GULFSLOPE ENERGY, INC. - Quarter Report: 2013 December (Form 10-Q)
U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________
FORM 10-Q
______________
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the quarter ended December 31, 2013
Commission File No. 00-51638
GULFSLOPE ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of the issuer as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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16-1689008
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S. Employer I.D. No.)
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incorporation or organization)
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2500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 800
Houston, Texas 77042
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(281) 918-4100
(Issuer’s Telephone Number)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer [ ]
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Accelerated filer [ ]
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Non-accelerated filer [ ]
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Smaller reporting company [X]
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [ X ]
The number of shares outstanding of our common stock, as of February 11, 2014, was 624,224,010.
1
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Report”) contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this Report including, without limitation, statements in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in this Report, regarding our financial condition, estimated working capital, business strategy, the plans and objectives of our management for future operations and those statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believe”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “projects”, “target”, “goal”, “plans”, “objective”, “should”, or similar expressions or variations on such expressions are forward-looking statements. We can give no assurances that the assumptions upon which the forward-looking statements are based will prove to be correct. Because forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, economic conditions generally and in the markets in which we may participate, competition within our chosen industry, technological advances and failure by us to successfully develop business relationships.
Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligations or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained in this Report to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
2
PART I - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Item 1. Financial Statements.
December 31, 2013
C O N T E N T S
Condensed Balance Sheets
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4
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Condensed Statements of Operations
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5
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Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
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6
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Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
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7
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3
GulfSlope Energy, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Condensed Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013
(Unaudited)
December 31, 2013
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September 30, 2013
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|||||||
Assets
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||||||||
Current Assets
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||||||||
Cash
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$
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3,344,071
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$
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310,199
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||||
Restricted Cash
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2,500,506
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2,500,317
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||||||
Prepaid Expenses
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348,711
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5,514
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||||||
Total Current Assets
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6,193,288
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2,816,030
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||||||
Property, Plant, and Equipment (net)
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78,434
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70,188
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||||||
Other Non-Current Assets
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18,760
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18,760
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||||||
Total Assets
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$
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6,290,482
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$
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2,904,978
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||||
Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit
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||||||||
Current Liabilities
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||||||||
Accounts Payable
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$
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274,379
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$
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156,439
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||||
Related Party Payable
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366,480
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490,101
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||||||
Accrued Expenses and Other Payables
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3,003,065
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3,093,065
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||||||
Accrued Interest
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162,042
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94,986
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||||||
Note Payable
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94,273
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-
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||||||
Loan from Related-Party
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5,300,000
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5,500,000
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||||||
Total Current Liabilities
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9,200,239
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9,334,591
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||||||
Accrued Expenses and Other Payables, Net of Current Portion
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3,003,065
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3,003,065
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||||||
Total Liabilities
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$
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12,203,304
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$
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12,337,656
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||||
Stockholders' Deficit
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||||||||
Preferred Stock; par value ($0.001);
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-
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-
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||||||
Authorized 50,000,000 shares
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||||||||
none issued or outstanding
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||||||||
Common Stock; par value ($0.001);
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624,223
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577,210
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||||||
Authorized 750,000,000 shares; 624,223,676 and
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||||||||
577,210,000 issued and outstanding, respectively
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||||||||
Additional Paid-in-Capital
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14,761,617
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9,139,917
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||||||
Deficit accumulated during the exploration stage
