T-REX OIL, INC. - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-K
x
|
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2008
or
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: 000-51425
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
|
98-0422451
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
|
999-18th
Street, Suite 3400
Denver,
Colorado 80202
(Address
of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(303)
629-1125
(Telephone
number, including area code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title
of each class
|
Name
of Each Exchange
On
Which Registered
|
Common
Stock, par value $0.00001 per share
|
N/A
|
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined
in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No
x
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No
x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for
the past 90 days. Yes x No
o
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and
will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
Indicate
by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.
See
definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one).
Large
accelerated filer
|
o |
Accelerated
filer
|
o | |
Non-accelerated
filer
|
o |
(Do
not check if a smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller
reporting company
|
x |
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o
No
x
The
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by
non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity
was
last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of
the
last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal
quarter ended September 30, 2007 was $44,836,845.
The
number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of June
27,
2008 was 115,128,364.
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions
of the Proxy Statement for the
2008
Annual
Meeting
of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form
10-K.
PAGE
NO.
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PART
I
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1
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ITEM
1.
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BUSINESS
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2
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ITEM
1A.
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RISK
FACTORS
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8
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ITEM
1B.
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UNRESOLVED
STAFF COMMENTS
|
13
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ITEM
2.
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PROPERTIES
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13
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ITEM
3.
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LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
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16
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ITEM
4.
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SUBMISSION
OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
|
16
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PART
II
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16
|
|
ITEM
5.
|
MARKET
FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
|
16
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ITEM
6.
|
SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA
|
20 |
ITEM
7.
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MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
|
20
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ITEM
7A.
|
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
|
32
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ITEM
8.
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
|
32
|
ITEM
9.
|
CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
|
32
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ITEM
9A(T).
|
CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
|
33
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ITEM
9B.
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
34
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PART
III
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34
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ITEM
10.
|
DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
|
34
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ITEM
11.
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
|
35
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ITEM
12.
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
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35
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ITEM
13.
|
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
|
35
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ITEM
14.
|
PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
|
35
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PART
IV
|
35
|
|
ITEM
15.
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EXHIBITS,
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
|
35
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For
abbreviations on definitions of certain terms used in the oil and gas industry
and in this Annual Report, please refer to the section entitled “Glossary of
Abbreviations and Terms” in Item 1 Business.
As
used
in this document, references to “Rancher Energy”, “our company”, “the Company”,
“we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Rancher Energy Corp. and its wholly-owned
subsidiary. In this Annual Report, the “Cole Creek South Field” also is referred
to as the “South Cole Creek Field”.
i
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The
statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that are not historical
are “forward-looking statements”, as that term is defined in Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), that involve
a
number of risks and uncertainties.
These
forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:
·
business
strategy;
·
ability
to obtain the financial
resources to repay secured debt and to conduct the EOR projects;
·
water
availability and
waterflood production targets;
·
carbon
dioxide (CO2)
availability, deliverability, and tertiary production targets;
·
construction
of surface
facilities for waterflood and CO2
operations and a CO2
pipeline;
·
inventories,
projects, and
programs;
·
other
anticipated capital
expenditures and budgets;
·
future
cash flows and
borrowings;
·
the
availability and terms of
financing;
·
oil
reserves;
·
reservoir
response to water and
CO2
injection;
·
ability
to obtain permits and
governmental approvals;
·
technology;
·
financial
strategy;
·
realized
oil
prices;
·
production;
·
lease
operating expenses,
general and administrative costs, finding and development costs;
·
availability
and costs of
drilling rigs and field services;
·
future
operating results;
and
·
plans,
objectives,
expectations, and intentions.
These
statements may be found under “Risk Factors”, “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, “Business”,
“Properties” and other sections of this Annual Report. Forward-looking
statements are typically identified by use of terms such as “may”, “could”,
“should”, “expect”, “plan”, “project”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”,
“estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “pursue”, “target” or “continue”, the
negative of such terms or other comparable terminology, although some
forward-looking statements may be expressed differently.
The
forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report are largely based
on
our expectations, which reflect estimates and assumptions made by our
management. These estimates and assumptions reflect our best judgment based
on
currently known market conditions and other factors. Although we believe such
estimates and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain and
involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. In
addition, management’s assumptions about future events may prove to be
inaccurate. Management cautions all readers that the forward-looking statements
contained in this Annual Report are not guarantees of future performance and
we
cannot assure any reader that such statements will be realized or the
forward-looking events and circumstances will occur. Actual results may differ
materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements
due to the factors listed in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this
Annual Report. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of
this
Annual Report. We do not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These
cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to
us
or persons acting on our behalf.
1
ITEM 1. |
The
Company
We
are an
independent energy company engaged in the development, production, and marketing
of oil and gas in North America. Our business strategy is to use modern tertiary
recovery techniques on older, historically productive fields with proven
in-place oil and gas. Higher oil and gas prices and advances in technology
such
as 3-D seismic acquisition and evaluation and carbon dioxide (CO2)
injection, should position us to capitalize on attractive sources of potentially
recoverable oil and gas.
We
operate three fields in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, which is located in
the
Rocky Mountain region of the United States. The fields, acquired in December
2006 and January 2007, are the South Glenrock B Field, the Big Muddy Field,
and
the Cole Creek South Field. All three fields currently produce some oil and
are
CO2
tertiary
recovery candidates. We plan to substantially increase production in our fields
by using CO2
injection and other enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques. To fund the
acquisition of the three fields and our operating expenses, from June 2006
through January 2007, we sold $89,300,000 of our securities in two private
placements. In December 2006, we also entered into an agreement with Anadarko
Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko) to supply us with CO2
needed
to conduct CO2
tertiary
recovery operations in our three fields. In February 2008, we entered into
a
Carbon Dioxide Sale and Purchase Agreement with ExxonMobil Gas and Power
Marketing, (ExxonMobil), a division of ExxonMobil Corporation, to supply
additional CO2
to
the
three fields. We are seeking financing or strategic joint venture partners
to
enable us to construct a pipeline to deliver CO2
to our
fields and to drill additional wells and construct necessary infrastructure
improvements in order to implement EOR techniques.
Led
by an
experienced management team and complimented by consultants with particular
knowledge in each aspect of the EOR process, our long term goal is to enhance
stockholder value by identifying and further developing productive oil and
gas
assets across North America, particularly in the Rocky Mountains. Our
headquarters office is located in Denver, Colorado where we employ 11 persons
and our field office is located in Glenrock, Wyoming, where we employ 5 persons.
Incorporation
and Organization
We
were
incorporated on February 4, 2004, as Metalex Resources, Inc., in the State
of
Nevada. Prior to April 2006, we were engaged in the exploration of a gold
prospect in British Columbia, Canada. Metalex found no commercially exploitable
deposits or reserves of gold. During April 2006, our stockholders voted to
change our name to Rancher Energy Corp.
Business
Strategy
We
believe in these fundamental principles:
·
|
Pursue
attractive reserve and leasehold acquisitions that provide the opportunity
for the use of EOR techniques, which offer significant upside potential
while not exposing us to risks associated with drilling new field
wildcat
wells in frontier basins ;
|
·
|
Pursue
selective complimentary acquisitions of long-lived producing properties
which include a high degree of operating control, and oil and gas
entities
that offer opportunities to profitably develop oil and gas
reserves;
|
·
|
Drive
growth through technology and drilling by supplementing long-term
reserve
and production growth through the use of modern reservoir
characterization, engineering, and production
technology;
|
·
|
Maximize
operational control by operating a significant portion of our assets
and
continuing to serve as operator of future properties when possible,
giving
us increased control over costs, timing and all development, production,
and exploration activities; and
|
·
|
Pursue
strategic alliances with experienced oil and gas development partners
to
complement our existing asset base and expand our operational capabilities
in the Powder River Basin.
|
Property
Acquisitions
On
January 4, 2007, we acquired the Big Muddy Field, which is located in the Powder
River Basin east of Casper, Wyoming. The total purchase price was $25,000,000
and closing costs were $672,638.
On
December 22, 2006, we purchased certain oil and gas properties for $46,750,000,
before adjustments for the period from the effective date to the closing date,
plus costs of $323,657 and warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of our common
stock. The oil and gas properties consisted of (i) a 100% working interest
(79.3% net revenue interest) in the Cole Creek South Field, which is located
in
Wyoming’s Powder River Basin; and (ii) a 93.6% working interest (74.5% net
revenue interest) in the South Glenrock B Field, which also is located in
Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.
2
Our
Development Program
We
have
completed field studies and economic analysis of the Dakota, Lower Muddy, and
Upper Muddy horizons in the South Glenrock B Field and the Wall Creek horizon
of
the Big Muddy Field and have entered into two CO2
supply
agreements. Subject to obtaining additional financing or entering into a
strategic partnering arrangement with experienced industry partners, we are
planning to proceed with the tertiary development of our fields. The current
planned order of development is the South Glenrock B Field, the Big Muddy Field,
and then the Cole Creek South Field.
Oil
and Gas Operations
Our
three
fields are oil producing, as further described in Item 2and are all candidates
for EOR operations including CO2
tertiary
recovery.
CO2
Tertiary
Recovery
Our
business strategy is to employ modern EOR technology to recover hydrocarbons
that remain behind in mature reservoirs. The acquisition of the South Glenrock
B
Field, the Big Muddy Field, and the Cole Creek South Field located in the Powder
River Basin and entry into the CO2
supply
contracts with Anadarko and ExxonMobil were important steps in executing our
business strategy. Important next steps are to either secure debt financing,
or
to enter into a strategic partnering arrangement with an experienced industry
partner with the financial resources in a sufficient amount for our development
program, complete the required environmental and regulatory permitting, build
a
pipeline to transport CO2
from an
existing CO2
trunk
pipeline to the Glenrock area, build out the field infrastructure appropriate
for CO2
flood
operations, shoot 3-D seismic, if appropriate, and complete the necessary
drilling and well work.
CO2
injection is one of the most prevalent tertiary recovery mechanisms for
producing light oil. The CO2,
at
sufficient pressure, acts as a solvent for the oil causing the oil to be
physically washed from the reservoir rock and produced. The CO2
is then
separated from the oil, compressed and re-injected into the reservoir. This
recycling process allows the reuse of the purchased CO2
several
times during the life of the tertiary operation. In a typical oil field, much
of
the original oil in place (OOIP) is left behind after primary production and
waterflood operations. In many cases this is in the range of 50% to 75% of
the
OOIP. This oil, in mature reservoirs with extensive data and historic
production, is the target of miscible EOR technology.
Anadarko
CO2
Supply
Agreement
As
part
of our CO2
tertiary
recovery strategy, on December 15, 2006, we entered into a Product Sale and
Purchase Contract (Purchase Contract) with Anadarko for the purchase of
CO2
(meeting
certain quality specifications). We intend to use the CO2
for our
EOR projects.
The
primary term of the Purchase Contract commences upon the later of January 1,
2008, or the date of the first CO2
delivery, which as of June 30, 2008 had not yet occurred and terminates upon
the
earlier of the day on which we have taken and paid for the Total Contract
Quantity, as defined, or 10 years from the commencement date. We have the right
to terminate the Purchase Contract at any time with notice to Anadarko, subject
to a termination payment as specified in the Purchase Contract.
During
the primary term, the “Daily Contract Quantity” is 40 MMcf per day for a total
of 146 Bcf. CO2
deliveries are subject to a 25 MMcf per day take-or-pay provision. Anadarko
has
the right to satisfy its own needs before sales to us, which reduces our take
or
pay obligation. In the event the CO2
does not
meet certain quality specifications, we have the right to refuse delivery of
such CO2.
For
CO2
deliveries, we have agreed to pay $1.50 per thousand cubic feet, to be adjusted
by a factor that is indexed to the average posted price of Wyoming Sweet oil.
From oil that is produced by CO2
injection, we have also agreed to convey to Anadarko an overriding royalty
interest that increases over time, not to exceed 5%.
3
ExxonMobil
CO2 Supply
Agreement
On
February 12, 2008 we entered into a Carbon Dioxide Sale and Purchase Agreement
with ExxonMobil that is to provide us with 70 MMscfd (million standard cubic
feet per day) of CO2
for an
initial 10-year period. We intend to use the CO2
for
our
EOR projects. The primary term of the agreement, which is ten years, will begin
the first day of the month following ExxonMobil’s notice to us of the completion
of the expansion of certain CO2
delivery
facilities by ExxonMobil and that it is prepared to deliver the required daily
quantity as required under the agreement. Either party may extend the agreement
for an additional ten year term following proper notice and agreement to certain
applicable terms of the agreement. Following the commencement of the primary
term, ExxonMobil is obligated to deliver to us at least 70 MMscfd of
CO2
per day.
We have agreed to a “take-or-pay” provision under the agreement. For
CO2
deliveries from ExxonMobil, we have agreed to pay a base price plus an Oil
Price
Factor which is indexed to the price of West Texas Intermediate crude
oil.
We
may
terminate the agreement if ExxonMobil fails to meet the Company’s quantity
nomination of CO2
(not to
exceed 70 MMscfd per day) for 30 consecutive days except under certain
circumstances. Either party has the right to terminate the agreement at any
time
with notice to the other party based on certain circumstances described in
the
agreement. ExxonMobil is not obligated to commence delivery of CO2
until we
provide a surety bond equal to four months’ supply of CO2.
ExxonMobil may also request additional financial performance assurances if
it
has reasonable grounds for believing that we have ceased to have the financial
resources to meet our obligations under the agreement and ExxonMobil may suspend
delivery of CO2
until
the
appropriate assurances are provided. ExxonMobil may terminate the agreement
if a
requested performance assurance is not provided by us within 30 days of a
request.
Under
the
terms of the agreement, ExxonMobil is responsible for paying all taxes and
royalties up to the delivery point except that we are obligated to reimburse
ExxonMobil for 100% of any new, increased, or additional taxes or royalties
incurred up to the delivery point. The CO2
is to be
supplied from ExxonMobil’s LaBarge gas field in Wyoming.
CO2
Pipeline
Construction and CO2
EOR
Related Field Development
Under
the
CO2
contracts with Anadarko and ExxonMobil, we have the responsibility for providing
pipeline transportation of purchased CO2
to our
project area. We plan to transport purchased CO2
through
a 12-inch pipeline and we are evaluating alternatives to construct and operate
the pipeline. We have engaged an engineering firm to study potential routes
and
configurations. Depending on the final route selection, the pipeline may range
from 50 to 132 miles in length and cost estimates range from $50 to $132
million.
We
have
conducted an analysis of permitting requirements for the pipeline and associated
surface facilities and have had discussions with Federal and state regulatory
agencies. The shorter of the two proposed pipeline routes is almost entirely
on
state and privately-owned land, with only 0.8 mile on Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) land. The BLM portion of the route has been impacted by previous railroad
and pipeline development. Based on discussions to date with Federal agencies,
we
do not anticipate that environmental assessments will be required for the
shorter pipeline route or for development of the three oil fields. Approval
of
permits from the BLM and state regulatory agencies will be required for pipeline
construction and field development to proceed. The longer route includes
approximately 65 miles on BLM lands and we anticipate we would be required
to
perform an environmental assessment or an environmental impact study for this
route. This longer route has also been impacted by previous pipeline and utility
development.
Pipeline
construction is expected to take approximately 4 months for the shorter route
and up to 9 months for the longer route. A number of long lead time items must
be commenced simultaneously to successfully implement our CO2
EOR
plans, including, commencing and completing right of way acquisition - estimated
7-12 months; ordering steel pipe, milling the steel pipe, and delivery of steel
pipe to the construction site - estimated 6 months; finalizing pipeline
engineering - estimated 4-8 months; completing various permitting processes
-
estimated 6-12 months, and completion of the environmental assessment for the
longer route - estimated 12 months. In addition, the CO2
surface
facilities equipment must be ordered and then constructed. The lead times for
surface facilities equipment can be 9-12 months and must be installed within
1-2
months after commencing with the CO2
flood.
Typically, beginning in November and lasting through March, the Wyoming winter
conditions can freeze the ground and make installation and construction of
pipelines and surface facilities increasingly more difficult and significantly
more expensive.
Delays
in
financing may significantly impact the above timeline, given the seasonality
of
pipeline construction in Wyoming and the long lead time required for ordering
surface facility equipment.
We
are
exploring two options to finance construction of the pipeline. One option is
to
have a third party build, own, and operate the CO2
pipeline. This operator would be reimbursed for operating expenses and capital
investment by way of a transportation tariff on the CO2
delivered, with the tariff varying as a function of throughput. The second
option is for us to construct, own, and operate the pipeline. We would require
substantial additional capital for this option. We are currently planning to
either borrow funds in a debt financing or to enter into a strategic partnering
arrangement with an experienced industry partner to fund the development of
our
fields and, if necessary, to fund the construction of the CO2
pipeline.
4
Anadarko
currently is receiving CO2 for its Salt Creek Field in Wyoming from
ExxonMobil through a 125-mile, 16-inch pipeline constructed in 2004. Exxon
collects CO2 from its natural gas fields at LaBarge, Wyoming and
processes the gas at its Shute Creek gas sweetening plant. ExxonMobil then
transports the CO2 to the origin of the pipeline for delivery to
Anadarko’s Salt Creek Field. Our contract with Anadarko calls for the delivery
of CO2 from a connection point near their Salt Creek Field. Our
studies have indicated that a different delivery point along their pipeline
would result in a shorter, less expensive pipeline over less difficult terrain.
We have engaged in negotiations with Anadarko to modify the delivery point
for
CO2 and to establish a transportation agreement under which Anadarko
would also deliver CO2 purchased from ExxonMobil. We have not
been able to reach agreement with Anadarko on either issue. There is no
assurance we will be successful in such negotiations and, in the event we are
not successful, we may be forced to build the pipeline over the longer, more
expensive route.
Financing
Plans
Due
to
our limited capital resources, we must raise funds from external sources to
implement our development plans. In
October 2007, we borrowed approximately $11 million (after fees and expenses)
from a financial institution. The loan bears interest at a rate equal to the
greater of (a) 12% per annum and (b) the LIBOR rate plus 6% per annum. We are
required to make monthly interest payments on the amounts outstanding under
this
loan. All principal payments and any other unpaid amounts are due on October
31,
2008, which is the maturity date of the loan. Our obligations under the loan
are
secured by a first priority security interest in all of our properties and
assets, including all rights under our oil and gas leases in our three producing
fields and all of our equipment on those properties. We have used a substantial
portion of the funds from this loan to enhance production in two of our fields
with existing waterflood operations, to prepare for waterflood operations on
the
Big Muddy Field, and to provide us with working capital and cash
reserves.
Due
to
difficulties in the capital debt markets, fixed term debt financing has been
unavailable to us to develop our fields. In November 2007 we began to explore
strategic alliances with experienced industry partners under which we would
assign a percentage of our interests in the three fields, in exchange for the
partner’s investment in the fields. We executed a letter of intent with such a
partner in February 2008, the terms of which called for the investment of up
to
$83.5 million to earn up to a 55% interest in the fields. That letter of intent
expired on April 30, 2008. We subsequently entered into a second letter of
intent with two different parties which included similar terms for the
development of the fields, but which also included provisions for the
construction of a pipeline from the source of the ExxonMobil CO2
to
our
three fields. Due diligence and formal contract negotiations are ongoing with
these potential partners.
Federal
and State Regulations
Numerous
Federal and state laws and regulations govern the oil and gas industry. These
laws and regulations are often changed in response to changes in the political
or economic environment. Compliance with this evolving regulatory burden is
often difficult and costly and substantial penalties may be incurred for
noncompliance. The following section describes some specific laws and
regulations that may affect us. We cannot predict the impact of these or future
legislative or regulatory initiatives.
Based
on
current laws and regulations, management believes that we are and will be in
substantial compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to our current
and proposed operations and that continued compliance with existing requirements
will not have a material adverse impact on us. The future annual capital costs
of complying with the regulations applicable to our operations is uncertain
and
will be governed by several factors, including future changes to regulatory
requirements. However, management does not currently anticipate that future
compliance will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial
position or results of operations.
Regulation
of Oil Exploration and Production
Our
operations are subject to various types of regulation at the Federal, state,
and
local levels. Such regulation includes requiring permits for drilling wells,
maintaining bonding requirements in order to drill or operate wells and
regulating the location of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells,
the
surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled, the
plugging and abandoning of wells, and the disposal of fluids used in connection
with operations. Our operations are also subject to various conservation laws
and regulations. These include the regulation of the size of drilling and
spacing units or proration units and the density of wells that may be drilled
in
those units and the unitization or pooling of oil and gas properties. In
addition, state conservation laws establish maximum rates of production from
oil
and gas wells and generally prohibit the venting or flaring of gas. The effect
of these regulations may limit the amount of oil and gas we can produce from
our
wells and may limit the number of wells or the locations at which we can drill.
The regulatory burden on the oil and gas industry increases our costs of doing
business and, consequently, affects our profitability.
5
Federal
Regulation of Sales Prices and Transportation
The
transportation and certain sales of oil in interstate commerce are heavily
regulated by agencies of the U.S. Federal Government and are affected by the
availability, terms, and cost of transportation. In particular, the price and
terms of access to pipeline transportation are subject to extensive U.S. Federal
and state regulation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is
continually proposing and implementing new rules and regulations affecting
the
oil industry. The stated purpose of many of these regulatory changes is to
promote competition among the various sectors of the oil and gas industry.
The
ultimate impact of the complex rules and regulations issued by FERC cannot
be
predicted. Some of FERC’s proposals may, however, adversely affect the
availability and reliability of interruptible transportation service on
interstate pipelines. While our sales of crude oil are not currently subject
to
FERC regulation, our ability to transport and sell such products is dependent
on
certain pipelines whose rates, terms, and conditions of service are subject
to
FERC regulation. Additional proposals and proceedings that might affect the
oil
and gas industry are considered from time to time by Congress, FERC, state
regulatory bodies, and the courts. We cannot predict when or if any such
proposals might become effective and their effect, if any, on our operations.
Historically, the oil and gas industry has been heavily regulated; therefore,
there is no assurance that the less stringent regulatory approach recently
pursued by FERC, Congress and the states will continue indefinitely into the
future.
Our
operations on Federal or state oil and gas leases are subject to numerous
restrictions, including nondiscrimination statutes. Such operations must be
conducted pursuant to certain on-site security regulations and other permits
and
authorizations issued by the Bureau of Land Management, Minerals Management
Service (MMS), and other agencies.
Regulation
of Proposed CO2
Pipeline
Numerous
Federal and state regulations govern pipeline construction and operations.
The
primary pipeline construction permits may include environmental assessments
for
Federal lands, right of way permits for fee and state lands, and oversight
of
ongoing pipeline operations by the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
Environmental
Regulations
Public
interest in the protection of the environment has increased dramatically in
recent years. Our oil production and CO2
injection operations and our processing, handling, and disposal of hazardous
materials such as hydrocarbons and naturally occurring radioactive materials
(NORM) are subject to stringent regulation. We could incur significant costs,
including cleanup costs resulting from a release of hazardous material,
third-party claims for property damage and personal injuries, fines and
sanctions, as a result of any violations or liabilities under environmental
or
other laws. Changes in or more stringent enforcement of environmental laws
could
also result in additional operating costs and capital expenditures.
Various
Federal, state, and local laws regulating the discharge of materials into the
environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment,
directly impact oil and gas exploration, development, and production operations
and consequently may impact our operations and costs. These regulations include,
among others (i) regulations by the EPA and various state agencies regarding
approved methods of disposal for certain hazardous and nonhazardous wastes;
(ii)
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act,
Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and analogous state laws that
regulate the removal or remediation of previously disposed wastes (including
wastes disposed of or released by prior owners or operators), property
contamination (including groundwater contamination), and remedial plugging
operations to prevent future contamination; (iii) the Clean Air Act and
comparable state and local requirements, which may result in the gradual
imposition of certain pollution control requirements with respect to air
emissions from the our operations; (iv) the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which
contains numerous requirements relating to the prevention of and response to
oil
spills into waters of the United States; (v) the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, which is the principal Federal statute governing the treatment,
storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes; and (vi) state regulations and
statutes governing the handling, treatment, storage, and disposal of naturally
occurring radioactive material.
Available
Information
We
make
our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports
on Form 8-K, and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act available free of charge under the Investors
Relations page on our website, www.rancherenergy.com, as soon as reasonably
practicable after such reports are electronically filed with, or furnished
to,
the SEC. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated
by
reference in this Annual Report. Our SEC filings are also available through
the
SEC’s website, www.sec.gov and
may
be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Information regarding the operation of the Public
Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
6
Anadarko
|
The
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.
|
|
Bcf
|
One
billion cubic feet of natural gas at standard atmospheric
conditions.
|
|
CO2
|
Carbon
Dioxide.
|
|
ExxonMobil
|
ExxonMobil
Gas & Power Marketing Company, a division of ExxonMobil
Corporation.
|
|
EOR
|
Enhanced
oil recovery.
|
|
Farmout
|
The
transfer of all or part of the working interest in a property, in
exchange
for the transferee assuming all or part of the cost of developing
the
property.
|
|
Field
|
An
area consisting of either a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs,
all
grouped on or related to the same individual geological structural
feature
and/or stratigraphic condition.
|
|
MMcf
|
One
million cubic feet of natural gas.
|
|
MMscfd
|
One
million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas.
|
|
Metalex
|
Metalex
Resources, Inc.
|
|
Miscible
|
Capable
of being mixed in all proportions. Water and oil are not miscible.
Alcohol
and water are miscible. CO2
and oil can be miscible under the proper conditions.
|
|
Proved
reserves
|
The
estimated quantities of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids
which
geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty
to
be commercially recoverable in future years from known reservoirs
under
existing economic and operating conditions.
|
|
Purchase
Contract
|
The
Anadarko Product Sale and Purchase Contract.
|
|
Sale
and Purchase Agreement
|
The
ExxonMobil Carbon Dioxide Sale and Purchase Agreement.
|
|
Tertiary
recovery
|
The
third process used for oil recovery. Usually primary recovery is
the
result of depletion drive, secondary recovery is from a waterflood,
and
tertiary recovery is an enhanced oil recovery process such as
CO2
flooding.
|
|
Working
interest
|
An
interest in an oil and gas lease that gives the owner of the interest
the
right to drill and produce oil and gas on the leased acreage and
requires
the owner to pay a share of the costs of drilling and production
operations. The share of production to which a working interest owner
is
entitled will always be smaller than the share of costs that the
working
interest owner is required to bear, with the balance of the production
accruing to the owners of
royalties.
|
7
ITEM 1A. |
RISK
FACTORS
|
You
should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other
information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report, before
making an investment in our common stock. The risks described below are not
the
only ones we face in our business. Additional risks and uncertainties not
presently known or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair
our business operations. If any of the following risks occur, our business,
financial condition, or operating results could be materially harmed. In such
an
event, our common stock could decline in price and you may lose all or part
of
your investment.
