service.
Unvested Restricted Stock awards at March 31, 2018 consisted of the following:
Number of Restricted Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | |||||
Service-based awards | 218,615 | $ | 6.64 | |||
Performance-based awards | 50,360 | 5.67 | ||||
Market-based awards | 50,359 | 5.44 | ||||
Unvested Restricted Stock at March 31, 2018 | 319,334 | $ | 6.30 |
The following table sets forth the Restricted Stock transactions for the nine months ended March 31, 2018:
Number of Restricted Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | Unamortized Compensation Expense at March 31, 2018 | Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Period (Years) | |||||||||
Unvested at July 1, 2017 | 391,624 | $ | 6.22 | |||||||||
Service-based shares granted | 112,155 | 6.96 | ||||||||||
Vested | (164,884 | ) | 6.57 | |||||||||
Forfeited | (19,561 | ) | 6.16 | |||||||||
Unvested Restricted Stock at March 31, 2018 | 319,334 | $ | 6.30 | $ | 1,184,557 | 1.25 |
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Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
Unvested Contingent Restricted Stock awards at March 31, 2018 consisted of the following:
Number of Contingent Restricted Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | |||||
Performance-based awards | 36,688 | $ | 7.04 | |||
Market-based awards | 25,180 | 3.42 | ||||
Unvested contingent shares at March 31, 2018 | 61,868 | $ | 5.57 |
The following table sets forth Contingent Restricted Stock transactions for the nine months ended March 31, 2018:
Number of Contingent Restricted Shares | Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value | Unamortized Compensation Expense at March 31, 2018 (1) | Weighted Average Remaining Amortization Period (Years) | |||||||||
Unvested at July 1, 2017 | 113,270 | $ | 4.64 | |||||||||
Vested | (46,630 | ) | 3.34 | |||||||||
Forfeited | (4,772 | ) | 5.30 | |||||||||
Unvested contingent shares at March 31, 2018 | 61,868 | $ | 5.57 | $ | 57,231 | .91 |
(1) Excludes $115,665 of potential future compensation expense for contingent performance-based awards for which vesting is not considered probable at this time for accounting purposes.
Stock-based compensation expense related to Restricted Stock and Contingent Restricted Stock grants for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $352,420 and $291,151, respectively. For the corresponding nine month periods, non-cash stock compensation expense was $1,324,230 and $878,023, respectively.
Note 10 — Derivatives
As of June 30, 2017 and March 31, 2018, the Company had no derivative asset or liability positions.
From time to time, the Company has used and may in the future use derivative instruments to reduce its exposure to crude oil or other commodity price volatility of its near-term forecasted production. The Company's objectives are to achieve a more predictable level of cash flows to support the Company’s capital expenditure programs and to provide better financial visibility for its other financial commitments. The Company may use both fixed price swap agreements and costless collars to manage its exposure to crude oil and other commodity price risk. While these derivative instruments are intended to limit the downside risk of adverse price movements, they may also limit future revenues from favorable price movements. The Company does not intend to enter into derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
The Company accounts for derivatives under the provisions of ASC 815 Derivatives and Hedging ("ASC 815") under which the Company records the fair value of the instruments on the balance sheet at each reporting date, with changes in fair value recognized in other non-operating income and expense. Given the cost and complexity, the Company has elected not to use cash flow hedge accounting provided under ASC 815. Under cash flow hedge accounting, a portion of the change in fair value of the derivative instruments, if effective in hedging the underlying commodity risk, would be deferred in other comprehensive income and recognized in earnings only when the underlying hedged item impacts earnings.
These derivative instruments can result in both fair value asset and liability positions held with each counterparty. These positions are offset to a single net fair value asset or liability at the end of each reporting period. The Company nets its fair value amounts of derivative instruments executed with the same counterparty pursuant to ISDA master agreements, which provide for net settlement over the term of the contract and in the event of default or termination of the contract.
The Company monitors the credit rating of its counterparties and believes it does not have significant credit risk. Accordingly, we do not currently require our counterparties to post collateral to support the net asset positions of our derivative instruments. As such, the Company is exposed to credit risk to the extent of nonperformance by the counterparties to its derivative instruments.
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Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
For the nine months ended March 31, 2018, the Company had no gains or losses from derivatives. For the nine months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded a gain on derivative instruments of $37,273 consisting of a realized gain of $3,440 on settled positions and an unrealized gain of $33,833.
Note 11 — Income Taxes
We file a consolidated federal income tax return in the United States and various combined and separate filings in several state and local jurisdictions.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation under the title of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Tax Act"). The Tax Act includes a permanent reduction in our federal corporate income tax rate from 34% to 21%. It also provides more favorable timing of tax deductions associated with capital investments and other significant changes to tax law. The Tax Act became effective upon passage, so our statutory rate for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 is a blended rate of 27.55%. The permanent reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate resulted in a one-time non-cash income tax benefit of approximately $6.0 million related to the adjustment of our liability for deferred income taxes to the lower rate in the Tax Act. The accounting for the effects of the rate change on the Company’s deferred tax balances is complete and no provisional amounts were recorded.
Income taxes are recorded in our financial statements based on our estimated annual effective income tax rate. The effective rates used in the calculation of our income tax expense were approximately 18% and 37% for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. After adjustment for the $6.0 million discrete benefit resulting from the revaluation of our deferred income tax liabilities at December 31, 2017, the effective rate for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was a negative tax rate (benefit) of (37)% of income before income taxes.