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(21,298,662)
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(19,149,805)
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Total Stockholders' Deficit
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(5,912,822)
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(9,432,678)
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||||||
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit
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$
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6,290,482
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$
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2,904,978
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See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
4
GulfSlope Energy, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Condensed Statements of Operations
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and
For the Period from Inception through December 31, 2013
(Unaudited)
For the three months ended
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For the three months ended
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Since Inception
(12/12/03)
through
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||||||||||
December 31, 2013
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December 31, 2012
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December 31, 2013
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||||||||||
Revenues
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$ | - | $ | - | $ | 9,694 | ||||||
Revenues from Related Parties
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- | - | 2,346 | |||||||||
Total Revenue
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- | - | 12,040 | |||||||||
Cost of Sales
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- | - | 8,394 | |||||||||
Cost of Sales to Related Parties
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- | - | 2,101 | |||||||||
Total Cost of Sales
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- | - | 10,495 | |||||||||
Gross Profit
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- | - | 1,545 | |||||||||
Impairment of Oil and Natural Gas Properties
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1,676,548 | - | 16,797,122 | |||||||||
General & Administrative Expenses
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404,253 | 396,376 | 4,324,045 | |||||||||
Net Loss from Operations
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(2,080,801 | ) | (396,376 | ) | (21,119,622 | ) | ||||||
Other Income/(Expenses):
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||||||||||||
Interest Income
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1,300 | - | 1,616 | |||||||||
Interest Expense
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(69,356 | ) | - | (179,856 | ) | |||||||
Net Loss Before Income Taxes
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(2,148,857 | ) | (396,376 | ) | (21,297,862 | ) | ||||||
Provision for Income Taxes
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- | - | (800 | ) | ||||||||
Net Loss
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(2,148,857 | ) | (396,376 | ) | (21,298,662 | ) | ||||||
Loss Per Share - Basic and Diluted
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$ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | ||||||
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding – Basic and Diluted
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609,025,787 | 235,150,000 |
See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
5
GulfSlope Energy, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, and
For the Period from Inception through December 31, 2013
(Unaudited)
For the three months ended
December 31, 2013
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For the three months ended
December 31, 2012
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Since Inception (12/10/03) Through
December 31, 2013
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||||||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
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||||||||||||
Net Loss
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$ | (2,148,857 | ) | $ | (396,376 | ) | $ | (21,298,662 | ) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net income/loss to net cash
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||||||||||||
From Operating Activities:
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||||||||||||
Impairment of Oil and Natural Gas Properties
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1,676,548 | - | 16,797,122 | |||||||||
Depreciation
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6,558 | - | 22,681 | |||||||||
Stock Issued for Services
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221,472 | - | 1,731,472 | |||||||||
Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities
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||||||||||||
Prepaid Expenses
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(228,449 | ) | 128,818 | (233,963 | ) | |||||||
Other Assets
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- | - | (18,760 | ) | ||||||||
Accounts Payable
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19,130 | 2,976 | 66,111 | |||||||||
Related Party Payable
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(123,621 | ) | (31,183 | ) | 241,003 | |||||||
Accrued Interest
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67,464 | - | 162,450 | |||||||||
Accrued Liabilities
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22,500 | - | 67,500 | |||||||||
Net Cash From Operating Activities
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(487,255 | ) | (295,765 | ) | (2,463,046 | ) | ||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
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||||||||||||
Exploration Costs
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(1,577,738 | ) | - | (7,966,057 | ) | |||||||
Purchase of Equipment
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(14,804 | ) | - | (99,615 | ) | |||||||
Net Cash From Investing Activities
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(1,592,542 | ) | - | (8,065,672 | ) | |||||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
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||||||||||||
Restricted Cash
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(189 | ) | - | (2,500,506 | ) | |||||||
Proceeds from Stock Issuance
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5,154,333 | - | 9,713,770 | |||||||||
Proceeds from Related Party Loans
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- | - | 6,741,769 | |||||||||
Payments on Note Payable
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(20,475 | ) | - | (20,475 | ) | |||||||
Payments on Related Party Loans
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(20,000 | ) | - | (61,769 | ) | |||||||
Net Cash From Financing Activities
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5,113,669 | - | 13,872,789 | |||||||||
Net Increase/(Decrease) in cash
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3,033,872 | (295,765 | ) | 3,344,071 | ||||||||
Beginning Cash Balance
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310,199 | 423,009 | - | |||||||||
Ending Cash Balance
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$ | 3,344,071 | $ | 127,244 | $ | 3,344,071 | ||||||
Supplemental Schedule of Cash Flow Activities
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||||||||||||
Cash Paid for Income Taxes
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$ | - | $ | - | $ | 925 | ||||||
Cash Paid for Interest
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$ | 912 | $ | - | $ | 12,268 | ||||||
Related Party Debt Forgiveness
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$ | - | $ | - | $ | 11,023 | ||||||
Stock Issued for Prepaid Expenses
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$ | - | $ | - | $ | 550,000 | ||||||
Property Contributed by Shareholder
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$ | - | $ | - | $ | 1,500 | ||||||
Non-Cash Financing and Investing Activities
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||||||||||||
Stock Issued on Settlement of Related Party Note
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$ | 180,000 | $ | - | $ | 1,380,000 | ||||||
Prepaid Asset Financed by Note Payable
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$ | 114,748 | $ | - | $ | 114,748 | ||||||
Settlement of Accrued Expenses through Stock Issuance
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$ | 112,500 | $ | - | $ | 112,500 |
See accompanying notes to condensed financial statements.
