TELLURIAN INC. /DE/ - Quarter Report: 2008 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
(MARK
ONE)
R
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
|
For
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008
£
|
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 1-5507
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
|
06-0842255
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
|
10
Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut
|
06106
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
(860)
293-2006
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. R Yes £
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). £ Yes R
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated
filer o Accelerated
filero
Non-accelerated
filer þ Smaller
reporting companyo
(Do not
check if a smaller reporting company)
The
number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s single class of common stock as of
May 8, 2008 was 41,500,325.
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
March 31,
2008
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
PAGE
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PART
I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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3
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3
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4
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5
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6
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10
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16
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ITEM
4 Controls and Procedures
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17
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PART
II — OTHER INFORMATION
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ITEM
1 Legal Proceedings
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18
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18
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ITEM
6 Exhibits
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19
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19
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20
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21
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EX-31:
CERTIFICATIONS
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21
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EX-32:
CERTIFICATIONS
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22
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2
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
PART I -
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31,
2008
|
JUNE
30,
2007
|
|||||||
(UNAUDITED)
|
(NOTE)
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Current
assets:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 25,969,118 | $ | 28,470,448 | ||||
Accounts
receivable — Trade (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $88,828 and
$69,658 at March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2007, respectively)
|
6,691,969 | 5,044,258 | ||||||
Marketable
securities
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2,418,884 | 2,974,280 | ||||||
Inventories
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1,278,070 | 702,356 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
416,428 | 378,808 | ||||||
Total
current assets
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36,774,469 | 37,570,150 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
1,780,742 | 2,300,830 | ||||||
Marketable
securities
|
250,000 | 1,403,987 | ||||||
Property
and equipment, net:
|
||||||||
Oil
and gas properties (successful efforts method)
|
132,094,982 | 120,734,449 | ||||||
Land,
buildings and equipment
|
3,140,188 | 2,846,433 | ||||||
Field
equipment
|
993,000 | 912,396 | ||||||
136,228,170 | 124,493,278 | |||||||
Less
accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization
|
(100,474,743 | ) | (84,172,522 | ) | ||||
Net
property and equipment
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35,753,427 | 40,320,756 | ||||||
Goodwill
|
4,020,706 | 4,020,706 | ||||||
Total
assets
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$ | 78,579,344 | $ | 85,616,429 | ||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ | 1,449,199 | $ | 5,313,653 | ||||
Accounts
payable-working interest partners
|
368,171 | 222,883 | ||||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
1,580,657 | 1,382,320 | ||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
214,112 | 1,647,137 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
3,612,139 | 8,565,993 | ||||||
Long
term liabilities:
|
||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
2,721,859 | 3,518,990 | ||||||
Other
long term liabilities
|
43,068 | 100,578 | ||||||
Asset
retirement obligations
|
10,884,307 | 9,456,088 | ||||||
Total
long term liabilities
|
13,649,234 | 13,075,656 | ||||||
Commitments
|
— | — | ||||||
Stockholders’
equity:
|
||||||||
Common
stock, par value $.01 per share:
|
||||||||
Authorized
200,000,000 shares, outstanding 41,500,325
|
415,001 | 415,001 | ||||||
Capital
in excess of par value
|
73,216,143 | 73,153,002 | ||||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(21,560,359 | ) | (13,965,849 | ) | ||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
9,247,186 | 4,372,626 | ||||||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
61,317,971 | 63,974,780 | ||||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
$ | 78,579,344 | $ | 85,616,429 |
Note: The
balance sheet at June 30, 2007 has been derived from the audited consolidated
financial statements at that date.
See
accompanying notes.
3
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
PART I - FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
ITEM 1
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
THREE MONTHS ENDED
March
31,
|
NINE MONTHS
ENDED
March
31,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
REVENUES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Oil
sales
|
$ | 4,442,241 | $ | 2,305,562 | $ | 14,062,782 | $ | 8,458,469 | ||||||||
Gas
sales
|
4,433,188 | 3,879,437 | 13,195,352 | 11,773,787 | ||||||||||||
Other
production related revenues
|
660,634 | 663,624 | 1,973,843 | 1,853,616 | ||||||||||||
Total
revenues
|
9,536,063 | 6,848,623 | 29,231,977 | 22,085,872 | ||||||||||||
COSTS
AND EXPENSES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Production
costs
|
1,801,975 | 1,535,250 | 6,425,232 | 5,132,656 | ||||||||||||
Exploration
and dry hole costs
|
334,651 | 1,568,280 | 3,072,242 | 4,541,543 | ||||||||||||
Salaries
and employee benefits
|
395,685 | 341,105 | 1,216,034 | 1,051,207 | ||||||||||||
Depletion,
depreciation and amortization
|
2,914,218 | 2,267,722 | 8,871,864 | 7,032,541 | ||||||||||||
Auditing,
accounting and legal services
|
215,394 | 114,106 | 773,497 | 438,115 | ||||||||||||
Accretion
expense
|
180,461 | 136,883 | 526,849 | 403,062 | ||||||||||||
Shareholder
communications
|
98,762 | 114,320 | 300,050 | 350,210 | ||||||||||||
Loss
(gain) on sale of field equipment
|
3,209 | (7,772 | ) | (23,748 | ) | (7,966 | ) | |||||||||
Other
administrative expenses
|
883,221 | 638,308 | 2,524,866 | 1,806,083 | ||||||||||||
Total
costs and expenses
|
6,827,576 | 6,708,202 | 23,686,886 | 20,747,451 | ||||||||||||
Operating
income
|
2,708,487 | 140,421 | 5,545,091 | 1,338,421 | ||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
500,121 | 437,780 | 1,559,200 | 1,208,693 | ||||||||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
3,208,608 | 578,201 | 7,104,291 | 2,547,114 | ||||||||||||
Income
tax provision
|
(1,520,165 | ) | (292,274 | ) | (14,698,801 | ) | (1,238,958 | ) | ||||||||
NET
INCOME (LOSS)
|
1,688,443 | 285,927 | (7,594,510 | ) | 1,308,156 | |||||||||||
Average
number of shares outstanding
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
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41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | ||||||||||||
Diluted
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41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | ||||||||||||
NET
INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE (BASIC AND DILUTED)
|
$ | 0.04 | $ | 0.01 | $ | (0.18 | ) | $ | 0.03 |
See
accompanying notes
4
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
PART I -
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
NINE MONTHS ENDED
March
31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
OPERATING
ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
(loss) income
|
$ | (7,594,510 | ) | 1,308,156 | ||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Gain
from sale of field equipment
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(23,748 | ) | (7,966 | ) | ||||
Depletion,
