TELLURIAN INC. /DE/ - Quarter Report: 2009 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, 2009
£
|
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 has submitted electronically and posted on
its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit
and post such files). Yes o No 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
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
filer o
Non-accelerated
filer þ Smaller
reporting
company o
(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 11, 2009 was 41,500,325.
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
March 31,
2009
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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11
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21
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ITEM
4 Controls and
Procedures
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21
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PART
II — OTHER INFORMATION
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ITEM
1 Legal Proceedings
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22
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ITEM
1A Risk Factors
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22
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24
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ITEM
6 Exhibits
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24
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25
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26
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EX-31: CERTIFICATIONS
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26
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EX-32: CERTIFICATIONS
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28
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IMPORTANT
INFORMATION REGARDING THIS FORM 10-Q
Explanatory
Note
As more
fully described in Note 11 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements
in Item 1 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, subsequent to the issuance of
our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K we determined that our consolidated
statement of cash flows for the years ended June 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006, as
well as the interim periods in the years then ended, contained errors which
affected the classification of certain cash outflows as either investing and
operating activities. The statement of cash flows for the nine months
ended March 31, 2008 as contained herein has been restated to correct for these
matters which have no impact on the change in cash and cash
equivalents.
2
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
PART I -
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31,
2009
|
JUNE
30,
2008
|
|||||||
(UNAUDITED)
|
(NOTE)
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Current
assets:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 30,292,714 | $ | 34,615,228 | ||||
Accounts
receivable — Trade (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $78,882 and
$99,344 at March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2008, respectively)
|
3,306,335 | 8,357,839 | ||||||
Accounts
receivable — working interest partners
|
393,265 | 112,330 | ||||||
Marketable
securities
|
2,401,227 | 1,708,222 | ||||||
Inventories
|
826,526 | 1,260,189 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
576,085 | 404,160 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
37,796,152 | 46,457,968 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
5,050,258 | 6,368,665 | ||||||
Property
and equipment, net:
|
||||||||
Oil
and gas properties (successful efforts method)
|
100,229,415 | 138,556,513 | ||||||
Land,
buildings and equipment
|
2,468,602 | 3,346,368 | ||||||
Field
equipment
|
739,502 | 1,040,281 | ||||||
103,437,519 | 142,943,162 | |||||||
Less
accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization
|
(88,513,086 | ) | (114,495,875 | ) | ||||
Net
property and equipment
|
14,924,433 | 28,447,287 | ||||||
Goodwill
|
4,020,706 | 4,020,706 | ||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 61,791,549 | $ | 85,294,626 | ||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
||||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ | 2,873,646 | $ | 2,929,445 | ||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
1,724,470 | 1,891,194 | ||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
771,893 | 3,857,766 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
5,370,009 | 8,678,405 | ||||||
Long
term liabilities:
|
||||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
1,946,303 | 2,507,712 | ||||||
Other
long term liabilities
|
55,738 | 48,998 | ||||||
Asset
retirement obligations
|
7,900,406 | 11,596,084 | ||||||
Total
long term liabilities
|
9,902,447 | 14,152,794 | ||||||
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
|
73,227,515 | 73,216,143 | ||||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(21,483,760 | ) | (22,857,494 | ) | ||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
(5,639,663 | ) | 11,689,777 | |||||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
46,519,093 | 62,463,427 | ||||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
$ | 61,791,549 | $ | 85,294,626 |
Note: The
balance sheet at June 30, 2008 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,
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
REVENUES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Oil
sales
|
$ | 1,707,287 | $ | 4,442,241 | $ | 9,184,879 | $ | 14,062,782 | ||||||||
Gas
sales
|
3,291,615 | 4,433,188 | 10,600,544 | 13,195,352 | ||||||||||||
Other
production related revenues
|
523,611 | 660,634 | 1,348,058 | 1,973,843 | ||||||||||||
Total
revenues
|
5,522,513 | 9,536,063 | 21,133,481 | 29,231,977 | ||||||||||||
COSTS
AND EXPENSES:
|
||||||||||||||||
Production
costs
|
1,951,335 | 1,801,975 | 6,218,141 | 6,425,232 | ||||||||||||
Exploration
and dry hole costs
|
1,385,552 | 334,651 | 2,652,929 | 3,072,242 | ||||||||||||
Salaries
and employee benefits
|
386,450 | 395,685 | 1,200,435 | 1,216,034 | ||||||||||||
Depletion,
depreciation and amortization
|
1,130,134 | 3,989,223 | 5,691,415 | 12,763,443 | ||||||||||||
Auditing,
accounting and legal services
|
602,058 | 215,394 | 1,291,857 | 773,497 | ||||||||||||
Accretion
expense
|
118,206 | 180,461 | 396,482 | 526,849 | ||||||||||||
Shareholder
communications
|
138,414 | 98,762 | 351,586 | 300,050 | ||||||||||||
Loss
(gain) on sale of field equipment
|
211 | 3,209 | 12,072 | (23,748 | ) | |||||||||||
Other
administrative expenses
|
776,278 | 883,221 | 2,069,528 | 2,524,866 | ||||||||||||
Total
costs and expenses
|
6,488,638 | 7,902,581 | 19,884,445 | 27,578,465 | ||||||||||||
Operating
(loss) income
|
(966,125 | ) | 1,633,482 | 1,249,036 | 1,653,512 | |||||||||||
Interest
income
|
273,641 | 500,121 | 1,362,185 | 1,559,200 | ||||||||||||
(Loss)
income before income taxes
|
(692,484 | ) | 2,133,603 | 2,611,221 | 3,212,712 | |||||||||||
Income
tax benefit (provision)
|
1,083,101 | (1,197,664 | ) | (1,237,487 | ) | (13,531,328 | ) | |||||||||
NET
INCOME (LOSS)
|
$ | 390,617 | $ | 935,939 | $ | 1,373,734 | $ | (10,318,616 | ) | |||||||
Average
number of shares outstanding
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | ||||||||||||
Diluted
|
41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | 41,500,325 | ||||||||||||
NET
INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE (BASIC AND DILUTED)
|
$ | 0.01 | $ | 0.02 | $ | 0.03 | $ | (0.25 | ) |
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,
|
||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
(As
restated, see Note11)
|
|||||||
OPERATING
ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$ | 1,373,734 | $ | (10,318,616 | ) | |||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Loss/(gain)
from sale of field equipment
|
12,072 | (23,748 | ) | |||||
Depletion,
depreciation and amortization
|
5,691,415 | 12,763,443 | ||||||
Accretion
expense
|
396,482 | 526,849 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
(1,168,693 | ) | (1,271,564 | ) | ||||
Stock
option expense
|
11,372 | 63,141 | ||||||
Write
off of exploration permits
|
358,294 | — | ||||||
Dry
hole costs
|
5,677 | 1,447,338 | ||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
2,608,049 | (1,125,828 | ) | |||||
Other
assets
|
(171,926 | ) | (37,620 | ) | ||||
Inventories
|
77,334 | (488,235 | ) | |||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
2,607,001 | (374,561 | ) | |||||
Income
taxes payable
|
(2,377,600 | ) | (1,633,867 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided (used) by operating activities
|
9,423,211 | (473,268 | ) | |||||
INVESTING
ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of field equipment
|
48,279 | 23,748 | ||||||
Additions
to property and equipment
|
(1,968,626 | ) | (4,768,291 | ) | ||||
Oil
and gas exploration activities
|
(224,844 | ) | (1,447,338 | ) | ||||
Marketable
securities matured
|
1,705,689 | 3,229,718 | ||||||
Marketable
securities purchased
|
(2,398,694 | ) | (1,520,335 | ) | ||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(2,838,196 | ) | (4,482,498 | ) | ||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
— | — | ||||||
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
(10,907,529 | ) | 2,454,436 | |||||
Net
decrease in cash and cash equivalents
|
(4,322,514 | ) | (2,501,330 | ) | ||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
34,615,228 | 28,470,448 | ||||||
CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
|
$ | 30,292,714 | $ | 25,969,118 | ||||
Cash
Payments:
|
||||||||
Income
taxes
|
4,436,995 | 12,544,235 | ||||||
Interest
|
— | 3,893,014 | ||||||
Supplemental
Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing
Activities:
|
||||||||
Revision
to estimate of asset retirement obligations
|
(995,621 | ) | 42,882 | |||||
Write
off of exploration permits
|
358,294 | — | ||||||
Accounts
payable related to property and equipment
|
15,436 | 1,100,954 | ||||||
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 its 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 fields (41% working interest) and twelve 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 fields are located in the Cooper Basin in South West
Queensland, 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. Santos Ltd. is the operator of the
Mereenie and Nockatunga fields.