6
GulfSlope Energy, Inc.
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to Condensed Financial Statements
December 31, 2013
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF BUSINESS
GulfSlope Energy, Inc. (the “Company,” “GulfSlope,” “our” and words of similar import), a Delaware corporation, is an independent energy company intent upon engaging in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development and production of crude oil and natural gas properties. To this end, the Company entered the exploration stage on March 22, 2013 when it executed a master license agreement with a geophysical company to license certain seismic data for the purposes of engaging in the exploration of oil and natural gas.
NOTE 2 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The condensed financial statements included herein are unaudited. However, these condensed financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for an entire year. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s condensed financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Certain information, accounting policies, and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been omitted in this Form 10-Q pursuant to certain rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2013, which were included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
GulfSlope considers highly liquid investments with insignificant interest rate risk and original maturities to the Company of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of interest-bearing bank accounts and money market funds. The Company’s cash positions represent assets held in checking and money market accounts. These assets are generally available on a daily or weekly basis and are highly liquid in nature.
Liquidity/Going Concern
We have incurred accumulated losses for the period from inception to December 31, 2013 of $21,298,662. Further losses are anticipated in developing our business. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. As a result, our auditors have expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As of December 31, 2013, we had $3,344,071 of unrestricted cash on hand excluding $2,500,506 of restricted cash in an escrow account earmarked for a future payment associated with the acquisition of seismic data. The Company estimates that it will need to raise a minimum of $15 million to fund operations through December 31, 2014, and likely significantly more capital to meet its obligations during the subsequent 12 months. The Company plans to finance the Company through best-efforts equity and/or debt financings. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Full Cost Method
The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas exploration and development activities. Under the full cost method of accounting, all costs associated with the exploration for and development of oil and gas reserves are capitalized on a country-by-country basis into a single cost center (“full cost pool”). Such costs include land acquisition costs, geological and geophysical (“G&G”) expenses, carrying charges on non-producing properties, costs of drilling both productive and non-productive wells and overhead charges directly related to acquisition, exploration and development activities.
The costs of unproved properties and related capitalized costs (such as G&G costs) are withheld from the depletion base until such time as they are either developed or abandoned. When proved reserves are assigned or the property is considered to be impaired, the cost of the property or the amount of the impairment is added to costs subject to depletion and full cost ceiling calculations. Further, capitalized G&G costs that are directly associated with unevaluated properties not yet owned by the Company are included in the depletion base. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had no proved reserves, nor any unevaluated properties. As a result, the geological and geophysical costs are included in the amortization base as incurred and, per Rule 4-10, are subject to the ceiling limitation test, resulting in immediate impairment.
7
Companies that use the full cost method of accounting for oil and natural gas exploration and development activities are required to perform a ceiling test calculation each quarter. The full cost ceiling test is an impairment test prescribed by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10. The ceiling test is performed quarterly, on a country-by-country basis, utilizing the average of prices in effect on the first day of the month for the preceding twelve month period. The ceiling limits such pooled costs to the aggregate of the present value of future net revenues attributable to proved crude oil and natural gas reserves discounted at 10% plus the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties less any associated tax effects. If such capitalized costs exceed the ceiling, the Company will record a write-down to the extent of such excess as a non-cash charge to earnings. Any such write-down will reduce earnings in the period of occurrence and results in a lower depreciation, depletion and amortization rate in future periods. A write-down may not be reversed in future periods even though higher oil and natural gas prices may subsequently increase the ceiling.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company has reviewed all recently issued, but not yet adopted, accounting standards in order to determine their effects, if any, on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Based on that review, the Company believes that none of these pronouncements will have a significant effect on its financial statements.