depreciation and amortization
|
8,871,864 | 7,032,541 | ||||||
Accretion
expense
|
526,849 | 403,062 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
(104,091 | ) | 1,489,402 | |||||
Stock
option expense
|
63,141 | 7,425 | ||||||
Exploration
and dry hole costs
|
2,987,642 | 4,175,072 | ||||||
Increase
(decrease) in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
(1,125,828 | ) | 481,149 | |||||
Other
assets
|
(37,620 | ) | (65,669 | ) | ||||
Inventories
|
(488,235 | ) | 60,385 | |||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
(3,557,981 | ) | (773,378 | ) | ||||
Income
taxes payable
|
(1,633,867 | ) | (950,714 | ) | ||||
Net
cash (used) provided by operating activities
|
(2,116,384 | ) | 13,159,465 | |||||
INVESTING
ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of field equipment
|
23,748 | 7,966 | ||||||
Additions
to property and equipment
|
(1,584,871 | ) | (5,712,509 | ) | ||||
Oil
and gas exploration activities
|
(2,987,642 | ) | (4,175,072 | ) | ||||
Marketable
securities matured
|
3,229,718 | 1,322,270 | ||||||
Marketable
securities purchased
|
(1,520,335 | ) | (4,761,442 | ) | ||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(2,839,382 | ) | (13,318,787 | ) | ||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
— | — | ||||||
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
2,454,436 | 2,822,762 | ||||||
Net
(decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
(2,501,330 | ) | 2,663,440 | |||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
28,470,448 | 21,882,882 | ||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
|
$ | 25,969,118 | $ | 24,546,322 | ||||
Cash
Payments:
|
||||||||
Income
taxes
|
12,544,235 | 987,946 | ||||||
Interest
|
3,893,014 | — | ||||||
Supplemental
Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing
Activities:
|
||||||||
Revision
to estimate of asset retirement obligations
|
42,882 | 224,044 | ||||||
Asset
retirement obligation liabilities incurred
|
— | 304,896 | ||||||
Accounts
payable related to property and equipment
|
1,100,954 | 1,165,368 | ||||||
See
accompanying notes.
5
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
PART I -
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1.
Basis of Presentation
Magellan
Petroleum Corporation (the “Company” or “MPC”) is engaged in the sale of oil and
gas and the exploration for and development of oil and gas reserves. MPC’s
principal asset is a 100% equity interest in its subsidiary, Magellan Petroleum
Australia Limited (“MPAL”). MPAL’s major assets are two petroleum production
leases covering the Mereenie oil and gas field (35% working interest), one
petroleum production lease covering the Palm Valley gas field (52% working
interest), three petroleum production leases covering the Nockatunga oil field
(41% working interest) and eleven licenses in the United Kingdom, three of which
are operating licenses. Both the Mereenie and Palm Valley fields are located in
the Amadeus Basin in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Nockatunga field
is located in the Cooper Basin in South Australia. The Palm Valley Darwin
contract expires in January, 2012 and the Mereenie contracts expire in June,
2009. The United Kingdom licenses are located in Southern England. MPC has a
direct 2.67% carried interest in the Kotaneelee gas field in the Yukon Territory
of Canada.
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of MPC and MPAL, collectively the Company, and have been prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and
Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the
information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles
for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments
considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All such
adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the three
and nine months ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the
results that may be expected for the year ending June 30, 2008. For further
information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes
thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
June 30, 2007. All amounts presented are in United States dollars, unless
otherwise noted.
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”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring
fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures
about fair value measurements. This Statement applies under other accounting
pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the FASB having
previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the
relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, this Statement does not require any
new fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for the Company beginning
July 1, 2008 for financial asset and liabilities and July 1, 2009 for
nonfinancial assets and liabilities. The Company is currently evaluating the
impact, if any, the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on its consolidated financial
position, results of operations and cash flows.
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”). SFAS 159 provides companies with an option to report selected
financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and
losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in
earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is effective for the
Company beginning July 1, 2008. The Company is currently in the process of
evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 159 on its consolidated financial
statements.
|
Note
2. Stock Options
|
The
Company’s Stock Option Plan provides for options to be granted at a price of not
less than fair value on the date of grant and for a term of not greater than ten
years. As of March 31, 2008, 295,000 options were available for future issuance
under the Plan.
The
following is a summary of option transactions for the period from June 30, 2006
through March 31, 2008:
Options Outstanding
|
Expiration
Dates
|
Number of
Shares
|
Exercise Prices ($)
|
Fair Value at
Grant
Date
|
|||||||||
June
30, 2006 and 2007
|
430,000 |
(1.59
weighted average price)
|
|||||||||||
Granted
|
Feb. 2018
|
100,000 | 1.16 | $ | 63,141 | ||||||||
March
31, 2008
|
530,000 |
(1.51
weighted average price)
|
The
weighted average remaining contractual term as of March 31, 2008 is 7.5
years.
6
Summary
of Options Outstanding at March 31, 2008
Expiration
Dates
|
Total
|
Vested
|
Exercise
Prices($)
|
||||||||||
Granted
fiscal year 2004
|
Jul. 2014
|
30,000 | 30,000 | 1.45 | |||||||||
Granted
fiscal year 2006
|
Nov. 2015
|
400,000 | 400,000 | 1.60 | |||||||||
Granted
fiscal year 2008
|
Feb. 2018
|
100,000 | 100,000 | 1.16 |
All of
the options have been granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market
valueof the Company’s stock at the date of grant. Upon exercise of options, the
excess of the proceeds over the par value of the shares issued is credited to
capital in excess of par value. For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007, the Company recorded stock-based compensation expense for the cost of
stock options of $63,141 and $2,475 (or $.00 per basic and diluted share),
respectively. Vested options are exercisable during non black out periods. This
expense has no effect on cash flow. As of March 31, 2008, there was $0 of total
unrecognized compensation costs related to stock options.
The
Company determined the fair value of the options at the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model. Option valuation models require the input of
highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. The
assumptions used to value the Company’s grants on February 18, 2008 were as
follows:
Risk
free interest rate
|
3.20 | % | ||
Expected
life
|
10 years
|
|||
Expected
volatility (based on historical price)
|
.611 | |||
Expected
dividend
|
$ | 0 |
The
expected life of the options granted on February 18, 2008 was determined under
the “simplified” method described in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No.
107.
Note 3.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Total
comprehensive income (loss) during the three and nine month periods ended March
31, 2008 and 2007 was as follows:
THREE
MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
|
NINE
MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME
|
||||||||||||||||
Balance
at June 30, 2007
|
$ | 4,372,626 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income
(loss)
|
$ | 1,688,443 | $ | 285,927 | $ | (7,594,510 | ) | $ | 1,308,156 | |||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustments
|
2,719,950 | 1,349,791 | 4,874,560 | 5,136,379 | 4,874,560 | |||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income (loss)
|
$ | 4,408,393 | $ | 1,635,718 | $ | (2,719,950 | ) | $ | 6,444,535 | |||||||||||
Balance
at March 31, 2008
|
$ | 9,247,186 |
Note 4.