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 of
America for interim financial information and in accordance 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 nine months ended March 31, 2009 are not necessarily indicative
of the results that may be expected for the year ending June 30, 2009. 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, 2008 in addition to our September 30, 2008 and December 31,
2008 Form 10-Qs. All amounts presented are in United States dollars, unless
otherwise noted.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
On
December 31, 2008, the SEC published the final rules and interpretations
updating its oil and gas reporting requirements. Many of the revisions are
updates to definitions in the existing oil and gas rules to make them consistent
with the petroleum resource management system, which is a widely accepted
standard for the management of petroleum resources that was developed by several
industry organizations. Key revisions include changes to the pricing used
to estimate reserves, the ability to include nontraditional resources in
reserves, the use of new technology for determining reserves, and permitting
disclosure of probable and possible reserves. The SEC will require
companies to comply with the amended disclosure requirements for registration
statements filed after January 1, 2010, and for annual reports for fiscal years
ending on or after December 15, 2009. This guidance is effective for the
Company for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010. Early adoption is not
permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption
will have on the Company’s disclosures, operating results, financial position
and cash flows.
In April
2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff
Position (“FSP”) FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of
Other-Than-Temporary Impairments”, which is effective as of June 30, 2009 with
early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt the FSP as of June 30,
2009. The FSP changes the indicators for determining whether an
other-than-temporary impairment on a debt security should be recorded in
earnings. Under the new accounting guidance, the primary indicators that
an unrealized loss should be recognized in earnings are whether the company
intends to sell the debt security or whether it is more likely than not that it
will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery of its cost
basis. For other-than-temporarily impaired debt securities that the
company intends to sell or is more likely than not going to be required to sell
before recovery, unrealized losses must be recorded in earnings. As management
intends to hold debt securities to maturity and does not expect to be more
likely than not required to sell those securities before recovery, the adoption
is not expected to have a material impact on the financial
statements.
In
February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement
No. 157”. This FSP delays the effective date of FASB Statement No. 157,
“Fair Value Measurements”, for nonfinancial assets and
nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at
fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually),
including asset retirement obligations and goodwill and other impairment
analyses. The Company is evaluating the impact of adoption of this
FSP.
6
Goodwill
The
aggregate amount of goodwill at June 30, 2008 and 2007 was
$4,020,706. All of our goodwill is related to the fiscal 2006
acquisition of the 44.87% of MPAL that we did not own at the time. In
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”)
No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, goodwill is not amortized
and is tested for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. Our
annual impairment testing date is June 30. Due to the significant decrease in
world oil prices and the fact that our stock was trading significantly below our
tangible book value an impairment test was performed as of December 31, 2008. We
determined that no impairment existed as of that date and there were no changes
in circumstances since that time which would require an impairment test as of
March 31, 2009.
We employ
the adjusted balance sheet method to estimate the fair value of
MPAL. This method entails estimating the fair value of all of MPAL’s
balance sheet items as of the valuation date. If the adjusted equity
value, after considering the fair values of the assets and liabilities, is
greater than the carrying value of MPAL, then no impairment is indicated.
Management believes that this methodology is most meaningful since the highest
and best use of these assets would be to continue to hold and exploit the assets
over time.
As part
of this review at December 31, 2008 we also considered whether or not oil and
gas properties were impaired using the guidance in SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for
the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. We determined that no
impairment existed as of that date and there were no changes in circumstances
since that time which would require an impairment test as of March 31,
2009.
The fair
value of our oil and gas properties are estimated based on the discounted cash
flows of our proved and risk adjusted probable and possible
reserves.
The
significant assumptions used in estimating the fair values of the oil and gas
properties are oil and gas selling prices for non-contracted volumes, oil and
gas sales volumes, discount rates, and production trends. The fair value of MPAL
is most susceptible to changes in selling prices of oil and gas and changes in
estimated sales volume.
The fair
value of our nondepletable exploration permits and licenses is estimated
separately using one of four methods – discounted cash flows, discounted cash
flows adjusted for chances of success, recent farmin costs and premiums, and
estimated costs of committed work programs. The majority of the
permits and licenses are valued based on the estimated cost of agreed work
program commitments, which is a methodology that is not dependent on significant
assumptions.
Note 2.
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Total
comprehensive (loss) income during the three and nine month periods ended March
31, 2009 and 2008 was as follows:
THREE
MONTHS ENDED
MARCH
31,
|
NINE
MONTHS ENDED
MARCH
31,
|
|||||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
(INCOME)LOSS
|
||||||||||||||||
Balance
at June 30, 2008
|
$ | 11,689,777 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$ | 390,617 | $ | 935,939 | $ | 1,373,734 | $ | (10,318,616 | ) | |||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustments
|
(371,883 | ) | 2,621,579 | (17,329,440 | ) | 4,764,142 | (17,329,440 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive (loss) income
|
$ | (18,734 | ) | $ | 3,557,518 | $ | (15,955,706 | ) | $ | (5,554,474 | ) | |||||||||
Balance
at March 31, 2009
|
$ | (5,639,663 | ) |
Note 3.
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.
During
the nine month period ended March 31, 2009, the Company issued 3.1 million stock
options. These options have been issued under a new stock option plan which is
subject to shareholder approval at the annual shareholders’ meeting to be held
on May 27, 2009. As this approval is pending, there is no grant date
for accounting purposes and, consequently, there was no financial statement
impact during this period. If approved, the accounting impact of these options
is expected to be material to the Company’s financial
statements. During the three month period ended March 31, 2008, the
Company did not issue any stock options.
7
For the
nine month period ended March 31, 2009, the Company did not have any stock
options that were issued that had a strike price below the average share price
for the period. Accordingly, there were no dilutive items at March 31,
2009.
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 dilutive shares for the
respective period. Since the Company incurred a loss from operations during that
period, the incremental shares are anti-dilutive and are therefore excluded form
the calculation of earnings per share.
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 above the average stock
price for the period. Accordingly, there were no other dilutive items for the
respective period.
Note 4.
Segment Information
The
Company has two reportable segments, MPC and its wholly owned subsidiary, MPAL.
The Company’s chief operating decision maker is William H. Hastings (President
and Chief Executive Officer since December 11, 2008) 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,
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||||||||||
MPC
|
$ | 29 | $ | 60 | $ | 146 | $ | 151 | ||||||||
MPAL
|
5,494 | 9,476 | 20,987 | 29,081 | ||||||||||||
Total
consolidated revenues
|
$ | 5,523 | $ | 9,536 | $ | 21,133 | $ | 29,232 | ||||||||
Net
(loss) income:
|
||||||||||||||||
MPC
|
$ | (1,307 | ) | $ | (515 | ) | $ | (2,741 | ) | $ | (1,659 | ) | ||||
MPAL
|
1,698 | 1,451 | 4,115 | (8,660 | ) | |||||||||||
Consolidated
net income (loss)
|
$ | 391 | $ | 936 | $ | 1,374 | $ | (10,319 | ) |
Note 5.
Exploration and Dry Hole Costs
Exploration
and dry hole costs relate to the exploration work performed on MPAL’s
properties. Components of these costs are as follows:
Three
Months Ended
March 31
|
Nine
Months Ended
March 31
|
|||||||||||||||
Exploration and Dry Hole
Costs
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
||||||||||||
Farmout,
Field Monitoring and Technical Costs
|
$ | 401,513 | $ | 203,632 | $ | 1,098,022 | $ | 1,507,862 | ||||||||
Seismic
Data and Acquisition Costs (1)
|
942,586 | 95,438 | 1,190,936 | 95,438 | ||||||||||||
Dry
Hole Drilling (2)
|
4,418 | 13,977 | 5,677 | 1,447,338 | ||||||||||||
Write
off expired permits – U.K.
|
37,035 | 21,604 | 294,554 | 21,604 | ||||||||||||
Impairment
loss – U.K permits
|
— | — | 63,740 | — | ||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 1,385,552 | $ | 334,651 | $ | 2,652,929 | $ | 3,072,242 |
(1)
|
Seismic
data costs related to the Nockatunga fields in 2009 and Cooper Basin and
U.K. permits in 2008.
|
(2)
|
Dry
hole costs of $5,677 related to the Weald Basin in the U.K. in 2009;
$1,303,216 related to the Cooper Basin and $144,122 related to the Weald
Basin in the U.K in 2008.
|
8
Note 6.