Risks
Related to our Industry, Business and Strategy
If
we are unable to obtain additional financing our business plans will not be
achievable.
The
report of our independent registered public accounting firm on the financial
statements for the year ended March 31, 2008, includes an explanatory paragraph
relating to the uncertainty of our ability to continue as a going concern.
Our
current cash position will not be sufficient to fund the development of our
three properties for CO2
EOR
operations. We will require substantial additional funding. Our plan is to
obtain financing or to farmout or enter into another type of transaction to
facilitate development of our properties. We entered into a letter of intent
with a perspective industry partner. However, there is no assurance that we
will
be successful in entering into a definitive agreement with this industry
partner. If we are unsuccessful in entering into a definitive agreement, we
will
need to seek other financing arrangements the availability of which is unknown.
The terms of any financing arrangement may be on terms unfavorable to us and
could restrict our future business activities and expenditures. A farmout will
reduce our ultimate ownership interest in and future cash flows from the
properties. Insufficient funds will prevent us from implementing our secondary
and tertiary recovery business strategy.
Our
October 2007 short-term debt financing required the imposition of a mortgage
interest in favor of our lender on our three fields and a default by us of
the
financing terms could result in the foreclosure and loss of one or more of
our
fields and other assets.
We
borrowed $12 million in October 2007, which is due in October 2008, and granted
to the lender a mortgage on our interests in three fields and our other assets.
We used a portion of these funds to increase oil production and for working
capital. We do not have cash available to repay this loan. We plan to refinance
this loan and borrow additional funds to pursue our business strategy. There
is
no assurance that such funding will be available, or that, if available, the
terms will be satisfactory to us. If we are not successful in repaying this
debt
within the term of the loan, or default under the terms of the loan, the lender
will be able to foreclose one or more of our three properties and other assets
and we could lose the properties.
A
foreclosure could significantly reduce or eliminate our property interests,
force us to alter our business strategy, which could involve the sale of
properties or working interests in the properties and adversely affect our
results of operations and financial condition.
Our
contracts with our CO2
suppliers include significant take-or-pay obligations.
Our
existing contracts with ExxonMobil and Anadarko contain provisions under which
we are required to take delivery of certain volumes of CO2
or
pay
the seller for the volume difference between the required quantity and the
volume actually purchased. If we are unable to secure sufficient financing
to
construct a pipeline and to develop and prepare our properties for the injection
of CO2
we
will
be unable to take delivery of CO2
and
our
cash position at that time will not be sufficient to pay for the take-or-pay
volumes.
We
have incurred losses from operations in the past and expect to do so in the
future.
We
have
never been profitable. We incurred net losses of $13,164,826 and $8,702,255
for
the fiscal years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We do not
expect to be profitable during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009. Our
acquisition and development of prospects will require substantial additional
capital expenditures in the future. The uncertainty and factors described
throughout this section may impede our ability to economically acquire, develop,
and exploit oil reserves. As a result, we may not be able to achieve or sustain
profitability or positive cash flows from operating activities in the
future.
We
may not be able to develop the three Powder River Basin properties as we
anticipate.
Our
plans
to develop the properties are dependent on the construction of a CO2
pipeline
and a sufficient supply of CO2.
We must
arrange for the construction of a CO2
pipeline
on acceptable terms and build related infrastructure. The achievement of these
objectives is subject to numerous uncertainties, including the raising of
sufficient funding for the construction of key infrastructure and working
capital and our reliance on a third party to provide us the requisite
CO2,
the
supply of which is beyond our control. We may not be able to achieve these
objectives on the schedule we anticipate or at all.
8
Our
production is dependent upon sufficient amounts of CO2and
will decline if our access to sufficient amounts of CO2
is limited.
Our
long-term growth strategy is focused on our CO2
tertiary
recovery operations. The crude oil production from our tertiary recovery
projects depends on having access to sufficient amounts of CO2.
Our
ability to produce this oil would be hindered if our supply of CO2
were
limited due to problems with the supply, delivery, quality of the supplied
CO2,
problems
with our facilities, including compression equipment, or catastrophic pipeline
failure. We
have
received no CO2
to
date.
We have agreements with two CO2
suppliers. Our
agreement with
one of
our
suppliers of CO2
is
complex and subject to differing interpretations. It provides that before it
delivers CO2
to
us, it
may satisfy its own CO2
needs.
We
also
have had discussions with that supplier regarding a different delivery point
that is not resolved. If
we are
not successful in obtaining the required amount of CO2 to
achieve crude oil production or the crude oil production in the future were
to
decline as a result if a decrease in delivered CO2
supply,
it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results
of operations and cash flows.
Our
development and tertiary recovery operations require substantial capital and
we
may be unable to obtain needed capital or financing on satisfactory terms,
which
could lead to a loss of properties and a decline in our oil
reserves.
The
oil
industry is capital intensive. We make and expect to continue to make
substantial capital expenditures in our business and operations for the
development, production, and acquisition of oil and gas reserves. To date,
we
have financed capital expenditures primarily with sales of our equity
securities. We intend to finance our capital expenditures in the near term
with
debt financing. Our access to capital is subject to a number of variables,
including:
·
|
our
proved reserves;
|
·
|
the
amount of oil we are able to produce from existing
wells;
|
·
|
the
prices at which the oil is sold;
and
|
·
|
our
ability to acquire, locate and produce new
reserves.
|
We
may,
from time to time, need to seek additional financing, either in the form of
increased bank borrowings, sales of debt or equity securities or other forms
of
financing and there can be no assurance as to the availability or terms of
any
additional financing. Additionally, we may not be able to obtain debt or equity
financing on terms favorable to us, or at all. A failure to obtain additional
financing to meet our capital requirements could result in a curtailment of
our
operations relating to our tertiary recovery operations and development of
our
fields, which in turn could lead to a possible loss of properties, through
foreclosure, if we are unable to meet the terms of our anticipated debt
financing and/or forfeiture of the properties pursuant to the terms of their
respective leases and a decline in our oil reserves.
We
plan to conduct our secondary and tertiary recovery operations on older fields
that may be significantly depleted of oil, which could lead to an adverse impact
on our future results.
We
operate three fields in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Oil in all three fields
was discovered over fifty years ago and production has been ongoing. Our
strategy is to substantially increase production and reserves in these fields
by
using waterflood and CO2
EOR
techniques. However, there is a risk that the properties may be significantly
depleted of oil, and if so, our future results could be impacted negatively.
We
have a limited operating history in the oil business and we cannot predict
our
future operations with any certainty.
We
were
organized in 2004 to explore a gold prospect and in 2006 changed our business
focus to oil and gas development using CO2
injection technology. Our future financial results depend primarily on (i)
our
ability to finance and complete development of the required infrastructure
associated with our three properties in the Powder River Basin, including having
a pipeline built to deliver CO2
to our
fields and the construction of surface facilities on our fields; (ii) the
success of our CO2
injection program; and (iii) the market price for oil. We cannot predict that
our future operations will be profitable. In addition, our operating results
may
vary significantly during any financial period.
Oil
prices are volatile and a decline in oil prices can significantly affect our
financial results and impede our growth.
Our
revenues, profitability, and liquidity are substantially dependent upon prices
for oil, which can be extremely volatile; and, even relatively modest drops
in
prices can significantly affect our financial results and impede our growth.
Prices for oil may fluctuate widely in response to relatively minor changes
in
the supply of and demand for oil, market uncertainty, and a wide variety of
additional factors that are beyond our control, such as the domestic and foreign
supply of oil, the price of foreign imports, the ability of members of the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to agree to and maintain oil
price
and production controls, technological advances affecting energy consumption,
domestic and foreign governmental regulations, and the variations between
product prices at sales points and applicable index prices.
The
marketability of our oil production will depend in part upon the availability,
proximity, capacity of pipelines, and surface and processing facilities. Federal
and state regulation of oil production and transportation, general economic
conditions, changes in supply and changes in demand all could adversely affect
our ability to produce and market oil. If market factors were to change
dramatically, the financial impact could be substantial because we would incur
expenses without receiving revenues from the sale of production. The
availability of markets is beyond our control.
9
We
may be unable to develop additional reserves.
Our
ability to develop future revenues will depend on whether we can successfully
implement our planned CO2
injection program. We have no experience using CO2
technology. The Company's properties have not been injected with CO2
in the
past and recovery factors cannot be estimated with precision. Our planned
projects may not result in significant proved reserves or in the production
levels we anticipate.
We
are dependent on our management team and the loss of any of these individuals
would harm our business.
Our
success is dependent, in large part, on the continued services of John Works,
our President & Chief Executive Officer, Richard Kurtenbach our Chief
Accounting Officer and Denise Greer our Land and Operations Manager. There
is no
guarantee that any of the members of our management team will remain employed
by
us. While we have employment agreements with them, their continued service
cannot be assured. The loss of our senior executives could harm our
business.
Oil
operations are inherently risky.
The
nature of the oil business involves a variety of risks, including the risks
of
operating hazards such as fires, explosions, cratering, blow-outs, encountering
formations with abnormal pressure, pipeline ruptures, spills, releases
of toxic gas and other environmental hazards and pollution. The occurrence
of
any of these risks could result in losses. The occurrence of any one of these
significant events, if it is not fully insured against, could have a material
adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.
Our
business is affected by numerous Federal, state, and local laws and regulations,
including energy, environmental, conservation, tax and other laws and
regulations relating to the oil industry. These include, but are not limited
to:
·
|
the
prevention of waste;
|
·
|
the
discharge of materials into the
environment;
|
·
|
the
conservation of oil;
|
·
|
pollution;
|
·
|
permits
for drilling operations;
|
·
|
underground
gas injection permits;
|
·
|
drilling
bonds; and
|
·
|
reports
concerning operations, the spacing of wells, and the unitization
and
pooling of properties.
|
Failure
to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of
administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of injunctive
relief or both. Moreover, changes in any of these laws and regulations could
have a material adverse effect on our business. In view of the many
uncertainties with respect to current and future laws and regulations, including
their applicability to us, we cannot predict the overall effect of such laws
and
regulations on our future operations.
Government
regulation and environmental risks could increase our
costs.
Many
jurisdictions have at various times imposed limitations on the production of
oil
by restricting the rate of flow for oil wells below their actual capacity to
produce. Our operations will be subject to stringent laws and regulations
relating to environmental issues. These laws and regulations may require the
acquisition of a permit before drilling commences, restrict the types,
quantities, and concentration of materials that can be released into the
environment in connection with drilling and production activities, limit or
prohibit drilling activities in protected areas and impose substantial
liabilities for pollution resulting from our operations. Changes in
environmental laws and regulations occur frequently and changes could result
in
substantially increased costs. Because current regulations covering our
operations are subject to change at any time, we may incur significant costs
for
compliance in the future.
The
properties we have acquired are located in the Powder River Basin in the Rocky
Mountains, making us vulnerable to risks associated with operating in one major
geographic area.
Our
activities are focused on the Powder River Basin in the Rocky Mountain Region
of
the United States, which means our properties are geographically concentrated
in
that area. As a result, we may in the future be disproportionately exposed
to
the impact of delays or interruptions of production from these wells caused
by
significant governmental regulation, transportation capacity constraints,
curtailment of production, or interruption of transportation of oil produced
from the wells in this basin.
10
Oil
and
gas operations in the Rocky Mountains are adversely affected by seasonal weather
conditions. In certain areas, drilling and other oil and gas activities can
only
be conducted during the spring and summer months. This limits our ability to
operate in those areas and can intensify competition during those months for
drilling rigs, oil field equipment, services, supplies, and qualified personnel,
which may lead to periodic shortages. Resulting shortages or high costs could
delay our operations and materially increase our operating and capital
costs.
Competition
in the oil and gas industry is intense, which may adversely affect our ability
to succeed.
The
oil
and gas industry is intensely competitive and we compete with companies that
are
significantly larger and have greater resources. Many of these companies not
only explore for and produce oil, but also carry on refining operations and
market petroleum and other products on a regional, national, or worldwide basis.
These companies may be able to pay more for oil properties and prospects or
define, evaluate, bid for, and purchase a greater number of properties and
prospects than our financial or human resources permit. Our larger competitors
may be able to absorb the burden of present and future Federal, state, local,
and other laws and regulations more easily than we can, which would adversely
affect our competitive position. Our ability to acquire additional properties
and to increase reserves in the future will be dependent upon our ability to
evaluate and select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a
highly competitive environment.
Oil
prices may be impacted adversely by new taxes.
The
Federal, state, and local governments in which we operate impose taxes on the
oil products we plan to sell. In the past, there has been a significant amount
of discussion by legislators and presidential administrations concerning a
variety of energy tax proposals. In addition, many states have raised state
taxes on energy sources and additional increases may occur. We cannot predict
whether any of these measures would have an adverse impact on oil
prices.
Shortages
of equipment, supplies, personnel, and delays in construction of the
CO2pipeline,
construction of surface facilities, and delivery of
CO2
could delay or otherwise adversely affect our cost of operations or our ability
to operate according to our business plans.
We
may
experience shortages of field equipment and qualified personnel and delays
in
the construction of the CO2
pipeline, construction of surface facilities, and delivery of CO2,
which
may cause delays in our ability to conduct tertiary recovery operations and
drill, complete, test, and connect wells to processing facilities. Additionally,
these costs have sharply increased in various areas. The demand for and wage
rates of qualified crews generally rise in response to the increased number
of
active rigs in service and could increase sharply in the event of a shortage.
Shortages of field equipment or qualified personnel, delays in the
construction of the CO2
pipeline, construction of surface facilities, and delivery of CO2
could
delay, restrict, or curtail our exploration and development operations, which
may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results
of operations.
Shortages
of transportation services and processing facilities may result in our receiving
a discount in the price we receive for oil sales or may adversely affect our
ability to sell our oil.
We
may
experience limited access to transportation lines, trucks or rail cars in order
to transport our oil to processing facilities. We may also experience limited
processing capacity at our facilities. If either or both of these situations
arise, we may not be able to sell our oil at prevailing market prices or we
may
be completely unable to sell our oil, which may materially adversely affect
our
business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Estimating
quantities of proved oil and gas reserves is a complex process. It requires
interpretations of available technical data and various assumptions, including
assumptions relating to economic factors, such as future commodity prices,
production costs, severance and excise taxes, capital expenditures, workover
and
remedial costs, and the assumed effect of governmental regulation. There are
numerous uncertainties about when a property may have proved reserves as
compared to potential or probable reserves, particularly relating to our
tertiary recovery operations. Actual results most likely will vary from our
estimates. Also, the use of a 10% discount factor for reporting purposes, as
prescribed by the SEC, may not necessarily represent the most appropriate
discount factor, given actual interest rates and risks to which our business
or
the oil and gas industry in general is subject. Any significant inaccuracies
in
these interpretations or assumptions or changes of conditions could result
in a
reduction of the quantities and net present value of our reserves.
11
Quantities
of proved reserves are estimated based on economic conditions, including oil
and
gas prices in existence at the date of assessment. Our reserves and future
cash
flows may be subject to revisions based upon changes in economic conditions,
including oil and gas prices, as well as due to production results, results
of
future development, operating and development costs, and other factors. Downward
revisions of our reserves could have an adverse affect on our financial
condition, operating results, and cash flows.
Risks
Related to our Common Stock
The
trading market for our common stock is relatively new, so investors may have
difficulty selling significant number of shares of our stock and our stock
price
may decline.
Our
common stock is not traded on a national securities exchange. It has been traded
on the OTC Bulletin Board since early 2006. The average daily trading volume
of
our common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board was approximately 308,000 shares
per
day over the three month period ended March 31, 2008. If there were only limited
trading in our stock, the price of our common stock could be negatively affected
and it could be difficult for investors to sell a significant number of shares
in the public market
Our
capital raising activities may involve the issuance of securities exercisable
for or convertible into common stock, which would dilute the ownership of our
existing stockholders and could result in a decline in the trading price of
our
common stock. We will need to obtain substantial additional financing, which
may
include sales of our securities, including common stock, warrants and
convertible debt securities, in order to fund our planned property acquisitions
and development program. The issuance of such securities will result in the
dilution of existing investors. Furthermore, we may enter into financing
transactions at prices that represent a substantial discount to the market
prices of our common stock. These transactions may have a negative impact on
the
trading price of our common stock.
Sales
of a substantial number of shares in the future may result in significant
downward pressure on the price of our common stock and could affect the ability
of our stockholders to realize the current trading price of our common
stock.
If
our
stockholders and new investors sell significant amounts of our stock, our stock
price could drop. Even a perception by the market that the stockholders will
sell in large amounts could place significant downward pressure on our stock
price. In addition, the sale of these shares could impair our ability to raise
capital through the sale of additional stock.
The
equity trading markets may experience periods of volatility, which could result
in highly variable and unpredictable pricing of equity securities. The market
of
our common stock could change in ways that may or may not be related to our
business, our industry, or our operating performance and financial condition.
In
addition, the trading volume in our common stock may fluctuate and cause
significant price variations to occur. Some of the factors that could negatively
affect our share price or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume
of our common stock include:
·
|
Actual
or anticipated quarterly variations in our operating
results;
|
·
|
Changes
in expectations as to our future financial performance or changes
in
financial estimates, if any;
|
·
|
Announcements
relating to our business or the business of our
competitors;
|
·
|
Conditions
generally affecting the oil and gas
industry;
|
·
|
The
success of our operating strategy;
and
|
·
|
The
operating and stock performance of other comparable
companies.
|
Many
of
these factors are beyond our control, and we cannot predict their potential
effects on the price of our common stock. If the market price of our common
stock declines significantly, you may be unable to resell your shares of common
stock at or above the price you acquired those shares. We cannot assure you
that
the market price of our common stock will not fluctuate or decline
significantly.
There
are risks associated with forward-looking statements made by us and actual
results may differ.
Some
of
the information in this Annual Report contains forward-looking statements that
involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements can be identified
by the use of forward-looking words such as “may”, “will”, “expect”,
“anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, and “continue”, or similar words.
Statements that contain these words should be read carefully because
they:
discuss
our future expectations;
contain
projections of our future results of operations or of our financial condition;
and
state
other “forward-looking” information.
12
We
believe it is important to communicate our expectations. However, there may
be
events in the future that we are not able to accurately predict and/or over
which we have no control. The risk factors listed in this section, other risk
factors about which we may not be aware, as well as any cautionary language
in
this Annual Report, provide examples of risks, uncertainties, and events that
may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we
describe in our forward-looking statements. The occurrence of the events
described in these risk factors could have an adverse affect on our business,
results of operations, and financial condition.
Our
failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting may
not
allow us to accurately report our financial results, which could cause our
financial statements to become materially misleading and adversely affect the
trading price of our stock.
In
our
annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, we reported
the determination of our management that we had a material weakness in our
internal control over financial reporting. The determination was made by
management that we did not adequately segregate duties of different personnel
in
our accounting department due to an insufficient complement of staff and
inadequate management oversight. If we fail to correct the material
weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, our business could
be harmed and the stock price of our common stock could be adversely
affected.
FINRA
sales practice requirements limit a stockholders' ability to buy and sell our
stock.
The
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) has adopted rules which
require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must
have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that
customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their
non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to
obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment
objectives, and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, the
FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced
securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. The FINRA
requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their
customers buy our common stock, which has the effect of reducing the level
of
trading activity and liquidity of our common stock. Further, many brokers charge
higher transactional fees for penny stock transactions. As a result, fewer
broker-dealers are willing to make a market in our common stock, reducing a
stockholders' ability to resell shares of our common stock.
We
do not
anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
Any payment of cash dividends will also depend on our financial condition,
results of operations, capital requirements, and other factors and will be
at
the discretion of our Board of Directors. We also expect that if we obtain
debt
financing, there will be contractual restrictions on, or prohibitions against,
the payment of dividends. Accordingly, holders of our common stock will have
to
rely on capital appreciation, if any, to earn a return on their investment
in
our common stock.
ITEM 1B. |
UNRESOLVED
STAFF COMMENTS
|
None.
ITEM 2. |
Field
Summaries
We
currently operate three fields in the Powder River Basin: the South Glenrock
B
Field, the Big Muddy Field, and the Cole Creek South Field. The concentration
of
value in a relatively small number of fields should allow us to benefit
substantially from any operating cost reductions or production enhancements
we
achieve and allows us to effectively manage the properties from our field office
located in Glenrock, Wyoming.
South
Glenrock B Field
The
South
Glenrock B Field is in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin and is located in Converse
County, about 20 miles east of Casper in the east-central region of the state.
The field was discovered by Conoco, Inc.
The
South
Glenrock B Field produces primarily from the Lower and Upper Muddy formations
as
well as the Dakota formation. All the formations are Cretaceous fluvial deltaic
sands with extensive high reservoir quality channels. The structure dips from
west to east with approximately 2,000 feet of relief.
13
The
South
Glenrock B Field is an active waterflood that currently produces approximately
160 BOPD of sweet 35 degree API crude oil. There are 13 active producing wells.
This waterflood unit was developed with a fairly regular 40 acre well spacing
and drilled with modern rotary equipment. The South Glenrock B Field is slated
to be the first of our fields for CO2
development because the waterflood has maintained the reservoir pressure high
enough for CO2
operations and the relative condition of the facilities, regular well spacing,
and reservoir size make the field a good candidate for CO2
operations. Subject to obtaining financing, we plan to start CO2
injection in the South Glenrock B Field in calendar year 2010.
Big
Muddy Field
The
Big
Muddy Field is in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin and located in Converse County,
17 miles east of Casper in the east-central region of the state. The field
was
discovered in 1916 and has produced approximately 52 million barrels of oil
from
several producing zones including the First Frontier, Stray, Shannon, Dakota,
Lakota, Muddy and Niobrara formations. The Big Muddy Field was waterflooded
starting in 1957.
The
Big
Muddy Field is currently producing about 20 BOPD of 36 degree API sweet crude
oil, via a stripper operation, from five producing wells. The field was
developed with an irregular well spacing and drilled mostly with cable tools.
There are no facilities of any significance at the field.
The
current reservoir pressure is very low and not sufficient for effective
CO2
flooding. Pending financing, our near-term plans for the Big Muddy Field are
to
build facilities and reactivate or drill new injection wells in order to inject
disposal water produced as a result of CO2
operations in the South Glenrock B Field. The injection of this water should
have the effect of raising the Big Muddy reservoir pressure for the planned
CO2
flood.
We also hope to drill or reactivate additional production wells in order to
produce more oil from this reactivated waterflood. The Big Muddy Field requires
unitization prior to a waterflood or a CO2
flood.
The State of Wyoming requires us to form two separate units, one for the Wall
Creek formation and one for the Dakota formation, due to the different sizes
of
the productive horizons. It is expected that the unitization will be completed
in calendar year 2008 and subject to obtaining financing, we plan to start
CO2
injection in the Big Muddy Field in calendar year 2012.
The
Cole
Creek South Field is in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin and is located in Converse
and Natrona counties, about 15 miles northeast of Casper in the east-central
region of the state. The Cole Creek South Field was discovered in 1948 by the
Phillips Petroleum Company.
Production
at Cole Creek South was originally discovered on structure in the Lakota
sandstone. After drilling a number of wells along the crest of the structure
that had high water cuts, the Lakota zone was not developed in favor of the
Dakota sandstone. Injection into the Dakota formation began in December 1968
and
reached peak production in April 1972.
Production
comes from two units at Cole Creek South. One unit is the Dakota Sand Unit
which
is under active waterflood. The other unit is the Cole Creek South Unit which
is
a primary production unit. Cole Creek South Field produces, in total,
approximately 90 BOPD of 34 degree API sweet crude oil from 12 producing wells.
Production is from the Dakota Sand Unit waterflood and from the Shannon, First
Frontier, Second Frontier, Muddy, and Lakota formations.
The
Cole
Creek South Field is presently at reservoir pressure sufficient for miscible
CO2
flooding
and the wells are in good working condition. Due to the small size, in
comparison to the South Glenrock B Field and the Big Muddy Field, the Cole
Creek
South Field is planned to be the last of these three fields to undergo
CO2
flooding. Subject to obtaining financing, we plan to start CO2
injection in the Cole Creek South Field in either calendar year 2014 or
2015.
Oil
and Gas Acreage and Productive Wells
Our
three
properties in the Powder River Basin consist of the following acreage.
Developed Acres
|
Undeveloped Acres
|
Total Acres
|
|||||||||||||||||
Field
|
Gross
|
Net
|
Gross
|
Net
|
Gross
|
Net
|
|||||||||||||
Big
Muddy Field
|
1,640
|
972
|
8,920
|
8,908
|
10,560
|
9,880
|
|||||||||||||
South
Glenrock B Field
|
10,873
|
10,177
|
-
|
-
|
10,873
|
10,177
|
|||||||||||||
Cole
Creek South Field
|
3,782
|
3,782
|
-
|
-
|
3,782
|
3,782
|
|||||||||||||
Total
|
16,295
|
14,931
|
8,920
|
8,908
|
25,215
|
23,839
|
We
have
producing wells located in our three Powder River Basin properties as identified
below.
14
Number of
Gross Oil Wells
|
Number of
Net Oil Wells
|
||||||
Big
Muddy Field
|
5
|
5.00
|
|||||
South
Glenrock B Field
|
13
|
12.19
|
|||||
Cole
Creek South Field
|
12
|
12.00
|
|||||
Total
Wells
|
30
|
29.19
|
The
following table summarizes average volumes and realized prices of oil produced
from our properties and our production costs per barrel of oil. We acquired
three oil fields in December 2006 and January 2007.
For the Year
Ended March 31, 2008
|
For the Year
Ended March 31, 2007
|
|||||||||
Net
oil production (barrels)
|
86,626
|
23,838
|
||||||||
Average
realized oil sales price per barrel
|
$
|
73.24
|
$
|
48.74
|
||||||
Production
costs per barrel:
|
||||||||||
Production
taxes
|
$
|
8.91
|
$
|
5.72
|
||||||
Lease
operating expenses
|
$
|
33.55
|
$
|
28.04
|
Title
to Properties
As
customary in the oil and gas industry, during acquisitions, substantive title
reviews and curative work are performed on all properties. Generally, only
a
perfunctory title examination is conducted at the time properties believed
to be
suitable for drilling operations are first acquired. Prior to commencement
of
drilling operations, a thorough drill site title examination is normally
conducted and curative work is performed with respect to significant defects.