Earnings (Loss) per Share
Earnings
per common share are based upon the weighted average number of common and common
equivalent shares outstanding during the period. The only reconciling item in
the calculation of diluted EPS is the dilutive effect of stock options which
were computed using the treasury stock method. On February 18, 2008, the Company
issued 100,000 stock options with an exercise price of $1.16. The
options vested in full upon issuance and will expire on February 18,
2018.
For the
nine month period ended March 31, 2008, the Company had 100,000 outstanding
options that were issued that had a strike price below the average stock price
for the period and resulted in 1,695 incremental diluted shares for the
respective period. Since the Company incurred a loss from operations, the
incremental shares are anti-dilutive.
For the
three month period ended March 31, 2008, the Company 's 530,000 stock options
issued were anti-dilutive because the strike price was below the average
stock price for the period. Accordingly, there were no other dilutive items for
the respective period.
During
the three and nine month periods ended March 31, 2007, the Company did not issue
any stock options. At March 31, 2007, the Company did not have any stock options
that were issued that had a stock price below the average stock price for the
period. Accordingly, there were no other dilutive items at March 31,
2007.
7
Note 5.
Segment Information
The
Company has two reportable segments, MPC and its wholly owned subsidiary, MPAL.
The Company’s chief operating decision maker is Daniel J. Samela (President,
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting and Financial Officer) who reviews
the results of the MPC and MPAL businesses on a regular basis. MPC and MPAL both
engage in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur
expenses. MPAL and its subsidiaries are considered one segment. Although there
is discreet information available below the MPAL level, their products and
services, production processes, market distribution and customers are similar in
nature. In addition, MPAL has a management team which focuses on drilling
efforts, capital expenditures and other operational activities.
Segment
information (in thousands) for the Company’s two operating segments is as
follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
|
NINE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||||||||||
MPC
|
$ | 60 | $ | — | $ | 151 | $ | 2 | ||||||||
MPAL
|
9,476 | 6,849 | 29,081 | 22,084 | ||||||||||||
Total
consolidated revenues
|
$ | 9,536 | $ | 6,849 | $ | 29,232 | $ | 22,086 | ||||||||
Net income(loss):
|
||||||||||||||||
MPC
|
$ | (515 | ) | $ | (375 | ) | $ | (1,659 | ) | $ | (1,230 | ) | ||||
MPAL
|
2,203 | 661 | (5,936 | ) | 2,538 | |||||||||||
Consolidated
net income (loss)
|
$ | 1,688 | $ | 286 | $ | (7,595 | ) | $ | 1,308 |
Note 6.
Exploration and Dry Hole Costs
These
costs relate primarily to the exploration work being performed on MPAL’s
properties. During the nine months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company
incurred dry hole costs of $1,457,000 and $2,630,688, respectively, in the
Cooper Basin.
Note 7.
Asset Retirement Obligations
A
reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement obligations for the nine months
ended March 31, 2008 was as follows:
Balance
at July 1, 2007
|
$ | 9,456,088 | ||
Liabilities
incurred
|
— | |||
Liabilities
settled
|
— | |||
Accretion
expense
|
526,849 | |||
Revisions
to estimate
|
42,882 | |||
Exchange
effect
|
858,488 | |||
Balance
at March 31, 2008
|
$ | 10,884,307 |
Note 8.
Income Taxes
As
previously disclosed, the Australian Taxation Office (“ATO”) conducted an audit
of the Australian income tax returns of MPAL and its wholly owned subsidiaries
for the years 1997- 2005. The ATO audit focused on certain income tax deductions
claimed by Paroo Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (“PPPL”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MPAL
related to the write-off of outstanding loans made by PPPL to other entities
within the MPAL group of companies. As a result of this audit, the ATO in August
2007 issued “position papers” which set forth its opinions that these previous
deductions should be disallowed, resulting in additional income taxes being
payable by MPAL and its subsidiaries. In the position papers, the ATO sets out
its legal basis for its conclusions. The ATO indicated in its position papers
that the increase in taxes arising from its proposed positions would be (Aus)
$13,392,460 plus possible interest and penalties, which could have exceeded the
amount of the increased taxes asserted by the ATO.
In a
comprehensive audit conducted by the ATO in the period 1992-94, the ATO
concluded that PPPL was carrying on business as a money lender and accordingly,
should, for taxation purposes, account for its interest income on an accrual
basis rather than a cash basis. MPAL accepted this conclusion and from that
point has been determining its annual Australian taxation liability on this
basis (including claiming deductions for bad debts as a money
lender).
Recently,
the ATO has taken a more aggressive approach with respect to its views regarding
income tax deductions attributable to in-house finance companies. Since this
change in approach, the ATO has commenced audits of a number of companies
involving, among other issues, the appropriate treatment of bad debt deductions
taken by in-house finance companies. Magellan understands that, at this time,
while there have been negotiated settlements in relation to some of these
audits, none of them has reached final resolution in court.
8
Based
upon the advice of Australian tax counsel, the Company and the ATO held
settlement discussions concerning this matter during the quarter ended December
31, 2007. In order to avoid a protracted and costly legal battle with the ATO,
diversion of company management and resources away from Company business and the
possibility of significantly higher payments with a loss in court, the Company
decided to settle this matter. On December 19, 2007, MPAL reached a non-binding
agreement in principle to settle this dispute for an aggregate settlement
payment by MPAL to the ATO of (Aus) $14,641,994. The aggregate settlement
payment was comprised of (Aus) $10,340,796 in amended taxes and (Aus) $4,301,198
of interest on the amended taxes. No penalties were to be assessed as part of
the terms of the settlement. The agreement in principle to settle the dispute
was conditioned upon MPAL and the ATO agreeing on formal terms of settlement in
a binding agreement (the Deed of Settlement) which the parties agreed to
negotiate and sign promptly. As further agreed by the parties, the
ATO issued assessments for the agreed upon amended tax liabilities in January,
2008. Under the final terms of the Deed of Settlement signed by the
parties on February 7, 2008, MPAL agreed not to object to or appeal the ATO’s
amended assessments. The Deed of Settlement with the ATO constitutes a complete
release and extinguishment of the tax liabilities of MPAL and its subsidiaries
with respect to the amended assessments and the prior bad debt
deductions.