Asset Retirement Obligations
A
reconciliation of the Company’s asset retirement obligations for the nine months
ended March 31, 2009 was as follows:
Balance
at July 1, 2008
|
$ | 11,596,084 | ||
Liabilities
incurred
|
— | |||
Liabilities
settled
|
— | |||
Accretion
expense
|
396,482 | |||
Revisions
to estimate
|
(995,621 | ) | ||
Exchange
effect
|
(3,096,539 | ) | ||
Balance
at March 31, 2009
|
$ | 7,900,406 |
During
the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company decreased the Mereenie asset
retirement obligation by a net amount of $995,621 due to extending the expected
restoration date from 2009 to 2014, which was partially offset by an increase in
estimated costs. It was originally estimated that this liability would be
discharged by plugging the existing oil and gas wells, reclamation of the land
and satisfaction of any other contractual requirements at the end of the current
supply contract, but due to amended supply obligations this has been extended to
2014. This change in estimate resulted in a decrease to net income of $3,471
($0.00 per share) and $217,920 ($0.01 per share) for the three and nine months
ended March 31, 2009, respectively.
Note 7.
Income Taxes
The
Company has estimated the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the
full fiscal year. The rate used in providing for income taxes on a
current year-to-date basis for the nine months ended March 31, 2009 is 47%. The
Company revised its estimate from the effective rate of 70% used in providing
income taxes for the six months ended December 31, 2008 due to a decrease in
U.K. exploration expenses partially offset by an increase in the estimate of MPC
loss for fiscal 2009, which do not generate a tax benefit. U.K. exploration
expenses, previously expected to be incurred in 2009 will occur in
2010.
Three
Months Ended
March 31
|
Nine
Months Ended
March 31
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||||||
Net
(loss) income before taxes
|
$ | (692,484 | ) | $ | 2,133,603 | $ | 2,611,221 | $ | 3,212,712 | |||||||
Tax
at statutory rate of 30%
|
(207,745 | ) | 640,080 | 783,367 | 963,814 | |||||||||||
Tax
on permanent items (1)
|
(120,431 | ) | 557,584 | 454,120 | 12,567,514 | |||||||||||
Tax
at effective tax rate
|
(328,176 | ) | 1,197,664 | 1,237,487 | 13,531,328 | |||||||||||
Tax
benefit on first and second quarter net income before tax due to decrease
in effective rate
|
(754,925 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||
Total
tax (benefit) provision
|
$ | (1,083,101 | ) | $ | 1,197,664 | $ | 1,237,487 | $ | 13,531,328 | |||||||
(1)
|
Permanent
items are events that do not have tax consequences. For 2009, significant
permanent items include U.K exploration expenses and estimated loss at MPC
which do not generate tax benefits. U.K. exploration expenses, previously
expected to be incurred in 2009 will occur in
2010.
|
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 audit focused on certain income tax deductions
claimed by Paroo Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (“PPPL”), a wholly-owned finance 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.
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 a higher payment with a loss in court, the Company decided to
settle this matter. On December 21, 2007, MPAL reached an agreement in principle
to settle this dispute for an aggregate settlement payment by MPAL to the ATO of
(Aus) $14,641,994. This is comprised of (Aus) $10,340,796 in amended taxes and
(Aus) $4,301,198 of interest on the amended taxes. No penalties were assessed as
part of this 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 constituted 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.
9
Note 8.
Fair Value Measurements
On July
1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS
157”), which establishes a framework for defining and measuring fair value and
requires expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The
Company’s only items to which SFAS 157 applies are cash equivalents which are
classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. These investments
are traded in active markets and quoted prices are available for identical
investments. The fair value of these investments at March 31, 2009
was $29,964,091 that consists of $1,516,858 in money market accounts which fall
under Level 1 and $28,447,233 in time deposit accounts. The Company
also has $2,401,227 in marketable securities which are held to maturity and are
carried at their amortized cost.
Note 9.
Equity Investment
On
February 9, 2009, the Company entered into a definitive securities purchase
agreement with Young Energy Prize S.A. (“YEP”), a Luxembourg corporation,
providing for a $10 million equity investment in the Company. Closing
under the purchase agreement is subject to shareholder approval of the
investment and an amendment to the Company’s certification of incorporation, as
well as other customary closing conditions. If approved by
shareholders, the Company expects the transaction to be completed on or before
June 30, 2009. Under the terms of the securities purchase
agreement, YEP will pay $10 million ($1.15 per share) to acquire a total of
8,695,652 shares of the Company's common stock (the “Shares”) and five-year
warrants entitling YEP to purchase 4,347,826 shares through warrant exercise at
a price of $1.20 per share (see amendment below). When issued at the
closing, the Shares will represent approximately 17.3% of the Company's total
outstanding shares on a pro forma basis.YEP will designate two additional
members to join the Company’s Board of Directors, effective upon the closing of
the transaction. In order to make these additions to the Board, the Board will
take action pursuant to the Bylaws to increase the size of the Board to seven
(7) members and to elect, as of the closing date of the YEP investment, YEP’s
designees to the Board. The Bylaw amendments will not become
effective unless the transactions contemplated by the securities purchase
agreement are consummated.
On April
3, 2009, the Company and YEP agreed to amend their securities purchase agreement
to extend the outside termination date for the closing of YEP’s equity
investment from April 30, 2009 to June 30, 2009, in order to provide sufficient
time to conduct the 2008 annual meeting and complete the YEP equity investment
transaction. The amendment also provides that, if YEP completes the
purchase of the ANS Shares from the ANS Parties described in Note 10, then the
warrant exercise price payable by YEP for the warrant shares shall be reduced
from $1.20 to $1.15 per share.
Note 10.
Shareholder Agreement
On April 3, 2009, the Company and two
of its shareholders, ANS Investments LLC and its CEO, Jonah M. Meer (together,
the “ANS Parties”), entered into a settlement agreement that terminated proxy
solicitation efforts of the ANS Parties on mutually agreeable terms. Under the
terms of the settlement agreement, the ANS Parties have agreed to withdraw both
the nomination of Mr. Meer as a director candidate and their other proposals, to
terminate all proxy solicitation efforts with respect thereto, to support each
of the proposals that the Company intends to present to its shareholders at the
Annual Meeting and to vote all of their shares in favor of these proposals in
accordance with the recommendation of the Company’s Board of
Directors. In exchange, the Company has agreed to reimburse the ANS
Parties up to $125,000 for their legal and other expenses incurred by the ANS
Parties related to their proxy solicitation efforts.
Separately, YEP and the ANS Parties on
April 3, 2009 entered into an agreement by which YEP will, upon completion of
YEP’s equity investment in the Company, purchase 568,985 shares of the Company’s
common stock currently owned by the ANS Parties (the “ANS Shares”) at a purchase
price of $1.15 per share.
Note 11.
Restatement of Financial Information
Subsequent
to the issuance of our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K we determined that in our
consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended June 30, 2007, we
inappropriately added back to cash flows from operating activities $3.2 million
of accounts payable related to property and equipment additions. This increase
in accounts payable should have been reflected as a reduction of cash outflows
from investing activities rather than an increase in cash flows from operating
activities. This error also affected our consolidated statement of cash flows
for the quarterly periods ended September 30, 2007, December 31, 2007 and March
31, 2008 as well as the year ended June 30, 2008 as these amounts should have
increased cash flows from operating activities through the adjustment for the
change in accounts payable and should have been reflected as an increase to
reported cash outflows for additions to property and equipment in the investing
activities section for that year. The statement of cash flows for the
nine months ended March 31, 2008 as contained herein has been adjusted for the
restatement discussed above. This restatement has no impact on the
change in cash and cash equivalents, the balance sheet or the statement of
operations.