NOTE 3 – EXPLORATION COSTS
On March 20, 2013, the Company entered into an assignment and assumption agreement (the “Assignment Agreement”) with third parties pursuant to which the Company was assigned the exclusive right to license certain seismic data. On March 22, 2013, the Company executed a master license agreement with this seismic company. In consideration for the assignment and other transactions contemplated by the Assignment Agreement, the Company agreed to issue to the assignor parties an aggregate of 243,516,666 shares of the Company’s common stock. The common stock was valued at $2,435,167 and the shares were subsequently issued in April 2013. These expenses were included in accrued expenses as of March 31, 2013.
In March 2013, the Company licensed certain seismic data from this geophysical company. The seismic data license fee totaled $6,135,500.
In March 2013, the Company licensed certain seismic data from a second seismic company pursuant to another ordinary business course agreement. The seismic data purchase totaled $4,012,260.
During May 2013, the Company incurred $90,000 in costs to participate in a geophysical research program with a public institution.
During May through September 2013, the Company incurred $1,674,376 in costs associated with technological infrastructure and third party hosting services to maintain the aforementioned seismic data.
During May through September 2013, the Company incurred $773,271 in consulting fees, salaries and benefits associated with full-time employed geoscientists analyzing the aforementioned seismic data.
During October through December 2013, the Company incurred $808,613 in consulting fees, salaries and benefits associated with consultants and full-time geoscientists, $787,935 associated with technological infrastructure and third party hosting services and seismic data, and $80,000 for an independent reserve study.
The Company properly capitalized these G&G costs and included them in the depletion base because the Company did not yet own the specific unevaluated properties these costs related to. Therefore, these G&G costs were subject to the ceiling limitation test, resulting in immediate impairment for accounting purposes.
NOTE 4 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In May 2013, James Askew resigned as the Company’s chief executive officer. Simultaneously, John Seitz was appointed chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors.
In May 2013, Ronald A. Bain was appointed as the president and chief operating officer, and Dwight "Clint" M. Moore was appointed as the vice president and secretary.
8
During April through September 2013, the Company entered into convertible promissory notes whereby it borrowed a total of $6,500,000 from John Seitz, its current chief executive officer. The notes are due on demand, bear interest at the rate of 5% per annum, and are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price equal to $0.12 per share of common stock (the then offering price of shares of common stock to unaffiliated investors). In May 2013, John Seitz converted $1,200,000 of the aforementioned debt into 10,000,000 shares of common stock, which shares were issued in July 2013. As of December 31, 2013, there was a total of $162,042 accrued interest associated with these loans and the Company has recorded $94,319 in interest expense for the year ended September 30, 2013 and $67,723 in interest expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2013.
During September 2013, the Company entered into convertible promissory notes whereby it borrowed a total of $200,000 from Dr. Ronald Bain, its current president and chief operating officer, and his affiliate ConRon. The notes are due on demand, bear interest at the rate of 5% per annum, and are convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price equal to $0.12 per share of common stock (the then offering price of shares of common stock to unaffiliated investors). As of September 30, 2013, there was a total of $667 accrued interest associated with these loans and the Company has recorded interest expense for the same amount. In October 2013, Dr. Bain converted principal and accrued interest in the amount of $180,408 into 1,503,403 shares of common stock (a conversion rate of $0.12 per share). In November 2013, the Company repaid in full the $20,000 remaining principal balance (plus accrued interest) of the convertible promissory note.
In October 2013, the Company issued 937,500 shares of common stock to Brady Rodgers, the Company’s vice president, to settle $112,500 of fees due to Mr. Rodgers for services rendered.
In October 2013, the Company issued to Brady Rodgers, the Company’s vice president Engineering and Business Development, a ten-year option to purchase 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.12 per share. A fair value of $177,298 was computed using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, of which $25,632 has been expensed during the three months ended December 31, 2013. The options vest 50% in October 2014 and 50% in October 2015.