On
January 21, 2008 MPAL paid (Aus) $5,000,000 to the ATO as a deposit towards this
settlement. The remaining (Aus) $9,641,994 was paid by MPAL on February 14,
2008. As agreed upon by the parties, the matter is now closed.
Both the
amended taxes and interest in the amount of (US) $13,252,469 has been recorded
as part of the income tax provision for the nine months ended March 31, 2008
($.31 per share).
FASB
Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”)
is an interpretation of SFAS 109 and was adopted by the Company on July 1, 2007.
Under FIN 48, a company recognizes an uncertain tax position (“UTP”) based on
whether it is more likely than not that the UTP will be sustained upon
examination by the appropriate taxing authority, including resolution of any
related appeals or litigation processes, based solely on the technical merits of
the position. In evaluating whether a UTP has met the more-likely-than-not
recognition threshold, a company must presume that its positions will be
examined by the appropriate taxing authority that has full knowledge of all
relevant information. The second step of FIN 48 adoption is measurement. A UTP
that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured to
determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The
UTP is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent
likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. A UTP is not recognized if it
does not meet the more-likely-than-not threshold.
Upon the
adoption of FIN 48, MPAL received a legal opinion from its Australian tax
counsel that concluded that the Company would be more likely than not to sustain
these deductions in court. Australian tax counsel also advised the
Company that 100% of the tax benefit of these deductions is the largest amount
of the benefit that would be more than 50% likely to be realized. As
a result, the Company recorded no liability for this UTP prior to the settlement
which was negotiated in December, 2007.
The
components of the income tax (in thousands) between MPC and MPAL are as
follows:
3
MONTHS ENDED
March 31
|
9
MONTHS ENDED
March 31
|
|||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
$ | 3,209 | $ | 578 | $ | 7,104 | $ | 2,547 | ||||||||
Tax
at 30%
|
963 | 173 | 2,131 | 764 | ||||||||||||
MPC’s
non Australian loss
|
150 | 108 | 487 | 364 | ||||||||||||
Non-taxable
Australian revenue
|
(113 | ) | (113 | ) | (338 | ) | (312 | ) | ||||||||
Depletion
on step up basis – oil & gas properties
|
9 | 108 | 28 | 401 | ||||||||||||
Other
permanent differences
|
2 | — | 14 | 6 | ||||||||||||
ATO
assessment of prior year taxes, net of interest expense
benefit
|
379 | — | 12,085 | — | ||||||||||||
Increase
in valuation reserve for foreign (UK) exploration
expenditures
|
115 | — | 255 | — | ||||||||||||
Australian
income tax provision
|
1,505 | 276 | 14,662 | 1,223 | ||||||||||||
MPC
income tax provision(a)
|
15 | 16 | 37 | 16 | ||||||||||||
Consolidated
income tax provision
|
$ | 1,520 | $ | 292 | $ | 14,699 | $ | 1,239 | ||||||||
Current
income tax provision
|
$ | 2,144 | $ | 14 | $ | 14,803 | $ | 72 | ||||||||
Deferred
income tax (benefit) provision
|
(624 | ) | 278 | (104 | ) | 1,167 | ||||||||||
Income
tax provision
|
$ | 1,520 | $ | 292 | $ | 14,699 | $ | 1,239 | ||||||||
Effective
tax rate
|
47 | % | 51 | % | 207 | % | 49 | % |
|
___________
|
(a)
|
MPC’s
income tax provisions represent the 25% Canadian withholding tax on its
Kotaneelee gas field carried interest net proceeds and 10% Australian
withholding tax on interest income from intercompany
loans.
|
9
The
Company has made a policy election that interest and penalty costs, if incurred,
will be classified as a component of the income tax provision in the Company’s
financial statements. The tax years that remain open and subject to examination
by tax jurisdictions are fiscal 2004 to present in the United States and fiscal
1996 to present in Australia except for the issues agreed upon in the Deed of
Settlement discussed above which are now closed.
ITEM 2
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
FORWARD
LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements
included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and
are hereby identified as, forward looking statements for purposes of the “Safe
Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The Company cautions readers that forward looking statements are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements. The results
reflect fully consolidated financial statements of MPC and MPAL. Among these
risks and uncertainties are the pricing and production levels from the
properties in which the Company has interests and the extent of the recoverable
reserves at those properties. In addition, the Company has a large number of
exploration permits and faces the risk that any wells drilled may fail to
encounter hydrocarbons in commercially recoverable quantities. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
CRITICAL
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Oil and
Gas Properties
The
Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting for its oil and gas
operations. Under this method, the costs of successful wells, development dry
holes, productive leases and permit and concession costs are capitalized and
amortized on a units-of-production basis over the life of the related reserves.
Cost centers for amortization purposes are determined on a field-by-field basis.
The Company records its proportionate share in joint venture operations in the
respective classifications of assets, liabilities and expenses. Unproved
properties with significant acquisition costs are periodically assessed for
impairment in value, with any impairment charged to expense. The successful
efforts method also imposes limitations on the carrying or book value of proved
oil and gas properties. Oil and gas properties are reviewed for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts
may not be recoverable. The Company estimates the future undiscounted cash flows
from the affected properties to determine the recoverability of carrying
amounts. In general, analyses are based on proved developed reserves, except in
circumstances where it is probable that additional resources will be developed
and contribute to cash flows in the future. For Mereenie and Palm Valley, proved
developed reserves are limited to contracted quantities. If such contracts are
extended, the proved developed reserves will be increased to the lesser of the
actual proved developed reserves or the contracted quantities.
Exploratory
drilling costs are initially capitalized pending determination of proved
reserves but are charged to expense if no proved reserves are found. Other
exploration costs, including geological and geophysical expenses, leasehold
expiration costs and delay rentals, are expensed as incurred. Because the
Company follows the successful efforts method of accounting, the results of
operations may vary materially from quarter to quarter. An active exploration
program may result in greater exploration and dry hole costs.
Income
Taxes
The
Company follows Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement No. 109,
“Accounting for Income Taxes” (“SFAS 109”), the liability method in accounting
for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of
assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws
that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company
records a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when it is more likely
than not that such assets will not be recovered.
FASB
Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”)
is an interpretation of SFAS 109 and was adopted by the Company July
1, 2007. FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for recognizing, measuring,
presenting, and disclosing in the financial statements uncertain tax positions
that the company has taken or expects to take in its tax returns. Under FIN 48,
the Company is able to recognize a tax position based on whether it is more
likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination,
including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on
the technical merits of the position. In evaluating whether a tax position has
met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company has presumed
that its positions will be examined by the appropriate taxing authority that has
full knowledge of all relevant information. The second step of FIN 48 adoption
is measurement. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition
threshold is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the
10
financial
statements. The tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that
is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. An
uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it does not meet the
more-likely-than-not threshold. To appropriately account for income
tax matters in accordance with SFAS 109 and FIN 48, the Company is required to
make significant judgments and estimates regarding the recoverability of
deferred tax assets, the likelihood of the outcome of examinations of tax
positions that may or may not be currently under review and potential scenarios
involving settlements of such matters. Changes in these estimates could
materially impact the consolidated financial statements.