10
Additionally,
we also recently determined that the amounts we have previously reported in our
consolidated statements of cash flows as investing outflows for exploration and
dry hole costs have included certain engineering and other costs that do not
result in the acquisition of an asset and should, therefore, be classified as
operating cash outflows rather than investing outflows. The amounts of
exploration and dry hole costs inappropriately included as investing outflows in
previously issued consolidated statements of cash flows were: $1.5 million for
the nine months ended March 31, 2008 as contained herein and, with respect to
periods not presented herein but contained in our 2008 Form 10-K, $1.9 million,
$2.1 million and $1.9 million for the years ended June 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively. The statement of cash flows for the nine months ended March 31,
2008 as contained herein has been adjusted for the restatement discussed
above. This restatement has no impact on the change in cash and cash
equivalents, the balance sheet or the statement of operations.
The
following is a summary of the restatement on the originally issued Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended March 31, 2008:
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
March 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||
As Previously Reported
|
Adjustments
|
As Restated
|
||||||||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Exploration and dry hole costs
|
$ | 2,987,642 | $ | (1,540,304 | ) | $ | 1,447,338 | |||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
(3,557,981 | ) | 3,183,420 | (374,561 | ) | |||||||
Net
cash (used) provided by operating activities
|
(2,116,384 | ) | 1,643,116 | (473,268 | ) | |||||||
Additions
to property and equipment
|
(1,584,871 | ) | (3,183,420 | ) | (4,768,291 | ) | ||||||
Oil
and gas exploration activities
|
(2,987,642 | ) | 1,540,304 | (1,447,338 | ) | |||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(2,839,382 | ) | (1,643,116 | ) | (4,482,498 | ) | ||||||
ITEM 2
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
RESTATEMENT
As
discussed in Note 11 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements
in Item 1 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, we have restated the
Statement of Cash Flows in Item 1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended March 31, 2008. All affected amounts contained in this
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations have been adjusted to reflect the restatement.
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 likelihood and timing of the closing of the YEP
investment transaction, pricing and production levels from the properties in
which Magellan and MPAL have interests, the extent of the recoverable reserves
at those properties, the future outcome of the negotiations for gas sales
contracts for the remaining uncontracted reserves at both the Mereenie and Palm
Valley gas fields in the Amadeus Basin, including the likelihood of success of
other potential suppliers of gas to the current customers of Mereenie and Palm
Valley production. In addition, MPAL has a large number of exploration permits
and faces the risk that any wells drilled may fail to encounter hydrocarbons in
commercially recoverable quantities. Any forward-looking information provided in
this release should be considered with these factors in mind. Magellan assumes
no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this
release, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
11
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, 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 of
Financial Accounting Standards 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
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.
The
Company has estimated the effective tax rate expected to be applicable for the
full fiscal year. The rate used in providing for income taxes on a
current year-to-date basis for the nine months ended March 31, 2009 is 47%. The
Company revised its estimate from the effective rate of 70% used in providing
income taxes for the six months ended December 31, 2008 due to a decrease in
U.K. exploration expenses offset by an increase in the estimate of MPC loss for
fiscal 2009, which do not generate a tax benefit. U.K. exploration expenses,
expected to be incurred in 2009 will occur in 2010.
12
Nondepletable
Assets
At March
31, 2009 and June 30, 2008, oil and gas properties include $6.0 million and $6.8
million, respectively, of capitalized costs that are currently not being
depleted. Components of these costs are as follows:
At March 31, 2009
|
At June 30, 2008
|
|||||||||||||||
Nondepletable capitalized
costs
|
$ | A |
$US
|
$ | A |
$US
|
||||||||||
PEL
106 – Cooper Basin (1) (2)
|
$ | 1,929,470 | $ | 1,318,793 | $ | 1,929,470 | $ | 1,855,186 | ||||||||
Weald/Wessex
Basin U.K. (1)
|
892,609 | 610,098 | 571,955 | 549,935 | ||||||||||||
Exploration
permits and licenses – Australia and U.K. (3)
|
— | 4,104,490 | — | 4,425,749 | ||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 6,033,381 | $ | 6,830,870 |
(1)
|
Capitalized
exploratory well costs pending the start of
production.
|
(2)
|
These
costs were capitalized during the year ended June 30, 2006 and 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. The operator has recommenced
applying for a retention license with the view to moving to a petroleum
production license by the end of 2009. The intention is to
commence gas production and sales in January
2010.
|
(3)
|
The
Company evaluates exploration permits and licenses annually or whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be
impaired. See discussion under Goodwill below for valuation methodology of
the exploration permits and licenses. Due to the significant decrease in
world oil prices, an impairment test was performed as of December 31, 2008
and an impairment loss of $63,740 was recorded in the second quarter. In
addition, the Company did not renew certain permits during the nine months
ended March 31, 2009, resulting in a write off of
$257,519. These amounts are recorded in exploration and dry
hole costs.
|
Goodwill
All of
our goodwill is related to the fiscal 2006 acquisition of the 44.87% of MPAL
that we did not own at the time. In accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets, goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment annually or
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may
be impaired. Our annual impairment testing date is June 30. Due to
the significant decrease in world oil prices and the fact that our stock was
trading significantly below our tangible book value an impairment test was
performed as of December 31, 2008. We determined that no
impairment existed as of that date and there were no changes in
circumstances since that time which would require an impairment test as of March
31, 2009.
We employ
the adjusted balance sheet method to estimate the fair value of
MPAL. This method entails estimating the fair value of all of MPAL’s
balance sheet items as of the valuation date. If the adjusted equity
value, after considering the fair values of the assets and liabilities, is
greater than the carrying value of MPAL, then no impairment is
indicated. Management believes that this methodology is most
meaningful since the highest and best use of these assets would be to continue
to hold and exploit the assets over time.
The fair
value of our oil and gas properties are estimated based on the discounted cash
flows of our proved and risk adjusted probable and possible
reserves.
The
significant assumptions used in estimating the fair values of the oil and gas
properties are oil and gas selling prices for non-contracted volumes, oil and
gas sales volumes, discount rates, and production trends. The fair value of MPAL
is most susceptible to changes in selling prices of oil and gas and changes in
estimated sales volume. As an example, a 10% decrease in the selling price of
oil and gas for the non-contracted volumes would reduce the estimated fair value
of MPAL by approximately $4.7 million. A 10% decrease in oil and gas
non-contracted sales volumes would reduce the fair value of MPAL by
approximately $5.9 million.
The fair
value of our nondepletable exploration permits and licenses is estimated
separately using one of four methods – discounted cash flows, discounted cash
flows adjusted for chances of success, recent farmin costs and premiums, and
estimated costs of committed work programs. The majority of the
permits and licenses are valued based on the estimated cost of agreed work
program commitments, which is a methodology that is not dependent on significant
assumptions.
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.
13
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, changes in timing, 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. 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 except for Nockatunga crude oil transportation costs which are deducted
from gross sales. 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.
Executive
Summary
Magellan
Petroleum Corporation (“MPC”) is engaged in the exploration, development,
production, and sale of natural gas and oil reserves. Magellan has
maintained a conservative financial philosophy and is now well-positioned with
cash and no debt to gain value through acquisition of distressed, debt-laden
small-cap companies with substantive discovered reserves. MPC’s principal
asset is its 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 fields (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 fields are located in the Cooper Basin in South West
Queensland, 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.
MPAL
has begun refocusing its activities toward long-term development of and sale of
reserves from the Amadeus Basin, gaining ownership / control of existing
reserves offshore in the Bonaparte and Browse Basin, Australia and toward entry
into major oil/gas basins in Europe beginning with the Weald Basin, onshore
southern United Kingdom.
The Palm
Valley local sales contract expires in January 2012 and the Mereenie
contracts continue on a month-to-month basis into 2010 under an evergreen term.
The Company is making strong efforts to dedicate remaining natural gas to area
buyers under “life of remaining reserves” agreement(s).
MPAL’s
major customer, Gasgo Pty. Ltd., a subsidiary of Power and Water Corporation
(“PWC”) of the Northern Territory has contracted with Eni Australia for the
supply of PWC’s Northern Territory gas demand requirement for twenty five years.