Our effective tax rate will typically differ from the statutory federal rate as a result of state income taxes, primarily in the State of Louisiana, and differences related to percentage depletion in excess of basis, stock-based compensation and other permanent differences. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended March 31, 2017 was significantly lower than the statutory federal rate as a result of percentage depletion in excess of basis and the tax effects of stock-based compensation, partially offset by state income taxes net of the federal benefit. Our quarterly income tax provisions are based on our reasonable estimates of income taxes payable at the end of the year. These estimates and our estimated interim effective tax rates may change significantly as additional financial results and amounts of capital spending become available during the year. In particular, our estimates of the utilization of excess percentage depletion, which is limited to 65% of actual taxable income, are subject to greater fluctuations between interim periods than other components of our tax provision.
There were neither unrecognized tax benefits nor any accrued interest or penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits during any periods presented in the financial statements. We believe we have appropriate support for the income tax positions taken and to be taken on our tax returns and that the accruals for tax liabilities are adequate for all open years based on our assessment of various factors including past experience and interpretations of tax law applied to the facts of each matter. The Company’s federal and state income tax returns are open to audit under the statute of limitations for the years ended June 30, 2014 through June 30, 2017 for federal tax purposes and for the years ended June 30, 2013 through June 30, 2017 for state tax purposes. To the extent we utilize net operating losses generated in earlier years, such earlier years may also be subject to audit.
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Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
Note 12 — Net Income Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income per share:
Three Months Ended March 31, | Nine Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||||||
Numerator | |||||||||||||||
Net income available to common shareholders | $ | 3,068,354 | $ | 2,419,143 | $ | 15,085,734 | $ | 5,290,122 | |||||||
Denominator | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares — Basic | 33,171,514 | 33,062,297 | 33,123,185 | 33,021,865 | |||||||||||
Effect of dilutive securities: | |||||||||||||||
Contingent restricted stock grants | 19,798 | 27,216 | 32,685 | 17,860 | |||||||||||
Stock options | — | 26,186 | — | 24,983 | |||||||||||
Weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares used in diluted EPS | 33,191,312 | 33,115,699 | 33,155,870 | 33,064,708 | |||||||||||
Net income per common share — Basic | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.16 | |||||||
Net income per common share — Diluted | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.07 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 0.16 |
Outstanding potentially dilutive securities as of March 31, 2018 were as follows:
Outstanding Potentially Dilutive Securities | Weighted Average Exercise Price | At March 31, 2018 | |||
Contingent Restricted Stock grants | — | 61,868 |
Outstanding potentially dilutive securities as of March 31, 2017 were as follows:
Outstanding Potentially Dilutive Securities | Weighted Average Exercise Price | At March 31, 2017 | ||||
Contingent Restricted Stock grants | $ | — | 113,270 | |||
Stock Options | 2.19 | 35,231 | ||||
Total outstanding potentially dilutive securities | $ | 0.52 | 148,501 |
Note 13 — Senior Secured Credit Agreement
On April 11, 2016, the Company entered into a three-year, senior secured reserve-based credit facility ("Facility") in an amount up to $50 million. The Facility replaces the Company's previous unsecured credit facility which expired in April 2016. The borrowing base under the Facility was originally set at $10 million and was subsequently increased to $40 million effective February 1, 2018. As of March 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants contained in the Facility, and no amounts were outstanding under the Facility.
Borrowings from the Facility may be used for the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties and for letters of credit and other general corporate purposes. Availability of borrowings under the Facility is subject to semi-annual borrowing base redeterminations.
The Facility included a placement fee of 0.50% on the initial borrowing base, amounting to $50,000, and carries a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum on the undrawn portion of the borrowing base. Any borrowings under the Facility will bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either LIBOR plus 2.75% or the Prime Rate, as defined under the Facility, plus 1.00%. The Facility contains financial covenants including a requirement that the Company maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, (a) a maximum total leverage ratio of not more than 3.00 to 1.00, (b) a debt service coverage ratio of not less than 1.10 to 1.00, and (c) a consolidated tangible net worth of not less than $40 million, all as defined under the Facility.
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Evolution Petroleum Corporation And Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
In connection with this agreement, the Company incurred $168,972 of debt issuance costs. Such costs were capitalized in Other Assets and are being amortized to expense. The unamortized balance in debt issuance costs related to the Facility was $56,268 as of March 31, 2018.
Note 14 — Commitments and Contingencies
We are subject to various claims and contingencies in the normal course of business. In addition, from time to time, we receive communications from government or regulatory agencies concerning investigations or allegations of noncompliance with laws or regulations in jurisdictions in which we operate. At a minimum, we disclose such matters if we believe it is reasonably possible that a future event or events will confirm a loss through impairment of an asset or the incurrence of a liability. We accrue a loss if we believe it is probable that a future event or events will confirm a loss and we can reasonably estimate such loss and we do not accrue future legal costs related to that loss. Furthermore, we will disclose any matter that is unasserted if we consider it probable that a claim will be asserted and there is a reasonable possibility that the outcome will be unfavorable. We expense legal defense costs as they are incurred.