We
believe that we have good title to our oil and gas properties, some of which
are
subject to minor encumbrances, easements, and restrictions.
Environmental
Assessments
We
are
cognizant of our environmental responsibilities to the communities in which
we
operate and to our shareholders. Prior to the closing of our acquisitions,
we
obtained a Phase I environmental review of our properties from
industry-recognized environmental consulting firms. These environmental reviews
were commissioned and received prior to our acquisition of our three Wyoming
fields, which revealed no material environmental problems. As part of our plans
to construct a pipeline to transport CO2
to our
fields we will be required to perform either an environmental assessment or
a
more comprehensive environmental impact study of the proposed
pipeline.
Geographic
Segments
All
of
our operations are in the continental United States.
Significant
Oil and Gas Purchasers and Product Marketing
Due
to
the close proximity of our fields to one another, oil production from our three
properties is sold to one purchaser under a month-to-month contract at the
current area market price. The oil is currently transported by truck to pipeline
connections in the area. The loss of that purchaser is not expected to have
a
material adverse effect upon our oil sales. We currently produce a nominal
amount of natural gas, which is used in field operations and not sold to third
parties.
Our
ability to market oil depends on many factors beyond our control, including
the
extent of domestic production and imports of oil, the proximity of our oil
production to pipelines, the available capacity in such pipelines, refinery
capacity, the demand for oil, the effects of weather, and the effects of state
and Federal regulation. Our production is from fields close to major pipelines
and established infrastructure. As a result, we have not experienced any
difficulty to date in finding a market for all of our production as it becomes
available or in transporting our production to those markets; however, there
is
no assurance that we will always be able to market all of our production or
obtain favorable prices.
15
The
oil
production from our properties is relatively high quality, ranging in gravity
from 34 to 36 degrees, and is low in sulfur. We sell our oil to a crude
aggregator on a month-to-month term. The oil is transported by truck, with
loads
picked up daily. The prices we currently receive are based on posted prices
for
Wyoming Sweet crude oil, adjusted for gravity, plus approximately $3.50 to
$4.25
per barrel.
Our
long-term strategy is to find a dependable future transportation option to
transport our high-quality oil to market at the highest price possible and
to
protect ourselves from downward pricing volatility. Options being explored
include building a new crude oil pipeline to connect to a pipeline being
considered by others for construction that is anticipated to run from Northern
Colorado to Cushing, Oklahoma to transport Wyoming Sweet crude oil.
Competition
and Markets
We
face
competition from other oil companies in all aspects of our business, including
acquisition of producing properties and oil and gas leases, marketing of oil
and
gas, obtaining goods, services, and labor. Many of our competitors have
substantially larger financial and other resources. Factors that affect our
ability to acquire producing properties include available funds, available
information about prospective properties, and our standards established for
minimum projected return on investment. Competition is also presented by
alternative fuel sources, including ethanol and other fossil fuels. Because
of
our use of EOR techniques and management’s experience and expertise in the oil
and gas industry, we believe that we are effective in competing in the
market.
The
demand for qualified and experienced field personnel to operate CO2
EOR
techniques, drill wells, and conduct field operations, such as geologists,
geophysicists, engineers, and other professionals in the oil industry, can
fluctuate significantly often in correlation with oil prices, causing periodic
shortages. There have also been shortages of drilling rigs and other equipment,
as demand for rigs and equipment has increased along with the number of wells
being drilled. These factors also cause significant increases in costs for
equipment, services, and personnel. Higher oil prices generally stimulate
increased demand and result in increased prices for drilling rigs, crews and
associated supplies, equipment, and services. We cannot be certain when we
will
experience these issues and these types of shortages or price increases,
which could significantly decrease our profit margin, cash flow, and
operating results, or restrict our ability to drill those wells and conduct
those operations that we currently have planned and budgeted.
ITEM 3. |
None.
None.
Fiscal
Year 2008
|
High
Bid
|
Low
Bid
|
|||||
First
Quarter
|
$
|
1.30
|
$
|
0.68
|
|||
Second
Quarter
|
$
|
0.75
|
$
|
0.31
|
|||
Third
Quarter
|
$
|
0.84
|
$
|
0.20
|
|||
Fourth
Quarter
|
$
|
0.69
|
$
|
0.26
|
|||
Fiscal
Year 2007
|
|||||||
First
Quarter
|
$
|
1.55
|
$
|
1.30
|
|||
Second
Quarter
|
$
|
1.82
|
$
|
1.03
|
|||
Third
Quarter
|
$
|
3.38
|
$
|
1.71
|
|||
Fourth
Quarter
|
$
|
3.46
|
$
|
1.16
|
16
The
first
day of public trading of our common stock was January 10, 2006. The graph below
matches the cumulative total return since January 10, 2006 (or December 31,
2005
for the indexes) of holders of our common stock with the cumulative total
returns of the NASDAQ Composite Index and the Dow Jones Wilshire MicroCap
Exploration and Production Index. The graph assumes that the value of the
investment in our common stock and in each of the indexes (including
reinvestment of dividends) was $100 on January 10, 2006 (or December 31, 2005
for the indexes) and tracks it through March 31, 2008. The reported closing
stock price for our common stock on January 10, 2006 was $0.012143, adjusting
for a stock dividend which occurred after that date in January 2006, noted
under
“Dividends” below.
Stock
Performance Graph Data
|
|||||||||||||
1/10/06
|
3/31/06
|
3/31/07
|
3/31/08
|
||||||||||
Rancher
Energy Corp.
|
100.0
|
11,858.7
|
10,952.8
|
3,211.73
|
|||||||||
NASDAQ
Composite
|
100.0
|
106.8
|
112.3
|
104.67
|
|||||||||
Dow
Jones Wilshire MicroCap Exploration & Production
|
100.0
|
108.3
|
86.7
|
69.50
|
As
of
June 18, 2008, there were approximately 229 record owners of our Common Stock.
This does not include any beneficial owners for whom shares may be held in
“nominee” or “street name”.
17
Dividends
We
have
not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock since inception and we do not
anticipate declaring or paying any dividends at any time in the foreseeable
future. In January 2006, we conducted a 14-for-1 forward stock
split.
Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities
On
May 15, 2006, in conjunction with his employment, we granted John Works,
our President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of our Board of Directors,
an option to purchase 4,000,000 shares of our common stock at a price of
$0.00001 per share. These options vest over time through May 31, 2009. In
the event Mr. Works’ employment agreement is terminated, Mr. Works will be
entitled to purchase all shares that have vested and all unvested shares will
be
forfeited. The table that follows summarizes the exercise of Mr. Works’
options:
Exercise
Date
|
Number of Options Exercised
|
Exercise Price
|
Aggregate Purchase Price
|
|||||||
May
15, 2006
|
1,000,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
$
|
10.00
|
|||||
April
19, 2007
|
|
750,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
$
|
7.50
|
||||
May
31, 2007
|
|
250,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
$
|
2.50
|
||||
August
31, 2007
|
250,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
$
|
2.50
|
|||||
November
30, 2007
|
250,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
$
|
2.50
|
|||||
February
29, 2008
|
250,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
$
|
2.50
|
Mr.
Works
is an accredited investor. The foregoing transaction was made pursuant to
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
Date
|
Granted
To
|
|
No.
of
Options
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
Vesting
|
|
Term
|
|||||||
Oct
2, 2006
|
Officer
and Employee
|
825,000
|
$
|
1.75
|
Annually
over a 3 year period
|
5
Years
|
||||||||||
Oct
16, 2006
|
Officer
|
1,500,000
|
$
|
2.10
|
Annually
over a 3 year period
|
5
Years
|
||||||||||
Jan
12, 2007
|
Officer
|
1,000,000
|
$
|
3.19
|
Annually
over a 3 year period
|
5
Years
|
||||||||||
Feb
16, 2007
|
Director
|
10,000
|
$
|
1.63
|
50%
at 1st
and 2nd
anniversary of grant
|
5
Years
|
||||||||||
Apr
10, 2007
|
Employees
|
223,000
|
$
|
1.18
|
33.3%
on 1st,
2nd
and 3rd
anniversary of grant
|
5
Years
|
||||||||||
Apr
10, 2007
|
Consultant
|
25,000
|
$
|
1.64
|
50%
at Aug 31, 2007; 50% at Feb 29, 2008
|
5
Years
|
||||||||||
Apr
20, 2007
|
Directors
|
40,000
|
$
|
1.02
|
20%
on 1st,
2nd,
3rd,
4th
and 5thanniversary
of grant
|
10
Years
|
||||||||||
Aug
27, 2007
|
Officer
|
450,000
|
$
|
0.45
|
33.3%
on 1st,
2nd
and 3rd
anniversary of grant
|
5
Years
|
||||||||||
Feb
2, 2008
|
Employee
|
15,000
|
$
|
0.39
|
33.3%
on 1st,
2nd
and 3rd
anniversary of grant
|
5
Years
|
The
options granted to officers and employees are subject to early termination
of
the individual’s employment with us. The foregoing transactions were made
pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
On
December 21, 2006, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, as amended,
with institutional and individual accredited investors to effect a $79,500,000
private placement of shares of our common stock and other securities in multiple
closings. As part of this private placement, we raised an aggregate of
$79,405,418 and issued (i) 45,940,510 shares of common stock, (ii) promissory
notes that were convertible into 6,996,342 shares of common stock, and (iii)
warrants to purchase 52,936,832 shares of common stock. The warrants issued
to
investors in the private placement are exercisable during the five year period
beginning on the date we amended and restated our Articles of Incorporation
to
increase our authorized shares of common stock, which was March 30, 2007. The
notes issued in the private placement automatically converted into shares of
common stock on March 30, 2007. In conjunction with the private placement,
we
also used services of placement agents and have issued warrants to purchase
3,633,313 shares of common stock to these agents or their designees. The
warrants issued to the placement agents or their designees are exercisable
during the two year period (warrants to purchase 2,187,580 shares of common
stock) or the five year period (warrants to purchase 1,445,733 shares of common
stock) beginning on the date we amended and restated our Articles of
Incorporation to increase our authorized shares of common stock, which was
March
30, 2007. All of the warrants issued in conjunction with the private placement
have an exercise price of $1.50 per share. The securities issued in the private
placement bear a standard restrictive legend generally used in accredited
investor transactions. The foregoing transactions were made pursuant to Section
4(2) of the Securities Act.
18
In
partial consideration for the extension of the closing date of our acquisition
of the Cole Creek South Field and the South Glenrock B Field, we issued in
December 2006 to the seller of the oil and gas properties a warrant to purchase
up to 250,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per
share. The seller may exercise the warrant at any time beginning June 22, 2007
and ending December 22, 2011. The foregoing transaction was made pursuant to
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
Under
the
terms of the registration rights agreement, we were obligated to pay the holders
of the registrable securities issued in December 21, 2006 private placement
liquidated damages if the registration statement filed in conjunction with
the
private placement was not declared effective by the SEC within 150 days of
the closing of the private placement and every 30 days thereafter until the
registration statement is declared effective. The closing occurred on December
21, 2006. The amount due on each applicable date is 1% of the aggregate purchase
price or $794,000. Pursuant to the terms of the registration rights agreement,
the number of shares issued on each payment date is based on the payment amount
of $794,000 divided by an amount that equals 90% of the volume weighted average
price of our common stock for the 10 days immediately preceding the payment
date. The table below summarize the shares issued pursuant to the terms of
the
registration rights agreement:
Payment
Date
|
|
90% of Volume
Weighted
Average Price for
10 Days
Preceding
Payment
|
|
Shares Issued
|
|
Closing Price at
Payment Date
|
|
Value of Shares Issued
|
|||||
May
18, 2007
|
$
|
0.85
|
933,458
|
$
|
1.04
|
$
|
970,797
|
||||||
June
19, 2007
|
$
|
0.84
|
946,819
|
$
|
0.88
|
$
|
833,201
|
||||||
July
19, 2007
|
$
|
0.60
|
1,321,799
|
$
|
0.66
|
$
|
872,387
|
||||||
August
17, 2007
|
$
|
0.45
|
1,757,212
|
$
|
0.41
|
$
|
720,457
|
||||||
September
17, 2007
|
$
|
0.32
|
2,467,484
|
$
|
0.34
|
$
|
838,945
|
||||||
October
17, 2007
|
$
|
0.55
|
1,443,712
|
$
|
0.57
|
$
|
822,915
|
||||||
October
31, 2007
|
$
|
0.43
|
861,085
|
$
|
0.47
|
$
|
404,710
|
||||||
9,731,569
|
$
|
5,463,412
|
The
foregoing transaction was made pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities
Act.
Pursuant
to the terms of a consulting agreement that we previously entered into with
an
executive search consulting firm, on June 27, 2007 we granted 107,143 shares
of
our common stock in the aggregate, pursuant to our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan,
to
the principals of the consulting firm as partial consideration for the services
provided to us by the consulting firm. The foregoing transaction was made
pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
19
Pursuant
to a Board of Directors resolution adopted April 20, 2007, Directors may receive
common stock in lieu of cash for Board Meeting Fees, Committee Fees and
Committee Chairman Fees. The number of shares granted under the terms of the
resolution were computed based upon the amount of fees due to the directors
and
the fair market value of our common stock on the date of issuance. The following
table summarizes issuances of common stock pursuant to such
resolution:
Date
of Issue
|
Number of Shares Issued
|
Fair Market Value Per
Share at Issue Date
|
|||||
Jun
30, 2007
|
101,713
|
$
|
0.73
|
||||
Sep
30, 2007
|
181,098
|
$
|
0.41
|
||||
Dec
31, 2007
|
275,001
|
$
|
0.27
|
||||
Mar
31, 2008
|
190,385
|
$
|
0.39
|
The
foregoing transactions were made pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities
Act.
ITEM 6. |
Not
applicable.
Organization
We
are an
independent energy company that explores for and develops, produces, and markets
oil and gas in North America. We were known as Metalex Resources, Inc. until
April 2006 when our name was changed to Rancher Energy Corp. We operate three
oil fields in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Our business plan is to use
CO2
injection to increase oil production in these oil fields.
The
following is a summary of the property acquisitions we have
completed:
Cole
Creek South Field and South Glenrock B Field Acquisitions
On
December 22, 2006, we purchased certain oil and gas properties for $46,750,000,
before adjustments for the period from the effective date to the closing date,
plus closing costs of $323,657. The oil and gas properties consisted of (i)
a
100% working interest (79.3% net revenue interest) in the Cole Creek South
Field, which is located in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin; and (ii) a 93.6%
working interest (74.5% net revenue interest) in the South Glenrock B Field,
which also is located in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. In partial consideration
for an extension of the closing date, we issued the seller of the oil and gas
properties warrants to acquire 250,000 shares of our common stock for $1.50
per
share for a period of five years. The estimated fair value of the warrants
to
purchase common stock of $616,140 was estimated as of the grant date using
the
Black-Scholes option pricing model and is included in the acquisition
cost.
The
total
adjusted purchase price was allocated as follows:
Cash
consideration
|
$
|
46,750,000
|
||
Direct
acquisition costs
|
323,657
|
|||
Estimated
fair value of warrants to purchase common stock
|
616,140
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
47,689,797
|
||
Allocation
of acquisition costs:
|
||||
Oil
and gas properties:
|
||||
Unproved
|
$
|
31,569,778
|
||
Proved
|
16,682,101
|
|||
Other
assets - long-term accounts receivable
|
53,341
|
|||
Other
assets - inventory
|
227,220
|
|||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
(842,643
|
)
|
||
Total
|
$
|
47,689,797
|
20
The
Cole
Creek South Field is located in Converse County, Wyoming approximately six
miles
northwest of the town of Glenrock. The field was discovered in 1948 by the
Phillips Petroleum Company. Current gross production from the Cole Creek South
Field is approximately 90 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) of primarily 34 degree
API sweet crude oil.
The
South
Glenrock B Field is also located in Converse County, Wyoming. The field was
discovered in 1950 by Conoco, Inc. Bisected by Interstate 25, the field produces
from the Dakota and Muddy sandstone reservoirs that are draped over a structural
nose with 2,000 feet of relief. Production is maintained by secondary recovery
efforts that were initiated in 1961. Current gross production from the South
Glenrock B Field is approximately 160 BOPD of primarily 35 degree API sweet
crude oil.
Big
Muddy Field Acquisition
On
January 4, 2007, we acquired the Big Muddy Field, which is located in the Powder
River Basin east of Casper, Wyoming. The total purchase price was $25,000,000
and closing costs were $672,638. While the Big Muddy Field was discovered in
1916, future profitable operations are dependent on the application of tertiary
recovery techniques requiring significant amounts of CO2.
Cash
consideration
|
$
|
25,000,000
|
||
Direct
acquisition costs
|
672,638
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
25,672,638
|
||
Allocation
of acquisition costs:
|
||||
Oil
and gas properties:
|
||||
Unproved
|
$
|
24,151,745
|
||
Proved
|
1,870,086
|
|||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
(349,193
|
)
|
||
Total
|
$
|
25,672,638
|
Water
flooding was initiated in the Wall Creek formation in 1957 and later expanded
to
the Dakota and Lakota formations. Over 800 completions have occurred in the
field. At the current time, only a few wells are active. The current production
is approximately 20 BOPD of primarily 36 degree API sweet crude oil.
Outlook
for the Coming Year
The
following summarizes our goals and objectives for the next twelve
months:
·
|
Continue
to seek long term financing or strategic partnering arrangements
with
experienced industry partners to repay the debt due in October 2008
and to
provide funding for a CO2
pipeline and our EOR development plan for our three
fields;
|
·
|
Maintain
and enhance crude oil production from our existing
wells;
|
·
|
Initiate
development activities in our fields;
and
|
·
|
Pursue
additional asset and project opportunities that are expected to be
accretive to stockholder value.
|
In
late
2006 we added operating staff and engaged consultants to conduct field studies
of tertiary development of the three Powder River Basin fields. Through the
early part of 2008 work has focused on field and engineering studies to prepare
for development operations. We also engaged an engineering firm to evaluate
routes and undertake the required front end engineering and design for the
required CO2
pipeline, as well as another engineering firm to evaluate and design surface
facilities appropriate for CO2
injection. In February 2008, we executed a letter of intent with a potential
industry partner the terms of which called for the partner to invest up to
$83.5
million to earn up to a 55% working interest in our three fields. This letter
of
intent expired in April 2008. We entered into a letter of intent in April 2008
with two different industry partners under terms similar to the first letter
of
intent; however, this second letter of intent included provisions for one of
the
partners to build, own and operate a pipeline to transport CO2
to our
fields. We continue to negotiate the terms of a definitive agreement, but there
is no assurance that we will be successful in these negotiations and in closing
the transaction. In anticipation of finalizing an arrangement with industry
partners, under which a partner would provide financing and operational control
or our fields, we reduced our operating staff in late March 2008. Under the
terms of the letter of intent, if the parties have not entered into a definitive
agreement by June 30, 2008, either party may terminate the letter of intent
upon
ten days notice. If we are not successful in consummating a transaction with
an
industry partner, we will need to obtain other sources of financing. Our plans
for EOR development of our oil fields are dependent on our obtaining substantial
additional funding. In October 2007 we raised approximately $12.2 million in
short-term debt financing to enhance production and provide cash reserves.
While
we
had intended to raise
a
long-term debt financing
in 2007
to further our waterflood
and CO2
EOR
plans, weakness in the capital market conditions contributed to our change
in
strategy to raise the short-term
financing
first,
followed by either long-term
debt financing,
or a
strategic partnering arrangement with experienced industry partners. The raising
of future funding is dependent on many factors, some of which are outside our
control and is not assured. One major factor is the level of and projected
trends in oil prices, which we cannot protect against by using hedging at this
time.
21
If
we are
successful in raising long term debt financing we plan to begin CO2
development operations in the South Glenrock B Field followed by the Big Muddy
Field and then Cole Creek South Field. Capital expenditures to implement our
CO2
EOR plan
include:
·
|
Construct
a pipeline to transport CO2 from
the source to our South Glenrock B Field at a cost of approximately
$50 to
$132 million;
|
·
|
Acquire
and construct surface facilities at our South Glenrock B Field to
inject
and recycle CO2 at
a cost of approximately $8.5 million;
|
·
|
Drill,
complete and equip 70-80 wells as CO2
injectors or oil producers on our South Glenrock B Field at a cost
of
approximately $48 million;
|
·
|
Drill,
complete and equip 70 wells as water injectors or oil producers on
our Big
Muddy Field at a cost of approximately $46 million;
and
|
·
|
Acquire
and construct waterflood surface facilities, at a cost of approximately
$11.5 million.
|
If
we are
successful closing a strategic partnering arrangement with experienced industry
partners, we anticipate those partners would be responsible for financial and
operational control of pipeline construction and field development for up to
three years, after which we would again be responsible for our share of future
development expenditures.
Since
the
acquisition of the three fields, other than the agreements with Anadarko and
ExxonMobil for supply of CO2,
we have
made no major capital expenditures nor any firm commitments for future capital
expenditures to date.
Anadarko
CO2
Supply
Agreement
As
part
of our CO2
tertiary
recovery strategy, on December 15, 2006, we entered into a Product Sale and
Purchase Contract with Anadarko for the purchase of CO2
(meeting
certain quality specifications) from Anadarko. We intend to use the
CO2
for our
EOR projects.
The
primary term of the Purchase Contract commences upon the later of January 1,
2008, or the date of the first CO2
delivery
and terminates upon the earlier of the day on which we have taken and paid
for
the Total Contract Quantity, as defined, or 10 years from the commencement
date.
We have the right to terminate the Purchase Contract at any time with notice
to
Anadarko, subject to a termination payment as specified in the Purchase
Contract.
During
the primary term the “Daily Contract Quantity” is 40 MMcf per day for a total of
146 Bcf. Carbon dioxide (CO2)
deliveries are subject to a 25 MMcf per day take-or-pay provision. Anadarko
has
the right to satisfy its own needs before sales to us, which reduces our
take-or-pay obligation. In the event the CO2
does not
meet certain quality specifications, we have the right to refuse delivery of
such CO2.
22
For
CO2
deliveries we have agreed to pay $1.50 per thousand cubic feet, to be adjusted
by a factor that is indexed to the price of Wyoming Sweet oil. From oil that
is
produced by CO2
injection, we also agreed to convey to Anadarko an overriding royalty interest
that increases over time, not to exceed 5%.
ExxonMobil
CO2 Supply
Agreement
On
February 12, 2008 we entered into a Carbon Dioxide Sale and Purchase Agreement
with ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company, a division of ExxonMobil
Corporation, which is to provide us with 70 MMscfd (million standard cubic
feet
per day) of CO2
for an
initial 10-year period. We intend to use the CO2
for
our
EOR projects. The primary term of the agreement, which is ten years, will begin
the first day of the month following ExxonMobil’s notice to us of the completion
of the expansion of certain CO2
delivery
facilities by ExxonMobil and that it is prepared to deliver the required daily
quantity as required under the agreement. Either party may extend the agreement
for an additional ten year term following proper notice and agreement to certain
applicable terms of the agreement. Following the commencement of the primary
term, ExxonMobil is obligated to deliver to us at least 70 MMscfd of
CO2
per day.
We have agreed to a “take-or-pay” provision under the agreement. For
CO2
deliveries from ExxonMobil, we have agreed to pay a base price plus an Oil
Price
Factor which is indexed to the price of West Texas Intermediate crude
oil.
We
may
terminate the agreement if ExxonMobil fails to meet the Company’s quantity
nomination of CO2
(not to
exceed 70 MMscfd per day) for 30 consecutive days except under certain
circumstances. Either party has the right to terminate the agreement at any
time
with notice to the other party based on certain circumstances described in
the
agreement. ExxonMobil is not obligated to commence delivery of CO2
until we
provide a surety bond equal to four months’ supply of CO2.
ExxonMobil may also request additional financial performance assurances if
it
has reasonable grounds for believing that we have ceased to have the financial
resources to meet our obligations under the agreement and ExxonMobil may suspend
delivery of CO2
until
the
appropriate assurances are provided. ExxonMobil may terminate the agreement
if a
requested performance assurance is not provided by us within 30 days of a
request.
Under
the
terms of the agreement, ExxonMobil is responsible for paying all taxes and
royalties up to the delivery point except that we are obligated to reimburse
ExxonMobil for 100% of any new, increased, or additional taxes or royalties
incurred up to the delivery point. The CO2
is to be
supplied from ExxonMobil’s LaBarge gas field in Wyoming.
Initially,
the source of funds to fulfill our commitment to purchase CO2
from
Anadarko and ExxonMobil will be either the long term debt financing or our
strategic partner. As crude oil production from the fields into which
CO2
is
injected increases, we anticipate utilizing a portion of the proceeds from
the
sale of such crude oil to pay for the CO2.
Results
of Operations, Including Combined Results
In
addition to the GAAP presentation of Rancher Energy Corp.’s historical results
for the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, we have provided combined revenues,
production taxes and lease operating expenses for Rancher Energy Corp., its
Predecessor (the Cole Creek South Field and the South Glenrock B Field) and
its
Predecessor’s Predecessor (Pre-Predecessor) because we believe such financial
information may be useful in gaining an understanding of the impact of the
acquisitions on Rancher Energy Corp.’s underlying historical performance and
future financial results. The combined information is not presented on a GAAP
basis and is not necessarily comparable between periods.
The
following data includes:
·
|
Our
results of operations for the years ended March 31, 2008 and
2007;
|
·
|
Our
Predecessor’s results of operations for the period from January 1, 2006
through December 21, 2006 (the date of acquisition of the Predecessor
by
Rancher Energy Corp.);
|
·
|
Adjustments
to eliminate the Predecessor’s revenues, production taxes and lease
operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from
the
Predecessor revenues, production taxes and lease operating expenses
for
the year ended December 31, 2006, so that the combined information
reflects the revenues, production taxes and lease operating expenses
for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007;
and
|
·
|
Combined
revenues, production taxes and lease operating expenses for the years
ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.
|
23
Year
Ended March 31, 2008
Rancher
Energy Corp.