Eni Australia, initially expected to commence sales in January 2009, is to
supply the gas from its Blacktip field offshore of the Northern
Territory. The Blacktip development has encountered significant development
difficulty and delay. One Blacktip well was plugged and abandoned in March
2009 as dry. MPAL and Santos (“Mereenie Producers”) will continue to supply
PWC’s gas demand to augment Blacktip gas. There is a possibility that all
Amadeus Basin gas deliverability could be combined with the distressed Blacktip
flow to achieve efficiencies and savings for all Parties (producers and buyers)
in the Darwin supply grid. There are significant unknowns with regard to
Blacktip capability, efficiency, and natural gas deliverability. MPAL may, or
may not, be able to contract for the sale of our remaining uncontracted
reserves. Negotiations on this premise are active with ENI Australia, PWC,
and with Darwin LNG Operator, ConocoPhillips. 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 beginning
in 2010. Mereenie gas sales were approximately $15.5 million (net of
royalties) or 85% of total gas sales for the year ended June 30, 2008 and
$8.8 million (net of royalties),or 84% of total gas sales for the nine
months ended March 31, 2009.
14
On
February 9, 2009, the Company entered into a definitive securities purchase
agreement with Young Energy Prize S.A. (“YEP”), a Luxembourg corporation,
providing for a $10 million equity investment in the Company. YEP is a European
firm targeting investments in the exploitation of underdeveloped oil and gas
fields and in energy small-cap equity issues which have become undervalued in
these challenging times. YEP may make its investment through YEP 1 SIF-SICAV
(“YEP 1”), a specialized investment fund based in Luxembourg. Closing
under the purchase agreement is subject to receipt of shareholder approval of
the investment and an amendment to the Company’s certification of incorporation,
as well as other customary closing conditions. If approved, the
Company expects the closing to occur on or before June 30, 2009.
Under the
terms of the securities purchase agreement, YEP will pay $10 million ($1.15 per
share) to acquire a total of 8,695,652 shares of the Company's Common Stock (the
“Shares”) and a five-year warrant entitling YEP to purchase 4,347,826 shares
through warrant exercise at a price of $1.20 per share (see April 3, 2009
amendment discussed below). When issued at the closing, the shares will
represent approximately 17.3% of the Company's total outstanding shares on a pro
forma basis. YEP will designate two additional members to join the Company’s
Board of Directors, effective upon the closing of the transaction. In
order to make these additions to the Board, the Board will take action pursuant
to the Bylaws to increase the size of the Board to seven (7) members and to
elect, as of the closing date of the YEP investment, YEP’s designees to the
Board. The Bylaw amendments will not become effective unless the
transactions contemplated by the securities purchase agreement are
consummated.
On April
3, 2009, the Company and YEP agreed to amend their securities purchase agreement
to extend the outside termination date for the closing of YEP’s equity
investment from April 30, 2009 to June 30, 2009, in order to provide sufficient
time to conduct the 2008 Annual Meeting and complete the YEP equity investment
transaction. The amendment also provides that, if YEP completes the
purchase of the ANS Shares from the ANS Parties described below and in Note 10,
then the exercise price payable by YEP for the Warrant Shares shall be reduced
from $1.20 to $1.15 per share.
In addition, on April 3, 2009, the
Company and two of its shareholders, ANS Investments LLC and its CEO, Jonah M.
Meer (together, the “ANS Parties”), entered into a settlement agreement that
terminates the proxy solicitation efforts of the ANS Parties on mutually
agreeable terms. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the ANS
Parties have agreed to withdraw both the nomination of Mr. Meer as a director
candidate and their other proposals, to terminate all proxy solicitation efforts
with respect thereto, to support each of the proposals that the Company intends
to present to its shareholders at the Annual Meeting and to vote all of their
shares in favor of these proposals in accordance with the recommendation of the
Company’s Board of Directors. In exchange, the Company has agreed to
reimburse the ANS Parties up to $125,000 for their legal and other expenses
incurred by the ANS Parties related to their proxy solicitation
efforts.
Separately, YEP and the ANS Parties
have entered into an agreement by which YEP will, upon completion of YEP’s
equity investment in the Company, purchase 568,985 shares of the Company’s
common stock currently owned by the ANS Parties (the “ANS Shares”) at a price of
$1.15 per share.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At March
31, 2009, the Company on a consolidated basis had approximately $30.3 million of
cash and cash equivalents and $2.4 million in marketable
securities. The Company considers cash equivalents to be short term,
highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of
cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes
in value because of change in interest rates. Cash balances were $1.8
million as of March 31, 2009 and the remaining $28.5 million was held in time
deposit accounts in several Australian banks that had terms of 90 days or
less. National Australia Bank, Ltd. (“NAB”) holds 48% of the total
time deposit balance. Although the funds are uninsured, Standard and Poor’s
credit rating of NAB is AA Stable long-term and A-1+ short-term.
Consolidated
When
considering our liquidity and capital resources, we consider cash and cash
equivalents and marketable securities together since all of these amounts are
available to fund operating, exploration and development
activities. The balance of cash and cash equivalents and marketable
securities decreased $3.6 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2009
compared to a $4.2 million decrease in those balances during the nine months
ended March 31, 2008. The factors favorably impacting our liquidity
and capital resources during the nine months ended March 31, 2009 included a
$2.8 million decrease in cash expenditures for operating expenses resulting from
an increase in accounts payable, a $1.2 million decrease in drilling activities,
a $2.8 million decrease in property and equipment expenditures and a decrease in
tax payments of $11.6 million offset by a $4.4 million decrease in cash receipts
from sales and a $13.3 million increase in foreign exchange loss.
15
The
decrease in cash from the sales of oil and gas was due to decreased sales of
$8.1 million offset by a decrease in accounts receivable of $3.7 million
resulting from faster collections. Sales decreases were mostly due to the 29%
decrease in barrels sold, (attributable essentially to a 37,000 barrel decrease
in the Nockatunga project). We expect a downward production trend in
the Nockatunga project to continue but at a slower rate than occurred in this
quarter. Initial production declines rapidly over the first year or
two and levels off to a slower decline.
The
Company invested $2,193,470 and $6,215,629 in oil and gas exploration
activities, which includes additions to property and equipment, during the nine
months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease was due to
reduced drilling activities in 2009.
Effect of
exchange rate changes
The value
of the Australian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar decreased 29% to $.6835 at
March 31, 2009, compared to a value of $.9615 at June 30, 2008.
As to
MPC
At March
31, 2009, 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 near term cash requirements. MPC
received a cash dividend of $3.0 million from MPAL in December
2008.
On
February 9, 2009, the Company entered into a definitive securities purchase
agreement with Young Energy Prize S.A. (“YEP”), a Luxembourg corporation,
providing for a $10 million equity investment in the Company. Closing under the
purchase agreement is subject to receipt of shareholder approval of the
investment and an amendment to the Company’s certification of incorporation, as
well as other customary closing conditions. The Company expects the
transaction to be completed on or before June 30, 2009.
Under
the terms of the securities purchase agreement, YEP will pay $10.0 million
($1.15 per share)to acquire a total of 8,695,652 shares of the Company's Common
Stock (the “Shares”) and five-year warrants entitling YEP to purchase 4,347,826
shares through warrant exercise at a price of $1.20 per share. (See Note 9 to
the condensed consolidated financial statements)
On April
3, 2009, the Company and YEP agreed to amend their securities purchase agreement
to extend the outside termination date for the closing of YEP’s equity
investment from April 30, 2009 to June 30, 2009, in order to provide sufficient
time to conduct the 2008 Annual Meeting and complete the YEP equity investment
transaction. The amendment also provides that, if YEP completes the
purchase of the ANS Shares from the ANS Parties described in Note 10, then the
exercise price payable by YEP for the Warrant Shares shall be reduced from $1.20
to $1.15 per share
As to
MPAL
At March
31, 2009, MPAL had working capital of approximately $30.1 million. MPAL has
budgeted approximately (Aus) $6.0 million for specific exploration projects in
fiscal year 2009 as compared to (Aus) $3.5 million expended in the nine months
ended March 31, 2009. However, the total amount to be expended may vary
depending on when various projects reach the drilling phase. Most of the U.K
expenditures previously budgeted for 2009 will occur in 2010. The current
composition of MPAL’s oil and gas reserves are such that MPAL’s future revenues
in the long-term are expected to be derived from the sale of oil and gas in
Australia. MPAL’s current contracts for the sale of Palm Valley and Mereenie gas
will expire during fiscal year 2012 and 2009, respectively.