On December 3, 2013, our wholly owned subsidiary, NGS Sub Corp., was served with a lawsuit filed in the 8th Judicial District Court of Winn Parish, Louisiana by Cecil M. Brooks and Brandon Hawkins, residents of Louisiana, alleging that in 2006 a former subsidiary of NGS Sub Corp. improperly disposed of water from an off-lease well into a well located on the plaintiffs’ lands in Winn Parish. The plaintiffs requested monetary damages and other relief. We vigorously defended the claims. Based on our assessment of the continuing costs of defending the Company in this litigation, we entered into a confidential settlement agreement and obtained a full release and dismissal of all claims asserted in this matter. Although the agreement is confidential, the amount of the settlement payment, which was recorded in general and administrative expense as of March 31, 2018 and paid by the Company in April, is not material to the financial position of the Company.
Lease Commitments. We have a non-cancelable operating lease for office space that expires on May 31, 2019. Future minimum lease commitments as of March 31, 2018 under this operating lease are as follows:
Twelve month periods ended March 31, | |||
2019 | $ | 73,073 | |
2020 (through May) | $ | 12,179 |
Rent expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $18,568 and $14,656, respectively. Rent expense for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $57,617 and $68,081, respectively.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained herein and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2017 (the “Form 10-K”), along with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the Form 10‑K. Any terms used but not defined herein have the same meaning given to them in the Form 10-K. Certain dollar amounts and percentages in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and other parts of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been rounded for presentation, and certain amounts may not sum due to rounding.
This Form 10-Q and the information referenced herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigations Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words “plan,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “assume,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “budget,” “forecast,” “predict” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding our plans, beliefs or current expectations, including the plans, beliefs and expectations of our officers and directors. When considering any forward-looking statement, you should keep in mind the risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements herein include the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil and natural gas, operating risks and other risk factors as described in our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2017 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, the assumptions that support our forward-looking statements are based upon information that is currently available and is subject to change. We specifically disclaim all responsibility to publicly update any information contained in a forward-looking statement or any forward-looking statement in its entirety and therefore disclaim any resulting liability for potentially related damages. All forward-looking statements attributable to Evolution Petroleum Corporation are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
We use the terms, “EPM,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” to refer to Evolution Petroleum Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
Executive Overview
General
We are engaged primarily in the development and production of oil and gas reserves within known oil and gas resources utilizing conventional technology with a focus on creating value on a per share basis. In doing so, we depend on a capital structure with low or minimal leverage, allowing us to maintain control of our assets for the benefit of our stockholders. By policy, every employee and director maintains a beneficial ownership position in our common stock. We believe this ownership helps ensure that the interests of our employees and directors are aligned with our shareholders.
Our strategy is to maximize the value realized by our stockholders from our assets, particularly our core Delhi asset.
Highlights for our Third Quarter of Fiscal 2018 and Operations Update
"Current quarter" refers to the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company's third quarter of fiscal 2018.
"Prior quarter" refers to the three months ended December 31, 2017, the Company's second quarter of fiscal 2018.
"Year-ago quarter" refers to the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company's third quarter of fiscal 2017.
Highlights for the Quarter:
• | Current quarter net income was $3.1 million, or $0.09 per common share, compared to net income of $0.07 per common share in the year-ago quarter. |
• | We paid our eighteenth consecutive quarterly cash dividend on common shares, in the increased amount of $0.10 per share, and declared our nineteenth quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share payable in June 2018. |
• | We commenced the planned twelve-well infill drilling program in the Delhi field in late March 2018. |
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• | Our realized oil price for the current quarter was $63.56 per barrel, our highest quarterly average price since the quarter ended December 31, 2014. |
• | We reported revenues of $10.2 million for the current quarter, a decrease of 7% from the prior quarter and an 8% increase over the year-ago quarter. Revenues and production were adversely impacted by abnormal sub-freezing weather in January 2018. |
• | We ended the current quarter with $28.4 million of working capital, an increase of $0.8 million from the prior quarter, after paying $3.3 million in common stock dividends. |
Projects
Additional property and project information is included under Item 1. Business, Item 2. Properties, Notes to the Financial Statements and Exhibit 99.4 of our Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2017.
Delhi Field - Enhanced Oil Recovery Project
Our interests in the Delhi field consist of a 23.9% working interest (with associated 19.0% net revenue interest) and separate overriding royalty and mineral interests of 7.2%. This yields a total net revenue interest of 26.2%. The field is operated by Denbury Resources, Inc. (the "operator").
As previously reported, the field had two weather-related disruptions to operations in January 2018 due to abnormal sub-freezing temperatures. Consequently, both oil and NGL production rates suffered from multiple days of shut-ins in addition to scheduled downtimes for maintenance and other repairs both in the field and at the NGL plant. However, gross production in February and March returned to normal levels of approximately 7,000 barrels of oil per day and 1,100 barrels of NGL's per day. The Company's net share of production for the quarter was 1,685 BOPD and 199 barrels of NGL's per day.
Our net realized oil pricing in the current quarter improved to $63.56 per barrel from $57.30 per barrel in the prior quarter. This was based on an average WTI price of $62.89 per barrel for the quarter. We continued to receive a premium price for our crude oil based on Louisiana Light Sweet ("LLS") pricing, but the LLS differential narrowed during the quarter, as did our overall premium to WTI.
