Blueprint
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
☑
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018
☐
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
Commission file number: 001-35922
PEDEVCO CORP.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Texas
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22-3755993
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)
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(IRS Employer Identification No.)
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1250 Wood Branch Park Dr., Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77079
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(855) 733-3826
(Registrant’s Telephone Number,
Including Area Code)
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common
Stock, $0.001 par value per share
NYSE American
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None.
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as
defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☑
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☑
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to file such
reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to
Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be
contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by
reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a
smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth
company. See the definitions of
“large accelerated
filer,”
“accelerated
filer” and
“smaller reporting
company” and
"emerging growth
company" in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer ☐
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Accelerated
filer ☐
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Non-accelerated
filer ☐
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Smaller
reporting company ☒
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Emerging
growth ☐
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the
registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period
for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange
Act. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined
in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑
The
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity
held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2018 based
upon the closing price reported on such date was approximately
$12,399,791. Shares of voting stock held by each officer and
director and by each person who, as of June 30, 2018, may be deemed
to have beneficially owned more than 10% of the outstanding voting
stock have been excluded. This determination of affiliate status is
not necessarily a conclusive determination of affiliate status for
any other purpose.
As of
March 27, 2019, 45,288,828 shares of the registrant’s
common stock, $0.001 par value per share, were
outstanding.
Table of Contents
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Page
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PART
I
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8
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35
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61
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61
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61
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PART
II
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62
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64
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65
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72
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72
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73
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73
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74
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PART
III
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75
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83
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95
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98
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100
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PART
IV
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101
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Forward Looking Statements
ALL STATEMENTS IN THIS DISCUSSION THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL ARE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. STATEMENTS PRECEDED BY, FOLLOWED BY OR
THAT OTHERWISE INCLUDE THE WORDS “BELIEVES,”
“EXPECTS,”
“ANTICIPATES,”
“INTENDS,”
“PROJECTS,”
“ESTIMATES,”
“PLANS,”
“MAY
INCREASE,” “MAY FLUCTUATE” AND
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS OR FUTURE OR CONDITIONAL VERBS SUCH AS
“SHOULD”,
“WOULD”,
“MAY”
AND “COULD” ARE GENERALLY
FORWARD-LOOKING IN NATURE AND NOT HISTORICAL FACTS. THESE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WERE BASED ON VARIOUS FACTORS AND WERE
DERIVED UTILIZING NUMEROUS IMPORTANT ASSUMPTIONS AND OTHER
IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE THE INFORMATION CONCERNING OUR
FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, BUSINESS STRATEGY, PROJECTED PLANS
AND OBJECTIVES. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, THE FACTORS
SET FORTH BELOW UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS.” ALTHOUGH
WE BELIEVE THAT THE EXPECTATIONS REFLECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS ARE REASONABLE, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS,
LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS. MOST OF THESE
FACTORS ARE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT ACCURATELY AND ARE GENERALLY
BEYOND OUR CONTROL. WE ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PUBLICLY UPDATE
ANY OF THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT EVENTS OR
CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE DATE HEREOF OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF
UNANTICIPATED EVENTS. READERS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE
RELIANCE ON THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. REFERENCES IN THIS
FORM 10-K, UNLESS ANOTHER DATE IS STATED, ARE TO DECEMBER 31, 2018.
AS USED HEREIN, THE “COMPANY,”
“WE,”
“US,”
“OUR”
AND WORDS OF SIMILAR MEANING REFER TO PEDEVCO CORP. (D/B/A PACIFIC
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT), WHICH WAS KNOWN AS BLAST ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
UNTIL JULY 30, 2012, AND ITS WHOLLY-OWNED AND PARTIALLY-OWNED
SUBSIDIARIES, BLAST AFJ, INC., PACIFIC ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORP.,
PACIFIC ENERGY & RARE EARTH LIMITED (DISSOLVED EFFECTIVE AUGUST
11, 2017), BLACKHAWK ENERGY LIMITED (DISSOLVED EFFECTIVE MAY 1,
2018), RED HAWK PETROLEUM, LLC, WHITE HAWK ENERGY, LLC (DISSOLVED
EFFECTIVE MARCH 7, 2018), CONDOR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LLC (ACQUIRED
AUGUST 1, 2018), RIDGEWAY ARIZONA OIL CORP. (ACQUIRED SEPTEMBER 1,
2018), AND EOR OPERATING COMPANY (ACQUIRED SEPTEMBER 1, 2018),
UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.
This
Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Annual Report”) may
contain forward-looking statements which are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact included in
this Annual Report, regarding our strategy, future operations,
financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs
and cash flows, prospects, plans and objectives of management are
forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report, the
words “could,”
“believe,”
“anticipate,”
“intend,”
“estimate,”
“expect,”
“may,”
“should,”
“continue,”
“predict,”
“potential,”
“project” and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
although not all forward-looking statements contain such
identifying words.
Forward-looking
statements may include statements about our:
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business
strategy;
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reserves;
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technology;
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cash
flows and liquidity;
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financial
strategy, budget, projections and operating results;
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oil and
natural gas realized prices;
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timing
and amount of future production of oil and natural
gas;
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availability
of oil field labor;
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the
amount, nature and timing of capital expenditures, including future
exploration and development costs;
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drilling
of wells;
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government
regulation and taxation of the oil and natural gas
industry;
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marketing
of oil and natural gas;
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exploitation
projects or property acquisitions;
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costs
of exploiting and developing our properties and conducting other
operations;
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general
economic conditions;
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competition
in the oil and natural gas industry;
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effectiveness
of our risk management activities;
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environmental
liabilities;
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counterparty
credit risk;
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developments
in oil-producing and natural gas-producing countries;
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future
operating results;
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future
acquisition transactions;
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estimated
future reserves and the present value of such reserves;
and
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plans,
objectives, expectations and intentions contained in this Annual
Report that are not historical.
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All
forward-looking statements speak only at the date of the filing of
this Annual Report. The reader should not place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our
plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the
forward-looking statements we make in this Annual Report are
reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, intentions
or expectations will be achieved. We disclose important factors
that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our
expectations under “Risk Factors” and
“Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. These
cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements
attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf. We do not
undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statements except as required by law, including the
securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations
of the SEC.
Certain
abbreviations and oil and gas industry terms used throughout this
Annual Report are described and defined in greater detail under
“Glossary of Oil and
Natural Gas Terms” below, and readers are
encouraged to review that section.
Unless
the context otherwise requires and for the purposes of this report
only:
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“Exchange
Act” refers to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
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“SEC” or the “Commission”
refers to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;
and
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“Securities
Act” refers to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Available Information
We are
subject to the information and reporting requirements of the
Exchange Act, under which we file periodic reports, proxy and
information statements and other information with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
Financial and other
information about PEDEVCO Corp. is available on our website
(www.pacificenergydevelopment.com).
Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into
this report. We make available on our website, free of charge,
copies of our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form
10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports
filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such
material electronically or otherwise furnishing it to the
SEC.
GLOSSARY OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS TERMS
The
following is a description of the meanings of some of the oil and
natural gas terms used in this Annual Report.
AFE or Authorization for Expenditures.
A document that lays out proposed expenses for a particular project
and authorizes an individual or group to spend a certain amount of
money for that project.
Bbl. One stock tank barrel, or
42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used in this Annual Report in
reference to crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.
Bcf. An abbreviation for
billion cubic feet. Unit used to measure large quantities of gas,
approximately equal to 1 trillion Btu.
Boe. Barrels of oil equivalent,
determined using the ratio of one Bbl of crude oil, condensate or
natural gas liquids, to six Mcf of natural gas.
Boepd. Barrels of oil
equivalent per day.
Bopd. Barrels of oil per
day.
Btu or British thermal unit.
The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound
of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Completion. The operations
required to establish production of oil or natural gas from a
wellbore, usually involving perforations, stimulation and/or
installation of permanent equipment in the well or, in the case of
a dry hole, the reporting of abandonment to the appropriate
agency.
Condensate. Liquid hydrocarbons
associated with the production of a primarily natural gas
reserve.
Conventional resources. Natural
gas or oil that is produced by a well drilled into a geologic
formation in which the reservoir and fluid characteristics permit
the natural gas or oil to readily flow to the
wellbore.
Cushing/WTI. Means the price of
West Texas Intermediate oil at the hub located in Cushing,
Oklahoma.
Developed acreage. The number
of acres that are allocated or assignable to productive
wells.
Development well. A well
drilled into a proved oil or natural gas reservoir to the depth of
a stratigraphic horizon known to be productive.
Estimated ultimate recovery or
EUR. Estimated ultimate recovery is the sum of reserves
remaining as of a given date and cumulative production as of that
date.
Exploratory well. A well
drilled to find and produce oil or natural gas reserves not
classified as proved, to find a new reservoir in a field previously
found to be productive of oil or natural gas in another reservoir
or to extend a known reservoir.
Frac or fraccing. A short name for
hydraulic fracturing, a method for extracting oil and natural
gas.
Farmin or farmout. An agreement under
which the owner of a working interest in an oil or natural gas
lease assigns the working interest or a portion of the working
interest to another party who desires to drill on the leased
acreage. Generally, the assignee is required to drill one or more
wells in order to earn its interest in the acreage. The assignor
usually retains a royalty or reversionary interest in the lease.
The interest received by an assignee is a “farmin” while the
interest transferred by the assignor is a “farmout.”
FERC. Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
Field. An area consisting of a
single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on or related
to the same individual geological structural feature and/or
stratigraphic condition.
Gross acres or gross wells. The
total acres or wells in which a working interest is
owned.
Henry Hub. A natural gas
pipeline located in Erath, Louisiana that serves as the official
delivery location for futures contracts on the NYMEX. The
settlement prices at the Henry Hub are used as benchmarks for the
entire North American natural gas market.
Held by production. An oil and
natural gas property under lease in which the lease continues to be
in force after the primary term of the lease in accordance with its
terms as a result of production from the property.
Horizontal drilling or well. A
drilling operation in which a portion of the well is drilled
horizontally within a productive or potentially productive
formation. This operation typically yields a horizontal well that
has the ability to produce higher volumes than a vertical well
drilled in the same formation. A horizontal well is designed to
replace multiple vertical wells, resulting in lower capital
expenditures for draining like acreage and limiting surface
disruption.
Hydraulic Fracturing.
Means the forcing open of
fissures in subterranean rocks by introducing liquid at high
pressure, especially to extract oil or gas.
IP30. Means the production of a
well for the first full calendar month of production.
Liquids. Liquids, or natural
gas liquids, are marketable liquid products including ethane,
propane, butane and pentane resulting from the further processing
of liquefiable hydrocarbons separated from raw natural gas by a
natural gas processing facility.
LOE or Lease operating expenses. The
costs of maintaining and operating property and equipment on a
producing oil and gas lease.
MBbl. One thousand barrels of
crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons.
MMBbl/d. One thousand barrels
of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons per day.
Mcf. One thousand cubic feet of
natural gas.
Mcfgpd. Thousands of cubic feet
of natural gas per day.
MMcf. One million cubic feet of
natural gas.
MMBtu. One million British
thermal units.
Net acres or net wells. The sum
of the fractional working interest owned in gross acres or
wells.
Net revenue interest. The
interest that defines the percentage of revenue that an owner of a
well receives from the sale of oil, natural gas and/or natural gas
liquids that are produced from the well.
NGL. Natural gas
liquids.
NYMEX. New York Mercantile
Exchange.
Permeability. A reference to
the ability of oil and/or natural gas to flow through a
reservoir.
Petrophysical analysis. The
interpretation of well log measurements, obtained from a string of
electronic tools inserted into the borehole, and from core
measurements, in which rock samples are retrieved from the
subsurface, then combining these measurements with other relevant
geological and geophysical information to describe the reservoir
rock properties.
Play. A set of known or
postulated oil and/or natural gas accumulations sharing similar
geologic, geographic and temporal properties, such as source rock,
migration pathways, timing, trapping mechanism and hydrocarbon
type.
Possible reserves. Additional
reserves that are less certain to be recognized than probable
reserves.
Probable reserves. Additional
reserves that are less certain to be recognized than proved
reserves but which, in sum with proved reserves, are as likely as
not to be recovered.
Producing well, production well or
productive well. A well that is found to be capable of
producing hydrocarbons in sufficient quantities such that proceeds
from the sale of the well’s production exceed
production-related expenses and taxes.
Properties. Natural gas and oil
wells, production and related equipment and facilities and natural
gas, oil or other mineral fee, leasehold and related
interests.
Prospect. A specific geographic
area which, based on supporting geological, geophysical or other
data and also preliminary economic analysis using reasonably
anticipated prices and costs, is considered to have potential for
the discovery of commercial hydrocarbons.
Proved developed reserves.
Proved reserves that can be expected to be recovered through
existing wells and facilities and by existing operating
methods.
Proved reserves. Reserves of
oil and natural gas that have been proved to a high degree of
certainty by analysis of the producing history of a reservoir
and/or by volumetric analysis of adequate geological and
engineering data.
Proved undeveloped reserves or
PUDs. Proved reserves that are expected to be recovered from
new wells on undrilled acreage or from existing wells where a
relatively major expenditure is required for
recompletion.
Repeatability. The potential
ability to drill multiple wells within a prospect or
trend.
Reservoir. A porous and
permeable underground formation containing a natural accumulation
of producible oil and/or natural gas that is confined by
impermeable rock or water barriers and is individual and separate
from other reservoirs.
Royalty interest. An interest
in an oil and natural gas lease that gives the owner of the
interest the right to receive a portion of the production from the
leased acreage (or of the proceeds of the sale thereof), but
generally does not require the owner to pay any portion of the
costs of drilling or operating the wells on the leased acreage.
Royalties may be either landowner’s royalties, which are
reserved by the owner of the leased acreage at the time the lease
is granted, or overriding royalties, which are usually reserved by
an owner of the leasehold in connection with a transfer to a
subsequent owner.
2-D seismic. The method by
which a cross-section of the earth’s subsurface is created
through the interpretation of reflecting seismic data collected
along a single source profile.
3-D seismic. The method by
which a three-dimensional image of the earth’s subsurface is
created through the interpretation of reflection seismic data
collected over a surface grid. 3-D seismic surveys allow for a more
detailed understanding of the subsurface than do 2-D seismic
surveys and contribute significantly to field appraisal,
exploitation and production.
Transition Zone. The Transition
Zone usually produces both oil and water at different ratios
depending on the height above the Free Water Level (FWL). In normal
conditions wells that are drilled in the Transition Zone will
produce at some water cut.
Trend. A region of oil and/or
natural gas production, the geographic limits of which have not
been fully defined, having geological characteristics that have
been ascertained through supporting geological, geophysical or
other data to contain the potential for oil and/or natural gas
reserves in a particular formation or series of
formations.
Unconventional resource play. A
set of known or postulated oil and or natural gas resources or
reserves warranting further exploration which are extracted from
(a) low-permeability sandstone and shale formations and (b) coalbed
methane. These plays require the application of advanced technology
to extract the oil and natural gas resources.
Undeveloped acreage. Lease
acreage on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a
point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of
oil and natural gas, regardless of whether such acreage contains
proved reserves. Undeveloped acreage is usually considered to be
all acreage that is not allocated or assignable to productive
wells.
Unproved and unevaluated
properties. Refers to properties where no drilling or other
actions have been undertaken that permit such property to be
classified as proved.
Vertical well. A hole drilled
vertically into the earth from which oil, natural gas or water
flows is pumped.
Volumetric reserve analysis. A
technique used to estimate the amount of recoverable oil and
natural gas. It involves calculating the volume of reservoir rock
and adjusting that volume for the rock porosity, hydrocarbon
saturation, formation volume factor and recovery
factor.
Wellbore. The hole made by a
well.
WTI or West Texas Intermediate. A
grade of crude oil used as a benchmark in oil pricing. This grade
is described as light because of its relatively low density, and
sweet because of its low sulfur content.
Working interest. The operating
interest that gives the owner the right to drill, produce and
conduct operating activities on the property and receive a share of
production.
PART I
ITEM 1 AND 2. BUSINESS AND
PROPERTIES.
History
We were
originally incorporated in September 2000 as Rocker & Spike
Entertainment, Inc. In January 2001 we changed our name to
Reconstruction Data Group, Inc., and in April 2003 we changed our
name to Verdisys, Inc. and were engaged in the business of
providing satellite services to agribusiness. In June 2005, we
changed our name to Blast Energy Services, Inc.
(“Blast”)
to reflect our new focus on the energy services business, and in
2010 we changed the direction of the Company to focus on the
acquisition of oil and gas producing properties.
On July
27, 2012, we acquired, through a reverse acquisition, Pacific
Energy Development Corp., a privately held Nevada corporation,
which we refer to as Pacific Energy Development. As described
below, pursuant to the acquisition, the shareholders of Pacific
Energy Development gained control of approximately 95% of the
voting securities of our company. Since the transaction resulted in
a change of control, Pacific Energy Development was the acquirer
for accounting purposes. In connection with the merger, which we
refer to as the Pacific Energy Development merger, Pacific Energy
Development became our wholly-owned subsidiary and we changed our
name from Blast Energy Services, Inc. to PEDEVCO Corp. Following
the merger, we refocused our business plan on the acquisition,
exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas
resources in the United States.
Office Leases
Our
corporate headquarters is located in approximately 4,600 square
feet of office space at 1250 Wood Branch Park Dr., Suite 400,
Houston, Texas 77079. We lease that space pursuant to a lease that
expires in August 2019 and the company is currently in negotiations
to extend its lease or move to new office space to accommodate
growth. The Company previously had additional office space at our
former corporate headquarters in Danville, California, which lease
was terminated in February 2019 without penalty or other amounts
due.
Business Operations
Overview
We are an oil and gas company focused on the
acquisition and development of oil and natural gas assets
where the latest in modern drilling and completion techniques and
technologies have yet to be applied. In particular, we focus on
legacy proven properties where there is a long production history,
well defined geology and existing infrastructure that can be
leveraged when applying modern field management technologies. Our
current properties are located in the San Andres formation of the
Permian Basin situated in West Texas and eastern New Mexico (the
“Permian
Basin”) and in the
Denver-Julesberg Basin (“D-J
Basin”) in
Colorado.
As of December 31,
2018, we held approximately 23,441 net Permian Basin acres located
in Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico, through our
wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Pacific Energy Development Corp.
(“PEDCO”),
which we refer to as our “Permian Basin
Asset,” and approximately
11,948 net D-J Basin acres located in Weld and Morgan Counties,
Colorado, through our wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Red Hawk
Petroleum, LLC (“Red
Hawk”), which asset we
refer to as our “D-J Basin
Asset.” As of
December 31, 2018, we held interests in 337 gross (337 net)
wells in our Permian Basin Asset of which 51 are active producers,
18 are active injectors and one well is an active Saltwater
Disposal Well (“SWD”), all of which are
held by PEDCO and operated by its wholly-owned operating
subsidiaries, and interests in
69 gross (21.5 net) wells in our D-J Basin Asset, of which 18 gross
(16.2 net) wells are operated by Red Hawk and currently producing,
29 gross (5.2 net) wells are non-operated, and 22 wells have an
after-payout interest.
Restructuring
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Prior
to June 2018, the Company focused primarily on development of the
unconventional shale formations within the D-J Basin. The Company
organically developed and aggregated oil and gas properties through
the energy industry downturn in 2016, in the process accumulating
$73.4 million in debt as of June 25, 2018.
●
On June 26, 2018, the Company secured a strategic
investment from SK Energy LLC (“SK
Energy”), which is owned
and controlled by Dr. Simon Kukes, who subsequently became the
Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company on July 12,
2018, amounting to a $7.7 million note investment which proceeds,
and related transactions, resulted in the elimination of $78.3
million of outstanding liabilities, and which transactions also
included the $100,000 acquisition by SK Energy, from a third party,
of all the outstanding shares of the Company’s
then-outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (66,625
shares convertible into 47.6% of the Company’s outstanding
shares post-conversion(collectively referred to as the
“Restructuring”).
At the time of the Restructuring, the Company owned 9,607 net acres
located within the Wattenberg Core and Wattenberg Extension of the
D-J Basin.
●
The
result of the Restructuring was a simplified balance sheet, a
significant reduction in indebtedness, and a new management team
with a new corporate and enhanced operational focus.
Transformation
Simultaneously with
the Restructuring, the newly installed management team was in the
process of evaluating several acquisitions that contemplated a
shift in the Company’s overall business strategy to focus on
assets with the following characteristics:
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Long-lived,
conventional oil and gas properties
o
Tighter
conventional reservoirs with historical underdeveloped vertical
recovery, ideal for horizontal development
o
Permeability and
rock properties significantly better than shale plays
o
Minimal to no
application of modern drilling and completion techniques and
technologies
o
Existing equipment,
facilities and available access to infrastructure
o
Large contiguous
acreage positions
Consistent with the
Company’s new business strategy, the Company consummated the
following transactions in August 2018:
Acquisition of Permian Basin Properties
On
August 31, 2018, the Company closed the acquisition of the Permian
Basin Asset in New Mexico, from Hunter Oil Company for a purchase
price of $21.3 million. The purchase price included $18.5 million
for all production, associated assets and acreage, $500,000 for the
operating entities and associated inventory, and $2.3 million of
restricted cash held in the operating companies for bonding with
the State of New Mexico. These properties had previously been
evaluated by the new management team and fit the new corporate
focus. Both the Milnesand and Chaveroo fields in the Permian Basin
Asset are legacy oil fields having produced to date 48 million
barrels of oil equivalent from the San Andres formation, via
40-acre vertical well spacing. The Company believes that by
applying horizontal drilling and modern completion techniques to
the Permian Basin Asset, downspacing to 20 acres can be achieved at
a lower cost, with significantly better recoveries than continued
vertical drilling.
To
finance this acquisition, the Company sold $23.6 million of
convertible debt with a conversion price of $2.13 per share. SK
Energy purchased $22.0 million of the convertible debt, which SK
Energy subsequently converted into common stock effective March 1,
2019, as discussed below under “Recent Events” –
“SK Energy Note
Amendment; Note Purchases and
Conversion”.
Acquisition of Additional D-J Basin Properties
In
August 2018 the Company also acquired additional assets consisting
of four operated wells and 2,340 net acres held by production in
the D-J Basin which added to the Company’s then-current
position. This consolidation of ownership in existing acreage
within the D-J Basin provides for a more focused development plan
related to these assets.
Business Strategy
We
believe that horizontal development and exploitation of
conventional assets in the Permian Basin and development of the
Wattenberg and Wattenberg Extension in the D-J Basin, represent
among the most economic oil and natural gas plays in the
U.S. We plan to optimize our existing assets and
opportunistically seek additional acreage proximate to our
currently held core acreage, as well as other attractive onshore
U.S. oil and gas assets that fit our acquisition criteria, that
Company management believes can be developed using our technical
and operating expertise and be accretive to shareholder
value.
Specifically, we
seek to increase shareholder value through the following
strategies:
●
Grow production, cash flow and reserves by
developing our operated drilling inventory and participating
opportunistically in non-operated projects. We believe our
extensive inventory of drilling locations in the Permian Basin and
the DJ-Basin, combined with our operating expertise, will enable us
to continue to deliver accretive production, cash flow and reserves
growth. We have identified approximately 150 gross drilling
locations across our Permian Basin acreage based on 20-acre
spacing. We believe the location, concentration and scale of our
core leasehold positions, coupled with our technical understanding
of the reservoirs will allow us to efficiently develop our core
areas and to allocate capital to maximize the value of our resource
base.
●
Apply modern drilling and completion techniques
and technologies. We own and intend to own additional
properties that have been historically underdeveloped and
underexploited. We believe our attention to detail and application
of the latest industry advances in horizontal drilling, completions
design, frac intensity and locally optimal frac fluids will allow
us to successfully develop our properties.
●
Optimization of well density and
configuration. We own properties that are legacy
conventional oil fields characterized by widespread vertical
development and geological well control. We utilize the extensive
petrophysical and production data of such legacy properties to
confirm optimal well spacing and configuration using modern
reservoir evaluation methodologies.
●
Maintain a high degree of operational
control. We believe that by retaining high operational
control, we can efficiently manage the timing and amount of our
capital expenditures and operating costs, and thus key in on the
optimal drilling and completions strategies, which we believe will
generate higher recoveries and greater rates of return per
well.
●
Leverage extensive deal flow, technical and
operational experience to evaluate and execute accretive
acquisition opportunities. Our management and technical
teams have an extensive track record of forming and building oil
and gas businesses. We also have significant expertise in
successfully sourcing, evaluating and executing acquisition
opportunities. We believe our understanding of the geology,
geophysics and reservoir properties of potential acquisition
targets will allow us to identify and acquire highly prospective
acreage in order to grow our reserve base and maximize stockholder
value.
●
Preserve financial flexibility to pursue
organic and external growth opportunities. We intend to
maintain a disciplined financial profile that will provide us
flexibility across various commodity and market cycles. We intend
to utilize our strategic partners and public currency to
continuously fund development and operations.
Our strategy is to be the operator, directly or
through our subsidiaries and joint ventures, in the majority of our
acreage so we can dictate the pace of development in order to
execute our business plan. The majority of our capital
expenditure budget through 2019 will be focused on the development
of our Permian Basin Asset, with a secondary focus on development
of our D-J Basin Asset. Our 2019 total development plan calls for
the deployment of an estimated $52 million in capital, of which
approximately $22 million has been raised to date. On our Permian
Basin Asset four initial horizontal wells were drilled in December
2018 and January 2019 in phase one of our development plan,
followed by phase two which contemplates the drilling and
completion of an additional eight horizontal wells through 2020,
subject to, and based upon, the results from phase one, and in each
case, available funding. Our 2019 D-J Basin Asset development plan
is currently under evaluation for our operated acreage and our
non-operated acreage and is projected to require approximately $7.6
million in capital through 2019. Due to the held-by-production
nature of our Permian Basin assets, we believe capital can be
readily allocated to our D-J Basin assets if needed. We expect that
we will have sufficient cash available to meet our needs over the
foreseeable future, which cash we anticipate being available from
(i) our projected cash flow from operations, (ii) our existing cash
on hand, (iii) equity infusions
or loans (which may be convertible) made available from
our largest shareholder, SK Energy, which is owned and controlled
by Dr. Simon Kukes, our Chief Executive Officer and director, which
funding SK Energy is under no obligation to provide and which funds
may not be available on favorable terms, if at all. In addition, we
may seek additional funding through asset sales, farm-out
arrangements, lines of credit, or public or private debt or equity
financings to fund additional 2019 capital expenditures and/or
acquisitions. If market conditions are not conducive to
raising additional funds, the Company may choose to extend the
drilling program and associated capital expenditures further
into 2020.
The
following chart reflects our current organizational
structure:
*Represents
percentage of total voting power based on 45,288,828
shares of common stock (solely on an issued and outstanding basis)
outstanding as of March 27, 2019, with beneficial ownership
calculated in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act (but
without reflecting the conversion of convertible securities into
voting securities, including, options exercisable for common stock
of the Company. Holdings of SK Energy LLC, an entity wholly-owned
and controlled by our CEO and director Dr. Simon Kukes, are also
included in holdings of Senior Management and Board – See
“Part
III” — “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters.”
Competition
The oil
and natural gas industry is highly competitive. We compete, and
will continue to compete, with major and independent oil and
natural gas companies for exploration and exploitation
opportunities, acreage and property acquisitions. We also compete
for drilling rig contracts and other equipment and labor required
to drill, operate and develop our properties. Many of our
competitors have substantially greater financial resources, staffs,
facilities and other resources than we have. In addition, larger
competitors may be able to absorb the burden of any changes in
federal, state and local laws and regulations more easily than we
can, which would adversely affect our competitive position. These
competitors may be able to pay more for drilling rigs or
exploratory prospects and productive oil and natural gas properties
and may be able to define, evaluate, bid for and purchase a greater
number of properties and prospects than we can. Our competitors may
also be able to afford to purchase and operate their own drilling
rigs.
Our
ability to exploit, drill and explore for oil and natural gas and
to acquire properties will depend upon our ability to conduct
operations, to evaluate and select suitable properties and to
consummate transactions in this highly competitive environment.
Many of our competitors have a longer history of operations than we
have, and many of them have also demonstrated the ability to
operate through industry cycles.
Competitive Strengths
We
believe we are well positioned to successfully execute our business
strategies and achieve our business objectives because of the
following competitive strengths:
Legacy Conventional Focus.
Legacy conventional oil fields that have seen large-scale vertical
development. Vertical production confirms moveable hydrocarbons
ideal for horizontal development that may have been technologically
or economically limited or missed.
Technical Engineering & Operations
Expertise. Lateral landing decisions incorporate log
analysis, fracture-geometry modeling and an understanding of local
porosity and saturation distributions. Our team are creative
problem solvers with expertise in wellbore mechanics, completion
design, production enhancement, artificial lift design, water
handling, facilities optimization, and production down-time
reduction.
Low Cost Development. Shallow
conventional reservoirs (<8,000 feet) and short to mid-range
laterals (1.0 mile and 1.5 mile, respectively) allow for efficient
full-scale development without the requirement for extended reach
laterals and large fracs to meet economic thresholds.
Management. We have assembled a
management team at our Company with extensive experience in the
fields of business development, petroleum engineering, geology,
field development and production, operations, planning and
corporate finance. Our management team is headed by our Chief
Executive Officer, Dr. Simon Kukes, who was formerly the CEO at
Samara-Nafta, a Russian oil company partnering with Hess
Corporation, President and CEO of Tyumen Oil Company, and Chairman
of Yukos Oil. Our President, J. Douglas Schick, has over 20 years
of experience in the oil and gas industry, having co-founded
American Resources, Inc., and formerly serving in executive,
management and operational planning, strategy and finance roles at
Highland Oil and Gas, Mariner Energy, Inc., The Houston Exploration
Co., ConocoPhillips and Shell Oil Company. In addition, our
Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Clark R. Moore, has
over 13 years of energy industry experience, and formerly served as
acting general counsel of Erin Energy Corp. Several other members
of the management team have also successfully helped develop
similar companies with like kind asset profiles and technical
operations at Sheridan Production Company, Trinity Operating LLC,
Baker Hughes and Halliburton. We believe that our management team
is highly qualified to identify, acquire and exploit energy
resources in the U.S.
Our
operations team has extensive experience in horizontal development
of conventional assets in the Permian Basin at Sheridan Production
Company and experience drilling and completing unconventional wells
in the D-J Basin at Baker Hughes and Halliburton.
Our
board of directors also brings extensive oil and gas industry
experience, headed by our Chairman, John J. Scelfo, who brings
nearly 40 years of experience in oil and gas management, finance
and accounting, and who served in numerous executive-level
capacities at Hess Corporation, including as Senior Vice President,
Finance and Corporate Development, Chief Financial Officer,
Worldwide Exploration & Producing, and as a member of
Hess’ Executive Committee. In addition, our Board includes
Ivar Siem, who brings over 50 years of broad experience from both
the upstream and the service segments of the oil and gas industry,
including serving as Chairman of Blue Dolphin Energy Company
(OTCQX: BDCO), as Chairman and interim CEO of DI Industries/Grey
Wolf Drilling, as Chairman and CEO of Seateam Technology ASA, and
in various executive roles at multiple E&P and oil field
service companies. Furthermore, our Board includes H. Douglas
Evans, who brings over 40
years of experience in executive management positions with Gulf
Interstate Engineering Company, one of the world's top pipeline
design and engineering firms, including as its current Chairman and
previously its President and Chief Executive Officer, and who is a
past President and current Board member of the International Pipe
Line and Offshore Contractors Association, current Chairman of its
Strategy Committee, and an active member of the Pipeline
Contractors Association.
Significant acreage positions and
drilling potential. As of December 31, 2018, we have
accumulated interests in a total of approximately 23,441 net acres
in our core Permian Basin Asset operating area, and 11,948 net
acres in our core D-J Basin Asset operating area, both of which we
believe represent significant upside potential. The majority of our
interests are in or near areas of considerable activity by both
major and independent operators, although such activity may not be
indicative of our future operations. Based on our current acreage
position, we believe our current Permian Basin Asset could contain
over 195 potential net wells based on currently identified drilling
locations using 120-acre spacing, and our D-J Basin Asset could
contain up to approximately 149 potential net wells based on
80-acre spacing, providing us with a substantial drilling inventory
for future years.
Marketing
We
generally sell a significant portion of our oil and gas production
to a relatively small number of customers, and during the year
ended December 31, 2018, sales to one customer comprised
47% of the Company’s total oil and gas revenues. The
Company is not dependent upon any one purchaser and believes that,
if its primary customers are unable or unwilling to continue to
purchase the Company’s production, there are a substantial
number of alternative buyers for its production at comparable
prices.
Oil. Our
crude oil is generally sold under short-term, extendable and
cancellable agreements with unaffiliated purchasers. As a
consequence, the prices we receive for crude oil move up and down
in direct correlation with the oil market as it reacts to supply
and demand factors. Transportation costs related to moving crude
oil are also deducted from the price received for crude
oil.
We are
a party to a six-month crude oil purchase contract with a third
party buyer, expiring June 30, 2019, pursuant to which the buyer
purchases the crude oil produced from our 18 operated wells in our
D-J Basin Asset, at a price per barrel equal to the average of the
New York Mercantile Exchange’s ("NYMEX") daily settle quoted
price for Cushing/WTI for trade days only during a calendar month,
applicable to product delivered during any such calendar month,
less a per barrel differential of $6.60. The crude oil is purchased
at the wellhead, and we do not bear any incremental transportation
costs.
In
connection with our September 2018 acquisition of certain Permian
Basin assets from Ridgeway Arizona Oil
Corp. (which we subsequently acquired), we also became a
party to a month-to-month crude oil purchase contract with a third
party buyer, pursuant to which the buyer purchases the crude oil
produced from our 69 operated wells in our Permian Basin Asset, at
a price per barrel equal to the average of the NYMEX daily settle
quoted price for Cushing/WTI for trade days only during a calendar
month, applicable to product delivered during any such calendar
month, less a per barrel differential of $3.64. The crude oil is
purchased at the wellhead, and we do not bear any incremental
transportation costs.
Natural
Gas. Our
natural gas is sold under both long-term and short-term natural gas
purchase agreements. Natural gas produced by us is sold at various
delivery points at or near producing wells to both unaffiliated
independent marketing companies and unaffiliated mid-stream
companies. We receive proceeds from prices that are based on
various pipeline indices less any associated fees for processing,
location or transportation differentials.
We are
a party to a Gas Purchase Contract, dated December 1, 2011, with
DCP Midstream, LP (which we refer to as “DCP”), pursuant to which
we sell to DCP all gas produced from nine of our D-J Basin Asset
operated wells and surrounding lands located in Weld County,
Colorado, at a purchase price equal to 83% of the net weighted
average value for gas attributable to us that is received by DCP at
its facilities sold during the month, less a $0.06/gallon local
fractionation fee for NGLs, for a period of ten years ending
December 1, 2021, after which time the contract reverts to a
month-to-month basis and is subject to cancellation by either party
at any time upon at least thirty (30) days advance
notice.
We also
became a party to a Gas Purchase Agreement, dated April 1, 2012, as
amended, with Sterling Energy Investments LLC, which we refer to as
Sterling, pursuant to which we sell to Sterling all gas produced
from nine of our D-J Basin Asset wells and surrounding lands
located in Weld County, Colorado, at a purchase price equal to 85%
of the revenue received by Sterling from the sale of gas after
processing at Sterling’s plant that is attributable to us
during the month, less a $0.50/Mcf gathering fee, subject to
escalation, for a period of twenty years, terminating April 1,
2032.
Oil and Gas Properties
We
believe that our Permian Basin and D-J Basin assets represent among
the most economic oil and natural gas plays in the U.S. We plan to
opportunistically seek additional acreage proximate to our
currently held core acreage located in the Northwest Shelf of the
Permian Basin in Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico, and the
Wattenberg and Wattenberg Extension areas of Weld County, Colorado
in the D-J Basin. Our strategy is to be the operator, directly or
through our subsidiaries and joint ventures, in the majority of our
acreage so we can dictate the pace of development in order to
execute our business plan. The majority of our capital
expenditure budget for 2019 will be focused on the development of
our Permian Basin Asset, and secondarily on development of our D-J
Basin Asset.
Unless otherwise noted,
the following table presents summary data for our leasehold acreage
in our core Permian Basin Asset and D-J Basin Asset as of December
31, 2018 and our drilling capital budget with respect to this
acreage from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. If commodity
prices drop significantly, we may delay drilling activities. The
ultimate amount of capital we will expend may fluctuate materially
based on, among other things, market conditions, commodity prices,
asset monetizations, non-operated project proposals, the success of
our drilling results as the year progresses, and availability of
capital (see
“Part
I” – “Item 1A. Risk
Factors”.)
|
|
Drilling Capital
Budget
January 1, 2019
- December 31, 2019
|
Current
Core Assets:
|
|
|
|
Capital Cost to
the Company (2)
|
Permian Basin
Asset
|
23,441
|
12.0
|
$3,291,667
|
$39,500,000
|
D-J Basin
Asset
|
11,948
|
3.0
|
$2,533,333
|
7,600,000
|
Facilities and
Infrastructure (3)
|
|
|
|
5,000,000
|
Total
Assets
|
35,389
|
15.0
|
|
$52,100,000
|
(1) Includes drilling and completion of (i) four 1.0 mile lateral
wells in Phase One of the development of the Chaveroo Field in the
Permian Basin Asset, (ii) seven 1.0 mile lateral wells and one 1.5
mile lateral well in the Chaveroo, Chaveroo NE, and Milnesand
Fields of the Permian Basin Asset, and (iii) three gross horizontal
wells in the D-J Basin Asset, subject to pending AFEs from other
operators in the D-J Basin.
(2)
Of the estimated $52.1 million total
capital cost to the Company, the Company has raised $22 million to
date and anticipates a portion to be funded by cash from
operations.
(3)
Estimated capital expenditures for construction of central
facilities including tank batteries, injection lines, heater
treaters, and SWD pumps in the Permian Basin Asset.
Our Core Areas
Permian Basin Asset
Effective September
1, 2018, we acquired 100% of the assets of Hunter Oil Company,
which assets we refer to as our “Permian Basin Asset,” and
which assets we hold through our
wholly-owned subsidiary, PEDCO, with operations conducted through
PEDCO’s wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, EOR Operating
Company and Ridgeway Arizona Oil Corp. These interests are all
located in Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico, where we
currently operate 337 gross (337 net) wells of which 51wells are
active producers, 18 wells are active injectors, and one well is an
active SWD. As of December 31, 2018, our Permian Basin Asset
acreage is located in the areas shaded in yellow in the sectional
map below.
It is
currently estimated that there are approximately 110 billion
barrels of oil-in-place in San Andres reservoirs across the Permian
Basin (Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America
(“RPSEA”) report dated
December 21, 2015). The San Andres oilfields of the Northwest
Shelf, Central Basin Platform and the Eastern Shelf are some of the
largest oilfields within the Permian Basin. According to the U.S.
Energy Information Administration (“EIA”), as of December 31,
2013, three oil fields that have produced from the San Andres
formation were amongst the top 50 largest oilfields by reserves in
the United States. The San Andres has been historically
under-developed due to technological and economic limitations
during early development. The San Andres is a dolomitic carbonate
reservoir characterized as being highly-heterogenous with a
multi-porosity system that typically shows significant oil
saturation, but primary production often yields higher than normal
water cut. While existing San Andres operators may ascribe
different drivers for the water cut, San Andres production requires
sufficient fluid removal, transportation and disposal in order to
achieve higher oil cuts, through a network of on-site fluid storage
and saltwater disposal systems.
Oil was
originally trapped in the San Andres by three types of pre-Tertiary
traps: Structural, Stratigraphic and Structurally enhanced
Stratigraphic. Legacy fields exist where oil accumulated in these
traps to form thick oil columns, referred to as Main Pay Zones
(“MPZ”). Legacy San Andres
fields lack sharp oil-water contacts creating secondary zones of
increasing water saturation beneath the MPZ known as Transitional
Oil Zones (“TOZ”) and Residual Oil
Zones (“ROZ”). TOZs and ROZs also
extend outside the historical boundaries of the legacy fields
downdip to their structural limits. The vast majority of horizontal
San Andres wells have been drilled in these TOZ and ROZ areas where
vertical development is uneconomic.
The
Company’s 23,441 net acres within the Chaveroo and Milnesand
fields of Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico offer a rare
opportunity to drill infill horizontal wells targeting the higher
oil-saturations of the MPZs. There are currently 337 wellbores
within the leasehold, of which 51 are active producers and 18 are
active injectors, and one is an active SWD. The remainder are
shut-in wellbores with future potential utility for additional
water injection, production reactivations, and behind-pipe
recompletions. We currently own and operate two water handling
facilities, one in each field, that have a current combined
capacity of approximately 32,000 barrels of water per day
(bbl/d).
Infill San Andres Well Performance (1)(2)(3)
Well
Names
|
|
Operator
|
|
County
|
|
LateralLength (feet)
|
|
Peak
IP30*
(bopd)
|
Parker
Minerals 4 22 H
|
|
Sheridan
Production Co.
|
|
Ector
|
|
2,059
|
|
571
|
Parker
Minerals 4 24H
|
|
Sheridan
Production Co.
|
|
Ector
|
|
1,846
|
|
550
|
Earlene
Fisher State 17 3H
|
|
Lime
Rock Resources
|
|
Andrews
|
|
3,692
|
|
514
|
University 14Q
1H
|
|
Ring
Energy
|
|
Andrews
|
|
4,951
|
|
509
|
Hamilton Unit
1H
|
|
Walsh
Petroleum
|
|
Yoakum
|
|
4,061
|
|
433
|
Persephone
1H
|
|
Ring
Energy
|
|
Andrews
|
|
7,067
|
|
402
|
Parker
Minerals 4 21H
|
|
Sheridan
Production Co.
|
|
Ector
|
|
3,187
|
|
351
|
Fisher
76C 6H
|
|
Lime
Rock Partners
|
|
Andrews
|
|
5,461
|
|
316
|
Dean
CSA 266H
|
|
Apache
Corporation
|
|
Cochran
|
|
5,710
|
|
309
|
Brahaney Unit
202H
|
|
Apache
Corporation
|
|
Yoakum
|
|
3,543
|
|
268
|
Captain
Ahab Harpoon 1H
|
|
Pacesetter
Energy
|
|
Andrews
|
|
5,097
|
|
264
|
Sooner
662 1H
|
|
Wishbone
Energy Partners
|
|
Yoakum
|
|
4,101
|
|
249
|
Dean
CSA 264H
|
|
Apache
Corporation
|
|
Cochran
|
|
5,924
|
|
233
|
Dunbar
05 6H
|
|
Sheridan
Production Co.
|
|
Gaines
|
|
4,513
|
|
225
|
Roberts
Unit 261H
|
|
Apache
Corporation
|
|
Yoakum
|
|
5,689
|
|
73
|
Source:
IHS Markit
* Initial thirty (30) day production.
(1)Performance analysis of 15 horizontal wells within
existing legacy vertical fields on 20-acre spacing or
less.
(2) Production was normalized to a lateral length of
4,620’ to represent the length of Chaveroo & Milnesand
PUD locations.
(3) Does not include the Transition Zone well performance to
date.
D-J Basin Asset
We have
grown our legacy D-J Basin Asset position to 11,948 net acres
following the August 1, 2018 acquisition of 2,340 net acres held by
production and four operated wells in Weld and Morgan Counties,
Colorado, discussed above. We directly
hold all of our interests in the D-J Basin Asset through our
wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Hawk. These interests are all located
in Weld County, Colorado. Red Hawk has an interest in 69 gross
(21.5 net) wells and is currently the operator of 18 gross (16.2
net) wells located in our D-J Basin Asset. Our D-J Basin Asset
acreage is located in the areas circled in the map below.
The D-J Basin has seen a tremendous amount of growth in drilling
activity in the past 12 months. D-J Basin operators are now
drilling 16 to 24 horizontal wells per section in the Niobrara and
Codell formations, utilizing the latest advances in completion
design, frac stages, and frac intensity to obtain favorable well
results. Notable non-operated partners leading the Niobrara revival
are Noble Energy, Extraction Oil & Gas, SRC Energy and Bonanza
Creek.
Production, Sales Price and Production Costs
We have
listed below the total production volumes and total
revenue net to the Company for the years ended December 31,
2018, 2017, and 2016:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Revenues
|
$4,523,000
|
$3,015,000
|
$3,968,000
|
|
|
|
|
Oil:
|
|
|
|
Total Production
(Bbls)
|
70,395
|
52,260
|
92,966
|
Average sales price
(per Bbl)
|
$59.00
|
$47.15
|
$36.98
|
Natural
Gas:
|
|
|
|
Total Production
(Mcf)
|
89,769
|
100,254
|
168,555
|
Average sales price
(per Mcf)
|
$2.56
|
$2.97
|
$2.04
|
NGL:
|
|
|
|
Total Production
(Mcf)
|
45,774
|
73,254
|
66,033
|
Average sales price
(per Mcf)
|
$3.05
|
$3.46
|
$2.82
|
Oil
Equivalents:
|
|
|
|
Total Production
(Boe) (1)
|
92,985
|
81,178
|
132,064
|
Average Daily
Production (Boe/d)
|
255
|
222
|
362
|
Average Production Costs (per Boe)
(2)
|
$19.77
|
$13.62
|
$9.55
|
_________________________
(1)
|
Assumes
6 Mcf of natural gas and NGL equivalents to 1 barrel of
oil.
|
(2)
|
Excludes
workover costs, marketing, ad valorem and severance
taxes.
|
As of
December 31, 2018, production from our recent acquisition of the
Chaveroo and Milnesand fields in the third quarter 2018 are the
fields that each comprise 15% or more of our total proved reserves.
In prior periods, the Wattenberg field is the only field that
comprised 15% or more of our total proved reserves. The applicable
production volumes from these fields for the years ended December
31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 is represented in the table below in total
barrels (Bbls):
|
|
|
|
Chaveroo
|
3,631
|
-
|
-
|
Milnesand
|
2,917
|
-
|
-
|
Wattenberg
|
66,220
|
46,198
|
49,316
|
The
following table summarizes our gross and net developed and
undeveloped leasehold and mineral fee acreage at December 31,
2018:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-J
Basin
|
205,994
|
11,948
|
183,370
|
9,388
|
22,624
|
2,560
|
Permian
Basin
|
23,829
|
23,441
|
20,783
|
20,555
|
3,046
|
2,886
|
Total
|
229,823
|
35,389
|
204,153
|
29,943
|
25,670
|
5,446
|
(1)
Developed acreage is the number of acres that are allocated or
assignable to producing wells or wells capable of
production.
(2)
Undeveloped acreage is lease acreage on which wells have not been
drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of
commercial quantities of oil and natural gas regardless of whether
such acreage includes proved reserves.
We
believe we have satisfactory title, in all material respects, to
substantially all of our producing properties in accordance with
standards generally accepted in the oil and natural gas
industry.
Total Net Undeveloped Acreage Expiration
In
the event that production is not established or we take no action
to extend or renew the terms of our leases, our net undeveloped
acreage that will expire over the next three years as of
December 31, 2018 is 49, 170 and 2,566 for the years ending
December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. We expect to
retain substantially all of our expiring acreage either through
drilling activities, renewal of the expiring leases or through the
exercise of extension options.
Well Summary
The
following table presents our ownership in productive crude oil and
natural gas wells at December 31, 2018. This summary includes crude
oil wells in which we have a working interest:
|
|
|
Crude
oil
|
106.0
|
80.5
|
Natural
gas
|
-
|
-
|
Total*
|
106.0
|
80.5
|
*Includes crude oil
wells from our Permian Basin Asset acquisition, which occurred in
September 2018, and account for approximately 56% of our gross and
73% of our net totals, respectively.
Drilling Activity
We
drilled wells or participated in the drilling of wells as indicated
in the table below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Productive
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
0.2
|
-
|
-
|
Dry
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Exploratory
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Productive
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Dry
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
* Represents our participation in three
non-operated wells which were completed during the applicable
year.
The
following table sets forth information about wells for which
drilling was in progress or which were drilled but uncompleted at
December 31, 2018, which are not included in the above
table:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development
wells
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
4.0
|
Exploratory
wells
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Total
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
4.0
|
Oil and Natural Gas Reserves
Reserve Information.
For estimates of the Company’s
net proved producing reserves of crude oil and natural gas, as well
as discussion of the Company’s proved and probable
undeveloped reserves, see “Part II” -
“Item 8
Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data” – “Supplemental Oil and Gas
Disclosures (Unaudited)”. At December 31, 2018, the
Company’s total estimated proved reserves were 12.4 million
Boe of which 11.5 million Bbls were crude oil reserves, and 5.4
million Mcf were natural gas and NGL reserves.
Internal Controls.
Clayton Riddle, our Vice
President of Development (a non-executive position), is the
technical person primarily responsible for our internal reserves
estimation process (which are based upon the best available
production, engineering and geologic data) and provides oversight
of the annual audit of our year end reserves by our independent
third party engineers. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in
Petroleum Engineering with in excess of 15 years of oil and gas
experience, including in excess of five years as a reserves
estimator and is a member of the Society of Petroleum
Engineers.
The
preparation of our reserve estimates is in accordance with our
prescribed procedures that include verification of input data into
a reserve forecasting and economic software, as well as management
review. Our reserve analysis includes, but is not limited to, the
following:
●
Research of
operators near our lease acreage. Review operating and
technological techniques, as well as reserve projections of such
wells.
●
The review of
internal reserve estimates by well and by area by a qualified
petroleum engineer. A variance by well to the previous year-end
reserve report is used as a tool in this process.
●
SEC-compliant
internal policies to determine and report proved
reserves.
●
The discussion of
any material reserve variances among management to ensure the best
estimate of remaining reserves.
Qualifications of Third Party
Engineers. The technical person
primarily responsible for the audit of our reserves estimates
at Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. is W. Todd Brooker, who meets the requirements
regarding qualifications, independence, objectivity, and
confidentiality set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the
Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves Information
promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Cawley,
Gillespie & Associates, Inc. is an independent firm and does
not own an interest in our properties and is not employed on a
contingent fee basis. Reserve estimates are imprecise and
subjective and may change at any time as additional information
becomes available. Furthermore, estimates of oil and gas reserves
are projections based on engineering data. There are uncertainties
inherent in the interpretation of this data as well as the
projection of future rates of production. The accuracy of any
reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and
of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. A copy
of the report issued by Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. is
incorporated by reference into this report as Exhibit
99.1.
For
more information regarding our oil and gas reserves, please refer
to “Item 8 Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data” –
“Supplemental Oil and Gas Disclosures
(Unaudited)”.