MPAL’s
major customer, Gasgo Pty. Ltd., a subsidiary of PWC of the Northern Territory
has contracted with Eni Australia for the supply of PWC’s Northern Territory gas
demand requirement for twenty five years. Eni Australia, initially expected to
commence sales in January, 2009, is to supply the gas from its Blacktip field
offshore of the Northern Territory. The Blacktip development has
encountered significant development difficulty and delay. One Blacktip well
was plugged and abandoned in March 2009 as dry. The Mereenie
Producers will continue to supply PWC’s gas demand to augment Blacktip
gas. There is a possibility that all Amadeus Basin gas deliverability
could be combined with the distressed Blacktip flow to achieve efficiencies and
savings for all Parties (producers and buyers) in the Darwin supply grid. There
are significant unknowns with regard to Blacktip capability, efficiency, and
natural gas deliverability. MPAL may, or may not, be able to contract for the
sale of the remaining uncontracted reserves. Negotiations on this premise
are active with ENI Australia, PWC, and with Darwin LNG Operator,
ConocoPhillips. 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 beginning in 2010. Mereenie gas sales were
approximately $15.5 million (net of royalties) or 85% of total gas sales
for the year ended June 30, 2008 and $8.8 million (net of royalties)
or 84% of total gas sales for the nine months ended March 31, 2009.
16
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,
2009, in thousands:
PAYMENTS DUE BY
PERIOD
|
||||||||||||||||||||
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
|
TOTAL
|
LESS
THAN
1
YEAR
|
1-3 YEARS
|
3-5 YEARS
|
MORE
THAN
5 YEARS
|
|||||||||||||||
Operating
Lease Obligations (1)
|
$ | 61 | $ | 61 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||||
Purchase
Obligations (2)
|
5,797 | 5,797 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Asset
Retirement Obligations (3)
|
10,886 | — | 201 | 1,914 | 8,771 | |||||||||||||||
Total
|
$ | 16,744 | $ | 5,858 | $ | 201 | $ | 1,914 | $ | 8,771 |
|
______________
|
(1)
|
MPAL
is in the process of renegotiating its current lease which expires June
30, 2009. The new three year lease of the Brisbane office will
be effective July 1, 2009. Rental amounts in Australian dollars
have been agreed upon and are as follows: $320,560, $337,605 and $355,333
for the year ending June 30, 2010, 2011 and 2012,
respectively.
|
(2)
|
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 $19,019,000 which are not
legally binding have been excluded from the table above and based on
exploration decisions would be due as follows: $0 (less than 1 year),
$19,002,000 (1-3 years), $17,000 (3-5
years).
|
(3)
|
During
the first quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company decreased the Mereenie asset
retirement obligation by a net amount of $995,000 due to a change in cost
estimates and expected restoration date from 2009 to 2014 (see Note 6 to
the Financial Statements). It was originally estimated that
this liability would be discharged by plugging the existing oil and gas
wells, reclamation of the land and satisfaction of any other contractual
requirements at the end of the current supply contract, but due to amended
supply obligations this has been extended to 2014. The amounts above
represent the undiscounted liability. The difference between the
undiscounted liability and the discounted liability on the balance sheet
is $2,986,000.
|
THREE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH, 2009 VS. MARCH 31, 2008
REVENUES
Significant
changes in revenues are as follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
March 31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
$ Variance
|
% Variance
|
|||||||||||||
Oil
sales
|
$ | 1,707,287 | $ | 4,442,241 | $ | (2,734,954 | ) | (62 | %) | |||||||
Gas
sales
|
3,291,615 | 4,433,188 | (1,141,573 | ) | (26 | %) | ||||||||||
Other
production related revenues
|
523,611 | 660,634 | (137,023 | ) | (21 | %) | ||||||||||
Interest
income
|
273,641 | 500,121 | (226,480 | ) | (45 | %) |
17
OIL SALES
DECREASED due to a 29% decrease in production, a 29% decrease in average price
per barrel and the 27% decrease in the average exchange rate discussed below. We
expect the downward production trend in the Nockatunga fields to continue due to
the high-cost nature of this area and the current price of oil. In addition, due
to the decrease in Mereenie production we are endeavoring to align operating
expenses with future revenue. Oil unit sales (after deducting royalties)
in barrels (bbls) and the average price per barrel sold during the periods
indicated were as follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009
SALES
|
2008
SALES
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
BBLS
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER BBL
|
BBLS
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER BBL
|
%
Variance BBLS
|
%
Variance
A.$ PER BBL
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Australia:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mereenie
field
|
19,940 | 73.68 | 23,022 | 106.87 | (13 | %) | (31 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Cooper
Basin
|
310 | 79.68 | 1,566 | 106.10 | (80 | %) | (25 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Nockatunga
project (1)
|
14,140 | 64.94 | 23,577 | 90.15 | (40 | %) | (28 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Total
|
34,390 | 70.17 | 48,165 | 98.70 | (29 | %) | (29 | %) |
(1)
|
Nockatunga
average price per bbl is net of crude oil transportation costs which are
deducted from the gross sales
price.
|
GAS SALES
DECREASED due to a 12% decrease in volume resulting from a decline in customer
requirements and the 27% decrease in the average exchange rate discussed below
partially offset by an 18% increase in the average price per mcf. 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,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 SALES
|
2008 SALES
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
BCF
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER MCF
|
BCF
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER MCF
|
%
Variance BCF
|
%
Variance
A.$ PER MCF
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Australia:
Palm Valley
|
.282 | 2.25 | .321 | 2.22 | (12 | %) | 1 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Australia:
Mereenie
|
.971 | 4.26 | 1.097 | 3.51 | (11 | %) | 21 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total
|
1.253 | 3.79 | 1.418 | 3.21 | (12 | %) | 18 | % |
INTEREST
INCOME DECREASED due to a decrease in market interest rates and the 27% decrease
in the average exchange rate discussed below.
COSTS AND
EXPENSES
Significant
changes in costs and expenses are as follows:
THREE MONTHS ENDED
March 31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
$Variance
|
% Variance
|
|||||||||||||
Exploration
and dry hole costs
|
1,385,552 | 334,651 | 1,050,901 | 314 | % | |||||||||||
Depletion,
depreciation and amortization
|
1,130,134 | 3,989,223 | (2,859,089 | ) | (72 | %) | ||||||||||
Auditing,
accounting and legal services
|
602,058 | 215,394 | 386,664 | 180 | % | |||||||||||
Other
administrative expenses
|
776,278 | 883,221 | (106,493 | ) | (12 | %) |
EXPLORATION
AND DRY HOLE COSTS INCREASED in 2009 due to seismic survey costs of
approximately $1.2 million related to the Nockatunga fields partially offset by
the 27% decrease in the average exchange rate described below.
DEPLETION,
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION DECREASED in 2009 due to lower depletable costs
and the 27% decrease in the average exchange rate described below.
AUDITING,
ACCOUNTING AND LEGAL SERVICES INCREASED in 2009 due mostly to legal fees related
to the YEP transaction and the shareholder agreement of approximately $256,000
(See Notes 9 and 10 to the Financial Statements) partially offset by the 27%
decrease in the average exchange rate described below.
OTHER
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES DECREASED in 2009 due to costs related to director stock
options that were incurred in 2008 but not in 2009 ($63,000), decrease in
insurance expenses in 2009 ($27,000) and the 27% decrease in the average
exchange rate described below, partially offset by due diligence costs related
to the YEP transaction ($175,000) (See Note 9 to the Financial
Statements).
18
INCOME
TAXES
INCOME
TAX PROVISION DECREASED due to the decrease in income before taxes as well as
the provision of the ATO settlement in the prior fiscal period (see Note 7 to
the Financial Statements for a discussion of effective tax rates used and the
ATO settlement).
EXCHANGE
EFFECT
THE VALUE
OF THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR RELATIVE TO THE U.S. DOLLAR DECREASED TO $.6835 at
March 31, 2009 compared to a value of $.6907 at December 31, 2008. This resulted
in a $371,883 charge to the foreign currency translation adjustments account for
the three months ended March 31, 2009. The average exchange rate used to
translate MPAL’s operations in Australia was $.6647 for the quarter ended March
31, 2009, which was a 27% decrease compared to the $.9051 rate for the quarter
ended March 31, 2008.