Production from the NGL plant is transported by truck to a processing plant in East Texas. Under our current marketing contract, we receive market index pricing for each NGL component, based on the processed yield, less transportation, processing fees and other deductions. Our current mix of products contains a large percentage (~70%) of higher value NGL's, such as pentanes and butane, and almost no lower value ethane. Market pricing for our NGL's during the quarter was favorable, with net realized NGL prices averaging approximately 54% of WTI prices. NGL demand often has a seasonal pattern and prices tend to be higher during the cooler months of October through March. Accordingly, the relationship between NGL prices and WTI has fluctuated over time and we expect such volatility to continue.
Field operating expenses were $19.82 per barrel of oil equivalent ("BOE") in the current quarter compared to $14.30 in the prior quarter. This temporary increase in lifting costs is primarily attributable to the decrease in oil and NGL production as a direct result of the sub-freezing weather in January, and an overall 15% increase in CO2 expenses resulting from an 11% increase in realized oil prices and higher purchased CO2 volumes. Our total lease operating expenses in the Delhi field were $3.4 million in the current quarter, increasing by $0.4 million from the prior quarter, and $0.5 million over the year-ago quarter. Our purchased CO2 costs increased to $1.5 million ($8.61 per BOE) from $1.3 million ($6.21 per BOE) in the prior quarter and $1.0 million ($5.16 per BOE) in the year-ago quarter. Compared to the prior and year-ago quarter, purchased CO2 volumes increased 6% and 14% , respectively, while our costs per Mcf increased as a result of higher realized oil prices in the field, which are directly tied to the price per Mcf for purchased CO2. Under our contract with the operator, purchased CO2 is priced at 1% of the realized oil price in the field per thousand cubic feet (“Mcf”), plus sales taxes of 8% and transportation costs of $0.20 per Mcf. Our other (non CO2) lease operating expenses were $1.9 million, up 15% from $1.6 million in the prior quarter, primarily due to higher workover expenses.
The operator commenced the twelve-well infill drilling program in the Delhi field in late March as scheduled. Two wells have been drilled and a third well has been spudded in this program that is planned to be completed by late July 2018, along with the other nine wells. The operator has also started the construction of flowlines and facilities and expects to have the first wells online by the end of May 2018. This infill program targets productive oil zones in the developed area of the field that the operator believes are not being swept effectively by the current CO2 flood. This program is expected to both add production and increase ultimate recoveries above the current proved producing oil reserves.
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2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation under the title of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Tax Act"). The Tax Act includes a permanent reduction in our federal corporate income tax rate from 34% to 21%. It also provides more favorable tax deductions associated with capital investments and other significant changes to tax law. The Tax Act became effective upon passage, so our statutory rate for the current fiscal year ended June 30, 2018 is a blended rate of 27.55%. The permanent reduction in the federal corporate income tax rate resulted in a one-time non-cash income tax benefit of approximately $6.0 million related to the adjustment of our liability for deferred income taxes to the lower rate in the Tax Act. This benefit was recognized in the quarter ended December 31, 2017. The accounting for the effects of the rate change on the Company’s deferred tax balances was complete as of December 31, 2017 and no provisional amounts were recorded.
Three Months Ended March 31, | Nine Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | ||||||||
Income before income taxes | 3,654,087 | 3,937,333 | 11,009,578 | 10,312,015 | |||||||
Income tax (benefit) provision | 585,733 | 1,518,190 | (4,076,156 | ) | (a) | 3,768,463 | |||||
Effective tax rate | 16 | % | 39 | % | (37 | )% | (b) | 37 | % |
(a) The income tax provision for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 includes a one-time non-cash benefit of approximately $6.0 million for the adjustment of our liability for deferred income taxes to the lower rate in the Tax Act. This discrete adjustment results in a negative tax rate (benefit) for this period.
(b) Income taxes are recorded in our financial statements based on our estimated annual effective income tax rate together with any discrete items. For the nine months ended March 31, 2018, the effective rate used in the calculation of our income tax expense was approximately 18%. Applying this rate together with the $6.0 million discrete revaluation benefit resulted in the negative tax rate (benefit) of (37)%.
The effective tax rates for the three months and the nine months ended March 31, 2018, excluding the impact of the $6.0 million deferred tax adjustment, were lower than the corresponding prior periods as a result of the lower statutory tax rate and higher utilization of percentage depletion in excess of basis during the current year.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We had $27.2 million and $23.0 million in cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, respectively.
In addition, we have a senior secured reserve-based credit facility (the "Facility") with a maximum capacity of $50.0 million. The Facility had $40.0 million of undrawn borrowing base availability on March 31, 2018. There have been no borrowings under the Facility, which matures on April 11, 2019 and is secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets.
Any future borrowings bear interest, at the Company's option, at either LIBOR plus 2.75% or the Prime Rate, as defined, plus 1.0%. The Facility contains covenants that require the maintenance of (i) a total leverage ratio of not more than 3.0 to 1.0, (ii) a debt service coverage ratio of not less than 1.1 to 1.0 and (iii) a consolidated tangible net worth of not less than $40.0 million, each as defined in the Facility. The Facility also contains other affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. As of March 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants contained in the Facility.
During the nine months ended March 31, 2018, we funded our operations and cash dividends with cash generated from operations and our cash balance increased $4.2 million during that period. As of March 31, 2018, our working capital was $28.4 million, an increase of $5.0 million over working capital of $23.4 million at June 30, 2017.