Revenue:
|
||||
Oil
production (in barrels)
|
86,626
|
|||
Oil
price (per barrel)
|
$
|
73.24
|
||
Oil
and gas sales
|
$
|
6,344,414
|
||
Derivative
losses
|
(956,142
|
)
|
||
5,388,272
|
||||
Operating
expenses:
|
||||
Production
taxes
|
772,010
|
|||
Lease
operating expenses
|
2,906,210
|
|||
Depreciation,
depletion, and amortization
|
1,360,737
|
|||
Impairment
of unproved properties
|
-
|
|||
Accretion
expense
|
121,740
|
|||
Exploration
expense
|
223,564
|
|||
General
and administrative
|
7,538,242
|
|||
Total
operating expenses
|
12,922,503
|
|||
(7,534,231
|
)
|
|||
Other
income (expense):
|
||||
Liquidated
damages pursuant to registration rights agreement
|
(2,645,393
|
)
|
||
Interest
expense
|
(794,693
|
)
|
||
Amortization
of deferred financing costs
|
(2,423,389
|
)
|
||
Interest
and other income
|
232,880
|
|||
Total
other income (expense)
|
(5,630,595
|
)
|
||
$
|
(13,164,826
|
)
|
Year
Ended March 31, 2007 (Unaudited)
|
|||||||||||||
Rancher
Energy Corp.
|
Predecessor
|
Adjustments
|
Combined
|
||||||||||
Revenue:
|
|||||||||||||
Oil
production (in barrels)
|
23,838
|
73,076
|
(18,631
|
)
|
78,283
|
||||||||
Oil
price (per barrel)
|
48.74
|
61.42
|
61.66
|
57.50
|
|||||||||
Oil
and gas sales
|
$
|
1,161,819
|
$
|
4,488,315
|
$
|
(1,148,825
|
)
|
$
|
4,501,309
|
||||
Operating
expenses:
|
|||||||||||||
Production
taxes
|
136,305
|
493,956
|
(120,313
|
)
|
509,948
|
||||||||
Lease
operating expenses
|
668,457
|
2,944,287
|
(574,756
|
)
|
3,037,988
|
||||||||
Depreciation,
depletion, and amortization
|
375,701
|
952,784
|
|||||||||||
Impairment
of unproved properties
|
734,383
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Accretion
expense
|
29,730
|
107,504
|
|||||||||||
Exploration
expense
|
333,919
|
-
|
|||||||||||
General
and administrative
|
4,512,427
|
567,524
|
|||||||||||
Total
operating expenses
|
6,790,922
|
5,066,055
|
|||||||||||
(5,629,103
|
)
|
(577,740
|
)
|
||||||||||
Other
income (expense):
|
|||||||||||||
Liquidated
damages pursuant to registration rights agreement
|
(2,705,531
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(37,647
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||||
Amortization
of deferred financing costs
|
(537,822
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||||
Interest
and other income
|
207,848
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Total
other income (expense)
|
(3,073,152
|
)
|
-
|
||||||||||
$
|
(8,702,255
|
)
|
$
|
(577,740
|
)
|
24
Adjustments:
Revenue,
production taxes, and lease operating expenses — represents
oil
production volumes, oil sales, production taxes, and lease operating expenses
for the three months ended March 31, 2006 to derive combined oil production
volumes, oil sales, production taxes, and lease operating expenses for the
year
ended March 31, 2007.
Rancher
Energy Corp.
Year
Ended March 31, 2008 Compared to Year Ended March 31, 2007
Overview.
For the
year ended March 31, 2008, we reflected a net loss of $13,164,826, or $(0.12)
per basic and fully diluted share, as compared to a loss of $8,702,255, or
$(0.16) per basic and fully diluted share, for the corresponding year ended
March 31, 2007. Fiscal 2008 reflected our first full year as an oil and gas
operating entity, following our acquisition of the three Powder River Basin
Fields. As a result, crude oil production volumes and nearly all items of
revenue and expense reflect significant increases in 2008 as compared to 2007.
Revenue,
production taxes, and lease operating expenses.
For the
year ended March 31, 2008, we recorded crude oil sales of $6,344,414 on 86,626
barrels of oil at an average price of $73.24, as compared to revenues of
$1,161,819 on 23,838 barrels of oil at an average price of $48.74 per barrel
in
2007. The year-to-year variance reflects a volume variance of $4,591,172 and
a
price variance of $591,423. The increased volume in 2008 reflects the fact
we
owned the three fields the entire year as compared to only three months of
ownership in 2007. Production taxes (including ad valorem taxes) of $772,010
in
2008 as compared to $136,305 in 2007, remained constant at 12% of crude oil
sales revenues. Lease operating expenses increased to $2,906,210
($33.55/bbl) in 2008 as compared to $668,457 ($28.06/bbl) principally reflecting
the fact we owned and operated the three fields for the entire year in 2008
as
compared to 3 months in 2007. The per barrel increase in 2008 compared to 2007
reflects the significant level of repair and maintenance work carried out on
wells in the three fields to maintain and increase production
levels.
Depreciation,
depletion, and amortization.
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization increased (DD&A) to $1,360,737 in
2008 as compared to $375,701 in 2007. In 2008 DD&A is comprised of
$1,183,798 of DD&A of oil and gas properties ($13.66/ bbl) and depreciation
of furniture and fixtures of $176,939. Corresponding amounts for 2007 were
$347,821 of DD&A of oil and gas properties ($14.60/ bbl) and depreciation of
furniture and fixtures of $27,880.
Impairment
of unproved properties.
No
impairment of unproved properties was recorded for the year ended March 31,
2008. In year ended March 31, 2007, we recorded impairment of unproved
properties of $734,383, reflecting our determination to not develop certain
properties and the carrying value would not be realized.
Exploration
expense.
For the
year ended March 31, 2008, we reflected exploration expense of $223,564 as
compared to $333,919 for the year ended March 31, 2007. Exploration expenses
were for geological and geophysical analysis of certain projects, all of which
we elected not to pursue. The decrease in 2008 reflects our decision to focus
resources on the development of the three fields we acquired in December 2006
and January 2007.
General
and administrative expense.
For the
year ended March 31, 2008 we reflected general and administrative expenses
of
$7,538,242 as compared to $4,512,427 for the corresponding year ended March
31,
2007. Significant components of the year-to-year variance include:
·
|
salaries
and benefits - increase of $2,615,000 reflecting significantly higher
staff count (274 worker months in 2008 compared to 62 worker months
in
2007);
|
25
·
|
accounting
and financial reporting consultants – increase of $316,000 reflecting
expenses associated with filing of Form 10-K and three amendments
thereto;
filing of four amendments to our Form S-1 registration statement,
along
with the filing of three Forms 10-Q, and numerous Forms 8-K, as well
expenses associated with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance
efforts;
|
·
|
audit
fees – increase of $225,000 reflecting costs of auditing of a much larger
company following the property acquisitions in December 2006 and
January
2007, costs associated with the audit of the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting and the costs associated with predecessor
and
pre-predecessor audits.
|
·
|
office
rent – increase of $243,000, reflecting a relocation of our corporate
headquarters to larger office space in August
2007.
|
Liquidated
damages pursuant to registration rights agreement.
In
connection with our equity private placement in December 2006 and January 2007,
we entered into a registration rights agreement and agreed to file a
registration statement to register for resale the shares of common stock. The
agreement includes provisions for payment if the registration statement was
not
declared effective by May 20, 2007 and additional payments are due if there
are
additional delays in obtaining effectiveness. The registration statement was
declared effective on October 31, 2007. Prior to that we paid liquidated damages
of $2,645,393 and $2,705,531 for the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
respectively, by issuing a total of 9,731,569 shares of our common
stock.
Amortization
of deferred financing costs.
For the
year ended March 31, 2008, we reflected amortization of deferred financing
costs
of $2,423,389 as compared to $537,822 for the corresponding year ended March
31,
2007. The year-to-year increase reflects amortization of costs incurred with
the
issuance of short term debt in October 2007 ($326,685), amortization of the
discount on the note payable associated with the overriding royalty interest
assigned to the lender ($1,972,450). The 2007 amount reflects the amortization
of financing costs incurred in connection with the private placement of
convertible notes payable issued in the 2007 period.
Interest
expense. For
the
year ended March 31, 2008 we reflected interest expense of $794,693 as compared
to $37,647 reflected in the comparable period of 2007. The 2008 amount was
comprised of interest paid on the October 2007 short term financing of $682,000
and $112,600 of imputed interest on liquidated damages relating to the
Registration Rights Agreement
as discussed above. The 2007 amount includes $30,000 of imputed interest on
the
registration rights payments and $7,647 of other interest expense.
Interest
income.
For the
year ended March 31, 2008, we reflected interest income of $232,880 as compared
to $207,848 for the corresponding year ended March 31, 2007. The interest income
was derived from earnings on excess cash derived from the private placement
of
units, consisting of common stock and warrants to acquire shares of common
stock.
The
following provides explanations of changes in revenues, production taxes and
lease operating expenses on a combined basis.
Rancher
Energy Corp. Combined With Predecessor
Year
Ended March 31, 2008 Compared to Year Ended March 31, 2007
Revenue,
production taxes, and lease operating expenses.
For the
year ended March 31, 2008 (2008), oil and gas sales were $6,344,414 on 86,626
barrels of oil at $73.24 per barrel, as compared to $4,501,309 on 78,283 barrels
of oil at $57.50 per barrel, for the year ended March 31, 2007 (2007). The
year-to-year increase in sales of $1,843,105 reflects a price variance of
$1,363,379 and a volume variance of $479,726. The increased volumes in 2008
resulted from our efforts to minimize well downtime by monitoring each well
on a
daily basis to maintain each at its maximum operating capacity. Production
taxes
(including ad valorem taxes) of $772,010 in 2008 as compared to $509,948 in
2007, remained constant at approximately 12% of crude oil sales revenues. Lease
operating expenses decreased in 2008 to $2,906,210 or $33.55 per barrel, as
compared to $3,037,988, or $39.22 per barrel, in 2007. This year-to-year
decrease of $131,778, is comprised of $323,773 of volume variance and $(455,550)
of cost variance. The cost variance primarily reflects the costs associated
with
workovers, restimulation and repairs carried out the by the Predecessor in
2007
whereas we minimized such operations while focusing on day-to-day operational
efficiencies to maintain and increase production levels..
Going
Concern
The
report of our independent registered public accounting firm on the financial
statements for the year ended March 31, 2008 includes an explanatory paragraph
relating to the uncertainty of our ability to continue as a going concern.
We
have incurred a cumulative net loss of $22.4 million for the period from
inception (February 4, 2004) to March 31, 2008 and have a working capital
deficit of approximately $5.0 million as of March 31, 2007 and have short
term debt in the amount of $12.2 million scheduled to mature on October 31,
2008. We require significant additional funding to repay the short term debt
and
sustain our operations for our planned EOR operations. Our ability to establish
the Company as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to obtain
additional funding in order to pay our short term debt and finance our planned
operations.
26
As
of
March 31, 2008, we had a working capital deficit of $4,991,812.
Our
primary source of liquidity to meet operating expenses and fund capital
expenditures is our access to debt and equity markets. The debt and equity
markets, public, private, and institutional, have been our principal source
of
capital used to finance a significant amount of growth, including acquisitions.
We will need substantial additional funding to pursue our business
plan.
In
October 2007, we issued $12,240,000 of short term debt the proceeds of which
were intended to enhance our existing production and to provide cash reserves
for operations. The
debt
matures in October 2008 and as part of the loan, we granted to the lender a
mortgage on our interests in three fields and our other assets. We
had
planned to secure longer term fixed rate financing to repay the short term
debt
and to commence our EOR development activities in the three fields of the Powder
River Basin; however due to difficulties in the capital debt markets, we have
been unable to secure such financing. We
do not
have cash available to repay this loan. We plan to refinance this loan and
borrow additional funds to pursue our business strategy. If we are not
successful in repaying this debt within the term of the loan, or default under
the terms of the loan, the lender will be able to foreclose one or more of
our
three properties and other assets and we could lose the properties. A
foreclosure could significantly reduce or eliminate our property interests,
force us to alter our business strategy, which could involve the sale of
properties or working interests in the properties and adversely affect our
results of operations and financial condition.
In
April
2008 we entered into a letter of intent with two perspective industry partners
for them to invest up to $83.5 million (including $12.2 million up front to
retire our short term debt), and to earn up to 55% working interest in our
fields. It also calls for them to build, own and operate a 132 mile
CO2
pipeline
to deliver CO2
to
our
fields. We are continuing negotiations with them but there is no assurance
that
we will be successful in closing the transaction. Under the terms of the letter
of intent, if the parties have not entered into a definitive agreement by June
30, 2008, either party may terminate the letter of intent upon ten days notice.
If we are not successful in consummating this transaction, we will need to
make
other financing arrangements to carry out our EOR business strategy.
Management
believes the proposed transaction is an indication of the viability of our
EOR
projects and our ability to generate additional capital to meet our obligations
and to commence our EOR projects during the next year. If we are not successful
in closing the transaction discussed above or in raising capital through other
means, we may sell assets to meet our obligations. If we are forced to sell
assets to meet our obligations we may not realize the full market value of
the
assets and the sales price could be less than our carrying value of the
assets.
Change
in Financial Condition
In
October 2007 we issued short term debt in the amount of $12.24 million the
proceeds of which were intended to enhance our existing production and to
provide cash reserves for operations. The debt bears interest at 12% per annum
and is scheduled to mature on October 31, 2008.
We
entered into a number of debt and equity transactions in fiscal year 2007,
which
dramatically increased our financial capability. The following is a summary
of
debt and equity transactions completed during fiscal year 2007:
Convertible
Debt Transactions
Venture
Capital First LLC
On
June
9, 2006, we borrowed $500,000 from Venture Capital First LLC (Venture Capital).
Principal and interest at an annual rate of 6% were due December 9, 2006. The
agreement provided that Venture Capital had the option to convert all or a
portion of the loan into common stock and warrants to purchase common stock,
either (i) at the closing price of our shares on the day preceding notice from
Venture Capital of its intent to convert all or a portion of the loan into
common stock, or (ii) in the event we conducted an offering of common stock,
or
units consisting of common stock and warrants to purchase stock, at the price
of
such shares or units in the offering.
27
Private
Placement –
Convertible Notes Payable
As
part
of the December 2006 and January 2007 equity private placement, which is further
discussed below, in December 2006 and January 2007, we received $10,494,582
from
certain investors, who received convertible notes payable. Upon stockholder
approval of an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation increasing the
authorized shares of our common stock, which occurred on March 30, 2007, the
notes automatically converted into shares of common stock. The number of shares
issued upon conversion of the notes was equal to the face amount of the notes
divided by $1.50 per share, which is the price that the shares were
simultaneously sold in a private placement as discussed below, or 6,996,342
shares. Had the notes not converted, the notes would have accrued interest
at an
annual rate of 12% beginning 120 days after issuance, which was the maturity
date of the notes.
Consistent
with the terms and conditions of the Units sold in the private placement (as
further discussed below under the heading “Private Placement” and in Note 6 to
the Notes to Financial Statements of our audited financial statements for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 in Part IV, Item 15 of this Annual Report),
the
convertible notes payable were issued with warrants to acquire 6,996,322 shares
of common stock at $1.50 per share.
Equity
Transactions
Units
Issued Pursuant to Regulation S
For
the
period from June 2006 through October 2006, we sold 18,133,500 Units for $0.50
per Unit, totaling gross proceeds of $9,066,750, pursuant to the exemption
from
registration of securities under the Securities Act of 1933 as provided by
Regulation S. Each Unit consisted of one share of common stock and a warrant
to
purchase one additional share of common stock.
For
8,850,000 Units, we paid no underwriting commissions. For 9,283,500 Units,
we
paid a cash commission of $232,088, equal to 5% of the proceeds from the units
and a stock-based commission of 464,175 shares of common stock, equal to 5%
of
the number of Units sold. The sum of the shares sold and the commission shares
aggregated 18,597,675. All warrants were originally exercisable for a period
of
two years from the date of issuance. During the first year, the exercise price
was $0.75 per share; during the second year, the exercise price was $1.00 per
share. The warrants are redeemable by us for no consideration upon 30 days
prior
notice. A portion of these warrants were modified as discussed
below.
Warrant
Modification –
Warrants Issued Pursuant to Regulation S
On
December 21, 2006, holders of 13,192,000 warrants issued pursuant to Regulation
S in a private placement from June through October 2006 agreed not to exercise
their right to acquire shares of common stock until we received stockholder
approval, which was obtained on March 30, 2007, to increase the number of our
authorized shares. Pursuant to this agreement, the exercise price of $0.75
per
share was extended by us through the second year. Terms for the remaining
4,941,500 warrants were unchanged.
On
December 21, 2006, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, as amended,
with institutional and individual accredited investors to effect a $79,500,000
private placement of shares of our common stock and other securities in multiple
closings. As part of this private placement, we raised an aggregate of
$79,405,418 and issued (i) 45,940,510 shares of common stock, (ii) promissory
notes that were convertible into 6,996,342 shares of common stock, and (iii)
warrants to purchase 52,936,832 shares of common stock. The warrants issued
to
investors in the private placement are exercisable during the five year period
beginning on the date we amended and restated our Articles of Incorporation
to
increase our authorized shares of common stock, which was March 30, 2007. The
notes issued in the private placement automatically converted into shares of
common stock on March 30, 2007. In conjunction with the private placement,
we
also used the services of placement agents and have issued warrants to purchase
3,633,313 shares of common stock to these agents or their designees. The
warrants issued to the placement agents or their designees are exercisable
during the two year period (warrants to purchase 2,187,580 shares of common
stock) or the five year period (warrants to purchase 1,445,733 shares of common
stock) beginning on the date we amended and restated our Articles of
Incorporation to increase our authorized shares of common stock, which was
March
30, 2007. All of the warrants issued in conjunction with the private placement
have an exercise price of $1.50 per share.
28
In
connection with the private placement, we also entered into a Registration
Rights Agreement with the investors in which we agreed to register for resale
the shares of common stock issued in the private placement as well as the shares
underlying the warrants and convertible notes issued in the private placement.
In fiscal year 2008 we paid liquidated damages in the form of shares of our
common stock pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement relating to these
registration provisions and other obligations, as described in Item 5 of this
Annual Report and in Note 6 to the Notes to Financial Statements of our audited
financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 in Part IV, Item
15, of this Annual Report.
Summary
of Warrants
We
have
19,140,405 warrants outstanding to acquire our common stock at an exercise
price
of $0.75 per share, all of which expire by October 18, 2008. The exercise of
the
full amount of these warrants, which is not assured, would add $14,355,304
to
our liquidity. In the longer term, the exercise of the remaining 56,820,165
warrants outstanding to acquire our common stock at an exercise price of $1.50
per share would add $85,230,247 to our liquidity, if all were exercised. These
options expire by March 30, 2012.
The
following is a summary of warrants as of March 31, 2008.
Warrants
|
Exercise
Price
|
Expiration
Date
|
|||||||||||
Warrants
issued in connection with the following:
|
|||||||||||||
Sale
of common stock pursuant to Regulation S
|
18,133,500
|
$
|
0.75
|
July 5, 2008 to October 18, 2008 | |||||||||
Conversion
of notes payable into common stock
|
1,006,905
|
$
|
0.75
|
July
19, 2008
|
|||||||||
Private
placement of common stock
|
45,940,510
|
$
|
1.50
|
March
30, 2012
|
|||||||||
Private
placement of convertible notes payable
|
6,996,322
|
$
|
1.50
|
March
30, 2012
|
|||||||||
Private
placement agent commissions
|
2,187,580
|
$
|
1.50
|
March
30, 2009
|
|||||||||
Private
placement agent commissions
|
1,445,733
|
$
|
1.50
|
March
30, 2012
|
|||||||||
Acquisition
of oil and gas properties
|
250,000
|
$
|
1.50
|
December
22, 2011
|
|||||||||
Total
warrants outstanding at March 31, 2008
|
75,960,550
|
Cash
Flows
The
following is a summary of our comparative cash flows:
|
For the Years Ended March 31,
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
Cash
flows from (used by):
|
|||||||
Operating
activities
|
$
|
(4,586,423
|
)
|
$
|
(2,285,430
|
)
|
|
Investing
activities
|
(4,681,280
|
)
|
(74,357,306
|
)
|
|||
Financing
activities
|
10,980,185
|
81,726,538
|
Analysis
of cash flow changes between 2008 and 2007
Cash
flows used for operating activities increased primarily as a result of increased
general and administrative expenses reflecting staffing increases to ready
the
fields for EOR activities, office rent, audit, accounting and other consulting
fees associated with SEC filings and increase level of operational
activity
Cash
flows used for investing activities in 2008 reflect expenditures on oil and
gas
assets to enhance production and preliminary studies and engineering relating
to
the planned CO2
pipeline
of $4,245,011 and $927,769 of other equipment and deposits. In addition we
received $491,500 of proceeds upon the disposition of idle oil field equipment
in the year. Cash flows used for investing activities in 2007 reflect
$47,073,657 in connection with the acquisition of the Cole Creek South and
South
Glenrock B Fields, and $25,672,638 in connection with the acquisition of the
Big
Muddy Field. We expended $841,993 for other oil and gas property capital
expenditures and $769,018 for other equipment.
29
Cash
flows provided by financing activities in 2008, $10,980,185, reflect net
proceeds after finance and offering costs of the short term debt issuance in
October 2007. Cash flows provided by financing activities reflect certain
private placements of equity securities aggregating net proceeds of $71,653,937.
In connection with the private placement of equity securities, we also received
net proceeds of $10,494,582 from the issuance of convertible notes payable
and
warrants to acquire shares of our common stock. The notes payable were converted
to equity on March 30, 2007.
The
following table sets forth certain historical information regarding costs
incurred in oil and gas property acquisition, exploration and development
activities, whether capitalized or expensed.
|
For the Year Ended March 31,
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
Exploration
|
$
|
223,564
|
$
|
333,919
|
|||
Development
|
4,758,783
|
-
|
|||||
Acquisitions:
|
|||||||
Unproved
|
43,088
|
56,813,516
|
|||||
Proved
|
-
|
18,552,188
|
|||||
Total
|
5,025,435
|
75,699,623
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Capitalized
costs associated with asset retirement obligations
|
$
|
213,756
|
$
|
1,191,837
|
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
Under
the
terms of the Term Credit Agreement entered into in October 2007 we were required
hedge a portion of our expected production and we entered into a costless collar
agreement for a portion of our anticipated future crude oil production. The
costless collar contains a fixed floor price (put) and ceiling price
(call). If the index price exceeds the call strike price or falls below the
put
strike price, we receive the fixed price and pay the market price. If the market
price is between the call and the put strike price, no payments are due from
either party. During the year ended March 31, 2008 we reflected realized losses
of $184,535 and unrecognized losses of $771,607 from the hedging activity.
We
have
no other off-balance sheet financing nor do we have any unconsolidated
subsidiaries.
We
are
engaged in the exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition, and
production of natural gas and crude oil. Our discussion of financial condition
and results of operations is based upon the information reported in our
financial statements. The preparation of these financial statements requires
us
to make assumptions and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets,
liabilities, revenues, and expenses as well as the disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities as of the date of our financial statements. We base
our
decisions, which affect the estimates we use, on historical experience and
various other sources that are believed to be reasonable under the
circumstances. Actual results may differ from the estimates we calculate due
to
changing business conditions or unexpected circumstances. Policies we believe
are critical to understanding our business operations and results of operations
are detailed below. For additional information on our significant accounting
policies see Note 1—Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,
Note 3—Asset Retirement Obligations, and Note 9—Disclosures About Oil and Gas
Producing Activities to the Notes to Financial Statements of our audited
financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 in Part IV, Item
15, of this Annual Report.
30
Oil
and Gas reserve quantities.
Estimated reserve quantities and the related estimates of future net cash flows
are the most important estimates for an exploration and production company
because they affect our perceived value, are used in comparative financial
analysis ratios and are used as the basis for the most significant accounting
estimates in our financial statements. This includes the periodic calculations
of depletion, depreciation, and impairment for our proved oil and gas assets.
Proved oil and gas reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural
gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate
with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future periods from known
reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. Future cash inflows
and future production and development costs are determined by applying benchmark
prices and costs, including transportation, quality, and basis differentials,
in
effect at the end of each period to the estimated quantities of oil and gas
remaining to be produced as of the end of that period. Expected cash flows
are
reduced to present value using a discount rate that depends upon the purpose
for
which the reserve estimates will be used. For example, the standardized measure
calculation required by SFAS No.69, Disclosures About Oil and Gas Producing
Activities, requires a 10% discount rate to be applied. Although reserve
estimates are inherently imprecise and estimates of new discoveries and
undeveloped locations are more imprecise than those of established producing
oil
and gas properties, we make a considerable effort in estimating our reserves,
which are prepared by independent reserve engineering consultants. We expect
that periodic reserve estimates will change in the future as additional
information becomes available or as oil and gas prices and operating and capital
costs change. We evaluate and estimate our oil and gas reserves at March 31
of
each year. For purposes of depletion, depreciation, and impairment, reserve
quantities are adjusted at all interim periods for the estimated impact of
additions and dispositions. Changes in depletion, depreciation, or impairment
calculations caused by changes in reserve quantities or net cash flows are
recorded in the period that the reserve estimates change.
Revenue
recognition.
Our
revenue recognition policy is significant because revenue is a key component
of
our results of operations and our forward-looking statements contained in our
analysis of liquidity and capital resources. We derive our revenue primarily
from the sale of produced crude oil. We report revenue as the gross amounts
we
receive for our net revenue interest before taking into account production
taxes
and transportation costs, which are reported as separate expenses. Revenue
is
recorded in the month our production is delivered to the purchaser, but payment
is generally received between 30 and 90 days after the date of production.
No
revenue is recognized unless it is determined that title to the product has
transferred to a purchaser. At the end of each month we make estimates of the
amount of production delivered to the purchaser and the price we will receive.
We use our knowledge of our properties, their historical performance, the
anticipated effect of weather conditions during the month of production, NYMEX
and local spot market prices, and other factors as the basis for these
estimates. Variances between our estimates and the actual amounts received
are
recorded in the month payment is received.
Asset
retirement obligations.
We are
required to recognize an estimated liability for future costs associated with
the abandonment of our oil and gas properties. We base our estimate of the
liability on our historical experience in abandoning oil and gas wells projected
into the future based on our current understanding of Federal and state
regulatory requirements. Our present value calculations require us to estimate
the economic lives of our properties, assume what future inflation rates apply
to external estimates and determine what credit adjusted risk-free rate to
use.