Material Events During the Year Ended December 31,
2018
SK Energy Note and Related Transactions
On June 26, 2018, the Company borrowed $7.7
million from SK Energy, which amount was evidenced by a Promissory
Note dated June 25, 2018, in the amount of $7.7 million (the
“SK Energy
Note”). SK Energy is 100%
owned and controlled by Dr. Simon Kukes, our Chief Executive
Officer and director. The SK Energy Note accrues interest monthly
at 8% per annum, payable quarterly (beginning October 15, 2018), in
either cash or shares of common stock (at the option of the
Company), or with the consent of SK Energy, such interest may be
accrued and capitalized. If interest on the SK Energy Note is paid
in common stock, SK Energy will be due that number of shares of
common stock as equals the amount due divided by the average of the
closing sales prices of the Company’s common stock for the
ten trading days immediately preceding the last day of the calendar
quarter prior to the applicable payment date, rounded up to the
nearest whole share of common stock (the “Interest
Shares”). The SK Energy
Note is due and payable on June 25, 2021, but may be prepaid at any
time, without penalty. Other than in connection with the Interest
Shares. The SK Energy Note contains standard and customary events
of default and upon the occurrence of an event of default, the
amount owed under the SK Energy Note accrues interest at 10% per
annum. As additional consideration for SK Energy agreeing to the
terms of the SK Energy Note, the Company issued SK Energy 600,000
shares of common stock (the “Loan
Shares”).
As part of the same transaction and as a required
condition to closing the sale of the SK Energy Note, SK Energy
entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with Golden Globe Energy
(US), LLC (“GGE”), the then holder of our outstanding
66,625 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (convertible
pursuant to their terms into 6,662,500 shares of the
Company’s common stock – 47.6% of the Company’s
then outstanding shares post-conversion), pursuant to which on June
25, 2018, SK Energy purchased, for $100,000, all of the Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock).
Debt Restructuring
On June 25, 2018, the Company entered into Debt
Repayment Agreements (the “Repayment
Agreements”, each
described in greater detail below) with (i) the holders of our then
outstanding Tranche A Secured Promissory Notes
(“Tranche A
Notes”) and Tranche B
Secured Promissory Notes (“Tranche B
Notes”), which the
Company entered into pursuant to the terms of the May 12, 2016
Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, (ii) RJ Credit LLC
(“RJC”), which held a subordinated promissory
note issued by the Company pursuant to that certain Note and
Security Agreement, dated April 10, 2014, as amended (the
“RJC Subordinated
Note”), and (iii) MIE
Jurassic Energy Corporation, which held a subordinated promissory
note issued by the Company pursuant to that certain Amended and
Restated Secured Subordinated Promissory Note, dated February 18,
2015, as amended (the “MIEJ
Note”, and together with
the “Tranche B
Notes,” the
“Junior
Notes”), pursuant to
which, on June 26, 2018, the Company retired all of the then
outstanding Tranche A Notes, in the aggregate amount of
approximately $7,260,000 in exchange for cash paid of $3,800,000
and all of the then outstanding Junior Notes, in the aggregate
amount of approximately $70,299,000, in exchange for an aggregate
amount of cash paid of $3,876,000.
Pursuant to the terms of the Repayment Agreement
relating to the Tranche B Notes, in addition to the cash
consideration due to the Tranche B Note holders, as described
above, we agreed to grant to certain of the Junior Note holders
their pro rata share of warrants to purchase an aggregate of
1,448,472 shares of common stock of the Company (the
“Repurchase
Warrants”). The
Repurchase Warrants have a term of three years and an exercise
price equal to $0.322, one (1) cent above the closing price of the
Company’s common stock on June 26, 2018.
Additionally, on June 25, 2018, the Company
entered into a Debt Repayment Agreement (the
“Bridge Note Repayment
Agreement”) with all of
the holders of its convertible subordinated promissory notes issued
pursuant to the Second Amendment to Secured Promissory Notes, dated
March 7, 2014, originally issued on March 22, 2013 (the
“Bridge
Notes”), pursuant to
which all of the holders, holding in aggregate $475,000 of
outstanding principal amount under the Bridge Notes, agreed to the
payment and full satisfaction of all outstanding amounts (including
accrued interest and additional payment-in-kind) for 25% of the
principal amounts owed thereunder, or an aggregate amount of cash
paid of $119,000.
The
result of the above transactions was a net reduction of liabilities
of approximately $70,728,000 that were removed from the
Company’s balance sheet as of June 25, 2018. For the year
ended December 31, 2018, a gain on the settlement of all of these
debts in the amount of $70,309,000 was recorded ($70,631,000, net
of the expense related to the issuance of warrants to certain of
the Tranche A Note holders with an estimated fair value of $322,000
based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model).
NYSE American Compliance
On June 27, 2018, the NYSE American (the
“Exchange”)
notified the Company that it had regained compliance with the NYSE
American continued listing standards. Moving forward, the Company
will be subject to the Exchange’s normal continued listing
monitoring. In addition, in the event that the Company is again
determined to be noncompliant with any of the Exchange’s
continued listing standards within twelve (12) months of the
notice, the Exchange will consider the relationship between the
Company’s previous noncompliance and such new event of
noncompliance and take appropriate action which may include
implementing truncated compliance procedures or immediately
initiating delisting proceedings.
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Amendment and
Conversion
In
connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, and immediately
following the closing of the acquisition described in the Stock
Purchase Agreement (discussed above), the Company and SK Energy, as
the then holder of all of the then outstanding shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, agreed to the filing of an Amendment
to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations of PEDEVCO
Corp. Establishing the Designations, Preferences, Limitations and
Relative Rights of Its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the
“Preferred
Amendment”), which amended the designation of our
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Designation”) to remove
the beneficial ownership restriction contained therein, which
prevented any holder of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock from
converting such Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of
common stock of the Company if such conversion would result in the
holder thereof holding more than 9.9% of the Company’s then
outstanding common stock. The Company filed the Preferred Amendment
with the Secretary of State of Texas on June 26, 2018.
On
July 3, 2018, SK Energy converted all of the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock shares it acquired pursuant to the Stock Purchase
Agreement with GGE, pursuant to their terms, into 6,662,500 shares
of the Company’s common stock, representing 45.3% of the
Company’s then outstanding common stock, and resulting in
approximately 14,717,119 shares of the Company’s common stock
being issued and outstanding. The issuance was deemed a change of
control under applicable NYSE American rules and regulations,
provided that such issuance was previously approved at the 2015
annual meeting of shareholders of the Company held on October 7,
2015. The conversion transaction constituted a change in control of
the Company under applicable NYSE American rules and
regulations. The shares of common stock issued upon conversion
of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, together with the Loan
Shares (issued to SK Energy on June 26, 2018) totaled 49.9% of our
then outstanding shares of common stock, which shares are
beneficially owned by SK Energy and Dr. Kukes.
Convertible Note Sales
On August 1, 2018, we raised $23,600,000 through
the sale of $23,600,000 in Convertible Promissory Notes (the
“Convertible
Notes”). A total of
$22,000,000 in Convertible Notes was purchased by SK Energy;
$200,000 in Convertible Notes was purchased by an executive officer
of SK Energy; $500,000 in Convertible Notes was purchased by a
trust affiliated with John J. Scelfo, a director of the Company;
$500,000 in Convertible Notes was purchased by an entity affiliated
with Ivar Siem, our director, and J. Douglas Schick, who was
appointed as the President of the Company on August 1, 2018;
$200,000 in Convertible Notes was purchased by H. Douglas Evans,
who was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors on
September 27, 2018; and $200,000 in Convertible Notes were
purchased by an unaffiliated party.
The
Convertible Notes accrue interest monthly at 8.5% per annum, which
interest is payable on the maturity date unless otherwise converted
into our common stock as described below.
The Convertible Notes and all accrued interest
thereon are convertible into shares of our common stock, from time
to time after August 29, 2018, at the option of the holders
thereof, at a conversion price equal to the greater of (x) $0.10
above the greater of the book value of the Company’s common
stock and the closing sales price of the Company’s common
stock on the date the Convertible Notes were entered into (the
“Book/Market
Price”) (which
was $2.13 per share); (y) $1.63 per share; and (z) the
VWAP Price, defined as the volume weighted average price
(calculated by aggregate trading value on each trading day) of the
Company’s common stock for the 20 trading days ending August
29, 2018, which price was $2.08 per share, and which conversion
price is therefore $2.13 per share.
The conversion of the SK Energy Convertible Note
is subject to a 49.9% conversion limitation (for so long as SK
Energy or any of its affiliates holds such note), which prevents
the conversion of any portion thereof into common stock of the
Company if such conversion would result in SK Energy beneficially
owning (as such term is defined in the Exchange
Act)(“Beneficially
Owning”) more than 49.9%
of the Company’s outstanding shares of common
stock.
The conversion of the other Convertible Notes is
subject to a 4.99% conversion limitation, at any time such note is
Beneficially Owned by any party other than (i) SK Energy or any of
its affiliates (which is subject to the separate conversion
limitation described above); (ii) any officer of the Company; (iii)
any director of the Company; or (iv) any person which at the time
of first obtaining Beneficial Ownership of the Convertible Note
beneficially owns more than 9.99% of the Company’s
outstanding common stock or voting stock (collectively (ii) through
(iv), “Borrower
Affiliates”). The
Convertible Notes are not subject to a conversion limitation at any
time they are owned or held by Borrower
Affiliates.
The
Convertible Notes are due and payable on August 1, 2021, but may be
prepaid at any time, without penalty. The Convertible Notes contain
standard and customary events of default and upon the occurrence of
an event of default, the amount owed under the Convertible Notes
accrues interest at 10% per annum.
The
terms of the Convertible Notes may be amended or waived and such
amendment or waiver shall be applicable to all of the Convertible
Notes with the written consent of Convertible Note holders holding
at least a majority in interest of the then aggregate dollar value
of Convertible Notes outstanding.
Hunter Oil Purchase and Sale Agreement and Stock Purchase
Agreement
On August 1, 2018, we (through our wholly-owned
subsidiary PEDCO entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement
with Milnesand Minerals Inc., a Delaware corporation, Chaveroo
Minerals Inc., a Delaware corporation, Ridgeway Arizona Oil Corp.,
an Arizona corporation (“RAOC”),
and EOR Operating Company, a Texas corporation
(“EOR”)(collectively “Seller”)(the
“Purchase
Agreement”). Pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement, PEDCO agreed to acquire certain oil and gas
assets described in greater detail below (the
“Assets”)
from the Seller in consideration for $18,500,000 (of which $500,000
is to be held back to provide for potential indemnification of
PEDCO under the Purchase Agreement and Stock Purchase Agreement
(described below), with one-half ($250,000) to be released to
Seller 90 days after closing (which amount has been released to
date) and the balance ($250,000) to be released 180 days after
closing (provided that if a court of competent jurisdiction
determines that any part of the amount withheld by PEDCO subsequent
to 180 days after closing was in fact due to the Seller, PEDCO is
required to pay Seller 200%, instead of 100%, of the amount so
retained)).
On
August 31, 2018, we closed the transactions contemplated by the
Purchase Agreement and acquired the Assets for an aggregate of
$18.5 million. The effective date of the acquisition was September
1, 2018.
The Purchase Agreement contains customary
representations and warranties of the parties, and indemnification
requirements (subject to a $25,000 aggregate minimum threshold and
a $1,000,000 cap as to each of buyer and seller).
The Purchase Agreement allows PEDCO to
audit the revenues and expenses of the Seller attributable to the
Assets for the period of three years prior to the closing, among
other things, and requires the Seller to provide assistance to
PEDCO in connection with such audit for the first 180 days
following closing (with such Seller’s reasonable costs
associated with such audit being reimbursed by PEDCO at the rate of
150% of such costs).
The Assets represent approximately 23,441 net
leasehold acres, current operated production, and all of
Seller’s leases and related rights, oil and gas and other
wells, equipment, easements, contract rights, and production
(effective as of the effective date) as described in the Purchase
Agreement. The Assets are located in the San Andres play in the
Permian Basin situated in west Texas and eastern New Mexico, with
all acreage and production 100% operated and substantially all
acreage held by production. See also the more detailed description
of the Assets under “Oil and Gas
Properties”,
below.
Also on August 1, 2018, PEDCO entered into a Stock
Purchase Agreement with Hunter Oil Production Corp.
(“Hunter
Oil”). Pursuant to the
Stock Purchase Agreement, which closed on August 31, 2018, PEDCO
acquired all of the stock of RAOC and EOR (the
“Acquired
Companies”) for a net of
$500,000 (an aggregate purchase price of $2,816,000, less
$2,316,000 in restricted cash which the Acquired Companies are
required to maintain as of the closing date). The Stock Purchase
Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the
parties, post-closing adjustments, and indemnification requirements
requiring Hunter Oil to indemnify us for certain items (subject to
the $25,000 aggregate minimum threshold and $1,000,000 cap provided
for in the Purchase Agreement) and us to indemnify Hunter Oil for
certain items (which requirement does not include a threshold or
cap).
On
December 17, 2018 the Company and Seller agreed that the Company
would pay to Seller $25,000 for all post-closing adjustments and
post-closing support under the Purchase Agreement and accelerate
the payment by the Company to Seller of the final $250,000 to be
released 180 days after closing, which payments were made by the
Company to Seller on December 17, 2018.
Condor Acquisition
On August 1, 2018, Red Hawk, our
wholly-owned subsidiary entered into a Membership Interest Purchase
Agreement (the “Membership Purchase
Agreement”) with MIE
Jurassic Energy Corporation (“MIEJ”).
Pursuant to the Membership Purchase Agreement, MIEJ sold Red Hawk
100% of the outstanding membership interests of Condor Energy
Technology LLC (“Condor”)
in consideration for $537,000. Condor owns approximately 2,340 net
leasehold acres, 100% held by production (HBP), located in Weld and
Morgan Counties, Colorado, with four operated producing wells. The
Membership Purchase Agreement contains customary representations
and warranties and provides that, as of the August 1, 2018
effective date, Red Hawk will assume responsibility for all costs,
expenses and obligations outstanding and unpaid that are
attributable to the properties as of the effective date and
thereafter, and Red Hawk will also be entitled to all income and
revenues received by Condor that are attributable to the
properties, even if received by Condor with respect to oil and gas
production prior to the effective date.
The Company previously owned 20% of Condor through
PEDCO, along with MIEJ, which then held 80% of Condor, until
February 19, 2015, when we and PEDCO entered into a Settlement
Agreement (the “MIEJ Settlement
Agreement”) with MIEJ,
whereby, among other things, PEDCO sold its full 20% interest in
Condor to MIEJ. Additionally, until June 25, 2018, when such amount
was repaid pursuant to a Debt Repayment Agreement (described in
greater detail in the Current Report on Form 8-K which we filed
with the SEC on June 25, 2018), we owed approximately $6.4 million
to MIEJ pursuant to the terms of a Secured Subordinated Promissory
Note (the “MIEJ
Note”).
Warrant Repurchase Agreements
On
August 31, 2018, we entered into warrant repurchase agreements with
certain of the Junior Note holders who received Repurchase
Warrants, namely Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania,
Principal Growth Strategies, LLC, and RJ Credit LLC (collectively,
the “Warrant
Holders”). Pursuant to the warrant repurchase
agreements, the Company repurchased warrants to purchase an
aggregate of 1,105,935 shares of the Company’s common stock
(the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of which such
Repurchase Warrants, the “Warrant Shares”) held by
the Warrant Holders, which warrants had a term of three years
(through August 25, 2021) and an exercise price equal to $0.322 per
share, as discussed above under “Debt Restructuring”. The
Repurchase Warrants were repurchased for an aggregate of $1,095,000
or $0.99 per Warrant Share, which amount the Company paid to the
Warrant Holders on September 17, 2018. Effective on the date of
payment of the warrant purchase amounts, the Repurchase Warrants
and the agreements evidencing such Repurchase Warrants were deemed
to have been repurchased by the Company and cancelled. The Warrant
Repurchase Agreements also included a release by which the Warrant
Holders released the Company from any liability or claims
associated with the Repurchase Warrants and certain of the Warrant
Repurchase Agreements included a release by which we released the
applicable Warrant Holders party thereto. The terms of the Warrant
Repurchase Agreements were individually negotiated with each
associated group of Warrant Holders.
Additional Convertible Note Sales
On October 25, 2018, the Company borrowed an
additional $7.0 million from SK Energy, through the issuance of a
convertible promissory note in the amount of $7.0 million (the
“October 2018
Convertible Note”). The
October 2018 Convertible Note accrues interest monthly at 8.5% per
annum, which is payable on the maturity date, unless otherwise
converted into shares of the Company’s common stock as
described below. The October 2018 Convertible Note and all accrued
interest thereon are convertible into shares of the Company’s
common stock, at the option of the holder thereof, at a conversion
price equal to $1.79 per share. Further, the conversion of the
October 2018 Convertible Note is subject to a 49.9% conversion
limitation which prevents the conversion of any portion thereof
into common stock of the Company if such conversion would result in
SK Energy or any of its affiliates beneficially owning more than
49.9% of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock.
The October 2018 Convertible Note is due and payable on October 25,
2021 but may be prepaid at any time without
penalty.
Also
on October 25, 2018, the Company and SK Energy agreed to convert an
aggregate of $164,000 of interest accrued under the SK Energy Note
from its effective date through September 30, 2018 into 75,118
shares of the Company’s common stock, based on a conversion
price equal to $2.18 per share, pursuant to the conversion terms of
the SK Energy Note.
Recent Events
January 2019 SK Energy Convertible Note
On January 11, 2019, the Company borrowed an
additional $15.0 million from SK Energy, through the issuance of a
convertible promissory note in the amount of $15.0 million (the
“January 2019
Convertible Note”). The January 2019 Convertible Note accrues interest
monthly at 8.5% per annum, which is payable on the maturity date,
unless otherwise converted into shares of the Company’s
common stock as described below. The January 2019 Convertible Note
and all accrued interest thereon are convertible into shares of the
Company’s common stock, at the option of the holder thereof,
at a conversion price equal to $1.50 per share. Further, the
conversion of the January 2019 Convertible Note is subject to a
49.9% conversion limitation which prevents the conversion of any
portion thereof into common stock of the Company if such conversion
would result in SK Energy or any of its affiliates beneficially
owning more than 49.9% of the Company’s outstanding shares of
common stock. The January 2019 Convertible Note Convertible Note is
due and payable on January 11, 2022, but may be prepaid at any time
without penalty.
Manzano Acquisition
On
February 1, 2019, for consideration of $700,000, the Company
completed an asset purchase from Manzano, LLC and Manzano Energy
Partners II, LLC, whereby the Company purchased approximately
18,000 net leasehold acres, ownership and operated production from
one horizontal well currently producing from the San Andres play in
the Permian Basin, ownership of three additional shut-in wells and
ownership of one saltwater disposal well.
Convertible Notes Amendment and Conversion
On
February 15, 2019, the Company and SK Energy agreed to amend the
Convertible Notes and October 2018 Convertible Note described in
Note 7, as well as the January 2019 Convertible Note, whereby each
of the notes were amended to remove the conversion limitation that
previously prevented SK Energy from converting any portion of the
notes into common stock of the Company if such conversion would
have resulted in SK Energy beneficially owning more than 49.9% of
the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock
Immediately
following the entry into the Amendment, on February 15, 2019, SK
Energy elected to convert (i) all $15,000,000 of the outstanding
principal and all $125,729 of accrued interest under the January
2019 Note into common stock of the Company at a conversion price of
$1.50 per share as set forth in the January 2019 Note into
10,083,819 shares of restricted common stock of the Company, and
(ii) all $7,000,000 of the outstanding principal and all $186,776
of accrued interest under the October 2018 Note into common stock
of the Company at a conversion price of $1.79 per share as set
forth in the October 2018 Note into 4,014,959 shares of restricted
common stock of the Company, which shares in aggregate represented
approximately 47.1% of the Company’s then 29,907,223 shares
of issued and outstanding Company common stock after giving effect
to the conversions.
SK Energy Note Amendment; Note Purchases and
Conversion
On
March 1, 2019, the Company and SK Energy entered into a First
SK Energy Note Amendment to Promissory Note (the
“SK Energy Note
Amendment”) which amended the $7.7 million principal
amount SK Energy Note, to provide SK Energy the right, at any time,
at its option, to convert the principal and interest owed under
such SK Energy Note, into shares of the Company’s common
stock, at a conversion price of $2.13 per share. The SK Energy Note
previously only included a conversion feature whereby the Company
had the option to pay quarterly interest payments on the SK Energy
Note in shares of Company common stock instead of cash, at a
conversion price per share calculated based on the average closing
sales price of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE
American for the ten trading days immediately preceding the last
day of the calendar quarter immediately prior to the quarterly
payment date.
In
addition, on March 1, 2019, the holders of $1,500,000 in aggregate
principal amount of Convertible Promissory Notes issued by the
Company on August 1, 2018 (the “August 2018 Notes”) sold
their August 2018 Notes at face value plus accrued and unpaid
interest through March 1, 2019 to SK Energy (the
“August 2018 Note
Sale”). Holders which sold their August 2018 Notes
pursuant to the August 2018 Note Sale to SK Energy include an
executive officer of SK Energy ($200,000 in principal amount of
August 2018 Notes); a trust affiliated with John J. Scelfo, a
director of the Company ($500,000 in principal amount of August
2018 Notes); an entity affiliated with Ivar Siem, a director of the
Company, and J. Douglas Schick the President of the Company
($500,000 in principal amount of August 2018 Notes); and Harold
Douglas Evans, a director of the Company ($200,000 in principal
amount of August 2018 Notes).
Following
the August 2018 Note Sale, the Company’s sole issued and
outstanding debt was the (i) $7,700,000 in principal, plus accrued
interest, under the SK Energy Note held by SK Energy, (ii) an
aggregate of $23,500,000 in principal, plus accrued interest, under
the August 2018 Notes and SK Energy $22 million Convertible Note
held by SK Energy, and (iii) $100,000 in principal, plus accrued
interest, under an August 2018 Note held by an unaffiliated holder
(the “Unaffiliated
Holder”).
Immediately
following the effectiveness of the SK Energy Note Amendment and
August 2018 Note Sale, on March 1, 2019, SK Energy and the
Unaffiliated Holder elected to convert all $31,300,000 of
outstanding principal and an aggregate of $1,462,818 of accrued
interest under the SK Energy Note, SK Energy $22 million
Convertible Note and August 2018 Notes into common stock of the
Company at a conversion price of $2.13 per share (the
“Conversion
Price” and the “Conversions”) as set
forth in the SK Energy Note, as amended, and the August 2018 Notes
and SK Energy $22 million Convertible Note (collectively, the
“Notes”), into an
aggregate of 15,381,605 shares of restricted common stock of the
Company (the “Conversion
Shares”).
As
a result of the Conversions, as of the date of the report, the
Company now has no debt on its balance sheet and 45,288,828 shares
of common stock issued and outstanding.
Regulation of the Oil and Gas Industry
All of
our oil and gas operations are substantially affected by federal,
state and local laws and regulations. Failure to comply with
applicable laws and regulations can result in substantial
penalties. The regulatory burden on the industry increases the cost
of doing business and affects profitability. Historically, our
compliance costs have not had a material adverse effect on our
results of operations; however, we are unable to predict the future
costs or impact of compliance.
Additional proposals and proceedings that affect
the oil and natural gas industry are regularly considered by
Congress, the states, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the
“FERC”)
and the courts. We cannot predict when or whether any such
proposals may become effective. We do not believe that we would be
affected by any such action materially differently than similarly
situated competitors.
At the
state level, our operations in Colorado are regulated by the
Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (“COGCC”) and our New
Mexico operations are regulated by the Conservation Division of the
New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department
(regulates oil and gas operations) and New Mexico Environment
Department (administers environmental protection laws). The Oil
Conservation Division of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and
Natural Resources Department requires the posting of financial
assurance for owners and operators on privately owned or state land
within New Mexico in order to provide for abandonment restoration
and remediation of wells.
The
COGCC regulates oil and gas operators through rules, policies,
written guidance, orders, permits, and inspections. Among other
things, the COGCC enforces specifications regarding drilling,
development, production, reclamation, enhanced recovery, safety,
aesthetics, noise, waste, flowlines, and wildlife. In recent
years, the COGCC has amended its existing regulatory requirements
and adopted new requirements with increased frequency. For example,
in January 2016, the COGCC approved new rules that require local
government consultation and certain best management practices for
large-scale oil and natural gas facilities in certain urban
mitigation areas. These rules also require operator registration
and/or notifications to local governments with respect to future
oil and natural gas drilling and production facility locations. In
February 2018, the COGCC comprehensively amended its regulations
for oil, gas, and water flowlines to expand requirements addressing
flowline registration and safety, integrity management, leak
detection, and other matters. The COGCC has also adopted or amended
numerous other rules in recent years, including rules relating to
safety, flood protection, and spill reporting. In December 2018,
the COGCC approved new rules that require new oil and gas sites to
be situated at least 1,000 feet away from school properties such as
playgrounds and athletic fields.
We anticipate that the COGCC, the
Conservation Division of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and
Natural Resources Department and New Mexico Environment Department
will continue to adopt new rules and regulations moving forward
which will likely affect our oil and gas operations, and could make
it more costly for our operations or limit our activities. We
routinely monitor our operations and new rules and regulations
which may affect our operations, to ensure that we maintain
compliance.
Regulation Affecting Production
The
production of oil and natural gas is subject to United States
federal and state laws and regulations, and orders of regulatory
bodies under those laws and regulations, governing a wide variety
of matters. All of the jurisdictions in which we own or operate
producing oil and natural gas properties have statutory provisions
regulating the exploration for and production of oil and natural
gas, including provisions related to permits for the drilling of
wells, bonding requirements to drill or operate wells, the location
of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells, the surface use
and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled,
sourcing and disposal of water used in the drilling and completion
process, and the abandonment of wells. Our operations are also
subject to various conservation laws and regulations. These include
the regulation of the size of drilling and spacing units or
proration units, the number of wells which may be drilled in an
area, and the unitization or pooling of oil or natural gas wells,
as well as regulations that generally prohibit the venting or
flaring of natural gas, and impose certain requirements regarding
the ratability or fair apportionment of production from fields and
individual wells. These laws and regulations may limit the amount
of oil and gas we can drill. Moreover, each state generally imposes
a production or severance tax with respect to the production and
sale of oil, NGL and gas within its jurisdiction.
States
do not regulate wellhead prices or engage in other similar direct
regulation, but there can be no assurance that they will not do so
in the future. The effect of such future regulations may be to
limit the amounts of oil and gas that may be produced from our
wells, negatively affect the economics of production from these
wells or limit the number of locations we can drill.
The
failure to comply with the rules and regulations of oil and natural
gas production and related operations can result in substantial
penalties. Our competitors in the oil and natural gas industry are
subject to the same regulatory requirements and restrictions that
affect our operations.
Regulation Affecting Sales and Transportation of
Commodities
Sales
prices of gas, oil, condensate and NGL are not currently regulated
and are made at market prices. Although prices of these energy
commodities are currently unregulated, the United States Congress
historically has been active in their regulation. We cannot predict
whether new legislation to regulate oil and gas, or the prices
charged for these commodities might be proposed, what proposals, if
any, might actually be enacted by the United States Congress or the
various state legislatures and what effect, if any, the
proposals might have on our operations. Sales of oil and natural
gas may be subject to certain state and federal reporting
requirements.
The
price and terms of service of transportation of the commodities,
including access to pipeline transportation capacity, are subject
to extensive federal and state regulation. Such regulation may
affect the marketing of oil and natural gas produced by the
Company, as well as the revenues received for sales of such
production. Gathering systems may be subject to state ratable take
and common purchaser statutes. Ratable take statutes generally
require gatherers to take, without undue discrimination, oil and
natural gas production that may be tendered to the gatherer for
handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally require
gatherers to purchase, or accept for gathering, without undue
discrimination as to source of supply or producer. These statutes
are designed to prohibit discrimination in favor of one producer
over another producer or one source of supply over another source
of supply. These statutes may affect whether and to what extent
gathering capacity is available for oil and natural gas production,
if any, of the drilling program and the cost of such capacity.
Further state laws and regulations govern rates and terms of access
to intrastate pipeline systems, which may similarly affect market
access and cost.
The
FERC regulates interstate natural gas pipeline transportation rates
and service conditions. The FERC is continually proposing and
implementing new rules and regulations affecting interstate
transportation. The stated purpose of many of these regulatory
changes is to ensure terms and conditions of interstate
transportation service are not unduly discriminatory or unduly
preferential, to promote competition among the various sectors of
the natural gas industry and to promote market transparency. We do
not believe that our drilling program will be affected by any such
FERC action in a manner materially differently than other similarly
situated natural gas producers.
In addition to the regulation of natural gas
pipeline transportation, FERC has additional, jurisdiction over the
purchase or sale of gas or the purchase or sale of transportation
services subject to FERC’s jurisdiction pursuant to the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (“EPAct
2005”). Under the EPAct
2005, it is unlawful for “any
entity,” including
producers such as us, that are otherwise not subject to
FERC’s jurisdiction under the Natural Gas Act of 1938
(“NGA”) to use any deceptive or manipulative
device or contrivance in connection with the purchase or sale of
gas or the purchase or sale of transportation services subject to
regulation by FERC, in contravention of rules prescribed by FERC.
FERC’s rules implementing this provision make it unlawful, in
connection with the purchase or sale of gas subject to the
jurisdiction of FERC, or the purchase or sale of transportation
services subject to the jurisdiction of FERC, for any entity,
directly or indirectly, to use or employ any device, scheme or
artifice to defraud; to make any untrue statement of material fact
or omit to make any such statement necessary to make the statements
made not misleading; or to engage in any act or practice that
operates as a fraud or deceit upon any person. EPAct 2005 also
gives FERC authority to impose civil penalties for violations of
the NGA and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 up to
$1.2 million per day, per violation. The anti-manipulation
rule applies to activities of otherwise non-jurisdictional entities
to the extent the activities are conducted
“in connection
with” gas sales,
purchases or transportation subject to FERC jurisdiction, which
includes the annual reporting requirements under FERC Order
No. 704 (defined below).
In December 2007, FERC issued a final rule on the
annual natural gas transaction reporting requirements, as amended
by subsequent orders on rehearing (“Order
No. 704”). Under
Order No. 704, any market participant, including a producer
that engages in certain wholesale sales or purchases of gas that
equal or exceed 2.2 trillion BTUs of physical natural gas in
the previous calendar year, must annually report such sales and
purchases to FERC on Form No. 552 on May 1 of each year.
Form No. 552 contains aggregate volumes of natural gas
purchased or sold at wholesale in the prior calendar year to the
extent such transactions utilize, contribute to the formation of
price indices. Not all types of natural gas sales are required to
be reported on Form No. 552. It is the responsibility of the
reporting entity to determine which individual transactions should
be reported based on the guidance of Order No. 704. Order
No. 704 is intended to increase the transparency of
the wholesale gas markets and to assist FERC in monitoring
those markets and in detecting market
manipulation.
The FERC also regulates rates and terms and
conditions of service on interstate transportation of liquids,
including oil and NGL, under the Interstate Commerce Act, as it
existed on October 1, 1977 (“ICA”). Prices received from the sale of liquids
may be affected by the cost of transporting those products to
market. The ICA requires that certain interstate liquids pipelines
maintain a tariff on file with FERC. The tariff sets forth the
established rates as well as the rules and regulations governing
the service. The ICA requires, among other things, that rates and
terms and conditions of service on interstate common carrier
pipelines be “just and
reasonable.” Such
pipelines must also provide jurisdictional service in a manner that
is not unduly discriminatory or unduly preferential. Shippers have
the power to challenge new and existing rates and terms and
conditions of service before FERC.
The
rates charged by many interstate liquids pipelines are currently
adjusted pursuant to an annual indexing methodology established and
regulated by FERC, under which pipelines increase or decrease their
rates in accordance with an index adjustment specified by FERC. For
the five-year period beginning July 1, 2016, FERC established
an annual index adjustment equal to the change in the producer
price index for finished goods plus 1.23%. This adjustment is
subject to review every five years. Under FERC’s regulations,
a liquids pipeline can request a rate increase that exceeds the
rate obtained through application of the indexing methodology by
obtaining market-based rate authority (demonstrating the pipeline
lacks market power), establishing rates by settlement with all
existing shippers, or through a cost-of-service approach (if the
pipeline establishes that a substantial divergence exists between
the actual costs experienced by the pipeline and the rates
resulting from application of the indexing methodology). Increases
in liquids transportation rates may result in lower revenue and
cash flows for the Company.
In
addition, due to common carrier regulatory obligations of liquids
pipelines, capacity must be prorated among shippers in an equitable
manner in the event there are nominations in excess of capacity or
for new shippers. Therefore, new shippers or increased volume by
existing shippers may reduce the capacity available to us. Any
prolonged interruption in the operation or curtailment of available
capacity of the pipelines that we rely upon for liquids
transportation could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations and cash
flows. However, we believe that access to liquids pipeline
transportation services generally will be available to us to the
same extent as to our similarly situated competitors.
Rates
for intrastate pipeline transportation of liquids are subject to
regulation by state regulatory commissions. The basis for
intrastate liquids pipeline regulation, and the degree of
regulatory oversight and scrutiny given to intrastate liquids
pipeline rates, varies from state to state. We believe that the
regulation of liquids pipeline transportation rates will not affect
our operations in any way that is materially different from the
effects on our similarly situated competitors.
In addition to FERC’s regulations, we are
required to observe anti-market manipulation laws with regard to
our physical sales of energy commodities. In November 2009, the
Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued regulations pursuant to the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007, intended to prohibit market
manipulation in the petroleum industry. Violators of the
regulations face civil penalties of up to $1 million per
violation per day. In July 2010, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank
Act, which incorporated an expansion of the authority of the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”)
to prohibit market manipulation in the markets regulated by the
CFTC. This authority, with respect to oil swaps and futures
contracts, is similar to the anti-manipulation authority granted to
the FTC with respect to oil purchases and sales. In July 2011, the
CFTC issued final rules to implement their new anti-manipulation
authority. The rules subject violators to a civil penalty of up to
the greater of $1.1 million or triple the monetary gain to the
person for each violation.
Regulation of Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health
Matters
Our operations are subject to stringent federal,
state and local laws and regulations governing occupational safety
and health aspects of our operations, the discharge of materials
into the environment and environmental protection. Numerous
governmental entities, including the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (“EPA”) and analogous state agencies have the
power to enforce compliance with these laws and regulations and the
permits issued under them, often requiring difficult and costly
actions. These laws and regulations may, among other things
(i) require the acquisition of permits to conduct drilling and
other regulated activities; (ii) restrict the types,
quantities and concentration of various substances that can be
released into the environment or injected into formations in
connection with oil and natural gas drilling and production
activities; (iii) limit or prohibit drilling activities on
certain lands lying within wilderness, wetlands and other protected
areas; (iv) require remedial measures to mitigate pollution
from former and ongoing operations, such as requirements to close
pits and plug abandoned wells; (v) apply specific health and
safety criteria addressing worker protection; and (vi) impose
substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from drilling and
production operations. Any failure to comply with these laws and
regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil
and criminal penalties, the imposition of corrective or remedial
obligations, the occurrence of delays or restrictions in permitting
or performance of projects, and the issuance of orders enjoining
performance of some or all of our operations.
These
laws and regulations may also restrict the rate of oil and natural
gas production below the rate that would otherwise be possible. The
regulatory burden on the oil and natural gas industry increases the
cost of doing business in the industry and consequently affects
profitability. The trend in environmental regulation is to place
more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the
environment, and thus any changes in environmental laws and
regulations or re-interpretation of enforcement policies that
result in more stringent and costly well drilling, construction,
completion or water management activities, or waste handling,
storage transport, disposal, or remediation requirements could have
a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of
operations. We may be unable to pass on such increased compliance
costs to our customers. Moreover, accidental releases or spills may
occur in the course of our operations, and we cannot assure you
that we will not incur significant costs and liabilities as a
result of such releases or spills, including any third-party claims
for damage to property, natural resources or persons. Continued
compliance with existing requirements is not expected to materially
affect us. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to
remain in compliance in the future with such existing or any new
laws and regulations or that such future compliance will not have a
material adverse effect on our business and operating
results.
Additionally, on January 14, 2019, in
Martinez v.
Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, the Colorado Supreme Court overturned a ruling
by the Colorado Court of Appeals that held that the Colorado Oil
& Gas Conservation Commission (“COGCC”)
had held that the COGCC concluded that it lacked statutory
authority to undertake a proposed rulemaking “to suspend the
issuance of permits that allow hydraulic fracturing until it can be
done without adversely impacting human health and safety and
without impairing Colorado’s atmospheric resource and climate
system, water, soil, wildlife, or other biological
resources.” The Colorado Court of Appeals concluded that
Colorado’s Oil and Gas Conservation Act mandated that oil and
gas development “be regulated subject to the protection of
public health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the
environment and wildlife resources.” In the
Colorado Supreme Court’s majority opinion, Justice Richard L.
Gabriel wrote the COGCC is required first to “foster the
development of oil and gas resources” and second “to
prevent and mitigate significant environmental impacts to the
extent necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare, but
only after taking into consideration cost-effectiveness and
technical feasibility.”
The
following is a summary of the more significant existing and
proposed environmental and occupational safety and health laws, as
amended from time to time, to which our business operations are or
may be subject and for which compliance may have a material adverse
impact on our capital expenditures, results of operations or
financial position.
Hazardous Substances and Wastes
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(“RCRA”),
and comparable state statutes, regulate the generation,
transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of
hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. Pursuant to rules issued by the
EPA, the individual states administer some or all of the provisions
of RCRA, sometimes in conjunction with their own, more stringent
requirements. Drilling fluids, produced waters, and most of the
other wastes associated with the exploration, development, and
production of oil or natural gas, if properly handled, are
currently exempt from regulation as hazardous waste under RCRA and,
instead, are regulated under RCRA’s less stringent
non-hazardous waste provisions, state laws or other federal laws.
However, it is possible that certain oil and natural gas drilling
and production wastes now classified as non-hazardous could be
classified as hazardous wastes in the future. Stricter regulation of wastes generated during our
operations could result in an increase in our, as well as the oil
and natural gas exploration and production industry’s, costs
to manage and dispose of wastes, which could have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations and financial
position.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”),
also known as the Superfund law, and comparable state laws impose
joint and several liability, without regard to fault or legality of
conduct, on classes of persons who are considered to be responsible
for the release of a hazardous substance into the environment.
These persons include the current and former owners and operators
of the site where the release occurred and anyone who disposed or
arranged for the disposal of a hazardous substance released at the
site. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to joint and
several liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous
substances that have been released into the environment, for
damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health
studies. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA and, in some instances,
third parties to act in response to threats to the public health or
the environment and to seek to recover from the responsible classes
of persons the costs they incur. In addition, it is not uncommon
for neighboring landowners and other third-parties to file claims
for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the
hazardous substances released into the environment. We generate
materials in the course of our operations that may be regulated as
hazardous substances.
We
currently lease or operate numerous properties that have been used
for oil and natural gas exploration, production and processing for
many years. Although we believe that we have utilized operating and
waste disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the
time, hazardous substances, wastes, or petroleum hydrocarbons may
have been released on, under or from the properties owned or leased
by us, or on, under or from other locations, including off-site
locations, where such substances have been taken for treatment or
disposal. In addition, some of our properties have been operated by
third parties or by previous owners or operators whose treatment
and disposal of hazardous substances, wastes, or petroleum
hydrocarbons was not under our control. These properties and the
substances disposed or released on, under or from them may be
subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state laws. Under such laws,
we could be required to undertake response or corrective measures,
which could include removal of previously disposed substances and
wastes, cleanup of contaminated property or performance of remedial
plugging or pit closure operations to prevent future contamination,
the costs of which could be substantial.
Water Discharges
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also
known as the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), and analogous state laws, impose
restrictions and strict controls with respect to the discharge of
pollutants, including spills and leaks of oil and hazardous
substances, into state waters and waters of the United States. The
discharge of pollutants into regulated waters is prohibited, except
in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the EPA or an
analogous state agency. Spill prevention, control and
countermeasure plan requirements imposed under the CWA require
appropriate containment berms and similar structures to help
prevent the contamination of navigable waters in the event of a
petroleum hydrocarbon tank spill, rupture or leak. In addition, the
CWA and analogous state laws require individual permits or coverage
under general permits for discharges of storm water runoff from
certain types of facilities. The CWA also prohibits the discharge
of dredge and fill material in regulated waters, including
wetlands, unless authorized by permit. In June 2015, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (“Corps”)
published a final rule to revise the definition of "waters of the
United States" (“WOTUS”)
for all Clean Water Act programs, but legal challenges to this rule
followed and the rule was stayed nationwide by the U.S. Sixth
Circuit Court of Appeals in October 2015. In response to this
decision, the EPA and the Corps resumed nationwide use of the
agencies' prior regulations defining the term "waters of the United
States." However, in January 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled
that the rule revising the WOTUS definition must first be reviewed
in the federal district courts, which could result in a withdrawal
of the stay by the Sixth Circuit. In addition, the EPA has issued
proposals to repeal the rule revising the WOTUS definition and to
delay its implementation until 2020 to allow time for the EPA to
reconsider the definition of the term "waters of the United
States." To the extent this rule or a revised rule expands the
scope of the CWA's jurisdiction, we could face increased costs and
delays with respect to obtaining permits for dredge and fill
activities in wetland areas in connection with any expansion
activities. Federal and state regulatory agencies may impose
substantial administrative, civil and criminal penalties as well as
other enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance with discharge
permits or other requirements of the CWA and analogous state laws
and regulations, including spills and other non-authorized
discharges. Federal and state
regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal
penalties for non-compliance with discharge permits or other
requirements of the CWA and analogous state laws and
regulations.
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990
(“OPA”), amends the CWA and sets minimum
standards for prevention, containment and cleanup of oil spills.
The OPA applies to vessels, offshore facilities, and onshore
facilities, including exploration and production facilities that
may affect waters of the United States. Under OPA, responsible
parties including owners and operators of onshore facilities may be
held strictly liable for oil cleanup costs and natural resource
damages as well as a variety of public and private damages that may
result from oil spills. The OPA also requires owners or operators
of certain onshore facilities to prepare Facility Response Plans
for responding to a worst-case discharge of oil into waters of the
United States.
Subsurface Injections
In the course of our operations, we produce water
in addition to oil and natural gas. Water that is not recycled may
be disposed of in disposal wells, which inject the produced water
into non-producing subsurface formations. Underground injection
operations are regulated pursuant to the Underground Injection
Control (“UIC”) program established under the federal
Safe Drinking Water Act (“SDWA”)
and analogous state laws. The UIC program requires permits from the
EPA or an analogous state agency for the construction and operation
of disposal wells, establishes minimum standards for disposal well
operations, and restricts the types and quantities of fluids that
may be disposed. A change in UIC disposal well regulations or the
inability to obtain permits for new disposal wells in the future
may affect our ability to dispose of produced water and ultimately
increase the cost of our operations. For example, in response to recent seismic events
near belowground disposal wells used for the injection of oil and
natural gas-related wastewaters, regulators in some states,
including Colorado, have imposed more stringent permitting and
operating requirements for produced water disposal wells. In
Colorado, permit applications are reviewed specifically to evaluate
seismic activity and, as of 2011, the state has required operators
to identify potential faults near proposed wells, if earthquakes
historically occurred in the area, and to accept maximum injection
pressures and volumes based on fracture gradient as conditions to
permit approval. Additionally, legal disputes may arise based on
allegations that disposal well operations have caused damage to
neighboring properties or otherwise violated state or federal rules
regulating waste disposal. These developments could result in
additional regulation, restriction on the use of injection wells by
us or by commercial disposal well vendors whom we may use from time
to time to dispose of wastewater, and increased costs of
compliance, which could have a material adverse effect on our
capital expenditures and operating costs, financial condition, and
results of operations.
Air Emissions
The Clean Air Act
(the “CAA”)
and comparable state laws restrict the emission of air pollutants
from many sources, such as, for example, tank batteries and
compressor stations, through air emissions standards, construction
and operating permitting programs and the imposition of other
compliance standards. These laws and regulations may require us to
obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain
projects or facilities expected to produce or significantly
increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with stringent
air permit requirements or utilize specific equipment or
technologies to control emissions of certain pollutants. The need
to obtain permits has the potential to delay the development of oil
and natural gas projects. Over the next several years, we may be
charged royalties on natural gas losses or required to incur
certain capital expenditures for air pollution control equipment or
other air emissions related issues. For example, in October 2015,
the EPA issued a final rule under the CAA, lowering the National
Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”)
for ground-level ozone from 75 parts per billion
(“ppb”)
for the 8-hour primary and secondary ozone standards to 70 ppb for
both standards. In 2018, the
EPA finalized the initial area designations for the 2015 ozone
standard. Certain areas, such as the Denver Metro North Front Range
(representing the counties (or parts thereof) South, East and North
of Denver, Colorado), were designated as marginal (i.e., the lowest
level of non-attainment) non-attainment (i.e., as an
area that
does not meet (or that contributes to ambient air quality in a
nearby area that does not meet) the national primary or secondary
ambient air quality standard for a NAAQS). The Denver Metro North
Front Range area is currently under significant threat of being
redesignated as a serious non-attainment area for ozone due to high
levels detected in 2016 and 2017. Colorado is seeking an extension
to the attainment date and the EPA has proposed to retroactively
approve the requested extension by one year, to July 20, 2019. It
is not likely that another one-year extension will be granted and
the Denver Metro North Front Range area may be reclassified to
serious non-attainment for 2020. Reclassification of areas or
imposition of more stringent standards (including a lowering of the
major source threshold for volatile organic compounds and oxides of
nitrogen and the resulting increased likelihood that a source may
be subject to Non-Attainment New Source Review) may make it more
difficult to construct new or modified sources of air pollution in
newly designated non-attainment areas. Also, states are expected to
implement more stringent requirements as a result of this new final
rule, which could apply to our operations. In addition, during the
fall of 2016, EPA issued final Control Techniques Guidelines
(“CTGs”)
for reducing volatile organic compound emissions from existing oil
and natural gas equipment and processes in ozone non-attainment
areas, including the Denver Metro North Front Range Ozone 8-hour
Non-Attainment area. In 2017, as part of the federal CTG process
for oil and natural gas, Colorado undertook a stakeholder and
rulemaking effort to compare the CTGs to existing Colorado
requirements to ensure they meet applicable federal requirements,
which resulted in revisions to Colorado's Regulation Number 7
(which relates to the control of ozone and hydrocarbons via oil and
gas omissions). The new state regulations include more stringent
air quality control requirements applicable to our operations. In
another example, in June 2016, the EPA finalized a revised rule
regarding criteria for aggregating multiple small surface sites
into a single source for air-quality permitting purposes applicable
to the oil and gas industry. This rule could cause small
facilities, on an aggregate basis, to be deemed a major source,
thereby triggering more stringent permitting requirements.
Compliance with these or other air pollution control and permitting
requirements have the potential to delay the development of oil and
natural gas projects and increase our costs of development and
production, which costs could have a material adverse impact on our
business and results of operations.
Regulation of GHG Emissions
In
response to findings that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and
other greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) present an
endangerment to public health and the environment, the EPA has
adopted regulations under existing provisions of the Clean Air Act
that, among other things, establish Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (“PSD”) construction and
Title V operating permit reviews for certain large stationary
sources that are already potential major sources of certain
principal, or criteria, pollutant emissions. Facilities required to
obtain PSD permits for their GHG emissions also will be required to
meet “best available control technology” standards that
typically will be established by state agencies. In addition, the
EPA has adopted rules requiring the monitoring and annual reporting
of GHG emissions from specified large, GHG emission sources in the
United States, including certain onshore and offshore oil and
natural gas production sources, which include certain of our
operations.
Federal agencies also have begun directly
regulating emissions of methane, a GHG, from oil and natural gas
operations. In June 2016, the EPA published the New Source
Performance Standards (“NSPS”)
Subpart OOOOa standards that require certain new, modified or
reconstructed facilities in the oil and natural gas sector to
reduce these methane gas and volatile organic compound emissions.
These Subpart OOOOa standards expand previously issued NSPS
published by the EPA in 2012 and known as Subpart OOOO, by using
certain equipment-specific emissions control practices. However, in
April 2017, the EPA announced that it would review this methane
rule for new, modified and reconstructed sources and initiated
reconsideration proceedings to potentially revise or rescind
portions of the rule. In June 2017, the EPA also proposed a
two-year stay of certain requirements of the methane rule pending
the reconsideration proceedings; however, the rule remains in
effect in the meantime. Similarly, in November 2016, the federal
Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) issued a final rule to reduce methane
emissions by regulating venting, flaring, and leaks from oil and
gas operations on federal and American Indian lands.
California and New
Mexico have challenged the rule in ongoing litigation. In addition,
in April 2018, a coalition of states filed a lawsuit aiming to
force EPA to establish guidelines for limiting methane emissions
from existing sources in the oil and natural gas section; that
lawsuit is currently pending.
On
the international level, in December 2015, the United States joined
the international community at the 21st Conference of the Parties
of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in
Paris, France that prepared an agreement requiring member countries
to review and “represent a progression” in their
intended nationally determined contributions, which set GHG
emission reduction goals every five years beginning in 2020. This
“Paris Agreement” was signed by the United States in
April 2016 and entered into force in November 2016; however, this
agreement does not create any binding obligations for nations to
limit their GHG emissions, but rather includes pledges to
voluntarily limit or reduce future emissions. In follow-up to an
earlier announcement by President Trump, in August 2017, the U.S.
Department of State officially informed the United Nations of the
intent of the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement provides for a four-year exit process beginning
when it took effect in November 2016, which would result in an
effective exit date of November 2020. The United States’
adherence to the exit process and/or the terms on which the United
States may re-enter the Paris Agreement or a separately negotiated
agreement are unclear at this time.
The
adoption and implementation of any international, federal or state
legislation or regulations that require reporting of GHG or
otherwise limit emissions of GHG from our equipment and operations
could result in increased costs to reduce emissions of GHG
associated with our operations as well as delays or restrictions in
our ability to permit GHG emissions from new or modified sources.