As of December 31, 2013, executive officers paid $56,480 to trade vendors on behalf of the Company in the ordinary course of business.
NOTE 5 – COMMON STOCK/PAID IN CAPITAL
Effective April 2012, the Company completed a reincorporation in the State of Delaware from the State of Utah. The current number of authorized shares of common stock is 750,000,000 and the number of authorized shares of preferred stock is 50,000,000.
During February and March 2013, the Company sold 47,000,000 shares of common stock for cash proceeds of $470,000.
During April 2013, the Company issued a total of 6,000,000 shares of common stock to two third parties for services rendered. The shares were valued at $60,000.
During April 2013, the Company issued 10,000,000 shares of common stock to John B. Connally III as consideration for termination of a consulting agreement. The shares were valued at $100,000.
During April 2013, the Company issued 243,516,666 shares of common stock to third parties in connection with the Assignment Agreement (see Note 3 above). The shares were valued at $2,435,167.
During April 2013, the Company sold 16,666,667 shares of common stock for $2,000,000 cash or $0.12 per share. The shares were subsequently issued in July 2013.
During May 2013, the Company was obligated to issue 10,000,000 shares of common stock to its chief executive officer to settle $1,200,000 in debt (see Note 4 above). The shares were subsequently issued in July 2013.
During June 2013, the Company sold 833,333 shares of common stock for $100,000 cash or $0.12 per share. The shares were subsequently issued in July 2013.
During August and September 2013, the Company sold a total of 8,043,334 shares of common stock for $965,200 cash at $0.12 per share.
During October 2013, the Company sold 42,952,773 shares of common stock in a private placement at a price of $0.12 per share for $5,154,333 cash.
9
In October 2013, the Company issued 1,503,403 shares of common stock to Dr. Bain, the Company’s chief operating officer, for the conversion of $180,408 of convertible debt and accrued interest (see Note 4, above).
In October 2013, the Company issued 937,500 shares of common stock to Brady Rodgers, the Company’s vice president, to settle $112,500 of fees due to Mr. Rodgers for services rendered.
In October 2013, the Company issued 1,620,000 shares of common stock, with a fair value of $194,400, to three employees pursuant to employment arrangements. The Company also made gross-up payments to cover the three employees’ personal income tax obligations in connection with these grants.
In October 2013, the Company issued to Brady Rodgers, the Company’s vice president Engineering and Business Development, a ten-year option to purchase 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.12 per share. A fair value of $177,298 was computed using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, of which $12,816 has been capitalized to exploration costs and subsequently impaired, and $12,816 has been recorded as general & administrative expense during the three months ended December 31, 2013. The options vest 50% in October 2014 and 50% in October 2015.
NOTE 6– STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized over the required vesting period. The Company recognized $25,632 and $0 in stock-based compensation expense during the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These expenses were recorded as exploration costs and as general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity during the three-month period ended December 31, 2013.
Number of Options
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price
|
|
Outstanding at beginning of period
|
-
|
-
|
Granted
|
2,000,000
|
$0.12
|
Exercised
|
-
|
-
|
Cancelled
|
-
|
-
|
Outstanding at end of period
|
2,000,000
|
$0.12
|
Exercisable at end of period
|
-
|
-
|
The Black-Scholes option-pricing model is used to estimate the fair value of options granted. The fair values of stock options granted for the three months ended December 31, 2013 were based on the following assumptions at the date of grant as follows:
Expected dividend yield
|
-%
|
Expected stock price volatility
|
91.42%
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
1.53%
|
Expected life of options
|
5.75 years
|
Grant date fair value
|
0.09
|
The Company used a variety of comparable and peer companies to determine the expected volatility. The Company has no historical data regarding the expected life of the options and therefore used the simplified method of calculating the expected life. The risk free rate was calculated using the U.S. Treasury constant maturity rates similar to the expected life of the options, as published by the Federal Reserve. The Company has no plans to declare any future dividends.
As of December 31, 2013 there was $151,666 of unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to the stock option grant that is expected to be expensed over a period of two years. There was $0 of intrinsic value for options outstanding as of December 31, 2013.