Nondepletable
Assets
At March
31, 2008 and June 30, 2007, oil and gas properties include $6.2 million and
$14.8 million, respectively, of capitalized costs that are currently not being
depleted. These amounts consist of $1.8 million and $1.6 million,
respectively, related to PEL 106 in the Cooper Basin which were capitalized
during the year ended June 30, 2006. These amounts remain capitalized
because the related well has sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its
completion as a producing well. Efforts are currently being made to market the
gas from this well. At June 30, 2007, nondepletable assets also include $8.8
million of costs relating to drilling in the Nockatunga field which were
capitalized as well costs pending the start of production. Depletion
of these costs commenced in the quarter ended September 30, 2007 when production
started. In addition, as of March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2007
capitalized costs not currently being depleted include $4.4 million associated
with exploration permits and licenses in Australia and the U.K. The Company
evaluates exploration permits and licenses annually or whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. The
Company estimates the value of these assets based upon drilling activity,
estimated cash flow and commitments.
Goodwill
Goodwill
is not amortized. The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment annually or
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may
be impaired in accordance with methodologies prescribed in Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”
(“SFAS 142”). The Company estimates future cash flows to determine if any
impairment has occurred. There were no indicators of impairment during the
quarter ended March 31, 2008. The annual impairment test will be performed in
the fourth quarter.
Asset
Retirement Obligations
Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations” (“SFAS 143”) requires legal obligations associated with the
retirement of long-lived assets to be recognized at their fair value at the time
that the obligations are incurred. Upon initial recognition of a liability, that
cost is capitalized as part of the related long-lived asset (oil & gas
properties) and amortized on a units-of-production basis over the life of the
related reserves. Accretion expense in connection with the discounted liability
is recognized over the remaining life of the related reserves.
The
estimated liability is based on the future estimated cost of land reclamation,
plugging the existing oil and gas wells and removing the surface facilities
equipment in the Palm Valley, Mereenie, Nockatunga and the Cooper Basin fields.
The liability is a discounted liability using a credit-adjusted risk-free rate
on the date such liabilities are determined. A market risk premium was excluded
from the estimate of asset retirement obligations because the amount was not
capable of being estimated. Revisions to the liability could occur due to
changes in the estimates of these costs, acquisition of additional properties
and as new wells are drilled.
Estimates
of future asset retirement obligations include significant management judgment
and are based on projected future retirement costs, field life and estimated
costs. Such costs could differ significantly when they are
incurred.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company recognizes oil and gas revenue (net of royalties) from its
interests in producing wells as oil and gas is produced and sold from those
wells. Oil and gas sold is not significantly different from the Company’s share
of production. Revenues from the purchase, sale and transportation of natural
gas are recognized upon completion of the sale and when transported volumes are
delivered. Other production related revenues are primarily MPAL’s share of gas
pipeline tariff revenues which are recorded at the time of sale. The Company
records pipeline tariff revenues on a gross basis with the revenue included in
other production related revenues and the remittance of such tariffs are
included in production costs. Government sales taxes related to MPAL’s oil and
gas production revenues are collected by MPAL and remitted to the Australian
government. Such amounts are excluded from revenue and expenses. Shipping and
handling costs in connection with such deliveries are included in production
costs. Revenue under carried interest agreements is recorded in the period when
the net proceeds become receivable, measurable and collection is reasonably
assured. The time when the net revenues become receivable and collection is
reasonably assured depends on the terms and conditions of the relevant
agreements and the practices followed by the operator. As a result, net revenues
may lag the production month by one or more months.
11
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”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring
fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures
about fair value measurements. This Statement applies under other accounting
pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the FASB having
previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the
relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, this Statement does not require any
new fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for the Company beginning
July 1, 2008 for financial asset and liabilities and July 1, 2009 for
nonfinancial assets and liabilities. The Company is currently evaluating the
impact, if any, the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on its consolidated financial
position, results of operations and cash flows.
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”). SFAS 159 provides companies with an option to report selected
financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and
losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in
earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is effective for the
Company beginning July 1, 2008. The Company is currently in the process of
evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 159 on its consolidated financial
statements.
Executive
Summary
MPC is
engaged in the sale of oil and gas and the exploration for and development of
oil and gas reserves. MPAL’s major assets are two petroleum production leases
covering the Mereenie oil and gas field (35% working interest), one petroleum
production lease covering the Palm Valley gas field (52% working interest), and
three petroleum production leases covering the Nockatunga oil fields (41%
working interest). Both the Mereenie and Palm Valley fields are located in the
Amadeus Basin in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Nockatunga field is
located in the Cooper Basin in South Australia. Santos Ltd., a publicly owned
Australian company, owns a 48% interest in the Palm Valley field, a 65% interest
in the Mereenie field and a 59% interest in the Nockatunga fields. Since 2006,
MPAL has refocused its exploration activities into two core areas, the Cooper
Basin in onshore Australia and the Weald Basin in the onshore southern United
Kingdom with an emphasis on developing a low to medium risk acreage portfolio.
The Palm Valley Darwin contract expires in January, 2012 and the Mereenie
contracts expire in June, 2009. MPC also has a direct 2.67% carried interest in
the Kotaneelee gas field in the Yukon Territory of Canada.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL
RESOURCES
Consolidated
At March
31, 2008, the Company on a consolidated basis had $25,969,118 of cash and cash
equivalents and $2,668,884 of marketable securities.
Net cash
used by operations was $2,116,384 in 2008 versus net cash provided by operations
of $13,159,465 in 2007. The decrease in cash provided by operations is primarily
due to the payment of the ATO settlement (see Note 8 to the Financial
Statements).
The
Company invested $4,572,513 and $9,887,581 in oil and gas exploration and
development activities during the nine months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. The decrease was due to a reduced drilling program in
2008.
As
previously disclosed the ATO conducted an audit of the Australian income tax
returns of MPAL and its wholly-owned subsidiaries for the years 1997- 2005. As
disclosed in Note 8 to the Financial Statements, the Company settled this matter
and on January 21, 2008 MPAL paid (Aus) $5,000,000 to the ATO as a deposit
towards this settlement. The remaining (Aus) $9,641,994 was paid by MPAL on
February 14, 2008.
Effect of
exchange rate changes
The value
of the Australian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar increased 8.8% to $.9178 at
March 31, 2008, compared to a value of $.8433 at June 30, 2007.