The statement of operations impact of these estimates is reflected in our
depreciation, depletion, and amortization and accretion calculations and occurs
over the remaining life of our oil and gas properties.
Valuation
of long-lived and intangible assets.
Our
property and equipment is recorded at cost. An impairment allowance is provided
on unproved property when we determine that the property will not be developed
or the carrying value will not be realized. We evaluate the realizability of
our
proved properties and other long-lived assets whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that impairment may be appropriate. Our impairment test
compares the expected undiscounted future net revenues from a property, using
escalated pricing, with the related net capitalized costs of the property at
the
end of each period. When the net capitalized costs exceed the undiscounted
future net revenue of a property, the cost of the property is written down
to
our estimate of fair value, which is determined by applying a discount rate
that
we believe is indicative of the current market. Our criteria for an acceptable
internal rate of return are subject to change over time. Different pricing
assumptions or discount rates could result in a different calculated
impairment.
31
Stock-based
compensation.
As of
April 1, 2006, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No.123(R). This statement
requires us to record expense associated with the fair value of stock-based
compensation. As a result of adoption of this statement, we recorded
compensation expense associated with stock options totaling $1,501,908 under
the
modified-prospective adoption method
Commodity
Derivatives. The
Company accounts for derivative instruments or hedging activities under the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No.133,
“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. SFASNo.133
requires the Company to record derivative instruments at their fair value.
The
Company’s risk management strategy is to enter into commodity derivatives that
set “price floors” and “price ceilings” for its crude oil production. The
objective is to reduce the Company’s exposure to commodity price risk associated
with expected crude oil production.
The
Company has elected not to designate the commodity derivatives to which they
are
a party as cash flow hedges, and accordingly, such contracts are recorded at
fair value on its consolidated balance sheets and changes in such fair value
are
recognized in current earnings as income or expense as they occur.
The
Company does not hold or issue commodity derivatives for speculative or trading
purposes. The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance
by the counterparty to its commodity derivatives. It is anticipated, however,
that its counterparty will be able to fully satisfy its obligations under the
commodity derivatives contracts. The Company does not obtain collateral or
other
security to support its commodity derivatives contracts subject to credit risk
but does monitor the credit standing of the counterparty. The
price
we receive for production in our three fields is indexed to Wyoming Sweet crude
oil posted price. The
Company has not hedged the basis differential between the NYMEX price and the
Wyoming Sweet price.
Commodity
Price Risk
Because
of our relatively low level of current oil and gas production, we are not
exposed to a great degree of market risk relating to the pricing applicable
to
our oil production. However, our ability to raise additional capital at
attractive pricing, our future revenues from oil and gas operations, our future
profitability and future rate of growth depend substantially upon the market
prices of oil and natural gas, which fluctuate widely. With increases to our
production, exposure to this risk will become more significant. We expect
commodity price volatility to continue. Under the terms of our Term Credit
Agreement we entered into in October 2007, we were required hedge a portion
of
our expected future production.
Our
Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data required by this Item
8
are set forth following the signature page and exhibit index of this Annual
Report and are incorporated herein by reference.
There
were no “disagreements” (as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of
Regulation S-K) with Williams & Webster P.S. at any time during the fiscal
years ended March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2006 and through July 31, 2006
regarding any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures that if not resolved to the
satisfaction of Williams & Webster P.S. would have caused it to make
reference to such disagreements in its reports.
32
The
reports of Williams & Webster P.S. on our financial statements for the years
March 31, 2005 and 2006 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer
of opinion and were not modified as to audit scope or accounting principles.
However, the reports did contain an explanatory paragraph related to the
uncertainty about our ability to continue as a going concern. There are no
other
“reportable events” (as such term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v)(A) through (D)
of Regulation S-K and its related instructions) in context of our relationship
with Williams & Webster P.S. during the relevant periods.
During
each of the fiscal years ended March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2006 and through
July 31, 2006, neither we nor anyone on our behalf consulted with Hein
& Associates, LLP with respect to any accounting or auditing issues
involving us. In particular, there was no discussion with us regarding the
type
of audit opinion that might be rendered on our financial statements, the
application of accounting principles applied to a specified transaction, or
any
matter that was the subject of a disagreement or a “reportable event” as defined
in Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K and its related instructions.
Williams
& Webster P.S. previously reviewed the above disclosures that were
included in a Form 8-K filing made by us in 2006. In 2006, Williams &
Webster P.S. furnished us with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), which was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on August 10, 2006 and is
incorporated herein by reference in accordance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation
S-K.
ITEM 9A(T). |
Controls
and Procedures.
We
conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of
our
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer,
of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls
and
procedures. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(Exchange Act), means controls and other procedures of a company that are
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company
in
the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities
and
Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures also
include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files
or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the
company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial
officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow
timely decisions regarding required disclosure. We identified a material
weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and, as a result
of
this material weakness, we concluded as of March 31, 2008 that our disclosure
controls and procedures were not effective.
Management’s
Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting
(as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) is defined as a process
designed by, or under the supervision of, a company’s principal executive and
financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by
a
company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in
accordance with generally acceptable accounting principles and includes those
policies and procedures that:
a)
|
pertain
to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately
and
fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of
the
company;
|
b)
|
provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the
company
are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management
and
directors of the company; and
|
c)
|
provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the company’s assets that
could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
|
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may
not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
33
Management
assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting as of March 31, 2008. In making this assessment, management used
the
criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO) in Internal
Control-Integrated Framework.
A
material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control
deficiencies, that result in more than a remote likelihood that a material
misstatement of annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented
or
detected. As of March 31, 2008, the Company identified the following material
weakness:
We
did not adequately segregate the duties of different personnel within our
Accounting Department due to an insufficient complement of staff and inadequate
management oversight.
We
have
limited accounting personnel with sufficient expertise in generally accepted
accounting principles to enable effective segregation of duties with respect
to
recording journal entries and to allow for appropriate monitoring of financial
reporting matters and internal control over financial reporting. Specifically,
the Chief Accounting Officer has involvement in the creation and review of
journal entries and note disclosures without adequate independent review and
authorization. This control deficiency is pervasive in nature and impacts all
significant accounts. This control deficiency also affects the financial
reporting process including financial statement preparation and the related
note
disclosures.
As
a
result of the aforementioned material weakness, management concluded that the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2008 was not
effective.
Management’s
Corrective Actions
In
relation to the material weakness identified above, and subject to obtaining
permanent financing, our management and the board of directors intend to work
to
remediate the risk of a material misstatement in financial reporting. We intend
to implement the following plan to address the risk of a material misstatement
in the financial statements:
·
|
Engage
qualified third-party accountants and consultants to assist us in
the
preparation and review of our financial
information,
|
·
|
Ensure
employees, third-party accountants and consultants who are performing
controls understand responsibilities and how to perform said
responsibilities, and
|
·
|
Consult
with qualified third-party accountants and consultants on the appropriate
application of generally accepted accounting principles for complex
and
non-routine transactions.
|
Auditors
Attestation
This
annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered
public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered
public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report
in this annual report.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during
the
most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
ITEM 9B. |
None.
ITEM 10. |
DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE
|
Information
required by this Item with respect to the Company’s directors, executive
officers, certain family relationships, and compliance by the Company’s
directors, executive officers and certain beneficial owners of the Company’s
common stock with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is incorporated by
reference to all information under the captions entitled “Directors, Officers
and Corporate Governance” and “Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
Act of 1934” from our Proxy Statement relating to our 2008 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (“Proxy Statement”).
34
The
information regarding our Audit Committee, including our audit committee
financial expert, and our director nomination process is incorporated herein
by
reference to all information under the caption entitled “Audit Committee”
included in our Proxy Statement.
We
have
adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers, and
Employees. We undertake to provide any person, without charge, a copy of the
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. Requests should be submitted in writing
to
the attention of our Chief Accounting Officer, Rancher Energy Corp.,
999-18th Street, Suite 3400, Denver, Colorado 80202.
ITEM 11. |
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
|
The
information required by Item 11 is hereby incorporated herein by reference
to
the information under the caption “Executive Compensation” included in the Proxy
Statement.
ITEM 12. |
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
|
The
information required by Item 12, as to certain beneficial owners and management,
is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the information under the caption
“Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers” included in the Proxy
Statement.
ITEM 13. |
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE
|
The
information required by Item 13 is hereby incorporated herein by reference
to
the information under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions” and “Director Independence” included in the definitive Proxy
Statement for our 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
ITEM 14. |
PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTING FEES AND
SERVICES
|
The
information required by Item 14 is hereby incorporated herein by reference
to
the information under “Proposal #2 - Ratification of the Appointment of
Independent Registered Accountant” included in the Proxy Statement.
PART
IV
ITEM 15. |
EXHIBITS,
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULES
|
(a) Documents
filed as a part of the report:
(1)
|
Index
to Consolidated Financial Statements of the
Company
|
An
“Index
to Consolidated Financial Statements” has been filed as a part of this Report
beginning on page F-1 hereof.
(2)
|
All
schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting
regulation of the SEC have been omitted because of the absence of
the
conditions under which they would be required or because the information
required is included in the consolidated financial statements of
the
Registrant or the notes thereto.
|
(3)
|
Exhibits
|
Exhibit
|
|
Description
|
3.1
|
|
Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation (1)
|
3.2
|
|
Articles
of Correction (2)
|
3.3
|
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws (3)
|
4.1
|
|
Form
of Stock Certificate for Fully Paid, Non-Assessable Common Stock
of the
Company (4)
|
4.2
|
|
Form
of Unit Purchase Agreement (3)
|
4.3
|
|
Form
of Warrant Certificate (3)
|
35
Exhibit
|
|
Description
|
4.4
|
|
Form
of Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 21, 2006
(5)
|
4.5
|
|
Form
of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (5)
|
10.1
|
|
Burke
Ranch Unit Purchase and Participation Agreement between Hot Springs
Resources Ltd. and PIN Petroleum Partners Ltd., dated February 6,
2006
(6)
|
10.2
|
|
Employment
Agreement between John Works and Rancher Energy Corp., dated June 1,
2006 (7)
|
10.3
|
|
Assignment
Agreement between PIN Petroleum Partners Ltd. and Rancher Energy
Corp.,
dated June 6, 2006 (7)
|
10.4
|
|
Loan
Agreement between Enerex Capital Corp. and Rancher Energy Corp.,
dated
June 6, 2006 (7)
|
10.5
|
|
Letter
Agreement between NITEC LLC and Rancher Energy Corp., dated June 7,
2006 (7)
|
10.6
|
|
Loan
Agreement between Venture Capital First LLC and Rancher Energy Corp.,
dated June 9, 2006 (8)
|
10.7
|
|
Exploration
and Development Agreement between Big Snowy Resources, LP and Rancher
Energy Corp., dated June 15, 2006 (7)
|
10.8
|
|
Assignment
Agreement between PIN Petroleum Partners Ltd. and Rancher Energy
Corp.,
dated June 21, 2006 (7)
|
10.9
|
|
Purchase
and Sale Agreement between Wyoming Mineral Exploration, LLC and Rancher
Energy Corp., dated August 10, 2006 (6)
|
10.10
|
|
South
Glenrock and South Cole Creek Purchase and Sale Agreement by and
between
Nielson & Associates, Inc. and Rancher Energy Corp., dated
October 1, 2006 (9)
|
10.11
|
|
Rancher
Energy Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
(9)
|
10.12
|
|
Rancher
Energy Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan Form of Option Agreement
(9)
|
10.13
|
|
Denver
Place Office Lease between Rancher Energy Corp. and Denver Place
Associates Limited Partnership, dated October 30, 2006 (10)
|
10.14
|
|
Finder’s
Fee Agreement between Falcon Capital and Rancher Energy Corp. (11)
|
10.15
|
|
Amendment
to Purchase and Sale Agreement between Wyoming Mineral Exploration,
LLC
and Rancher Energy Corp. (12)
|
10.16
|
|
Letter
Agreement between Certain Unit Holders and Rancher Energy Corp.,
dated
December 8, 2006 (3)
|
10.17
|
|
Letter
Agreement between Certain Option Holders and Rancher Energy Corp.,
dated
December 13, 2006
(3)
|
10.18
|
|
Product
Sale and Purchase Contract by and between Rancher Energy Corp. and
the
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, dated December 15, 2006 (13)
|
10.19
|
|
Amendment
to Purchase and Sale Agreement between Nielson & Associates, Inc. and
Rancher Energy Corp. (14)
|
10.18
|
|
Securities
Purchase Agreement by and among Rancher Energy Corp. and the Buyers
identified therein, dated December 21, 2006 (5)
|
10.19
|
|
Lock-Up
Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and Stockholders identified
therein, dated December 21, 2006 (5)
|
10.20
|
|
Voting
Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and Stockholders identified
therein, dated as of December 13, 2006 (5)
|
10.21
|
|
Form
of Convertible Note (15)
|
10.22
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Daniel Foley and Rancher Energy Corp., dated
January 12, 2007 (16)
|
10.23
|
|
First
Amendment to Securities Purchase Agreement by and among Rancher Energy
Corp. and the Buyers identified therein, dated as of January 18, 2007
(17)
|
10.24
|
|
Rancher
Energy Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Agreement
(18)
|
10.25
|
|
First
Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between John Works and Rancher
Energy Corp., dated March 14, 2007 (19)
|
10.26
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Richard Kurtenbach and Rancher Energy Corp., dated
August 3, 2007(20)
|
10.27
|
|
Term
Credit Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and GasRock Capital
LLC,
dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.28
|
|
Term
Note made by Rancher Energy Corp. in favor of GasRock Capital LLC,
dated
October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.29
|
|
Mortgage,
Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production
and
Revenues from Rancher Energy Corp. to GasRock Capital LLC, dated
as of
October 16, 2007 (22)
|
10.30
|
|
Security
Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and GasRock Capital LLC, dated
as
of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.31
|
|
Conveyance
of Overriding Royalty Interest by Rancher Energy Corp. in favor of
GasRock
Capital LLC, dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.32
|
|
ISDA
Master Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and BP Corporation
North
America Inc., dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.33
|
|
Restricted
Account and Securities Account Control Agreement by and among Rancher
Energy Corp., GasRock Capital LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.34
|
|
Intercreditor
Agreement by and among Rancher Energy Corp., GasRock Capital LLC,
and BP
Corporation North America Inc., dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.35
|
|
First
Amendment to Denver Place Office lease between Rancher Energy Corp.
and
Denver Place Associates Limited Partnership, dated March 6, 2007
(19)
|
10.36
|
|
Carbon
Dioxide Sale & Purchase Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and
ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company, dated effective as of
February 1, 2008 (Certain portions of this agreement have been redacted
and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to a Confidential Treatment Request). (22)
|
23.1
|
Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P., Independent Petroleum Engineers.* |
36
Exhibit
|
|
Description
|
31.1
|
|
Certification
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) (Chief Executive
Officer)*
|
31.2
|
|
Certification
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) (Chief Accounting
Officer)*
|
32.1
|
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
|
32.2
|
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
|
*
Filed
herewith.
(1)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 3,
2007.
|
(2)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September
30, 2007.
|
(3)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 18, 2006.
|
(4)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Form SB-2 Registration Statement filed on
June 9, 2004.
|
(5)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 27, 2006.
|
(6)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A filed on
August 28, 2006.
|
(7)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on June 30,
2006.
|
(8)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 21,
2006.
|
(9)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 6,
2006.
|
(10)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 9,
2006.
|
|
|
||
(11)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on
November 14, 2006.
|
|
(12)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4,
2006.
|
|
|
||
(13)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 22, 2006.
|
|
|
||
(14)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 27, 2006.
|
|
|
||
(15)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8,
2007.
|
|
|
||
(16)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16,
2007.
|
|
|
||
(17)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 25,
2007.
|
|
|
||
(18)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on June 29,
2007.
|
|
|
||
(19)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 20,
2007.
|
|
|
||
(20)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August
7,
2007.
|
|
(21)
|
Incorporated by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2007. |
(22)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February
14,
2008.
|
37
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, this 30th
day of
June, 2007.
RANCHER
ENERGY CORP.
|
/s/
John Works
|
John
Works, President, Chief Executive Officer,
Principal
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer,
Principal
Financial Officer, Director, Secretary,
and
Treasurer
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Annual Report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant
and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
/s/
John Works
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer,
|
|||
John
Works
|
Principal
Executive Officer, Director,
Secretary,
and Treasurer
|
June 30,
2008
|
||
/s/
Richard E. Kurtenbach
|
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
|||
Richard
E. Kurtenbach
|
June
30, 2008
|
|||
/s/
William A. Anderson
|
||||
William
A. Anderson
|
Director
|
June
27, 2008
|
||
/s/
Joseph P. McCoy
|
||||
Joseph
P. McCoy
|
Director
|
June
27, 2008
|
||
/s/
Patrick M. Murray
|
||||
Patrick
M. Murray
|
Director
|
June
30, 2008
|
||
/s/
Myron M. Sheinfeld
|
||||
Myron
M. Sheinfeld
|
Director
|
June
27, 2008
|
||
/s/
Mark Worthey
|
||||
Mark
Worthey
|
Director
|
June
28, 2008
|
38
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
|
|
Description
|
3.1
|
|
Amended
and Restated Articles of Incorporation (1)
|
3.2
|
|
Articles
of Correction (2)
|
3.3
|
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws (3)
|
4.1
|
|
Form
of Stock Certificate for Fully Paid, Non-Assessable Common Stock
of the
Company (4)
|
4.2
|
|
Form
of Unit Purchase Agreement (3)
|
4.3
|
|
Form
of Warrant Certificate (3)
|
4.4
|
|
Form
of Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 21, 2006
(5)
|
4.5
|
|
Form
of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (5)
|
10.1
|
|
Burke
Ranch Unit Purchase and Participation Agreement between Hot Springs
Resources Ltd. and PIN Petroleum Partners Ltd., dated February 6,
2006
(6)
|
10.2
|
|
Employment
Agreement between John Works and Rancher Energy Corp., dated June 1,
2006 (7)
|
10.3
|
|
Assignment
Agreement between PIN Petroleum Partners Ltd. and Rancher Energy
Corp.,
dated June 6, 2006 (7)
|
10.4
|
|
Loan
Agreement between Enerex Capital Corp. and Rancher Energy Corp.,
dated
June 6, 2006 (7)
|
10.5
|
|
Letter
Agreement between NITEC LLC and Rancher Energy Corp., dated June 7,
2006 (7)
|
10.6
|
|
Loan
Agreement between Venture Capital First LLC and Rancher Energy Corp.,
dated June 9, 2006 (8)
|
10.7
|
|
Exploration
and Development Agreement between Big Snowy Resources, LP and Rancher
Energy Corp., dated June 15, 2006 (7)
|
10.8
|
|
Assignment
Agreement between PIN Petroleum Partners Ltd. and Rancher Energy
Corp.,
dated June 21, 2006 (7)
|
10.9
|
|
Purchase
and Sale Agreement between Wyoming Mineral Exploration, LLC and Rancher
Energy Corp., dated August 10, 2006 (6)
|
10.10
|
|
South
Glenrock and South Cole Creek Purchase and Sale Agreement by and
between
Nielson & Associates, Inc. and Rancher Energy Corp., dated
October 1, 2006 (9)
|
10.11
|
|
Rancher
Energy Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
(9)
|
10.12
|
|
Rancher
Energy Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan Form of Option Agreement
(9)
|
10.13
|
|
Denver
Place Office Lease between Rancher Energy Corp. and Denver Place
Associates Limited Partnership, dated October 30, 2006 (10)
|
10.14
|
|
Finder’s
Fee Agreement between Falcon Capital and Rancher Energy Corp. (11)
|
10.15
|
|
Amendment
to Purchase and Sale Agreement between Wyoming Mineral Exploration,
LLC
and Rancher Energy Corp. (12)
|
10.16
|
|
Letter
Agreement between Certain Unit Holders and Rancher Energy Corp.,
dated
December 8, 2006 (3)
|
10.17
|
|
Letter
Agreement between Certain Option Holders and Rancher Energy Corp.,
dated
December 13, 2006
(3)
|
10.18
|
|
Product
Sale and Purchase Contract by and between Rancher Energy Corp. and
the
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, dated December 15, 2006 (13)
|
10.19
|
|
Amendment
to Purchase and Sale Agreement between Nielson & Associates, Inc. and
Rancher Energy Corp. (14)
|
10.18
|
|
Securities
Purchase Agreement by and among Rancher Energy Corp. and the Buyers
identified therein, dated December 21, 2006 (5)
|
10.19
|
|
Lock-Up
Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and Stockholders identified
therein, dated December 21, 2006 (5)
|
10.20
|
|
Voting
Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and Stockholders identified
therein, dated as of December 13, 2006 (5)
|
10.21
|
|
Form
of Convertible Note (15)
|
10.22
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Daniel Foley and Rancher Energy Corp., dated
January 12, 2007 (16)
|
10.23
|
|
First
Amendment to Securities Purchase Agreement by and among Rancher Energy
Corp. and the Buyers identified therein, dated as of January 18, 2007
(17)
|
10.24
|
|
Rancher
Energy Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan Form of Restricted Stock Agreement
(18)
|
10.25
|
|
First
Amendment to Employment Agreement by and between John Works and Rancher
Energy Corp., dated March 14, 2007 (19)
|
10.26
|
|
Employment
Agreement between Richard Kurtenbach and Rancher Energy Corp., dated
August 3, 2007(20)
|
10.27
|
|
Term
Credit Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and GasRock Capital
LLC,
dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.28
|
|
Term
Note made by Rancher Energy Corp. in favor of GasRock Capital LLC,
dated
October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.29
|
|
Mortgage,
Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Assignment of Production
and
Revenues from Rancher Energy Corp. to GasRock Capital LLC, dated
as of
October 16, 2007 (22)
|
10.30
|
|
Security
Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and GasRock Capital LLC, dated
as
of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.31
|
|
Conveyance
of Overriding Royalty Interest by Rancher Energy Corp. in favor of
GasRock
Capital LLC, dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.32
|
|
ISDA
Master Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and BP Corporation
North
America Inc., dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.33
|
|
Restricted
Account and Securities Account Control Agreement by and among Rancher
Energy Corp., GasRock Capital LLC, and Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
Exhibit
|
|
Description
|
10.34
|
|
Intercreditor
Agreement by and among Rancher Energy Corp., GasRock Capital LLC,
and BP
Corporation North America Inc., dated as of October 16, 2007 (21)
|
10.35
|
|
First
Amendment to Denver Place Office lease between Rancher Energy Corp.
and
Denver Place Associates Limited Partnership, dated March 6, 2007
(19)
|
10.36
|
|
Carbon
Dioxide Sale & Purchase Agreement between Rancher Energy Corp. and
ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company, dated effective as of
February 1, 2008 (Certain portions of this agreement have been redacted
and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to a Confidential Treatment Request). (22)
|
23.1
|
Consent of Ryder Scott Company, L.P., Independent Petroleum Engineers.* | |
31.1
|
|
Certification
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) (Chief Executive
Officer)*
|
31.2
|
|
Certification
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) (Chief Accounting
Officer)*
|
32.1
|
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
|
32.2
|
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
|
*
Filed
herewith.
(1)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 3,
2007.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September
30, 2007.
|
(3)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 18, 2006.
|
(4)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Form SB-2 Registration Statement filed on
June 9, 2004.
|
|
|
(5)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 27, 2006.
|
(6)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A filed on
August 28, 2006.
|
(7)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on June 30,
2006.
|
(8)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 21,
2006.
|
(9)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 6,
2006.
|
(10)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 9,
2006.
|
(11)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on
November 14, 2006.
|
(12)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 4,
2006.
|
(13)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 22, 2006.
|
(14)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 27, 2006.
|
(15)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8,
2007.
|
(16)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16,
2007.
|
|
|
(17)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 25,
2007.
|
(18)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on June 29,
2007.
|
(19)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 20,
2007.
|
(20)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August
7,
2007.
|
(21)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October
17,
2007.
|
(22)
|
Incorporated
by reference from our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February
14,
2008.
|
INDEX
TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Audited
Financial Statements - Rancher Energy Corp.
|
|
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-2
|
|
|
Balance
Sheets as of March 31, 2008 and 2007
|
F-3
|
|
|
Statements
of Operations for the Years Ended March 31, 2008 and
2007
|
F-4
|
|
|
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the Years Ended
March 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006
|
F-5
|
|
|
Statements
of Cash Flows for the Years Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
|
F-6
|
|
|
Notes
to Financial Statements
|
F-7
|
|
|
Audited
Carve Out Financial Statements - Cole Creek South and South Glenrock
Operations
|
|
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-25
|
Carve
Out Statement of Operations for the Period from January 1, 2006 to
December
21, 2006
|
F-26
|
Carve
Out Statement of Changes in Owner’s Net Investment for the Period December
31, 2005
to December 21, 2006
|
F-27
|
Carve
Out Statement of Cash Flows for the Period January 1, 2006 to December
21,
2006
|
F-28
|
|
|
Notes
to Carve Out Financial Statements
|
F-29
|
F-1
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Rancher
Energy Corp.
We
have
audited the accompanying balance sheets of Rancher Energy Corp. (the “Company”)
as of March 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related statements of operations, changes
in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on
our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we
plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining,
on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Rancher Energy Corp. as of March
31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for
the
years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
We
were
not engaged to examine management’s assertion about the effectiveness of Rancher
Energy Corp.’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2008
included in the accompanying Management
Report on Internal Controls and,
accordingly, we do not express an opinion thereon.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company
will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial
statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and will
require significant additional funding to repay its short-term debt and for
planned oil and gas development operations. These factors raise substantial
doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s
plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome
of
this uncertainty.