In addition, substantial limitations on GHG emissions could
adversely affect demand for the oil, natural gas and NGL we produce
and lower the value of our reserves, which devaluation could be
significant. One or more of these developments could have a
materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations. Additionally, it should be noted that
increasing concentrations of GHG in the Earth’s atmosphere
may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects,
such as increased frequency and severity of storms, floods and
other climatic events; if any such effects were to occur, they
could have an adverse effect on our exploration and production
operations. At this time, we have not developed a comprehensive
plan to address the legal, economic, social or physical impacts of
climate change on our operations. Finally, notwithstanding
potential risks related to climate change, the International Energy
Agency, an autonomous intergovernmental organization involved in
international energy policy, estimates that global energy demand
will continue to rise and will not peak until after 2040 and oil
and gas will continue to represent a substantial percentage of
global energy use over that time. However, recent activism directed
at shifting funding away from companies with energy-related assets
could result in limitations or restrictions on certain sources of
funding for the energy sector.
Hydraulic Fracturing Activities
Hydraulic fracturing is an important and
common practice that is used to stimulate production of natural gas
and/or oil from dense subsurface rock formations. We regularly use
hydraulic fracturing as part of our operations. Hydraulic
fracturing involves the injection of water, sand or alternative
proppant and chemicals under pressure into targeted geological
formations to fracture the surrounding rock and stimulate
production. Hydraulic fracturing is typically regulated by
state oil and natural gas commissions. However, several federal
agencies have asserted regulatory authority over certain aspects of
the process. For example, in
December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential
impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources,
concluding that “water cycle” activities associated
with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources under
certain circumstances. Additionally, the EPA published in June 2016
an effluent limitations guideline final rule pursuant to its
authority under the SDWA prohibiting the discharge of wastewater
from onshore unconventional oil and natural gas extraction
facilities to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants; asserted
regulatory authority in 2014 under the SDWA over hydraulic
fracturing activities involving the use of diesel and issued
guidance covering such activities; and issued in 2014 a
prepublication of its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
regarding Toxic Substances Control Act reporting of the chemical
substances and mixtures used in hydraulic fracturing. Also, the BLM
published a final rule in March 2015 establishing new or more
stringent standards for performing hydraulic fracturing on federal
and American Indian lands including well casing and wastewater
storage requirements and an obligation for exploration and
production operators to disclose what chemicals they are using in
fracturing activities. However, following years of litigation, the
BLM rescinded the rule in December 2017. Additionally, from time to
time, legislation has been introduced, but not enacted, in Congress
to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing and to
require disclosure of the chemicals used in the fracturing process.
In the event that a new, federal level of legal restrictions
relating to the hydraulic fracturing process is adopted in areas
where we operate, we may incur additional costs to comply with such
federal requirements that may be significant in nature, and also
could become subject to additional permitting requirements and
experience added delays or curtailment in the pursuit of
exploration, development, or production
activities.
At
the state level, Colorado, where we conduct significant operations,
is among the states that has adopted, and other states are
considering adopting, regulations that could impose new or more
stringent permitting, disclosure or well-construction requirements
on hydraulic fracturing operations. Moreover, states could elect to
prohibit high volume hydraulic fracturing altogether, following the
approach taken by the State of New York in 2015. Also, certain
interest groups in Colorado opposed to oil and natural gas
development generally, and hydraulic fracturing in particular, have
from time to time advanced various options for ballot initiatives
that, if approved, would allow revisions to the state constitution
in a manner that would make such exploration and production
activities in the state more difficult in the future. However,
during the November 2016 voting process, one proposed amendment
placed on the Colorado state ballot making it relatively more
difficult to place an initiative on the state ballot was passed by
the voters. As a result, there are more stringent procedures now in
place for placing an initiative on a state ballot. In addition to
state laws, local land use restrictions may restrict drilling or
the hydraulic fracturing process and cities may adopt local
ordinances allowing hydraulic fracturing activities within their
jurisdictions but regulating the time, place and manner of those
activities.
For example,
on November 6, 2018, registered
voters in the State of Colorado cast their ballots and rejected
Proposition 112 (“Prop.
112”), with 55% of
ballots cast against the measure. Prop. 112 would have created a
rigid 2,500-foot setback from oil and gas facilities to the nearest
occupied structure and other “vulnerable areas,” which
included parks, ball fields, open space, streams, lakes and
intermittent streams. It would have dramatically increased the
amount of surface area off-limits to new energy development by 26
times and put 94% of private land in the top five oil and
gas producing counties in the State of Colorado off-limits to new
development. See
further discussion in “Part
I” –
“Item 1A.
Risk Factors.”
If
new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions
relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas
where we operate, including, for example, on federal and American
Indian lands, we could incur potentially significant added cost to
comply with such requirements, experience delays or curtailment in
the pursuit of exploration, development or production activities,
and perhaps even be precluded from drilling wells.
In
the event that local or state restrictions or prohibitions are
adopted in areas where we conduct operations, that impose more
stringent limitations on the production and development of oil and
natural gas, including, among other things, the development of
increased setback distances, we and similarly situated oil and
natural exploration and production operators in the state may incur
significant costs to comply with such requirements or may
experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration,
development, or production activities, and possibly be limited or
precluded in the drilling of wells or in the amounts that we and
similarly situated operates are ultimately able to produce from our
reserves. Any such increased costs, delays, cessations,
restrictions or prohibitions could have a material adverse effect
on our business, prospects, results of operations, financial
condition, and liquidity. If new or more stringent federal, state
or local legal restrictions relating to the hydraulic fracturing
process are adopted in areas where we operate, including, for
example, on federal and American Indian lands, we could incur
potentially significant added cost to comply with such
requirements, experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of
exploration, development or production activities, and perhaps even
be precluded from drilling wells.
Moreover,
because most of our operations are conducted in two particular
areas, the Permian Basin in New Mexico and the D-J Basin in
Colorado, legal restrictions imposed in that area will have a
significantly greater adverse effect than if we had our operations
spread out amongst several diverse geographic areas. Consequently,
in the event that local or state restrictions or prohibitions are
adopted in the Permian Basin in New Mexico and/or the D-J Basin in
Colorado that impose more stringent limitations on the production
and development of oil and natural gas, we may incur significant
costs to comply with such requirements or may experience delays or
curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development, or
production activities, and possibly be limited or precluded in the
drilling of wells or in the amounts that we are ultimately able to
produce from our reserves. Any such increased costs, delays,
cessations, restrictions or prohibitions could have a material
adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations,
financial condition, and liquidity.
Activities on Federal Lands
Oil and natural gas exploration, development and
production activities on federal lands, including American Indian
lands and lands administered by the BLM, are subject to the
National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”).
NEPA requires federal agencies, including the BLM, to evaluate
major agency actions having the potential to significantly impact
the environment. In the course of such evaluations, an agency will
prepare an Environmental Assessment that assesses the potential
direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of a proposed project and,
if necessary, will prepare a more detailed Environmental Impact
Statement that may be made available for public review and comment.
While we currently have no exploration, development and production
activities on federal lands, our future exploration, development
and production activities may include leasing of federal mineral
interests, which will require the acquisition of governmental
permits or authorizations that are subject to the requirements of
NEPA. This process has the potential to delay or limit, or increase
the cost of, the development of oil and natural gas projects.
Authorizations under NEPA are also subject to protest, appeal or
litigation, any or all of which may delay or halt projects.
Moreover, depending on the mitigation strategies recommended in
Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements, we
could incur added costs, which may be
substantial.
Endangered Species and Migratory Birds Considerations
The federal Endangered Species Act
(“ESA”), and comparable state laws were
established to protect endangered and threatened species. Pursuant
to the ESA, if a species is listed as threatened or endangered,
restrictions may be imposed on activities adversely affecting that
species or that species’ habitat. Similar protections are
offered to migrating birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We
may conduct operations on oil and natural gas leases in areas where
certain species that are listed as threatened or endangered are
known to exist and where other species, such as the sage grouse,
that potentially could be listed as threatened or endangered under
the ESA may exist. Moreover, as a result of one or more agreements
entered into by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency is
required to make a determination on listing of numerous species as
endangered or threatened under the ESA pursuant to specific
timelines. The identification or designation of previously
unprotected species as threatened or endangered in areas where
underlying property operations are conducted could cause us to
incur increased costs arising from species protection measures,
time delays or limitations on our exploration and production
activities that could have an adverse impact on our ability to
develop and produce reserves. If we were to have a portion of our
leases designated as critical or suitable habitat, it could
adversely impact the value of our leases.
OSHA
We are subject to the requirements of the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(“OSHA”)
and comparable state statutes whose purpose is to protect the
health and safety of workers. In addition, the OSHA hazard
communication standard, the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-Know Act and comparable state statutes and any
implementing regulations require that we organize and/or disclose
information about hazardous materials used or produced in our
operations and that this information be provided to employees,
state and local governmental authorities and
citizens.
Related Permits and Authorizations
Many
environmental laws require us to obtain permits or other
authorizations from state and/or federal agencies before initiating
certain drilling, construction, production, operation, or other oil
and natural gas activities, and to maintain these permits and
compliance with their requirements for on-going operations. These
permits are generally subject to protest, appeal, or litigation,
which can in certain cases delay or halt projects and cease
production or operation of wells, pipelines, and other
operations.
We are
not able to predict the timing, scope and effect of any currently
proposed or future laws or regulations regarding hydraulic
fracturing, but the direct and indirect costs of such laws and
regulations (if enacted) could materially and adversely affect our
business, financial conditions and results of operations. See
further discussion in “Part I” –
“Item 1A. Risk
Factors.”
Insurance
Our oil
and gas properties are subject to hazards inherent in the oil and
gas industry, such as accidents, blowouts, explosions, implosions,
fires and oil spills. These conditions can cause:
●
damage
to or destruction of property, equipment and the
environment;
●
personal injury or
loss of life; and
●
suspension of
operations.
We
maintain insurance coverage that we believe to be customary in the
industry against these types of hazards. However, we may not be
able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we
consider reasonable. In addition, our insurance is subject to
coverage limits and some policies exclude coverage for damages
resulting from environmental contamination. The occurrence of a
significant event or adverse claim in excess of the insurance
coverage that we maintain or that is not covered by insurance could
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and
results of operations.
Employees
At
December 31, 2018, we employed 14 people and also utilize the
services of independent contractors to perform various field and
other services. Our future success will depend partially on our
ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel. We are
not a party to any collective bargaining agreements and have not
experienced any strikes or work stoppages. We consider our
relations with our employees to be satisfactory.
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk.
You should carefully consider the risks described below as well as
the other information in this filing before deciding to invest in
our company. Any of the risk factors described below could
significantly and adversely affect our business, prospects,
financial condition and results of operations. Additional risks and
uncertainties not currently known or that are currently considered
to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our
business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
As a result, the trading price or value of our common stock could
be materially adversely affected and you may lose all or part of
your investment.
Risks Related to the Oil, NGL and Natural Gas Industry and Our
Business
Declines in oil and, to a lesser extent, NGL and natural gas
prices, will adversely affect our business, financial condition or
results of operations and our ability to meet our capital
expenditure obligations or targets and financial
commitments.
The price we receive for our oil and, to a lesser
extent, natural gas and NGLs, heavily influences our revenue,
profitability, cash flows, liquidity, access to capital, present
value and quality of our reserves, the nature and scale of our
operations and future rate of growth. Oil, NGL and natural gas are
commodities and, therefore, their prices are subject to wide
fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in supply and
demand. In recent years, the markets for oil and natural gas have
been volatile. These markets will likely continue to be volatile in
the future. Further, oil prices and natural gas prices do not
necessarily fluctuate in direct relation to each other.
Because approximately 93% of our estimated proved reserves as of
December 31, 2018 were oil, our financial results are more
sensitive to movements in oil prices.
Since mid-2014, the price of crude oil has significantly declined,
although the price of crude has subsequently recovered to current
levels. As a result, we experienced significant decreases in crude
oil revenues and recorded asset impairment charges driven by
commodity price declines. A prolonged period of low market prices
for oil and natural gas, or further declines in the market prices
for oil and natural gas, will likely result in capital expenditures
being further curtailed and will adversely affect our business,
financial condition and liquidity and our ability to meet
obligations, targets or financial commitments and could ultimately
lead to restructuring or filing for bankruptcy, which would have a
material adverse effect on our stock price and indebtedness.
Additionally, lower oil and natural gas prices may cause further
decline in our stock price. During the year ended December 31,
2018, the daily NYMEX WTI oil spot price ranged from a high of
$77.41 per Bbl to a low of $44.48 per Bbl and the NYMEX natural gas
Henry Hub spot price ranged from a high of $6.24 per MMBtu to a low
of $2.49 per MMBtu.
We have a limited operating history and expect to continue to incur
losses for an indeterminable period of time.
We have a limited operating history and are
engaged in the initial stages of exploration, development and
exploitation of our leasehold acreage and will continue to be so
until commencement of substantial production from our oil and
natural gas properties, which will depend upon successful drilling
results, additional and timely capital funding, and access to
suitable infrastructure. Companies in their initial stages of
development face substantial business risks and may suffer
significant losses. We have generated substantial net losses and
negative cash flows from operating activities in the past and
expect to continue to incur substantial net losses as we continue
our drilling program. In considering an investment in our common
stock, you should consider that there is only limited historical
and financial operating information available upon which to base
your evaluation of our performance. We have incurred net losses
of $84,494,000 from the date of inception (February 9, 2011)
through December 31, 2018. Additionally, we are dependent on
obtaining additional debt and/or equity financing to roll-out and
scale our planned principal business operations. Management’s
plans in regard to these matters consist principally of seeking
additional debt and/or equity financing combined with expected cash
flows from current oil and gas assets held and additional oil and
gas assets that we may acquire. Our efforts may not be successful
and funds may not be available on favorable terms, if at
all.
We
face challenges and uncertainties in financial planning as a result
of the unavailability of historical data and uncertainties
regarding the nature, scope and results of our future activities.
New companies must develop successful business relationships,
establish operating procedures, hire staff, install management
information and other systems, establish facilities and obtain
licenses, as well as take other measures necessary to conduct their
intended business activities. We may not be successful in
implementing our business strategies or in completing the
development of the infrastructure necessary to conduct our business
as planned. In the event that one or more of our drilling programs
is not completed or is delayed or terminated, our operating results
will be adversely affected and our operations will differ
materially from the activities described in this Annual Report and
our subsequent periodic reports. As a result of industry factors or
factors relating specifically to us, we may have to change our
methods of conducting business, which may cause a material adverse
effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The
uncertainty and risks described in this Annual Report may impede
our ability to economically find, develop, exploit and acquire oil
and natural gas reserves. As a result, we may not be able to
achieve or sustain profitability or positive cash flows provided by
our operating activities in the future.
We will need additional capital to complete future acquisitions,
conduct our operations and fund our business and our ability to
obtain the necessary funding is uncertain.
We
will need to raise additional funding to complete future potential
acquisitions and will be required to raise additional funds through
public or private debt or equity financing or other various means
to fund our operations, acquire assets and complete exploration and
drilling operations. In such a case, adequate funds may not be
available when needed or may not be available on favorable terms.
If we need to raise additional funds in the future by issuing
equity securities, dilution to existing stockholders will result,
and such securities may have rights, preferences and privileges
senior to those of our common stock. If funding is insufficient at
any time in the future and we are unable to generate sufficient
revenue from new business arrangements, to complete planned
acquisitions or operations, our results of operations and the value
of our securities could be adversely affected.
Additionally,
due to the nature of oil and gas interests, i.e., that rates of
production generally decline over time as oil and gas reserves are
depleted, if we are unable to drill additional wells and develop
our reserves, either because we are unable to raise sufficient
funding for such development activities, or otherwise, or in the
event we are unable to acquire additional operating properties, we
believe that our revenues will continue to decline over time.
Furthermore, in the event we are unable to raise additional
required funding in the future, we will not be able to participate
in the drilling of additional wells, will not be able to complete
other drilling and/or workover activities, and may not be able to
make required payments on our outstanding liabilities.
If
this were to happen, we may be forced to scale back our business
plan, sell or liquidate assets to satisfy outstanding debts, all of
which could result in the value of our outstanding securities
declining in value.
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flow to meet any
future debt service and other obligations due to events beyond our
control.
Our
ability to generate cash flows from operations, to make payments on
or refinance our indebtedness and to fund working capital needs and
planned capital expenditures will depend on our future financial
performance and our ability to generate cash in the future. Our
future financial performance will be affected by a range of
economic, financial, competitive, business and other factors that
we cannot control, such as general economic, legislative,
regulatory and financial conditions in our industry, the economy
generally, the price of oil and other risks described below. A
significant reduction in operating cash flows resulting from
changes in economic, legislative or regulatory conditions,
increased competition or other events beyond our control could
increase the need for additional or alternative sources of
liquidity and could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, results of operations, prospects and our
ability to service our debt and other obligations. If we are unable
to service our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs,
we may be forced to adopt an alternative strategy that may include
actions such as reducing or delaying capital expenditures, selling
assets, restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness, seeking
additional capital, or any combination of the foregoing. If we
raise additional debt, it would increase our interest expense,
leverage and our operating and financial costs. We cannot assure
you that any of these alternative strategies could be affected on
satisfactory terms, if at all, or that they would yield sufficient
funds to make required payments on our indebtedness or to fund our
other liquidity needs. Reducing or delaying capital expenditures or
selling assets could delay future cash flows. In addition, the
terms of existing or future debt agreements may restrict us from
adopting any of these alternatives. We cannot assure you that our
business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or
that future borrowings will be available in an amount sufficient to
enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity
needs.
If
for any reason we are unable to meet our future debt service and
repayment obligations, we may be in default under the terms of the
agreements governing our indebtedness, which could allow our
creditors at that time to declare our outstanding indebtedness to
be due and payable. Under these circumstances, our lenders could
compel us to apply all of our available cash to repay our
borrowings. In addition, the lenders under our credit facilities or
other secured indebtedness could seek to foreclose on any of our
assets that are their collateral. If the amounts outstanding under
our indebtedness were to be accelerated, or were the subject of
foreclosure actions, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in
full the money owed to the lenders or to our other debt
holders.
All of our crude oil, natural gas and NGLs production is located in
the Permian Basin and the D-J Basin, making us vulnerable to risks
associated with operating in only two geographic areas. In
addition, we have a large amount of proved reserves attributable to
a small number of producing formations.
Our
operations are focused solely in the Permian Basin located in
Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico, and the D-J Basin of
Weld and Morgan Counties, Colorado, which means our current
producing properties and new drilling opportunities are
geographically concentrated in those two areas. Because our
operations are not as diversified geographically as many of our
competitors, the success of our operations and our profitability
may be disproportionately exposed to the effect of any regional
events, including:
●
fluctuations in
prices of crude oil, natural gas and NGLs produced from the wells
in these areas;
●
natural
disasters such as the flooding that occurred in the D-J Basin area
in September 2013;
●
restrictive
governmental regulations; and
●
curtailment of
production or interruption in the availability of gathering,
processing or transportation infrastructure and services, and any
resulting delays or interruptions of production from existing or
planned new wells.
For
example, bottlenecks in processing and transportation that have
occurred in some recent periods in the Permian Basin and D-J Basin
may negatively affect our results of operations, and these adverse
effects may be disproportionately severe to us compared to our more
geographically diverse competitors. Similarly, the concentration of
our assets within a small number of producing formations exposes us
to risks, such as changes in field-wide rules that could adversely
affect development activities or production relating to those
formations. Such an event could have a material adverse effect on
our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, in
areas where exploration and production activities are increasing,
as has been the case in recent years in the Permian Basin and D-J
Basin, the demand for, and cost of, drilling rigs, equipment,
supplies, personnel and oilfield services increase. Shortages or
the high cost of drilling rigs, equipment, supplies, personnel or
oilfield services could delay or adversely affect our development
and exploration operations or cause us to incur significant
expenditures that are not provided for in our capital forecast,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition or results of operations.
Drilling for and producing oil and natural gas are highly
speculative and involve a high degree of risk, with many
uncertainties that could adversely affect our business. We have not
recorded significant proved reserves, and areas that we decide to
drill may not yield oil or natural gas in commercial quantities or
at all.
Exploring
for and developing hydrocarbon reserves involves a high degree of
operational and financial risk, which precludes us from
definitively predicting the costs involved and time required to
reach certain objectives. Our potential drilling locations are in
various stages of evaluation, ranging from locations that are ready
to drill, to locations that will require substantial additional
interpretation before they can be drilled. The budgeted costs of
planning, drilling, completing and operating wells are often
exceeded and such costs can increase significantly due to various
complications that may arise during the drilling and operating
processes. Before a well is spud, we may incur significant
geological and geophysical (seismic) costs, which are incurred
whether a well eventually produces commercial quantities of
hydrocarbons or is drilled at all. Exploration wells bear a much
greater risk of loss than development wells. The analogies we draw
from available data from other wells, more fully explored locations
or producing fields may not be applicable to our drilling
locations. If our actual drilling and development costs are
significantly more than our estimated costs, we may not be able to
continue our operations as proposed and could be forced to modify
our drilling plans accordingly.
If
we decide to drill a certain location, there is a risk that no
commercially productive oil or natural gas reservoirs will be found
or produced. We may drill or participate in new wells that are not
productive. We may drill wells that are productive, but that do not
produce sufficient net revenues to return a profit after drilling,
operating and other costs. There is no way to predict in advance of
drilling and testing whether any particular location will yield oil
or natural gas in sufficient quantities to recover exploration,
drilling or completion costs or to be economically viable. Even if
sufficient amounts of oil or natural gas exist, we may damage the
potentially productive hydrocarbon-bearing formation or experience
mechanical difficulties while drilling or completing the well,
resulting in a reduction in production and reserves from the well
or abandonment of the well. Whether a well is ultimately productive
and profitable depends on a number of additional factors, including
the following:
●
general economic
and industry conditions, including the prices received for oil and
natural gas;
●
shortages of, or
delays in, obtaining equipment, including hydraulic fracturing
equipment, and qualified personnel;
●
potential
significant water production which could make a producing well
uneconomic, particularly in the Permian Basin Asset, where abundant
water production is a known risk;
●
potential drainage
by operators on adjacent properties;
●
loss of, or damage
to, oilfield development and service tools;
●
problems with title
to the underlying properties;
●
increases in
severance taxes;
●
adverse weather
conditions that delay drilling activities or cause producing wells
to be shut down;
●
domestic and
foreign governmental regulations; and
●
proximity to and
capacity of transportation facilities.
If
we do not drill productive and profitable wells in the future, our
business, financial condition and results of operations could be
materially and adversely affected.
Our success is dependent on the prices of oil, NGLs and natural
gas. Low oil or natural gas prices and the substantial volatility
in these prices may adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations and our ability to meet our
capital expenditure requirements and financial
obligations.
The
prices we receive for our oil, NGLs and natural gas heavily
influence our revenue, profitability, cash flow available for
capital expenditures, access to capital and future rate of growth.
Oil, NGLs and natural gas are commodities and, therefore,
their prices are subject to wide fluctuations in response to
relatively minor changes in supply and demand. Historically, the
commodities market has been volatile. For example, the price of oil
fell dramatically starting in mid-2014 from a high of over $100 per
barrel in June 2014 to lows below $30 per barrel in early 2016, and
has only recently recovered to current levels, in each case based
on West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices, due to a combination of
factors including increased U.S. supply, global economic concerns,
the likely resumption of oil exports from Iran and OPEC’s
decision not to reduce supply. Prices for natural gas and NGLs
experienced declines of similar magnitude. An extended period of
continued lower oil prices, or additional price declines, will have
further adverse effects on us. The prices we receive for our
production, and the levels of our production, will continue to
depend on numerous factors, including the following:
●
the domestic and
foreign supply of oil, NGLs and natural gas;
●
the domestic and
foreign demand for oil, NGLs and natural gas;
●
the prices and
availability of competitors’ supplies of oil, NGLs and
natural gas;
●
the actions of the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, and
state-controlled oil companies relating to oil price and production
controls;
●
the price and
quantity of foreign imports of oil, NGLs and natural
gas;
●
the impact of U.S.
dollar exchange rates on oil, NGLs and natural gas
prices;
●
domestic and
foreign governmental regulations and taxes;
●
speculative trading
of oil, NGLs and natural gas futures contracts;
●
localized supply
and demand fundamentals, including the availability, proximity and
capacity of gathering and transportation systems for natural
gas;
●
the availability of
refining capacity;
●
the prices and
availability of alternative fuel sources;
●
weather conditions
and natural disasters;
●
political
conditions in or affecting oil, NGLs and natural gas producing
regions, including the Middle East and South America;
●
the continued
threat of terrorism and the impact of military action and civil
unrest;
●
public pressure on,
and legislative and regulatory interest within, federal, state and
local governments to stop, significantly limit or regulate
hydraulic fracturing activities;
●
the level of global
oil, NGL and natural gas inventories and exploration and
production activity;
●
authorization of
exports from the Unites States of liquefied natural
gas;
●
the impact of
energy conservation efforts;
●
technological
advances affecting energy consumption; and
●
overall worldwide
economic conditions.
Declines
in oil, NGL or natural gas prices would not only reduce our
revenue, but could reduce the amount of oil, NGL and natural
gas that we can produce economically. Should natural gas, NGL or
oil prices decrease from current levels and remain there for an
extended period of time, we may elect in the future to delay some
of our exploration and development plans for our prospects, or to
cease exploration or development activities on certain prospects
due to the anticipated unfavorable economics from such activities,
and, as a result, we may have to make substantial downward
adjustments to our estimated proved reserves, each of which would
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
Future conditions might require us to make write-downs in our
assets, which would adversely affect our balance sheet and results
of operations.
We
review our long-lived tangible and intangible assets for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. We also test our
goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at
least annually on December 31 of each year, or when events or
changes in the business environment indicate that the carrying
value of a reporting unit may exceed its fair value. If conditions
in any of the businesses in which we compete were to deteriorate,
we could determine that certain of our assets were impaired and we
would then be required to write-off all or a portion of our costs
for such assets. Any such significant write-offs would adversely
affect our balance sheet and results of operations.
Declining general economic, business or industry conditions may
have a material adverse effect on our results of operations,
liquidity and financial condition.
Concerns
over global economic conditions, energy costs, geopolitical issues,
inflation, the availability and cost of credit, the United States
mortgage market and a declining real estate market in the United
States have contributed to increased economic uncertainty and
diminished expectations for the global economy. These factors,
combined with volatile prices of oil and natural gas, declining
business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, have
precipitated an economic slowdown and a recession. Concerns about
global economic growth have had a significant adverse impact on
global financial markets and commodity prices. If the economic
climate in the United States or abroad continues to deteriorate,
demand for petroleum products could diminish, which could impact
the price at which we can sell our oil, natural gas and natural gas
liquids, affect the ability of our vendors, suppliers and customers
to continue operations and ultimately adversely impact our results
of operations, liquidity and financial condition.
Our exploration, development and exploitation projects require
substantial capital expenditures that may exceed cash on hand, cash
flows from operations and potential borrowings, and we may be
unable to obtain needed capital on satisfactory terms, which could
adversely affect our future growth.
Our
exploration and development activities are capital intensive. We
make and expect to continue to make substantial capital
expenditures in our business for the development, exploitation,
production and acquisition of oil and natural gas reserves. Our
cash on hand, our operating cash flows and future potential
borrowings may not be adequate to fund our future acquisitions or
future capital expenditure requirements. The rate of our future
growth may be dependent, at least in part, on our ability to access
capital at rates and on terms we determine to be
acceptable.
Our
cash flows from operations and access to capital are subject to a
number of variables, including:
●
our estimated
proved oil and natural gas reserves;
●
the amount of oil
and natural gas we produce from existing wells;
●
the prices at which
we sell our production;
●
the costs of
developing and producing our oil and natural gas
reserves;
●
our ability to
acquire, locate and produce new reserves;
●
the ability and
willingness of banks to lend to us; and
●
our ability to
access the equity and debt capital markets.
In
addition, future events, such as terrorist attacks, wars or combat
peace-keeping missions, financial market disruptions, general
economic recessions, oil and natural gas industry recessions, large
company bankruptcies, accounting scandals, overstated reserves
estimates by major public oil companies and disruptions in the
financial and capital markets have caused financial institutions,
credit rating agencies and the public to more closely review the
financial statements, capital structures and earnings of public
companies, including energy companies. Such events have constrained
the capital available to the energy industry in the past, and such
events or similar events could adversely affect our access to
funding for our operations in the future.
If
our revenues decrease as a result of lower oil and natural gas
prices, operating difficulties, declines in reserves or for any
other reason, we may have limited ability to obtain the capital
necessary to sustain our operations at current levels, further
develop and exploit our current properties or invest in additional
exploration opportunities. Alternatively, a significant improvement
in oil and natural gas prices or other factors could result in an
increase in our capital expenditures and we may be required to
alter or increase our capitalization substantially through the
issuance of debt or equity securities, the sale of production
payments, the sale or farm out of interests in our assets, the
borrowing of funds or otherwise to meet any increase in capital
needs. If we are unable to raise additional capital from available
sources at acceptable terms, our business, financial condition and
results of operations could be adversely affected. Further, future
debt financings may require that a portion of our cash flows
provided by operating activities be used for the payment of
principal and interest on our debt, thereby reducing our ability to
use cash flows to fund working capital, capital expenditures and
acquisitions. Debt financing may involve covenants that restrict
our business activities. If we succeed in selling additional equity
securities to raise funds, at such time the ownership percentage of
our existing stockholders would be diluted, and new investors may
demand rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of
existing stockholders. If we choose to farm-out interests in our
prospects, we may lose operating control over such
prospects.
Our oil and natural gas reserves are estimated and may not reflect
the actual volumes of oil and natural gas we will receive, and
significant inaccuracies in these reserve estimates or underlying
assumptions will materially affect the quantities and present value
of our reserves.
The
process of estimating accumulations of oil and natural gas is
complex and is not exact, due to numerous inherent uncertainties.
The process relies on interpretations of available geological,
geophysical, engineering and production data. The extent, quality
and reliability of this technical data can vary. The process also
requires certain economic assumptions related to, among other
things, oil and natural gas prices, drilling and operating
expenses, capital expenditures, taxes and availability of funds.
The accuracy of a reserves estimate is a function of:
●
the quality and
quantity of available data;
●
the interpretation
of that data;
●
the judgment of the
persons preparing the estimate; and
●
the accuracy of the
assumptions.
The
accuracy of any estimates of proved reserves generally increases
with the length of the production history. Due to the limited
production history of our properties, the estimates of future
production associated with these properties may be subject to
greater variance to actual production than would be the case with
properties having a longer production history. As our wells produce
over time and more data is available, the estimated proved reserves
will be re-determined on at least an annual basis and may be
adjusted to reflect new information based upon our actual
production history, results of exploration and development,
prevailing oil and natural gas prices and other
factors.
Actual
future production, oil and natural gas prices, revenues, taxes,
development expenditures, operating expenses and quantities of
recoverable oil and natural gas most likely will vary from our
estimates. It is possible that future production declines in our
wells may be greater than we have estimated. Any significant
variance to our estimates could materially affect the quantities
and present value of our reserves.
We may record impairments of oil and gas properties that would
reduce our shareholders’ equity.
The
successful efforts method of accounting is used for oil and gas
exploration and production activities. Under this method, all costs
for development wells, support equipment and facilities, and proved
mineral interests in oil and gas properties are capitalized. We
review the carrying value of our long-lived assets annually or
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
historical cost-carrying value of an asset may no longer be
appropriate. We assess the recoverability of the carrying value of
the asset by estimating the future net undiscounted cash flows
expected to result from the asset, including eventual disposition.
If the future net undiscounted cash flows are less than the
carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss is recorded equal
to the difference between the asset’s carrying value and
estimated fair value. This impairment does not impact cash flows
from operating activities but does reduce earnings and our
shareholders’ equity. The risk that we will be required to
recognize impairments of our oil and gas properties increases
during periods of low oil or gas prices. Impairments would occur if
we were to experience sufficient downward adjustments to our
estimated proved reserves or the present value of estimated future
net revenues. An impairment recognized in one period may not be
reversed in a subsequent period even if higher oil and gas prices
increase the cost center ceiling applicable to the subsequent
period. We have in the past and could in the future incur
additional impairments of oil and gas properties.
We may have accidents, equipment failures or mechanical problems
while drilling or completing wells or in production activities,
which could adversely affect our business.
While
we are drilling and completing wells or involved in production
activities, we may have accidents or experience equipment failures
or mechanical problems in a well that cause us to be unable to
drill and complete the well or to continue to produce the well
according to our plans. We may also damage a potentially
hydrocarbon-bearing formation during drilling and completion
operations. Such incidents may result in a reduction of our
production and reserves from the well or in abandonment of the
well.
Our operations are subject to operational hazards and unforeseen
interruptions for which we may not be adequately
insured.
There
are numerous operational hazards inherent in oil and natural gas
exploration, development, production and gathering,
including:
●
unusual or
unexpected geologic formations;
●
adverse weather
conditions;
●
unanticipated
pressures;
●
loss of drilling
fluid circulation;
●
blowouts where oil
or natural gas flows uncontrolled at a wellhead;
●
cratering or
collapse of the formation;
●
pipe or cement
leaks, failures or casing collapses;
●
releases of
hazardous substances or other waste materials that cause
environmental damage;
●
pressures or
irregularities in formations; and
●
equipment failures
or accidents.
In
addition, there is an inherent risk of incurring significant
environmental costs and liabilities in the performance of our
operations, some of which may be material, due to our handling of
petroleum hydrocarbons and wastes, our emissions to air and water,
the underground injection or other disposal of our wastes, the use
of hydraulic fracturing fluids and historical industry operations
and waste disposal practices.
Any
of these or other similar occurrences could result in the
disruption or impairment of our operations, substantial repair
costs, personal injury or loss of human life, significant damage to
property, environmental pollution and substantial revenue losses.
The location of our wells, gathering systems, pipelines and other
facilities near populated areas, including residential areas,
commercial business centers and industrial sites, could
significantly increase the level of damages resulting from these
risks. Insurance against all operational risks is not available to
us. We are not fully insured against all risks, including
development and completion risks that are generally not recoverable
from third parties or insurance. In addition, pollution and
environmental risks generally are not fully insurable. We maintain
$2 million general liability coverage and $10 million umbrella
coverage that covers our and our subsidiaries’ business and
operations. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Hawk, which operates
our D-J Basin Asset, also maintains a $10 million control of well
insurance policy that covers its operations in Colorado, and our
wholly-owned subsidiary, PEDCO, which operates our Permian Basin
Asset through its wholly-owned subsidiaries EOR and RAOC, also
maintains a $10 million control of well insurance policy that
covers its operations in New Mexico. With respect to our other
non-operated assets, we may elect not to obtain insurance if we
believe that the cost of available insurance is excessive relative
to the perceived risks presented. Losses could, therefore, occur
for uninsurable or uninsured risks or in amounts in excess of
existing insurance coverage. Moreover, insurance may not be
available in the future at commercially reasonable prices or on
commercially reasonable terms. Changes in the insurance markets due
to various factors may make it more difficult for us to obtain
certain types of coverage in the future. As a result, we may not be
able to obtain the levels or types of insurance we would otherwise
have obtained prior to these market changes, and the insurance
coverage we do obtain may not cover certain hazards or all
potential losses that are currently covered, and may be subject to
large deductibles. Losses and liabilities from uninsured and
underinsured events and delay in the payment of insurance proceeds
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
The threat and impact of terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks or
similar hostilities may adversely impact our
operations.
We
cannot assess the extent of either the threat or the potential
impact of future terrorist attacks on the energy industry in
general, and on us in particular, either in the short-term or in
the long-term. Uncertainty surrounding such hostilities may affect
our operations in unpredictable ways, including the possibility
that infrastructure facilities, including pipelines and gathering
systems, production facilities, processing plants and refineries,
could be targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror, a
cyber-attack or electronic security breach, or an act of
war.
Failure to adequately protect critical data and technology systems
could materially affect our operations.
Information
technology solution failures, network disruptions and breaches of
data security could disrupt our operations by causing delays or
cancellation of customer orders, impeding processing of
transactions and reporting financial results, resulting in the
unintentional disclosure of customer, employee or our information,
or damage to our reputation. There can be no assurance that a
system failure or data security breach will not have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or
cash flows.
Our strategy as an onshore resource player may result in operations
concentrated in certain geographic areas and may increase our
exposure to many of the risks described in this Annual
Report.
Our
current operations are concentrated in the states of New
Mexico and Colorado. This concentration may increase the potential
impact of many of the risks described in this Annual Report. For
example, we may have greater exposure to regulatory actions
impacting New Mexico and/or Colorado, natural disasters in New
Mexico and/or Colorado, competition for equipment, services and
materials available in, and access to infrastructure and markets
in, these states.
Unless we replace our oil and natural gas reserves, our reserves
and production will decline, which will adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of
operations.
The
rate of production from our oil and natural gas properties will
decline as our reserves are depleted. Our future oil and natural
gas reserves and production and, therefore, our income and cash
flow, are highly dependent on our success in (a) efficiently
developing and exploiting our current reserves on properties owned
by us or by other persons or entities and (b) economically finding
or acquiring additional oil and natural gas producing properties.
In the future, we may have difficulty acquiring new properties.
During periods of low oil and/or natural gas prices, it will become
more difficult to raise the capital necessary to finance expansion
activities. If we are unable to replace our production, our
reserves will decrease, and our business, financial condition and
results of operations would be adversely affected.
Our strategy includes acquisitions of oil and natural gas
properties, and our failure to identify or complete future
acquisitions successfully, or not produce projected revenues
associated with the future acquisitions could reduce our earnings
and hamper our growth.
We
may be unable to identify properties for acquisition or to make
acquisitions on terms that we consider economically acceptable.
There is intense competition for acquisition opportunities in our
industry. Competition for acquisitions may increase the cost of, or
cause us to refrain from, completing acquisitions. The completion
and pursuit of acquisitions may be dependent upon, among other
things, our ability to obtain debt and equity financing and, in
some cases, regulatory approvals. Our ability to grow through
acquisitions will require us to continue to invest in operations,
financial and management information systems and to attract,
retain, motivate and effectively manage our employees. The
inability to manage the integration of acquisitions effectively
could reduce our focus on subsequent acquisitions and current
operations, and could negatively impact our results of operations
and growth potential. Our financial position and results of
operations may fluctuate significantly from period to period as a
result of the completion of significant acquisitions during
particular periods. If we are not successful in identifying or
acquiring any material property interests, our earnings could be
reduced and our growth could be restricted.
We
may engage in bidding and negotiating to complete successful
acquisitions. We may be required to alter or increase substantially
our capitalization to finance these acquisitions through the use of
cash on hand, the issuance of debt or equity securities, the sale
of production payments, the sale of non-strategic assets, the
borrowing of funds or otherwise. If we were to proceed with one or
more acquisitions involving the issuance of our common stock, our
shareholders would suffer dilution of their interests. Furthermore,
our decision to acquire properties that are substantially different
in operating or geologic characteristics or geographic locations
from areas with which our staff is familiar may impact our
productivity in such areas.
We
may not be able to produce the projected revenues related to future
acquisitions. There are many assumptions related to the projection
of the revenues of future acquisitions including, but not limited
to, drilling success, oil and natural gas prices, production
decline curves and other data. If revenues from future acquisitions
do not meet projections, this could adversely affect our business
and financial condition.
If we complete acquisitions or enter into business combinations in
the future, they may disrupt or have a negative impact on our
business.
If
we complete acquisitions or enter into business combinations in the
future, funding permitting, we could have difficulty integrating
the acquired companies’ assets, personnel and operations with
our own. Additionally, acquisitions, mergers or business
combinations we may enter into in the future could result in a
change of control of the Company, and a change in the board of
directors or officers of the Company. In addition, the key
personnel of the acquired business may not be willing to work for
us. We cannot predict the effect expansion may have on our core
business. Regardless of whether we are successful in making an
acquisition or completing a business combination, the negotiations
could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our management and
employees and increase our expenses. In addition to the risks
described above, acquisitions and business combinations are
accompanied by a number of inherent risks, including, without
limitation, the following:
●
the difficulty of
integrating acquired companies, concepts and
operations;
●
the potential
disruption of the ongoing businesses and distraction of our
management and the management of acquired companies;
●
change in our
business focus and/or management;
●
difficulties in
maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and
policies;
●
the potential
impairment of relationships with employees and partners as a result
of any integration of new management personnel;
●
the potential
inability to manage an increased number of locations and
employees;
●
our ability to
successfully manage the companies and/or concepts
acquired;
●
the failure to
realize efficiencies, synergies and cost savings; or
●
the effect of any
government regulations which relate to the business
acquired.
Our
business could be severely impaired if and to the extent that we
are unable to succeed in addressing any of these risks or other
problems encountered in connection with an acquisition or business
combination, many of which cannot be presently identified. These
risks and problems could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our
management and employees, increase our expenses and adversely
affect our results of operations.
Any
acquisition or business combination transaction we enter into in
the future could cause substantial dilution to existing
stockholders, result in one party having majority or significant
control over the Company or result in a change in business focus of
the Company.
We may incur indebtedness which could reduce our financial
flexibility, increase interest expense and adversely impact our
operations and our unit costs.
We
currently have no outstanding indebtedness, but we may incur
significant amounts of indebtedness in the future in order to make
acquisitions or to develop our properties. Our level of
indebtedness could affect our operations in several ways, including
the following:
●
a significant
portion of our cash flows could be used to service our
indebtedness;
●
a high level of
debt would increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic
and industry conditions;
●
any covenants
contained in the agreements governing our outstanding indebtedness
could limit our ability to borrow additional funds;
●
dispose of assets,
pay dividends and make certain investments;
●
a high level of
debt may place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our
competitors that are less leveraged and, therefore, may be able to
take advantage of opportunities that our indebtedness may prevent
us from pursuing; and
●
debt covenants to
which we may agree may affect our flexibility in planning for, and
reacting to, changes in the economy and in our
industry.
A
high level of indebtedness increases the risk that we may default
on our debt obligations. We may not be able to generate sufficient
cash flows to pay the principal or interest on our debt, and future
working capital, borrowings or equity financing may not be
available to pay or refinance such debt. If we do not have
sufficient funds and are otherwise unable to arrange financing, we
may have to sell significant assets or have a portion of our assets
foreclosed upon which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of
operations.
We may purchase oil and natural gas properties with liabilities or
risks that we did not know about or that we did not assess
correctly, and, as a result, we could be subject to liabilities
that could adversely affect our results of operations.
Before
acquiring oil and natural gas properties, we estimate the reserves,
future oil and natural gas prices, operating costs, potential
environmental liabilities and other factors relating to the
properties. However, our review involves many assumptions and
estimates, and their accuracy is inherently uncertain. As a result,
we may not discover all existing or potential problems associated
with the properties we buy. We may not become sufficiently familiar
with the properties to assess fully their deficiencies and
capabilities. We do not generally perform inspections on every well
or property, and we may not be able to observe mechanical and
environmental problems even when we conduct an inspection. The
seller may not be willing or financially able to give us
contractual protection against any identified problems, and we may
decide to assume environmental and other liabilities in connection
with properties we acquire. If we acquire properties with risks or
liabilities we did not know about or that we did not assess
correctly, our business, financial condition and results of
operations could be adversely affected as we settle claims and
incur cleanup costs related to these liabilities.
We may incur losses or costs as a result of title deficiencies in
the properties in which we invest.
If
an examination of the title history of a property that we have
purchased reveals an oil and natural gas lease has been purchased
in error from a person who is not the owner of the property, our
interest would be worthless. In such an instance, the amount paid
for such oil and natural gas lease as well as any royalties paid
pursuant to the terms of the lease prior to the discovery of the
title defect would be lost.
Prior
to the drilling of an oil and natural gas well, it is the normal
practice in the oil and natural gas industry for the person or
company acting as the operator of the well to obtain a preliminary
title review of the spacing unit within which the proposed oil and
natural gas well is to be drilled to ensure there are no obvious
deficiencies in title to the well. Frequently, as a result of such
examinations, certain curative work must be done to correct
deficiencies in the marketability of the title, and such curative
work entails expense. Our failure to cure any title defects may
adversely impact our ability in the future to increase production
and reserves. In the future, we may suffer a monetary loss from
title defects or title failure. Additionally, unproved and
unevaluated acreage has greater risk of title defects than
developed acreage. If there are any title defects or defects in
assignment of leasehold rights in properties in which we hold an
interest, we will suffer a financial loss which could adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Our identified drilling locations are scheduled over several years,
making them susceptible to uncertainties that could materially
alter the occurrence or timing of their drilling.
Our
management team has identified and scheduled drilling locations in
our operating areas over a multi-year period. Our ability to drill
and develop these locations depends on a number of factors,
including the availability of equipment and capital, approval by
regulators, seasonal conditions, oil and natural gas prices,
assessment of risks, costs and drilling results. The final
determination on whether to drill any of these locations will be
dependent upon the factors described elsewhere in this Annual
Report and the documents incorporated by reference herein, as well
as, to some degree, the results of our drilling activities with
respect to our established drilling locations. Because of these
uncertainties, we do not know if the drilling locations we have
identified will be drilled within our expected timeframe or at all
or if we will be able to economically produce hydrocarbons from
these or any other potential drilling locations. Our actual
drilling activities may be materially different from our current
expectations, which could adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Potential conflicts of interest could arise for certain members of
our management team and board of directors that hold management
positions with other entities and our senior lender.
Dr. Simon Kukes, our Chief Executive Officer and
member of our board of directors, J. Douglas Schick, our President,
and Clark R. Moore, our Executive Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary, hold various other management positions with
privately-held companies, some of which are involved in the oil and
gas industry, and Dr. Simon Kukes is the principal of SK Energy
LLC, the Company’s largest shareholder. Dr. Kukes also
beneficially owns 82.4% of our voting securities. We believe these
positions require only an immaterial amount of each officers’
time and will not conflict with their roles or responsibilities
with our company. If any of these companies enter into one or
more transactions with our company, or if the officers’
position with any such company requires significantly more time
than currently anticipated, potential conflicts of
interests could arise from the officers performing services for us
and these other entities.
We currently license only a limited amount of seismic and other
geological data and may have difficulty obtaining additional data
at a reasonable cost, which could adversely affect our future results of operations.
We
currently license only a limited amount of seismic and other
geological data to assist us in exploration and development
activities. We may obtain access to additional data in our areas of
interest through licensing arrangements with companies that own or
have access to that data or by paying to obtain that data directly.
Seismic and geological data can be expensive to license or obtain.
We may not be able to license or obtain such data at an acceptable
cost. In addition, even when properly interpreted, seismic
data and visualization techniques are not conclusive in determining
if hydrocarbons are present in economically producible amounts and
seismic indications of hydrocarbon saturation are generally not
reliable indicators of productive reservoir rock.
The unavailability or high cost of drilling rigs, completion
equipment and services, supplies and personnel, including hydraulic
fracturing equipment and personnel, could adversely affect our
ability to establish and execute exploration and development plans
within budget and on a timely basis, which could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Shortages
or the high cost of drilling rigs, completion equipment and
services, supplies or personnel could delay or adversely affect our
operations. When drilling activity in the United States increases,
associated costs typically also increase, including those costs
related to drilling rigs, equipment, supplies and personnel and the
services and products of other vendors to the industry. These costs
may increase, and necessary equipment and services may become
unavailable to us at economical prices. Should this increase in
costs occur, we may delay drilling activities, which may limit our
ability to establish and replace reserves, or we may incur these
higher costs, which may negatively affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
In
addition, the demand for hydraulic fracturing services currently
exceeds the availability of fracturing equipment and crews across
the industry and in our operating areas in particular. The
accelerated wear and tear of hydraulic fracturing equipment due to
its deployment in unconventional oil and natural gas fields
characterized by longer lateral lengths and larger numbers of
fracturing stages has further amplified this equipment and crew
shortage. If demand for fracturing services increases or the supply
of fracturing equipment and crews decreases, then higher costs
could result and could adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
We have limited control over activities on properties we do not
operate.
We
are not the operator on some of our properties located in our D-J
Basin Asset, and, as a result, our ability to exercise influence
over the operations of these properties or their associated costs
is limited. Our dependence on the operators and other working
interest owners of these projects and our limited ability to
influence operations and associated costs or control the risks
could materially and adversely affect the realization of our
targeted returns on capital in drilling or acquisition activities.
The success and timing of our drilling and development activities
on properties operated by others therefore depends upon a number of
factors, including:
●
timing and amount
of capital expenditures;
●
the
operator’s expertise and financial resources;
●
the rate of
production of reserves, if any;
●
approval of other
participants in drilling wells; and
●
selection of
technology.
The marketability of our production is dependent upon oil and
natural gas gathering and transportation facilities owned and
operated by third parties, and the unavailability of satisfactory
oil and natural gas transportation arrangements would have a
material adverse effect on our revenue.
The
unavailability of satisfactory oil and natural gas transportation
arrangements may hinder our access to oil and natural gas markets
or delay production from our wells. The availability of a ready
market for our oil and natural gas production depends on a number
of factors, including the demand for, and supply of, oil and
natural gas and the proximity of reserves to pipelines and terminal
facilities. Our ability to market our production depends in
substantial part on the availability and capacity of gathering
systems, pipelines and processing facilities owned and operated by
third parties. Our failure to obtain these services on acceptable
terms could materially harm our business. We may be required to
shut-in wells for lack of a market or because of inadequacy or
unavailability of pipeline or gathering system capacity. If that
were to occur, we would be unable to realize revenue from those
wells until production arrangements were made to deliver our
production to market. Furthermore, if we were required to shut-in
wells we might also be obligated to pay shut-in royalties to
certain mineral interest owners in order to maintain our leases. We
do not expect to purchase firm transportation capacity on
third-party facilities. Therefore, we expect the transportation of
our production to be generally interruptible in nature and lower in
priority to those having firm transportation
arrangements.
The
disruption of third-party facilities due to maintenance and/or
weather could negatively impact our ability to market and deliver
our products. The third parties' control when or if such facilities
are restored and what prices will be charged. Federal and state
regulation of oil and natural gas production and transportation,
tax and energy policies, changes in supply and demand, pipeline
pressures, damage to or destruction of pipelines and general
economic conditions could adversely affect our ability to produce,
gather and transport oil and natural gas.
An increase in the differential between the NYMEX or other
benchmark prices of oil and natural gas and the wellhead price we
receive for our production could adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
The
prices that we will receive for our oil and natural gas production
sometimes may reflect a discount to the relevant benchmark prices,
such as the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), that are used for
calculating hedge positions. The difference between the benchmark
price and the prices we receive is called a differential. Increases
in the differential between the benchmark prices for oil and
natural gas and the wellhead price we receive could adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We do not have, and may not have in the future, any derivative
contracts or hedging covering the amount of the basis differentials
we experience in respect of our production. As such, we will be
exposed to any increase in such differentials.