12
As to
MPC
At March
31, 2008, MPC, on an unconsolidated basis, had working capital of approximately
$2.3 million. Working capital is comprised of current assets less current
liabilities. MPC’s current cash position and its annual MPAL dividend should be
adequate to meet its current and future cash requirements.
As to
MPAL
At March
31, 2008, MPAL had working capital of approximately $30.9 million. MPAL has
budgeted approximately (Aus) $7.2 million for specific exploration projects in
fiscal year 2008 as compared to (Aus) $3.0 million expended in the nine months
ended March 31, 2008. However, the total amount to be expended may vary
depending on when various projects reach the drilling phase. MPAL’s current
contracts for the sale of Palm Valley and Mereenie gas will expire in January,
2012 and June, 2009, respectively. Unless MPAL is able to obtain additional
contracts for its remaining gas reserves or be successful in its current
exploration program, its revenues will be materially reduced after 2009. The
Producers (MPAL and Santos) are actively pursuing gas sales contracts for the
remaining uncontracted reserves at both the Mereenie and Palm Valley gas fields
in the Amadeus Basin. While opportunities exist to contract additional gas sales
in the Northern Territory market after these dates, there is strong competition
within the market and there are no assurances that the Amadeus producers will be
able to contract for the sale of the remaining uncontracted
reserves.
As
previously disclosed, MPAL settled with the ATO for (Aus) $14,641,994
(US$13,252,469) (see Note 8 to the Financial Statements). As in the past, MPAL
expects to fund its exploration costs through its cash and cash equivalents and
cash flow from Australian operations. MPAL also expects that it will continue to
seek partners to share its exploration costs. If MPAL’s efforts to find partners
are unsuccessful, it may be unable or unwilling to complete the exploration
program for some of its properties.
OFF
BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The
Company does not use off-balance sheet arrangements such as securitization of
receivables with any unconsolidated entities or other parties. The Company is
exposed to oil and gas market price volatility and uses fixed pricing contracts
with inflation clauses to mitigate this exposure.
The
following is a summary of our consolidated contractual obligations at March 31,
2008:
PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD
|
||||||||||||||||||||
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
|
TOTAL
|
LESS THAN
1
YEAR
|
1-3
YEARS
|
3-5
YEARS
|
MORE
THAN
5
YEARS
|
|||||||||||||||
Operating
Lease Obligations
|
$ | 279,000 | $ | 225,000 | $ | 54,000 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Purchase
Obligations(1)
|
3,380,000 | 3,380,000 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Asset
Retirement Obligations
|
10,884,000 | 214,000 | 6,741,000 | 1,884,000 | 2,045,000 | |||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 14,543,000 | $ | 3,819,000 | $ | 6,795,000 | $ | 1,884,000 | $ | 2,045,000 |
|
|
(1)
|
Represents
firm commitments for exploration and capital expenditures. The Company is
committed to these expenditures, however some may be farmed out to third
parties. Exploration contingent expenditures of $15,284,000 which are not
legally binding have been excluded from the table above and based on
exploration decisions would be due as follows:
$1,158,000
|
|
(less
than 1 year), $14,126,000 (1-3 years), $0 (3-5
years).
|
THREE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008 VS. MARCH 31, 2007
REVENUES
OIL SALES
INCREASED 93% in the 2008 quarter to $4,442,241 from $2,305,562 in 2007 because
of the 21% increase in average price per barrel, the 31% increase in production
due mostly to the increased revenues in the Nockatunga project and the 15.2%
increase in the exchange rate discussed below. Oil unit sales (after deducting
royalties) in barrels (bbls) and the average price per barrel sold during the
periods indicated were as follows:
13
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2008 SALES
|
2007
SALES
|
|||||||||||||||
BBLS
|
AVERAGE PRICE
A.$ PER BBL
|
BBLS
|
AVERAGE PRICE
A.$ PER BBL
|
|||||||||||||
Australia:
|
||||||||||||||||
Mereenie
field
|
23,022 | 106.87 | 23,548 | 80.79 | ||||||||||||
Cooper
Basin
|
1,566 | 106.10 | 2,754 | 81.72 | ||||||||||||
Nockatunga
project
|
23,577 | 90.15 | 10,538 | 82.40 | ||||||||||||
Total
|
48,165 | 98.70 | 36,840 | 81.32 |
GAS SALES
INCREASED 14% to $4,433,188 in 2008 from $3,879,437 in 2007 due mostly to a 2%
increase in the average price per mcf and the 15.2% increase in the exchange
rate discussed below partially offset by a 7% decrease in volume.
THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Australia
|
$ | 4,373,189 | $ | 3,879,000 | ||||
Canada
|
59,999 | — | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 4,433,188 | $ | 3,879,000 |
The
volumes in billion cubic feet (bcf) (after deducting royalties) and the average
price of gas per thousand cubic feet (mcf) sold during the periods indicated
were as follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2008
SALES
|
2007 SALES
|
|||||||||||||||
A.$
AVERAGE
PRICE PER
|
A.$
AVERAGE
PRICE PER
|
|||||||||||||||
BCF
|
MCF
|
BCF
|
MCF
|
|||||||||||||
Australia:
Palm Valley
|
.321 | 2.22 | .368 | 2.20 | ||||||||||||
Australia:
Mereenie
|
1.097 | 3.51 | 1.164 | 3.47 | ||||||||||||
Total
|
1.418 | 3.21 | 1.532 | 3.16 |
COSTS AND
EXPENSES
PRODUCTION
COSTS INCREASED 17% in 2008 to $1,801,975 from $1,535,250 in 2007. The increase
in 2008 was primarily the result of increased expenditures in the Nockatunga
project due to increased production, an increase in field equipment repairs in
the Mereenie project and the 15.2% increase in the exchange rate described
below.
EXPLORATION
AND DRY HOLE COSTS DECREASED 79% to $334,651 in 2008 from $1,568,280 in 2007.
These costs related to the exploration work performed on MPAL’s properties. The
primary reason for the decrease in 2008 was the decreased drilling costs related
to the Cooper Basin drilling program, partially offset by the 15.2% increase in
the exchange rate described below.
DEPLETION,
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION INCREASED 29% to $2,914,218 in 2008 from
$2,267,722 in 2007. This increase resulted from the higher book values of MPAL’s
oil and gas properties acquired during fiscal 2006 resulting from an updated
valuation at June 30, 2007, the 15.2% increase in the exchange rate described
below, partially offset by lower depletion in the Mereenie and Palm Valley
projects due to lower depletable costs.