NINE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2009 VS. MARCH 31, 2008
REVENUES
Significant
changes in revenues are as follows:
NINE MONTHS ENDED
March
31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
$ Variance
|
% Variance
|
|||||||||||||
Oil
sales
|
$ | 9,184,879 | $ | 14,062,782 | $ | (4,877,903 | ) | (35 | %) | |||||||
Gas
sales
|
10,600,544 | 13,195,352 | (2,594,808 | ) | (20 | %) | ||||||||||
Other
production related revenues
|
1,348,058 | 1,973,843 | (625,785 | ) | (32 | %) |
OIL SALES
DECREASED due to a net 29% decrease in production and the 16% decrease in the
average exchange rate discussed below. We expect the downward production trend
in the Nockatunga fields to continue due to the high-cost nature of this area
and the current price of oil. In addition, due to the decrease in Mereenie
production we are endeavoring to align operating expenses with future
revenue. 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,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 SALES
|
2008 SALES
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
BBLS
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER BBL
|
BBLS
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER BBL
|
%
Variance BBLS
|
%
Variance
A.$ PER BBL
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Australia:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mereenie
field
|
65,128 | 97.00 | 73,758 | 104.48 | (12 | %) | (7 | %) | ||||||||||||||||
Cooper
Basin
|
2,170 | 104.31 | 4,853 | 104.25 | (55 | %) | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Nockatunga
project (1)
|
49,346 | 91.26 | 86,064 | 85.07 | (43 | %) | 7 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total
|
116,644 | 94.73 | 164,675 | 94.38 | (29 | %) | 0 | % |
(1)
|
Nockatunga
average price per bbl is net of crude oil transportation costs which are
deducted from the gross sales
price.
|
GAS SALES
DECREASED due to a 10% decrease in volume resulting from a decline in customer
requirements and the 16% decrease in the average exchange rate discussed below
offset by a 4% increase in the average price per mcf. 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,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2009 SALES
|
2008 SALES
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
BCF
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER MCF
|
BCF
|
AVERAGE
PRICE
A.$ PER MCF
|
%
Variance BCF
|
%
Variance
A.$ PER MCF
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Australia:
Palm Valley
|
.885 | 2.25 | 1.007 | 2.21 | (12 | %) | 2 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Australia:
Mereenie
|
3.031 | 3.69 | 3.357 | 3.54 | (10 | %) | 4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Total
|
3.916 | 3.36 | 4.364 | 3.23 | (10 | %) | 4 | % |
19
COSTS AND
EXPENSES
Significant
changes in costs and expenses are as follows:
NINE MONTHS ENDED
March 31,
|
||||||||||||||||
2009
|
2008
|
$Variance
|
% Variance
|
|||||||||||||
Exploration
and dry hole costs
|
2,652,929 | 3,072,242 | (419,313 | ) | (14 | %) | ||||||||||
Depletion,
depreciation and amortization
|
5,691,415 | 12,763,443 | (7,072,028 | ) | (55 | %) | ||||||||||
Auditing,
accounting and legal services
|
1,291,857 | 773,497 | 518,360 | 67 | % | |||||||||||
Other
administrative expenses
|
2,069,528 | 2,524,866 | (455,338 | ) | (18 | %) |
EXPLORATION
AND DRY HOLE COSTS DECREASED in 2009 due to Cooper Basin drilling costs incurred
in 2008 but not in 2009 ($1.3 million) and the 16% decrease in the average
exchange rate described below partially offset by seismic survey costs related
to the Nockatunga fields ($1.2 million) and the write off
and impairments of U.K. permits in 2009 ($321,000).
DEPLETION,
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION DECREASED in 2009 due to lower depletable costs
and the 16% decrease in the average exchange rate described below.
AUDITING,
ACCOUNTING AND LEGAL SERVICES INCREASED in 2009 due mostly to legal fees related
to the YEP transaction and the shareholder agreement of approximately $505,000
(See Notes 9 and 10 to the Financial Statements) partially offset by the 16%
decrease in the average exchange rate described below.
OTHER
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES DECREASED in 2009 due to costs related to the ATO
settlement ($597,000) and director stock options ($63,000) that were incurred in
2008 but not in 2009, exchange rate gains ($326,000) in 2009, decrease in
insurance expenses in 2009 ($127,000) and the 16% decrease in the average
exchange rate described below, partially offset by due diligence costs related
to the YEP transaction ($393,000) (See Note 9 to the Financial
Statements).
INCOME
TAXES
INCOME
TAX PROVISION DECREASED mostly due to the provision for the ATO settlement in
the prior fiscal period partially offset by higher income before income taxes
(see Note 7 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of effective tax rates
used and the ATO settlement).
EXCHANGE
EFFECT
THE VALUE
OF THE AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR RELATIVE TO THE U.S. DOLLAR DECREASED TO $.6835 at
March 31, 2009 compared to a value of $.9615 at June 30, 2008. This resulted in
a $17,329,440 charge to the foreign currency translation adjustments account for
the nine months ended March 31, 2009. The average exchange rate used to
translate MPAL’s operations in Australia was $.7432 for the nine months ended
March 31, 2009, which was a 16% decrease compared to the $.8809 rate for the
nine months ended March 31, 2008.
20
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. The exchange rates among the Australian dollar and the
U.S. dollar, as well as the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the U.K.
pound sterling, have changed in recent periods and may fluctuate substantially
in the future. We expect that a majority of our revenue will continue to be
generated in the Australian dollar in the future. Recently, the U.S.
dollar has strengthened significantly against the Australian dollar which has
had, and may continue to have, a materially negative impact on our revenues
generated in the Australian dollar, as well as our operating income and net
income, as considered on a consolidated basis. For the nine months ended March
31, 2009, the Company recorded a $17 million charge to its net worth which
represented the financial impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against
the Australian dollar. Any continued appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the
Australian dollar is likely to have a negative impact on our revenue, operating
income and net income. Because of our U.K. development program, a
portion of our expenses, including exploration costs and capital and operating
expenditures, will continue to be denominated in U.K. pound
sterling. Accordingly, any material appreciation of the U.K. pound
sterling against the Australian and U.S. dollar could have a negative impact on
our business, operating results and financial condition. 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 $2,113,000 and $1,988,000, for the
nine months ended March 31, 2009, respectively.
For the
nine months ended March 31, 2009, oil sales represented approximately 46% of oil
and gas 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 $918,000. Gas
sales, which represented approximately 54% of oil and gas 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,
2009.
At March
31, 2009, the carrying value of our investments in marketable securities
including those classified as cash and cash equivalents was approximately $32.7
million, which approximates the fair value of these investments. Since the
Company expects to hold the investments to maturity, the maturity value should
be realized. These marketable securities have not been impacted by the U.S.
credit crisis.
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 William H. Hastings, the Company’s President and
Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), and Daniel J. Samela, the Company’s Chief
Financial Officer (“CFO”), 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, 2009. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO 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, 2009 that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting.
21
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
PART II -
OTHER INFORMATION
MARCH 31,
2009
ITEM 1
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM 1A
RISK FACTORS
Our
business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows can be impacted
by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth below,
any one of which could cause our actual results to vary materially from recent
results or anticipated future results.
Information
regarding risk factors appears in Part I – Item 1A of our Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. As part of our Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended September 30, 2008, we revised our risk factor entitled “Oil
and Gas Prices are Volatile” under the heading “Risks Related to the Oil and Gas
Industry” to describe recent steep declines in worldwide oil and gas
prices. We have also added two new risk factors: (1) a discussion of
the ongoing U.S. and worldwide financial and credit crisis, and the impacts that
these conditions may have on us and (2) a discussion of exchange rate
fluctuations.
Other
than these changes, there have not been any material changes to the risk factors
disclosed in Item 1A of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30,
2008.
RISKS
RELATED TO THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Oil
and gas prices are volatile and have declined significantly in recent months. A
sustained decline in prices could adversely affect our financial position,
financial results, cash flows, access to capital and ability to
grow.