We have historically funded our operations through cash from operations and working capital. Our primary source of cash is the sale of oil and natural gas liquids production. A portion of these cash flows are used to fund our capital expenditures. While we expect to continue to expend capital to further develop the Delhi field, we and the operator have flexibility as to when this capital is spent. The Company expects to manage future development activities in the Delhi field within the boundaries of its operating cash flow and existing working capital.
We may choose to evaluate and pursue new growth opportunities through acquisitions or other transactions. In addition to our cash on hand, we have access to at least $40.0 million of availability under our senior secured credit facility. In addition we have an effective shelf registration statement with Securities and Exchange Commission under which we may issue new debt or equity securities. If we choose to pursue new growth opportunities, we would expect to use our internal resources of
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cash, working capital and borrowing capacity under our credit facility. It may also be advantageous for us to consider issuing additional equity as part of any potential transaction, but we have no specific plans to do so at this time.
Our other significant use of cash is our on-going dividend program. The Board of Directors instituted a cash dividend on our common stock in December 2013 and we have since paid eighteen consecutive quarterly dividends. Distribution of free cash flow in excess of our operating and capital requirements through cash dividends and potential repurchases of our common stock remains a priority of our financial strategy, and it is our long term goal to increase our dividends over time as appropriate. In February 2018, the Board declared an increase in the quarterly common stock dividend from $0.075 per share to $0.10 per share, effective with the dividend payment in March 2018 and declared a $0.10 per share dividend payable on June 29, 2018. The Board reviews the quarterly dividend rate in light of our financial position and operations, forecasted results, including the outlook for oil and NGL prices, the timing of further expansion of Delhi development and other potential growth opportunities.
Capital Budget - Delhi Field
During the nine months ended March 31, 2018, we incurred $2.3 million of capital expenditures at Delhi. This spending included $0.4 million for capital upgrades to the recycle plant, $0.9 million for CO2 conformance projects and capital maintenance, $0.7 million for Test Site 5 infrastructure in the eastern portion of the field, and $0.3 million for the infill drilling program.
The twelve-well infill drilling program in the Delhi field commenced March 2018 and has an estimated net cost of $4.7 million. The majority of these costs are expected to be incurred in the fourth quarter of this fiscal year and the remainder will continue into the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The operator estimates it will take up to five months to drill and complete all the wells. The program consists of five new CO2 injection wells and seven new production wells and targets productive oil zones which we believe are not being swept effectively by the current CO2 flood. It is expected to both add production and increase ultimate recoveries above the current developed producing oil reserves.
We have also approved additional net capital expenditures for fiscal 2018 totaling $2.8 million for water injection, flowlines and other infrastructure projects in preparation for the Test Site 5 development. Approximately $0.7 million of these costs have been incurred as of March 31, 2018. In addition, we expect to continue to perform conformance workover projects and will likely incur additional maintenance capital expenditures. Such amounts cannot be estimated accurately at this time, but are not expected to be material to our financial position.
Funding for our anticipated capital expenditures at Delhi over the next fiscal year is expected to be met from cash flows from operations and current working capital.
Overview of Cash Flow Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $14.5 million and $11.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The approximate $3.2 million increase in cash provided by operations between these two periods resulted from $8.5 million of higher net income and a $1.7 million increase in cash provided by operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by a $7.1 million decrease in non-cash expenses and other adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations. This decrease includes a $6.0 million one-time adjustment of our deferred income tax liability to the lower corporate tax rate under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Net cash used in investing activities was $1.7 million and $10.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The decrease in cash outflows was primarily due to $8.4 million of lower capital expenditures together with a $0.3 million decline in derivative settlement payments. The prior year period included significant capital spending on the NGL plant, which was completed in January 2017.
Net cash used by financing activities for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $8.7 million and $14.8 million, respectively. The $6.1 million decrease in cash used was principally due to $7.9 million disbursed in the prior fiscal year to redeem our preferred stock, $0.3 million of pre-redemption preferred dividend payments, and a $0.1 million decline in treasury stock purchases, partially offset by an increase of $2.2 million in common share dividends paid as a result of increases in dividend rates per share.
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Full Cost Pool Ceiling Test and Proved Undeveloped Reserves
As of March 31, 2018, our capitalized costs of oil and gas properties were substantially below the full cost valuation ceiling. We do not currently expect that a write-down of capitalized oil and gas property costs will be required in the remaining quarters of fiscal 2018. However, substantially lower oil prices would have an effect on the excess, or cushion, of our valuation ceiling over our capitalized costs in the current quarter and could adversely impact our ceiling tests in future quarters. Under the full cost method of accounting, capitalized costs of oil and gas properties, net of accumulated DD&A and related deferred taxes, are limited to (the full cost valuation “ceiling”) the estimated future net cash flows from proved oil and gas reserves, discounted at 10%; plus the cost of any properties not being amortized; plus the lower of cost or fair value of unproved properties included in costs being amortized; less the income tax effect related to the differences between the book and tax basis of the properties. If capitalized costs exceed the full cost ceiling, the excess would be charged to expense as a write-down of oil and gas properties in the quarter in which the excess occurred. The quarterly ceiling test calculation requires that we use the average price received for our petroleum products during the twelve month period ending with the balance sheet date. If commodity prices drop below the average from the past twelve months, future ceiling test calculations would be adversely affected. We cannot give assurance that a write-down of capitalized oil and gas properties will not be required in the future.