AUDITING,
ACCOUNTING AND LEGAL EXPENSES INCREASED 89% in 2008 to $215,394 from $114,106 in
2007 due to higher auditing, accounting and legal costs relating to the ATO
audit and settlement and the 15.2% increase in the exchange rate described
below.
ACCRETION
EXPENSE INCREASED 32% to $180,461 in 2008 from $136,883 in 2007. This was due
mostly to accretion of asset retirement obligations relating to the new wells
drilled in fiscal 2007 in the Nockatunga project and the 15.2% increase in the
exchange rate described below.
OTHER
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES INCREASED 38% to $883,221 in 2008 from $638,308 in 2007.
This was due mostly to increased consulting costs related to the ATO audit and
settlement, an increase due to the issuance of directors’ stock options during
the quarter, increased consulting fees relating to research and development in
the UK and the 15.2% increase in the exchange rate described below.
14
INCOME
TAX PROVISION INCREASED in 2008 to $1,520,165 from $292,274 in 2007. This is
mostly due to the increase in income before taxes.
EXCHANGE EFFECT
THE VALUE
OF THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR RELATIVE TO THE U.S. DOLLAR INCREASED TO $.9178 at
March 31, 2008 compared to a value of $.8767 at December 31, 2007. This resulted
in a $2,719,950 credit to the foreign currency translation adjustments account
for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The average exchange rate used to
translate MPAL’s operations in Australia was $.9051 for the quarter ended March
31, 2008, which was a 15.2% increase compared to the $.7859 rate for the quarter
ended March 31, 2007.
NINE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008 VS. MARCH 31, 2007
REVENUES
OIL SALES
INCREASED 66% in the nine months to $14,062,782 from $8,458,469 in 2007 because
of a 25% volume increase due to increased sales in the
Nockatunga project, an 18% increase in the average price per barrel sold and the
14.3% increase in the exchange rate discussed below. Oil unit sales (after
deducting royalties) in barrels (bbls) and the average price per barrel sold
during the periods indicated were as follows:
NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2008
SALES
|
2007
SALES
|
|||||||||||||||
BBLS
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER
BBL
|
BBLS
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER
BBL
|
|||||||||||||
Australia:
|
||||||||||||||||
Mereenie
field
|
73,758 | 104.48 | 76,330 | 81.11 | ||||||||||||
Cooper
Basin
|
4,853 | 104.25 | 13,767 | 84.66 | ||||||||||||
Nockatunga
project
|
86,064 | 85.07 | 41,540 | 76.08 | ||||||||||||
Total
|
164,675 | 94.38 | 131,637 | 79.89 |
GAS SALES
INCREASED 12% to $13,195,352 in 2008 from $11,773,787 in 2007. The increase was
the result of a 4% increase in price per mcf sold and the 14.3% increase in the
exchange rate discussed below partially offset by a 5% decrease in
volume.
NINE MONTHS ENDED
|
||||||||
MARCH 31,
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Australia
|
$ | 13,044,626 | $ | 11,772,005 | ||||
Canada
|
150,726 | 1,782 | ||||||
Total
|
$ | 13,195,352 | $ | 11,773,787 |
The
volumes in billion cubic feet (bcf) (after deducting royalties) and the average
price of gas per thousand cubic feet (mcf) sold during the periods indicated
were as follows:
NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
|
||||||||||||||||
BCF
|
2008 SALES
A.$ AVERAGE
PRICE PER
MCF
|
BCF
|
2007 SALES
A.$ AVERAGE
PRICE PER
MCF
|
|||||||||||||
Australia:
Palm Valley
|
1.007 | 2.21 | 1.149 | 2.20 | ||||||||||||
Australia:
Mereenie
|
3.357 | 3.54 | 3.453 | 3.41 | ||||||||||||
Total
|
4.364 | 3.23 | 4.602 | 3.10 |
15
COSTS AND
EXPENSES
PRODUCTION
COSTS INCREASED 25% IN 2008 to $6,425,232 from $5,132,656 in
2007. The increase in 2008 was primarily the result of increased
expenditures in the Nockatunga project due to increased production, an increase
in field equipment repairs in the Mereenie project and the 14.3% increase in the
exchange rate described below.
EXPLORATION
AND DRY HOLE COSTS DECREASED 32% to $3,072,242 in 2008 from $4,541,543 in 2007.
These costs related to the exploration work performed on MPAL’s properties. The
primary reason for the decrease in 2008 was the decreased drilling costs related
to the Cooper Basin drilling program, partially offset by the 14.3% increase in
the exchange rate described below.
DEPLETION,
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION INCREASED 26% to $8,871,864 in 2008 from
$7,032,541 in 2007. This increase resulted from the higher book values of MPAL’s
oil and gas properties acquired during fiscal 2006 resulting from an updated
valuation at June 30, 2007, increased depletion in the Nockatunga project due to
increased production and expenditures, the 14.3% increase in the exchange rate
described below, partially offset by lower depletion in the Mereenie and Palm
Valley projects due to lower depletable costs.
AUDITING,
ACCOUNTING AND LEGAL EXPENSES INCREASED 77% in 2008 to $773,497 from $438,115 in
2007 due to higher auditing, accounting and legal costs relating to the ATO
audit and settlement and the purchase of the remaining shares of MPAL and the
14.3% increase in the exchange rate described below.
ACCRETION
EXPENSE INCREASED 31% to $526,849 in 2008 from $403,062 in 2007. This was due
mostly to accretion of asset retirement obligations relating to the new wells
drilled in fiscal 2007 in the Nockatunga project and the 14.3% increase in the
exchange rate described below.
OTHER
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES INCREASED 40% to $2,524,866 in 2008 from $1,806,083 in
2007. This was due mostly to increased consulting costs related to the ATO audit
and settlement, an increase due to the issuance of directors’ stock options,
increased consulting fees relating to research and development in the UK and the
14.3% increase in the exchange rate described below.
INCOME
TAX PROVISION INCREASED in 2008 to $14,698,801 from $1,238,958 in 2007. This was
mostly due to the increase in income before taxes and the tax settlement agreed
to by MPAL with the ATO regarding amended assessments for MPAL’s prior years’
Australian taxes (see Note 8 to the Financial Statements).
EXCHANGE
EFFECT
THE VALUE
OF THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR RELATIVE TO THE U.S. DOLLAR INCREASED TO $.9178 at
March 31, 2008 compared to a value of $.8433 at June 30, 2007. This resulted in
a $4,874,560 credit to the foreign currency translation adjustments account for
the nine months ended March 31, 2008. The average exchange rate used to
translate MPAL’s operations in Australia was $.8809 for the nine month period
ended March 31, 2008, which was a 14.3% increase compared to the $.7710 rate for
the nine month period ended March 31, 2007.