We may have difficulty managing growth in our business, which could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations and our ability to execute our business
plan in a timely fashion.
Because
of our small size, growth in accordance with our business plans, if
achieved, will place a significant strain on our financial,
technical, operational and management resources. As we expand our
activities, including our planned increase in oil exploration,
development and production, and increase the number of projects we
are evaluating or in which we participate, there will be additional
demands on our financial, technical and management resources. The
failure to continue to upgrade our technical, administrative,
operating and financial control systems or the occurrence of
unexpected expansion difficulties, including the inability to
recruit and retain experienced managers, geoscientists, petroleum
engineers and landmen could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations and our
ability to execute our business plan in a timely
fashion.
Financial difficulties encountered by our oil and natural gas
purchasers, third-party operators or other third parties could
decrease our cash flow from operations and adversely affect the
exploration and development of our prospects and
assets.
We
derive and will derive in the future, substantially all of our
revenues from the sale of our oil and natural gas to unaffiliated
third-party purchasers, independent marketing companies and
mid-stream companies. Any delays in payments from our purchasers
caused by financial problems encountered by them will have an
immediate negative effect on our results of
operations.
Liquidity
and cash flow problems encountered by our working interest
co-owners or the third-party operators of our non-operated
properties may prevent or delay the drilling of a well or the
development of a project. Our working interest co-owners may be
unwilling or unable to pay their share of the costs of projects as
they become due. In the case of a farmout party, we would have to
find a new farmout party or obtain alternative funding in order to
complete the exploration and development of the prospects subject
to a farmout agreement. In the case of a working interest owner, we
could be required to pay the working interest owner’s share
of the project costs. We cannot assure you that we would be able to
obtain the capital necessary to fund either of these contingencies
or that we would be able to find a new farmout party.
The calculated present value of future net revenues from our proved
reserves will not necessarily be the same as the current market
value of our estimated oil and natural gas reserves.
You
should not assume that the present value of future net cash flows
as included in our public filings is the current market value of
our estimated proved oil and natural gas reserves. We generally
base the estimated discounted future net cash flows from proved
reserves on current costs held constant over time without
escalation and on commodity prices using an unweighted arithmetic
average of first-day-of-the-month index prices, appropriately
adjusted, for the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of
the estimate. Actual future prices and costs may be materially
higher or lower than the prices and costs used for these estimates
and will be affected by factors such as:
●
actual prices we
receive for oil and natural gas;
●
actual cost and
timing of development and production expenditures;
●
the amount and
timing of actual production; and
●
changes in
governmental regulations or taxation.
In
addition, the 10% discount factor that is required to be used to
calculate discounted future net revenues for reporting purposes
under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) is not necessarily
the most appropriate discount factor based on the cost of capital
in effect from time to time and risks associated with our business
and the oil and natural gas industry in general.
Competition in the oil and natural gas industry is intense, making
it difficult for us to acquire properties, market oil and natural
gas and secure trained personnel.
Our
ability to acquire additional prospects and to find and develop
reserves in the future will depend on our ability to evaluate and
select suitable properties and to consummate transactions in a
highly competitive environment for acquiring properties, marketing
oil and natural gas and securing trained personnel. Also, there is
substantial competition for capital available for investment in the
oil and natural gas industry. Many of our competitors possess and
employ financial, technical and personnel resources substantially
greater than ours, and many of our competitors have more
established presences in the United States than we have. Those
companies may be able to pay more for productive oil and natural
gas properties and exploratory prospects and to evaluate, bid for
and purchase a greater number of properties and prospects than our
financial or personnel resources permit. In addition, other
companies may be able to offer better compensation packages to
attract and retain qualified personnel than we are able to offer.
The cost to attract and retain qualified personnel has increased in
recent years due to competition and may increase substantially in
the future. We may not be able to compete successfully in the
future in acquiring prospective reserves, developing reserves,
marketing hydrocarbons, attracting and retaining quality personnel
and raising additional capital, which could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Our competitors may use superior technology and data resources that
we may be unable to afford or that would require a costly
investment by us in order to compete with them more
effectively.
Our
industry is subject to rapid and significant advancements in
technology, including the introduction of new products and services
using new technologies and databases. As our competitors use or
develop new technologies, we may be placed at a competitive
disadvantage, and competitive pressures may force us to implement
new technologies at a substantial cost. In addition, many of our
competitors will have greater financial, technical and personnel
resources that allow them to enjoy technological advantages and may
in the future allow them to implement new technologies before we
can. We cannot be certain that we will be able to implement
technologies on a timely basis or at a cost that is acceptable to
us. One or more of the technologies that we will use or that we may
implement in the future may become obsolete, and we may be
adversely affected.
If we do not hedge our exposure to reductions in oil and natural
gas prices, we may be subject to significant reductions in prices.
Alternatively, we may use oil and natural gas price hedging
contracts, which involve credit risk and may limit future revenues
from price increases and result in significant fluctuations in our
profitability.
In
the event that we continue to choose not to hedge our exposure to
reductions in oil and natural gas prices by purchasing futures
and/or by using other hedging strategies, we may be subject to a
significant reduction in prices which could have a material
negative impact on our profitability. Alternatively, we may elect
to use hedging transactions with respect to a portion of our oil
and natural gas production to achieve more predictable cash flow
and to reduce our exposure to price fluctuations. While the use of
hedging transactions limits the downside risk of price declines,
their use also may limit future revenues from price increases.
Hedging transactions also involve the risk that the counterparty
may be unable to satisfy its obligations.
Changes in the legal and regulatory environment governing the oil
and natural gas industry, particularly changes in the current
Colorado forced pooling system, could have a material adverse
effect on our business.
Our business is subject to various forms of
government regulation, including laws and regulations concerning
the location, spacing and permitting of the oil and natural gas
wells we drill, among other matters. In particular, our business in
the D-J Basin of Colorado utilizes a methodology available in
Colorado known as “forced
pooling,” which refers to
the ability of a holder of an oil and natural gas interest in a
particular prospective drilling spacing unit to apply to the
Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for an order forcing
all other holders of oil and natural gas interests in such area
into a common pool for purposes of developing that drilling spacing
unit. This methodology is especially important for our operations
in the Greeley area, where there are many interest holders. Changes
in the legal and regulatory environment governing our industry,
particularly any changes to Colorado forced pooling procedures that
make forced pooling more difficult to accomplish, could result in
increased compliance costs and adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
SEC rules could limit our ability to
book additional proved undeveloped reserves
(“PUDs”)
in the future.
SEC
rules require that, subject to limited exceptions, PUDs may only be
booked if they relate to wells scheduled to be drilled within five
years after the date of booking. This requirement has limited and
may continue to limit our ability to book additional PUDs as we
pursue our drilling program. Moreover, we may be required to write
down our PUDs if we do not drill or plan on delaying those wells
within the required five-year timeframe.
New or amended environmental legislation or regulatory initiatives
could result in increased costs, additional operating restrictions,
or delays, or have other adverse effects on us.
The environmental laws and regulations to which we are subject
change frequently, often to become more burdensome and/or to
increase the risk that we will be subject to significant
liabilities. New or amended federal, state, or local laws or
implementing regulations or orders imposing new environmental
obligations on, or otherwise limiting, our operations could make it
more difficult and more expensive to complete oil and natural gas
wells, increase our costs of compliance and doing business, delay
or prevent the development of resources (especially from shale
formations that are not commercial without the use of hydraulic
fracturing), or alter the demand for and consumption of our
products. Any such outcome could have a material and adverse impact
on our cash flows and results of operations.
For example, in 2014,
2016 and 2018, opponents of hydraulic fracturing sought statewide
ballot initiatives in Colorado that would have restricted oil and
gas development in Colorado and could have had materially adverse
impacts on us. One of the proposed initiatives would have made the
vast majority of the surface area of the state ineligible for
drilling, including substantially all of our planned future
drilling locations. Although none of the proposed initiatives were
passed, future initiatives are possible. Similarly, proposals are
made from time to time to adopt new, or amend existing, laws and
regulations to address hydraulic fracturing or climate change
concerns through further regulation of exploration and development
activities. Please read
“Part
I” –
“Item 1 and 2. Business
and Properties” —
“Regulation of the Oil
and Gas Industry” and
“Regulation of
Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health
Matters” for a further
description of the laws and regulations that affect
us.
We cannot predict the nature, outcome, or effect on us of future
regulatory initiatives, but such initiatives could materially
impact our results of operations, production, reserves, and other
aspects of our business.
Proposed changes to U.S. tax laws, if adopted, could have an
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and cash flows.
From time to time, legislative proposals are made that would, if
enacted, result in the elimination of the immediate deduction for
intangible drilling and development costs, the elimination of the
deduction from income for domestic production activities relating
to oil and gas exploration and development, the repeal of the
percentage depletion allowance for oil and gas properties, and an
extension of the amortization period for certain geological and
geophysical expenditures. Such changes, if adopted, or other
similar changes that reduce or eliminate deductions currently
available with respect to oil and gas exploration and development,
could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results
of operations, and cash flows.
We may incur substantial costs to comply with the various federal,
state, and local laws and regulations that affect our oil and
natural gas operations, including as a result of the actions of
third parties.
We are affected
significantly by a substantial number of governmental regulations
relating to, among other things, the release or disposal of
materials into the environment, health and safety, land use, and
other matters. A summary of the principal environmental rules and
regulations to which we are currently subject is set forth
in “Part
I” –
“Item 1 and 2. Business
and Properties” —
“Regulation of the Oil
and Gas Industry” and
“Regulation of
Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health
Matters.” Compliance
with such laws and regulations often increases our cost of doing
business and thereby decreases our profitability. Failure to comply
with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of
administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, the incurrence of
investigatory or remedial obligations, or the issuance of cease and
desist orders.
The environmental laws and regulations to which we are subject may,
among other things:
●
require us to apply for and receive a permit before drilling
commences or certain associated facilities are
developed;
●
restrict the types, quantities, and concentrations of substances
that can be released into the environment in connection with
drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and production
activities;
●
limit or prohibit
drilling activities on certain lands lying within wilderness,
wetlands and other “waters
of the United States,” threatened and
endangered species habitat, and other protected
areas;
●
require remedial measures to mitigate pollution from former
operations, such as plugging abandoned wells;
●
require us to add procedures and/or staff in order to comply with
applicable laws and regulations; and
●
impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from our
operations.
In addition, we could face liability under applicable environmental
laws and regulations as a result of the activities of previous
owners of our properties or other third parties. For example, over
the years, we have owned or leased numerous properties for oil and
natural gas activities upon which petroleum hydrocarbons or other
materials may have been released by us or by predecessor property
owners or lessees who were not under our control. Under applicable
environmental laws and regulations, including The Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act - otherwise
known as CERCLA or Superfund, The Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (“RCRA”), and state laws,
we could be held liable for the removal or remediation of
previously released materials or property contamination at such
locations, or at third-party locations to which we have sent waste,
regardless of our fault, whether we were responsible for the
release or whether the operations at the time of the release were
lawful.
Compliance with, or liabilities associated with violations of or
remediation obligations under, environmental laws and regulations
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations
and financial condition.
Part of our strategy involves drilling in existing or emerging oil
and gas plays using some of the latest available horizontal
drilling and completion techniques. The results of our planned
exploratory drilling in these plays are subject to drilling and
completion technique risks, and drilling results may not meet our
expectations for reserves or production. As a result, we may incur
material write-downs and the value of our undeveloped acreage could
decline if drilling results are unsuccessful.
Our
operations in the Permian Basin in Chaves and Roosevelt Counties,
New Mexico, and the D-J Basin in Weld and Morgan Counties,
Colorado, involve utilizing the latest drilling and completion
techniques in order to maximize cumulative recoveries and therefore
generate the highest possible returns. Risks that we may face while
drilling include, but are not limited to, landing our well bore in
the desired drilling zone, staying in the desired drilling zone
while drilling horizontally through the formation, running our
casing the entire length of the well bore and being able to run
tools and other equipment consistently through the horizontal well
bore. Risks that we may face while completing our wells include,
but are not limited to, being able to fracture stimulate the
planned number of stages, being able to run tools the entire length
of the well bore during completion operations and successfully
cleaning out the well bore after completion of the final fracture
stimulation stage.
The
results of our drilling in new or emerging formations will be more
uncertain initially than drilling results in areas that are more
developed and have a longer history of established production.
Newer or emerging formations and areas have limited or no
production history and consequently we are less able to predict
future drilling results in these areas.
Ultimately,
the success of these drilling and completion techniques can only be
evaluated over time as more wells are drilled and production
profiles are established over a sufficiently long time period. If
our drilling results are less than anticipated or we are unable to
execute our drilling program because of capital constraints, lease
expirations, access to gathering systems and limited takeaway
capacity or otherwise, and/or natural gas and oil prices decline,
the return on our investment in these areas may not be as
attractive as we anticipate. Further, as a result of any of these
developments we could incur material write-downs of our oil and
natural gas properties and the value of our undeveloped acreage
could decline in the future.
Part of our strategy involves using some of the latest available
horizontal drilling and completion techniques. The results of our
drilling in these plays are subject to drilling and completion
technique risks, and results may not meet our expectations for
reserves or production.
Many
of our operations involve, and are planned to utilize, the latest
drilling and completion techniques as developed by us and our
service providers in order to maximize production and ultimate
recoveries and therefore generate the highest possible returns.
Risks we face while completing our wells include, but are not
limited to, the inability to fracture stimulate the planned number
of stages, the inability to run tools and other equipment the
entire length of the well bore during completion operations, the
inability to recover such tools and other equipment, and the
inability to successfully clean out the well bore after completion
of the final fracture stimulation. Ultimately, the success of these
drilling and completion techniques can only be evaluated over time
as more wells are drilled and production profiles are established
over a sufficiently long time period. If our drilling results are
less than anticipated or we are unable to execute our drilling
program because of capital constraints, lease expirations, limited
access to gathering systems and takeaway capacity, and/or prices
for crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs decline, then the return on
our investment for a particular project may not be as attractive as
we anticipated and we could incur material write-downs of oil and
gas properties and the value of our undeveloped acreage could
decline in the future.
Uncertainties associated with enhanced recovery methods may result
in us not realizing an acceptable return on our investments in such
projects.
Production
and reserves, if any, attributable to the use of enhanced recovery
methods are inherently difficult to predict. If our enhanced
recovery methods do not allow for the extraction of crude oil,
natural gas, and associated liquids in a manner or to the extent
that we anticipate, we may not realize an acceptable return on our
investments in such projects. In addition, as proposed legislation
and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing become
law, the cost of some of these enhanced recovery methods could
increase substantially.
A significant amount of our D-J Basin Asset acreage must be drilled
before lease expiration, generally within three to five years, and
a significant amount of our Permian Basin Asset acreage must be
drilled pursuant to governing agreements and leases, in order to
hold the acreage by production. In the highly competitive market
for acreage, failure to drill sufficient wells in order to hold
acreage will result in a substantial lease renewal cost, or if
renewal is not feasible, loss of our lease and prospective drilling
opportunities.
Our
leases on oil and natural gas properties in the D-J Basin typically
have a primary term of three to five years, after which they expire
unless, prior to expiration, production is established within the
spacing units covering the undeveloped acres. Currently 11,738 of
our D-J Basin Asset acreage is held by production and not subject
to lease expiration, with approximately 220 acres subject to lease
expiration if these acres are not developed by us or other
operators in whose wells we participate on such acreage prior to
expiration. Similarly, currently 2,886 of our Permian Basin Asset
acreage is held by production and not subject to lease expiration,
with approximately 20,555 acres subject to lease or governing
agreement expiration if these acres are not developed by us prior
to expiration. The loss of substantial leases could have a material
adverse effect on our assets, operations, revenues and cash flow
and could cause the value of our securities to decline in
value.
Competition for hydraulic fracturing services and water
disposal could impede our ability to develop our oil and gas
plays.
The
unavailability or high cost of high pressure pumping services (or
hydraulic fracturing services), chemicals, proppant, water and
water disposal and related services and equipment could limit our
ability to execute our exploration and development plans on a
timely basis and within our budget. The oil and natural gas
industry is experiencing a growing emphasis on the exploitation and
development of shale natural gas and shale oil resource plays,
which are dependent on hydraulic fracturing for economically
successful development. Hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas plays
requires high pressure pumping service crews. A shortage of service
crews or proppant, chemical, water or water disposal options,
especially if this shortage occurred in eastern New Mexico or
eastern Colorado, could materially and adversely affect our
operations and the timeliness of executing our development plans
within our budget.
The swaps regulatory and other provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and
the rules adopted thereunder and other regulations could adversely
affect our ability to hedge risks associated with our business and
our operating results and cash flows.
The provisions of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street
Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank
Act”) and the rules
adopted and to be adopted by the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (“CFTC”),
the SEC and other federal regulators establishing federal
regulation of the over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives market and entities that
participate in that market may adversely affect our ability to
manage certain of our risks on a cost effective basis. Such laws
and regulations may also adversely affect our ability to execute
our strategies with respect to hedging our exposure to variability
in expected future cash flows attributable to the future sale of
our oil and gas.
We
expect that our potential future hedging activities will remain
subject to significant and developing regulations and regulatory
oversight. However, the full impact of the various U.S. regulatory
developments in connection with these activities will not be known
with certainty until such derivatives market regulations are fully
implemented and related market practices and structures are fully
developed.
Our
operations are substantially dependent on the availability of
water. Restrictions on our ability to obtain water may have an
adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows.
Water is an essential component of shale oil and natural gas
production during both the drilling and hydraulic fracturing
processes. Historically, we have been able to purchase water from
local land owners for use in our operations. When drought
conditions occur, governmental authorities may restrict the use of
water subject to their jurisdiction for hydraulic fracturing to
protect local water supplies. Both New Mexico and Colorado have
relatively arid climates and experience drought conditions from
time to time. If we are unable to obtain water to use in our
operations from local sources or dispose of or recycle water used
in operations, or if the price of water or water disposal increases
significantly, we may be unable to produce oil and natural gas
economically, which could have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition, results of operations, and cash
flows.
Downturns and volatility in global economies and commodity and
credit markets could materially adversely affect our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
Our
results of operations are materially affected by the conditions of
the global economies and the credit, commodities and stock markets.
Among other things, we may be adversely impacted if consumers of
oil and gas are not able to access sufficient capital to continue
to operate their businesses or to operate them at prior levels. A
decline in consumer confidence or changing patterns in the
availability and use of disposable income by consumers can
negatively affect the demand for oil and gas and as a result our
results of operations.
Improvements in or new discoveries of alternative energy
technologies could have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and results of operations.
Because
our operations depend on the demand for oil and used oil, any
improvement in or new discoveries of alternative energy
technologies (such as wind, solar, geothermal, fuel cells and
biofuels) that increase the use of alternative forms of energy and
reduce the demand for oil, gas and oil and gas related products
could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Competition due to advances in renewable fuels may lessen the
demand for our products and negatively impact our
profitability.
Alternatives
to petroleum-based products and production methods are continually
under development. For example, a number of automotive, industrial
and power generation manufacturers are developing alternative clean
power systems using fuel cells or clean-burning gaseous fuels that
may address increasing worldwide energy costs, the long-term
availability of petroleum reserves and environmental concerns,
which if successful could lower the demand for oil and gas. If
these non-petroleum based products and oil alternatives continue to
expand and gain broad acceptance such that the overall demand for
oil and gas is decreased it could have an adverse effect on our
operations and the value of our assets.
Future litigation or governmental proceedings could result in
material adverse consequences, including judgments or
settlements.
From
time to time, we are involved in lawsuits, regulatory inquiries and
may be involved in governmental and other legal proceedings arising
out of the ordinary course of our business. Many of these matters
raise difficult and complicated factual and legal issues and are
subject to uncertainties and complexities. The timing of the final
resolutions to these types of matters is often uncertain.
Additionally, the possible outcomes or resolutions to these matters
could include adverse judgments or settlements, either of which
could require substantial payments, adversely affecting our results
of operations and liquidity.
We may be subject in the normal course of business to judicial,
administrative or other third-party proceedings that could
interrupt or limit our operations, require expensive remediation,
result in adverse judgments, settlements or fines and create
negative publicity.
Governmental
agencies may, among other things, impose fines or penalties on us
relating to the conduct of our business, attempt to revoke or deny
renewal of our operating permits, franchises or licenses for
violations or alleged violations of environmental laws or
regulations or as a result of third-party challenges, require us to
install additional pollution control equipment or require us to
remediate potential environmental problems relating to any real
property that we or our predecessors ever owned, leased or operated
or any waste that we or our predecessors ever collected,
transported, disposed of or stored. Individuals, citizens groups,
trade associations or environmental activists may also bring
actions against us in connection with our operations that could
interrupt or limit the scope of our business. Any adverse outcome
in such proceedings could harm our operations and financial results
and create negative publicity, which could damage our reputation,
competitive position and stock price. We may also be required to
take corrective actions, including, but not limited to, installing
additional equipment, which could require us to make substantial
capital expenditures. We could also be required to indemnify our
employees in connection with any expenses or liabilities that they
may incur individually in connection with regulatory action against
us. These could result in a material adverse effect on our
prospects, business, financial condition and our results of
operations.
A substantial percentage of our recently acquired New Mexico
properties are undeveloped; therefore, the risk associated with our
success is greater than would be the case if the majority of such
properties were categorized as proved developed
producing.
Because
a substantial percentage of our recently acquired New Mexico
properties are undeveloped, we will require significant additional
capital to develop such properties before they may become
productive. Further, because of the inherent uncertainties
associated with drilling for oil and gas, some of these properties
may never be developed to the extent that they result in positive
cash flow. Even if we are successful in our development efforts, it
could take several years for a significant portion of our
undeveloped properties to be converted to positive cash
flow.
Part of our strategy involves using certain of the latest available
horizontal drilling and completion techniques, which involve
additional risks and uncertainties in their application if compared
to conventional drilling.
We
plan to utilize some of the latest horizontal drilling and
completion techniques as developed by us, other oil and gas
exploration and production companies and our service providers. The
additional risks that we face while drilling horizontally include,
but are not limited to, the following:
●
drilling wells that
are significantly longer and/or deeper than more conventional
wells;
●
landing our
wellbore in the desired drilling zone;
●
staying in the
desired drilling zone while drilling horizontally through the
formation;
●
running our casing
the entire length of the wellbore; and
●
being able to run
tools and other equipment consistently through the horizontal
wellbore.
Risks
that we face while completing our wells include, but are not
limited to, the following:
●
the ability to
fracture stimulate the planned number of stages in a horizontal or
lateral well bore;
●
the ability to run
tools the entire length of the wellbore during completion
operations; and
●
the ability to
successfully clean out the wellbore after completion of the final
fracture stimulation stage.
Prospects that we decide to drill may not yield oil or natural gas
in commercially viable quantities.
Our
prospects are in various stages of evaluation, ranging from
prospects that are currently being drilled to prospects that will
require substantial additional seismic data processing and
interpretation. There is no way to predict in advance of drilling
and testing whether any particular prospect will yield oil or
natural gas in sufficient quantities to recover drilling or
completion costs or to be economically viable. This risk may be
enhanced in our situation, due to the fact that a significant
percentage of our reserves is undeveloped. The use of seismic data
and other technologies and the study of producing fields in the
same area will not enable us to know conclusively prior to drilling
whether oil or natural gas will be present or, if present, whether
oil or natural gas will be present in commercial quantities. We
cannot assure you that the analogies we draw from available data
obtained by analyzing other wells, more fully explored prospects or
producing fields will be applicable to our drilling
prospects.
Over the past approximate nine months we have been significantly
dependent on capital provided to us by SK Energy.
Since
June 2018, SK Energy, which is owned and controlled by Dr. Simon
Kukes, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and director,
has loaned us an aggregate of $51,700,000 to support our operations
and for acquisitions, all of which loans were evidenced by
promissory notes. The promissory notes generally had terms which
were more favorable to us than we would have been able to obtain
from third parties, including, generally favorable interest rates,
no restrictions on further borrowing or financial covenants and no
security interests in our assets. Such notes have to date been
converted into 29.5 million shares of common stock at conversion
prices which were above the then trading prices of our common
stock. While SK Energy has verbally advised us that it intends to
provide us additional funding as needed, nothing has been
documented to date, and such future funding, if any, may not
ultimately be provided on favorable terms, if at all. In the event
that we are forced to obtain funding from parties other than SK
Energy, such funding terms will likely not be as favorable to the
Company as the funding provided by SK Energy, and may not be
available in such amounts as previously provided by SK Energy. In
the event SK Energy fails to provide us future funding, when and if
needed, it could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity,
results of operations and could force us to borrow funds from
outside sources on less favorable terms than our prior
debt.
Negative public perception regarding us and/or our industry could
have an adverse effect on our operations.
Negative
public perception regarding us and/or our industry resulting from,
among other things, concerns raised by advocacy groups about
hydraulic fracturing, waste disposal, oil spills, seismic activity,
climate change, explosions of natural gas transmission lines and
the development and operation of pipelines and other midstream
facilities may lead to increased regulatory scrutiny, which may, in
turn, lead to new state and federal safety and environmental laws,
regulations, guidelines and enforcement interpretations.
Additionally, environmental groups, landowners, local groups and
other advocates may oppose our operations through organized
protests, attempts to block or sabotage our operations or those of
our midstream transportation providers, intervene in regulatory or
administrative proceedings involving our assets or those of our
midstream transportation providers, or file lawsuits or other
actions designed to prevent, disrupt or delay the development or
operation of our assets and business or those of our midstream
transportation providers. These actions may cause operational
delays or restrictions, increased operating costs, additional
regulatory burdens and increased risk of litigation. Moreover,
governmental authorities exercise considerable discretion in the
timing and scope of permit issuance and the public may engage in
the permitting process, including through intervention in the
courts. Negative public perception could cause the permits we
require to conduct our operations to be withheld, delayed or
burdened by requirements that restrict our ability to profitably
conduct our business.
Recently,
activists concerned about the potential effects of climate change
have directed their attention towards sources of funding for
fossil-fuel energy companies, which has resulted in certain
financial institutions, funds and other sources of capital
restricting or eliminating their investment in energy-related
activities. Ultimately, this could make it more difficult to secure
funding for exploration and production activities.
Our business could be adversely affected by security threats,
including cybersecurity threats.
We
face various security threats, including cybersecurity threats to
gain unauthorized access to our sensitive information or to render
our information or systems unusable, and threats to the security of
our facilities and infrastructure or third-party facilities and
infrastructure, such as gathering and processing facilities,
refineries, rail facilities and pipelines. The potential for such
security threats subjects our operations to increased risks that
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations. For example, unauthorized
access to our seismic data, reserves information or other
proprietary information could lead to data corruption,
communication interruptions, or other disruptions to our
operations.
Our
implementation of various procedures and controls to monitor and
mitigate such security threats and to increase security for our
information, systems, facilities and infrastructure may result in
increased capital and operating costs. Moreover, there can be no
assurance that such procedures and controls will be sufficient to
prevent security breaches from occurring. If any of these security
breaches were to occur, they could lead to losses of, or damage to,
sensitive information or facilities, infrastructure and systems
essential to our business and operations, as well as data
corruption, reputational damage, communication interruptions or
other disruptions to our operations, which, in turn, could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial position and
results of operations.
Weather and climate may have a significant and adverse impact on
us.
Demand
for crude oil and natural gas is, to a degree, dependent on weather
and climate, which impacts, among other things, the price we
receive for the commodities we produce and, in turn, our cash flows
and results of operations. For example, relatively warm
temperatures during a winter season generally result in relatively
lower demand for natural gas (as less natural gas is used to heat
residences and businesses) and, as a result, lower prices for
natural gas production.
In
addition, there has been public discussion that climate change may
be associated with more frequent or more extreme weather events,
changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, changes to
ground and surface water availability, and other related phenomena,
which could affect some, or all, of our operations. Our
exploration, exploitation and development activities and equipment
could be adversely affected by extreme weather events, such as
winter storms, flooding and tropical storms and hurricanes, which
may cause a loss of production from temporary cessation of activity
or damaged facilities and equipment. Such extreme weather events
could also impact other areas of our operations, including access
to our drilling and production facilities for routine operations,
maintenance and repairs, the installation and operation of
gathering, processing, compression, storage and transportation
facilities and the availability of, and our access to, necessary
third-party services, such as gathering, processing, compression,
storage and transportation services. Such extreme weather events
and changes in weather patterns may materially and adversely affect
our business and, in turn, our financial condition and results of
operations.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
We currently have an illiquid and volatile market for our common
stock, and the market for our common stock is and may remain
illiquid and volatile in the future.
We currently have a
highly sporadic, illiquid and volatile market for our common stock,
which market is anticipated to remain sporadic, illiquid and
volatile in the future. Factors that could affect our stock price or
result in fluctuations in the market price or trading volume of our
common stock include:
●
our actual or
anticipated operating and financial performance and drilling
locations, including reserves estimates;
●
quarterly
variations in the rate of growth of our financial indicators, such
as net income per share, net income and cash flows, or those of
companies that are perceived to be similar to us;
●
changes in revenue,
cash flows or earnings estimates or publication of reports by
equity research analysts;
●
speculation in the
press or investment community;
●
public reaction to
our press releases, announcements and filings with the
SEC;
●
sales of our common
stock by us or other shareholders, or the perception that such
sales may occur;
●
the limited amount
of our freely tradable common stock available in the public
marketplace;
●
general financial
market conditions and oil and natural gas industry market
conditions, including fluctuations in commodity
prices;
●
the realization of
any of the risk factors presented in this Annual
Report;
●
the recruitment or
departure of key personnel;
●
commencement of, or
involvement in, litigation;
●
the prices of oil
and natural gas;
●
the success of our
exploration and development operations, and the marketing of any
oil and natural gas we produce;
●
changes in market
valuations of companies similar to ours; and
●
domestic and
international economic, legal and regulatory factors unrelated to
our performance.
Our common stock is
listed on the NYSE American under the symbol
“PED.”
Our stock price may be impacted by factors that are unrelated or
disproportionate to our operating performance. The stock markets in general have
experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the
operating performance of particular companies. These broad market
fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common
stock. Additionally, general economic,
political and market conditions, such as recessions, interest rates
or international currency fluctuations may adversely affect the
market price of our common stock. Due to the limited volume of our
shares which trade, we believe that our stock prices (bid, ask and
closing prices) may not be related to our actual value, and not
reflect the actual value of our common stock. Shareholders and
potential investors in our common stock should exercise caution
before making an investment in us.
Additionally,
as a result of the illiquidity of our common stock, investors may
not be interested in owning our common stock because of the
inability to acquire or sell a substantial block of our common
stock at one time. Such illiquidity could have an adverse effect on
the market price of our common stock. In addition, a shareholder
may not be able to borrow funds using our common stock as
collateral because lenders may be unwilling to accept the pledge of
securities having such a limited market. We cannot assure you that
an active trading market for our common stock will develop or, if
one develops, be sustained.
An active liquid trading market for our common stock may not
develop in the future.
Our
common stock currently trades on the NYSE American, although our
common stock’s trading volume is very low. Liquid and active
trading markets usually result in less price volatility and more
efficiency in carrying out investors’ purchase and sale
orders. However, our common stock may continue to have limited
trading volume, and many investors may not be interested in owning
our common stock because of the inability to acquire or sell a
substantial block of our common stock at one time. Such illiquidity
could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common
stock. In addition, a shareholder may not be able to borrow funds
using our common stock as collateral because lenders may be
unwilling to accept the pledge of securities having such a limited
market. We cannot assure you that an active trading market for our
common stock will develop or, if one develops, be
sustained.
We do not presently intend to pay any cash dividends on or
repurchase any shares of our common stock.
We
do not presently intend to pay any cash dividends on our common
stock or to repurchase any shares of our common stock. Any payment
of future dividends will be at the discretion of the board of
directors and will depend on, among other things, our earnings,
financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness,
statutory and contractual restrictions applying to the payment of
dividends and other considerations that our board of directors
deems relevant. Cash dividend payments in the future may only be
made out of legally available funds and, if we experience
substantial losses, such funds may not be available. Accordingly,
you may have to sell some or all of your common stock in order to
generate cash flow from your investment, and there is no guarantee
that the price of our common stock that will prevail in the market
will ever exceed the price paid by you.
Because we are a small company, the requirements of being a public
company, including compliance with the reporting requirements of
the Exchange Act and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act and the Dodd-Frank Act, may strain our resources, increase our
costs and distract management, and we may be unable to comply with
these requirements in a timely or cost-effective
manner.
As a public company with listed equity securities,
we must comply with the federal securities laws, rules and
regulations, including certain corporate governance provisions of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley
Act”) and the Dodd-Frank
Act, related rules and regulations of the SEC and the NYSE
American, with which a private company is not required to comply.
Complying with these laws, rules and regulations will occupy a
significant amount of time of our board of directors and management
and will significantly increase our costs and expenses, which we
cannot estimate accurately at this time. Among other things, we
must:
●
establish and
maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting in
compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the related rules and regulations of the SEC
and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
●
comply with rules
and regulations promulgated by the NYSE American;
●
prepare and
distribute periodic public reports in compliance with our
obligations under the federal securities laws;
●
maintain various
internal compliance and disclosures policies, such as those
relating to disclosure controls and procedures and insider trading
in our common stock;
●
involve and retain
to a greater degree outside counsel and accountants in the above
activities;
●
maintain a
comprehensive internal audit function; and
●
maintain an
investor relations function.
In
addition, being a public company subject to these rules and
regulations may require us to accept less director and officer
liability insurance coverage than we desire or to incur substantial
costs to obtain coverage. These factors could also make it more
difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our
board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee,
and qualified executive officers.
Future sales of our common stock could cause our stock price to
decline.
If our shareholders sell substantial amounts of
our common stock in the public market, the market price of our
common stock could decrease significantly. The perception in the
public market that our shareholders might sell shares of our common
stock could also depress the market price of our common stock. Up
to $100,000,000 in total aggregate value of securities have been
registered by us on a “shelf”
registration statement on Form S-3/A (File No. 333-214415) that we
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20,
2016, and which was declared effective on January 17, 2017. To
date, an aggregate of approximately $18.1 million in securities
have been sold by us under the prior Form S-3 which the December
2016 Form S-3 replaced, leaving approximately $81.9 million in
securities which will be eligible for sale in the public markets
from time to time, if ever, as our public float exceeds $75
million, from selling securities in a public primary offering under
Form S-3 with a value exceeding more than one-third of the
aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates
of the Company every twelve months. We have also entered into an At
Market Issuance Sales Agreement, or sales agreement, with National
Securities Corporation, or NSC, relating to up to $2.0 million of
shares of our common stock which may be offered from time to time
in “at the market
offerings” and filed a
final prospectus in connection with such offering with the SEC,
pursuant to which the Company has, to date, sold an aggregate of
590,335 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $0.90 to
$1.12 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $641,000, to
which an underwriter’s fee of 3.0% was applied, leaving
approximately $1.36 million remaining available for issuance
thereunder, subject to limitation under the SEC’s
“Baby Shelf
Rules”. Additionally, if
our existing shareholders sell, or indicate an intention to sell,
substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, the
trading price of our common stock could decline significantly. The
market price for shares of our common stock may drop significantly
when such securities are sold in the public markets. A decline in
the price of shares of our common stock might impede our ability to
raise capital through the issuance of additional shares of our
common stock or other equity securities.
Our outstanding options, warrants and convertible
securities may adversely affect the trading price of our
common stock.
As
of December 31, 2018, there are outstanding stock options to
purchase 890,232 shares of our common stock and outstanding
warrants to purchase 1,216,685 shares of our common stock. For the
life of the options and warrants, the holders have the opportunity
to profit from a rise in the market price of our common stock
without assuming the risk of ownership. The issuance of shares upon
the exercise of outstanding securities will also dilute the
ownership interests of our existing stockholders.
The
availability of these shares for public resale, as well as any
actual resales of these shares, could adversely affect the trading
price of our common stock. We previously filed registration
statements with the SEC on Form S-8 providing for the registration
of an aggregate of approximately 6,134,915 shares of our common
stock, issued, issuable or reserved for issuance under our equity
incentive plans. Subject to the satisfaction of vesting conditions,
the expiration of lockup agreements, any management 10b5-1 plans
and certain restrictions on sales by affiliates, shares registered
under registration statements on Form S-8 will be available for
resale immediately in the public market without
restriction.
We
cannot predict the size of future issuances of our common stock
pursuant to the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or
conversion of other securities, or the effect, if any, that future
issuances and sales of shares of our common stock may have on the
market price of our common stock. Sales or distributions of
substantial amounts of our common stock (including shares
issued in connection with an acquisition), or the perception that
such sales could occur, may cause the market price of our common
stock to decline.
We depend significantly upon the continued involvement of our
present management.
We
depend to a significant degree upon the involvement of our
management, specifically, our Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Simon
Kukes and our President, Mr. J. Douglas Schick. Our performance and
success are dependent to a large extent on the efforts and
continued employment of Dr. Kukes and Mr. Schick. We do not believe
that Dr. Kukes or Mr. Schick could be quickly replaced with
personnel of equal experience and capabilities, and their
successor(s) may not be as effective. If Dr. Kukes, Mr. Schick, or
any of our other key personnel resign or become unable to continue
in their present roles and if they are not adequately replaced, our
business operations could be adversely affected. We have no
employment or similar agreement in place with Dr. Kukes. Mr. Schick
is party to an employment agreement with us which has no stated
term and can be terminated by either party without
cause.
We
have an active board of directors that meets several times
throughout the year and is intimately involved in our business and
the determination of our operational strategies. Members of our
board of directors work closely with management to identify
potential prospects, acquisitions and areas for further
development. If any of our directors resign or become unable to
continue in their present role, it may be difficult to find
replacements with the same knowledge and experience and as a
result, our operations may be adversely affected.
Dr. Simon Kukes, our Chief Executive
Officer and a member of board of directors, beneficially owns
approximately 82.4% of our
common stock through SK Energy LLC, which gives him majority voting
control over shareholder matters and his interests may be different
from your interests.
Dr.
Simon Kukes, our Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of
directors, is the principal and sole owner of SK Energy LLC, which
beneficially owns approximately 81.2% of our issued and outstanding
common stock and Dr. Kukes, together with the ownership of SK
Energy, beneficially owns approximately 82.4% of our issued and
outstanding common stock. As such, Dr. Kukes can control the
outcome of all matters requiring a shareholder vote, including the
election of directors, the adoption of amendments to our
certificate of formation or bylaws and the approval of mergers and
other significant corporate transactions. Subject to any fiduciary
duties owed to the shareholders generally, while Dr. Kukes’
interests may generally be aligned with the interests of our
shareholders, in some instances Dr. Kukes may have interests
different than the rest of our shareholders, including but not
limited to, future potential company financings in which SK Energy
may participate, or his leadership at the Company. Dr. Kukes’
influence or control of our company as a shareholder may have
the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control
of our company and may adversely affect the voting and other
rights of other shareholders. Because Dr. Kukes controls the
shareholder vote, investors may find it difficult to replace Dr.
Kukes (and such persons as he may appoint from time to time) as
members of our management if they disagree with the way our
business is being operated. Additionally, the interests of Dr.
Kukes may differ from the interests of the other shareholders and
thus result in corporate decisions that are adverse to other
shareholders.
Provisions of Texas law may have anti-takeover effects that could
prevent a change in control even if it might be beneficial to our
shareholders.
Provisions of Texas law may discourage, delay or
prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us, which may cause
the market price of our common stock to decline. Under Texas law, a
shareholder who beneficially owns more than 20% of our voting
stock, or any “affiliated
shareholder,” cannot
acquire us for a period of three years from the date this person
became an affiliated shareholder, unless various conditions are
met, such as approval of the transaction by our board of directors
before this person became an affiliated shareholder (such as the
approval of our board of directors of Dr. Kukes’ ownership of
the Company) or approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of
our outstanding voting shares not beneficially owned by the
affiliated shareholder.
Our board of directors can authorize the issuance of preferred
stock, which could diminish the rights of holders of our common
stock and make a change of control of our company more
difficult even if it might benefit our shareholders.
Our
board of directors is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock
in one or more series and to fix the voting powers, preferences and
other rights and limitations of the preferred stock. Shares of
preferred stock may be issued by our board of directors without
shareholder approval, with voting powers and such preferences and
relative, participating, optional or other special rights and
powers as determined by our board of directors, which may be
greater than the shares of common stock currently outstanding. As a
result, shares of preferred stock may be issued by our board of
directors which cause the holders to have majority voting power
over our shares, provide the holders of the preferred stock the
right to convert the shares of preferred stock they hold into
shares of our common stock, which may cause substantial dilution to
our then common stock shareholders and/or have other rights and
preferences greater than those of our common stock shareholders
including having a preference over our common stock with respect to
dividends or distributions on liquidation or
dissolution.
Investors
should keep in mind that the board of directors has the authority
to issue additional shares of common stock and preferred stock,
which could cause substantial dilution to our existing
shareholders. Additionally, the dilutive effect of any preferred
stock which we may issue may be exacerbated given the fact that
such preferred stock may have voting rights and/or other rights or
preferences which could provide the preferred shareholders with
substantial voting control over us subsequent to the date of this
Annual Report and/or give those holders the power to prevent or
cause a change in control, even if that change in control might
benefit our shareholders. As a result, the issuance of shares of
common stock and/or preferred stock may cause the value of our
securities to decrease.
Securities analysts may not cover, or continue to cover, our common
stock and this may have a negative impact on our common
stock’s market price.
The trading market for our common stock will depend, in part, on
the research and reports that securities or industry analysts
publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over
independent analysts (provided that we have engaged various
non-independent analysts). We currently only have a few independent
analysts that cover our common stock, and these analysts may
discontinue coverage of our common stock at any time. Further, we
may not be able to obtain additional research coverage by
independent securities and industry analysts. If no independent
securities or industry analysts continue coverage of us, the
trading price for our common stock could be negatively impacted. If
one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our common
stock, changes their opinion of our shares or publishes inaccurate
or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price could
decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or
fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our common
stock could decrease and we could lose visibility in the financial
markets, which could cause our stock price and trading volume to
decline.
Shareholders may be diluted significantly through our efforts to
obtain financing and satisfy obligations through the issuance of
securities.
Wherever possible, our
board of directors will attempt to use non-cash consideration to
satisfy obligations. In many instances, we believe that the
non-cash consideration will consist of shares of our common stock,
preferred stock or warrants to purchase shares of our common stock.
Our board of directors has authority, without action or vote of the
shareholders, subject to
the requirements of the NYSE American (which generally require
shareholder approval for any transactions which would result in the
issuance of more than 20% of our then outstanding shares of common
stock or voting rights representing over 20% of our then
outstanding shares of stock, subject to certain exceptions,
including sales in a public offerings and/or sales which are
undertaken at or above the greater of the book value and/or market
value of the issuer’s common stock on the date the
transaction is agreed to be completed), to issue all or part of
the authorized but unissued shares of common stock, preferred stock
or warrants to purchase such shares of common stock. In addition,
we may attempt to raise capital by selling shares of our common
stock, possibly at a discount to market in the future. These
actions will result in dilution of the ownership interests of
existing shareholders and may further dilute common stock book
value, and that dilution may be material. Such issuances may also
serve to enhance existing management’s ability to maintain
control of us, because the shares may be issued to parties or
entities committed to supporting existing
management.
We are subject to the Continued Listing Criteria of the NYSE
American and our failure to satisfy these criteria may result in
delisting of our common stock.
Our common stock is currently listed on the NYSE
American. In order to maintain this listing, we must maintain
certain share prices, financial and share distribution targets,
including maintaining a minimum amount of shareholders’
equity and a minimum number of public shareholders. In addition to
these objective standards, the NYSE American may delist the
securities of any issuer if, in its opinion, the issuer’s
financial condition and/or operating results appear unsatisfactory;
if it appears that the extent of public distribution or the
aggregate market value of the security has become so reduced as to
make continued listing on the NYSE American inadvisable; if the
issuer sells or disposes of principal operating assets or ceases to
be an operating company; if an issuer fails to comply with the NYSE
American’s listing requirements; if an issuer’s common
stock sells at what the NYSE American considers a
“low selling
price” (generally trading
below $0.20 per share for an extended period of time) and the
issuer fails to correct this via a reverse split of shares after
notification by the NYSE American (provided that issuers can also
be delisted if any shares of the issuer trade below $0.06 per
share); or if any other event occurs or any condition exists which
makes continued listing on the NYSE American, in its opinion,
inadvisable.
If
the NYSE American delists our common stock, investors may face
material adverse consequences, including, but not limited to, a
lack of trading market for our securities, reduced liquidity,
decreased analyst coverage of our securities, and an inability for
us to obtain additional financing to fund our
operations.
Due to the fact that our common stock is listed on the NYSE
American, we are subject to financial and other reporting and
corporate governance requirements which increase our costs and
expenses.
We are currently required to file annual and quarterly information
and other reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission that
are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Additionally, due to the fact that our common stock is listed on
the NYSE American, we are also subject to the requirements to
maintain independent directors, comply with other corporate
governance requirements and are required to pay annual listing and
stock issuance fees. These obligations require a commitment of
additional resources including, but not limited, to additional
expenses, and may result in the diversion of our senior
management’s time and attention from our day-to-day
operations. These obligations increase our expenses and may make it
more complicated or time consuming for us to undertake certain
corporate actions due to the fact that we may require NYSE approval
for such transactions and/or NYSE rules may require us to obtain
shareholder approval for such transactions.
If persons engage in short sales of our common stock, including
sales of shares to be issued upon exercise of our outstanding
warrants, the price of our common stock may decline.
Selling
short is a technique used by a stockholder to take advantage of an
anticipated decline in the price of a security. In addition,
holders of options and warrants will sometimes sell short knowing
they can, in effect, cover through the exercise of an option or
warrant, thus locking in a profit. A significant number of short
sales or a large volume of other sales within a relatively short
period of time can create downward pressure on the market price of
a security. Further sales of common stock issued upon exercise of
our outstanding warrants could cause even greater declines in the
price of our common stock due to the number of additional shares
available in the market upon such exercise, which could encourage
short sales that could further undermine the value of our common
stock. Shareholders could, therefore, experience a decline in the
values of their investment as a result of short sales of our common
stock.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF
COMMENTS.
None.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From
time to time, we may become party to litigation or other legal
proceedings that we consider to be a part of the ordinary course of
our business. We are not currently involved in any legal
proceedings that we believe could reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial
condition or results of operations. We may become involved in
material legal proceedings in the future.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY
DISCLOSURES.
Not
applicable
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON
EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY
SECURITIES.
Market Information
Since
September 10, 2013, the Company’s shares of common stock have
traded on the NYSE American under the ticker symbol
“PED.”
Shareholders
As of
March 27, 2019, there were approximately 759 holders of record of
our common stock, not including any persons who hold their stock in
“street
name”.
Common Stock
The
Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock
with $0.001 par value per share. Holders of shares of common stock
are entitled to one vote per share on each matter submitted to a
vote of shareholders. In the event of liquidation, holders of
common stock are entitled to share pro rata in the distribution of
assets remaining after payment of liabilities, if any. Holders of
common stock have no cumulative voting rights, and, accordingly,
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares have the
ability to elect all of the directors of the Company. Holders of
common stock have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for
shares. Holders of common stock are entitled to such dividends as
may be declared by the Board out of funds legally available
therefore. The outstanding shares of common stock are validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
At
December 31, 2018 and as of the date of this filing, the Company
was authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock with
a par value of $0.001 per share, of which 25,000,000 shares have
been designated “Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock”.
On
February 23, 2015, the Company issued 66,625 Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock shares to Golden Globe Energy (US), LLC
(“GGE”)
as part of the consideration paid for the acquisition of assets
from GGE in February 2015. The grant date fair value of the
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was $28,402,000, based on a
calculation using a binomial lattice option pricing
model.
As part
of the required conditions to closing the sale of the SK Energy
Note as described further in “Part II” -
“Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data” –
“Note 8 Notes
Payable”, SK Energy entered into a Stock Purchase
Agreement with GGE, pursuant to which, SK Energy purchased, for
$100,000, all of the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock.
In
connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, and immediately
following the closing of the acquisition described in the Stock
Purchase Agreement, the Company and SK Energy, as the then holder
of all of the outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, agreed to the filing of an Amendment to the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Designations of PEDEVCO Corp. Establishing
the Designations, Preferences, Limitations and Relative Rights of
Its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Amendment”),
which amended the designation of our Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock (the “Designation”) to remove
the beneficial ownership restriction contained therein, which
prevented any holder of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock from
converting such Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of
common stock of the Company if such conversion would result in the
holder thereof holding more than 9.9% of the Company’s then
outstanding common stock. The Company filed the Preferred Amendment
with the Secretary of State of Texas on June 26, 2018.
The
transactions affected pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement
(i.e., the sale of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to a
party other than GGE), triggered the automatic termination,
pursuant to the terms of the Designation, of the right of GGE, upon
notice to us, to appoint designees to fill up to two (2) seats on
our Board of Directors, one of which must be an independent
director as defined by applicable rules. As such, effective upon
the closing of the Stock Purchase Agreement, our common
stockholders have the right to appoint all members of our Board of
Directors via plurality vote.
On July
3, 2018, SK Energy converted all of its 66,625 outstanding shares
of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 6,662,500 shares of
the Company’s common stock.
As of
December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were -0- and 66,625 shares of the
Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding,
respectively. There are no outstanding shares of preferred
stock as of the date of this filing.
Stock Transfer Agent
Our
stock transfer agent is First American Stock Transfer, Inc.,
located at 6201 15th Ave., Brooklyn, New
York 11219.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
There
have been no sales of unregistered securities during the year ended
December 31, 2018 and from the period from January 1, 2019 to the
filing date of this report, which have not previously been
disclosed in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or in a Current Report
on Form 8-K.
Recent Sales of Registered Securities
None.
Use of Proceeds From Sale of Registered Securities
Our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No.
333-214415) in connection with the potential sale by us of up to
$100 million in securities (common stock, preferred stock, warrants
and units), subject to limitations under the SEC's
“Baby Shelf
Rules”, was declared
effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 17,
2017.
On September 29, 2016, we entered into an At
Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Sales
Agreement”) with National
Securities Corporation (“NSC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of National
Holdings Corporation (NasdaqCM:NHLD), pursuant to which the Company
may issue and sell shares of its common stock, having an aggregate
offering price of up to $2,000,000 (the “Shares”)
from time to time, as the Company deems prudent, through NSC (the
“Offering”)
(of which $1.359 million remains available for issuance, subject to
limitation under the SEC’s “Baby Shelf
Rules”). Upon delivery of
a placement notice and subject to the terms and conditions of the
Sales Agreement, NSC may sell the Shares by methods deemed to be an
“at the market
offering” as defined in
Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act.