HEIN &
ASSOCIATES LLP
Denver,
Colorado
June
27,
2008
F-2
Balance
Sheets
|
March 31,
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
ASSETS
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
Current
assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
6,842,365
|
$
|
5,129,883
|
|||
Accounts
receivable and prepaid expenses
|
1,170,641
|
453,709
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
8,013,006
|
5,583,592
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Oil
and gas properties (successful efforts method):
|
|||||||
Unproved
|
54,058,073
|
56,533,934
|
|||||
Proved
|
20,734,143
|
18,552,188
|
|||||
Less:
Accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization
|
(1,531,619
|
)
|
(347,821
|
)
|
|||
Net
oil and gas properties
|
73,260,597
|
74,738,301
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Furniture
and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $204,420 and $27,880
respectively
|
997,196
|
513,556
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
1,300,382
|
642,582
|
|||||
Total
other assets
|
2,297,578
|
1,156,138
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
83,571,181
|
$
|
81,478,031
|
|||
|
|||||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
$
|
2,114,204
|
$
|
1,542,840
|
|||
Accrued
oil and gas property costs
|
250,000
|
250,000
|
|||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
337,685
|
196,000
|
|||||
Liquidated
damages pursuant to registration rights arrangement
|
-
|
2,705,531
|
|||||
Derivative
liability
|
590,480
|
-
|
|||||
Note
payable, net of unamortized discount of $2,527,550
|
9,712,450
|
-
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
13,004,819
|
4,694,371
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Long-term
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Derivative
liability
|
246.553
|
-
|
|||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
922,166
|
1,025,567
|
|||||
Total
long-term liabilities
|
1,168,719
|
1,025,567
|
|||||
Commitments
and contingencies (Note 5)
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
Stockholders’
equity:
|
|||||||
Common
stock, $0.00001 par value, 275,000,000 and 100,000,000 shares authorized
at March 31, 2008 and 2007 ; 114,878,341 and 102,041,432 shares
issued and outstanding at March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively
|
1,150
|
1,021
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
91,790,181
|
84,985,934
|
|||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(22,393,688
|
)
|
(
9,228,862
|
)
|
|||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
69,397,643
|
75,758,093
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
$
|
83,571,181
|
$
|
81,478,031
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-3
Rancher
Energy Corp.
Statements
of Operations
For
the Years Ended March 31,
|
|||||||
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
||||
Revenue:
|
|||||||
Oil
and gas sales
|
$
|
6,344,414
|
$
|
1,161,819
|
|||
Losses
on derivative activities
|
(956,142
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Total
revenues
|
5,388,272
|
1,161,819
|
|||||
Operating
expenses:
|
|||||||
Production
taxes
|
772,010
|
136,305
|
|||||
Lease
operating expenses
|
2,906,210
|
668,457
|
|||||
Depreciation,
depletion, and amortization
|
1,360,737
|
375,701
|
|||||
Impairment
of unproved properties
|
-
|
734,383
|
|||||
Accretion
expense
|
121,740
|
29,730
|
|||||
Exploration
expense
|
223,564
|
333,919
|
|||||
General
and administrative
|
7,538,242
|
4,512,427
|
|||||
Total operating expenses
|
12,922,503
|
6,790,922
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Loss
from operations
|
(7,534,231
|
)
|
(5,629,103
|
)
|
|||
|
|||||||
Other
income (expense):
|
|||||||
Liquidated
damages pursuant to registration rights arrangement
|
(2,645,393
|
)
|
(
2,705,531
|
)
|
|||
Amortization
of deferred financing costs and discount on note payable
|
(2,423,389
|
)
|
(
537,822
|
)
|
|||
Interest
expense
|
(794,693
|
)
|
(37,647
|
)
|
|||
Interest
and other income
|
232,880
|
207,848
|
|||||
Total other income (expense)
|
(5,630,595
|
)
|
(
3,073,152
|
)
|
|||
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(13,164,826
|
) |
$
|
(
8,702,255
|
)
|
|
|
|||||||
Basic
and diluted net loss per share
|
$
|
(0.12
|
)
|
$
|
(0.16
|
)
|
|
|
|||||||
Basic
and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
109,942,627
|
53,782,291
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-4
Rancher
Energy Corp.
Statement
of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Additional
Paid-
In
Capital
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
|
|||||||||
Balance,
March 31, 2006
|
28,500,000
|
285
|
570,809
|
(526,607
|
)
|
44,487
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for cash, net of offering costs of $529,749
|
17,075,221
|
171
|
8,106,967
|
-
|
8,107,138
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Common
stock issued on conversion of note payable
|
1,006,905
|
10
|
503,443
|
-
|
503,453
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Common
stock issued on exercise of stock options
|
1,000,000
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for cash, net of offering costs of $41,212
|
1,522,454
|
15
|
720,001
|
-
|
720,016
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Warrants
issued in exchange for acquisition of oil and gas
properties
|
-
|
-
|
616,140
|
-
|
616,140
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for cash, net of offering costs of $6,054,063
|
45,940,510
|
460
|
62,856,243
|
-
|
62,856,703
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Common
stock issued for conversion of notes payable, net of offering costs
of
$384,159
|
6,996,342
|
70
|
10,110,423
|
-
|
10,110,493
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
-
|
1,501,908
|
-
|
1,501,908
|
|||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(
8,702,255
|
)
|
(
8,702,255
|
)
|
|||||||||
Balance,
March 31, 2007
|
102,041,432
|
$
|
1,021
|
$
|
84,985,934
|
$
|
(
9,228,862
|
)
|
$
|
75,758,093
|
||||||
Common
stock issued pursuant to registration rights agreement
|
9,731,569
|
97
|
5,463,315
|
-
|
5,463,412
|
|||||||||||
Common
stock issued on exercise of stock options
|
1,750,000
|
18
|
-
|
-
|
18
|
|||||||||||
Common
stock issued to directors for services rendered
|
1,248,197
|
13
|
503,787
|
-
|
503,800
|
|||||||||||
Common
stock issued to non-employee consultant for services
rendered
|
107,143
|
1
|
112,499
|
-
|
112,500
|
|||||||||||
Offering
costs incurred pursuant to registration rights agreement
|
-
|
-
|
(300,365
|
)
|
-
|
(300,365
|
)
|
|||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
-
|
1,025,011
|
-
|
1,025,011
|
|||||||||||
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(
13,164,826
|
)
|
(
13,164,826
|
)
|
|||||||||
Balance
March 31, 2008
|
114,878,341
|
$
|
1,150
|
$
|
91,790,181
|
$
|
(22,393,688
|
)
|
$
|
69,397,643
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-5
Rancher
Energy Corp.
Statements
of Cash Flows
For
the Years Ended March 31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(13,164,826
|
)
|
$
|
(
8,702,255
|
)
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used for operating
activities:
|
|||||||
Liquidated
damages pursuant to registration rights arrangements
|
2,645,393
|
2,705,531
|
|||||
Imputed
interest on registration rights arrangement payments
|
112,489
|
-
|
|||||
Depreciation,
depletion, and amortization
|
1,360,737
|
375,701
|
|||||
Impairment
of unproved properties
|
-
|
734,383
|
|||||
Accretion
expense
|
121,740
|
29,730
|
|||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
(278,739
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
1,025,011
|
1,501,908
|
|||||
Amortization
of deferred financing costs and discount on notes payable
|
2,423,389
|
537,822
|
|||||
Unrealized
losses on crude oil hedges
|
771,607
|
-
|
|||||
Services
exchanged for common stock, directors
|
503,800
|
-
|
|||||
Services
exchanged for common stock, non-employee
|
112,500
|
-
|
|||||
Interest
expense on convertible note payable beneficial conversion
|
-
|
30,000
|
|||||
Interest
expense on debt converted to equity
|
-
|
3,453
|
|||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
receivable and prepaid expenses
|
(102,374
|
)
|
(453,709
|
) | |||
Other
assets
|
(484,561
|
)
|
(588,764
|
) | |||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
367,411
|
1,540,770
|
|||||
Net cash used for operating activities
|
(4,586,423
|
)
|
(2,285,430
|
)
|
|||
|
|||||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|||||||
Acquisition
of oil and gas properties
|
-
|
(72,746,295
|
) | ||||
Capital
expenditures for oil and gas properties
|
(4,245,011
|
)
|
(841,993
|
) | |||
Proceeds
from conveyance of unproved oil and gas properties
|
491,500
|
-
|
|||||
Increase
in other assets
|
(927,769
|
)
|
(769,018
|
) | |||
Net
cash used for investing activities
|
(4,681,280
|
)
|
(74,357,306
|
) | |||
|
|||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|||||||
Increase
in deferred financing costs
|
(959,468
|
)
|
(
921,981
|
) | |||
Proceeds
from issuance of convertible notes payable
|
-
|
11,144,582
|
|||||
Proceeds
from borrowings
|
12,240,000
|
-
|
|||||
Payment
of convertible note payable
|
-
|
(150,000
|
) | ||||
Proceeds
from sale of common stock and warrants
|
-
|
71,653,937
|
|||||
Proceeds
from issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock
options
|
18
|
-
|
|||||
Payment
of offering costs
|
(300,365
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
10,980,185
|
81,726,538
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Increase
in cash and cash equivalents
|
1,712,482
|
5,083,802
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents, beginning of year
|
5,129,883
|
46,081
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents, end of year
|
$
|
6,842,365
|
$
|
5,129,883
|
|||
Non-cash
investing and financing activities:
|
|||||||
Cash
paid for interest
|
682,204
|
-
|
|||||
Payables
for purchase of oil and gas properties
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
250,000
|
|||
Asset
retirement asset and obligation
|
$
|
213,757
|
$
|
1,191,837
|
|||
Value
of warrants issued in connection with acquisition of Cole Creek South
and
South Glenrock B Fields
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
616,140
|
|||
Common
stock and warrants issued on conversion of notes payable
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
10,613,876
|
|||
Issuance
of common stock in settlement of registration rights arrangement
and
imputed interest
|
$
|
5,463,412
|
$
|
-
|
|||
Discount
on note payable, conveyance of overriding royalty interest
|
$
|
4,500,000
|
$
|
-
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
F-6
Rancher
Energy Corp.
Notes
to Financial Statements
Note
1—Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies
Organization
Rancher
Energy Corp. (Rancher Energy or the Company), formerly known as Metalex
Resources, Inc. (Metalex), was incorporated in Nevada on February 4, 2004.
The Company acquires, explores for, develops and produces oil and natural gas,
concentrating on applying secondary and tertiary recovery technology to older,
historically productive fields in North America.
Metalex
was formed for the purpose of acquiring, exploring and developing mining
properties. On April 18, 2006, the stockholders of Metalex voted to change
its name to Rancher Energy Corp. and announced that it changed its business
plan
and focus from mining to oil and gas.
From
February 4, 2004 (inception) through the third fiscal quarter ended
December 31, 2006, the Company was a development stage company. Commencing
with the fourth fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2007, the Company was no
longer in the development stage.
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting
principles applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization
of
assets and extinguishment of liabilities in the normal course of business.
As
shown in the accompanying Statements of Operations, we have incurred a
cumulative net loss of $22.4 million for the period from inception
(February 4, 2004) to March 31, 2008, have a working capital deficit of
approximately $5.0 million as of March 31, 2007. We require significant
additional funding to repay the short term debt in the amount of $12.2 million,
scheduled to mature on October 31, 2008, and for our planned oil and gas
development operations. Our ability to continue the Company as a going concern
is dependent upon our ability to obtain additional funding in order to finance
our planned operations.
Use
of
Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of oil and gas reserves, assets
and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of
the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Estimates of oil and gas reserve quantities provide the basis for calculations
of depletion, depreciation, and amortization (DD&A) and impairment, each of
which represents a significant component of the financial
statements.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company derives revenue primarily from the sale of produced crude oil. The
Company reports revenue and its net revenue interests as the amount received
before taking into account production taxes and transportation costs, which
are
reported as separate expenses. Revenue is recorded in the month the Company’s
production is delivered to the purchaser, but payment is generally received
between 30 and 60 days after the date of production. No revenue is recognized
unless it is determined that title to the product has transferred to a
purchaser. At the end of each month the Company estimates the amount of
production delivered to the purchaser and the price the Company will receive.
The Company uses its knowledge of properties, their historical performance,
the
anticipated effect of weather conditions during the month of production, NYMEX
and local spot market prices, and other factors as the basis for these
estimates.
F-7
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
The
Company considers all liquid investments purchased with an initial maturity
of
three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash and
cash
equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these
instruments.
Concentration
of Credit Risk
Substantially
all of the Company’s receivables are from purchasers of oil and gas and from
joint interest owners. Although diversified among a number of companies,
collectability is dependent upon the financial wherewithal of each individual
company as well as the general economic conditions of the industry. The
receivables are not collateralized. To date the Company has had no bad
debts.
Oil
and Gas Producing Activities
The
Company uses the successful efforts method of accounting for its oil and gas
properties. Under this method of accounting, all property acquisition costs
and
costs of exploratory and development wells are capitalized when incurred,
pending determination of whether the well has found proved reserves. If an
exploratory well does not find proved reserves, the costs of drilling the well
are charged to expense. Exploratory dry hole costs are included in cash flows
from investing activities as part of capital expenditures within the
consolidated statements of cash flows. The costs of development wells are
capitalized whether or not proved reserves are found. Costs of unproved leases,
which may become productive, are reclassified to proved properties when proved
reserves are discovered on the property. Unproved oil and gas interests are
carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value and are not subject to
amortization.
Geological
and geophysical costs and the costs of carrying and retaining unproved
properties are expensed as incurred. DD&A of capitalized costs related to
proved oil and gas properties is calculated on a property-by-property basis
using the units-of-production method based upon proved reserves. The computation
of DD&A takes into consideration restoration, dismantlement, and abandonment
costs and the anticipated proceeds from salvaging equipment.
The
Company complies with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Staff Position
No. FAS 19-1, Accounting
for Suspended Well Costs
, (FSP
FAS 19-1). The Company currently does not have any existing capitalized
exploratory well costs, and has therefore determined that no suspended well
costs should be impaired.
The
Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairments when events or changes
in
circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. The impairment test
for proved properties compares the expected undiscounted future net cash flows
on a property-by-property basis with the related net capitalized costs,
including costs associated with asset retirement obligations, at the end of
each
reporting period. Expected future cash flows are calculated on all proved
reserves using a discount rate and price forecasts selected by the Company’s
management. The discount rate is a rate that management believes is
representative of current market conditions. The price forecast is based on
NYMEX strip pricing, adjusted for basis and quality differentials, for the
first
three to five years and is held constant thereafter. Operating costs are also
adjusted as deemed appropriate for these estimates. When the net capitalized
costs exceed the undiscounted future net revenues of a field, the cost of the
field is reduced to fair value, which is determined using discounted future
net
revenues. An impairment allowance is provided on unproved property when the
Company determines the property will not be developed or the carrying value
is
not realizable.
Sales
of Proved and Unproved Properties
The
sale
of a partial interest in a proved oil and gas property is accounted for as
normal retirement, and no gain or loss is recognized as long as this treatment
does not significantly affect the units-of-production DD&A rate. A gain or
loss is recognized for all other sales of producing properties and is reflected
in results of operations.
The
sale
of a partial interest in an unproved property is accounted for as a recovery
of
cost when substantial uncertainty exists as to recovery of the cost applicable
to the interest retained. A gain on the sale is recognized to the extent the
sales price exceeds the carrying amount of the unproved property. A gain or
loss
is recognized for all other sales of nonproducing properties and is reflected
in
results of operations. During the year ended March 31, 2008, the Company
received proceeds on the sale of unproved properties of $491,500, for which
no
gain or loss was recognized.
Capitalized
Interest
The
Company’s policy is to capitalize interest costs to oil and gas properties on
expenditures made in connection with exploration, development and construction
projects that are not subject to current DD&A and that require greater than
six months to be readied for their intended use (“qualifying projects”).
Interest is capitalized only for the period that such activities are in
progress. To date the Company has had no such qualifying projects during periods
when interest expense has been incurred. Accordingly the Company has recorded
no
capitalized interest.
F-8
Other
Property and Equipment
Other
property and equipment, such as office furniture and equipment, automobiles,
and
computer hardware and software, is recorded at cost. Costs of renewals and
improvements that substantially extend the useful lives of the assets are
capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed when incurred.
Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the assets from three to seven years. When other property and
equipment is sold or retired, the capitalized costs and related accumulated
depreciation are removed from the accounts.
Deferred
Financing Costs
Costs
incurred in connection with the Company’s debt issuances are capitalized and
amortized over the term of the debt, which approximates the effective interest
method. Amortization of deferred financing costs of $351,685 and $537,822 was
recognized for the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 and has been charged
to
operations as an expense in the Statement of Operations. Unamortized balances
of
deferred financing costs of $508,529 and $0 are included in other assets on
the
Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The
Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts
receivable, and accounts payable, are carried at cost, which approximates fair
value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. Because considerable
judgment is required to develop estimates of fair value, the estimates provided
are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize upon
the
sale or refinancing of such instruments.
Income
Taxes
The
Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes under which
deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences of temporary differences between the accounting bases and the
tax
bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities. The deferred tax assets and
liabilities are computed using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in
which
the temporary differences are expected to reverse.
The
Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on April 1, 2007. FIN 48 provides
detailed guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and
disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in the financial statements
in
accordance with SFAS No. 109. Tax positions must meet a
“more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold at the effective date to be
recognized upon the adoption of FIN 48 and in subsequent periods. The adoption
of FIN 48 had an immaterial impact on the Company’s financial position and did
not result in unrecognized tax benefits being recorded. Subsequent to adoption,
there have been no changes to the Company’s assessment of uncertain tax
positions. Accordingly, no corresponding interest and penalties have been
accrued. The Company’s policy is to recognize penalties and interest, if any,
related to uncertain tax positions as general and administrative expense. The
Company files income tax returns in the U.S. Federal jurisdiction and various
states. The Company’s tax years of 2004 and forward are subject to examination
by the Federal and state taxing authorities.
Net
Loss per Share
Basic
net
(loss) per common share of stock is calculated by dividing net loss available
to
common stockholders by the weighted-average of common shares outstanding during
each period.
Diluted
net income per common share is calculated by dividing adjusted net loss by
the
weighted-average of common shares outstanding, including the effect of other
dilutive securities. The Company’s potentially dilutive securities consist of
in-the-money outstanding options and warrants to purchase the Company’s common
stock. Diluted net loss per common share does not give effect to dilutive
securities as their effect would be anti-dilutive.
F-9
The
treasury stock method is used to measure the dilutive impact of stock options
and warrants. The following table details the weighted-average dilutive and
anti-dilutive securities related to stock options and warrants for the periods
presented:
|
For the Years Ended March 31,
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
Dilutive
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Anti-dilutive
|
80,665,639
|
14,214,461
|
Stock
options and warrants were not considered in the detailed calculations below
as
their effect would be anti-dilutive.
The
following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted loss per
share:
|
For
the Year Ended March 31,
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(13,164,826
|
)
|
$
|
(
8,702,255
|
)
|
|
|
|||||||
Basic
weighted average common shares outstanding
|
109,942,627
|
53,782,291
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Basic
and diluted net loss per common share
|
(0.12
|
)
|
(0.16
|
)
|
Share-Based
Payment
Effective
April 1, 2006, Rancher Energy adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard 123(R) “Accounting
for Stock-Based Compensation” using
the
modified prospective transition method. SFAS No. 123R requires companies to
recognize compensation cost for stock-based awards based on estimated fair
value
of the award, effective April 1, 2006. See Note 7 for further discussion .
The Company accounts for equity instruments issued in exchange for the receipt
of goods or services from other than employees in accordance with SFAS No.123(R)
and the conclusions reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") in
Issue
No. 96-18. Costs are measured at the estimated fair market value of the
consideration received or the estimated fair value of the equity instruments
issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. The value of equity instruments
issued for consideration other than employee services is determined on the
earliest of a performance commitment or completion of performance by the
provider of goods or services as defined by EITF 96-18.
Commodity
Derivatives
The
Company accounts for derivative instruments or hedging activities under the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 133,
“Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”
SFAS No. 133 requires the Company to record derivative instruments at
their fair value. The Company’s risk management strategy is to enter into
commodity derivatives that set “price floors” and “price ceilings” for its crude
oil production. The objective is to reduce the Company’s exposure to commodity
price risk associated with expected crude oil production.
The
Company has elected not to designate the commodity derivatives to which they
are
a party as cash flow hedges, and accordingly, such contracts are recorded
at
fair value on its balance sheets and changes in such fair value are recognized
in current earnings as income or expense as they occur.
The
Company does not hold or issue commodity derivatives for speculative or trading
purposes. The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance
by the counterparty to its commodity derivatives. It is anticipated, however,
that its counterparty will be able to fully satisfy its obligations under
the
commodity derivatives contracts. The Company does not obtain collateral or
other
security to support its commodity derivatives contracts subject to credit
risk
but does monitor the credit standing of the counterparty. The
price
we receive for production in our three fields is indexed to Wyoming Sweet
crude
oil posted price. The
Company has not hedged the basis differential between the NYMEX price and
the
Wyoming Sweet price. Under the terms of our Term Credit Agreement issued
in
October 2007 the Company was required hedge a portion of its expected future
production, and it entered into a costless collar agreement for a portion
of its
anticipated future crude oil production. The costless collar contains a fixed
floor price (put) and ceiling price (call). If the index price exceeds the
call strike price or falls below the put strike price, the Company receives
the
fixed price and pays the market price. If the market price is between the
call
and the put strike price, no payments are due from either party. The table
below
summarizes the terms of the Company’s costless collar:
F-10
Contract
Feature
|
Contract
Term
|
Total
Volume
Hedged
(Bbls)
|
Remaining
Volume
Hedged
(Bbls)
|
Index
|
Fixed
Price
($/Bbl)
|
Position
at March
31,
2008 Due To
(From)
Company
|
|||||||||||||
Put
|
Nov
07—Oct 08
|
113,220
|
88,629
|
WTI
NYMEX
|
$
|
65.00
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Call
|
Nov
07—Oct 08
|
67,935
|
53,180
|
WTI
NYMEX
|
$
|
83.50
|
$
|
(837,033
|
)
|
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
The
Company does not have revenue, expenses, gains or losses that are reflected
in
equity rather than in results of operations. Consequently, for all periods
presented, comprehensive loss is equal to net loss.
Major
Customers
For
the
years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, one customer accounted for 100% of the
Company’s oil and gas sales. The Company did not have revenue for the year ended
March 31, 2006. The loss of that customer would not be expected to have a
material adverse effect upon our sales and would not be expected to reduce
the
competition for our oil production, which in turn would not be expected to
negatively impact the price we receive. As of March 31, 2008 and 2007 accounts
receivable from this customer account for 41% and 77%, respectively of the
Company’s total accounts receivable and prepaid expense balances.
Industry
Segment and Geographic Information
The
Company operates in one industry segment, which is the exploration,
exploitation, development, acquisition, and production of crude oil and natural
gas. All of the Company’s operations are conducted in the continental United
States. Consequently, the Company currently reports as a single industry
segment.
Off—Balance
Sheet Arrangements
As
part
of its ongoing business, the Company has not participated in transactions
that
generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships,
such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose
entities (SPEs), which would have been established for the purpose of
facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow
or
limited purposes. From February 4, 2004 (inception) through
March 31, 2008, the Company has not been involved in any
unconsolidated SPE transactions.
Reclassification
Certain
amounts in the 2007 financial statements have been reclassified to conform
to
the 2008 financial statement presentation. Such reclassifications had no
effect
on net loss.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair
Value Measurements (SFAS 157).
This statement clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes a framework
for measuring fair value, and expands the disclosures on fair value
measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007. We have not determined the effect, if any, the adoption
of this statement will have on our financial position or results of
operations.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 159, The
Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities
(SFAS 159). This statement permits entities to choose to measure many
financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. This statement
expands the use of fair value measurement and applies to entities that elect
the
fair value option. The fair value option established by this Statement permits
all entities to choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified
election dates. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007. We have not determined the effect, if any, the adoption
of this statement will have on our financial position or results of operations.
In
April 2007, the FASB issued FSP FIN 39-1, “Amendment of FASB
Interpretation No. 39” (FSP FIN 39-1). FSP FIN 39-1 defines “right of
setoff” and specifies what conditions must be met for a derivative contract to
qualify for this right of setoff. It also addresses the applicability of
a right
of setoff to derivative instruments and clarifies the circumstances in which
it
is appropriate to offset amounts recognized for those instruments in the
statement of financial position. In addition, this FSP permits offsetting
of
fair value amounts recognized for multiple derivative instruments executed
with
the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement and fair value amounts
recognized for the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the
obligation to return cash collateral (a payable) arising from the same master
netting arrangement as the derivative instruments. This interpretation is
effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, with early
application permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact,
if any,
of the adoption of FSP FIN 39-1 on our financial statements.
F-11
In
December 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 141 (Revised 2007),
Business
Combination (SFAS
141R). SFAS 141R will significantly change the accounting for business
combinations. Under Statement 141R, an acquiring entity will be required
to
recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction
at
the acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions and includes a
significant number of new disclosure requirements. SFAS 141R applies
prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is
on or
after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or
after
December 15, 2008. We have not determined the effect, if any, the adoption
of
this statement will have on our financial position or results of operations.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 160, Noncontrolling
Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements
(SFAS
160). SFAS 160 establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the
noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a
subsidiary. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within
those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We have not
determined the effect, if any, the adoption of this statement will have on
our
financial position or results of operations.
In
March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments
and
Hedging Activities. SFAS 161 is intended to improve financial reporting about
derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures
to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity's financial
position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS 161 achieves these
improvements by requiring disclosure of the fair values of derivative
instruments and their gains and losses in a tabular format. It also provides
more information about an entity’s liquidity by requiring disclosure of
derivative features that are credit risk-related. Finally, it requires
cross-referencing within footnotes to enable financial statement users to
locate
important information about derivative instruments. SFAS 161 will be effective
for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning
on March 1, 2009, will be adopted by the Company beginning for the fiscal
year
ended March 31, 2009. The Company does not expect there to be any significant
impact of adopting SFAS 161 on its financial position, cash flows and results
of
operations.
Note
2—Oil and Gas Properties
The
Company’s oil and gas properties are summarized in the following
table:
|
As
of March 31,
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
Proved
properties
|
$
|
20,734,143
|
$
|
18,552,188
|
|||
Unimproved
properties excluded from DD&A
|
53,655,471
|
56,079,133
|
|||||
Equipment
and other
|
402,602
|
454,801
|
|||||
Subtotal
Unevaluated Properties
|
54,058,073
|
56,533,934
|
|||||
Total
oil and gas properties
|
74,792,216
|
75,086,122
|
|||||
Less
accumulated depletion, depreciation, amortization and impairment
|
(1,531,619
|
)
|
(347,821
|
)
|
|||
|
$
|
73,260,597
|
$
|
74,738,301
|
Assignment
of Overriding Royalty Interest
In
conjunction with the issuance of short term debt in October 2007 (See
Note
4),the
Company assigned the Lender a 2% Overriding Royalty Interest (ORRI),
proportionally reduced when the Company’s working interest is less than 100%, in
all crude oil and natural gas produced from its three Powder River Basin
fields.