10
NOTE 7– COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In March 2013, the Company licensed certain seismic data pursuant to two agreements. With respect to the first agreement, as of December 31, 2013, the Company has paid $2,135,500 in cash, and has provided an additional $2,500,000 in an escrow account, which will be released to the vendor at a later date. This amount has been recorded as restricted cash as of December 31, 2013. The Company is obligated to provide the remaining $1,500,000 in an escrow account upon the delivery of certain additional seismic data by the vendor to the Company, which is expected to occur during the first calendar quarter of 2014. With respect to the second agreement, as of December 31, 2013, the Company has paid $2,006,130 in cash and is obligated to pay $1,003,065 during April 2014 and $1,003,065 during April 2015.
In July 2013, the Company entered into a two-year office lease agreement. The agreement calls for monthly payments of approximately $20,200 for the first twelve months and $20,500 for the second twelve months. In addition, the Company paid a $18,760 security deposit in July 2013.
In August 2013, the Company entered into a one-year consulting agreement with a third party. The agreement calls for monthly retainer payments of $11,000 per month for the first four months (a total of $44,000). As of December 31, 2013, the Company has paid 3 payments for a total of $33,000. After the fourth payment, the consultant will be compensated on a time and materials basis.
In October 2013, the Company purchased an insurance policy and financed the premium by executing a note payable in the amount of $114,748. The balance of the note payable at December 31, 2013 is $94,273.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Forward-looking Statements
The following discussion highlights the principal factors that have affected our financial condition and results of operations as well as our liquidity and capital resources for the periods described. This discussion contains forward-looking statements. Please see “Forward-Looking Statements” above.
Plan of Operations
Prior to March 2013, we had not been engaged in any substantive business activity since 2006. On March 20, 2013, we entered into an assignment and assumption agreement (the “Assignment Agreement”) pursuant to which we were assigned the exclusive right to license certain seismic data from a geophysical company. In consideration for the assignment and other transactions contemplated by the Assignment Agreement, the Company issued to the assignor parties thereto an aggregate of 243,516,666 shares of the Company’s common stock, valued at $0.01 per share. We executed a master license agreement with the geophysical company on March 22, 2013. In March 2013, we entered into a second ordinary course license agreement with a different geophysical company, and we expect to enter into additional ordinary course license agreements with seismic companies to acquire and reprocess additional seismic data.
By the end of the second fiscal quarter, the Company expects to have invested 13,000 technical person hours in the proprietary interpretation of the above seismic data and the associated high end reprocessing of this data. The result of this proprietary interpretation has been the identification of multiple prospects that we believe may have substantial potential hydrocarbon deposits. Our primary objective is to acquire as many of these prospects as possible during 2014, through leasing or partnering transactions. Throughout this Report we refer to these targeted prospects as our “portfolio.” Upon lease acquisition of, or acquisition of drilling rights in, our targeted prospects, we intend to cause multiple exploration wells to be drilled in our portfolio. We anticipate lowering our capital exposure to exploration drilling activities by seeking to enter into a series of partnerships whereby partners will pay some or all of our portion of exploration drilling costs. In return, we plan to deliver our seismic interpretation justifying the exploration drilling and the ownership of the leases. Drilling is expected to commence in 2015.
Significant Accounting Policies
The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas exploration and development activities. Under the full cost method of accounting, all costs associated with the exploration for and development of oil and gas reserves are capitalized on a country-by-country basis into a single cost center (“full cost pool”). Such costs include land acquisition costs, geological and geophysical (“G&G”) expenses, carrying charges on non-producing properties, costs of drilling both productive and non-productive wells and overhead charges directly related to acquisition, exploration and development activities.
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The costs of unproved properties and related capitalized costs (such as G&G costs) are withheld from the depletion base until such time as they are either developed or abandoned. When proved reserves are assigned or the property is considered to be impaired, the cost of the property or the amount of the impairment is added to costs subject to depletion and full cost ceiling calculations. Further, capitalized G&G costs that are directly associated with unevaluated properties not yet owned by the Company are included in the depletion base. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had no proved reserves, nor any unevaluated properties. As a result, the geological and geophysical costs are included in the amortization base as incurred and, per Rule 4-10, are subject to a ceiling limitation test, resulting in immediate impairment.