Our proved undeveloped reserves at June 30, 2017 included 544 MBOE of reserves and $3.2 million of future development costs associated with a planned infill drilling program and 1,564 MBOE of reserves and $10.9 million of future development costs associated with the Phase V development in the eastern portion of the field. The objective of the infill drilling program is to increase production and recover reserves which are not believed to be effectively producible with the existing well configuration. The project includes both acceleration of production and an increase in ultimate reserve recovery and has been recorded as a proved undeveloped project. The infill project, which was increased from eight wells to twelve wells subsequent to the date of the reserve report, commenced drilling late in the third quarter of fiscal 2018. The timing of our Test Site 5 development is dependent in part on the results and CO2 requirements of the infill program. The timing of such development is also dependent, in part, on the field operator's available funds and capital spending plans and priorities within their portfolio of properties. At present, we expect to begin this development in calendar 2019.
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Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
The following table sets forth certain financial information with respect to our oil and natural gas operations:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Variance | Variance % | |||||||||||
Oil and gas production: | ||||||||||||||
Crude oil revenues | $ | 9,639,238 | $ | 9,060,796 | $ | 578,442 | 6.4 | % | ||||||
NGL revenues | 610,328 | 464,641 | 145,687 | 31.4 | % | |||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 10,249,566 | $ | 9,525,437 | $ | 724,129 | 7.6 | % | ||||||
Crude oil volumes (Bbl) | 151,665 | 183,811 | (32,146 | ) | (17.5 | )% | ||||||||
NGL volumes (Bbl) | 17,926 | 19,594 | (1,668 | ) | (8.5 | )% | ||||||||
Equivalent volumes (BOE) | 169,591 | 203,405 | (33,814 | ) | (16.6 | )% | ||||||||
Crude oil (BOPD, net) | 1,685 | 2,042 | (357 | ) | (17.5 | )% | ||||||||
NGLs (BOEPD, net) | 199 | 218 | (19 | ) | (8.7 | )% | ||||||||
Equivalent volumes (BOEPD, net) | 1,884 | 2,260 | (376 | ) | (16.6 | )% | ||||||||
Crude oil price per Bbl | $ | 63.56 | $ | 49.29 | $ | 14.27 | 29.0 | % | ||||||
NGL price per Bbl | 34.05 | 23.71 | 10.34 | 43.6 | % | |||||||||
Equivalent price per BOE | $ | 60.44 | $ | 46.83 | $ | 13.61 | 29.1 | % | ||||||
CO2 costs | $ | 1,459,349 | $ | 1,049,035 | $ | 410,314 | 39.1 | % | ||||||
All other lease operating expenses | 1,901,254 | 1,762,223 | 139,031 | 7.9 | % | |||||||||
Production costs | $ | 3,360,603 | $ | 2,811,258 | $ | 549,345 | 19.5 | % | ||||||
Production costs per BOE | $ | 19.82 | $ | 13.82 | $ | 6.00 | 43.4 | % | ||||||
CO2 volumes (MMcf per day, gross) | 75.7 | 66.3 | 9.4 | 14.2 | % | |||||||||
Oil and gas DD&A (a) | $ | 1,353,340 | $ | 1,515,368 | $ | (162,028 | ) | (10.7 | )% | |||||
Oil and gas DD&A per BOE | $ | 7.98 | $ | 7.45 | $ | 0.53 | 7.1 | % |
(a) Excludes $7,545 and $8,107 of other depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
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Net Income Available to Common Stockholders. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we generated net income of $3.1 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, on total revenues of $10.2 million. This compares to net income of $2.4 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, on revenues of $9.5 million for the year-ago quarter. The $0.6 million earnings increase reflects a $0.7 million revenue increase, a $0.9 million decline in income taxes primarily attributable to the impact of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, partially offset by $1.0 million of higher operating expenses.
Oil and Gas Revenues. Revenues increased 8% to $10.2 million as a result a 29% increase in realized oil and NGL prices to $60.44 per equivalent barrel from $46.83 in the year-ago quarter, partially offset by a 16.6% decrease in production volumes. Current quarter NGL and oil production were adversely effected by abnormal sub-freezing temperatures that caused disruptions to our operations and resulted in lost production of approximately seven days of crude oil and over twenty-five days of NGL production in January 2018. Compared to the year-ago quarter, net oil production volumes decreased by 357 BOPD, or 17.5%, to 1,685 BOPD, and net NGL production decreased by 8.7% to199 BOEPD. All of our revenues for the current and year-ago quarters came from the Delhi field.
Production Costs. Production costs for the current quarter were $3.4 million, a $0.5 million, or 20%, increase from the year-ago quarter, due to higher CO2 costs of $0.4 million, or 39%, together with a $0.1 million, or 8%, increase in other production costs. The CO2 cost increase was due to a higher purchase cost per Mcf, which is correlated with the 29% increase in realized oil price from a year ago, and a 14% increase in purchased volumes. Average gross purchased CO2 volumes increased from 66.3 MMcf per day in the year-ago quarter to 75.7 MMcf per day for the current quarter. Other production costs, which include incremental costs of the NGL plant, power, chemicals, expensed workovers, maintenance, labor and overhead, increased primarily due to higher workover expense. Current quarter total production costs per equivalent barrel increased $6.00 per BOE to $19.82 per BOE from $13.82 per BOE in the year-ago quarter due to the purchased CO2 and other production cost increases together with the decrease in equivalent barrel production as described above. Approximately 30% of the rate increase was due to the temporary decline in oil production as a result of the cold weather event.