The Company estimated that the fair value of the ORRI granted to the Lender
is
approximately $4,500,000 and has recorded this amount as a debt discount
and a
decrease of oil and gas properties
F-12
Acquisitions
Cole
Creek South Field and South Glenrock B Field Acquisitions
On
December 22, 2006, the Company purchased certain oil and gas properties for
$46,750,000, before adjustments for the period from the effective date to
the
closing date, and closing costs. The oil and gas properties consisted of
(i) a
100% working interest (79.3% net revenue interest) in the Cole Creek South
Field, which is located in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin; and (ii) a 93.6%
working interest (74.5% net revenue interest) in the South Glenrock B Field,
which is also located in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.
The
total
adjusted purchase price was allocated as follows:
Acquisition
costs:
|
|
|||
Cash
consideration
|
$
|
46,750,000
|
||
Direct
acquisition costs
|
323,657
|
|||
Estimated
fair value of warrants to purchase common stock
|
616,140
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
47,689,797
|
||
|
||||
Allocation
of acquisition costs:
|
||||
Oil
and gas properties:
|
||||
Unproved
|
$
|
31,569,778
|
||
Proved
|
16,682,101
|
|||
Other
assets - long-term accounts receivable
|
53,341
|
|||
Other
assets - inventory
|
227,220
|
|||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
(842,643
|
)
|
||
Total
|
$
|
47,689,797
|
In
partial consideration for an extension of the closing date, the Company issued
the seller of the oil and gas properties warrants to acquire 250,000 shares
of
its common stock for $1.50 per share for a period of five years. The estimated
fair value of the warrants to purchase common stock was estimated as of the
grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
assumptions:
Volatility
|
76.00
|
%
|
||
Expected
option term
|
5
years
|
|||
Risk-free
interest rate
|
4.51
|
%
|
||
Expected
dividend yield
|
0.00
|
%
|
Big
Muddy Field Acquisition
On
January 4, 2007, Rancher Energy acquired the Big Muddy Field, consisting of
approximately 8,500 acres located in the Powder River Basin east of Casper,
Wyoming. The total purchase price was $25,000,000, before adjustments for
the
period from the effective date to the closing date, and closing costs. While
the
Big Muddy Field was discovered in 1916, future profitable operations are
dependent on the application of tertiary recovery techniques requiring
significant amounts of CO2.
The
total
adjusted purchase price was allocated as follows:
Acquisition
costs:
|
||||
Cash
consideration
|
$
|
25,000,000
|
||
Direct
acquisition costs
|
672,638
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
25,672,638
|
||
|
||||
Allocation
of acquisition costs:
|
||||
Oil
and gas properties:
|
||||
Unproved
|
$
|
24,151,745
|
||
Proved
|
1,870,086
|
|||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
(349,193
|
)
|
||
Total
|
$
|
25,672,638
|
F-13
Carbon
Dioxide (“CO2”)
Enhanced Oil Recovery Project
The
Company’s business plan includes the injection of CO2
into its
three oil fields in the Powder River Basin. To ensure an adequate supply
of
CO2 the Company has entered into two separate supply agreements
as
follows:
On
December 15, 2006, the Company executed a Product Sale and Purchase
Contract (Purchase Contract) with the Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko)
for the purchase of CO2
(meeting
certain quality specifications identified in the agreement) from Anadarko.
The
primary term of the Agreement commences upon the later of January 1, 2008,
or the date of the first CO2
delivery, and terminates upon the earlier of the day on which the Company
has
taken and paid for the Total Contract Quantity, as defined, or 10 years from
the
commencement date. The Company has the right to terminate the Purchase Contract
at any time with notice to Anadarko, subject to a termination payment as
specified in the Purchase Contract. During the primary term the “Daily Contract
Quantity” is 40 MMcf per day for a total of 146 Bcf. Carbon
Dioxide (CO2) deliveries
are subject to a 25 MMcf per day take-or-pay provision. Anadarko has the
right
to satisfy its own needs before sales to the Company, which reduces our
take-or-pay obligation. In the event the CO2
does not
meet certain quality specifications, we have the right to refuse delivery
of
such CO2
For
CO2
deliveries, the Company has agreed to pay $1.50 per thousand cubic feet,
to be
adjusted by a factor that is indexed to the average posted price of Wyoming
Sweet oil. From oil that is produced by CO2
injection, the Company also agreed to convey to Anadarko an overriding royalty
interest of 1% in year one, increasing 1% on each of the next four anniversaries
to a maximum of 5% for the remainder of the 10-year term.
On
February 12, 2008 the Company entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement
with
ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company (“ExxonMobil”), a division of Exxon
Mobil Corporation, under which ExxonMobil will provide Rancher Energy with 70
MMscfd (million standard cubic per day) of CO2
for an
initial 10-year period, with an option for a second 10 years. The CO2
will be
supplied from ExxonMobil’s LaBarge gas field in Wyoming. For CO 2
deliveries from ExxonMobil, the Company has agreed to pay a base price plus
an
Oil Price Factor which is indexed to the price of West Texas Intermediate
crude
oil.
Impairment
of Unproved Properties
The
Company has recorded no impairment of unproved properties in the year ended
March 31, 2008.
In
June 2006, the Company acquired 10,104 acres in the Burke Ranch field and
adjacent property in Natrona County, Wyoming. The Company subsequently had
engineering studies performed on the property and concluded that the property’s
potential reserves did not warrant further development expenditures. In
June 2006, the Company also acquired Broadview Dome Prospect, which is
located in the Crazy Mountain Basin in Montana and is comprised of approximately
7,600 acres. The Company determined it would not develop the property, and
the
carrying value would not be realized. Consequently, the Company impaired
the
full carrying amounts of both properties totaling $734,383, which is reflected
as impairment of unproved properties in the statement of
operations.
Note
3—Asset Retirement Obligations
The
Company recognizes an estimated liability for future costs associated with
the
abandonment of its oil and gas properties. A liability for the fair value
of an
asset retirement obligation and a corresponding increase to the carrying
value
of the related long-lived asset are recorded at the time a well is completed
or
acquired. The increase in carrying value is included in proved oil and gas
properties in the balance sheets. The Company depletes the amount added to
proved oil and gas property costs and recognizes accretion expense in connection
with the discounted liability over the remaining estimated economic lives
of the
respective oil and gas properties. Cash paid to settle asset retirement
obligations is included in the operating section of the Company’s statement of
cash flows.
The
Company’s estimated asset retirement obligation liability is based on our
historical experience in abandoning wells, estimated economic lives, estimates
as to the cost to abandon the wells in the future, and Federal and state
regulatory requirements. The liability is discounted using a credit-adjusted
risk-free rate estimated at the time the liability is incurred or revised.
The
credit-adjusted risk-free rate used to discount the Company’s abandonment
liabilities was 13.1%. Revisions to the liability are due to changes in
estimated abandonment costs and changes in well economic lives, or if Federal
or
state regulators enact new requirements regarding the abandonment of
wells.
A
reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement obligation liability during the
years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
Beginning
asset retirement obligation
|
$
|
1,221,567
|
$
|
--
|
|||
Liabilities
incurred
|
18,473
|
1,191,837
|
|||||
Liabilities
settled
|
(297,212
|
)
|
- | ||||
Changes
in estimates
|
195,283
|
- | |||||
Accretion
expense
|
121,740
|
29,730
|
|||||
Ending
asset retirement obligation
|
$
|
1,259,851
|
$
|
1,221,567
|
|||
|
|||||||
Current
|
$
|
337,685
|
$
|
196,000
|
|||
Long-term
|
922,166
|
1,025,567
|
|||||
$
|
1,259,851
|
$
|
1,221,567
|
F-14
Note
4—Short Term Note Payable
On
October 16, 2007, the Company issued a Note Payable (the Note) in the amount
of
$12,240,000 pursuant to a Term Credit Agreement with a financial institution
(the Lender), resulting in net proceeds of $11,622,800 after the deduction
of
the Lender’s fees, expenses, and three months of interest to be held in escrow.
In addition, the Company incurred approximately $390,000 in investment banking,
legal, and other fees and expenses in connection with the transaction. The
Company recorded total capitalized financing costs associated with the issuance
of the Note in the amount of $835,685 as deferred financing costs. Amortization
of the deferred financing costs in the amount of $326,685 is included in
interest expense for year ended March 31, 2008.
All
amounts outstanding under the Note are due and payable on October 31, 2008
(Maturity Date) and bear interest at a rate equal to the greater of (a) 12%
per annum and (b) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 6% per annum. The Company
is required to make monthly interest payments on the amounts outstanding
under
the Credit Agreement, but is not required to make any principal payments
until
the Maturity Date. The Company may prepay the amounts outstanding under the
Credit Agreement at any time without penalty. As of March 31, 2008 the interest
rate on the Note is 12% per annum.
The
Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are collateralized by a first
priority security interest in its properties and assets, including all rights
under oil and gas leases in its three producing oil fields in the Powder
River
Basin of Wyoming and all of its equipment on those properties. The Company
also
granted the Lender a 2% Overriding Royalty Interest (ORRI), proportionally
reduced when the Company’s working interest is less than 100%, in all crude oil
and natural gas produced from its three Powder River Basin fields. The Company
estimates that the fair value of the ORRI granted to the Lender is approximately
$4,500,000 and has recorded this amount as a discount to the Note Payable
and as
a decrease of oil and gas properties. Amortization of the discount based
upon
the effective interest method in the amount of $1,972,450 is included in
interest expense for year ended March 31, 2008. As long as any of its
obligations remain outstanding under the Credit Agreement, the Company will
be
required to grant the same ORRI to the Lender on any new working interests
acquired after closing. Prior to the Maturity Date, the Company may re-acquire
50% of the ORRI granted to the Lender at a repurchase price calculated to
ensure
that total payments by the Company to the Lender of principal, interest,
ORRI
revenues, and ORRI repurchase price will equal 120% of the loan
amount.
The
Credit Agreement contains several events of default, including if, at any
time
after closing, the Company’s most recent reserve report indicates that its
projected net revenue attributable to proved reserves is insufficient to
fully
amortize the amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement within a 48-month
period and it is unable to demonstrate to the Lender’s reasonable satisfaction
that it would be able to satisfy such outstanding amounts through a sale
of its
assets or an sale of equity. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under
the Credit Agreement, the Lender may accelerate the Company’s obligations under
the Credit Agreement. Upon certain events of bankruptcy, obligations under
the
Credit Agreement would automatically accelerate. In addition, at any time
that
an event of default exists under the Credit Agreement, the Company will be
required to pay interest on all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement
at a default rate, which is equal to the then-prevailing interest rate under
the
Credit Agreement plus four percent per annum.
The
Company is subject to various restrictive covenants under the Credit Agreement,
including limitations on its ability to sell properties and assets, pay
dividends, extend credit, amend material contracts, incur indebtedness,
provide guarantees, effect mergers or acquisitions (other than to change
its
state of incorporation), cancel claims, create liens, create subsidiaries,
amend
its formation documents, make investments, enter into transactions with its
affiliates, and enter into swap agreements. The Company must maintain (a) a
current ratio of at least 1.0 (excluding from the calculation of current
liabilities any loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement) and (b) a
loan-to-value ratio greater than 1.0 to 1.0 for the term of the loan. As
of
March 31, 2008 and the date of this Annual Report, the Company is in compliance
with all covenants under the Credit Agreement.
F-15
Note
5—Commitments and Contingencies
The
Company may be subject to legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising
from
its financing and business activities in the ordinary course. Although
there can
be no assurance that unfavorable outcomes in any matter would not have
a
material adverse effect on the Company’s operating results, liquidity or
financial position, the Company does not know of any threatened claims
that it
believes to be of merit, and the Company intends to vigorously defend any
actions that would be asserted. The
Company accrues for such items when a liability is both probable and the
amount
can be reasonably estimated.
The
Company is not currently the subject of any
litigation.
The
Company leases office space under a non-cancelable operating lease that expires
July 31, 2012. Rent expense was $278,625, $35,766 and $0 during the
years ended March 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The annual minimum
lease payments for the next five fiscal years and thereafter are presented
below:
Years Ending March 31,
|
||||
2009
|
359,078
|
|||
2010
|
367,334
|
|||
2011
|
371,460
|
|||
2012
|
123,820
|
|||
Thereafter
|
-
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
1,221,692
|
The
Company has entered into CO2 supply agreements with Anadarko and
ExxonMobil as discussed in Note 2 above. The Company has also entered into
a
Registration Rights Agreement as discussed in Note 6 below.
Note
6—Stockholders’ Equity
The
Company’s capital stock as of March 31, 2008 and 2007 consists of 275,000,000
authorized shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share.
Issuance
of Common Stock and Warrants
For
the Year Ended March 31, 2008
During
the year ended March 31, 2008, the Company issued common stock as
follows:
-
|
9,731,569
shares to holders of registrable shares of the December 2006 and
January
2007 private placements, as liquidated damages in settlement of
registration rights deficiencies (see Registration Rights and Other
Payment Arrangements below);
|
-
|
1,750,000
shares to an officer of the Company upon the exercise of stock
options;
|
-
|
1,248,197
shares to directors of the Company in exchange for
services;
|
- | 107,143 shares to independent consultant in exchange for services |
For
the Year Ended March 31, 2007
Units
Issued Pursuant to Regulation S
For
the
period from June 2006 through October 2006, we sold 18,133,500 Units
for $0.50 per Unit, totaling gross proceeds of $9,066,750, pursuant to the
exemption from registration of securities under the Securities Act of 1933
as
provided by Regulation S. Each Unit consisted of one share of common stock
and a
warrant to purchase one additional share of common stock.
For
8,850,000 Units, Rancher Energy paid no underwriting commissions. For 9,283,500
Units, Rancher Energy paid a cash commission of $232,088, equal to 5% of
the
proceeds from the units, and a stock-based commission of 464,175 shares of
common stock, equal to 5% of the number of Units sold. The sum of the shares
sold and the commission shares aggregated 18,597,675. All
warrants were originally exercisable for a period of two years from the
date of issuance. During the first year, the exercise price was $0.75 per
share;
during the second year, the exercise price was $1.00 per share. The
warrants are redeemable by us for no consideration upon 30 days prior notice.
A
portion of these warrants were modified as discussed below.
Warrant
Modification - Warrants Issued Pursuant to Regulation S
On
December 21, 2006, holders of 13,192,000 warrants issued pursuant to
Regulation S in a private placement from June through October 2006
agreed not to exercise their right to acquire shares of common stock until
the
Company received stockholder approval, which it obtained on March 30, 2007,
to increase the number of its authorized shares from 100,000,000 to 275,000,000,
and the exercise price of $0.75 per share was extended by the Company through
the second year. Terms for the remaining 4,941,500 warrants were
unchanged.
F-16
Private
Placement
On
December 21, 2006, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, as
amended, with institutional and individual accredited investors to effect
a
$79,500,000 private placement of shares of our common stock and other securities
in multiple closings. As part of this private placement, we raised an aggregate
of $79,405,418 and issued (i) 45,940,510 shares of common stock, (ii) promissory
notes that were convertible into 6,996,342 shares of common stock, and (iii)
warrants to purchase 52,936,832 shares of common stock. The warrants issued
to
investors in the private placement are exercisable during the five year period
beginning on the date we amended and restated our Articles of Incorporation
to
increase our authorized shares of common stock, which was March 30, 2007.
The notes issued in the private placement automatically converted into shares
of
common stock on March 30, 2007. In conjunction with the private placement,
we also used services of placement agents and have issued warrants to purchase
3,633,313 shares of common stock to these agents or their designees. The
warrants issued to the placement agents or their designees are exercisable
during the two year period (warrants to purchase 2,187,580 shares of common
stock) or the five year period (warrants to purchase 1,445,733 shares of
common
stock) beginning on the date we amended and restated our Articles of
Incorporation to increase our authorized shares of common stock, which was
March 30, 2007. All of the warrants issued in conjunction with the private
placement have an exercise price of $1.50 per share.
In
connection with the private placement, the Company also entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement with the investors in which the Company agreed
to
register for resale the shares of common stock issued in the private placement
as well as the shares underlying the warrants and convertible notes issued
in
the private placement. There are liquidated damages payable pursuant to the
Securities Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement relating
to
these registration provisions and other obligations, as discussed further
below.
Registration
and Other Payment Arrangements
In
connection with the sale of certain Units discussed above, the Company has
entered into agreements that require the transfer of consideration under
registration and other payment arrangements, if certain conditions are not
met.
The following is a description of the conditions and those that were not
met as
of March 31, 2007.
Under
the
terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company must pay the holders
of
the registrable securities issued in the December 2006 and January 2007 equity
private placement, liquidated damages if the registration statement that
was
filed in conjunction with the private placement has not been declared effective
by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within 150 days of the
closing of the private placement (December 21, 2006). The liquidated
damages are due on or before the day of the failure (May 20, 2007) and
every 30 days thereafter, or three business days after the failure is cured,
if
earlier. The amount due is 1% of the aggregate purchase price, or $794,000
per
month. If the Company fails to make the payments timely, interest accrues
at a
rate of 1.5% per month. All payments pursuant to the registration rights
agreement and the private placement agreement cannot exceed 24% of the aggregate
purchase price, or $19,057,000 in total. The payment may be made in cash,
notes,
or shares of common stock, at the Company’s option, as long as the Company does
not have an equity condition failure. The equity condition failures are
described further below. Pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Company opted to pay the liquidated damages in shares of common
stock. The number of shares issued was based on the payment amount of $794,000
divided by 90% of the volume weighted average price of the Company’s common
stock for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the payment due
date.
Using
the
above formula, the Company made delay registration effectiveness payments
May
18, 2007 through October 31, 2007 as follows:
Date
|
Total Shares
|
Price Per Share
|
|||||
May
18, 2007
|
933,458
|
$
|
0.85
|
||||
June
19, 2007
|
946,819
|
$
|
0.84
|
||||
July
19, 2007
|
1,321,799
|
$
|
0.60
|
||||
August
17, 2007
|
1,757,212
|
$
|
0.45
|
||||
September
17, 2007
|
2,467,484
|
$
|
0.32
|
||||
October
17, 2007
|
1,443,712
|
$
|
0.55
|
||||
October
31, 2007
|
861,085
|
$
|
0.43
|
The
Company’s registration statement was declared effective on October 31, 2007.
Since that date the Company has maintained the effectiveness of the registration
statement and complied with all other provisions of the Registration Rights
Agreement. No further liquidated damages have been assessed or paid. In
accordance with FSP EITF 00-19-2, Accounting
for Registration Payment Arrangements,
as of
the date of this Annual Report, the Company believes the likelihood it will
incur additional obligations to pay liquidated damages is remote, as defined
in
SFAS 5, Accounting
for Contingencies. Accordingly
as of March 31, 2008, the Company has not recorded a liability for future
liquidated damages under the Registration Rights Agreement.
F-17
For
the Year Ended March 31, 2006
During
the three months ended June 30, 2005 the Company issued 28,000,000 shares
of common stock for cash in the amount of approximately $0.007 per share,
or
$200,000 before offering costs of $3,906.
During
the year ended March 31, 2006, the Company approved a 14-for-1 stock split.
All share amounts prior to the stock split have been retroactively
restated.
In
March 2006, in anticipation of certain management changes and
reorganization of the Company’s activities, the Company’s president and majority
shareholder returned 69,500,000 shares of his common stock and retained 500,000
shares of common stock. The capital restructuring was in anticipation of
a
change to the Company’s direction and business focus. There was no established
secondary market for the Company’s common stock, and the cancellation reduced
the shares issued for the president’s initial investment of $375,000 during the
year ended March 31, 2004.
The
following is a summary of warrants as of March 31, 2008
|
Warrants
|
Exercise Price
|
Expiration Date
|
|||||||
Warrants
issued in connection with the following:
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
Sale
of common stock pursuant to Regulation
S
|
18,133,500
|
$
|
0.75
|
July
5, 2008
to
October 18, 2008
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Conversion
of notes payable into common stock
|
1,006,905
|
$
|
0.75
|
July
19, 2008
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Private
placement of common stock
|
45,940,510
|
$
|
1.50
|
March
30, 2012
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Private
placement of convertible notes payable
|
6,996,322
|
$
|
1.50
|
March
30, 2012
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Private
placement agent commissions
|
2,187,580
|
$
|
1.50
|
March
30, 2009
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Private
placement agent commissions
|
1,445,733
|
$
|
1.50
|
March
30, 2012
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Acquisition
of oil and gas properties
|
250,000
|
$
|
1.50
|
December
22, 2011
|
||||||
|
||||||||||
Total
warrants outstanding at March 31, 2008
|
75,960,550
|
Note
7—Share-Based Compensation
Effective
April 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard 123(R) (SFAS 123(R)), Share-Based
Payment
.
Pursuant to SFAS 123(R), compensation expense is measured at the grant date
based on fair value of the award and recognized as an expense in earnings
over
the service period as the award vests. The adoption of SFAS 123(R) using
the
modified prospective transition method resulted in stock compensation expense
for the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 of $1,025,011 and $1,501,908,
respectively. The Company did not recognize a tax benefit from the stock
compensation expense because it is more likely than not that the related
deferred tax assets, which have been reduced by a full valuation allowance,
will
not be realized.
The
Black-Scholes option-pricing model was used to estimate the option fair values.
The option-pricing model requires a number of assumptions, of which the most
significant are the stock price at the valuation date, the expected stock
price
volatility, and the expected option term (the amount of time from the grant
date
until the options are exercised or expire).
Prior
to
the adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company reflected tax benefits from deductions
resulting from the exercise of stock options as operating activities in the
statements of cash flows. SFAS 123(R) requires tax benefits resulting from
tax
deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized for those options
(excess tax benefits) be classified and reported as both an operating cash
outflow and a financing cash inflow upon adoption of SFAS 123(R). As a result
of
the Company’s net operating losses, the excess tax benefits, which would
otherwise be available to reduce income taxes payable, have the effect of
increasing the Company’s net operating loss carry forwards. Accordingly, because
the Company is not able to realize these excess tax benefits, such benefits
have
not been recognized in the statements of cash flows for the years ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007 .
F-18
Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) Option Grant
On
May 15, 2006, in connection with an employment agreement, the Company
granted its President & CEO options to purchase up to 4,000,000 shares of
Company common stock at an exercise price of $0.00001 per share. The options
vest as follows: (i) 1,000,000 shares upon execution of the employment
agreement, (ii) 1,000,000 shares from June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2007 at
the rate of 250,000 shares per completed quarter of service, (iii) 1,000,000
shares from June 1, 2007 to May 31, 2008 at the rate of 250,000 shares
per completed quarter of service, and (iv) 1,000,000 shares from June 1,
2008 to May 31, 2009 at the rate of 250,000 shares per completed quarter of
service. In the event the employment agreement is terminated, the CEO will
be
allowed to exercise all options that are vested. All unvested options shall
be
forfeited. The options have no expiration date.
The
Company determined the fair value of the options to be $0.4235 per underlying
common share. The value was determined by using the Black-Scholes valuation
model using assumptions which resulted in the value of one Unit (one common
share and one warrant to purchase a common share) equaling $0.50, the price
of
the most recently issued securities at the date of grant of the options.
The
combined value was allocated between the value of the common stock and the
value
of the warrant. The value of one common share from this analysis ($0.4235)
was
used to calculate the resulting compensation expense under the provisions
of
SFAS 123(R). The assumptions used in the valuation of the CEO options were
as
follows:
Volatility
|
87.00
|
%
|
||
Expected
option term
|
One
year
|
|||
Risk-free
interest rate
|
5.22
|
%
|
||
Expected
dividend yield
|
0.00
|
%
|
The
expected term of options granted was based on the expected term of the warrants
included in the Units described above. The expected volatility was based
on
historical volatility of the Company’s common stock price. The risk free rate
was based on the one-year U.S Treasury bond rate for the month of
July 2006.
The
Company recognized stock compensation expense attributable to the CEO options
of
$423,500 and $741,125 for the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. The Company expects to recognize the remaining compensation
expense of $529,375 related to the unvested shares over the next 1.3
years.
2006
Stock Incentive Plan
On
March 30, 2007, the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2006 Stock Incentive
Plan) was approved by the shareholders and was effective October 2, 2006.
The 2006 Stock Incentive Plan had previously been approved by the Company’s
Board of Directors. Under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, the Board of Directors
may grant awards of options to purchase common stock, restricted stock, or
restricted stock units to officers, employees, and other persons who provide
services to the Company or any related company. The participants to whom
awards
are granted, the type of awards granted, the number of shares covered for
each
award, and the purchase price, conditions and other terms of each award are
determined by the Board of Directors, except that the term of the options
shall
not exceed 10 years. A total of 10,000,000 shares of Rancher Energy common
stock
are subject to the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. The shares issued for the 2006
Stock Incentive Plan may be either treasury or authorized and unissued shares.
During the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 , options to purchase up to
753,000 and 3,335,000 shares of common stock, respectively were granted under
the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan to officers, directors, employees and a
consultant. The options granted have exercise prices ranging from $0.39 to
$1.64
generally vest over three years, and have a maximum term of ten
years.
The
fair
value of the options granted during fiscal 2008 and 2007, under the 2006
Stock
Incentive Plan was estimated as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes
option
pricing model with the following assumptions:
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Expected
Volatility
|
59.80% - 62.75%
|
|
76.00%
|
|
|||
Expected option term
|
3.0 - 6.25 years
|
5 years
|
|||||
Risk-free interest rate
|
4.39% to 4.68
|
4.34% to 4.75%
|
|
||||
Expected
dividend yield
|
0.00%
|
|
0.00%
|
|
F-19
Because
the Company is newly public with an insufficient history of stock price for
the
expected term, the expected volatility was based on an average of the volatility
disclosed by other comparable companies who had similar expected option terms.
The expected term of options granted was estimated in accordance with the
simplified method prescribed in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107
and SAB No 110. The risk free rate was based on the five-year U.S Treasury
bond
rate.