With
the Company’s prior written approval, NSC may also sell the
Shares by any other method permitted by law, including in
negotiated transactions. The Company may elect not to issue and
sell any additional Shares in the Offering and the Company or NSC
may suspend or terminate the offering of Shares upon notice to the
other party and subject to other conditions. NSC will act as sales
agent on a commercially reasonable efforts basis consistent with
its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and
federal law, rules and regulations and the rules of the NYSE
American.
The
Company has agreed to pay NSC commissions for its services in
acting as agent in the sale of the Shares in the amount equal to
3.0% of the gross sales price of all Shares sold pursuant to the
Agreement. The Company also paid various expenses in connection
with the offering, including reimbursing $30,000 of NSC’s
legal fees, which has been paid. The Company has also agreed to
provide NSC with customary indemnification and contribution
rights.
The
Company has used and intends to use the net proceeds from the
offering to fund development and for working capital and general
corporate purposes, including general and administrative purposes.
The Company is not obligated to make any additional sales of common
stock under the Sales Agreement, and no assurance can be given that
the Company will sell any additional shares under the Sales
Agreement, or, if it does, as to the price or amount of Shares that
it will sell, or the dates on which any such sales will take
place.
The
Company has filed a final prospectus in connection with such
offering with the SEC (as part of the Form S-3 registration
statement).
During
the year ended December 31, 2018 and through the date of this
filing, the Company made no sales of common stock under the Sales
Agreement and the prospectus associated therewith.
No
payments for our expenses will be made in connection with the
offering described above directly or indirectly to (i) any of our
directors, officers or their associates, (ii) any person(s) owning
10% or more of any class of our equity securities or (iii) any of
our affiliates. We plan to use the net proceeds from the offering
as described in our final prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to
Rule 424(b).
There
has been no material change in the planned use of proceeds from our
offering as described in our final prospectuses filed with the SEC
pursuant to Rule 424(b).
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
On August 31, 2018, we entered into Warrant
Repurchase Agreements with certain former holders of the
Company’s Tranche B Secured Promissory Notes, pursuant to
which we repurchased and cancelled warrants to purchase an
aggregate of 1,105,935 shares (the “Warrant
Shares”) of the
Company’s common stock for an aggregate of $1,095,000 or
$0.99 per Warrant Share.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Not
required under Regulation S-K for “smaller reporting
companies.”
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition
and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing
elsewhere in this Annual Report. The following discussion contains
“forward-looking
statements” that reflect our future plans, estimates,
beliefs and expected performance. We caution you that assumptions,
expectations, projections, intentions or beliefs about future
events may, and often do, vary from actual results and the
differences can be material. See “Risk Factors” and
“Forward Looking
Statements.”
Overview
We are an oil and gas company focused on the
development, acquisition and production of oil and natural
gas assets where the latest in modern drilling and
completion techniques and technologies have yet to be applied. In
particular, we focus on legacy proven properties where there is a
long production history, well defined geology and existing
infrastructure that can be leveraged when applying modern field
management technologies. Our current properties are located in the
San Andres formation of the Permian Basin situated in West Texas
and eastern New Mexico and in the
Denver-Julesberg Basin in Colorado. As of December 31, 2018,
we held approximately 23,441 net Permian Basin acres located in
Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico, through PEDCO and
approximately 11,948 net D-J Basin acres located in Weld and Morgan
Counties, Colorado, through our wholly-owned operating subsidiary,
Red Hawk. As of December 31, 2018, we held interests in 337 gross
(337 net) wells in our Permian Basin Asset of which 51 are active
producers, 18 are active injectors and one well is an active SWD,
all of which are held by PEDCO and operated by its wholly-owned
operating subsidiaries, and interests in 69 gross (21.5 net) wells
in our D-J Basin Asset, of which 18 gross (16.2 net) wells are
operated by Red Hawk and currently producing, 29 gross (5.2 net)
wells are non-operated, and 22 wells have an after-payout
interest.
Detailed
information about our business plans and operations, including our
core D-J Basin and Permian Basin Assets, is contained under
“Part
1” — “Item 1 and 2. Business and
Properties” above.
How We Conduct Our Business and Evaluate Our
Operations
Our use
of capital for acquisitions and development allows us to direct our
capital resources to what we believe to be the most attractive
opportunities as market conditions evolve. We have historically
acquired properties that we believe had significant appreciation
potential. We intend to continue to acquire both operated and
non-operated properties to the extent we believe they meet our
return objectives.
We will
use a variety of financial and operational metrics to assess the
performance of our oil and natural gas operations,
including:
●
realized
prices on the sale of oil and natural gas, including the effects of
our commodity derivative contracts;
●
oil
and natural gas production and operating expenses;
●
general
and administrative expenses;
●
net
cash provided by operating activities; and
Reserves
Our
estimated net proved crude oil and natural gas reserves at December
31, 2018 and 2017 were approximately 12.4 million Boe and 3.7
million Boe, respectively. This reserve level increased
approximately 8.7 million Boe or 244%, from 2017 to 2018. In 2018,
we had a significant increase in reserves primarily due to our
acquisition of the Permian Basin Assets in September
2018.
Using the average monthly crude oil price of
$59.22 per Bbl and natural gas price of $1.56 per thousand cubic
feet (Mcf) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, our
estimated discounted future net cash flow (PV-10) before tax
expenses for our proved reserves was approximately $181.3 million,
of which approximately $173.3 million are proved undeveloped
reserves. Total reserve value at December 31, 2018 represents an
increase of approximately $150.0 million or 48% from a year earlier
using the same SEC pricing and reserves methodology. The
significant increase can be attributed to our acquisition noted
above, which represents over 95% of our total reserves as of
December 31, 2018. Oil, natural gas and NGL prices are market
driven and have been historically volatile, and we expect that
future prices will continue to fluctuate due to supply and demand
factors, seasonality, and geopolitical and economic factors, and
such volatility can have a significant impact on our estimates of
proved reserves and the related PV-10 value.
The
reserves as of December 31, 2018 were determined in accordance with
standard industry practices and SEC regulations by the licensed
independent petroleum engineering firm of Cawley, Gillespie &
Associates, Inc. A large portion of the proved undeveloped crude
oil reserves are associated with the Permian Basin formation.
Although these hydrocarbon quantities have been determined in
accordance with industry standards, they are prepared using the
subjective judgments of the independent engineers, and may actually
be more or less.
Oil and Natural Gas Sales Volumes
During
the year ended December 31, 2018, our net crude oil and natural
sales volumes increased to 92,985 Bbls or 255 Bopd from 81,178
Bbls, or 222 Bopd, a 15% increase over the previous fiscal year.
The production increase is primarily related to the Company’
acquisition of oil and gas properties in third quarter of
2018.
Significant Capital Expenditures
The
table below sets out the significant components of capital
expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2018. There were no
other significant expenditures in 2017 (in thousands):
|
|
Capital
Expenditures
|
|
Leasehold Acquisitions (1)
|
$18,849
|
Property Acquisitions (1)
|
2,181
|
Drilling and Facilities (1)
|
8,933
|
Other (2)
|
1,928
|
Total
|
$31,891
|
(1)
Consists of amounts primarily related to the New
Mexico and Condor property acquisitions (discussed in greater
detail at “Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data” - “Note 6 - Oil and Gas
Properties.”)
(2)
Other non-cash acquisitions relate to the
present value of the estimated asset retirement costs capitalized
as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived
asset.
Market Conditions and Commodity Prices
Our
financial results depend on many factors, particularly the price of
natural gas and crude oil and our ability to market our production
on economically attractive terms. Commodity prices are affected by
many factors outside of our control, including changes in market
supply and demand, which are impacted by weather conditions,
inventory storage levels, basis differentials and other factors. As
a result, we cannot accurately predict future commodity prices and,
therefore, we cannot determine with any degree of certainty what
effect increases or decreases in these prices will have on our
production volumes or revenues. In addition to production volumes
and commodity prices, finding and developing sufficient amounts of
natural gas and crude oil reserves at economical costs are critical
to our long-term success. We expect prices to remain volatile for
the remainder of the year. For information about the impact of
realized commodity prices on our natural gas and crude oil and
condensate revenues, refer to “Results of Operations”
below.
Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of the
results of operations for each of the two fiscal years in the
period ended December 31, 2018 should be read in conjunction with
the consolidated financial statements of PEDEVCO Corp. and notes
thereto included herein (see “Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data”).
We
reported net income for the year ended December 31, 2018 of $53.6
million, or $4.80 per share, compared to net loss for the year
ended December 31, 2017 of $36.4 million or ($6.22) per share. The
increase in net income was primarily due to the recognition of
$70.3 million in gain on debt restructuring in 2018, and the
effects of a $19.0 million impairment of our oil and gas properties
in 2017. Excluding these two significant transactions, our net loss
would have decreased by $0.7 million, mainly as result of a
decrease of $5.1 million in interest expense incurred prior to our
debt restructuring, offset by a decrease in our operating margin of
$4.4 million, as a result of additional well and depletion costs
from our acquisitions, when comparing the current period to the
prior period.
Net Revenues
The
following table sets forth the revenue and
production data for the years ended December 31, 2018 and
2017:
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
Sale Volumes:
|
|
|
|
|
Crude
Oil (Bbls)
|
70,395
|
52,260
|
18,135
|
35%
|
Natural
Gas (Mcf)
|
89,769
|
100,254
|
(10,485)
|
(10%)
|
NGL
(Mcf)
|
45,774
|
73,254
|
(27,480)
|
(38%)
|
Total
(Boe)
|
92,985
|
81,178
|
11,807
|
15%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crude
Oil (Bbls per day)
|
193
|
143
|
50
|
35%
|
Natural
Gas (Mcf per day)
|
246
|
275
|
(29)
|
(11%)
|
NGL
(Mcf per day)
|
125
|
201
|
(76)
|
(38%)
|
Total
(Boe per day)
|
255
|
222
|
33
|
15%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average Sale Price:
|
|
|
|
|
Crude
Oil ($/Bbl)
|
$59.00
|
$47.15
|
$11.85
|
25%
|
Natural
Gas($/Mcf)
|
2.56
|
2.97
|
(0.41)
|
(14%)
|
NGL
($/Mcf)
|
3.05
|
3.46
|
(0.41)
|
(12%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Operating Revenues (In thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
Crude
Oil
|
$4,153
|
$2,464
|
$1,689
|
69%
|
Natural
Gas
|
230
|
298
|
(68)
|
(23%)
|
NGL
|
140
|
253
|
(113)
|
(45%)
|
Total Revenues
|
$4,523
|
$3,015
|
$1,508
|
50%
|
(1)
|
Assumes
6 Mcf of natural gas and NGL equivalents to 1 barrel of
oil.
|
Total crude oil and natural gas revenues for the
year ended December 31, 2018 increased $1.5 million, or 50%, to
$4.5 million, compared to $3.0 million for the same period a year
ago due primarily to a favorable crude oil volume variance of
$0.9 million coupled with a favorable crude oil price
variance of 0.6 million. The production increase can be attributed
to the Company’s acquisition of additional oil and gas
properties in the late third quarter of 2018 (discussed in greater detail at
“Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data” -
“Note 6 - Oil and
Gas Properties”).
Net Operating and Other (Income) Expenses
The
following table sets forth operating and other expenses
for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (In
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease
Operating Expenses
|
$2,821
|
$1,348
|
$1,473
|
109%
|
Exploration
Expenses
|
47
|
2
|
45
|
2,250%
|
Depreciation,
Depletion,
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization
and Accretion
|
6,519
|
3,754
|
2,765
|
74%
|
Impairment
of Oil and Gas Properties
|
-
|
18,950
|
(18,950)
|
(100%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
and Administrative (Cash)
|
$3,278
|
$1,874
|
$1,404
|
75%
|
Share-Based
Compensation (Non-Cash)
|
862
|
655
|
207
|
32%
|
Total
General and Administrative Expense
|
4,140
|
$2,529
|
$1,611
|
64%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
Expense
|
$7,699
|
$12,798
|
$(5,099)
|
(40%)
|
Gain
on Debt Extinguishment
|
$(70,309)
|
$-
|
$(70,309)
|
100%
|
Lease Operating
Expenses. The increase of $1.5 million was primarily due to
workover expenses and somewhat higher variable lease operating
expenses associated with the higher oil volume resulting from the
increased number of wells and increased oil production during 2018,
compared to 2017 due to the Permian Asset acquisition.
Exploration
Expense. The increase of
$45,000 was due to a small increase in exploration activity
undertaken by the Company in the current year, compared to the
prior year.
Depreciation, Depletion,
Amortization and Accretion (“DD&A”).
The $2.8 million increase was primarily the result of higher oil
volume resulting from the increased number of wells and increased
oil production from our 2018 property acquisitions, compared to
2017.
Impairment of Oil and Gas Properties.
In 2017, the Company recognized an impairment of $19.0 million for
its oil and gas properties resulting from a delay in the funding
necessary to support the capital expenditures used in the reserve
report for development of the proven undeveloped acreage. No such
impairment charge was recorded during 2018.
General and Administrative
Expenses (“G&A”)
(excluding share-based compensation). The increase of $1.4
million was primarily due to increases in payroll, including
$350,000 in severance costs, as well as other cost increases
resulting from the hiring of additional personnel and consultants
for fiscal year 2018, compared to 2017.
Share-Based
Compensation. Share-based
compensation, which is included in general and administrative
expenses in the Statements of Operations, increased approximately
32%, primarily due to an increase in the awarding of employee
stock-based options and compensation. Share-based compensation is
utilized for the purpose of conserving cash resources for use in
field development activities and operations.
Interest Expense. The decrease of $5.1 million was
due primarily to lower loan balances compared to the prior
year’s period as a result of the Company’s June 2018
debt restructuring.
Gain on Debt Extinguishment.
The Company recognized a gain of $70.3
million on the Company’s debt restructuring, which occurred
in June 2018.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The primary sources of cash for the Company during
the year ended December 31, 2018 were funds borrowed
pursuant to promissory notes (the majority of which were
convertible into common stock), the majority of which funds came
from SK Energy, which is owned and controlled by Dr. Kukes, our
Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors, and
sales of crude oil and natural gas. The primary uses of cash were
funds used for acquisitions and development costs and operations.
Subsequent to December 31, 2018, the primary sources of the
Company’s cash have been sales of crude oil and an additional
borrowing.
Working Capital
At
December 31, 2018, the Company’s total current liabilities of
$8.9 million exceeded its total current assets of $6.8 million,
resulting in a working capital deficit of $2.1 million, while at
December 31, 2017, the Company’s total current liabilities of
$3.4 million exceeded its total current assets of $1.4 million,
resulting in a working capital deficit of $2.0 million. The $0.1
million increase in the working capital deficit is primarily
related to increases in current liabilities as of December 31,
2018, due to cash borrowed under our convertible notes in excess of
amounts used for our oil and gas property acquisitions of
approximately $10.7 million, offset by a $4.9 million increase in
our cash balance (including restricted cash of $2.3 million) and a
$5.7 million increase in payables and accrued expenses related to
our capital drilling projects.
Financing
A
summary of our financing transactions and other recent funding
transactions can be found above under “Part I” –
“Item 1 and 2.
Business and Properties” – “Material Transactions”
and “Recent
Events”; and “Part II” -
“Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data” -
“Note 7 –
Notes Payable”, “Note 10 – Stockholders’
Equity – Preferred Stock”, “Note 12 – Related Party
Transactions” and “Note 14 – Subsequent
Events.”
At The Market Offering
On
September 29, 2016, we entered into an At Market Issuance Sales
Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with
National Securities Corporation (“NSC”), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of National Holdings Corporation (NasdaqCM:NHLD),
pursuant to which the Company may issue and sell shares of its
common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to
$2,000,000 (the “Shares”) from time to
time, as the Company deems prudent, through NSC (the
“Offering”). Upon delivery
of a placement notice and subject to the terms and conditions of
the Sales Agreement, NSC may sell the Shares by methods deemed to
be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415
promulgated under the Securities Act.
With
the Company’s prior written approval, NSC may also sell the
Shares by any other method permitted by law, including in
negotiated transactions. The Company may elect not to issue and
sell any Shares in the Offering and the Company or NSC may suspend
or terminate the offering of Shares upon notice to the other party
and subject to other conditions. NSC will act as sales agent on a
commercially reasonable efforts basis consistent with its normal
trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal law,
rules and regulations and the rules of the NYSE
American.
The
Company has agreed to pay NSC commissions for its services in
acting as agent in the sale of the Shares in the amount equal to
3.0% of the gross sales price of all Shares sold pursuant to the
Agreement. The Company also paid
various expenses in connection with the offering, including
reimbursing $30,000 of NSC’s legal fees, which has been paid
to date. The Company has also agreed to provide NSC with customary
indemnification and contribution rights.
The
Company has used, and intends to use, the net proceeds from the
offering to fund development and for working capital and general
corporate purposes, including general and administrative purposes.
The Company is not obligated to make any sales of common stock
under the Sales Agreement, and no assurance can be given that the
Company will sell any additional shares under the Sales Agreement
(other than as described below), or, if it does, as to the price or
amount of Shares that it will sell, or the dates on which any such
sales will take place.
The
Company has filed a final prospectus in connection with such
offering with the SEC (as part of the Form S-3 registration
statement). To date, we have sold an aggregate of 590,335 shares of
common stock under the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement and the
associated prospectus at prices ranging from $0.90 to $1.12 per
share for an aggregate purchase price of $641,000, to which an
underwriter’s fee of 3.0% was applied, leaving approximately
$1.36 million remaining available for issuance thereunder, subject
to limitation under the SEC’s “Baby Shelf
Rules”.
We
currently have no plans to sell any additional shares under the
Sales Agreement.
Cash Flows (in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows used in operating activities
|
$(1,494)
|
$(236)
|
Cash
flows used in investing activities
|
(23,118)
|
-
|
Cash
flows provided by financing activities
|
29,474
|
494
|
Net increase in cash and restricted cash
|
$4,862
|
$258
|
Cash Flows used in Operating
Activities. We had net cash used in operating
activities of $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018,
which was an increase of $1.3 million as compared to the prior year
period of $0.2 million. This increase was primarily due to a $90.0
million increase in net income as a result of a $70.3 million gain
from our debt restructuring in the current year, which also
resulted in $5.0 million less in capitalized debt interest and
amortized discounts. There was also a $19 million impairment to oil
and gas properties in the prior year, while no impairment was
recognized in the current year.
Cash Flows used in Investing
Activities. We had net cash used by investing
activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 of $23.1 million,
primarily due to cash paid for the acquisition of oil and gas
properties and drilling activities, compared to none for the prior
year’s period.
Cash Flows provided by Financing
Activities. We had net cash provided by financing
activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 of $29.5 million,
compared to $0.5 million for the prior year’s period. The
cash provided in the current year consisted primarily of proceeds
from notes that were issued, offset by the repayment of notes
payable in connection with our debt restructuring, while the cash
provided for the previous year was due to proceeds realized from
the sale of common stock.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The
Company does not participate in financial transactions that
generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial
partnerships. As of December 31, 2018, we did not have any
off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of
operations is based on our financial statements, which have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial
statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect
the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses.
We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other
assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the
circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making
judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that
are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may
differ from these estimates under different assumptions or
conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies
affect our most significant judgments and estimates used in
preparation of our financial statements.
Oil and Gas Properties, Successful Efforts
Method. The successful efforts method of accounting is
used for oil and gas exploration and production activities. Under
this method, all costs for development wells, support equipment and
facilities, and proved mineral interests in oil and gas properties
are capitalized. Geological and geophysical costs are expensed when
incurred. Costs of exploratory wells are capitalized as exploration
and evaluation assets pending determination of whether the wells
find proved oil and gas reserves. Proved oil and gas reserves are
the estimated quantities of crude oil and natural gas which
geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable
certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs
under existing economic and operating conditions, (i.e., prices and
costs as of the date the estimate is made). Prices include
consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by
contractual arrangements, but not on escalations based upon future
conditions.
Exploratory wells
in areas not requiring major capital expenditures are evaluated for
economic viability within one year of completion of drilling. The
related well costs are expensed as dry holes if it is determined
that such economic viability is not attained. Otherwise, the
related well costs are reclassified to oil and gas properties and
subject to impairment review. For exploratory wells that are found
to have economically viable reserves in areas where major capital
expenditure will be required before production can commence, the
related well costs remain capitalized only if additional drilling
is under way or firmly planned. Otherwise the related well costs
are expensed as dry holes.
Exploration and
evaluation expenditures incurred subsequent to the acquisition of
an exploration asset in a business combination are accounted for in
accordance with the policy outlined above.
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization of capitalized oil and gas properties is
calculated on a field by field basis using the unit of production
method. Lease acquisition costs are amortized over the total
estimated proved developed and undeveloped reserves and all other
capitalized costs are amortized over proved developed reserves.
Costs specific to developmental wells
for which drilling is in progress or uncompleted are
capitalized as wells in progress and not subject to amortization
until completion and production commences, at which time
amortization on the basis of production will begin.
Revenue Recognition. ASU 2014-09,
“Revenue from Contracts with
Customers (Topic 606)”, supersedes the revenue
recognition requirements and industry-specific guidance under
Revenue Recognition (Topic
605). Topic 606 requires an entity to recognize revenue when
it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount
that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled
to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company adopted
Topic 606 on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective
method applied to contracts that were not completed as of January
1, 2018. Under the modified retrospective method, prior period
financial positions and results will not be adjusted. The
cumulative effect adjustment recognized in the opening balances
included no significant changes as a result of this adoption. While
the Company does not expect 2018 net earnings to be materially
impacted by revenue recognition timing changes, Topic 606 requires
certain changes to the presentation of revenues and related
expenses beginning January 1, 2018. Refer to Note 5 – Revenue
from Contracts with Customers for additional
information.
The
Company’s revenue is comprised entirely of revenue from
exploration and production activities. The Company’s oil is
sold primarily to marketers, gatherers, and refiners. Natural gas
is sold primarily to interstate and intrastate natural-gas
pipelines, direct end-users, industrial users, local distribution
companies, and natural-gas marketers. NGLs are sold primarily to
direct end-users, refiners, and marketers. Payment is generally
received from the customer in the month following
delivery.
Contracts with
customers have varying terms, including month-to-month contracts,
and contracts with a finite term. The Company recognizes sales
revenues for oil, natural gas, and NGLs based on the amount of each
product sold to a customer when control transfers to the customer.
Generally, control transfers at the time of delivery to the
customer at a pipeline interconnect, the tailgate of a processing
facility, or as a tanker lifting is completed. Revenue is measured
based on the contract price, which may be index-based or fixed, and
may include adjustments for market differentials and downstream
costs incurred by the customer, including gathering,
transportation, and fuel costs.
Revenues are
recognized for the sale of the Company’s net share of
production volumes. Sales on behalf of other working interest
owners and royalty interest owners are not recognized as
revenues.
Stock-Based Compensation. Pursuant
to the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board
(“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 718,
Compensation – Stock Compensation, which establishes
accounting for equity instruments exchanged for employee service,
we utilize the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the
fair value of employee stock option awards at the date of grant,
which requires the input of highly subjective assumptions,
including expected volatility and expected life. Changes in these
inputs and assumptions can materially affect the measure of
estimated fair value of our share-based compensation. These
assumptions are subjective and generally require significant
analysis and judgment to develop. When estimating fair value, some
of the assumptions will be based on, or determined from, external
data and other assumptions may be derived from our historical
experience with stock-based payment arrangements. The appropriate
weight to place on historical experience is a matter of judgment,
based on relevant facts and circumstances. We estimate volatility
by considering historical stock volatility. We have opted to use
the simplified method for estimating expected term, which is equal
to the midpoint between the vesting period and the contractual
term.
Recently Adopted Accounting
Pronouncements. Refer to Note 3
of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements,
“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” for a
discussion of recently adopted accounting
pronouncements.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not
required under Regulation S-K for “smaller reporting
companies.”
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Audited Financial Statements for Years Ended December 31, 2018 and
2017
|
|
|
|
PEDEVCO Corp.:
|
|
|
F-2
|
|
F-4
|
|
F-5
|
|
F-6
|
|
F-8
|
|
F-9
|
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the
stockholders and the board of directors of
PEDEVCO
Corp.
Houston,
Texas
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidate balance sheet of
PEDEVCO Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31,
2018, the related consolidated statements of operations,
shareholders’ equity and cash
flows for the year ended December 31, 2018, and the related
notes (collectively referred to as the “financial
statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
the Company as of December 31, 2018, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31,
2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public
accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be
independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S.
federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to
perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.
As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of
internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose
of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's
internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express
no such opinion.
Our
audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of
material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to
error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those
risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis,
evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial
statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
/s/
Marcum llp
Marcum
llp
We have
served as the Company's auditor since 2008.
Houston,
Texas
April
1, 2019
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM
To the
stockholders and the board of directors of
PEDEVCO
Corp.
Houston,
Texas
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of PEDEVCO
Corp. (the "Company") as of December 31, 2017, the related
consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity
(deficit), and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related
notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In
our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Company as of
December 31, 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for the year then ended, in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.
Basis for Opinion
These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public
accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be
independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S.
federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to
perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.
As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of
internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose
of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's
internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express
no such opinion.
Our
audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of
material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to
error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those
risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis,
evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial
statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
/s/ GBH
CPAs, PC
We have
served as the Company's auditor since 2008.
GBH
CPAs, PC
www.gbhcpas.com
Houston,
Texas
March
29, 2018
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(amounts
in thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
Cash
|
$3,463
|
$917
|
Restricted
Cash
|
2,316
|
-
|
Accounts
receivable – oil and gas
|
842
|
301
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
204
|
176
|
Total
current assets
|
6,825
|
1,394
|
|
|
|
Oil
and gas properties:
|
|
|
Oil
and gas properties, subject to amortization, net
|
51,946
|
34,922
|
Oil
and gas properties, not subject to amortization, net
|
8,516
|
-
|
Total
oil and gas properties, net
|
60,462
|
34,922
|
|
|
|
Other
assets
|
238
|
85
|
Total
assets
|
$67,525
|
$36,401
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
$4,509
|
$101
|
Accrued
expenses
|
3,391
|
2,126
|
Revenue
payable
|
831
|
557
|
Asset
retirement obligations – current
|
119
|
-
|
Convertible
notes payable – Bridge Notes, net of premiums of $-0- and
$113, respectively
|
-
|
588
|
Total
current liabilities
|
8,850
|
3,372
|
|
|
|
Long-term
liabilities:
|
|
|
Accrued
expenses
|
14
|
1,462
|
Accrued
expenses – related party
|
943
|
1,733
|
Notes
payable – Secured Promissory Notes, net of debt discount of
$-0- and $2,603, respectively
|
-
|
34,159
|
Notes
payable – Secured Promissory Notes – related party, net
of debt discount of $-0- and $1,148, respectively
|
-
|
15,930
|
Notes
payable – Secured Promissory Notes - Subordinated –
related party
|
-
|
11,483
|
Notes
payable – related party, net of debt discount of $161 and
$-0-, respectively
|
7,694
|
-
|
Convertible
notes payable – Subordinated
|
400
|
-
|
Convertible
notes payable – Subordinated – related
party
|
30,200
|
-
|
Notes
payable – other
|
-
|
4,925
|
Asset
retirement obligations
|
2,452
|
477
|
Total
liabilities
|
50,553
|
73,541
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and contingencies
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders’
equity (deficit):
|
|
|
Series
A convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares
authorized, -0- and 66,625 shares issued and outstanding,
respectively
|
-
|
-
|
Common
stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 15,808,445
and 7,278,754 shares issued and outstanding,
respectively
|
16
|
7
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
101,450
|
100,954
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
(84,494)
|
(138,101)
|
Total
shareholders’ equity (deficit)
|
16,972
|
(37,140)
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities and shareholders’ equity (deficit)
|
$67,525
|
$36,401
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(amounts
in thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
Revenue:
|
|
|
Oil
and gas sales
|
$4,523
|
$3,015
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
Lease
operating costs
|
2,821
|
1,348
|
Exploration
expense
|
47
|
2
|
Selling,
general and administrative expense
|
4,140
|
2,529
|
Depreciation,
depletion, amortization and accretion
|
6,519
|
3,754
|
Impairment
of oil and gas properties
|
-
|
18,950
|
Total
operating expenses
|
13,527
|
26,583
|
|
|
|
Loss
on write-off of cost method investment
|
-
|
(4)
|
Operating
income (loss)
|
(9,004)
|
(23,572)
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense):
|
|
|
Interest
expense
|
(7,699)
|
(12,798)
|
Interest
income
|
1
|
-
|
Gain
on debt restructuring
|
70,309
|
-
|
Total
other income (expense)
|
62,611
|
(12,798)
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
$53,607
|
$(36,370)
|
|
|
|
Earnings
(loss) per common share:
|
|
|
Basic
|
$4.80
|
$(6.22)
|
Diluted
|
$4.74
|
$(6.22)
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average number of common shares outstanding:
|
|
|
Basic
|
11,168,490
|
5,847,387
|
Diluted
|
11,313,246
|
5,847,387
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(amounts
in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows From Operating Activities:
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
$53,607
|
$(36,370)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization
|
6,519
|
3,754
|
Impairment
of oil and gas properties
|
-
|
18,950
|
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
862
|
655
|
Interest
expense deferred and capitalized
|
3,958
|
7,083
|
Gain
on debt restructuring
|
(70,309)
|
-
|
Loss
on write-off of cost method investment
|
-
|
4
|
Amortization
of debt discount
|
1,415
|
3,237
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
-
|
25
|
Accounts
receivable – oil and gas
|
(541)
|
138
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
(28)
|
(3)
|
Accounts
payable
|
408
|
(2)
|
Accrued
expenses
|
1,231
|
1,197
|
Accrued
expenses – related parties
|
1,110
|
1,056
|
Revenue
payable
|
274
|
40
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
(1,494)
|
(236)
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows From Investing Activities:
|
|
|
Cash
paid for oil and gas properties, net of restricted cash received of
$2,316
|
(19,693)
|
-
|
Cash
paid for drilling costs
|
(43)
|
-
|
Cash
paid for other property and equipment
|
(3,270)
|
-
|
Cash
paid for oil and gas security bonds
|
(112)
|
-
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(23,118)
|
-
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows From Financing Activities:
|
|
|
Proceeds
from notes payable
|
400
|
-
|
Proceeds
from notes payable – related parties
|
37,900
|
-
|
Proceeds
from the issuance of common stock, net of issuance
costs
|
-
|
531
|
Repayment
of notes payable
|
(7,795)
|
(37)
|
Cash
paid for warrant repurchase
|
(1,095)
|
-
|
Proceeds
from warrant exercise for common stock
|
64
|
-
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
29,474
|
494
|
Net
increase in cash and restricted cash
|
|
|
Cash
and restricted cash at beginning of period
|
917
|
659
|
Cash
and restricted cash at end of period
|
$5,779
|
$917
|
Supplemental
Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
|
|
|
Cash
paid for:
|
|
|
Interest
|
$-
|
$-
|
Income
taxes
|
$-
|
$-
|
|
|
|
Noncash
investing and financing activities:
|
|
|
Accrued
oil and gas development costs
|
$7,000
|
$-
|
Acquisition
of asset retirement obligations
|
$2,061
|
$-
|
Changes
in estimates of asset retirement costs
|
$133
|
$97
|
Common
stock issued as debt inducement
|
$185
|
$-
|
Common
stock issued for conversion of accrued interest on notes payable
– related party
|
$167
|
$-
|
Issuance
of restricted common stock for services upon vesting
maturity
|
$1
|
$1
|
Conversion
of Series A preferred stock to common stock
|
$7
|
$-
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(DEFICIT)
For the Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
(amounts
in thousands, except share amounts)
|
Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances
at December 31, 2016
|
66,625
|
$-
|
5,494,394
|
$5
|
$99,770
|
$(101,731)
|
$(1,956)
|
Issuance of common
stock for cash
|
-
|
-
|
590,335
|
1
|
530
|
-
|
531
|
Issuance of
restricted stock for services upon vesting maturity
|
-
|
-
|
1,270,000
|
1
|
(1)
|
-
|
-
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
655
|
-
|
655
|
Rescinded
stock
|
-
|
-
|
(75,975)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(36,370)
|
(36,370)
|
Balances
at December 31, 2017
|
66,625
|
-
|
7,278,754
|
7
|
100,954
|
(138,101)
|
(37,140)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of
Series A Preferred Stock to common stock
|
(66,625)
|
-
|
6,662,500
|
7
|
(7)
|
-
|
-
|
Conversion of
accrued interest on notes payable – related party to common
stock
|
-
|
-
|
75,118
|
-
|
167
|
-
|
167
|
Conversion of stock
options
|
-
|
-
|
95,865
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Issuance of common
stock for debt inducement
|
-
|
-
|
600,000
|
1
|
184
|
-
|
185
|
Issuance of
warrants for debt repayment
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
322
|
-
|
322
|
Issuance of
restricted common stock for services on vesting
maturity
|
-
|
-
|
904,000
|
1
|
(1)
|
-
|
-
|
Issuance of common
stock for exercise of warrants
|
-
|
-
|
192,208
|
-
|
64
|
-
|
64
|
Warrants
repurchased
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,095)
|
-
|
(1,095)
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
862
|
-
|
862
|
Net
income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
53,607
|
53,607
|
Balances
at December 31, 2018
|
-
|
$-
|
15,808,445
|
$16
|
$101,450
|
$(84,494)
|
$16,972
|
See
accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 – BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements of PEDEVCO Corp.
(“PEDEVCO” or the “Company”), have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and
the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”).
The
Company’s consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and
subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial
interest. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions
have been eliminated in consolidation.
The
Company completed a 1-for-10 reverse split of its outstanding
common stock, which took effect as of market close on April 7,
2017. All outstanding shares, options, warrants, preferred stock
and other securities convertible into the Company's common stock
have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock
split as required by the terms of such securities with a
proportional increase in the related share, conversion or exercise
price, as applicable.
NOTE 2 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
PEDEVCO
is an oil and gas company focused on
the development, acquisition and production of oil and natural
gas assets where the latest in modern drilling and
completion techniques and technologies have yet to be applied. In
particular, the Company focuses on legacy proven properties where
there is a long production history, well defined geology and
existing infrastructure that can be leveraged when applying modern
field management technologies. The Company’s current
properties are located in the San Andres formation of the Permian
Basin situated in West Texas and eastern New Mexico (the
“Permian Basin”) and in
the Denver-Julesberg Basin (“D-J Basin”) in
Colorado. The Company holds its Permian Basin acres located
in Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico, through its
wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Pacific Energy Development Corp.
(“PEDCO”), which asset the Company refers to as its
“Permian Basin Asset,” and it holds its D-J Basin acres
located in Weld and Morgan Counties, Colorado, through its
wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Red Hawk Petroleum, LLC
(“Red Hawk”), which asset the Company refers to as its
“D-J Basin Asset.”
The Company believes that horizontal development
and exploitation of conventional assets in the Permian Basin and
development of the Wattenberg and Wattenberg Extension in the D-J
Basin represent among the most economic oil and natural gas plays
in the United States (“U.S.”). Moving forward,
the Company plans to optimize its existing assets and
opportunistically seek additional acreage proximate to its
currently held core acreage, as well as other attractive onshore
U.S. oil and gas assets that fit the Company’s acquisition
criteria, that Company management believes can be developed using
its technical and operating expertise and be accretive to
shareholder value.
NOTE 3 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING
POLICIES
Basis of Presentation and Principles of
Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements
herein have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and include the
accounts of the Company and those of its wholly and partially-owned
subsidiaries as follows: (i) Blast AFJ, Inc., a Delaware
corporation; (ii) PEDCO, a Nevada corporation; (iii) Pacific Energy
& Rare Earth Limited, a Hong Kong company (dissolved on August
11, 2017); (iv) Blackhawk Energy Limited, a British Virgin Islands
company (dissolved in May 2018); (v) Red Hawk Petroleum, LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company; (vi) White Hawk Energy, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, formed on January 4, 2016 in
connection with the contemplated reorganization transaction with
GOM Holdings, LLC (“GOM”), which reorganization
transaction has since been terminated (dissolved in March 2018);
(vii) Ridgeway Arizona Oil Corp., an
Arizona corporation (“RAOC”), acquired by PEDCO
effective September 1, 2018 in connection with the Company’s
acquisition of the Permian Basin Asset; (viii) EOR Operating
Company, a Texas corporation (“EOR”) acquired by PEDCO
effective September 1, 2018 in connection with the Company’s
acquisition of the Permian Basin Asset; and (ix) Condor Energy
Technology LLC, a Nevada limited liability company
(“Condor”), acquired by Red Hawk on August 1, 2018 in
connection with the Company’s acquisition of part of its D-J
Basin Asset. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates in Financial Statement
Preparation. The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets,
liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as certain financial
statement disclosures. While management believes that the estimates
and assumptions used in the preparation of the financial statements
are appropriate, actual results could differ from these estimates.
Significant estimates generally include those with respect to the
amount of recoverable oil and gas reserves, the fair value of
financial instruments, oil and gas depletion, asset retirement
obligations, and stock-based compensation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. The
Company considers all highly liquid investments with original
maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of
December 31, 2018, and December 31, 2017, cash equivalents
consisted of money market funds and cash on deposit. As of December
31, 2018, the Company also had restricted cash of $2,316,000. This
amount is on deposit to secure plugging and abandonment bonds with
the State of New Mexico (related to the acquisition of the New
Mexico properties on September 1, 2018).
In
November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(“FASB”) issued an Accounting Standards Update
(“ASU”) amending the presentation of restricted cash
within the consolidated statements of cash flows. The new guidance
requires that restricted cash be added to cash and cash equivalents
on the consolidated statements of cash flows. The Company adopted
this ASU on January 1, 2018 on a retrospective basis with no impact
to the consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended
December 31, 2018.
As of
December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had restricted cash of
$2,316,000 and $-0-, respectively, related to a deposit to secure
plugging and abandonment bonds with the State of New
Mexico.
The
following is a summary of cash and cash equivalents and restricted
cash at December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
|
|
|
Cash
|
$3,463
|
$917
|
Restricted cash
– current
|
2,316
|
-
|
Cash, cash
equivalents and restricted cash
|
$5,779
|
$917
|
Concentrations of Credit
Risk. Financial instruments which potentially subject
the Company to concentrations of credit risk include cash deposits
placed with financial institutions. The Company maintains its cash
in bank accounts which, at times, may exceed federally insured
limits as guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(“FDIC”). At December 31, 2018, approximately
$2,713,000 of the Company’s cash balances were uninsured. The
Company has not experienced any losses on such
accounts.
Sales
to one customer comprised 47% of the Company’s total oil
and gas revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018. The
Company believes that, in the event that its primary customers are
unable or unwilling to continue to purchase the Company’s
production, there are a substantial number of alternative buyers
for its production at comparable prices.
Accounts Receivable. Accounts
receivable typically consist of oil and gas receivables. The
Company has classified these as short-term assets in the balance
sheet because the Company expects repayment or recovery within the
next 12 months. The Company evaluates these accounts receivable for
collectability considering the results of operations of these
related entities and, when necessary, records allowances for
expected unrecoverable amounts. To date, no allowances have been
recorded. Included in accounts receivable – oil and gas is
$50,000 related to receivables from joint interest
owners.
Bad Debt Expense. The Company’s
ability to collect outstanding receivables is critical to its
operating performance and cash flows. Accounts receivable are
stated at an amount management expects to collect from outstanding
balances. The Company extends credit in the normal course of
business. The Company regularly reviews outstanding receivables and
when the Company determines that a party may not be able to make
required payments, a charge to bad debt expense in the period of
determination is made. Though the Company’s bad debts have
not historically been significant, the Company could experience
increased bad debt expense should a financial downturn
occur.
Equipment. Equipment is stated at
cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Maintenance
and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Renewals and
betterments which extend the life or improve existing equipment are
capitalized. Upon disposition or retirement of equipment, the cost
and related accumulated depreciation are removed and any resulting
gain or loss is reflected in operations. Depreciation is provided
using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of
the assets, which are 3 to 10 years.
Oil and Gas Properties, Successful Efforts
Method. The successful efforts method of accounting is
used for oil and gas exploration and production activities. Under
this method, all costs for development wells, support equipment and
facilities, and proved mineral interests in oil and gas properties
are capitalized. Geological and geophysical costs are expensed when
incurred. Costs of exploratory wells are capitalized as exploration
and evaluation assets pending determination of whether the wells
find proved oil and gas reserves. Proved oil and gas reserves are
the estimated quantities of crude oil and natural gas which
geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable
certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs
under existing economic and operating conditions, (i.e., prices and
costs as of the date the estimate is made). Prices include
consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by
contractual arrangements, but not on escalations based upon future
conditions.
Exploratory wells
in areas not requiring major capital expenditures are evaluated for
economic viability within one year of completion of drilling. The
related well costs are expensed as dry holes if it is determined
that such economic viability is not attained. Otherwise, the
related well costs are reclassified to oil and gas properties and
subject to impairment review. For exploratory wells that are found
to have economically viable reserves in areas where major capital
expenditure will be required before production can commence, the
related well costs remain capitalized only if additional drilling
is under way or firmly planned. Otherwise the related well costs
are expensed as dry holes.
Exploration and
evaluation expenditures incurred subsequent to the acquisition of
an exploration asset in a business combination are accounted for in
accordance with the policy outlined above.
Depreciation,
depletion and amortization of capitalized oil and gas properties is
calculated on a field by field basis using the unit of production
method. Lease acquisition costs are amortized over the total
estimated proved developed and undeveloped reserves and all other
capitalized costs are amortized over proved developed reserves.
Costs specific to developmental wells
for which drilling is in progress or uncompleted are
capitalized as wells in progress and not subject to amortization
until completion and production commences, at which time
amortization on the basis of production will begin.
Impairment of Long-Lived
Assets. The Company reviews the carrying value of its
long-lived assets annually or whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the historical cost-carrying value of
an asset may no longer be appropriate. The Company assesses
recoverability of the carrying value of the asset by estimating the
future net undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the
asset, including eventual disposition. If the future net
undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the
asset, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the difference
between the asset’s carrying value and estimated fair value.
The Company recorded impairment of properties subject to
amortization for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 of
$-0- and $18,950,000, respectively.
Asset Retirement Obligations. If a
reasonable estimate of the fair value of an obligation to perform
site reclamation, dismantle facilities or plug and abandon wells
can be made, the Company will record a liability (an asset
retirement obligation or “ARO”) on its consolidated
balance sheet and capitalize the present value of the asset
retirement cost in oil and gas properties in the period in which
the retirement obligation is incurred. In general, the amount of an
ARO and the costs capitalized will be equal to the estimated future
cost to satisfy the abandonment obligation assuming the normal
operation of the asset, using current prices that are escalated by
an assumed inflation factor up to the estimated settlement date,
which is then discounted back to the date that the abandonment
obligation was incurred using an assumed cost of funds for the
Company. After recording these amounts, the ARO will be accreted to
its future estimated value using the same assumed cost of funds and
the capitalized costs are depreciated on a unit-of-production basis
over the estimated proved developed reserves. Both the accretion
and the depreciation will be included in depreciation, depletion
and amortization expense on our consolidated statements of
operations.
The
following table describes changes in our asset retirement
obligations during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
Asset retirement
obligations at January 1
|
$477
|
$246
|
Accretion
expense
|
166
|
134
|
Obligations
incurred for acquisition
|
2,061
|
-
|
Changes in
estimates
|
(133)
|
97
|
Asset retirement
obligations at December 31
|
$2,571
|
$477
|
Revenue Recognition. ASU 2014-09,
“Revenue from Contracts with
Customers (Topic 606)”, supersedes the revenue
recognition requirements and industry-specific guidance under
Revenue Recognition (Topic
605). Topic 606 requires an entity to recognize revenue when
it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount
that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled
to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company adopted
Topic 606 on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective
method applied to contracts that were not completed as of January
1, 2018. Under the modified retrospective method, prior period
financial positions and results will not be adjusted. The
cumulative effect adjustment recognized in the opening balances
included no significant changes as a result of this adoption. While
the Company does not expect 2018 net earnings to be materially
impacted by revenue recognition timing changes, Topic 606 requires
certain changes to the presentation of revenues and related
expenses beginning January 1, 2018. Refer to Note 5 – Revenue
from Contracts with Customers for additional
information.
The
Company’s revenue is comprised entirely of revenue from
exploration and production activities. The Company’s oil is
sold primarily to marketers, gatherers, and refiners. Natural gas
is sold primarily to interstate and intrastate natural-gas
pipelines, direct end-users, industrial users, local distribution
companies, and natural-gas marketers. NGLs are sold primarily to
direct end-users, refiners, and marketers. Payment is generally
received from the customer in the month following
delivery.
Contracts with
customers have varying terms, including month-to-month contracts,
and contracts with a finite term. The Company recognizes sales
revenues for oil, natural gas, and NGLs based on the amount of each
product sold to a customer when control transfers to the customer.
Generally, control transfers at the time of delivery to the
customer at a pipeline interconnect, the tailgate of a processing
facility, or as a tanker lifting is completed. Revenue is measured
based on the contract price, which may be index-based or fixed, and
may include adjustments for market differentials and downstream
costs incurred by the customer, including gathering,
transportation, and fuel costs.
Revenues are
recognized for the sale of the Company’s net share of
production volumes. Sales on behalf of other working interest
owners and royalty interest owners are not recognized as
revenues.
Income Taxes. The Company utilizes
the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes.
Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
recognized for operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards and for
the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the
financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and
liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply
to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences
are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax
assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in
the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment
date. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying
amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not
that the value of such assets will be realized.
Stock-Based Compensation. The
Company utilizes the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate
the fair value of employee stock option awards at the date of
grant, which requires the input of highly subjective assumptions,
including expected volatility and expected life. Changes in these
inputs and assumptions can materially affect the measure of
estimated fair value of our share-based compensation. These
assumptions are subjective and generally require significant
analysis and judgment to develop. When estimating fair value, some
of the assumptions will be based on, or determined from, external
data and other assumptions may be derived from our historical
experience with stock-based payment arrangements. The appropriate
weight to place on historical experience is a matter of judgment,
based on relevant facts and circumstances.
The
Company estimates volatility by considering the historical stock
volatility. The Company has opted to use the simplified method for
estimating expected term, which is generally equal to the midpoint
between the vesting period and the contractual term.
Earnings (Loss) per Common Share. Basic
earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) is computed by
dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders
(numerator) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding
(denominator) during the period. Diluted EPS give effect to all
dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period
using the treasury stock method and convertible preferred stock
using the if-converted method. In computing diluted EPS, the
average stock price for the period is used to determine the number
of shares assumed to be purchased from the exercise of stock
options and/or warrants. Diluted EPS excluded all dilutive
potential shares if their effect is anti-dilutive. For the year
ended December 31, 2018, the dilutive potential common shares
outstanding during the period included only a portion of the
potentially issuable shares of common stock related to options and
warrants as the majority of options and warrants were
anti-dilutive.
Recently Issued Accounting
Pronouncements. In February 2016, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting
Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, a new lease standard
requiring lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities
for most leases classified as operating leases under previous U.S.
GAAP. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company will
be required to use a modified retrospective approach for leases
that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest
comparative period in the financial statements. The Company has
evaluated the adoption of the standard and, due to there being only
one operating lease currently in place, there will be minimal
impact of the standard on its consolidated financial
statements.
In April 2016, the
FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock
Compensation” (Topic 718). The FASB issued this update
to improve the accounting for employee share-based payments and
affect all organizations that issue share-based payment awards to
their employees. Several aspects of the accounting for share-based
payment award transactions are simplified, including: (a) income
tax consequences; (b) classification of awards as either equity or
liabilities; and (c) classification on the statement of cash flows.
The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning
after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those
fiscal years. Early adoption of the update is permitted. The
Company adopted the standard as of January 1, 2017. There was no
impact of the standard on its consolidated financial
statements.
In
August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230):
Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash
Payments” (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15
will make eight targeted changes to how cash receipts and cash
payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash
flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2017. The new standard requires adoption on a
retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply, in which
case it would be required to apply the amendments prospectively as
of the earliest date practicable. There was no impact
of the standard on its consolidated financial
statements.
In
November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic
230)”, requiring that the statement of cash flows
explain the change in the total cash, cash equivalents, and amounts
generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash
equivalents. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and
interim reporting periods therein, beginning after December 15,
2017, with early adoption permitted. The provisions of this
guidance are to be applied using a retrospective approach which
requires application of the guidance for all periods presented.
There was no impact of the standard on its consolidated financial
statements.
In
August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value
Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the
Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”. The
amendments in this update is to improve the effectiveness of
disclosures in the notes to the financial statements by
facilitating clear communication of the information required by
GAAP that is most important to users of each entity’s
financial statements. The amendments in this update apply to all
entities that are required, under existing GAAP, to make
disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value
measurements. The amendments in this update are effective for all
entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and
interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not
expect that this guidance will have a material impact on its
consolidated financial statements.
In July
2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842):
Target Improvements”. The amendments in this update also
clarify which Topic (Topic 842 or Topic 606) applies for the
combined component. Specifically, if the non-lease component or
components associated with the lease component are the predominant
component of the combined component, an entity should account for
the combined component in accordance with Topic 606. Otherwise, the
entity should account for the combined component as an operating
lease in accordance with Topic 842. An entity that elects the
lessor practical expedient also should provide certain disclosures.
The Company is currently evaluating the adoption of this guidance
and does not expect that this guidance will have a material impact
on its consolidated financial statements. The Company has not
adopted this standard and will do so when specified by the
FASB.
In July
2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, “Codification Improvements
to Topic 842, Leases”. The amendments in this update affect
narrow aspects of the guidance issued in the amendments in update
2016-02 as described in the table below. The amendments in this
update related to transition do not include amendments from
proposed Accounting Standards Update, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted
Improvements, specific to a new and optional transition method to
adopt the new lease requirements in Update 2016-02. That additional
transition method will be issued as part of a forthcoming and
separate update that will result in additional amendments to
transition paragraphs included in this Update to conform with the
additional transition method. The Company is currently evaluating
the adoption of this guidance and does not expect that this
guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial
statements. The Company has not adopted this Standard and will do
so when specified by the FASB.