Calculated solely on our Delhi working interest volumes, production costs were $26.46 per BOE, of which $11.85 per BOE was CO2 cost. These costs per equivalent barrel exclude production volumes from our royalty interests in the Delhi field, which bear almost no production costs, and are therefore higher than the rates per barrel on our total production volumes.
General and Administrative Expenses (“G&A”). G&A expenses increased $0.6 million, or 44%, to $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase resulted primarily from $0.4 million of higher litigation costs and $0.1 million of due diligence costs associated with property evaluations.
Depreciation, Depletion & Amortization Expense (“DD&A”). DD&A decreased $0.2 million, or 11%, to $1.4 million compared to the year ago quarter primarily as a result of lower full cost amortization expense due to the 16.6% production decrease to 169,591 BOE, partially offset by a 7% increase in amortization rate to $7.98 per BOE. The higher rate was principally due to increased development costs.
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Nine Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017
The following table sets forth certain financial information with respect to our oil and natural gas operations:
Nine Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
2018 | 2017 | Variance | Variance % | |||||||||||
Oil and gas production: | ||||||||||||||
Crude oil revenues | $ | 27,654,128 | $ | 25,184,468 | $ | 2,469,660 | 9.8 | % | ||||||
NGL revenues | 2,200,220 | 464,730 | 1,735,490 | 373.4 | % | |||||||||
Natural gas revenues | — | (4 | ) | 4 | n.m. | |||||||||
Total revenues | $ | 29,854,348 | $ | 25,649,194 | $ | 4,205,154 | 16.4 | % | ||||||
Crude oil volumes (Bbl) | 496,169 | 544,628 | (48,459 | ) | (8.9 | )% | ||||||||
NGL volumes (Bbl) | 69,205 | 19,598 | 49,607 | 253.1 | % | |||||||||
Natural gas volumes (Mcf) | — | 16 | (16 | ) | n.m. | |||||||||
Equivalent volumes (BOE) | 565,374 | 564,229 | 1,145 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||
Crude oil (BOPD, net) | 1,811 | 1,988 | (177 | ) | (8.9 | )% | ||||||||
NGLs (BOEPD, net) | 252 | 71 | 181 | 254.9 | % | |||||||||
Natural gas (BOEPD, net) | — | — | — | n.m. | ||||||||||
Equivalent volumes (BOEPD, net) | 2,063 | 2,059 | 4 | 0.2 | % | |||||||||
Crude oil price per Bbl | $ | 55.74 | $ | 46.24 | $ | 9.50 | 20.5 | % | ||||||
NGL price per Bbl | 31.79 | 23.71 | 8.08 | 34.1 | % | |||||||||
Natural gas price per Mcf | — | (0.25 | ) | 0.25 | n.m. | |||||||||
Equivalent price per BOE | $ | 52.80 | $ | 45.46 | $ | 7.34 | 16.1 | % | ||||||
CO2 costs | $ | 3,813,192 | $ | 3,168,909 | $ | 644,283 | 20.3 | % | ||||||
All other lease operating expenses | 5,353,509 | 4,279,411 | 1,074,098 | 25.1 | % | |||||||||
Production costs | $ | 9,166,701 | $ | 7,448,320 | $ | 1,718,381 | 23.1 | % | ||||||
Production costs per BOE | $ | 16.21 | $ | 13.20 | $ | 3.01 | 22.8 | % | ||||||
CO2 volumes (MMcf per day, gross) | 71.5 | 69.0 | 2.5 | 3.6 | % | |||||||||
Oil and gas DD&A (a) | $ | 4,490,545 | $ | 4,080,818 | $ | 409,727 | 10.0 | % | ||||||
Oil and gas DD&A per BOE | $ | 7.94 | $ | 7.23 | $ | 0.71 | 9.8 | % |
n.m. Not meaningful.
(a) Excludes $22,751 and $23,606 of other depreciation and amortization expense for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
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Net Income Available to Common Stockholders. During the nine months ended March 31, 2018, we generated net income of $15.1 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, on total revenues of $29.9 million. This compares to net income of $5.3 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, on revenues of $25.6 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. The $9.8 million earnings increase reflects higher revenues of $4.2 million, an income tax decrease of $7.8 million primarily attributable to the impact of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and a $1.3 million decrease in allocated net income to holders of preferred shares retired in November 2016, partially offset by $3.5 million of higher operating expenses.
Oil and Gas Revenues. Revenues increased 16% to $29.9 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2018 primarily due to a 16% increase in realized prices from $45.46 per equivalent barrel to $52.80 per equivalent barrel on a very slight increase in equivalent barrels. All of our revenues in the current fiscal year came from the Delhi field, as did virtually all of our revenues from the prior year. Net Delhi oil production volumes of 1,811 BOPD at an average price of $55.74 decreased 177 BOPD from the prior year period primarily due to the abnormal sub-freezing temperatures that disrupted operations early in the current quarter together with successful conformance and production enhancement operations in the prior year that stabilized at lower rates in the current fiscal year. Net NGL production averaged 252 BOEPD, at an average price of $31.79 per barrel, an increase of 181 BOEPD compared to in the year-ago period as NGL plant production began in January 2017.