The
following table summarizes stock option activity for the year ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007:
2008
|
2007
|
||||||||||||
Number
of
Options
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
Number
of
Options
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
||||||||||
Outstanding
at beginning of year
|
|||||||||||||
CEO
|
3,000,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|||||||
Plan
|
3,335,000
|
$
|
2.34
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|||||||
Granted
|
|||||||||||||
CEO
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
4,000,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
|||||||
Plan
|
753,000
|
$
|
0.73
|
3,335,000
|
$
|
2.34
|
|||||||
Exercised
|
|||||||||||||
CEO
|
(1,750,000
|
)
|
$
|
0.00001
|
(1,000,000
|
)
|
$
|
0.00001
|
|||||
Plan
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|||||||
Cancelled
|
|||||||||||||
CEO
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
|||||||
Plan
|
(2,657,000
|
)
|
$
|
2.46
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Outstanding
at March 31
|
|||||||||||||
CEO
|
1,250,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
3,000,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
|||||||
Plan
|
1,431,000
|
$
|
1.28
|
3,335,000
|
$
|
2.34
|
|||||||
Exercisable
at March 31,
|
|||||||||||||
CEO
|
-
|
$
|
0.00001
|
750,000
|
$
|
0.00001
|
|||||||
Plan
|
430,000
|
$
|
1.74
|
187,500
|
$
|
1.75
|
The
following table summarizes information related to the outstanding and vested
options as of March 31, 2008.
Outstanding
Options
|
Vested
Options
|
||||||
Number
of Shares
|
|||||||
CEO
|
1,250,000
|
-
|
|||||
Plan
|
1,431,000
|
430,000
|
|||||
Weighted
Average Remaining Contractual Life in Years
|
|||||||
CEO
|
NA
- CEO Options Do Not Expire
|
||||||
Plan
|
3.77
|
3.54
|
|||||
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
|||||||
CEO
|
$
|
.00001
|
-
|
||||
Plan
|
$
|
1.28
|
$
|
1.74
|
|||
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
|
|||||||
CEO
|
$
|
487,488
|
-
|
||||
Plan
|
$
|
(1,269,990
|
)
|
$
|
(581,450
|
)
|
F-20
The
following table summarizes changes in the unvested options for the years
ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007:
|
|
Number
of
Options
|
|
Weighted
Average
Grant
Date
Fair
Value
|
|||
|
|
|
|||||
Non-vested,
April 1, 2006
|
__
|
$
|
__
|
||||
Granted—
|
|||||||
CEO
|
4,000,000
|
0.42
|
|||||
Plan
|
3,335,000
|
1.52
|
|||||
Total
|
7,335,000
|
0.92
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Vested—
|
|||||||
CEO
|
(750,000
|
)
|
0.42
|
||||
Plan
|
(187,500
|
)
|
1.13
|
||||
Total
|
(937,500
|
)
|
0.56
|
||||
|
|||||||
Exercised—CEO
|
(1,000,000
|
)
|
0.42
|
||||
|
|||||||
Non-vested,
March 31, 2007
|
|||||||
CEO
|
2,250,000
|
$
|
0.42
|
||||
Plan
|
3,147,500
|
$
|
1.54
|
||||
Total
|
5,397,500
|
$
|
1.07
|
||||
Granted—
|
|||||||
Plan
|
753,000
|
$
|
0.34
|
||||
|
|||||||
Vested—
|
|||||||
CEO
|
(1,000,000
|
)
|
$
|
0.42
|
|||
Plan
|
(742,500
|
)
|
$
|
0.75
|
|||
Total
|
(1,742,500
|
)
|
$
|
||||
|
|||||||
Cancelled
- Plan
|
(2,157,000
|
)
|
$
|
0.67
|
|||
|
|||||||
Non-vested,
March 31, 2008
|
|||||||
CEO
|
1,250,000
|
$
|
0.42
|
||||
Plan
|
1,001,000
|
$
|
0.50
|
||||
Total
|
2,251,000
|
0.46
|
The
weighted-average grant-date fair values of the stock options granted during
the
year ended March 31, 2008 was $0.34. For the year ended March 31, 2007 the
weighted average grant date fair values of the stock options granted during
the
year were $0.42, $1.52, and $0.92 for the CEO, the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
and
in total, respectively. The total intrinsic value, calculated as the difference
between the exercise price and the market price on the date of exercise of
all
options exercised during the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, was
approximately $1,410,000 and $1,450,000, respectively. The Company received
$18
and $10 from stock options exercised during the year ended March 31, 2008
and 2007, respectively. The Company did not realize any tax deductions related
to the exercise of stock options during year.
Total
estimated unrecognized compensation cost from unvested stock options as of
March 31, 2008 was approximately $499,400 which the Company expects to
recognize over four years.
F-21
Note
8—Income Taxes
The
effective income tax rate for the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 differs
from the U.S. Federal statutory income tax rate due to the
following:
|
For the Year Ended March 31,
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
Federal
statutory income tax rate
|
$
|
4,608,000
|
$
|
3,046,000
|
|||
State
income taxes, net of Federal benefit
|
33,000
|
-
|
|||||
Permanent
items
|
(362,000
|
)
|
(184,000
|
)
|
|||
Other
|
129,000
|
128,000
|
|||||
Change
in valuation allowance
|
(4,408,000
|
)
|
(2,990,000
|
)
|
|||
|
$ | - |
$
|
-
|
The
components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2008
and
2007 are as follows:
|
For
the Year Ended March 31,
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
Current
deferred tax assets:
|
|||||||
Liquidated
damages pursuant to registration rights agreement
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
947,000
|
|||
Valuation
allowance
|
-
|
(947,000
|
)
|
||||
Net
current deferred tax assets
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Long-term
deferred tax assets:
|
|||||||
Federal
net operating loss carryforwards
|
5,984,000
|
1,786,000
|
|||||
Asset
retirement obligation
|
444,000
|
428,000
|
|||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
469,000
|
245,000
|
|||||
Accrued
vacation
|
23,000
|
||||||
Unrealized
hedging losses
|
272,000
|
||||||
Property
, plant and equipment
|
261,000
|
||||||
Valuation
allowance
|
(7,453,000
|
)
|
(2,099,000
|
)
|
|||
Net
long-term deferred tax assets
|
-
|
360,
000
|
|||||
Long-term
deferred tax liabilities:
|
|||||||
Oil
and gas properties
|
-
|
360,000
|
|||||
Net
long-term deferred tax liabilities
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
The
Company has approximately $16,977,000 net operating loss carryover as of March
31, 2008. The net operating losses begin to expire in 2024
The
Company has provided a full valuation allowance for the deferred tax assets
as
of March 31, 2008 and 2007, based on the likelihood of the realization of the
deferred tax assets will not be utilized in the future.
Note
9—Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing Activities
Prior
to
the year ended March 31, 2007, the Company did not have any oil and gas
properties.
Costs
Incurred in Oil and Gas Producing Activities:
Costs
incurred in oil and gas property acquisition, exploration and development
activities, whether capitalized or expensed, are summarized as
follows.
F-22
|
For the Year Ended March 31,
|
||||||
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
Exploration
|
$
|
223,564
|
$
|
333,919
|
|||
Development
|
4,758,783
|
-
|
|||||
Acquisitions:
|
|||||||
Unproved
|
43,088
|
56,813,516
|
|||||
Proved
|
-
|
18,552,188
|
|||||
Total
|
5,025,435
|
75,699,623
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Costs
associated with asset retirement obligations
|
$
|
213,756
|
$
|
1,191,837
|
Oil
and Gas Reserve Quantities (Unaudited):
For
the
years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, Ryder Scott Company, L.P. prepared the
reserve information for the Company’s Cole Creek South, South Glenrock B, and
Big Muddy Fields in the Powder River Basin. The Company did not have oil and
gas
reserves as of and for the year ended March 31, 2006.
The
Company emphasizes that reserve estimates are inherently imprecise and that
estimates of new discoveries and undeveloped locations are more imprecise than
estimates of established proved producing oil and gas properties. Accordingly,
these estimates are expected to change as future information becomes
available.
Proved
oil and gas reserves, as defined in Regulation S-X, Rule 4-10(a)(2)(3)(4),
are
the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids
that
geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be
recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and
operating conditions. Proved developed oil and gas reserves are those expected
to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating
methods. All of the Company’s proved reserves are located in the continental
United States.
Presented
below is a summary of the changes in estimated oil reserves (in barrels) of
the
Company for the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 (the Company did not
have any natural gas reserves).
Total
proved:
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||
Beginning
of year
|
1,279,164
|
||||||
Purchases
of minerals in-place
|
-
|
1,073,138
|
|||||
Production
|
(86,626
|
)
|
(23,838
|
)
|
|||
Revisions
of previous estimates
|
107,858
|
229,864
|
|||||
End
of year
|
1,300,396
|
1,279,164
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Proved
developed reserves:
|
1,074,830
|
1,062,206
|
Standardized
Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows (Unaudited):
SFAS
No. 69, Disclosures
about Oil and Gas Producing Activities
(SFAS
No. 69), prescribes guidelines for computing a standardized measure of
future net cash flows and changes therein relating to estimated proved reserves.
The Company has followed these guidelines, which are briefly discussed
below.
Future
cash inflows and future production and development costs are determined by
applying benchmark prices and costs, including transportation, quality, and
basis differentials, in effect at year-end to the year-end estimated quantities
of oil and gas to be produced in the future. Each property the Company operates
is also charged with field-level overhead in the estimated reserve calculation.
Estimated future income taxes are computed using current statutory income tax
rates, including consideration for estimated future statutory depletion. The
resulting future net cash flows are reduced to present value amounts by applying
a 10% annual discount factor.
Future
operating costs are determined based on estimates of expenditures to be incurred
in developing and producing the proved oil and gas reserves in place at the
end
of the period, using year-end costs and assuming continuation of existing
economic conditions, plus Company overhead incurred by the central
administrative office attributable to operating activities.
F-23
The
assumptions used to compute the standardized measure are those prescribed by
the
FASB and the SEC. These assumptions do not necessarily reflect the Company’s
expectations of actual revenues to be derived from those reserves, nor their
present value. The limitations inherent in the reserve quantity estimation
process, as discussed previously, are equally applicable to the standardized
measure computations since these estimates are the basis for the valuation
process. The price, as adjusted for transportation, quality, and basis
differentials, used in the calculation of the standardized measure was $95.49
and $53.47 per barrel of oil for the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. The Company did not have natural gas reserves during the year
ended March 31, 2008, and did not have crude oil or natural gas reserves
during the year ended March 31, 2006.
The
following summary sets forth the Company’s future net cash flows relating to
proved oil and gas reserves based on the standardized measure prescribed in
SFAS
No. 69:
|
As
of
March 31,
2008
|
As
of
March 31,
2007
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
Future
cash inflows
|
$
|
124,164,000
|
$
|
68,397,000
|
|||
Future
production costs
|
(58,283,000
|
)
|
(38,185,000
|
)
|
|||
Future
development costs
|
(2,007,000
|
)
|
(2,005,000
|
)
|
|||
Future
income taxes
|
-
|
- | |||||
Future
net cash flows
|
63,874,000
|
28,207,000
|
|||||
10%
annual discount
|
(32,946,000
|
)
|
(15,088,000
|
)
|
|||
Standardized
measure of discounted future net cash flows
|
$
|
30,928,000
|
$
|
13,119,000
|
The
principal sources of change in the standardized measure of discounted future
net
cash flows are:
|
For
the year
ended
March 31,
2008
|
For
the year
ended
March 31,
2007
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
Standardized
measure of discounted future net cash flows, beginning of
year
|
$
|
13,119,000
|
$
|
-
|
|||
Sales
of oil and gas produced, net of production costs
|
(2,666,
000
|
)
|
(325,000)
|
)
|
|||
Net
changes in prices and production costs
|
17,737,000
|
3,413,000
|
|||||
Purchase
of minerals in-place
|
-
|
8,479,000
|
|||||
Revisions
of previous quantity estimates
|
2,464,000
|
2,611,000
|
|||||
Accretion
of discount
|
1,312,000
|
212,000
|
|||||
Changes
in timing and other
|
(1,038,000
|
)
|
(1,271,000 | ) | |||
Standardized
measure of discounted future net cash flows, end of year
|
$
|
30,928,000
|
$
|
13,119,000
|
Note
10—Related Party Transaction
There
were no related party transactions during the year ended March 31, 2008. In
December 2006, the Company acquired artwork for $7,500 from the Company’s
President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of
Directors.
Note
11—Subsequent Events
On
April
21, 2008 we
executed
a letter of intent with two experienced oil and gas operators, the terms of
which called for the investment of up to $83.5 million to earn up to a 55%
interest in the fields and provisions for the construction of a pipeline from
the source of the ExxonMobil CO2
to
our
three fields. Due diligence and formal contract negotiations are ongoing with
these potential partners.
F-24
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The
Board
of Directors and Stockholders
Nielson
& Associates, Inc.:
We
have
audited the accompanying carve out statement of operations, changes in owner’s
net investment, and cash flows of South Cole Creek and South Glenrock operations
for the period from January 1, 2006 to December 21, 2006. These financial
statements are the responsibility of Nielson & Associates, Inc.’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that
we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining,
on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the carve out results of operations and cash flows of
South
Cole Creek and South Glenrock operations for the period from January 1, 2006
to
December 21, 2006, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
/s/
KPMG
LLP
Billings,
Montana
June
29,
2007
F-25
Carve
Out Statement of Operations
From
January 1, 2006
to
December 21,
2006
|
||||
Revenue:
|
||||
Oil
sales
|
$
|
4,488,315
|
||
Operating
expenses:
|
||||
Lease
operating expense
|
2,944,287
|
|||
Production
taxes
|
493,956
|
|||
General
and administrative
|
567,524
|
|||
Depreciation,
depletion, and amortization
|
952,784
|
|||
Accretion
of asset retirement obligations
|
107,504
|
|||
Total
operating expenses
|
5,066,055
|
|||
Net
income (loss)
|
$
|
(577,740
|
)
|
F-26
South
Cole Creek and South Glenrock Operations
Carve
Out Statement of Changes in Owner’s Net Investment
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
$
|
10,951,264
|
||
Owner’s
contributions, net
|
2,059,445
|
|||
Net
loss
|
(577,740
|
)
|
||
Balance
at December 21, 2006
|
$
|
12,432,969
|
F-27
South
Cole Creek and South Glenrock Operations
Carve
Out Statement of Cash Flows
From January 1,
2006 to
December 21,
2006
|
||||
Operating
activities:
|
||||
Net
(loss)
|
$
|
(577,740
|
)
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net (loss) to net cash provided by operating
activities
|
||||
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization
|
952,784
|
|||
Accretion
of asset retirement obligations
|
107,504
|
|||
Change
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||
Accounts
receivable
|
(227
|
)
|
||
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
304,603
|
|||
Production
taxes payable
|
127,738
|
|||
Settlement
of asset retirement obligations
|
(482,369
|
)
|
||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
432,293
|
|||
Investing
activities:
|
||||
Acquisition
of oil and gas properties
|
-
|
|||
Exploration
and development expenditures
|
(2,491,738
|
)
|
||
Net
cash used for investing activities
|
(2,491,738
|
)
|
||
Financing
activities:
|
||||
Contributions
from owner, net
|
2,059,445
|
|||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
2,059,445
|
|||
Net
increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
-
|
|||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
-
|
|||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$
|
-
|
||
Non-cash
investing activities:
|
||||
Increase
in asset retirement obligations
|
$
|
-
|
F-28
Note
1 – Basis of Presentation
The
accompanying Historical Financial Statements (the “Historical Statements”) and
related notes thereto are presented on an accrual basis, and represent the,
results of operations, cash flows, and changes in owner’s net investment
attributable to Nielson & Associates, Inc.’s (“Nielson” or the “Company”)
interests in certain producing oil properties located in Converse County,
Wyoming (the “Acquisition Properties”). Nielson acquired the Acquisition
Properties from Continental Industries, LC on September 1, 2004 and subsequently
sold the Acquisition Properties to Rancher Energy Corp. on December 22, 2006.
The Historical Statements were prepared from the historical accounting records
of Nielson and reflect the financial position, results of operations and cash
flows for the period of time the Acquisition Properties were owned by Nielson.
Accordingly, the Historical Statements do not give effect to the sale of the
properties to Rancher Energy Corp.
The
Acquisition Properties were not operated as a separate business unit within
Nielson. Accordingly, the Historical Statements have been prepared on a “carve
out” basis and Owner’s Net Investment is presented in place of stockholders’
equity. The Historical Statements have been prepared in accordance with
Regulation S-X, Article 3 “General instructions to financial statements” and
Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 1-B1 “Costs reflected in historical
financial statements.” The accompanying Historical Statements include an
allocation of certain corporate services, including accounting, finance, legal,
information systems and human resources. As a result, certain assumptions and
estimates were made in order to allocate a reasonable share of such expenses
so
that the accompanying Historical Statements reflect substantially all the costs
of doing business. The allocations and related estimates and assumptions are
described more fully in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies.
The
operating results and cash flows included in the Historical Statements are
not
necessarily indicative of future results due to the change in business and
in
operating expenses.
Note
2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use
of
Estimates
Preparing
Historical Statements in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. The more
significant areas that required the use of management’s estimates and judgments
relate to preparation of estimates of oil and gas reserves, the use of these
oil
and gas reserves in calculating depreciation, depletion and amortization, the
use of estimates of future net revenues in computing impairments and estimates
of abandonment obligations used in such calculations and in recording asset
retirement obligations. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company recognizes revenues from oil sales based upon actual volumes sold to
purchasers.
Oil
Properties
The
Acquisition Properties are accounted for using the successful efforts method
of
accounting for oil properties under Statement of Accounting Standards (“SFAS”)
No. 19, “Financial Accounting and Reporting by Oil and Gas Producing Companies”
(“SFAS 19”). Under this method, costs of productive exploratory wells,
development wells and undeveloped leases are capitalized. Oil and gas lease
acquisition costs are also capitalized. Exploration costs, including personnel
costs, geological and geophysical expenses and delay rentals for oil and gas
leases, are charged to expense as incurred. Costs associated with drilling
exploratory wells are initially capitalized pending determination of whether
the
well is economically productive or nonproductive.
If
an
exploratory well does not find reserves or does not find reserves in a
sufficient quantity as to make them economically producible, the previously
capitalized costs are expensed in the accompanying Historical Statements of
Operations in the period in which the determination was made. If a determination
cannot be made within one year of the exploratory well being drilled and no
other drilling or exploration activities to evaluate the discovery are firmly
planned, all previously capitalized costs associated with the exploratory well
are expensed. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance to sustain or increase
production from the existing producing reservoir are charged to expense as
incurred. Expenditures to recomplete a current well in a different unproved
reservoir are capitalized pending determination that economic reserves have
been
added. If the recompletion is not successful, the expenditures are charged
to
expense.
Significant
tangible equipment added or replaced is capitalized. Expenditures to construct
facilities or increase the productive capacity from existing reserves are
capitalized. Capitalized costs are amortized on a unit-of-production basis
based
on the proved reserves attributable to the properties.
F-29
Note
2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(continued)
Oil
Properties (continued)
The
costs
of retired, sold, or abandoned properties that constitute part of an
amortization base are charged or credited, net of proceeds received, to the
accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization (“DD&A”) reserve.
Gains or losses from the disposal of other properties are recognized currently.
Independent
reserve engineers estimate reserves once a year as of December 31. These reserve
estimates have been used to calculate DD&A expense for each of the periods
presented in the accompanying carve out financial statements.
In
accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of
Long-Lived Assets”, an impairment of capitalized costs of long-lived assets to
be held and used, including proved oil and natural gas properties, must be
assessed whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value
of
the asset may not be recoverable. If impairment is indicated based on a
comparison of the asset’s carrying value to its undiscounted expected future net
cash flows, then it is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds
fair value. Expected future net cash flows are based on existing proved reserves
and production information and pricing assumptions that management believes
are
reasonable. There have been no impairments of oil and gas properties recorded
in
the Historical Statements.
Asset
Retirement Obligations
The
Company has adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 143 (SFAS 143), Accounting
for Asset Retirement Obligations. SFAS
143
requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset
retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. For oil and natural
gas properties, this is the period in which an oil or natural gas property
is
acquired or a new well is drilled. An amount equal to and offsetting the
liability is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of oil and natural
gas
properties at its discounted fair value. The liability is then accreted up
by
recording accretion expense each period until the liability is settled or the
well is sold. Estimates are based on historical experience in plugging and
abandoning wells and estimated remaining lives of those wells based on reserve
estimates.
Income
Taxes
The
operations of Acquisition Properties are currently included in the federal
income tax return of Nielson, which is a limited partnership that is not subject
to federal income taxes. Therefore, no income taxes have been provided for
in
the Historical Statements.
F-30
Note
2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(continued)
Allocation
of Costs
A
related-party entity provides general and administrative (G&A) services to
Nielson and charges the associated cost of salaries and benefits, depreciation,
rent, accounting and legal services and other G&A expenses to Nielson under
agreed-upon terms. The accompanying financial statements include an allocation
of G&A expenses incurred by Nielson in the management of the Acquisition
Properties.
The
allocation of G&A expense is based on a combination of factors including
production, revenue, operating expenses and capital expenditures attributable
to
the Acquisition Properties as compared to those factors for all properties
owned
by Nielson during the respective periods. In management’s opinion, the
allocation methodologies used are reasonable and result in an allocation of
the
cost of doing business borne by Nielson on behalf of the Acquisition Properties;
however, these allocations may not be indicative of the cost of future
operations.
Earnings
Per Share
During
the periods presented, the Acquisition Properties were wholly owned by Nielson.
Accordingly, earnings per share amounts have not been presented.
Note
3 – Asset Retirement Obligations
The
Company’s asset retirement obligations consist of costs related to the plugging
of wells, the removal of facilities and equipment, and site restoration of
oil
and gas properties. The following table summarizes the activity in the Company’s
asset retirement obligation (ARO) liability:
From
January
1, 2006
to
December
21,
2006
|
||||
ARO
liability- beginning of period
|
$
|
1,343,804
|
||
ARO
liabilities assumed in acquisitions
|
-
|
|||
ARO
liabilities incurred in the current period
|
-
|
|||
ARO
liabilities settled in the current period
|
(482,369
|
)
|
||
Accretion
expense
|
107,504
|
|||
ARO
liability - end of period
|
$
|
968,939
|
F-31
Note
4 – Concentrations
Major
purchasers, and the approximate percentage of revenue for each, during the
period is as follows:
From
January 1, 2006
to
December 21,
2006
|
||||
Customer
A
|
-
|
|||
Customer
B
|
58
|
%
|
||
Customer
C
|
42
|
%
|
Note
5 – Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Oil Properties Reserves
(Unaudited)
Supplemental
oil reserve information related to the operations of the Acquisition Properties
is presented in accordance with the requirements of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 69, “Disclosures about Oil and Gas Producing
Activities” (SFAS No. 69). There are numerous uncertainties inherent in
estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting the future rates
of
production and timing of development expenditures.
Costs
Incurred -
The
following table sets forth the capitalized costs incurred in the Company’s oil
production, exploration, and development activities:
From
January 1, 2006 to
December 31,
2006
|
||||
Acquisition
of proved properties
|
$
|
-
|
||
Acquisition
of unproved properties
|
-
|
|||
Exploration
costs
|
-
|
|||
Development
costs
|
2,491,738
|
|||
Total
costs incurred for acquisition, exploration and development
activities
|
$
|
2,491,738
|
F-32
Note
5 – Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Oil Properties Reserves (Unaudited)
(continued)
Estimated
Proved Reserves - Proved
oil reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil that geological and
engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in
future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating
conditions, i.e. prices and costs at the date the estimate is made.
Proved
developed oil reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered through
existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil
expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other
improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural forces and mechanisms
of primary recovery are included as “proved developed reserves” only after
testing by a pilot project or after the operations of an installed program
has
confirmed through production response that the increased recovery will be
achieved.
Following
is a summary of the proved developed and total proved oil reserves, in barrels
of oil, attributed to the operations of the Acquisition Properties. In
management’s opinion, the reserves estimates at December 31, 2006 were
approximately the same as those at December 21, 2006, the date the Acquisition
Properties were sold.
Proved
developed and undeveloped reserves:
Proved
reserves:
|
Year
Ended
December
31,
2006
|
|||
Beginning
of period
|
1,588,713
|
|||
Purchases
of minerals in place
|
-
|
|||
Revisions
of estimates
|
(487,469
|
)
|
||
Extensions
and discoveries
|
-
|
|||
Production
|
(73,076
|
)
|
||
End
of period
|
1,028,168
|
|||
Proved
Developed Reserves
|
827,487
|
Standardized
Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
Future
oil sales and production and development costs have been estimated using prices
and costs in effect at the end of the periods indicated. The weighted average
period-end prices used for the Acquisition Properties at December 31, 2006
were
$47.94, per barrel of oil. Future cash inflows were reduced by estimated future
development, abandonment and production costs based on period-end costs. No
deductions were made for general overhead, depreciation, depletion and
amortization, or any indirect costs. All cash flows amounts are discounted
at 10
percent.
F-33
Note
5 – Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Oil Properties Reserves (Unaudited)
(continued)
Standardized
Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
(continued)
Changes
in the demand for oil, inflation, and other factors made such estimates
inherently imprecise and subject to substantial revision. This table should
not
be construed to be an estimate of current market value of the proved reserves
attributable to the Acquisition Properties.
The
estimated standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating
to
proved reserves at December 31, 2006is shown below:
December
31, 2006
|
||||
Future
cash inflows
|
$
|
47,317,344
|
||
Future
production costs
|
(29,851,344
|
)
|
||
Future
development costs
|
(2,004,287
|
)
|
||
Future
net cash flows
|
15,461,713
|
|||
10
percent annual discount
|
(7,666,089
|
)
|
||
Standardized
measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved
reserves
|
$
|
7,795,624
|
F-34
Note
5 – Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Oil Properties Reserves (Unaudited)
(continued)
Standardized
Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows
(continued)
The
following reconciles the change in the standardized measure of discounted future
net cash flows during the period ended December 31, 2006 :
From
January
1, 2006 to
December
31, 2006
|
||||
Beginning
of period
|
$
|
16,972,799
|
||
Purchases
of reserves in place
|
-
|
|||
Revisions
of previous estimates
|
(3,763,013
|
)
|
||
Extensions
and discoveries
|
-
|
|||
Changes
in future development costs, net
|
300,000
|
|||
Net
change in prices
|
(5,731,580
|
)
|
||
Sales
of oil, net of production costs
|
(1,050,072
|
)
|
||
Changes
in timing and other
|
(629,790
|
)
|
||
Accretion
of discount
|
1,697,280
|
|||
End
of period
|
$
|
7,795,624
|
F-35