ITEM 3
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
The
Company’s exposure to market risk relates to fluctuations in foreign currency
and world prices for crude oil, as well as market risk related to investment in
marketable securities. At March 31, 2008, the carrying value of our investments
in marketable securities including those classified as cash and cash equivalents
was approximately $28.6 million, which approximates the fair value of the
securities. Since the Company expects to hold the investments to maturity, the
maturity value should be realized. Marketable securities have not been impacted
by the US credit crisis. A 10% change in the Australian foreign currency rate
compared to the U.S. dollar would increase or decrease revenues and costs and
expenses by $2,923,000 and $2,369,000, for the nine months ended March 31, 2008,
respectively. For the nine month period ended March 31, 2008, oil sales
represented approximately 52% of production revenues. Based on the current nine
month’s sales volume and revenue, a 10% change in oil price would increase or
decrease oil revenues by $1,406,000. Gas sales, which represented approximately
48% of production revenues in the current nine months, are derived primarily
from the Palm Valley and Mereenie fields in the Northern Territory of Australia
and the gas prices are set according to long term contracts that are subject to
changes in the Australian Consumer Price Index (ACPI) for the nine months ended
March 31, 2008.
16
ITEM 4
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
An
evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the
Company’s management, including Daniel J. Samela, the Company’s President, Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Accounting Officer, of the
effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) promulgated
under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934) as of March 31, 2008. Based on
this evaluation, the Company’s President concluded that the Company’s disclosure
controls and procedures were effective such that the material information
required to be included in the Company’s SEC reports is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms
relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, and the
information required to be disclosed was accumulated and communicated to
management as appropriate to allow timely decisions for disclosure.
Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting.
There
have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the
Exchange Act) during the nine months ended March 31, 2008 that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting.
17
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
PART II -
OTHER INFORMATION
MARCH 31,
2008
ITEM 1
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As
previously disclosed, the Australian Taxation Office (“ATO”) conducted an audit
of the Australian income tax returns of MPAL and its wholly owned subsidiaries
for the years 1997- 2005. The ATO audit focused on certain income tax deductions
claimed by Paroo Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (“PPPL”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MPAL
related to the write-off of outstanding loans made by PPPL to other entities
within the MPAL group of companies. As a result of this audit, the ATO in August
2007 issued “position papers” which set forth its opinions that these previous
deductions should be disallowed, resulting in additional income taxes being
payable by MPAL and its subsidiaries. In the position papers, the ATO sets out
its legal basis for its conclusions. The ATO indicated in its position papers
that the increase in taxes arising from its proposed positions would be (Aus)
$13,392,460, plus possible interest and penalties, which could be substantial
and exceed the amount of the increased taxes asserted by the ATO.
In a
comprehensive audit conducted by the ATO in the period 1992-94, the ATO
concluded that PPPL was carrying on business as a money lender and accordingly,
should, for taxation purposes, account for its interest income on an accrual
basis rather than a cash basis. MPAL accepted this conclusion and from that
point has been determining its annual Australian taxation liability on this
basis (including claiming deductions for bad debts as a money
lender).
Recently,
the ATO has taken a more aggressive approach with respect to its views regarding
income tax deductions attributable to in-house finance companies. Since this
change in approach, the ATO has commenced audits of a number of companies
involving, among other issues, the appropriate treatment of bad debt deductions
taken by in-house finance companies. Magellan understands that, at this time,
while there have been negotiated settlements in relation to some of these
audits, none of them has reached final resolution in court.
Based
upon the advice of Australian tax counsel, the Company and the ATO held
settlement discussions concerning this matter during the quarter ended December
31, 2007. In order to avoid a protracted and costly legal battle with the ATO,
diversion of company management and resources away from Company business and the
possibility of significantly higher payments with a loss in court, the Company
decided to settle this matter. On December 19, 2007, MPAL reached a non-binding
agreement in principle to settle this dispute for an aggregate settlement
payment by MPAL to the ATO of (Aus) $14,641,994. The aggregate settlement
payment was comprised of (Aus) $10,340,796 in amended taxes and (Aus) $4,301,198
of interest on the amended taxes. No penalties were to be assessed as part of
the terms of the settlement. The agreement in principle to settle the dispute
was conditioned upon MPAL and the ATO agreeing on formal terms of settlement in
a binding agreement (the Deed of Settlement) which the parties agreed to
negotiate and sign promptly. As further agreed by the parties, the
ATO issued assessments for the agreed upon amended tax liabilities in January,
2008. Under the final terms of the Deed of Settlement signed by the
parties on February 7, 2008, MPAL agreed not to object to or appeal the ATO’s
amended assessments. The Deed of Settlement with the ATO constitutes a complete
release and extinguishment of the tax liabilities of MPAL and its subsidiaries
with respect to the amended assessments and the prior bad debt
deductions.
On
January 21, 2008, MPAL paid (Aus) $5,000,000 to the ATO as a deposit towards
this settlement. The remaining (Aus) $9,641,994 was paid by MPAL on February 14,
2008. As agreed upon by the parties, the matter is now closed.
ITEM 2
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The
following schedule sets forth the number of shares that the Company has
repurchased under any of its repurchase plans for the stated periods, the cost
per share of such repurchases and the number of shares that may yet be
repurchased under the plans:
Period
|
Total Number of
Shares
Purchased
|
Average
Price
Paid
per
Share
|
Total Number of
Shares
Purchased
as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plan( 1)
|
Maximum
Number
of
Shares
that May
Yet
Be Purchased
Under
Plan
|
||||||||||||
January
1-31, 2008
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 319,150 | ||||||||||||
February
1-29, 2008
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 319,150 | ||||||||||||
March
1-31, 2008
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 319,150 |
(1)
|
The Company through its stock
repurchase plan may purchase up to one million shares of its common stock
in the open market. Through March 31, 2008, the Company had purchased
680,850 of its shares at an average price of $1.01 per share or a total
cost of approximately $686,000, all of which shares have been
cancelled.
|
18
ITEM 6
EXHIBITS
10.1
|
Deed
of Settlement between Magellan Petroleum Australia Limited, Magellan
Petroleum (N.T.) Pty. Ltd, Paroo Petroleum Pty. Ltd and the
Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia dated February
7, 2008, filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, is incorporated
herein by reference.
|
31.
|
Rule 13a-14(a)
Certifications.
|
Certification
of Daniel J. Samela, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and
Accounting Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, is filed herein.
32.
|
Section 1350
Certifications.
|
Certification
of Daniel J. Samela, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and
Accounting Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, is filed herein.
19
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
March 31,
2008
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized:
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
Registrant
Date: May 13,
2008 By/s/ Daniel
J. Samela
Daniel J.
Samela, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Chief
Financial and Accounting Officer
20