In June
2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, “Compensation—Stock
Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based
Payment Accounting”. The amendments in this update maintain
or improve the usefulness of the information provided to the users
of financial statements while reducing cost and complexity in
financial reporting. The areas for simplification in this update
involve several aspects of the accounting for nonemployee
share-based payment transactions resulting from expanding the scope
of Topic 718, to include share-based payment transactions for
acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. Some of the areas
for simplification apply only to nonpublic entities. The amendments
in this update are effective for all entities for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those
fiscal years. The Company does not expect that this guidance will
have a material impact on its consolidated financial
statements.
The
Company does not expect the adoption of any other recently issued
accounting pronouncements to have a significant impact on its
financial position, results of operations, or cash
flows.
Subsequent Events. The Company has
evaluated all transactions through the date the consolidated
financial statements were issued for subsequent event disclosure
consideration.
NOTE 4 – LIQUIDITY
At
December 31, 2018, the Company's total current liabilities of $8.9
million exceeded its total current assets of $6.8 million,
resulting in a working capital deficit of $2.1 million, while at
December 31, 2017, the Company's total current liabilities of $3.4
million exceeded its total current assets of $1.4 million,
resulting in a working capital deficit of $2.0 million. Although
the Company reported net income for the year ended 2018, when not
including the $70.3 million gain from our debt restructuring, the
Company would have had a net loss of $16.7 million. The Company
also reported net losses of $26.4 million and $19.6 million for the
years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Our
liquidity needs for the next twelve months and beyond are
principally for the funding of our planned drilling program and
operations of $65.0 million. Management believes the Company will
generate sufficient funds from operations and certain available
debt financings to finance its operations over the next twelve
months as it is actively engaged in various strategies to ensure
the continuance of operations for the foreseeable future.
Specifically, to address these liquidity concerns, in February and
March 2019 the Company converted all of its outstanding debt and
accrued interest into shares of the Company's common stock, and as
of the date of this report, has no debt on its balance sheet. The
Company expects that it will have sufficient cash available to meet
its needs over the foreseeablefuture, which cash it anticipates
being available from (i) projected cash flow from operations, (ii)
existing cash on hand, (iii) equity infusions or loans (which may
be convertible) made available from the Company's largest
shareholder, SK Energy, which is owned and controlled by Dr. Simon
Kukes, its Chief Executive Officer and director, which funding SK
Energy is under no obligation to provide and which funds may not be
available on favorable terms, if at all. In addition, the Company
may seek additional funding through asset sales, farm-out
arrangements, lines of credit, or public or private debt or equity
financings to fund capital expenditures and/or acquisitions in 2019
and beyond. If such financing is not completed, among other things,
the Company expects that it would incur an impairment of its proved
undeveloped oil and gas properties and the Company's ability to
meet its obligations from existing cash flows would be
significantly affected. If market conditions are not conducive to
raising additional funds, the Company may choose to delay, revise
or terminate its drilling programs and associated capital
expenditures to manage capital.
Based
on the foregoing, management believes that the Company will
generate sufficient funds from operations and certain available
debt financings to fund its operations over the next twelve
months.
NOTE 5 – REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS
Change in Accounting Policy. The Company
adopted ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers
(Topic 606)”, on January 1, 2018, using the modified
retrospective method applied to contracts that were not completed
as of January 1, 2018. Refer to Note 3 – Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies for additional
information.
Exploration and Production. There were
no significant changes to the timing or valuation of revenue
recognized for sales of production from exploration and production
activities.
Disaggregation of Revenue from Contracts with
Customers. The following table disaggregates revenue by
significant product type for the years ended December 31, 2018 and
2017 (in thousands):
|
|
|
Oil
sales
|
$4,153
|
$2,464
|
Natural
gas sales
|
230
|
298
|
Natural
gas liquids sales
|
140
|
253
|
Total
revenue from customers
|
$4,523
|
$3,015
|
There
were no significant contract liabilities or transaction price
allocations to any remaining performance obligations as of December
31, 2018 or 2017, respectively.
NOTE 6 – OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
The
following table summarizes the Company’s oil and gas
activities by classification for the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017, respectively (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil and gas
properties, subject to amortization
|
$49,356
|
$21,447
|
$-
|
$-
|
$70,803
|
Oil and gas
properties, not subject to amortization
|
-
|
8,516
|
-
|
-
|
8,516
|
Asset retirement
costs
|
260
|
1,928
|
-
|
-
|
2,188
|
Accumulated
depreciation and depletion
|
(14,694)
|
(6,351)
|
-
|
-
|
(21,045)
|
Total oil and gas
assets
|
$34,922
|
$25,540
|
$-
|
$-
|
$60,462
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil and gas
properties, subject to amortization
|
$68,306
|
$-
|
$-
|
$-
|
$68,306
|
Oil and gas
properties, not subject to amortization
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Asset retirement
costs
|
163
|
97
|
-
|
-
|
260
|
Accumulated
depreciation, depletion and impairment
|
(11,074)
|
(22,570)
|
-
|
-
|
(33,644)
|
Total oil and gas
assets
|
$57,395
|
$(22,473)
|
$-
|
$-
|
$34,922
|
The
depletion recorded for production on proved properties for the year
ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, amounted to $6,351,000 and
$3,620,000, respectively. The Company recorded impairment of
properties subject to amortization for the years ended December 31,
2018 and 2017, of $-0- and $18,950,000, respectively. The
impairment in 2017 was due to a delay in the funding necessary to
support the capital expenditures used in the reserve report for
development of the proven undeveloped acreage.
For the
year ended December 31, 2018, the Company has incurred $9,975,000
in drilling and recompletion costs, in addition to amounts incurred
for the participation (non-operated working interest) in the
drilling of two wells in the DJ Basin ($295,000), the acquisition
of Condor ($693,000 as detailed below) and the acquisition of the
New Mexico assets ($19,000,000 as detailed below). At December 31,
2018, drilling and recompletion costs of $8,516,000 had been
incurred for wells that had not been completed. Therefore, this
amount was included in the amount not subject to amortization at
December 31, 2018.
Acquisition of New Mexico Properties
On
August 1, 2018, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale
Agreement with Milnesand Minerals Inc., Chaveroo Minerals Inc.,
Ridgeway Arizona Oil Corp. (“RAOC”), and EOR Operating
Company (“EOR”) (collectively the
“Seller”)(the “Purchase Agreement”). The
transaction closed on August 31, 2018, and the effective date of
the acquisition was September 1, 2018. Pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement, the Company acquired certain oil and gas assets
described in greater detail below (the “New Mexico
Assets”) from the Seller in consideration for $18,500,000 (of
which $500,000 was held back to provide for potential
indemnification of the Company under the Purchase Agreement and
Stock Purchase Agreement (described below), with one-half
($250,000) to be released to Seller 90 days after closing and the
balance ($250,000) to be released 180 days after closing (provided
that if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any part
of the amount withheld by the Company subsequent to 180 days after
closing was in fact due to the Seller, the Company is required to
pay the Seller 200%, instead of 100%, of the amount so
retained).
The
New Mexico Assets represent approximately 23,000 net leasehold
acres, current operated production, and all the Seller’s
leases and related rights, oil and gas and other wells, equipment,
easements, contract rights, and production (effective as of the
effective date) as described in the Purchase Agreement. The New
Mexico Assets are located in the San Andres play in the Permian
Basin situated in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, with all
acreage and production 100% operated, and substantially all acreage
held by production (“HBP”).
Also
on August 31, 2018, the Company closed the transactions under the
August 1, 2018 Stock Purchase Agreement with Hunter Oil Production
Corp. (“Hunter Oil”), and acquired all the stock of
RAOC and EOR (the “Acquired Companies”) for net cash
paid of $500,000 (an aggregate purchase price of $2,816,000, less
$2,316,000 in restricted cash which the Acquired Companies are
required to maintain as of the closing date). The Stock Purchase
Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the
parties, post-closing adjustments, and indemnification requirements
requiring Hunter Oil to indemnify us for certain
items.
On
December 17, 2018, the Company and Seller agreed that the Company
would pay to Seller $25,000 for all post-closing adjustments and
post-closing support under the Purchase Agreement and accelerate
the payment by the Company to Seller of the final $250,000 to be
released 180 days after closing, which payments were made by the
Company to Seller on December 17, 2018.
The
following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price to
the net assets acquired (in thousands):
Purchase
price at September 1, 2018
|
|
Cash
paid
|
$20,816
|
Contingent
consideration
|
500
|
Total
consideration paid
|
$21,316
|
|
|
Fair
value of net assets acquired at September 1, 2018
|
|
Restricted
cash for bonds
|
$2,316
|
Oil
and gas properties
|
21,012
|
Total
assets
|
23,328
|
|
|
Asset
retirement obligations
|
2,012
|
Total
liabilities
|
2,012
|
Net
assets acquired
|
$21,316
|
The
following table presents the Company’s supplemental unaudited
consolidated pro forma total revenues, lease operating costs, net
income (loss) and net income (loss) per common share for the year
ended December 31, 2018 as if the acquisition of the New Mexico
assets had occurred on January 1, 2018 (in thousands except for
share and per share amounts):
|
|
New Mexico Asset Acquisition (1)
|
|
Revenue
|
$4,523
|
$1,222
|
$5,745
|
Lease
operating costs
|
$(2,821)
|
$(931)
|
$(3,752)
|
Net
income (loss)
|
$53,607
|
$(1,481)
|
$52,126
|
Net
income (loss) per common share (diluted)
|
$4.74
|
$(0.15)
|
$4.59
|
(1)
Amount are based on
Company estimates.
Acquisition of Condor Properties from MIE Jurassic Energy
Corporation
On
August 1, 2018, the Company entered into a Membership Interest
Purchase Agreement (the “Membership Purchase
Agreement”) with MIE Jurassic Energy Corporation
(“MIEJ”) to acquire 100% of the outstanding membership
interests of Condor from MIEJ in exchange for cash paid of
$537,000. Condor owns approximately 2,340 net leasehold acres, 100%
HBP, located in Weld and Morgan Counties, Colorado, with four
operated, producing wells.
The
following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price to
the net assets acquired (in thousands):
Purchase
price at August 1, 2018
|
|
Cash
paid
|
$537
|
|
|
Fair
value of net assets acquired at August 1, 2018
|
|
Cash
|
$2
|
Accounts
receivable – oil and gas
|
59
|
Other
current assets
|
39
|
Oil
and gas properties
|
742
|
Bonds
|
105
|
Total
assets
|
947
|
|
|
Current
liabilities
|
361
|
Asset
retirement obligations
|
49
|
Total
liabilities
|
410
|
Final
Purchase price
|
$537
|
NOTE 7 – OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
On
September 11, 2013, the Company entered into a Shares Subscription
Agreement (“SSA”) to acquire an approximate 51%
ownership in Asia Sixth Energy Resources Limited (“Asia
Sixth”), which held an approximate 60% ownership interest in
Aral Petroleum Capital Limited Partnership (“Aral”), a
Kazakhstan entity. In August 2014 the SSA was restructured (the
“Aral Restructuring”), in connection with which the
Company received a promissory note in the principal amount of $10.0
million from Asia Sixth (the “A6 Promissory Note”),
which was to be converted into a 10.0% interest in Caspian Energy,
Inc. (“Caspian Energy”), an Ontario, Canada company
listed on the NEX board of the TSX Venture Exchange, upon the
consummation of the Aral Restructuring. The Aral Restructuring was
consummated on May 20, 2015, upon which date the A6 Promissory
Note was converted into 23,182,880 shares of common stock of
Caspian Energy.
In
February 2015, the Company expanded its D-J Basin position through
the acquisition of acreage from GGE (the “GGE
Acquisition” and the “GGE Acquired Assets”). In
connection with the GGE Acquisition, on February 23, 2015, the
Company provided GGE an option to acquire its interest in Caspian
Energy for $100,000 payable upon exercise of the option (which
expires on the same date as the RJC Subordinated Note, as defined
below) recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets. As a
result, the carrying value of the 23,182,880 shares of common stock
of Caspian Energy which were issued upon conversion of the A6
Promissory Note at December 31, 2015 was $100,000. The $100,000
option is classified as part of other current assets as of December
31, 2018, and is due to expire on May 12, 2019.
NOTE 8 – NOTES PAYABLE
The
Company’s notes payable and debenture consisted of the
following (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible
Notes Payable - Bridge Notes (current)
|
$-
|
$475
|
Notes
Payable - Secured Promissory Notes
|
-
|
36,762
|
Notes
Payable - Secured Promissory Notes - Related Party
|
-
|
17,078
|
Notes
Payable - Secured Promissory Notes - Subordinated - Related
Party
|
-
|
11,483
|
Notes
Payable - Other
|
-
|
4,925
|
Notes
Payable - Subordinated
|
400
|
-
|
Notes
Payable - Subordinated Related Party
|
30,200
|
-
|
Notes
Payable - Related Party
|
7,855
|
-
|
|
38,455
|
70,723
|
Unamortized
Bond Premium
|
-
|
113
|
Unamortized
Debt Discount
|
(161)
|
(3,751)
|
Total
Notes Payable
|
$38,294
|
$67,085
|
Debt Restructuring
On June
26, 2018, the Company borrowed $7.7 million from SK Energy LLC,
which is 100% owned and controlled by Dr. Simon Kukes, the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and director, under a
Promissory Note dated June 25, 2018, in the amount of $7.7 million
(the “SK Energy Note”), the terms of which are
discussed below.
Also on
June 25, 2018, the Company entered into Debt Repayment Agreements
(the “Repayment Agreements”, each described in greater
detail below) with (i) the holders of our outstanding Tranche A
Secured Promissory Notes (“Tranche A Notes”) and
Tranche B Secured Promissory Notes (“Tranche B Notes”),
which the Company entered into pursuant to the terms of the May 12,
2016 Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, (ii) RJ Credit
LLC (“RJC”), which held a subordinated promissory note
issued by the Company pursuant to that certain Note and Security
Agreement, dated April 10, 2014, as amended (the “RJC
Subordinated Note”), and (iii) MIE Jurassic Energy
Corporation, which held a subordinated promissory note issued by
the Company pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Secured
Subordinated Promissory Note, dated February 18, 2015, as amended
(the “MIEJ Note”, and together with the “Tranche
B Notes,” the “Junior Notes”), pursuant to which,
on June 26, 2018, the Company retired all of the then outstanding
Tranche A Notes, in the aggregate amount of approximately
$7,260,000 in exchange for cash paid of $3,800,000 and all of the
then outstanding Junior Notes, in the aggregate amount of
approximately $70,299,000, in exchange for an aggregate amount of
cash paid of $3,876,000.
As part
of the same transactions, and as required conditions to closing the
sale of the SK Energy Note, SK Energy entered into a Stock Purchase
Agreement with GGE, the holder of the Company’s then
outstanding 66,625 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(convertible pursuant to their terms into 6,662,500 shares of the
Company’s common stock – 47.6% of the Company’s
then outstanding shares post-conversion), pursuant to which, SK
Energy purchased, for $100,000, all of the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock (the “Stock Purchase
Agreement”).
Additionally, on
June 25, 2018, the Company entered into a Debt Repayment Agreement
(the “Bridge Note Repayment Agreement”) with all of the
holders of its convertible subordinated promissory notes issued
pursuant to the Second Amendment to Secured Promissory Notes, dated
March 7, 2014, originally issued on March 22, 2013 (the
“Bridge Notes”), pursuant to which all the holders,
holding in aggregate $475,000 of outstanding principal amount under
the Bridge Notes, agreed to the payment and full satisfaction of
all outstanding amounts (including accrued interest and additional
payment-in-kind) for 25% of the principal amounts owed thereunder,
or an aggregate amount of cash paid of $119,000.
The
result of the above transactions was a net reduction of liabilities
of approximately $70,728,000 that were removed from the
Company’s balance sheet as of June 25, 2018. For the year
ended December 31, 2018, a gain on the settlement of all of these
debts in the amount of $70,309,000 was recorded ($70,631,000, net
of the expense related to the issuance of warrants to certain of
the Tranche A Note holders with an estimated fair value of $322,000
based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model). See the table
below for a summary (amounts in thousands).
Debt
and accrued interest retired as part of debt
restructuring
|
$78,331
|
New
debt recorded under troubled debt restructuring
|
(7,700)
|
Expense
for issuance of warrants
|
(322)
|
Net
gain on troubled debt restructuring
|
$70,309
|
The
three-year promissory note of $7.7 million in principal with an 8%
annual interest rate was recorded at $7,700,000 (and shown on the
balance sheet as Note Payable – Related Party), net of debt
discount from the issuance of 600,000 shares of common stock (as
described below) with a fair value of $185,000 based on the market
price at the issuance date. The Company accounted for the debt
reduction as a troubled debt restructuring as the debt balance,
which the Company did not currently have the funds to repay, was
now to be classified as current due to the principal and
accumulated interest being due in May 2019. It is probable that the
Company would have been in payment default in the foreseeable
future without this restructuring modification. As indicated in
previous SEC financial filings, the Company had indicated that
there was doubt before the restructuring as to whether the Company
would be able to continue to operate as a going concern. In
recognition of this, the creditors granted a concession on the debt
balance that was paid and considered payment in full on June 25,
2018. The warrants were issued as an inducement for the previous
creditors to cancel a significant portion of the debt and were an
integral part of this troubled debt restructuring and therefore
were included as a reduction to the gain recognized on the
restructuring.
SK Energy Note Terms
The SK
Energy Note accrues interest monthly at 8% per annum, payable
quarterly (beginning October 15, 2018), in either cash or shares of
common stock (at the option of the Company), or, with the consent
of SK Energy, such interest may be accrued and capitalized.
Additionally, in the event that the Company is prohibited from
paying the interest payments due on the SK Energy Note in cash
pursuant to the terms of its senior debt and/or the requirement
that the Company obtain shareholder approval for the issuance of
shares of common stock in lieu of interest due under the SK Energy
Note due to the Share Cap (described and defined below), such
interest will continue to accrue until such time as the Company can
either pay such accrued interest in cash or stock.
If
interest on the SK Energy Note is paid in common stock, SK Energy
will be due that number of shares of common stock as equals the
amount due divided by the average of the closing sales prices of
the Company’s common stock for the ten trading days
immediately preceding the last day of the calendar quarter prior to
the applicable payment date, rounded up to the nearest whole share
of common stock (the “Interest Shares”). The SK Energy
Note is due and payable on June 25, 2021, but may be prepaid at any
time, without penalty. Other than in connection with the Interest
Shares, the principal amount of the SK Energy Note is not
convertible into common stock of the Company. The SK Energy Note
contains standard and customary events of default, and, upon the
occurrence of an event of default, the amount owed under the SK
Energy Note accrues interest at 10% per annum.
As
additional consideration for SK Energy agreeing to the terms of the
SK Energy Note, the Company agreed to issue SK Energy 600,000
shares of common stock (the “Loan Shares”), with a fair
value of $185,000 based on the market price on the date of issuance
that was accounted for as a debt discount and is being amortized
over the term of the note. The SK Energy Note includes a share
issuance limitation preventing the Company from issuing Interest
Shares thereunder, if such issuance, together with the number of
Loan Shares, plus such number of Interest Shares issued previously,
as of the date of such new issuance, totals more than 19.99% of the
Company’s outstanding shares of common stock as of
June 25, 2018 (i.e., 1,455,023 shares) (the “Share
Cap”).
On
October 25, 2018, the Company and SK Energy agreed to convert an
aggregate of $167,000 of interest accrued under the SK Energy Note
from its effective date through September 30, 2018 into 75,118
shares of the Company’s common stock, based on a conversion
price equal to $2.18, pursuant to the
conversion terms of the SK Energy Note. The amount of
interest under the SK Energy Note as of December 31, 2018 equaled
$155,000 and is included in the outstanding principal balance of
$7,855,000, for interest not paid or issued in common stock when
due, the amount is recapitalized into the face value of the note,
per the terms of the SK Energy Note.
All
debt discount amounts are amortized using the effective interest
rate method. The total amount of the remaining debt discount
reflected on the accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2018
was $161,000.
Repayment Agreement Terms
As
described above, pursuant to the Repayment Agreements, the holders
of the Company’s outstanding Tranche A Notes and Junior Notes
retired all of the then outstanding Tranche A Notes, in the
aggregate amount of $7,260,000, in exchange for an aggregate of
$3,800,000 of cash and all of the then outstanding Junior Notes, in
the aggregate amount of $70,299,000, in exchange for an aggregate
of $3,876,000 of cash. The note holders also agreed to forgive all
amounts owed under the terms of the Tranche A Notes and Junior
Notes, as applicable, other than the amounts paid. The Tranche A
Note Repayment Agreement was entered into by and between the
Company and each of the then holders of the Company’s Tranche
A Notes, BBLN-PEDCO Corp., BHLN-PEDCO Corp. and PBLA ULICO 2017
(collectively, the “Tranche A Noteholders”). The
Tranche B Note Repayment Agreement was entered into by and between
the Company and each of the then holders of the Company’s
Tranche B Notes, Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania,
Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company, Washington National
Insurance Company, Principal Growth Strategies, LLC, Cadle Rock IV,
LLC, and RJ Credit LLC, and holders of the RJC Subordinated Note
held by RJ Credit LLC and the MIEJ Note held by MIE Jurassic Energy
Corporation (collectively, the “Junior Noteholders”).
Pursuant to the terms of the Repayment Agreement relating to the
Tranche B Notes, in addition to the cash consideration due to the
Tranche B Noteholders, as described above, the Company agreed to
grant to certain of the Junior Noteholders their pro rata share of
warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,448,472 shares of common
stock of the Company (the “Tranche B Warrants”). The
Tranche B Warrants have a term of three years, an exercise price
equal to $0.328 per share, and the estimated fair value of $322,000
was based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
Amendment to Series A Convertible Preferred Stock Designation;
Rights of Shareholders
In
connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, and immediately
following the closing of the acquisition described in the Stock
Purchase Agreement (discussed above), the Company and SK Energy, as
the then holder of all of the then outstanding shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, agreed to the filing of an Amendment
to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations of PEDEVCO
Corp. Establishing the Designations, Preferences, Limitations and
Relative Rights of Its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the
“Preferred Amendment”), which amended the designation
of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the
“Designation”) to remove the beneficial ownership
restriction contained therein, which prevented any holder of Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock from converting such Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of common stock of the
Company if such conversion would result in the holder thereof
holding more than 9.9% of the Company’s then outstanding
common stock.
The
Company filed the Preferred Amendment with the Secretary of State
of Texas on June 26, 2018.
As a
result of the Stock Purchase Agreement (i.e., the sale of the
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to a party other than GGE),
automatic termination, pursuant to the terms of the Designation, of
the right of GGE, upon notice to the Company, voting the Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock separately as a single class, to
appoint designees to fill up to two (2) seats on our Board of
Directors, one of which must be an independent director as defined
by applicable rules was triggered. As such, effective upon the
closing of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company’s common
stockholders have the right to appoint all members of the
Company’s Board of Directors via plurality vote.
Issuances of New Debt
On
August 1, 2018, the Company received total proceeds of $23,600,000
from the sale of multiple Convertible Promissory Notes (the
“Convertible Notes”). A total of $22,000,000 in
Convertible Notes were purchased by SK Energy; $200,000 in
Convertible Notes were purchased by an executive officer of SK
Energy; $500,000 in Convertible Notes were purchased by a trust
affiliated with John J. Scelfo, a director of the Company; $500,000
in Convertible Notes were purchased by an entity affiliated with
Ivar Siem, our director, and J. Douglas Schick, President of the
Company; $200,000 in Convertible Notes
was purchased by H. Douglas Evans (who became a Director and
related party on September 27, 2018); and $200,000 in Convertible Notes were
purchased by an unaffiliated party. The $23,600,000 is accounted
for on the balance sheet as $23,200,000 of subordinated notes
payable – related party and $400,000 as subordinated notes,
as these notes are subordinated to the original SK Energy Note
issued in June 2018.
The
Convertible Notes accrue interest monthly at 8.5% per annum, which
interest is payable on the maturity date unless otherwise converted
into our common stock as described below. The accrued interest is
accounted for on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 as
$943,000 of accrued interest – related party and $14,000 of
accrued interest.
The
Convertible Notes and all accrued interest thereon are convertible
into shares of our common stock, from time to time after August 29,
2018, at the option of the holders thereof, at a conversion price
equal to $2.13 per share, per terms of the Convertible
Notes.
The
conversion of the SK Energy Convertible Note is subject to a 49.9%
conversion limitation (for so long as SK Energy or any of its
affiliates holds such note), which prevents the conversion of any
portion thereof into common stock of the Company if such conversion
would result in SK Energy beneficially owning (as such term is
defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
(“Beneficially Owning”) more than 49.9% of the
Company’s outstanding shares of common stock.
The
conversion of the other Convertible Notes is subject to a 4.99%
conversion limitation, at any time such note is Beneficially Owned
by any party other than (i) SK Energy or any of its affiliates
(which is subject to the separate conversion limitation described
above); (ii) any officer of the Company; (iii) any director of the
Company; or (iv) any person which at the time of obtaining
Beneficial Ownership of the Convertible Note beneficially owns more
than 9.99% of the Company’s outstanding common stock or
voting stock (collectively (ii) through (iv), “Borrower
Affiliates ”). The Convertible Notes are not subject to a
conversion limitation at any time they are owned or held by
Borrower Affiliates.
The
Convertible Notes are due and payable on August 1, 2021, but may be
prepaid at any time, without penalty. The Convertible Notes contain
standard and customary events of default and upon the occurrence of
an event of default the amount owed under the Convertible Notes
accrues interest at 10% per annum.
The
terms of the Convertible Notes may be amended or waived and such
amendment or waiver shall be applicable to all of the Convertible
Notes with the written consent of Convertible Note holders holding
at least a majority in interest of the then aggregate dollar value
of Convertible Notes outstanding.
On October 25, 2018, the Company borrowed an
additional $7.0 million from SK Energy, through the issuance of a
convertible promissory note in the amount of $7.0 million (the
“October 2018 Convertible Note”). The October 2018 Convertible Note accrues interest
monthly at 8.5% per annum, which is payable on the maturity date,
unless otherwise converted into shares of the Company’s
common stock as described below. The October 2018 Convertible Note
and all accrued interest thereon are convertible into shares of the
Company’s common stock, at the option of the holder thereof,
at a conversion price equal to $1.79 per share. Further, the
conversion of the October 2018 Convertible Note is subject to a
49.9% conversion limitation which prevents the conversion of any
portion thereof into common stock of the Company if such conversion
would result in SK Energy or any of its affiliates beneficially
owning more than 49.9% of the Company’s outstanding shares of
common stock. The October 2018 Convertible Note is due and payable
on October 25, 2021, but may be prepaid at any time without
penalty. The accrued interest expense related to this note
for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $109,000 and is accounted
for on the balance sheet as accrued interest – related
party.
NOTE 9 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Office Lease
In June
2018, the Company assumed the lease for its corporate office space
located in Houston, Texas from American Resources, Inc., an entity
beneficially owned and controlled by Ivar Siem, a director of the
Company, and J. Douglas Schick, the Company’s President. The
term of the lease ends on August 31, 2019, and the obligation for
the remainder of this lease is $88,000.
The
Company also leased space for its former corporate headquarters in
Danville, California that was scheduled to expire July 31, 2019,
but was terminated in January 2019 without penalty or other amounts
due. The obligation for this lease through January 2019 was
$5,000.
For the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company incurred lease
expense of $98,000 and $56,000, respectively, for the combined
leases.
Leasehold Drilling Commitments
The
Company’s oil and gas leasehold acreage is subject to
expiration of leases if the Company does not drill and hold such
acreage by production or otherwise exercises options to extend such
leases, if available, in exchange for payment of additional cash
consideration. In the D-J Basin Asset, 49 net acres expire in 2019,
and 170 net acres expire thereafter (net to our direct ownership
interest only). In the Permian Basin (the assets acquired on
September 1, 2018), no net acres are due to expire in 2019 and
2,886 net acres expire thereafter (net to our direct ownership
interest only). The Company plans to hold significantly all of this
acreage through a program of drilling and completing producing
wells. If the Company is not able to drill and complete a well
before lease expiration, the Company may seek to extend leases
where able. During the year ended December 31, 2018, 1,354 net
acreage had expired, and the Company had fully impaired its
unproved leasehold costs based on management’s revised
re-leasing program.
Other Commitments
Although the
Company may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and
claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of
business, the Company is not currently a party to any material
legal proceeding. In addition, the Company is not aware of any
material legal or governmental proceedings against it or
contemplated to be brought against it.
As part
of its regular operations, the Company may become party to various
pending or threatened claims, lawsuits and administrative
proceedings seeking damages or other remedies concerning its
commercial operations, products, employees and other
matters.
Although the
Company provides no assurance about the outcome of these or any
other pending legal and administrative proceedings and the effect
such outcomes may have on the Company, the Company believes that
any ultimate liability resulting from the outcome of such
proceedings, to the extent not otherwise provided for or covered by
insurance, will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company’s financial condition or results of
operations.
NOTE 10 – SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
PREFERRED STOCK
At
December 31, 2018, the Company was authorized to issue 100,000,000
shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.001 per share, of
which 25,000,000 shares have been designated “Series A”
preferred stock.
On
February 23, 2015, the Company issued 66,625 Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock shares to Golden Globe Energy (US), LLC
(“GGE”) as part of the consideration paid for the GGE
Acquired Assets. The grant date fair value of the outstanding
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was $28,402,000, based on a
calculation using a binomial lattice option pricing
model.
As part
of the required conditions to closing the sale of the SK Energy
Note as described further in Note 10, SK Energy entered into a
Stock Purchase Agreement with GGE, pursuant to which, SK Energy
purchased, for $100,000, all of the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock.
In
connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, and immediately
following the closing of the acquisition described in the Stock
Purchase Agreement, the Company and SK Energy, as the then holder
of all of the outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, agreed to the filing of an Amendment to the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Designations of PEDEVCO Corp. Establishing
the Designations, Preferences, Limitations and Relative Rights of
Its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Preferred
Amendment”), which amended the designation of our Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Designation”) to
remove the beneficial ownership restriction contained therein,
which prevented any holder of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
from converting such Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into
shares of common stock of the Company if such conversion would
result in the holder thereof holding more than 9.9% of the
Company’s then outstanding common stock. The Company filed
the Preferred Amendment with the Secretary of State of Texas on
June 26, 2018.
The
transactions affected pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement
(i.e., the sale of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to a
party other than GGE), triggered the automatic termination,
pursuant to the terms of the Designation, of the right of GGE, upon
notice to us, to appoint designees to fill up to two (2) seats on
our Board of Directors, one of which must be an independent
director as defined by applicable rules. As such, effective upon
the closing of the Stock Purchase Agreement, our common
stockholders have the right to appoint all members of our Board of
Directors via plurality vote.
On July
3, 2018, SK Energy converted all of its 66,625 outstanding shares
of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 6,662,500 shares of
the Company’s common stock.
As of
December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, there were -0- and 66,625
shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
outstanding, respectively.
COMMON STOCK
At
December 31, 2018, the Company was authorized to issue 200,000,000
shares of its common stock with a par value of $0.001 per
share.
During
the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company issued shares of
common stock and restricted common stock as follows: 600,000 shares
of common stock issued to SK Energy with a fair value of $185,000
based on the market price on the date of issuance, 80,000 shares of
restricted stock were issued to our former CEO with a fair value of
$27,000 based on the market price on the date of issuance, and
30,848 shares were issued to employees for the cashless exercise of
options. The 80,000 shares of
restricted stock were issued in consideration for Mr.
Ingriselli rejoining the Company as its President and Chief
Executive Officer in May 2018. Mr. Ingriselli subsequently resigned
as President and Chief Executive Officer on September 27, 2018 and
the shares of restricted stock fully vested on October 1, 2018
pursuant to a separation agreement entered into with
him.
In
addition, during the year ended December 31, 2018, SK Energy
converted all of its 66,625 outstanding shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock into 6,662,500 shares of the
Company’s common stock. SK Energy also converted an aggregate
of $167,000 of interest accrued under the SK Energy Note into
75,118 shares of the Company’s common stock, based on a
conversion price equal to $2.18 per share, pursuant to the conversion terms of the SK Energy
Note.
Also,
restricted stock awards were granted to Messrs. Frank C. Ingriselli
(then President) and Clark R. Moore (Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary) of 60,000 and 50,000 shares,
respectively, under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2012
Equity Incentive Plan during the year ended December 31, 2018. The
restricted stock awards vest as follows: 100% on the six-month
anniversary of the grant date. These shares have a total fair value
of $164,000 based on the market price on the issuance date. Upon
Mr. Ingriselli’s resignation, noted above, the 60,000 shares
of restricted stock fully vested on October 1, 2018 pursuant to a
separation agreement entered into with him.
Subsequent
restricted stock awards were granted to 12 employees and two
Directors totaling an aggregate of 714,000 shares (90,000 shares on
September 27, 2018 and 624,000 shares on December 12, 2018), under
the Company’s Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive
Plan. The grants for a total of 40,000 of the restricted stock
awards vest as follows: 100% on the one-year anniversary of the
grant date. These shares have a total fair value of $88,000 based
on the market price on the issuance date. The grant for 50,000
shares of restricted stock vest as follows: 50% on the one-year
anniversary of the grant date and 50% on the second-year
anniversary of the grant date. These shares have a total fair value
of $109,000 based on the market price on the issuance date. The
grant for 624,000 shares of restricted stock vest as follows: 33.3%
on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, 33.3% on the
two-year anniversary of the grant date and 33.3% on the third-year
anniversary of the grant date. These shares have a total fair value
of $830,000 based on the market price on the issuance date. In each
case above the restricted shares are subject to the recipient of
the shares being an employee of or consultant to the Company on
such vesting date, and subject to the terms and conditions of a
Restricted Shares Grant Agreement, as applicable, entered into by
and between the Company and the recipient. In addition, 65,017
shares were issued to an employee for the cashless exercise of
options, and 192,208 shares were issued for the exercise of
warrants at an exercise price of $0.322 per share for an aggregate
exercise price of $64,000.
During
the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company issued a total of
590,335 shares of common stock under the At Market Issuance Sales
Agreement with National Securities Corporation effective September
29, 2016, for gross proceeds of $641,000, and proceeds net of all
issuance costs equal to $531,000.
On
December 28, 2017, the Company issued 1,270,000 shares of its
restricted common stock with a fair value of $394,000, based on the
market price on the date of issuance, to certain of its employees
and four then Directors (150,000 shares to each Director with a
fair value of $47,000 for each Director), including 410,000 shares
to its then Chief Executive Officer and President, Michael L.
Peterson, and 260,000 shares to its Executive Vice President and
General Counsel, Clark R. Moore, all pursuant to the
Company’s 2012 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan and
in connection with the Company’s 2017 annual equity incentive
compensation review process. For the employee shares, 50% of the
shares vest on the six-month anniversary of the grant date, 30%
vest on the twelve-month anniversary of the grant date and 20% vest
on the eighteen-month anniversary of the grant date, all contingent
upon the recipient’s continued service with the
Company.
On
December 28, 2017, the Company and Mr. David Z. Steinberg, a then
member of the Company’s Board of Directors, entered into a
Rescission Agreement pursuant to which the Company and Mr.
Steinberg agreed to cancel and rescind an aggregate of 75,975
shares of restricted Company Common Stock originally granted to Mr.
Steinberg pursuant to the Board Compensation Program in 2015 and
2016.
As of
December 31, 2018, there were 15,808,445 shares of common stock
outstanding.
Stock-based
compensation expense recorded related to restricted stock during
the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $659,000 and
$586,000, respectively. The remaining amount of unamortized
stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock
at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $967,000 and $408,000,
respectively.
The
calculation of earnings (loss) per share for the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (amounts in thousands,
except share and per share data):
Numerator:
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
$59,607
|
$(13,091)
|
|
|
|
Effect
of common stock equivalents
|
-
|
-
|
Net
income (loss) adjusted for common stock equivalents
|
$59,607
|
$(13,091)
|
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares – basic
|
11,168,490
|
5,753,827
|
|
|
|
Dilutive
effect of common stock equivalents:
|
|
|
Options
and Warrants
|
144,756
|
-
|
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
Weighted
average common shares – diluted
|
11,313,246
|
5,753,827
|
|
|
|
Earnings
(loss) per common share – basic
|
$4.80
|
$(2.28)
|
|
|
|
Earnings
(loss) per common share – diluted
|
$4.74
|
$(2.28)
|
For the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the following share
equivalents related to convertible debt and preferred stock, and
options and warrants to purchase shares of common stock were
excluded from the computation of diluted net income (loss) per
share as the inclusion of such shares would be
anti-dilutive.
|
|
|
Common
Shares Issuable for:
|
|
|
Convertible
Debt
|
1,491,589
|
150,569
|
Options
and Warrants
|
15,449,559
|
1,732,100
|
Series
A Preferred Stock
|
-
|
6,662,500
|
Total
|
16,941,148
|
8,542,295
|
NOTE 11 – STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
Blast 2003 Stock Option Plan and 2009 Stock Incentive
Plan
Prior
to June 2005, the Company was known as Blast Energy Services, Inc.
(“Blast”). Under Blast’s 2003 Stock Option Plan
and 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, options to acquire 298 and 343
shares of common stock were granted and remained outstanding and
exercisable as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. No new
options were issued under these plans in 2018 or 2017.
2012 Incentive Plan
On July
27, 2012, the shareholders of the Company approved the 2012 Equity
Incentive Plan (the “2012 Incentive Plan”), which was
previously approved by the Board of Directors on June 27, 2012, and
authorizes the issuance of various forms of stock-based awards,
including incentive or non-qualified options, restricted stock
awards, performance shares and other securities as described in
greater detail in the 2012 Incentive Plan, to the Company’s
employees, officers, directors and consultants. The 2012 Incentive
Plan was amended on June 27, 2014, October 7, 2015 and December 28,
2016, December 28, 2017 and September 27, 2018 to increase by
500,000, 300,000, 500,000, 1,500,000, and 3,000,000 (to 6,000,000
currently), respectively, the number of shares of common stock
reserved for issuance under the 2012 Incentive Plan.
A total
of 6,000,000 shares of common stock are eligible to be issued under
the 2012 Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2018, of which 3,200,130
shares have been issued as restricted stock, 768,250 shares are
subject to issuance upon exercise of issued and outstanding
options, and 2,031,620 shares remain available for future issuance
as of December 31, 2018.
PEDCO 2012 Equity Incentive Plan
As a
result of the July 27, 2012 merger by and between the Company,
Blast Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned Nevada subsidiary of the
Company (“MergerCo”), and Pacific Energy Development
Corp., a privately-held Nevada corporation (“PEDCO”)
pursuant to which MergerCo was merged with and into PEDCO, with
PEDCO continuing as the surviving entity and becoming a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, in a transaction structured
to qualify as a tax-free reorganization (the “Merger”),
the Company assumed the PEDCO 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the
“PEDCO Incentive Plan”), which was adopted by PEDCO on
February 9, 2012. The PEDCO Incentive Plan authorized PEDCO to
issue an aggregate of 100,000 shares of common stock in the form of
restricted shares, incentive stock options, non-qualified stock
options, share appreciation rights, performance shares, and
performance units under the PEDCO Incentive Plan. As of December
31, 2018, options to purchase an aggregate of 31,016 shares of the
Company’s common stock and 55,168 shares of the
Company’s restricted common stock have been granted under
this plan (all of which were granted by PEDCO prior to the closing
of the merger with the Company, with such grants being assumed by
the Company and remaining subject to the PEDCO Incentive Plan
following the consummation of the merger). The Company does not
plan to grant any additional awards under the PEDCO Incentive
Plan.
Options
On
September 27, 2018, the Company granted options to purchase an
aggregate of 120,000 and 100,000 shares of common stock an exercise
price of $2.19 per share to John J. Scelfo, our Chairman, and H.
Douglas Evans, a Director, respectively, all pursuant to the
Company’s 2012 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan and
in consideration for their joining the Company’s board of
directors and committees thereof. The options have a term of five
years and fully vest on the one-year anniversary of the vesting
commencement date contingent upon the recipient’s continued
service with the Company. The aggregate fair value of the options
on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes model, was $417,000.
Variables used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for the
options issued include: (1) a discount rate of 2.75%, (2) expected
term of 3.0 years, (3) expected volatility of 171%, and (4) zero
expected dividends.
On
December 12, 2018, the Company granted options to purchase an
aggregate of 50,000 shares of common stock to an employee at an
exercise price of $1.33 per share. The options have a term of five
years and fully vest in December 2021. 33.3% vest each subsequent
year from the date of grant contingent upon the recipient’s
continued service with the Company. The aggregate fair value of the
options on the date of grant, using the Black-Scholes model, was
$59,000. Variables used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model
for the options issued include: (1) a discount rate of 2.75%, (2)
expected term of 3.5 years, (3) expected volatility of 164%, and
(4) zero expected dividends.
On
December 28, 2017, the Company granted options to purchase an
aggregate of 225,000 shares of common stock to certain of its
employees at an exercise price of $0.31 per share, including an
option to purchase 150,000 shares to its then-Chief Financial
Officer Gregory L. Overholtzer, pursuant to that certain Consulting
Agreement, dated January 1, 2019, entered into by and between the
Company and Mr. Overholtzer in connection with his separation from
the Company on December 31, 2018, subject to Mr. Overholtzer
continuing to provide accounting and
financial reporting services and support to the Company through
April 7, 2019, the Company agreed to accelerate the vesting of
these options in full, and extend the exercise period for all of
Mr. Overholtzer’s options for a period of three (3) years
following his December 31, 2018 separation date and all
pursuant to the Company’s 2012 Amended and Restated Equity
Incentive Plan and in connection with the Company’s 2017
annual equity incentive compensation review process. The options
have a term of five years and expire in December 2022. 50% vest six
months from the date of grant, 30% vest one year from the date of
grant and 20% vest eighteen months from the date of grant, all
contingent upon the recipient’s continued service with the
Company. The aggregate fair value of the options on the date of
grant, using the Black-Scholes model, was $44,000. Variables used
in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model for the options issued in
2017 include: (1) a discount rate of 2.23%, (2) expected term of
3.5 years, (3) expected volatility of 92%, and (4) zero expected
dividends.
During
the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized
option stock-based compensation expense related to options of
$203,000 and $69,000, respectively.
The
remaining amount of unamortized stock options expense at December
31, 2018 and 2017 was $320,000 and $47,000,
respectively.
The
intrinsic value of outstanding and exercisable options at December
31, 2018 and 2017 was $36,000 and $-0-, respectively.
Option
activity during the year-ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
was:
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average Grant Price
|
Weighted Average Remaining Contract Term (Years)
|
|
Weighted Average Grant Price
|
Weighted Average Remaining Contract Term (Years)
|
Outstanding
at Beginning of Period
|
743,727
|
$3.45
|
3.8
|
518,727
|
$4.95
|
4.3
|
Granted
|
270,000
|
2.03
|
4.8
|
225,000
|
0.31
|
4.3
|
Expired/Cancelled
|
(3,495)
|
45.67
|
|
-
|
|
|
Exercised
|
(120,000)
|
0.44
|
|
-
|
|
|
Outstanding
at End of Period
|
890,232
|
$3.26
|
3.3
|
743,727
|
$3.45
|
3.8
|
Exercisable
at End of Period
|
575,232
|
$4.19
|
2.5
|
500,727
|
$5.09
|
3.2
|
Summary
of options outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2018 was
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$1.33
|
5.0
|
50,000
|
-
|
2.19
|
4.7
|
220,000
|
-
|
0.30
|
4.0
|
125,000
|
80,000
|
5.10
|
3.2
|
109,083
|
109,083
|
3.00
|
3.1
|
2,601
|
2,601
|
1.10
|
3.0
|
70,000
|
70,000
|
2.40
|
2.8
|
10,000
|
10,000
|
37.50
|
2.2
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
14.10
|
2.2
|
10,000
|
10,000
|
302.40
|
2.1
|
298
|
298
|
2.20
|
2.0
|
138,000
|
138,000
|
3.70
|
1.5
|
122,500
|
122,500
|
19.40
|
1.0
|
21,750
|
21,750
|
25.00
|
0.2
|
8,000
|
8,000
|
|
Total
|
890,232
|
575,232
|
Warrants
Issuance of Warrants
During
the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company granted warrants to
certain of the Junior Noteholders to purchase an aggregate of
1,448,472 shares of common stock. These warrants have a term of
three years, an exercise price of $0.322, and the estimated fair
value of $322,000 was based on the Black-Scholes option pricing
model and was recognized as warrant expense, which was included in
the net gain on debt restructuring. Variables used in the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model for the warrants issued include:
(1) a discount rate of 2.50%, (2) expected term of 3.0 years, (3)
expected volatility of 125.4%, and (4) zero expected
dividends.
Additionally,
192,208 shares were issued for the exercise of warrants (in
exchange for cash received of $64,000), 165,017 warrants expired
and 1,105,935 were cancelled and re-purchased at a total price of
$1,095,000.
The
intrinsic value of outstanding as well as exercisable warrants at
December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $65,000 and $-0-,
respectively.
Warrant
activity during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
was:
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
Weighted
Average Remaining Contract Term (Years)
|
|
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
Weighted
Average Remaining Contract Term (Years)
|
Outstanding
at Beginning of Period
|
1,231,373
|
$7.44
|
1.4
|
1,256,618
|
$8.00
|
2.4
|
Granted
|
1,448,472
|
0.32
|
|
-
|
|
|
Expired/Cancelled
|
(1,270,952)
|
1.44
|
|
(25,245)
|
33.29
|
|
Exercised
|
(192,208)
|
0.32
|
|
-
|
|
|
Outstanding
at End of Period
|
1,216,685
|
$6.36
|
0.8
|
1,231,373
|
$7.44
|
1.4
|
Exercisable
at End of Period
|
1,216,685
|
$6.36
|
0.8
|
1,231,373
|
$7.44
|
1.4
|
Summary of warrants
outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2018 was as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$0.32
|
2.5
|
150,329
|
150,329
|
10.00
|
0.9
|
370,076
|
370,076
|
2.50
|
0.4
|
596,280
|
596,280
|
25.00
|
0.2
|
100,000
|
100,000
|
|
|
1,216,685
|
1,216,685
|
NOTE 12 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
See
Note 8 above for further discussion of the debt restructuring on
June 25, 2018, the Promissory Note dated June 25, 2018 with SK
Energy in the amount of $7.7 million, and the Debt Repayment
Agreements with various previous debt holders including the
previous debt held by GGE, which was retired effective on June 25,
2018. As part of these transactions, SK Energy entered into a Stock
Purchase Agreement with GGE, the holder of the Company’s then
outstanding 66,625 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
(convertible pursuant to their terms into 6,662,500 shares of the
Company’s common stock – approximately 47.6% of the
Company’s then outstanding shares post-conversion), pursuant
to which on June 25, 2018, SK Energy purchased, for $100,000, all
of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.
As a
result of the transactions discussed above and the Notes above, as
of December 31, 2018, SK Energy is now a related party while
GGE is no longer a related party. This is based on
the 66,625 shares of the Company’s Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock owned by SK Energy, which were
subsequently converted into shares of the Company’s common
stock, pursuant to their terms, on a 100:1 basis, and the
termination, effective June 25, 2018, of GGE’s right to
appoint up to two representatives to the Company’s Board
of Directors.
The
following table reflects the related party amounts for SK Energy,
Directors and Officers included in the December 31, 2018 balance
sheet and the related party amounts for GGE included in the
December 31, 2017 balance sheet (in thousands):
|
|
|
Long-term accrued
expenses
|
$943
|
$1,733
|
Long-term secured
notes payable, net of discount of $-0- and $1,148,
respectively
|
-
|
15,930
|
Long-term secured
notes payable – subordinated
|
-
|
11,483
|
Long-term notes
payable – subordinated
|
30,200
|
-
|
Long-term notes
payable, net of discount of $161 and $-0-,
respectively
|
7,694
|
-
|
Total related party
liabilities
|
$38,837
|
$29,146
|
NOTE 13 – INCOME TAXES
Due to
the Company’s net losses, there were no provisions for income
taxes for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
On
December 22, 2017, new federal tax reform legislation was enacted
in the United States (the “2017 Tax Act”), resulting in
significant changes from previous tax law. The 2017 Tax Act
reduces the federal corporate income tax rate to 21% from 34%
effective January 1, 2018. The rate change, along with
certain immaterial changes in tax basis resulting from the 2017 Tax
Act, resulted in a reduction of the Company’s deferred tax
assets of $18,589,000 and a corresponding reduction in the
valuation allowance during the year-ended December 31, 2017. The
following table reconciles the U.S. federal statutory income tax
rate in effect for the years ended December 1, 2018 and 2017, and
the Company’s effective tax rate:
|
|
|
U.S.
federal statutory income tax (benefit)
|
21.00%
|
(34.00%)
|
State
and local income tax, net of benefits
|
6.64%
|
(4.63%)
|
Amortization
of debt discount
|
0.73%
|
1.22%
|
Officer
life insurance and D&O insurance
|
0.08%
|
0.08%
|
Stock-based
compensation
|
0.44%
|
0.70%
|
Utilization
of net operating loss carryforwards
|
(30.18%)
|
0.00%
|
Tax
rate changes and other
|
0.00%
|
51.12%
|
Valuation
allowance for deferred income tax assets
|
1.29%
|
(14.49%)
|
Effective
income tax rate
|
0.00%
|
0.00%
|
Deferred income tax
assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows (in
thousands):
Deferred Tax Assets
|
|
|
Difference
in depreciation, depletion, and capitalization methods – oil
and natural gas properties
|
$4,334
|
$3,649
|
Net
operating loss – federal taxes
|
30,324
|
30,322
|
Net
operating loss – state taxes
|
5,397
|
5,398
|
Total
deferred tax asset
|
40,055
|
39,369
|
Less
valuation allowance
|
(40,055)
|
(39,369)
|
Total
deferred tax assets
|
$-
|
$-
|
In
assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management
considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or
all of deferred assets will not be realized. The ultimate
realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the
generation of future taxable income during the periods in which
those temporary differences become deductible.
Utilization of NOL
and tax credit carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual
limitation due to ownership change limitations that may have
occurred or that could occur in the future, as required by the
Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), as amended, as well
as similar state provisions. In general, an “ownership
change” as defined by the Code results from a transaction or
series of transactions over a three-year period resulting in an
ownership change of more than 50 percent of the outstanding stock
of a company by certain shareholders or public groups.