Our
revenues, operating results, profitability, future rate of growth and the
carrying value of our oil and gas properties depend primarily upon the prices we
receive for the oil and gas we sell. Prices also affect the amount of cash flow
available for capital expenditures and our ability to borrow money or raise
additional capital. The prices of oil, natural gas, methane gas and other fuels
have been, and are likely to continue to be, volatile and subject to wide
fluctuations in response to numerous factors, including the
following:
•
|
worldwide
and domestic supplies of oil and gas;
|
|
•
|
changes
in the supply and demand for such fuels;
|
|
•
|
political
conditions in oil, natural gas, and other fuel-producing and
fuel-consuming areas;
|
|
•
|
the
extent of Australian domestic oil and gas production and importation of
such fuels and substitute fuels in Australian and other relevant
markets;
|
|
•
|
weather
conditions, including effects on prices and supplies in worldwide energy
markets because of recent hurricanes in the United
States;
|
|
•
|
the
competitive position of each such fuel as a source of energy as compared
to other energy sources; and
|
|
•
|
the
effect of governmental regulation on the production, transportation, and
sale of oil, natural gas, and other
fuels.
|
These
factors and the volatility of the energy markets make it extremely difficult to
predict future oil and gas price movements with any
certainty. Furthermore, the recent worldwide financial and credit
crisis has reduced the availability of liquidity and credit to fund the
continuation and expansion of industrial business operations worldwide. The
shortage of liquidity and credit combined with recent substantial losses in
worldwide equity markets could lead to an extended worldwide economic recession.
A slowdown in economic activity caused by a recession would likely reduce
worldwide demand for energy and result in lower oil and natural gas prices. Oil
prices declined from record levels in early July 2008 of over $140 per
barrel to below $50 per barrel in late April 2009, while natural gas prices have
declined from over $13 per mcf to below $4 per mcf over the same
period.
22
Sustained
declines in oil and gas prices (such as those experienced in the second half of
2008) would not only reduce revenue, but could reduce the amount of oil and gas
that we can produce economically and, as a result, could have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition, results of operations and reserves. Further,
oil and gas prices do not necessarily move in tandem. Approximately 62% of our
proved reserves at June 30, 2008 were natural gas reserves. Existing gas
sales contracts in Australia are long term contracts with the gas price
movements related to the ACPI. Future gas sales not governed by existing
contracts would generate lower revenue if natural gas prices in Australia were
to decline. Sales of our proved oil reserves are dependent on world oil prices.
The volatility of these prices will affect future oil revenues. Based on 2009
gas and oil sales volumes and revenues, a 10% change in gas prices would
increase or decrease gas revenues by approximately $1,060,000 and a 10% change
in oil prices would increase or decrease oil revenue by approximately $919,000
for the nine months ended March 31, 2009, respectively.
Difficult conditions resulting from
the U.S. and worldwide financial and credit crisis, and growing concerns over recessions
in the U.S. and Australian economies, may materially adversely affect our
business and results of operations and we do not expect these conditions to
improve in the near future.
Recently,
the United States and many other nations (including Australia) around the world
have encountered a financial and credit crisis. Concerns over inflation,
energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, the U.S.
mortgage market and a declining real estate market in the U.S. and elsewhere
have contributed to increased market volatility and disruptions and diminished
expectations for the U.S. and world economies and markets going
forward. These factors, combined with volatile oil and gas prices,
declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, have
precipitated a worldwide economic slowdown and fears of a possible U.S. and
global recession.
In
addition, the U.S. and worldwide capital and credit markets have been
experiencing extreme volatility and disruption for more than twelve
months. Initially, the concerns on the part of market participants
were focused on the subprime segment of the mortgage-backed securities market.
However, these concerns have since expanded to include a broad range of mortgage
and asset-backed and other fixed income securities, including those rated
investment grade, the U.S. and international credit and interbank money markets
generally, and a wide range of financial institutions and markets, asset classes
and sectors. Since September 2008, market volatility and disruptions
have reached unprecedented levels, leading in many cases to unprecedented
government legislation and other actions to stabilize world markets and
financial institutions and promote consumer and investor
confidence.
Continuing
volatility and disruption in worldwide capital and credit markets and further
deteriorating conditions in the U.S. and Australian economies could affect our
revenues and earnings negatively and could have a material adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition. For
example, purchasers of our oil and gas production may reduce the amounts of oil
and gas they purchase from us and/or delay or be unable to make timely payments
to us.
Further,
a number of our oil and gas properties are operated by third parties whom we
depend upon for timely performance of drilling and other contractual obligations
and, in some cases, for distribution to us of our proportionate share of
revenues from sales of oil and gas we produce. If current economic
conditions adversely impact our third party operators, we are exposed to the
risk that drilling operations or revenue disbursements to us could be delayed.
This “trickle down” effect could significantly harm our business, financial
condition and results of operation.
Currency
exchange rate fluctuations may negatively affect our operating
results.
The
exchange rates among the Australian dollar and the U.S. dollar, as well as the
exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the U.K. pound sterling, have changed
in recent periods and may fluctuate substantially in the future. We expect that
a majority of our revenue will continue to be generated in the Australian dollar
in the future. Recently, the U.S. dollar has strengthened materially
against the Australian dollar which has had, and may continue to have, a
materially negative impact on our revenues generated in the Australian dollar,
as well as our operating income and net income, as considered on a consolidated
basis. The foreign exchange loss for the nine months ended March 31,
2009 was $17.3 million and is included in accumulated other comprehensive income
on the balance sheet. Any continued appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the
Australian dollar is likely to have a negative impact on our revenue, operating
income and net income. Because of our U.K.
development program, a portion of our expenses, including exploration costs and
capital and operating expenditures, will continue to be denominated in U.K.
pound sterling. Accordingly, any material appreciation of the U.K.
pound sterling against the U.S. dollar could have a negative impact on our
business, operating results and financial condition.
If
we are unable to complete the recently announced investment transaction with our
strategic investor, we may be unable to raise capital from alternative sources,
which could adversely affect our business and cause our stock price to
decline.
As
previously announced on February 10, 2009, we have entered into a Securities
Purchase Agreement with Young Energy Prize S.A. (“YEP”), a Luxembourg
corporation. Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement, YEP
will pay $10.0 million ($1.15 per share) to acquire a total of 8,695,652 shares
of the Company's common stock (the “Shares”) and a five-year warrant entitling
YEP to purchase 4,347,826 shares through warrant exercise at a price of $1.20
per share (see April 3, 2009 amendment discussed below).
23
The
closing of the YEP investment transaction is subject to receipt of shareholder
approval of the investment and an amendment to the Company’s certification of
incorporation, as well as other customary closing conditions. If approved
by shareholders, the Company expects the transaction to be completed on or
before June 30, 2009.
On April
3, 2009, the Company and YEP agreed to amend their securities purchase agreement
to extend the outside termination date for the closing of YEP’s equity
investment from April 30, 2009 to June 30, 2009, in order to provide sufficient
time to conduct the 2008 annual meeting and complete the YEP equity investment
transaction. The amendment also provides that, if YEP completes the
purchase of the ANS Shares from the ANS Parties (See note 10 to the financial
statements), then the exercise price payable by YEP for the warrant shares shall
be reduced from $1.20 to $1.15 per share.
However,
the closing may not take place because of a failure to satisfy either of the
stated closing conditions or otherwise. If the closing does not take
place, we may be unable to raise capital from alternative sources on terms
favorable to the Company, or at all. If we are unable to complete
this transaction, or raise equity capital from alternative sources, our business
could be materially and adversely affected and our stock price could
decline.
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, 2009
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 319,150 | ||||||||||||
February
1-28, 2009
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 319,150 | ||||||||||||
March
1-31, 2009
|
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, 2009, 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.
|
ITEM 6
EXHIBITS
31.
|
Rule 13a-14(a)
Certifications.
|
Certification
of William H. Hastings, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule
13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is filed
herein.
Certification
of Daniel J. Samela, 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 William H. Hastings, President and Chief Executive 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.
Certification
of Daniel J. Samela, 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.
24
MAGELLAN
PETROLEUM CORPORATION
FORM
10-Q
March 31,
2009
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 12,
2009 By/s/ William
H. Hastings
William
H. Hastings, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Duly
Authorized Officer)
By/s/ Daniel
J. Samela
Daniel J.
Samela, Chief Financial and Accounting Officer
(as
Principal Accounting Officer)
25