Companies that use the full cost method of accounting for oil and natural gas exploration and development activities are required to perform a ceiling test calculation each quarter. The full cost ceiling test is an impairment test prescribed by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10. The ceiling test is performed quarterly, on a country-by-country basis, utilizing the average of prices in effect on the first day of the month for the preceding twelve month period. The ceiling limits such pooled costs to the aggregate of the present value of future net revenues attributable to proved crude oil and natural gas reserves discounted at 10% plus the lower of cost or market value of unproved properties less any associated tax effects. If such capitalized costs exceed the ceiling, the Company will record a write-down to the extent of such excess as a non-cash charge to earnings. Any such write-down will reduce earnings in the period of occurrence and results in a lower depreciation, depletion and amortization rate in future periods. A write-down may not be reversed in future periods even though higher oil and natural gas prices may subsequently increase the ceiling.
In accordance with one of our seismic data licensing agreements, certain funds have been placed in an escrow account for the purpose of making a future installment payment and are restricted from use in our operations. Those funds have been classified as restricted cash and the restricted cash at December 31, 2013 was approximately $2.5 million.
Property and equipment are carried at cost. We assess the carrying value of our property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
Factors Affecting Comparability of Future Results
Success in Acquiring Oil and Gas Leases or Prospects. As a result of our 3-D seismic imaging and reprocessing, we have identified but not yet acquired the leasing or drilling rights to a number of currently available, undrilled prospects which we believe may potentially contain economically recoverable reserves. It should be expected that we may face competition in our lease acquisition strategy which could prove to increase the cost of any acquisitions. While we believe that our prospective portfolio of prospects has not been identified and is not being pursued by third-party competitors, there is no assurance of this belief nor that we will be able to fully execute our lease acquisition strategy.
We have no proved reserves. As we have not yet acquired any oil and gas interests or drilled wells, we have no proved reserves. While we have identified prospects based on available seismic and geological information that indicate the potential presence of oil or gas, to date we do not own the drilling and production rights for these prospects and may never successfully acquire an interest in these prospects. Some of our current prospects may require additional seismic data reprocessing and interpretation. Even when properly used and interpreted, seismic data and visualization techniques are only tools used to assist geoscientists in identifying structures and hydrocarbon indicators and do not enable the interpreter to have certainty as to whether hydrocarbons are, in fact, present in those structures. Even if we acquire the interests, we do not know if any such prospect will contain oil or gas in sufficient quantities or quality to recover drilling and completion costs or to be economically viable.
Success in the Discovery and Development of Reserves. Because we have no operating history in the production of oil and gas, our future results of operations and financial condition will be directly affected by our ability to discover and develop reserves through our drilling activities.
Oil and Gas Revenue. We have not yet commenced oil and gas production. If and when we do commence production, we expect to generate revenue from such production. No oil and gas revenue is reflected in our historical financial statements.
General and Administrative Expenses. We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in future periods.
Demand and Price. The demand for oil and gas is susceptible to volatility related to, among other factors, the level of global economic activity and may also fluctuate depending on the performance of specific industries. We expect that a decrease in economic activity, in the United States and elsewhere, would adversely affect demand for any oil and gas we may produce. Since we have not generated revenues, these key factors will only affect us if and when we produce and sell hydrocarbons.
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Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2012
We recorded no revenue during the three months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. General and administrative expenses were approximately $0.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013, compared to approximately $0.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2012. Geological and geophysical costs were approximately $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013 as the Company continued its exploration activities launched in March 2013. There were no geological and geophysical costs for the three months ended December 31, 2012.
Liquidity and Capital Requirements
As of December 31, 2013, we had $3,344,071 of cash on hand, excluding $2,500,506 of restricted cash in an escrow account earmarked for a future payment associated with seismic data. From October 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, we sold 42,952,774 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of approximately $5.2 million. Under our current business plan, we will require a minimum of approximately $15 million to fund operations through December 31, 2014. Future equity financings may be dilutive to our stockholders, and the terms of future equity financings may include preferences or rights superior to our common stock. Debt financings may involve a pledge of assets and will rank senior to our common stock. We have historically financed our operations through best efforts private equity financings. We do not have any credit or equity facilities available with financial institutions, stockholders or third party investors, and will continue to rely on best efforts financings. There is no assurance that we can raise up to $15 million during 2014, or raise additional capital thereafter. Failure to raise estimated required capital, on favorable terms or at all, will have a material adverse effect on our operations, and will likely cause us to curtail or cease operations.