Based
on the available objective evidence, and events described below in
Note 14, management believes it is more likely than not that the
net deferred tax assets will not be fully realizable. Accordingly,
management has applied a full valuation allowance against its net
deferred tax assets at December 31, 2018 and 2017. The net change
in the total valuation allowance from December 31, 2017 to
December 31, 2018 was an increase of $686,000.
The
Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties
accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income
tax expense. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not
have any significant uncertain tax positions or unrecognized tax
benefits. The Company did not have associated accrued interest or
penalties, nor was any interest expense or penalties recognized for
the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
As of
December 31, 2018, the Company had federal net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $86,000,000 which if not utilized
will expire beginning in 2023.
The
Company currently has tax returns open for examination by the
Internal Revenue Service for all years since 2014.
NOTE 14 – SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
On January 11, 2019, the Company borrowed an
additional $15.0 million from SK Energy, through the issuance of a
convertible promissory note in the amount of $15.0 million (the
“January 2019 Convertible Note”). The January 2019 Convertible Note accrues interest
monthly at 8.5% per annum, which is payable on the maturity date,
unless otherwise converted into shares of the Company’s
common stock as described below. The January 2019 Convertible Note
and all accrued interest thereon are convertible into shares of the
Company’s common stock, at the option of the holder thereof,
at a conversion price equal to $1.50 per share. Further, the
conversion of the January 2019 Convertible Note is subject to a
49.9% conversion limitation which prevents the conversion of any
portion thereof into common stock of the Company if such conversion
would result in SK Energy or any of its affiliates beneficially
owning more than 49.9% of the Company’s outstanding shares of
common stock. The January 2019 Convertible Note is due and payable
on January 11, 2022, but may be prepaid at any time without
penalty.
On
February 1, 2019, for consideration of $700,000, the Company
completed an asset purchase from Manzano, LLC and Manzano Energy
Partners II, LLC, whereby the Company purchased approximately
18,000 net leasehold acres, ownership and operated production from
one horizontal well currently producing from the San Andres play in
the Permian Basin, ownership of three additional shut-in wells and
ownership of one saltwater disposal well.
On
February 15, 2019, the Company and SK Energy agreed to amend the
Convertible Notes and October 2018 Convertible Note described in
Note 8, as well as the January 2019 Convertible Note, whereby each
of the notes were amended to remove the conversion limitation that
previously prevented SK Energy from converting any portion of the
notes into common stock of the Company if such conversion would
have resulted in SK Energy beneficially owning more than 49.9% of
the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock
Immediately
following the entry into the Amendment, on February 15, 2019, SK
Energy elected to convert (i) all $15,000,000 of the outstanding
principal and all $125,729 of accrued interest under the January
2019 Note into common stock of the Company at a conversion price of
$1.50 per share as set forth in the January 2019 Note into
10,083,819 shares of restricted common stock of the Company, and
(ii) all $7,000,000 of the outstanding principal and all $186,776
of accrued interest under the October 2018 Note into common stock
of the Company at a conversion price of $1.79 per share as set
forth in the October 2018 Note into 4,014,959 shares of restricted
common stock of the Company.
On
March 1, 2019, the Company and SK Energy entered into a First
SK Energy Note Amendment to Promissory Note (the “SK Energy
Note Amendment”) which amended the $7.7 million principal
amount SK Energy Note, to provide SK Energy the right, at any time,
at its option, to convert the principal and interest owed under
such SK Energy Note, into shares of the Company’s common
stock, at a conversion price of $2.13 per share. The SK Energy Note
previously only included a conversion feature whereby the Company
had the option to pay quarterly interest payments on the SK Energy
Note in shares of Company common stock instead of cash, at a
conversion price per share calculated based on the average closing
sales price of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE
American for the ten trading days immediately preceding the last
day of the calendar quarter immediately prior to the quarterly
payment date.
In
addition, on March 1, 2019, the holders of $1,500,000 in aggregate
principal amount of Convertible Promissory Notes issued by the
Company on August 1, 2018 (the “August 2018 Notes”)
sold their August 2018 Notes at face value plus accrued and unpaid
interest through March 1, 2019 to SK Energy (the “August 2018
Note Sale”). Holders which sold their August 2018 Notes
pursuant to the August 2018 Note Sale to SK Energy include an
executive officer of SK Energy ($200,000 in principal amount of
August 2018 Notes); a trust affiliated with John J. Scelfo, a
director of the Company ($500,000 in principal amount of August
2018 Notes); an entity affiliated with Ivar Siem, a director of the
Company, and J. Douglas Schick the President of the Company
($500,000 in principal amount of August 2018 Notes); and Harold
Douglas Evans, a director of the Company ($200,000 in principal
amount of August 2018 Notes).
Following
the August 2018 Note Sale, the Company’s sole issued and
outstanding debt was the (i) $7,700,000 in principal, plus accrued
interest, under the SK Energy Note held by SK Energy, (ii) an
aggregate of $23,500,000 in principal, plus accrued interest, under
the August 2018 Notes and SK Energy $22 million Convertible Note
held by SK Energy, and (iii) $100,000 in principal, plus accrued
interest, under an August 2018 Note held by an unaffiliated holder
(the “Unaffiliated Holder”).
Immediately
following the effectiveness of the SK Energy Note Amendment and
August 2018 Note Sale, on March 1, 2019, SK Energy and the
Unaffiliated Holder elected to convert all $31,300,000 of
outstanding principal and an aggregate of $1,462,818 of accrued
interest under the SK Energy Note, SK Energy $22 million
Convertible Note and August 2018 Notes into common stock of the
Company at a conversion price of $2.13 per share (the
“Conversion Price” and the “Conversions”)
as set forth in the SK Energy Note, as amended, and the August 2018
Notes and SK Energy $22 million Convertible Note (collectively, the
“Notes”), into an aggregate of 15,381,605 shares of
restricted common stock of the Company (the “Conversion
Shares”).
As
a result of the Conversions, the Company now has no debt on its
balance sheet and 45,288,828 shares of common stock issued and
outstanding.
On
March 7, 2019, Red Hawk sold rights to 85.5 net acres of oil and
gas leases located in Weld County, Colorado, to a third party, for
an aggregate of $1.2 million. The sale agreement included a
provision whereby the purchaser was required to assign Red Hawk 85
net acres of leaseholds in an area located where the Company
already own other leases in Weld County, Colorado, within nine
months from the date of the sale, or to repay the Company up to
$200,000 (proportionally adjusted for the amount of leasehold
delivered).
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCING
ACTIVITIES
(UNAUDITED)
The
following disclosures for the Company are made in accordance with
authoritative guidance regarding disclosures about oil and natural
gas producing activities. Users of this information should be aware
that the process of estimating quantities of “proved,”
“proved developed,” and “proved
undeveloped” crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas
reserves is complex, requiring significant subjective decisions in
the evaluation of all available geological, engineering and
economic data for each reservoir. The data for a given reservoir
may also change substantially over time as a result of numerous
factors including, but not limited to, additional development
activity, evolving production history and continual reassessment of
the viability of production under varying economic conditions.
Consequently, material revisions (upward or downward) to existing
reserve estimates may occur from time to time. Although reasonable
effort is made to ensure that reserve estimates reported represent
the most accurate assessments possible, the significance of the
subjective decisions required and variances in available data for
various reservoirs make these estimates generally less precise than
other estimates presented in connection with financial statement
disclosures.
Proved
reserves represent estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas
liquids and natural gas that geoscience and engineering data can
estimate, with reasonable certainty, to be economically producible
from a given day forward from known reservoirs under economic
conditions, operating methods and government regulation before the
time at which contracts providing the right to operate expire,
unless evidence indicates that renewal is reasonably certain,
regardless of whether deterministic or probabilistic methods are
used for the estimation.
Proved
developed reserves are proved reserves expected to be recovered
under operating methods being utilized at the time the estimates
were made, through wells and equipment in place or if the cost of
any required equipment is relatively minor compared to the cost of
a new well.
Proved
undeveloped reserves are reserves that are expected to be recovered
from new wells on undrilled acreage, or from existing wells where a
relatively major expenditure is required. Reserves on undrilled
acreage are limited to those directly offsetting development
spacing areas that are reasonably certain of production when
drilled, unless evidence using reliable technology exists that
establishes reasonable certainty of economic producibility at
greater distances. Undrilled locations can be classified as having
undeveloped reserves only if a development plan has been adopted
indicating that they are scheduled to be drilled within five years,
unless the specific circumstances justify a longer time. Estimates
for proved undeveloped reserves are not attributed to any acreage
for which an application of fluid injection or other improved
recovery technique is contemplated, unless such techniques have
been proved effective by actual projects in the same reservoir or
an analogous reservoir, or by other evidence using reliable
technology establishing reasonable certainty.
PROVED RESERVE SUMMARY
All
of the Company’s reserves are located in the United States.
The following tables sets forth the changes in the Company’s
net proved reserves (including developed and undeveloped reserves)
for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. Reserves estimates
as of December 31, 2018 were estimated by the independent petroleum
consulting firm Cawley, Gillespie & Associates, Inc. The
reserve report has been incorporated by reference herein as Exhibit
99.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K which these financial
statements are filed with.
|
|
|
|
|
Crude Oil (MBbls)
|
|
|
Net
proved reserves at beginning of year
|
1,942
|
2,591
|
Revisions
of previous estimates
|
(1,556)
|
(597)
|
Purchases
in place
|
11,226
|
-
|
Extensions,
discoveries and other additions
|
-
|
-
|
Sales
in place
|
-
|
-
|
Production
|
(74)
|
(52)
|
Net
proved reserves at end of year
|
11,538
|
1,942
|
|
|
|
Natural Gas (Mmcf)
|
|
|
Net
proved reserves at beginning of year
|
6,354
|
11,053
|
Revisions
of previous estimates
|
(5,874)
|
(4,599)
|
Purchases
in place
|
4,942
|
-
|
Extensions,
discoveries and other additions
|
-
|
-
|
Sales
in place
|
-
|
-
|
Production
|
(139)
|
(100)
|
Net
proved reserves at end of year
|
5,283
|
6,354
|
|
|
|
NGL (MBbbls)
|
|
|
Net
proved reserves at beginning of year
|
673
|
-
|
Revisions
of previous estimates
|
(645)
|
685
|
Purchases
in place
|
-
|
-
|
Extensions,
discoveries and other additions
|
-
|
-
|
Sales
in place
|
|
-
|
Production
|
(11)
|
(12)
|
Net
proved reserves at end of year
|
17
|
673
|
|
|
|
Oil Equivalents (MBoe)
|
|
|
Net
proved reserves at beginning of year
|
3,674
|
4,433
|
Revisions
of previous estimates
|
(3,180)
|
(678)
|
Purchases
in place
|
12,050
|
-
|
Extensions,
discoveries and other additions
|
-
|
-
|
Sales
in place
|
-
|
-
|
Production
|
(108)
|
(81)
|
Net
proved reserves at end of year
|
12,436
|
3,674
|
RESERVES
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the
Company increased its reserves by approximately 8.7 million Boe of
proved reserves. We had an increase due to the acquisition of our
Permian Basin Asset in the San Andres formation in eastern New
Mexico in September 2018. The acquisition provided approximately
12.0 million Boe of additional proved reserve while these
additional reserves were offset by the transfer of
approximately 3.3 million Boe of proved undeveloped reserves to
probable undeveloped reserves as there has been no development
within five years since the initial disclosure in our DJ Basin
Asset in Colorado.
The
following table sets forth the Company’s proved developed and
undeveloped reserves at December 31, 2018 and 2017:
|
|
|
|
|
Proved Developed Reserves
|
|
|
Crude
Oil (MBbls)
|
435
|
326
|
Natural
Gas (Mmcf)
|
341
|
800
|
NGL
(MBbls)
|
17
|
51
|
Oil Equivalents (MBoe)
|
509
|
510
|
|
|
|
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
|
|
|
Crude
Oil (MBbls)
|
11,103
|
1,616
|
Natural
Gas (Mmcf)
|
4,942
|
5,554
|
NGL
(MBbls)
|
-
|
622
|
Oil Equivalents (MBoe)
|
11,927
|
3,164
|
|
|
|
Proved Reserves
|
|
|
Crude
Oil (MBbls)
|
11,538
|
1,942
|
Natural
Gas (Mmcf)
|
5,283
|
6,354
|
NGL
(MBbls)
|
17
|
673
|
Oil Equivalents (MBoe)
|
12,436
|
3,674
|
Proved Undeveloped Reserves
As over
96% of our total proved reserves are proved undeveloped reserves
(PUDs), our PUDS also increased due to the two main factors noted
above.
We had
no proved developed non-producing Boe and we transferred no amounts
of proved undeveloped reserves to proved developed reserves during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. In addition, our plan is
to convert our remaining PUD balance as of December 31, 2018 to
proved developed reserves within five years or prior to the end of
fiscal year 2023 provided that we are able to obtain adequate
funding and capital over the time period.
Capitalized Costs Relating to
Oil and Natural Gas Producing Activities. The following table sets forth the capitalized
costs relating to the Company’s crude oil and natural gas
producing activities at December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
Proved
oil and gas properties
|
$81,507
|
$68,566
|
Unproved
oil and gas properties
|
-
|
-
|
Total oil and gas properties
|
81,507
|
68,566
|
Accumulated
depreciation and depletion and impairment
|
(21,045)
|
(33,644)
|
Net Capitalized Costs
|
$60,462
|
$34,922
|
Costs Incurred in Oil and
Natural Gas Property Acquisition, Exploration and Development
Activities. The following table
sets forth the costs incurred in the Company’s oil and
natural gas property acquisition, exploration and development
activities for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
Acquisition
of properties:
|
|
|
Proved
|
$18,867
|
$-
|
Unproved
|
-
|
-
|
Exploration
costs
|
-
|
-
|
Development
costs
|
11,096
|
-
|
Total
|
$29,963
|
$-
|
Results of Operations for Oil
and Natural Gas Producing Activities. The following table sets forth the results of
operations for oil and natural gas producing activities for the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
Crude
oil and natural gas revenues
|
$4,523
|
$3,015
|
Production
costs
|
(2,821)
|
(1,348)
|
Depreciation,
depletion, accretion and impairment
|
(6,519)
|
(22,704)
|
Results of operations for producing activities,
|
|
|
excluding corporate overhead and interest costs
|
$(4,817)
|
$(21,037)
|
Standardized Measure of
Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Natural
Gas Reserves. The following
information has been developed utilizing procedures prescribed by
ASC Topic 932 and based on crude oil and natural gas reserves and
production volumes estimated by the independent petroleum
consultants of the Company. The estimates were based on a 12-month
average of first-of-the-month commodity prices for the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2017. The following information may be
useful for certain comparison purposes, but should not be solely
relied upon in evaluating the Company or its performance. Further,
information contained in the following table should not be
considered as representative of realistic assessments of future
cash flows, nor should the Standardized Measure of Discounted
Future Net Cash Flows be viewed as representative of the current
value of the Company.
The
future cash flows presented below are based on cost rates and
statutory income tax rates in existence as of the date of the
projections and average prices over the preceding twelve months. It
is expected that material revisions to some estimates of crude oil
and natural gas reserves may occur in the future, development and
production of the reserves may occur in periods other than those
assumed, and actual prices realized and costs incurred may vary
significantly from those used.
Management
does not rely upon the following information in making investment
and operating decisions. Such decisions are based upon a wide range
of factors, including estimates of probable and possible as well as
proved reserves, and varying price and cost assumptions considered
more representative of a range of possible economic conditions that
may be anticipated.
The
following table sets forth the standardized measure of discounted
future net cash flows from projected production of the
Company’s oil and natural gas reserves as of December 31,
2018 and 2017 (in thousands):
|
|
|
Future
cash inflows
|
$691,921
|
$120,897
|
Future
production costs
|
(203,418)
|
(26,743)
|
Future
development costs
|
(214,437)
|
(36,185)
|
Future
income taxes
|
(79,315)
|
(9)
|
Future
net cash flows
|
194,751
|
57,960
|
Discount
to present value at 10% annual rate
|
(63,933)
|
(26,737)
|
Standardized
measure of discounted future net
|
|
|
cash
flows relating to proved oil and gas
|
|
|
reserves
|
$130,818
|
$31,223
|
Changes in Standardized
Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows. The following table sets forth the changes in the
standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows for each
of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
Standardized
measure, beginning of year
|
$31,223
|
$19,154
|
Crude
oil and natural gas sales, net of production costs
|
(2,636)
|
(1,595)
|
Net
changes in prices and production costs
|
1,953
|
8,931
|
Extensions,
discoveries, additions and improved recovery
|
-
|
-
|
Changes
in estimated future development costs
|
341
|
(60)
|
Development
costs incurred
|
-
|
-
|
Revisions
of previous quantity estimates
|
(30,096)
|
(6,316)
|
Accretion
of discount
|
3,123
|
1,916
|
Net
change in income taxes
|
(50,467)
|
(7)
|
Purchases
of reserves in place
|
180,122
|
-
|
Sales
of reserves in place
|
-
|
-
|
Change
in timing of estimated future production
|
(2,745)
|
9,200
|
Standardized
measure, end of year
|
$130,818
|
$31,223
|
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH
ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND
PROCEDURES.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls
and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to
be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time
period specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is
accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, as
appropriate, in order to allow timely decisions in connection with
required disclosure.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under
the supervision and with the participation of our management,
including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and
operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in
Rules 13a-15I and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act as of the end of
the period covered by this Annual Report. Based on this evaluation,
our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded
that as of December 31, 2018, that our disclosure controls and
procedures were not effective.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting
Management of the
Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules
13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. The Company’s
internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with GAAP, but because of its inherent
limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. The Company’s internal
control over financial reporting includes those policies and
procedures that are designed to:
●
pertain to the
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and
fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of
the Company;
●
provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and
that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only
in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of
the Company; and
●
provide reasonable
assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized
acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that
could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Management assessed
the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2018. In making this
assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee
of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal
Control — Integrated Framework issued in 1992. Based on our
assessment, management believes that the Company’s internal
controls over financial reporting were not effective as of December
31, 2018.
In
addition, the Company recognizes that the most current criteria set
forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission in Internal Control — Integrated Framework was
issued in 2013. The Company plans to take the following steps to
become compliant in future years to the most current
criteria:
●
Perform an
assessment of the current inventory of internal controls over
financial reporting against the most current
Framework;
●
Identify any
control enhancements or changes which would more effectively
address the most current Framework;
●
Implement any
control enhancements; and
●
Report the
effectiveness of the controls under the Integrated Framework that
was issued in 2013.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There
were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting
during the year ended December 31, 2018 that have materially
affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal controls over financial reporting, including any
corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and
material weaknesses.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
The
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to
provide the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer with reasonable assurances that the
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures will achieve
their objectives. However, the Company’s management does not
expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures
or the Company’s internal control over financial reporting
can or will prevent all human error. A control system, no matter
how well designed and implemented, can provide only reasonable, not
absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are
met. Furthermore, the design of a control system must reflect the
fact that there are internal resource constraints, and the benefit
of controls must be weighed relative to their corresponding costs.
Because of the limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of
controls can provide complete assurance that all control issues and
instances of error, if any, within the Company’s company are
detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that
judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can
occur due to human error or mistake. Additionally, controls, no
matter how well designed, could be circumvented by the individual
acts of specific persons within the organization. The design of any
system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions
about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no
assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated
objectives under all potential future conditions.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting
Firm
This
report does not include an attestation report of our registered
public accounting firm regarding our internal controls over
financial reporting. Under SEC rules, such attestation is not
required for smaller reporting companies such as
ourselves.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
Executive Officers, Directors and Director Nominees
The
following table sets forth the name, age and position held by each
of our executive officers and directors. Directors are elected for
a period of one year and thereafter serve until the next annual
meeting at which their successors are duly elected by the
shareholders.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
John J.
Scelfo
|
|
61
|
|
Chairman
of the Board
|
Dr.
Simon Kukes
|
|
72
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director
|
J.
Douglas Schick
|
|
43
|
|
President
|
Paul
Pinkston
|
|
51
|
|
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
Clark
R. Moore
|
|
46
|
|
Executive
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
|
Ivar
Siem
|
|
72
|
|
Director
|
H.
Douglas Evans
|
|
70
|
|
Director
|
There
is no arrangement or understanding between our directors and
executive officers and any other person pursuant to which any
director or officer was or is to be selected as a director or
officer, and there is no arrangement, plan or understanding as to
whether non-management shareholders will exercise their voting
rights to continue to elect the current board of directors (the
“Board”). There are also
no arrangements, agreements or understandings to our knowledge
between non-management shareholders that may directly or indirectly
participate in or influence the management of our
affairs.
Business Experience
The
following is a brief description of the business experience and
background of our current directors and executive officers. There
are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive
officers.
John J. Scelfo, Chairman of the Board (Director since July
2018)
Mr.
Scelfo brings nearly 40 years of experience in oil and gas
management, finance and accounting to the Board. Mr. Scelfo
currently serves as principal and owner of JJS Capital Group, a
Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based investment company that he formed in
April 2014. Prior to forming JJS Capital, Mr. Scelfo served as a
director of Green Earth Technologies Inc, a New York-based
automotive services company (from February to August 2014), Senior
Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development (from February
2004 to March 2014), and Chief Financial Officer, Worldwide
Exploration & Producing (from April 2003 to January 2004) of
New York, New York-based Hess Corporation, a large integrated oil
and gas company, where he served as one of eight members of the
company’s Executive Committee and was responsible for the
company’s corporate treasury, strategy and upstream
commercial activities. Prior to joining Hess Corporation, Mr.
Scelfo served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Sirius Satellite Radio (from April 2001 to March 2003),
as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Asia Pacific &
Japan for Dell Computer (November 1999 to March 2001), and in
various roles of increasing responsibility with Mobil Corporation
(from June 1980 to October 1999).
Mr.
Scelfo holds a bachelor’s degree and an M.B.A. from Cornell
University. In 2011, he was awarded Cornell ILR School’s
Alpern Award given to those who “have been exceedingly
generous in their support of the ILR School in general and in
support of Off-Campus Credit Programs in
particular”.
Dr. Simon Kukes, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Chief
Executive and Director since July 2018)
Dr.
Kukes is an American citizen. Since May 2013, Dr. Kukes has served
as the principal of SK Energy LLC, a consulting company. Dr. Kukes
was the CEO at Samara-Nafta, a Russian oil company, partnering with
Hess Corporation; a U.S. based international oil company, from June
2004 to April 2013. He was President and Chief Executive of Tyumen
Oil Company (TNK) from 1998 until its merger with British Petroleum
(BP) in 2003. He then joined Yukos Oil as chairman. He also served
as chief executive of Yukos from 2003 until June 2004. In 1999, he
was voted one of the Top 10 Central European Executives by the Wall
Street Journal Europe and in 2003 he was named by The Financial
Times and PricewaterhouseCoopers as one of the 64 most respected
business leaders in the world.
Dr.
Kukes has a primary degree in Chemical Engineering from the
Institute for Chemical Technology, Moscow and a PhD in Physical
Chemistry from the Academy of Sciences, Moscow and was a
Post-Doctoral Fellow of Rice University in Houston, Texas. He is
the holder of more than 130 patents and has published more than 60
scientific papers.
J. Douglas Schick, President
Mr.
Schick has over twenty years of experience in the oil and gas
industry. Prior to joining the Company as President on August 1,
2018, Mr. Schick was employed by American Resources, Inc., a
Houston, Texas-based privately-held independent oil and gas company
which he co-founded and continues to serve as Chief Executive
Officer (from August 2017 to the present) and formerly as Chief
Financial Officer and Vice President of Business Development (from
August 2013 to August 2017) provided that Mr. Schick’s
service to American Resources requires only minimal time commitment
from Mr. Schick that does not conflict with his duties and
responsibilities to the Company.. Prior to starting American
Resources, Mr. Schick served as the founder, owner and principal of
J. Douglas Enterprises, a Houston, Texas-based exploration &
production (E&P) mergers and acquisitions (M&A), business
development and financial consulting firm (from June 2011 to the
present provided that Mr. Schick’s service to J. Douglas
Enterprises requires only minimal time commitment from Mr. Schick
that does not conflict with his duties and responsibilities to the
Company), as Vice President of Finance (from January 2011 until its
sale in June 2011) for Highland Oil and Gas, a private
equity-backed E&P company headquartered in Houston, Texas, as
Manager of Planning and then Director of Planning at Houston,
Texas-based Mariner Energy, Inc. (from December 2006 until its sale
to Apache Corp. in December 2010), and in various roles of
increasing responsibility in finance, planning, M&A, treasury
and accounting at The Houston Exploration Company, ConocoPhillips
and Shell Oil Company (from 1998 to 2006). Mr. Schick currently
serves on the Board of Directors of Rockdale Marcellus, LLC, a
Houston, Texas-based subsidiary of Rockdale Energy, LLC engaged in
oil and gas development.
Mr.
Schick holds a BBA in Finance from New Mexico State University and
an MBA with a specialization in Finance from Tulane
University.
Paul A. Pinkston, Chief Accounting Officer
Mr.
Pinkston brings over 20 years of accounting, compliance, and
financial reporting expertise to the Company, with extensive
experience in handling and managing corporate compliance, financial
reporting and audits, and other regulatory functions for companies
engaged in the oil and gas industry in the U.S. Prior to
joining the Company on December 1, 2018, from August 2017 to
February 2018, Mr. Pinkston served as Corporate Controller and
Secretary for Trecora Resources (NYSE: TREC), a Sugar Land,
Texas-based petrochemical manufacturing and customer processing
service company. Prior to joining Trecora Resources, from May
2013 to June 2017, Mr. Pinkston served in various roles of
increasing authority and responsibility at Camber Energy, Inc.
(NYSE American: CEI), a Houston, Texas-based oil and gas
exploration and production company, including as Camber
Energy’s Chief Accounting Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
(August 2016 to June 2017), and as its Director of Financial
Reporting (May 2013 to August 2016). Before joining Camber
Energy, Mr. Pinkston served as a Senior Consultant with Sirius
Solutions LLLP, where he performed accounting, audit and finance
consulting services (January 2006 to May 2013), as a Corporate
Auditor performing internal audits for Baker Hughes, Inc. (January
2002 to November 2005), and as a Senior Auditor, conducting public
and private audits, at Arthur Andersen LLP (from September 1998 to
November 2001).
Mr.
Pinkston received a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance
and Marketing) degree from the University of Texas and earned a
Master of Business Administration (Accounting) degree from the
University of Houston. Mr. Pinkston is a Certified Public
Accountant registered in the State of Texas.
Clark R. Moore, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary
Mr.
Moore has served as our Executive Vice President, General Counsel,
and Secretary since our acquisition of Pacific Energy Development
in July 2012 and has served as the Executive Vice President,
General Counsel, and Secretary of Pacific Energy Development since
its inception in February 2011. Mr. Moore began his career in 2000
as a corporate attorney at the law firm of Venture Law Group
located in Menlo Park, California, which later merged into Heller
Ehrman LLP in 2003. In 2004, Mr. Moore left Heller Ehrman LLP and
launched a legal consulting practice focused on representation of
private and public company clients in the energy and high-tech
industries. In September 2006, Mr. Moore joined Erin Energy
Corporation (OTCMKTS:ERN) (formerly CAMAC Energy, Inc.), an
independent energy company headquartered in Houston, Texas, as its
acting General Counsel and continued to serve in that role through
February 2011. In addition, since June 1, 2018, Mr. Moore has
served as a partner at Foundation Law Group, LLP.
Mr.
Moore received his J.D. with Distinction from Stanford Law School
and his B.A. with Honors from the University of
Washington.
Ivar Siem, Director (Director since July 2018)
Mr.
Siem has broad experience from both the upstream and the service
segments of the oil and gas industry, has been the founder of
several companies, and has been involved in several roll-ups and
restructuring processes throughout his career. He currently serves
as the Chairman of American Resources, Inc., and as a Managing
Partner of its affiliated investment vehicle, Norexas, LLC, both
privately-held Houston, Texas-based companies active in oil and gas
investment, acquisition and development, and has served in that
capacity since 2013. Previously, Mr. Siem served as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of American Resources, Inc. (from 2013
through July 2017) and Chairman of Blue Dolphin Energy Company
(OTCQX: BDCO), a Houston, Texas-based independent refiner and
marketer of petroleum products (from 1990 to June 2014, and
President and CEO from 1990 until 2012). From January 2007 to
present, Mr. Siem served as President of Drillmar Oil and Gas, Inc.
(“Drillmar
Oil”), a subsidiary of Drillmar Energy, Inc. Drillmar
Oil filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding in November
2009 from which it emerged in October 2010. In 1999, Mr. Siem
acquired a small distressed public company, American Resources
Offshore, Inc. and worked with creditors and existing management to
achieve a voluntary reorganization. From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Siem
served as Chairman and interim CEO of DI Industries/Grey Wolf
Drilling while restructuring the company financially and
operationally. Through several mergers and acquisitions, the
company emerged as one of the leading land drilling contractors.
The company was subsequently acquired by Precision Drilling in
2008. From 1996 to 1997 Mr. Siem served as Chairman and CEO of
Seateam Technology ASA. Prior to Seateam, Mr. Siem held various
executive roles at multiple E&P and oil field service
companies. Mr. Siem started his career at Amoco working as an
engineer in various segments of upstream operations.
Mr.
Siem is currently on the Board of Directors at Siem Industries,
Inc., the Drillmar Energy Group, and Petrolia Energy Corporation
(OTCQB: BBLS), and has served on the board of several privately
held and publicly traded companies including Frupor SA, Avenir,
ASA, and DSND ASA. Siem Industries is a holding company which
invests in shipping and offshore oil and gas construction services.
Frupor SA, is a Portuguese agricultural business, which Mr. Siem
cofounded with his brother O. M. Siem in 1988.
Mr.
Siem holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a
minor in Petroleum from the University of California, Berkeley and
an Executive MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth
University.
H. Douglas Evans, Director (Director since September
2018)
Mr.
Evans has more than 45 years of oil and gas industry experience, 40
years of which have been spent in various executive management
positions with Gulf Interstate Engineering Company
(“GIE”), a privately-held
Houston, Texas-based firm specializing in the engineering of oil,
gas and liquid pipeline systems, where he currently serves as
Chairman since November 2017, and previously as President and Chief
Executive Officer (July 2004-November 2017), President (February
2003-November 2017), Senior Vice President (September 1994-July
2004), and in various other roles since he joined the company in
1978. During Mr. Evans’ tenure as an executive at GIE, he has
successfully overseen the company’s organic growth from $25
million in sales in 1996 to over $250 million in sales in recent
years, with GIE involved in almost every major onshore oil and gas
pipeline in the world over the last 20 years.
Mr.
Evans holds a B.S. Civil Engineering and Master of Business
Administration from Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario,
and is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario and Alberta,
Canada. Mr. Evans currently serves as a member of the Board of
Directors and Chairman of GIE (since November 2017), a member of
the Board of Directors of Gulf Interstate Field Services, a GIE
affiliate engaged in providing oil and gas pipeline construction
inspection services (since February 2013), the Board of Directors
and Chairman of the Strategy Committee for the International Pipe
Line and Offshore Contractors Association (IPLOCA) (since Sptember
2010), a member of the Board of Houston, Texas-based Crossroads
School, Inc. (since 2004), and a former member of the Board of the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Texas Gulf Coast
Chapter.
Director Qualifications
The
Board believes that each of our directors is highly qualified to
serve as a member of the Board. Each of the directors has
contributed to the mix of skills, core competencies and
qualifications of the Board. When evaluating candidates for
election to the Board, the Board seeks candidates with certain
qualities that it believes are important, including integrity, an
objective perspective, good judgment, and leadership skills. Our
directors are highly educated and have diverse backgrounds and
talents and extensive track records of success in what we believe
are highly relevant positions.
Family Relationships
None of
our directors are related by blood, marriage, or adoption to any
other director, executive officer, or other key
employees.
Arrangements between Officers and Directors
There
is no arrangement or understanding between our directors and
executive officers and any other person pursuant to which any
director or officer was or is to be selected as a director or
officer. There are also no arrangements, agreements or
understandings to our knowledge between non-management stockholders
that may directly or indirectly participate in or influence the
management of our affairs.
Other Directorships
Other
than Mr. Siem, who currently serves on the Board of Directors of
Petrolia Energy Corporation, (OTCQB: BBLS), no directors of the
Company are also directors of issuers with a class of securities
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act (or which otherwise
are required to file periodic reports under the Exchange
Act).
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To the
best of our knowledge, except as discussed above under the
description of each officer’s and director’s business
experience, during the past ten years, none of our directors or
executive officers were involved in any of the following: (1)
any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which
such person was a general partner or
executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within
two years prior to that time; (2) any conviction in a criminal
proceeding or being a named subject to a pending criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
(3) being subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of
competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining,
barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any
type of business, securities or banking activities; (4) being found
by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the SEC
or the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to have violated a
federal or state securities or commodities law; (5) being the
subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or
administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not
subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged
violation of (i) any Federal or State securities or commodities law
or regulation; (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial
institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to,
a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or
restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent
cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order; or (iii)
any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in
connection with any business entity; or (6) being the subject of,
or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed,
suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as
defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act), any registered
entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange
Act), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or
organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or
persons associated with a member.
Board Leadership Structure
Our
board of directors has the responsibility for selecting our
appropriate leadership structure. In making leadership structure
determinations, the board of directors considers many factors,
including the specific needs of our business and what is in the
best interests of our stockholders. Our current leadership
structure is comprised of a separate Chairman of the board of
directors and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"). Mr. John J. Scelfo
serves as Chairman and Dr. Simon Kukes serves as CEO. The board of
directors does not have a policy as to whether the Chairman should
be an independent director, an affiliated director, or a member of
management. Our board of directors believes that the
Company’s current leadership structure is appropriate because
it effectively allocates authority, responsibility, and oversight
between management (the Company’s CEO, Dr. Kukes) and the
members of our board of directors. It does this by giving primary
responsibility for the operational leadership and strategic
direction of the Company to its CEO, while enabling our Chairman to
facilitate our board of directors’ oversight of management,
promote communication between management and our board of
directors, and support our board of directors’ consideration
of key governance matters. The board of directors believes that its
programs for overseeing risk, as described below, would be
effective under a variety of leadership frameworks and therefore do
not materially affect its choice of structure.
Risk Oversight
Effective risk
oversight is an important priority of the board of directors.
Because risks are considered in virtually every business decision,
the board of directors discusses risk throughout the year generally
or in connection with specific proposed actions. The board of
directors’ approach to risk oversight includes understanding
the critical risks in our business and strategy, evaluating our
risk management processes, allocating responsibilities for risk
oversight among the full board of directors, and fostering an
appropriate culture of integrity and compliance with legal
responsibilities.
The
board of directors exercises direct oversight of strategic risks to
us. Our Audit Committee reviews and assesses our processes to
manage business and financial risk and financial reporting risk. It
also reviews our policies for risk assessment and assesses steps
management has taken to control significant risks. Our Compensation
Committee oversees risks relating to compensation programs and
policies. In each case management periodically reports to our board
of directors or the relevant committee, which provides the relevant
oversight on risk assessment and mitigation.
Director Independence
Our
board of directors has determined that Mr. Scelfo and Mr. Evans are
independent directors as defined in the NYSE American rules
governing members of boards of directors and as defined under Rule
10A-3 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, 50% of the members of our
board of directors are independent as defined in the NYSE American
rules governing members of boards of directors and as defined under
Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.
Committees of our Board of Directors
On
September 5, 2013, and effective September 10, 2013, the board of
directors adopted charters for the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, Compensation Committee and Audit Committee.
We currently maintain a Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, Compensation Committee and Audit Committee.
The
committees of the Board of Directors consist of the following
members as of the date of this filing:
Director
|
|
Audit Committee
|
|
Compensation Committee
|
|
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
|
|
Independent
|
Dr. Simon Kukes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ivar Siem
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John J. Scelfo (1)
|
|
C
|
|
C
|
|
M
|
|
X
|
H. Douglas Evans
|
|
M
|
|
M
|
|
C
|
|
X
|
C - Chairman of Committee.
M – Member.
(1) – Chairman of the board of directors.
Each of
these committees has the duties described below and operates under
a charter that has been approved by our board of directors and is
posted on our website. Our website address is
http://www.pacificenergydevelopment.com. Information contained on
our website is expressly not incorporated by reference into this
Annual Report.
Audit
Committee
The audit committee selects, on behalf of our
board of directors, an independent public accounting firm to audit
our financial statements, discusses with the independent auditors
their independence, reviews and discusses the audited financial
statements with the independent auditors and management, and
recommends to the board of directors whether the audited financial
statements should be included in our annual reports to be filed
with the SEC. Mr. Scelfo serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and
our board of directors has determined that Mr. Scelfo is an
“audit committee
financial expert” as
defined under Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange
Act.
During
the year ended December 31, 2018 the audit committee held four
meetings.
Compensation
Committee
The
compensation committee reviews and approves (a) the annual salaries
and other compensation of our executive officers, and (b)
individual stock and stock option grants. The compensation
committee also provides assistance and recommendations with respect
to our compensation policies and practices and assists with the
administration of our compensation plans. Mr. Scelfo serves as Chair of the
compensation committee.
During
the year ended December 31, 2018, the compensation committee held
three meetings.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The
nominating and corporate governance committee assists our board of
directors in fulfilling its responsibilities by: identifying and
approving individuals qualified to serve as members of our board of
directors, selecting director nominees for our annual meetings of
stockholders, evaluating the performance of our board of directors,
and developing and recommending to our board of directors corporate
governance guidelines and oversight procedures with respect to
corporate governance and ethical conduct. Mr. Scelfo serves as Chair of the
nominating and corporate governance committee.
The
nominating and governance committee of the board of directors
considers nominees for director based upon a number of
qualifications, including their personal and professional
integrity, ability, judgment, and effectiveness in serving the
long-term interests of our stockholders. There are no specific,
minimum or absolute criteria for membership on the board of
directors. The committee makes every effort to ensure that the
board of directors and its committees include at least the required
number of independent directors, as that term is defined by
applicable standards promulgated by the NYSE American and/or the SEC.
The
nominating and governance committee may use its network of contacts
to compile a list of potential candidates. The nominating and
governance committee has not in the past relied upon professional
search firms to identify director nominees, but may engage such
firms if so desired. The nominating and governance committee may
meet to discuss and consider candidates’ qualifications and
then choose a candidate by majority vote.
The
nominating and governance committee will consider qualified
director candidates recommended in good faith by stockholders,
provided those nominees meet the requirements of NYSE American and applicable federal securities
law. The nominating and governance committee’s evaluation of
candidates recommended by stockholders does not differ materially
from its evaluation of candidates recommended from other
sources. The Committee will consider candidates recommended by
stockholders if the information relating to such candidates are
properly submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Company in
accordance with the manner described for stockholder proposals
under “Stockholder
Proposals for 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2019 Proxy
Materials” on page 54 of our definitive proxy
statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of stockholders. Individuals
recommended by stockholders in accordance with these procedures
will receive the same consideration received by individuals
identified to the Committee through other means.
During
the year ended December 31, 2018 the nominating and corporate
governance committee held one meeting.
Meetings of the Board of Directors and Annual Meeting
During the fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2018, the Board
held nine meetings and took various other actions via the unanimous
written consent of the board of directors and the various
committees described above. All directors attended all of the board
of directors meetings and committee meetings relating to the
committees on which each director served during fiscal year 2018.
The Company held annual shareholders meetings on June 26, 2014,
October 7, 2015, December 28, 2016, December 28, 2017 and September
27, 2018 at which meetings all directors were present in person or
via teleconference. Each director of the Company is expected to be
present at annual meetings of shareholders, absent exigent
circumstances that prevent their attendance. Where a director is
unable to attend an annual meeting in person but is able to do so
by electronic conferencing, the Company will arrange for the
director’s participation by means where the director can
hear, and be heard, by those present at the meeting.
Executive Sessions of the Board of Directors
The
independent members of our board of directors meet in executive
session (with no management directors or management present) from
time to time. The executive sessions include whatever topics the
independent directors deem appropriate.
Code of Ethics
In
2012, in accordance with SEC rules, our board of directors adopted
a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for our directors, officers
and employees. Our board of directors believes that these
individuals must set an exemplary standard of conduct. This code
sets forth ethical standards to which these persons must adhere and
other aspects of accounting, auditing and financial compliance, as
applicable. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on
our website at www.pacificenergydevelopment.com. Please note that
the information contained on our website is not incorporated by
reference in, or considered to be a part of, this Annual
Report.
We
intend to disclose any amendments to our Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics and any waivers with respect to our Code of Business
Conduct and Ethics granted to our principal executive officer, our
principal financial officer, or any of our other employees
performing similar functions on our website at
www.pacificenergydevelopment.com, within four business days after
the amendment or waiver. In such case, the disclosure regarding the
amendment or waiver will remain available on our website for at
least 12 months after the initial disclosure. There have been
no waivers granted with respect to our Code of Business Conduct and
Ethics to any such officers or employees to date.
Shareholder Communications
Our
stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with
members of the board of directors by submitting such communications
in writing to our Corporate Secretary, 1250 Wood Branch Park Dr.,
Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77079 who, upon receipt of any
communication other than one that is clearly marked
“Confidential,” will note
the date the communication was received, open the communication,
make a copy of it for our files and promptly forward the
communication to the director(s) to whom it is addressed. Upon
receipt of any communication that is clearly marked
“Confidential,” our
Corporate Secretary will not open the communication, but will note
the date the communication was received and promptly forward the
communication to the director(s) to whom it is addressed. If the
correspondence is not addressed to any particular board member or
members, the communication will be forwarded to a board member to
bring to the attention of the board of directors.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and
directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class
of our equity securities to file with the SEC initial statements of
beneficial ownership, reports of changes in ownership and annual
reports concerning their ownership in our common stock and other
equity securities, on Form 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Executive
officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required
by the SEC regulations to furnish our company with copies of all
Section 16(a) reports they file.
Based
solely on our review of the copies of such reports received by us
and on written representation by our officers and directors
regarding their compliance with the applicable reporting
requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, we believe
that all filings required to be made under Section 16(a) during
2018 were timely made, except that J. Douglas Schick inadvertently
failed to timely file a Form 3 relating to his appointment as
President of the Company; John J. Scelfo inadvertently failed
to timely file two Form 4s, and as a result three transactions were
not reported on a timely basis; Dr. Simon Kukes inadvertently
failed to timely file three Form 4s, and as a result four
transactions were not reported on a timely basis; Ivar Siem
inadvertently failed to timely file two Form 4s, and as a result
two transactions were not reported on a timely basis; H. Douglas
Evans inadvertently failed to timely file a Form 3 relating to his
appointment as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company;
H. Douglas Evans inadvertently failed to timely file one Form 4,
and as a result two transactions were not reported on a timely
basis; J. Douglas Schick inadvertently failed to timely file one
Form 4, and as a result one transaction was not reported on a
timely basis; Gregory L. Overholtzer inadvertently failed to timely
file one Form 4, and as a result one transaction was not reported
on a timely basis; Clark Moore inadvertently failed to timely file
one Form 4, and as a result one transaction was not reported on a
timely basis; and Paul Pinkston inadvertently failed to timely file
one Form 4, and as a result one transaction was not reported on a
timely basis.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Compensation of Executive Officers
The
following table sets forth the compensation for services paid in
all capacities for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and
2017 to (a) Frank C. Ingriselli, our former Chairman, former
President and former Chief Executive Officer, (b) Michael L.
Peterson, our former President and Chief Executive Officer, (d)
Clark R. Moore, our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary, (d) Gregory Overholtzer, our former Chief Financial
Officer, (e) Dr. Simon Kukes, our current Chief Executive Officer
and Director, (f) J. Douglas Schick, our current President and Paul
A Pinkston, our current Chief Accounting Officer (collectively, the
“Named Executive
Officers”). There were no other executive officers who
received compensation in excess of $100,000 in either 2018 or
2017.
Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other Compensation
($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank
C. Ingriselli (2)
|
|
2018
|
66,346
|
-
|
-
|
116,000(3)
|
350,000(4)
|
532,346
|
Former
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and
President
|
|
2017
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
46,320(5)
|
25,000(6)
|
71,320
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael
L. Peterson (7)
|
|
2018
|
125,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
125,000
|
Former
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
2017
|
300,000
|
14,000
|
-
|
126,608(8)
|
-
|
440,608
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clark
R. Moore
|
|
2018
|
250,000
|
-
|
-
|
141,830(9)
|
-
|
391,830
|
Executive
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
|
|
2017
|
250,000
|
10,000
|
-
|
80,288(10)
|
-
|
340,288
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory
Overholtzer
|
|
2018
|
190,000
|
-
|
-
|
26,600(11)
|
-
|
216,600
|
Former
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2017
|
190,000
|
6,000
|
29,141(12)
|
-
|
-
|
225,141
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr.
Simon Kukes (13)
|
|
2018
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
399,000(14)
|
-
|
399,000
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.
Douglas Schick (15)
|
|
2018
|
104,167
|
-
|
-
|
148,960(16)
|
-
|
253,127
|
President
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul. A. Pinkston
(17)
Chief Accounting
Officer
|
|
2018
|
11,667
|
-
|
-
|
39,900(18)
|
-
|
51,567
|
Does not include perquisites and other personal benefits or
property, unless the aggregate amount of such compensation is more
than $10,000. No executive officer earned any non-equity
incentive plan compensation or nonqualified deferred compensation
during the periods reported above.
(1)
Amounts
in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of
awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards
Board Accounting Standard Codification Topic 718. For additional
information on the valuation assumptions with respect to the option
grants, refer to “Part II” - “Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data” - “Note 11 –
Stockholders’ Equity – Common Stock”. These
amounts do not correspond to the actual value that will be
recognized by the named individuals from these awards.
(2)
Mr.
Ingriselli served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company until
his retirement effective May 1, 2016, after which date he continued
to serve as Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors,
again served as our Chief Executive Officer from April 2018 to July
2018 and served as President from April 2018 to August 1,
2018.
(3)
Consists
of the value of 80,000 shares of restricted common stock granted in
May 2018 at $0.34 per share and the value of 60,000 shares of
restricted common stock granted in July 2018 at $1.48 per
share.
(4)
Consists
of cash severance amount paid to Mr. Ingriselli pursuant to the
Separation and General Release Agreement, dated September 6, 2018,
entered into by and between Mr. Ingriselli and the
Company.
(5)
Consists
of the fair value of options to purchase 150,000 shares of common
stock granted in December 2017 at an exercise price of $0.3088 per
share.
(6)
Consists
of amount paid to Mr. Ingriselli pursuant to the Company's board
compensation plan.
(7)
Mr.
Peterson resigned as Chief Executive Officer and President
effective May 31, 2018, and pursuant to a consulting agreement
entered into with him, he receives $5,000 per month through May
2019 for debt restructuring, strategic planning, and capital
markets consulting services.
(8)
Consists
of the value of 410,000 shares of restricted common stock granted
in December 2017 at $0.3088 per share.
(9)
Consists
of the value of 50,000 shares of restricted common stock granted in
July 2018 at $1.48 per share and the value of 51,000 shares of
restricted common stock granted in December 2018 at $1.33 per
share.
(10)
Consists
of the value of 260,000 shares of restricted common stock granted
in December 2017 at $0.3088 per share
(11)
Consists
of the value of 20,000 shares of restricted common stock granted in
December 2018 at $1.33 per share.
(12)
Consists
of the fair value of options to purchase 150,000 shares of common
stock granted in December 2017 at an exercise price of $0.3088 per
share.
(13)
Dr.
Kukes was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Director effective
July 12, 2018.
(14)
Consists
of the value of 300,000 shares of restricted common stock granted
in December 2018 at $1.33 per share.
(15)
Mr.
Schick was appointed President effective August 1,
2018.
(16)
Consists
of the value of 112,000 shares of restricted common stock granted
in December 2018 at $1.33 per share.
(17)
Mr.
Pinkston was appointed Chief Accounting Officer effective December
1, 2018.
(18)
Consists
of the value of 30,000 shares of restricted common stock granted in
December 2018 at $1.33 per share.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Year Ended December 31,
2018
The
following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2018
concerning outstanding equity awards for the executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
|
|
|
|
Number of
securities underlying unexercised options (#)
exercisable
|
Number of
securities underlying unexercised options (#)
unexercisable
|
Option Exercise price ($)
|
|
Number of shares or units of stock that have
not vested (#)
|
Market value of shares or units of stock that
have not vested ($)
|
Frank C.
Ingriselli
|
34,827
|
-
|
$5.10
|
5/30/2021
|
|
|
|
4,254
|
-
|
$5.10
|
5/30/2021
|
|
|
|
37,000
|
-
|
$3.70
|
5/30/2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael L.
Peterson
|
298
|
-
|
$302.40
|
2/2/2021
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
-
|
$2.40
|
10/7/2021
|
|
|
|
26,954
|
-
|
$5.10
|
6/18/2022
|
|
|
|
6,380
|
-
|
$5.10
|
6/18/2022
|
|
|
|
32,500
|
-
|
$3.70
|
1/7/2020
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
-
|
$2.20
|
1/7/2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gregory
Overholtzer
|
11,667
|
-
|
$5.10
|
6/18/2022
|
20,000(3)
|
$26,600
|
|
5,000
|
-
|
$3.70
|
1/7/2020
|
-
|
-
|
|
15,000
|
-
|
$2.20
|
1/7/2021
|
-
|
-
|
|
1,100
|
-
|
$3.00
|
2/8/2022
|
-
|
-
|
|
60,000
|
-
|
$1.10
|
12/28/2021
|
-
|
-
|
|
75,000
|
30,000
|
$0.3088
|
12/28/2022(4)
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clark R.
Moore
|
18,887
|
-
|
$5.10
|
6/18/2022
|
52,000(1)
|
$16,058
|
|
4,447
|
-
|
$5.10
|
6/18/2022
|
50,000(2)
|
$74,000
|
|
27,000
|
-
|
$3.70
|
1/7/2020
|
51,000(3)
|
$67,830
|
|
28,000
|
-
|
$2.20
|
1/7/2021
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Simon
Kukes
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
300,000(3)
|
$399,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Douglas
Schick
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
112,000(3)
|
$148,960
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul A.