Production Costs. Production costs for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 were $9.2 million, a $1.7 million, or 23%, increase from the same period a year ago, primarily due to higher CO2 costs and the incremental operating costs of the NGL plant that commenced operations in January 2017. CO2 costs increased $0.6 million, or 20%, due to higher purchased CO2 costs per Mcf, which is correlated with the 21% increase in realized oil price from the prior year period together with a 4% increase in purchase volumes. Average gross purchased CO2 volumes increased from 69.0 MMcf per day in the year-ago period to 71.5 MMcf per day for the current year. Other production costs, which include incremental costs of the NGL plant, power, chemicals, expensed workovers, repairs and maintenance, labor and overhead, increased $1.1 million, or 25%, from the year-ago period. Approximately $0.8 million and $0.3 million of this increase were due to higher NGL plant-related expense and workover expense, respectively. Total production costs per equivalent barrel in the current period were $16.21 per BOE on total production volumes, compared to $13.20 in the prior year period.
Calculated solely on our Delhi working interest volumes, production costs were $21.41 per BOE, of which $9.29 per BOE was CO2 cost. These costs per equivalent barrel exclude production volumes from our royalty interests in the Delhi field, which bear almost no production costs, and are therefore higher than the rates per barrel on our total production volumes.
General and Administrative Expenses (“G&A”). G&A expenses increased $1.3 million, or 35%, to $5.1 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018. The expense increase reflected $0.5 million of litigation and settlement expenses, $0.4 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense, and $0.3 million of due diligence costs associated with property evaluations.
Depreciation, Depletion & Amortization Expense (“DD&A”). DD&A increased $0.4 million, or 10%, to $4.5 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the year-ago period primarily due to increased full cost amortization from a higher amortization rate of $7.94 per BOE compared to $7.23 per BOE in the year ago period and a small increase in production volumes 565,374 BOE. The higher rate was principally due to increased development costs.
Other Economic Factors
Inflation. Although the general inflation rate in the United States, as measured by the Consumer Price Index and the Producer Price Index, has been relatively low in recent years, the oil and gas industry has experienced unusually volatile price movements in commodity prices, vendor goods and oilfield services. Prices for drilling and oilfield services, oilfield equipment, tubulars, labor, expertise and other services impact our lease operating expenses and our capital expenditures. During fiscal 2018 to date, we have seen a firming of prices for operating and capital costs as a result of improving demand and a closer balance with the supply of goods and services in the industry. Product prices, operating costs and development costs may not always move in tandem.
Known Trends and Uncertainties. General worldwide economic conditions, as well as economic conditions for the oil and gas industry specifically, continue to be uncertain and volatile. Concerns over uncertain future economic growth are affecting numerous industries and companies, as well as consumers, which impact demand for crude oil and natural gas. If the supply of crude oil and natural gas exceeds demand in the future, it may put downward pressure on crude oil and natural gas prices, thereby lowering our revenues, profits, cash flow and working capital going forward. While we realized higher average oil prices in the current quarter than any period since the quarter ended December 31, 2014, there can be no assurance that such prices will continue to prevail or trend upward.
Seasonality. Our business is generally not directly seasonal, except for instances when weather conditions may adversely affect access to our properties or delivery of our petroleum products. Although we do not generally modify our production for changes in market demand, we do occasionally experience seasonality in the product prices we receive, driven by summer
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cooling and driving, winter heating, and extremes in seasonal weather, including hurricanes. We have also experienced adverse impacts on our production from very high summer temperatures and extremely cold winter weather.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements to report for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS
Information about market risks for the three months ended March 31, 2018, did not change materially from the disclosures in Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2017.
Commodity Price Risk
Our most significant market risk is the pricing for crude oil and NGL's. We expect energy prices to remain volatile and unpredictable. If energy prices decline significantly, our revenues and cash flow would significantly decline. In addition, a non-cash write-down of our oil and gas properties could be required under full cost accounting rules if future oil and gas commodity prices sustained a significant decline. Prices also affect the amount of cash flow available for capital expenditures and our ability to borrow and raise additional capital, as, if and when needed. We may use derivative instruments to manage our exposure to commodity price risk from time to time based on our assessment of such risk.
Interest Rate Risk
We currently have only a small exposure to changes in interest rates. Changes in interest rates affect the interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents. Under our current policies, we do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to this Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(c) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the quarter covered by this report. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognizes that controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving desired control objectives. Based on the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of March 31, 2018 our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.
Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, we have determined there has been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are involved in certain legal proceedings that are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2017 in Part I. Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” and Note 18 — Commitments and Contingencies under Part II. Item 8. “Financial Statements.” Material developments in the status of those proceedings during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 are described in Part I. Item 1. "Financial Information" under Note 14 — Commitments and Contingencies in this Quarterly Report and incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2017 includes a detailed description of our risk factors. There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2017.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company did not sell any equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
During the quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Company did not purchase any common stock in the open market under the previously announced share repurchase program and no shares of common stock were surrendered by its employees to pay their share of payroll taxes arising from vestings of restricted stock and/or exercises of stock options.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not applicable.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
A. Exhibits
31.1 | |||
31.2 | |||
32.1 | |||
32.2 | |||
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document | ||
101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | ||
101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | ||
101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | ||
101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | ||
101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By: | /s/ RANDALL D. KEYS | ||
Randall D. Keys | |||
President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
Date: May 9, 2018 |
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