We have incurred losses from inception to December 31, 2013 of $21,298,662. Further losses are anticipated in developing our business. As a result, our auditors have expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As of December 31, 2013, we had $3,344,071 of cash on hand, excluding $2,500,506 restricted cash in an escrow account earmarked for a future payment associated with seismic data. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company estimates that it will need to raise a minimum of $15 million to fund operations through December 31, 2014 and likely significantly more capital to meet its obligations during the subsequent 12 months. The Company plans to finance the Company through best-efforts equity and/or debt financings. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
For the three months ended December 31, 2013 the Company used approximately $0.5 million of net cash in operating activities, compared with $0.3 million of net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended December 31, 2012. This differential is primarily due to the approximately $1.7 million higher net loss partially offset by $1.6 million of geological and geophysical costs recorded as an impairment of oil and natural gas properties. For the three months ended December 31, 2013 we used approximately $1.6 million of cash in investing activities compared with no net cash from investing activities for the three months ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to exploration costs incurred for the three months ended December 31, 2013. For the three months ended December 31, 2013 we had approximately $5.1 million of net cash from financing activities, compared with no net cash from financing activities for the three months ended December 31, 2012. This differential is due primarily to proceeds from the sale of common stock.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
None.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not required.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in rules and forms adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
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Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based upon that evaluation, our management concluded that, as of December 31, 2013, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
The Company's management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company's internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of the Company's financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the most recent fiscal quarter covered by this Report, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Not required.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
All sales of unregistered securities that occurred during the first quarter have been previously reported.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None; not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits
The following exhibits are attached hereto or are incorporated by reference:
Exhibit No.
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Description
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3.1
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Certificate of Incorporation of GulfSlope Energy, Inc. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed April 23, 2012.
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3.2
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Bylaws of GulfSlope Energy, Inc. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed April 23, 2012.
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4.1
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Common Stock Specimen, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed December 31, 2012
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10.1
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Employment Agreement, by and between the Company and James M. Askew, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed June 25, 2012
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10.2
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Form of Subscription Agreement incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 6, 2012
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10.3
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Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed March 26, 2013
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10.4
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Form of Subscription Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K filed March 26, 2013
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10.5
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Form Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement by and between the Company and James M. Askew, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 8-K filed March 26, 2013
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10.6
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Form of Consulting Agreement by and between the Company and John N. Seitz, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Form 8-K filed March 26, 2013
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10.7
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Form of Consulting Agreement by and between the Company and ConRon Consulting, I, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 8-K filed March 26, 2013
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10.8
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Form of Indemnification Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed October 31, 2013
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10.9
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Form of Subscription Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K filed October 31, 2013
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10.10
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Form of Registration Rights Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 8-K filed October 31, 2013
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10.11
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Form of Convertible Promissory Note, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Form 8-K filed October 31, 2013
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10.12
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Form of Mr. Rodgers’ Option Agreement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of Form 10-K filed December 30, 2013
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10.13
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Summary of Ronald A. Bain’s employment arrangement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of Form 10-K filed December 30, 2013
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10.14
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Summary of Dwight “Clint” M. Moore’s employment arrangement, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 of Form 10-K filed December 30, 2013
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31.1 (1)
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Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
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32.1 (1)
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Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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101
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The following financial information from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 formatted in Extensible Business Reporting language (XBRL); (i) Condensed Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Statements of Cash Flows and (iv) Notes to the Condensed Financial Statements (2)
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(1)
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Filed herewith.
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(2)
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Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Issuer has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
GULFSLOPE ENERGY, INC.
(Issuer)
Date:
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02/13/2014
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By:
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/s/John N. Seitz
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John N. Seitz, Chief Executive Officer,
Principal Financial Officer, President and Chairman
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