Pinkston
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
30,000(5)
|
$39,900
|
(1)
|
Stock
award vests on June 28, 2019, subject to the holder remaining an
employee of or consultant to the Company on such vesting
date.
|
(2)
|
Stock
award vests on January 11, 2019, subject to the holder remaining an
employee of or consultant to the Company on such vesting
date.
|
(3)
|
Stock
award vests 33.3% on December 12, 2019, 33.3% on December 12, 2020,
and December 12, 2021, subject to the holder remaining an employee
of or consultant to the Company on such vesting dates, provided,
however, the stock award shall fully vest on April 7, 2019, subject
to the holder completing consulting services to the Company through
April 7, 2019 in accordance with that certain Separation and
General Release Agreement, dated December 31, 2018, entered into by
and between the Company and Mr. Overholtzer.
|
(4)
|
Option
award fully vests on April 7, 2019, and all option awards held by
holder shall be exercisable until December 31, 2021, subject to the
holder completing consulting services to the Company through
April 7, 2019 in accordance with that certain Separation and
General Release Agreement, dated December 31, 2018, entered into by
and between the Company and Mr. Overholtzer.
|
(5)
|
Stock
award vests 50% on December 1, 2019, and 50% on December 1, 2020,
subject to the holder remaining an employee of or consultant to the
Company on such vesting dates.
|
Issuances of Equity to Executive Officers
See above and see also “Part II” -
“Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data” -
“Note 10 –
Stockholders’ Equity – Common Stock” for
equity issuances to executive officers for the years ended December
31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Compensation of Directors
The
following table sets forth compensation information with respect to
our non-executive directors during our fiscal year ended December
31, 2018.
Name
|
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)*
|
Stock Awards ($) (2) (3) (4)
|
All Other Compensation ($)
|
|
John
J. Scelfo
|
$-
|
$248,329
|
$-
|
$248,329
|
Ivar
Siem
|
$-
|
$-
|
$-
|
$-
|
H.
Douglas Evans
|
$-
|
$201,141
|
$-
|
$201,141
|
Elizabeth
P. Smith (1)
|
$10,000
|
$46,320
|
$-
|
$56,320
|
David
Z. Steinberg (5)
|
$10,000
|
$46,320
|
$-
|
$56,320
|
Adam
McAfee (1)
|
$10,000
|
$46,320
|
$-
|
$56,320
|
* The
table above does not include the amount of any expense
reimbursements paid to the above directors. No directors received
any Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation or Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation Earnings during the period presented. Ms. Smith, Mr.
Steinberg and Mr. McAfee were paid quarterly cash compensation in
the amount of $5,000 each quarter prior to their resignation from
the Board effective September 27, 2018, and thereafter no directors
have received any cash compensation for their service on the Board
or its committees. Does not include perquisites and other personal
benefits, or property, unless the aggregate amount of such
compensation is more than $10,000.
(1)
|
Resigned
as a director effective September 27, 2018.
|
(2)
|
Amounts
in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of
awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards
Board Accounting Standard Codification Topic 718. For additional
information on the valuation assumptions with respect to the
restricted stock grants, refer to “Part II” -
“Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” -
“Note 11 – Stockholders’ Equity – Common
Stock”. These amounts do not correspond to the actual value
that will be recognized by the named individuals from these
awards.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Scelfo and Mr. Evans received grants of 120,000 and 100,000 options
to purchase shares of our common stock at a fair value of $227,689
and $189,741, respectively, on September 27, 2018. Mr. Scelfo and
Mr. Evans also received grants of 20,000 shares of restricted stock
on September 27, 2018, each with an aggregate grant date fair
value of $43,800, which will vest in full on July 12, 2019 and
September 27, 2019, respectively. For the year ended December 31,
2018, there was compensation of $20,640 and $11,400, respectively,
related to these grants.
|
(4)
|
Ms.
Smith, Mr. Steinberg and Mr. McAfee each received a grant of
150,000 shares of restricted stock on December 28, 2017, each with
an aggregate grant date fair value of approximately $46,320, which
vested in full in 2018.
|
(5)
|
Resigned
as a direector effective July 11, 2018.
|
Our
board previously adopted a compensation program, as amended, that,
effective for periods after 2012, provides each of our directors in
good standing who are not employees or paid consultants of the
Company with compensation consisting of (a) a quarterly cash
payment of $5,000, and (b) an annual equity award consisting of
shares of restricted stock valued at $60,000, vesting on the date
that is one year following the director’s anniversary date on
the board; provided, however, for fiscal year 2017, the board
reduced the annual equity award component of the board compensation
program from shares of restricted stock valued at $60,000 vesting
on the date that is one year following the director’s
anniversary date on the board, instead to an annual equity award
consisting of 150,000 shares of restricted stock, vesting on the
date that is one year following the director’s anniversary
date on the board. Effective September 27, 2018, the Board no
longer has a formal compensation program; provided that the Board
of Directors and/or the Compensation Committee may authorize
compensation (including, but not limited to cash, options and
restricted stock) to the members of the Board of Directors from
time to time in their discretion.
Agreements with Current Named Executive Officers
Dr. Simon
Kukes. Dr. Kukes has agreed to receive an annual salary
of $1 as his compensation for serving as Chief Executive Officer of
the Company and as a member of the Board of Directors and to not
charge the Company for any business expenses he incurs in
connection with such positions.
J. Douglas
Schick. On August 1, 2018, in
connection with his appointment as President of the Company, we
entered into an offer letter with J. Douglas Schick (the
“Offer
Letter”). Pursuant to the
Offer Letter, Mr. Schick agreed to serve as President of the
Company on an at-will basis; the Company agreed to pay Mr. Schick
$20,833 per month and that Mr. Schick is eligible for an annual
bonus in the discretion of the Company totaling up to 40% of his
then current salary and may also receive grants of restricted stock
and options in the Board of Directors’ sole discretion. Mr.
Schick’s employment may be terminated by him or the Company
with 30 days prior written notice. In the event Mr.
Schick’s employment with the Company is terminated by the
Company without “Cause,”
the Company will (a) pay Mr. Schick an amount equal to twelve (12)
months of his then-current annual base salary, and (b) immediately
accelerate by twelve (12) months the vesting of all outstanding
Company restricted stock and options exercisable for Company
capital stock held by Mr. Schick. For purposes of the Offer Letter,
“Cause”
means Mr. Schick’s (1) conviction of, or plea of nolo
contendere to, a felony or any other crime involving moral
turpitude; (2) fraud on or misappropriation of any funds or
property of the Company or any of its affiliates, customers or
vendors; (3) act of material dishonesty, willful misconduct,
willful violation of any law, rule or regulation, or breach of
fiduciary duty involving personal profit, in each case made in
connection with his responsibilities as an employee, officer or
director of the Company and which has, or could reasonably be
deemed to result in, a material adverse effect upon the Company;
(4) illegal use or distribution of drugs; (5) willful material
violation of any policy or code of conduct of the Company; or (6)
material breach of any provision of the Offer Letter or any other
employment, non-disclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or
other similar agreement executed by him for the benefit of the
Company or any of its affiliates, all as reasonably determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company. However, an
event that is or would constitute “Cause”
shall cease to be “Cause”
if he reverses the action or cures the default that constitutes
“Cause”
within 10 days after the Company notifies him in writing that Cause
exists.
The
Offer Letter contains standard confidentiality provisions; a
standard non-compete restriction prohibiting Mr. Schick from
competing against the Company during the term of his employment and
for one year thereafter in connection with any directly competitive
enterprise, commercial venture, or project involving petroleum
exploration, development, or production activities in the same
geographic areas as the Company’s activities or doing
business with the Company during the six-month period before the
termination of his employment, with certain exceptions; and a
non-solicitation provision prohibiting him from inducing or
attempting to induce any employee of the company from leaving their
employment with the Company and/or attempting to induce any
consultant, service provider, customer or business relation of the
Company from terminating their relationship with the Company during
the term of his employment and for one year
thereafter.
Clark R.
Moore. Pacific Energy
Development, our wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered into an
employment agreement, dated June 10, 2011, as amended January 11,
2013, with Clark Moore, its Executive Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel (the “Moore Employment
Agreement”), pursuant to
which, effective June 1, 2011, Mr. Moore has been employed by
Pacific Energy Development, with a current annual base salary
of $250,000, and a target annual cash bonus of between 20% and
40% of his base salary, awardable by the board of directors in its
discretion. In addition, Mr. Moore’s employment agreement
includes, among other things, severance payment provisions that
would require the Company to make lump sum payments equal to 18
months’ salary and target bonus to Mr. Moore in the event his
employment is terminated due to his death or disability, terminated
without “Cause”
or if he voluntarily resigns for “Good
Reason” (36 months in
connection with a “Change of
Control”), and
continuation of benefits for up to 36 months (48 months in
connection with a “Change of
Control”), as such terms
are defined in the employment agreement. The employment agreement
also prohibits Mr. Moore from engaging in competitive activities
during and following termination of his employment that would
result in disclosure of our confidential information, but does not
contain a general restriction on engaging in competitive
activities.
For purposes of the Moore Employment Agreement,
the term “Cause”
means his (1) conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, a
felony or any other crime involving moral turpitude; (2) fraud on
or misappropriation of any funds or property of our company or any
of its affiliates, customers or vendors; (3) act of material
dishonesty, willful misconduct, willful violation of any law, rule
or regulation, or breach of fiduciary duty involving personal
profit, in each case made in connection with his responsibilities
as an employee, officer or director of our company and which has,
or could reasonably be deemed to result in, a Material Adverse
Effect upon our company; (4) illegal use or distribution of drugs;
(5) material violation of any policy or code of conduct of our
company; or (6) material breach of any provision of the employment
agreement or any other employment, non-disclosure, non-competition,
non-solicitation or other similar agreement executed by him for the
benefit of our company or any of its affiliates, all as reasonably
determined in good faith by the board of directors of our company.
However, an event that is or would constitute
“Cause”
shall cease to be “Cause”
if he reverses the action or cures the default that constitutes
“Cause”
within 10 days after our company notifies him in writing that Cause
exists. No act or failure to act on Mr. Moore’s part will be
considered “willful”
unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by him in bad faith or
without reasonable belief that such action or omission was in the
best interests of our company. Any act or failure to act that is
based on authority given pursuant to a resolution duly passed by
the board of directors, or the advice of counsel to our company,
shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done,
in good faith and in the best interests of the
Company.
For purposes of the Moore Employment Agreement,
“Material Adverse
Effect” means any event,
change or effect that is materially adverse to the condition
(financial or otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities,
business, operations or results of operations of our company or its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
For purposes of the Moore Employment Agreement,
“Good
Reason” means the
occurrence of any of the following without his written consent: (a)
the assignment to him of duties substantially inconsistent with
this employment agreement or a material adverse change in his
titles or authority; (b) any failure by our company to comply with
the compensation provisions of the agreement in any material way;
(c) any material breach of the employment agreement by our company;
or (d) the relocation of him by more than fifty (50) miles from the
location of our company’s office located in Danville,
California. However, an event that is or would constitute
“Good
Reason” shall cease to be
“Good
Reason” if: (i) he does
not terminate employment within 45 days after the event occurs;
(ii) before he terminates employment, we reverse the action or cure
the default that constitutes “Good
Reason” within 10 days
after he notifies us in writing that Good Reason exists; or (iii)
he was a primary instigator of the “Good
Reason” event and the
circumstances make it inappropriate for him to receive
“Good
Reason” termination
benefits under the employment agreement (e.g., he agrees
temporarily to relinquish his position on the occurrence of a
merger transaction he assists in negotiating).
For purposes of the Moore Employment Agreement,
“Change of
Control” means: (i) a
merger, consolidation or sale of capital stock by existing holders
of capital stock of our company that results in more than 50% of
the combined voting power of the then outstanding capital stock of
our company or its successor changing ownership; (ii) the sale, or
exclusive license, of all or substantially all of our
company’s assets; or (iii) the individuals constituting our
company’s board of directors as of the date of the employment
agreement (the “Incumbent Board of
Directors”) cease for any
reason to constitute at least 1/2 of the members of the board of
directors; provided, however, that if the election, or nomination
for election by our stockholders, of any new director was approved
by a vote of the Incumbent Board of Directors, such new director
shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and for purposes of clarity, a
transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if: (w) its
sole purpose is to change the state of our company’s
incorporation; (x) its sole purpose is to create a holding company
that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the
persons who held our company’s securities immediately before
such transaction; or (y) it is a transaction effected primarily for
the purpose of financing our company with cash (as determined by
the board of directors in its discretion and without regard to
whether such transaction is effectuated by a merger, equity
financing or otherwise).
Paul A. Pinkston.
On December 1, 2018, the Company
appointed Mr. Pinkston as the Chief Accounting Officer of the
Company and Mr. Pinkston commenced employment with the Company
pursuant to the terms of an Offer Letter, dated October 16, 2018,
and effective December 1, 2018, entered into by and between the
Company and Mr. Pinkston (the “Pinkston Offer
Letter”). Also effective
on December 1, 2018, Mr. Pinkston commenced serving as the
Company’s Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the
Company.
Pursuant
to the Pinkston Offer Letter, Mr. Pinkston agreed to serve as Chief
Accounting Officer of the Company on an at-will basis, the Company
agreed to pay Mr. Pinkston $11,666.67 per month, Mr. Pinkston is
eligible for an annual bonus in the discretion of the Board of
Directors of the Company totaling up to 30% of his then current
salary, Mr. Pinkston may also receive grants of restricted stock
and options in the Board of Directors’ sole discretion, and
Mr. Pinkston’s employment may be terminated by him or the
Company with 30 days prior written notice. In addition, Mr.
Pinkston was granted 30,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock under the Company’s employee equity incentive plan, 50%
of which shares vest on Mr. Pinkston’s one (1) year
anniversary of his employment commencement date, and 50% of which
shares vest on Mr. Pinkston’s two (2) year anniversary of his
employment commencement date, subject to Mr. Pinkston’s
continued service with the Company and the terms of a
Board-approved restricted stock purchase agreement entered into
between Mr. Pinkston and the Company.
The
Pinkston Offer Letter contains standard confidentiality provisions
and a standard a non-solicitation provision prohibiting him from
inducing or attempting to induce any employee of the Company from
leaving their employment with the Company and/or attempting to
induce any consultant, service provider, customer or business
relation of the Company from terminating their relationship with
the Company during the term of his employment and for one year
thereafter.
Agreements with Former Named Executive Officers
Frank C. Ingriselli. Mr. Frank C. Ingriselli entered into an Employment
Agreement with Pacific Energy Development, our wholly-owned
subsidiary on May 10, 2018 (the “Ingriselli Employment
Agreement”). Pursuant to
the Ingriselli Employment Agreement, which had an effective date of
June 1, 2018, Mr. Ingriselli served as our President at an annual
base salary of $250,000, and a target annual cash bonus of
between 20% and 40% of his base salary, awardable by the Board of
Directors in its discretion. The Company also agreed to pay Mr.
Ingriselli standard benefits as other executive officers of the
Company. In addition, the Ingriselli Employment Agreement included
certain termination and severance provisions which provided for,
among other things, severance payment provisions that would require
the Company to make lump sum payments equal to 18 months’
salary and target bonus (payable within thirty days after
termination) to Mr. Ingriselli in the event his employment was
terminated due to his death or disability, terminated without
“Cause”
or if he voluntarily resigned for “Good
Reason” (36 months in
connection with a “Change of
Control”), and
continuation of benefits for up to 36 months (48 months in
connection with a “Change of
Control”), as such terms
are defined in the Ingriselli Employment
Agreement.
The definitions of “Cause”
(including the applicable cure provisions associated therewith),
“Material Adverse
Effect”,
“Good
Reason” and
“Change of
Control” in Mr.
Ingriselli’s employment agreement were substantially the same
as in Mr. Moore’s employment agreement as discussed
above.
In
addition, as additional consideration for Mr. Ingriselli rejoining
the Company as its President (which position he held until August
2018) and Chief Executive Officer (which position he held until
July 2018), on May 10, 2018, the Company granted Mr. Ingriselli
80,000 shares of restricted Company common stock under the
Company’s Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan,
vesting with respect to 60,000 shares on the six (6) month
anniversary of June 1, 2018 and 20,000 of the shares on the nine
(9) month anniversary of June 1, 2018, subject to his continued
service as an employee of or consultant to the Company on such
vesting dates, and subject to the terms and conditions of a
Restricted Shares Grant Agreement entered into by and between the
Company and Mr. Ingriselli.
In an effort to reduce the general and
administrative expenses of the Company, Mr. Ingriselli, the
Company’s then-Chairman and former President and Chief
Executive Officer, agreed to retire from the Company as an
employee, effective September 6, 2018. Mr. Ingriselli
continued as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Company’s
Board of Directors until his resignation from the Board on
September 27, 2018, and continued to work with the Company in a
transitional consulting capacity until October 1, 2018 (the
“Ingriselli Transition
Period”) through his
wholly-owned consulting firm, Global Ventures Investments Inc.
(“GVEST”),
pursuant to an Agreement dated September 6, 2018, entered into by
and between the Company and GVEST (the “Consulting
Agreement”). Pursuant to the
Consulting Agreement, through GVEST Mr. Ingriselli agreed to
provide the Company with services in the areas of investor
relations, public relations, financing strategies, corporate
strategies and development of business opportunities through the
Ingriselli Transition Period in exchange for the acceleration of
vesting of an aggregate of 140,000 shares of restricted common
stock previously issued to Mr. Ingriselli by the Company (the
“Unvested Ingriselli
Shares”), which would
have otherwise vested in full on March 1, 2019, subject to Mr.
Ingriselli’s continued service to the Company, and would have
otherwise been forfeited by Mr. Ingriselli upon his resignation
prior to such vesting date. In addition, the Company and
Mr. Ingriselli entered into an Employee Separation and Release
dated September 6, 2018 (the “Ingriselli Separation
Agreement”), pursuant to
which Mr. Ingriselli agreed to (i) waive all severance benefits to
which he is entitled under his Executive Employment Agreement dated
May 10, 2018 (the “Ingriselli Employment
Agreement”), including,
but not limited to, waiver of any payments by the Company to Mr.
Ingriselli of a lump sum payment equal to up to eighteen (18)
months’ salary and 30% bonus, and continued medical benefits
for up to three (3) years, in the event of Mr. Ingriselli’s
termination under certain circumstances, pursuant to the terms of
the Ingriselli Employment Agreement, and (ii) fully-release the
Company from all claims, in exchange for the Company agreeing to
(x) allow Mr. Ingriselli to transfer the Unvested Ingriselli Shares
to GVEST, and (y) pay a lump sum cash payment of $350,000 to Mr.
Ingriselli after seven (7) days following the effectiveness of the
Separation Agreement, which the Company paid in
full.
Michael L.
Peterson. The Company and Mr. Peterson (who previously
served as the Company’s President and Chief Executive
Officer) entered into a customary Employee Separation and Release
on May 10, 2018 (the “Separation
Agreement”), pursuant to
which Mr. Peterson agreed to fully-release the Company from all
claims, in exchange for the Company agreeing to make a lump sum
payment of $20,000 upon effectiveness of the Separation Agreement.
In addition, in order to assist in the transition of his executive
duties to Mr. Ingriselli, and to continue to support the
Company’s ongoing efforts to restructure its debt prior to
its maturity in the second quarter of 2019, Mr. Peterson has agreed
to continue to work with the Company in a consulting capacity for a
period of twelve (12) months commencing June 1, 2018 (the
“Consulting
Term”, which is renewable
thereafter for additional one month terms pursuant to the terms of
the agreement) pursuant to an Independent Contractor Agreement
dated May 10, 2018 entered into by and between the Company and Mr.
Peterson (the “Peterson Consulting
Agreement”). Pursuant to the
Peterson Consulting Agreement, Mr. Peterson shall provide the
Company with executive transition, debt restructuring, strategic
planning and capital markets support and services through the
Consulting Term in exchange for monthly fee of $5,000. The Peterson
Consulting Agreement is terminable by the Company at any time for
“Cause”,
as similarly defined under the Ingriselli Employment Agreement as
described above.
On
September 1, 2011, Pacific Energy Development, our wholly-owned
subsidiary, entered into a Consulting Agreement engaging Michael L.
Peterson to serve as Executive Vice President of Pacific Energy
Development. This Consulting Agreement was superseded by an
employment offer letter dated February 1, 2012, which employment
offer letter was later amended and restated in full on June 16,
2012 and further amended on April 25, 2016 in connection with his
promotion to the office of Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Pursuant to Mr. Peterson’s employment offer letter, Mr.
Peterson served the Chief Executive Officer and President of the
Company (positions he held until May 31, 2018) at an annual base
salary of $300,000, and a target annual cash bonus of between
20% and 40% of his base salary, awardable by the board of directors
in its discretion. Mr. Peterson’s employment offer letter was
terminated on May 31, 2018.
Gregory Overholtzer. Mr. Overholtzer served as the Chief Financial
Officer of the Company from May 2016 to December 31, 2018, and
formerly as the Company’s Corporate Controller from January
2012 to May 2016, and as the Company’s Vice President,
Finance and Corporate Controller from June 2012 to May
2016. Effective May 1, 2016, in connection with Mr.
Overholtzer’s appointment as Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, the Company entered into an Amendment No. 1 to Employment
Agreement on April 25, 2016 with Mr. Overholtzer (the
“Amended Overholtzer
Employment Agreement”),
which amended that certain Employment Letter Agreement dated June
16, 2012, entered into by and between the Company as
successor-in-interest to Pacific Energy Development Corp. and Mr.
Overholtzer in connection with his original employment with the
Company, and provided that the Company may terminate Mr.
Overholtzer’ s employment for any reason with thirty (30)
days prior written notice (the “Overholtzer Employment
Agreement”). Mr.
Overholtzer had an annual base salary of $190,000, and was eligible
for a discretionary cash performance bonus each year of up to 30%
of his then-current annual base salary.
In connection with the Company’s
consolidation of accounting operations to its new Houston, Texas
headquarters,on December 31, 2018, the Company and Mr.
Overholtzer entered into a Separation and General Release Agreement
(the “Overholtzer Separation
Agreement”) pursuant to
which, effective December 31, 2018 (the “Overholtzer Separation
Date”), Mr. Overholtzer
and the Company mutually agreed to discontinue Mr.
Overholtzer’s employment with the Company and Mr. Overholtzer
resigned from all positions held with the Company and its
subsidiaries. Mr. Overholtzer continues to work with the Company in
a transitional consulting capacity until April 7, 2019 (the
“Transition
Period”) pursuant to a
Consulting Agreement entered into by and between the Company and
Mr. Overholtzer on January 1, 2019 (the “Overholtzer Consulting
Agreement”). Pursuant to the
Overholtzer Consulting Agreement, Mr. Overholtzer agreed to provide
accounting and financial reporting services and support to the
Company for an average of up to six (6) hours per week during the
Overholtzer Transition Period in exchange for cash compensation of
$15,000 per month and continued COBRA insurance coverage for Mr.
Overholtzer and his dependents paid for by the Company during the
Overholtzer Transition Period. Upon the successful conclusion of
the Overholtzer Transition Period, (i) the Company agreed to
accelerate the vesting of an aggregate of 20,000 shares of
restricted common stock previously issued to Mr. Overholtzer by the
Company (the “Unvested Overholtzer
Shares”), which would
have otherwise vested ratably over three years through December 12,
2021, subject to Mr. Overholtzer’s continued service to the
Company, and which would have otherwise been forfeited by Mr.
Overholtzer upon his separation from the Company prior to such
vesting date, (ii) the Company agreed to accelerate the vesting of
options to purchase an aggregate of 30,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.3088 per
share previously issued to Mr. Overholtzer by the Company (the
“Unvested Overholtzer
Options”), which would
have otherwise vested in full on June 28, 2019, subject to Mr.
Overholtzer’s continued service to the Company, and which
would have otherwise been forfeited by Mr. Overholtzer upon his
separation from the Company prior to such vesting date, and (iii)
the Company agreed to extend the exercise period for all of Mr.
Overholtzer’s options for a period of three (3) years
following the Overholtzer Separation Date (regardless of their
original terms). In addition, pursuant to the
Overholtzer Separation Agreement, Mr. Overholtzer agreed to
fully-release the Company from all claims in exchange for the
Company agreeing to pay a lump sum cash payment of $15,833.33 to
Mr. Overholtzer following the effectiveness of the Overholtzer
Separation Agreement.
Equity Incentive Plans
2012 Plan
General. On June 26, 2012, our
board of directors adopted the Blast Energy Services, Inc. 2012
Equity Incentive Plan, which was approved by our stockholders on
July 30, 2012 and subsequently renamed to the PEDEVCO Corp. 2012
Equity Incentive Plan in connection with our name change from Blast
Energy Services, Inc. to PEDEVCO Corp. The 2012 Equity Incentive
Plan provides for awards of incentive stock options, non-statutory
stock options, rights to acquire restricted stock, stock
appreciation rights, or SARs, and performance units and performance
shares. Subject to the provisions of the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan
relating to adjustments upon changes in our common stock, an
aggregate of 200,000 shares of
common stock were reserved for issuance under the 2012 Equity
Incentive Plan. On April 23, 2014, the board of directors adopted
an amended and restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, to increase by
500,000 shares, the number of
awards available for issuance under the plan, which was approved by
stockholders on June 27, 2014. On July 27, 2015, the board of
directors adopted an amended and restated 2012 Equity Incentive
Plan, to increase by 300,000
shares, the number of awards available for issuance under the plan,
which was approved by stockholders on October 7, 2015. On October
21, 2016, the board of directors adopted an amended and restated
2012 Equity Incentive Plan, to increase by 500,000 shares, the number of awards
available for issuance under the plan, which was approved by
stockholders on December 28, 2016. On November 6, 2017, the board
of directors adopted an amended and restated 2012 Equity Incentive
Plan, to increase by 1,500,000 shares, the number of awards
available for issuance under the plan, which was approved by
stockholders on December 28, 2017. On August 10, 2018, the board of
directors adopted an amended and restated 2012 Equity Incentive
Plan, to increase by 3,000,000 shares, the number of awards
available for issuance under the plan, which was approved by
stockholders on September 27, 2018.
We
refer to the 2012 Amended and Restated Incentive Plan as the 2012
Plan.
Purpose. Our board of directors adopted the
2012 Plan to provide a means by which our employees, directors and
consultants may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases
in the value of our common stock, to assist in attracting and
retaining the services of such persons, to bind the interests of
eligible recipients more closely to our interests by offering them
opportunities to acquire shares of our common stock and to afford
such persons stock-based compensation opportunities that are
competitive with those afforded by similar businesses.
Administration. Unless it
delegates administration to a committee, our board of directors
administers the 2012 Plan. Subject to the provisions of the 2012
Plan, our board of directors has the power to construe and
interpret the 2012 Plan, and to determine: (a) the fair value of
common stock subject to awards issued under the 2012 Plan; (b) the
persons to whom and the dates on which awards will be granted; (c)
what types or combinations of types of awards will be granted; (d)
the number of shares of common stock to be subject to each award;
(e) the time or times during the term of each award within which
all or a portion of such award may be exercised; (f) the exercise
price or purchase price of each award; and (g) the types of
consideration permitted to exercise or purchase each award and
other terms of the awards.
Eligibility. Incentive stock options may be
granted under the 2012 Plan only to employees of us and our
affiliates. Employees, directors and consultants of us and our
affiliates are eligible to receive all other types of awards under
the 2012 Plan.
Terms of Options and SARs. The
exercise price of incentive stock options may not be less than the
fair market value of the common stock subject to the option on the
date of the grant and, in some cases, may not be less than 110% of
such fair market value. The exercise price of nonstatutory options
also may not be less than the fair market value of the common stock
on the date of grant.
Options
granted under the 2012 Plan may be exercisable in cumulative
increments, or “vest,” as determined by
our board of directors. Our board of directors has the power to
accelerate the time as of which an option may vest or be exercised.
The maximum term of options, SARs and performance shares and units
under the 2012 Plan is ten years, except that in certain
cases, the maximum term is five years. Options, SARs and
performance shares and units awarded under the 2012 Plan generally
will terminate three months after termination of the
participant’s service, subject to certain
exceptions.
A
recipient may not transfer an incentive stock option otherwise than
by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the
lifetime of the recipient, only the recipient may exercise an
option, SAR or performance share or unit. Our board of directors
may grant nonstatutory stock options, SARs and performance shares
and units that are transferable to the extent provided in the
applicable written agreement.
Terms of Restricted Stock
Awards. Our board of directors may issue shares of
restricted stock under the 2012 Plan as a grant or for such
consideration, including services, and, subject to the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, promissory notes, as determined in its
sole discretion.
Shares
of restricted stock acquired under a restricted stock purchase or
grant agreement may, but need not, be subject to forfeiture to us
or other restrictions that will lapse in accordance with a vesting
schedule to be determined by our board of directors. In the event a
recipient’s employment or service with us terminates, any or
all of the shares of common stock held by such recipient that have
not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the
restricted stock agreement may be forfeited to us in accordance
with such restricted stock agreement.
Rights
to acquire shares of common stock under the restricted stock
purchase or grant agreement shall be transferable by the recipient
only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the
restricted stock agreement, as our board of directors shall
determine in its discretion, so long as shares of common stock
awarded under the restricted stock agreement remain subject to the
terms of such agreement.
Adjustment Provisions. If any change is made to our
outstanding shares of common stock without our receipt of
consideration (whether through reorganization, stock dividend or
stock split, or other specified change in our capital structure),
appropriate adjustments may be made in the class and maximum number
of shares of common stock subject to the 2012 Plan and outstanding
awards. In that event, the 2012 Plan will be appropriately adjusted
in the class and maximum number of shares of common stock subject
to the 2012 Plan, and outstanding awards may be adjusted in the
class, number of shares and price per share of common stock subject
to such awards.
Effect of Certain Corporate
Events. In the
event of (a) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company; (b) a
merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another
corporation or entity (other than a merger with a wholly-owned
subsidiary); (c) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company; or (d) a purchase or other acquisition of more than
50% of the outstanding stock of the Company by one person or by
more than one person acting in concert, any surviving or acquiring
corporation may assume awards outstanding under the 2012 Plan or
may substitute similar awards. Unless the stock award agreement
otherwise provides, in the event any surviving or acquiring
corporation does not assume such awards or substitute similar
awards, then the awards will terminate if not exercised at or prior
to such event.
Duration, Amendment and
Termination. Our board of directors may suspend or
terminate the 2012 Plan without stockholder approval or
ratification at any time or from time to time. Unless sooner
terminated, the 2012 Plan will terminate ten years from the date of
its adoption by our board of directors, i.e., in June 2022.
Our
board of directors may also amend the 2012 Plan at any time, and
from time to time. However, except as it relates to adjustments
upon changes in common stock, no amendment will be effective unless
approved by our stockholders to the extent stockholder approval is
necessary to preserve incentive stock option treatment for federal
income tax purposes. Our board of directors may submit any other
amendment to the 2012 Plan for stockholder approval if it concludes
that stockholder approval is otherwise advisable.
As of
the date of this Annual Report, options to purchase 768,250 shares of common stock and
3,200,130 shares of restricted
stock have been issued under the 2012 Plan, with 2,031,620 shares of common stock remaining
available for issuance under the 2012 Plan. The options have a
weighted average exercise price of $2.99 per share, and have expiration dates
ranging from 2019 to 2023.
2012 Pacific Energy Development (Pre-Merger) Plan
On
February 9, 2012, prior to the Pacific Energy Development merger,
Pacific Energy Development adopted the Pacific Energy Development
2012 Equity Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the 2012
Pre-Merger Plan. We assumed the obligations of the 2012 Pre-Merger
Plan pursuant to the Pacific Energy Development merger, though the
2012 Pre-Merger Plan has been superseded by the 2012 Plan
(described above).
The
2012 Pre-Merger Plan provides for awards of incentive stock
options, non-statutory stock options, rights to acquire restricted
stock, stock appreciation rights, or SARs, and performance units
and performance shares. Subject to the provisions of the 2012
Pre-Merger Plan relating to adjustments upon changes in our common
stock, an aggregate of 100,000
shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the
2012 Pre-Merger Plan.
The
board of directors of Pacific Energy Development adopted the 2012
Pre-Merger Plan to provide a means by which its employees,
directors and consultants may be given an opportunity to benefit
from increases in the value of its common stock, to assist in
attracting and retaining the services of such persons, to bind the
interests of eligible recipients more closely to our interests by
offering them opportunities to acquire shares of our common stock
and to afford such persons stock-based compensation opportunities
that are competitive with those afforded by similar
businesses.
The
exercise price of incentive stock options may not be less than the
fair market value of the common stock subject to the option on the
date of the grant and, in some cases, may not be less than 110% of
such fair market value. The exercise price of nonstatutory options
also may not be less than the fair market value of the common stock
on the date of grant. Options granted under the 2012 Pre-Merger
Plan may be exercisable in cumulative increments, or
“vest,”
as determined by the board of directors of Pacific Energy
Development at the time of grant.
Shares
of restricted stock could be issued under the 2012 Pre-Merger
Plan as a grant or for such consideration, including services, and,
subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, promissory notes, as
determined in the sole discretion of the Pacific Energy Development
board of directors. Shares of restricted stock acquired under a
restricted stock purchase or grant agreement could, but need not,
be subject to forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse in
accordance with a vesting schedule determined by the board of
directors of Pacific Energy Development at the time of grant. In
the event a recipient’s employment or service with the
Company terminates, any or all of the shares of common stock held
by such recipient that have not vested as of the date of
termination under the terms of the restricted stock agreement may
be forfeited to the Company in accordance with such restricted
stock agreement.
Appropriate
adjustments may be made to outstanding awards in the event of
changes in our outstanding shares of common stock, whether through
reorganization, stock dividend or stock split, or other specified
change in capital structure of the Company. In the event of
liquidation, merger or consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company, or other change in control, any
surviving or acquiring corporation may assume awards outstanding
under the 2012 Pre-Merger Plan or may substitute similar awards.
Unless the stock award agreement otherwise provides, in the event
any surviving or acquiring corporation does not assume such awards
or substitute similar awards, then the awards will terminate if not
exercised at or prior to such event.
As of
the date of this Annual Report, 31,016 options remain outstanding under the
2012 Pre-Merger Plan. These options have a weighted average
exercise price of $4.92 per
share, and have expiration dates ranging from February 8, 2022 to June 18,
2022.
2009 Stock Incentive Plan
Effective July 30,
2012, our 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the
2009 Plan was replaced by the 2012 Plan. The 2009 Plan was intended
to secure for us the benefits arising from ownership of our common
stock by the employees, officers, directors and consultants
of the Company. The 2009 Plan was designed to help attract and
retain for the Company and its affiliates personnel of
superior ability for positions of exceptional responsibility, to
reward employees, officers, directors and consultants for their
services and to motivate such individuals through added incentives
to further contribute to the success of the Company and its
affiliates.
Pursuant to the
2009 Plan, our board of directors (or a committee thereof) had the
ability to award grants of incentive or non-qualified options,
restricted stock awards, performance shares and other securities as
described in greater detail in the 2009 Plan to our employees,
officers, directors and consultants. The number of securities
issuable pursuant to the 2009 Plan was initially 1,482, provided that the number of shares
available for issuance under the 2009 Plan would be increased on
the first day of each fiscal year beginning with our 2011 fiscal
year, in an amount equal to the greater of (a) 596 shares; or (b) three percent (3%) of
the number of issued and outstanding shares of the Company on the
first day of such fiscal year. The 2009 Plan was to expire in April
2019.
As of
the date of this Annual Report, 298 options remain outstanding
under the 2009 Plan. These options have an exercise price of
$302.40 per share and have an
expiration date of February 2, 2021.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS.
The following table sets forth, as of
March 27, 2019, the number and
percentage of outstanding shares of our common stock beneficially
owned by: (a) each person who is known by us to be the beneficial
owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;
(b) each of our directors; (c) each of our Named Executive
Officers; and (d) all current directors and Named Executive
Officers, as a group. As of March 27, 2019, there were
45,288,828 shares of common stock and no shares of Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding.
Beneficial
ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under
the Exchange Act. Under this rule, certain shares may be deemed to
be beneficially owned by more than one person (if, for example,
persons share the power to vote or the power to dispose of the
shares). In addition, shares are deemed to be beneficially owned by
a person if the person has the right to acquire shares (for
example, upon exercise of an option or warrant or upon conversion
of a convertible security) within 60 days of the date as of which
the information is provided. In computing the percentage ownership
of any person, the amount of shares is deemed to include the amount
of shares beneficially owned by such person by reason of such
acquisition rights. As a result, the percentage of outstanding
shares of any person as shown in the following table does not
necessarily reflect the person’s actual voting power at any
particular date.
To
our knowledge, except as indicated in the footnotes to this table
and pursuant to applicable community property laws, the persons
named in the table have sole voting and investment power with
respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned
by them.
|
|
|
Number of Common Stock Shares Beneficially Owned (1)
|
Percent of Common Stock (1)
|
Named Executive Officers and Directors
|
|
|
Simon
G. Kukes (2)
|
37,296,663
|
82.4%
|
Michael
Peterson (3)
|
550,568
|
1.2%
|
Clark
R. Moore (4)
|
356,114
|
*
|
Frank
C. Ingriselli (5)
|
351,081
|
*
|
Gregory
Overholtzer (6)
|
192,326
|
*
|
Ivar
Siem (7)
|
180,000
|
*
|
J.
Douglas Schick (8)
|
112,000
|
*
|
Paul
A. Pinkston (9)
|
30,000
|
*
|
John
J. Scelfo (10)
|
20,000
|
*
|
H.
Douglas Evans (11)
|
20,000
|
*
|
|
|
|
All Named Executive Officers and Directors as a group (seven
persons)
|
38,014,807
|
83.8%
|
|
|
|
Greater than 5% Shareholders
|
|
|
SK
Energy, LLC (12)
|
36,768,663
|
81.2%
|
5100
Westheimer, Suite 200
|
|
|
Houston,
Texas 77056
|
|
|
*Less than 1%.
Unless otherwise stated, the address of each stockholder is c/o
PEDEVCO Corp., 1250 Wood Branch Park Dr., Suite 400, Houston, Texas
77079.
(1)
Ownership
voting percentages are based on 45,288,828 total shares of common
stock which were outstanding as of March 27, 2019, provided that
shares of common stock subject to options, warrants or other
convertible securities (including the common stock issuable upon
exercise of convertible promissory notes) that are currently
exercisable or convertible, or exercisable or convertible within 60
days of the applicable date of determination, are deemed to be
outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person or group
holding such options, warrants or other convertible securities for
the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such person or
group, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of
computing the percentage ownership of any other person or group.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of
the SEC and includes voting and/or investing power with respect to
securities. We believe that, except as otherwise noted and subject
to applicable community property laws, each person named in the
following table has sole investment and voting power with respect
to the securities shown as beneficially owned by such
person.
(2)
Consisting
of the following: (a) 36,768,663 shares of common stock held by SK
Energy LLC, an entity which Dr. Simon G. Kukes is deemed to
beneficially own; (b) 225,000 shares of fully-vested common stock
held by Dr. Kukes; (c) 300,000 shares of restricted common stock
held by Dr. Kukes, 1/3 of which vest on each of December 12, 2019,
December 12, 2020 and December 12, 2021, provided that Dr. Kukes
remains a director, employee of, or consultant to the Company on
such vesting dates; and (d) 3,000 shares of restricted common stock
held by the spouse of Dr. Kukes, 1/3 of which vest on each of
December 12, 2019, December 12, 2020 and December 12, 2021,
provided that his spouse remains an employee of, or consultant to,
the Company on such vesting dates. Dr. Kukes has voting control
over his unvested shares of common stock.
(3)
Consisting
of the following: (a) 1,834 fully-vested shares of common stock
held by Mr. Peterson’s minor children; (b) 442,602
fully-vested shares of common stock (including shares held by a
family trust which Mr. Peterson is deemed to beneficially own); (c)
options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock exercisable by
Mr. Peterson at an exercise price of $2.40 per share; (d) options
to purchase 33,334 shares of common stock exercisable by Mr.
Peterson at an exercise price of $5.10 per share; (e) options to
purchase 298 shares of common stock exercisable by Mr. Peterson at
$302.40 per share; (f) options to purchase 32,500 shares of common
stock exercisable by Mr. Peterson at an exercise price of $3.70 per
share; and (g) options to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock
exercisable by Mr. Peterson at $2.20 per share. The information
presented with respect to the holder’s beneficial ownership
is based solely on the Company’s record shareholder list and
securities actually known to the Company as being held by the
holder, is only to the best of the Company’s knowledge and
has not be independently verified or confirmed.
(4)
Consisting
of the following: (a) 169,076 fully-vested shares of common stock;
(b) 2,867 fully-vested shares of common stock held by each of Mr.
Moore’s two children, which he is deemed to beneficially own;
(c) 180,000 unvested shares of common stock held by Mr. Moore,
52,000 of which vest on June 28, 2019, and 17,000 of which vest on
each of December 12, 2019, December 12, 2020 and December 12, 2021,
provided that Mr. Moore remains employed by us, or is a consultant
to us, on such vesting dates; (d) options to purchase 23,334 shares
of common stock exercisable by Mr. Moore at an exercise price of
$5.10 per share; (e) options to purchase 27,000 shares of common
stock exercisable by Mr. Moore at an exercise price of $3.70 per
share; and (f) options to purchase 28,000 shares of common stock
exercisable by Mr. Moore at an exercise price of $2.20 per share.
Mr. Moore has voting control over his unvested shares of common
stock.
(5)
Consisting
of the following: (a) 275,000 fully-vested shares of common stock;
(b) 27,000 fully-vested shares of common stock held jointly with
spouse; (c) options to purchase 39,081 shares of common stock
exercisable by Mr. Ingriselli at an exercise price of $5.10 per
share; and (d) options to purchase 37,000 shares of common stock
exercisable by Mr. Ingriselli at an exercise price of $3.70 per
share. The information presented with respect to the holder’s
beneficial ownership is based solely on the Company’s record
shareholder list and securities actually known to the Company as
being held by the holder, is only to the best of the
Company’s knowledge and has not be independently verified or
confirmed.
(6)
Consisting
of the following: (a) 34,559 fully-vested shares of common stock;
(b) 20,000 shares of common stock, of which 1/3 vest on each of
December 12, 2019, December 12, 2020 and December 12, 2021,
provided that Mr. Overholtzer remains employed by us, or is a
consultant to us, on such vesting dates; (c) options to purchase
11,667 shares of common stock exercisable by Mr. Overholtzer at an
exercise price of $5.10 per share; (d) options to purchase 5,000
shares of common stock exercisable by Mr. Overholtzer at an
exercise price of $3.70 per share; (e) options to purchase 15,000
shares of common stock exercisable by Mr. Overholtzer at an
exercise price of $2.20 per share; (f) options to purchase 1,100
shares of common stock exercisable by Mr. Overholtzer at an
exercise price of $3.00 per share; (g) options to purchase 60,000
shares of common stock exercisable by Mr. Overholtzer at an
exercise price of $1.10 per share; and (h) options to purchase
45,000 shares of common stock exercisable by Mr. Overholtzer at an
exercise price of $0.3088 per share. Does not include options to
purchase 30,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of
$0.3088 per share, which have not vested as of the date of this
filing and do not vest within 60 days of this
filing. Mr. Overholtzer has voting control over his
unvested shares of common stock. The information presented with
respect to the holder’s beneficial ownership is based solely
on the Company’s record shareholder list and securities
actually known to the Company as being held by the holder, is only
to the best of the Company’s knowledge and has not be
independently verified or confirmed.
(7)
Consisting
of 180,000 shares of common stock held by American Resources
Offshore Inc., which shares Mr. Siem is deemed to beneficially own.
Mr. Siem disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by
American Resources Offshore Inc., except to the extent of his
pecuniary interest therein.
(8)
Consisting
of 112,000 unvested shares of common stock held by Mr. Schick, 1/3
of which vest on each of December 12, 2019, December 12, 2020 and
December 12, 2021, provided that Mr. Schick remains employed by us,
or is a consultant to us, on such vesting dates. Mr. Schick has
voting control over his unvested shares of common
stock.
(9)
Consisting
of 30,000 unvested shares of common stock held by Mr. Pinkston, 1/2
of which vest on each of December 12, 2019 and December 12, 2020,
provided that Mr. Pinkston remains employed by us, or is a
consultant to us, on such vesting dates. Mr. Pinkston has voting
control over his unvested shares of common stock.
(10)
Consisting
of 20,000 unvested shares of common stock held by Mr. Scelfo, all
of which vest on September 27, 2019, provided that Mr. Scelfo
remains a director, employee of, or consultant to the Company on
such vesting date. Mr. Scelfo has voting control over his unvested
shares of common stock.
(11)
Consisting
of 20,000 unvested shares of common stock held by Mr. Evans, all of
which vest on September 27, 2019, provided that Mr. Evans remains a
director, employee of, or consultant to the Company on such vesting
date. Mr. Evans has voting control over his unvested shares of
common stock.
(12)
Consisting
of 36,768,663 shares of common stock held by SK Energy LLC, an
entity which Dr. Simon G. Kukes is deemed to beneficially own due
to his position as the Chief Executive Officer and 100% owner of SK
Energy.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The
following table sets forth information, as of December 31, 2018,
with respect to our compensation plans under which common stock is
authorized for issuance.
Plan
Category
|
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise
of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(A)
|
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding
options, warrants and rights
(B)
|
Number of securities remaining available for
future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding
securities reflected in Column A)
(C)
|
Equity compensation
plans approved by shareholders (1)
|
799,564
|
$3.18
|
2,705,620(2)
|
Equity compensation
plans not approved by shareholders (3)
|
1,307,354
|
$6.25
|
-
|
Total
|
2,106,918
|
$5.09
|
2,705,620
|
(1)
|
Consists
of (i) options to purchase 31,016 shares of common stock issued and
outstanding under the Pacific Energy Development Corp. 2012 Amended
and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, (ii) options to purchase 298
shares of common stock issued and outstanding under the Blast
Energy Services, Inc. 2009 Incentive Plan, and (iii) options to
purchase 768,250 shares of common stock issued and outstanding
under the PEDEVCO Corp. 2012 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive
Plan.
|
(2)
|
Consists
of 2,705,620 shares of common stock reserved and available for
issuance under the PEDEVCO Corp. 2012 Amended and Restated Equity
Incentive Plan.
|
(3)
|
Consists
of (i) options to purchase 90,668 shares of common stock granted by
Pacific Energy Development Corp. to employees and consultants of
the company in October 2011 and June 2012, and (ii) warrants to
purchase 1,216,685 shares of common stock granted by PEDEVCO Corp.
to placement agents, lenders, investors and consultants between
March 2013 and May 2016.
|
Changes in Control
The
Company is not currently aware of any arrangements which may at a
subsequent date result in a change of control of the
Company.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED
TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
Except as referenced below or otherwise disclosed
above under “Item 11. Executive
Compensation”, there have
been no transactions since the beginning of the
Company’s last fiscal year, and
there is not currently any proposed transaction, in which the
Company was or is to be a participant, where the amount involved
exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average
of the Company’s total assets at year-end for the last two
completed fiscal years, and in which
any officer, director, or any stockholder owning greater than five
percent (5%) of our outstanding voting shares, nor any member of
the above referenced individual’s immediate family, had or
will have a direct or indirect material
interest.
Related Transactions
On September 20, 2018, SK Energy entered into an
agreement with American Resources Inc. (“American”),
whose principals are Ivar Siem, a member of the Board of Directors
of the Company, and J. Douglas Schick, the President of the
Company. Pursuant to the agreement, American agreed to assist Dr.
Kukes with his investments in the Company and SK Energy agreed to
pay American 25% of the profit realized by SK Energy, if any,
following the sale or disposal of the securities of the Company
which SK Energy holds and may acquire in the future (prior to such
sale/disposition). The profit is to be calculated based on (x) the
amount of consideration received by SK Energy in connection with
the sale of such securities, minus (y) the consideration paid by SK
Energy for the securities, increased by 10% each year that such
securities are held. The agreement has a term of four years, but
can be terminated at any time by SK Energy with written notice to
American.
Additional related
party transactions are discussed in greater detail under
“Part
I” – “Item 1 and 2. Business and
Properties” – “Material Transactions”
– “SK Energy
Note and Related Transactions”; “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
Amendment and Conversion”; “Convertible Note Sales”;
and “Additional
Convertible Note Sales”; “Part I” –
“Item 1 and 2.
Business and Properties” – “Recent Events” –
“January 2019 SK
Energy Convertible Note”; “Convertible Notes Amendment and
Conversion”; and “SK Energy Note Amendment; Note
Purchases and Conversion”; and “Item 8. Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data” - “Note 8 – Notes
Payable”; “Note 10 – Stockholders’
Equity – Preferred Stock”, “Note 12 – Related Party
Transactions” and “Note 14 – Subsequent
Events” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, all of
which information and disclosures is incorporated by reference into
this Item 13. Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence.
Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions
We
have not adopted formal policies and procedures for the review,
approval or ratification of transactions, such as those described
above, with our executive officer(s), director(s) and significant
stockholders, provided that it is our policy that any and all such
transactions are presented and approved by the independent members
of the Board of Directors (typically through an ad hoc committee
formed solely for the purpose of approving each individual
transaction), or the Audit Committee, or a majority of the board
(with the interested parties abstaining) and future material
transactions between us and members of management or their
affiliates shall be on terms no less favorable than those available
from unaffiliated third parties.
In addition, our Code of Ethics (described above
under “Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate
Governance” – “Code of
Ethics”), which is
applicable to all of our employees, officers and directors,
requires that all employees, officers and directors avoid any
conflict, or the appearance of a conflict, between an
individual’s personal interests and our
interests.
Director Independence
Our
board of directors has determined that Mr. Scelfo and Mr. Evans are
an independent director as defined in the NYSE American rules
governing members of boards of directors or as defined under Rule
10A-3 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, 50% of the members of our
board of directors are independent as defined in the NYSE American
rules governing members of boards of directors and as defined under
Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES
AND SERVICES.
The
following table presents fees for professional audit services
performed by GBH CPAs, PC (“GBH”), which combined its
practice with Marcum, LLP effective July 1, 2018, and Marcum LLP
for the audit of our annual financial statements for the years
ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands).
|
|
|
Audit Fees
(1)
|
$122
|
$124
|
Audit-Related Fees
(2)
|
-
|
-
|
Tax Fees
(3)
|
27
|
16
|
All Other Fees
(4)
|
18
|
17
|
Total
|
$167
|
$157
|
(1)
Audit fees include
professional services rendered for (1) the audit of our annual
financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018
and 2017 and (ii) the reviews of the financial statements included
in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for such years.
(2)
Audit-related fees
consist of fees billed for professional services that are
reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our
consolidated financial statements but are not reported under
“Audit fees.”
(3)
Tax fees include
professional services relating to preparation of the annual tax
return.
(4)
Other fees include
professional services for review of various filings and issuance of
consents.
Pre-Approval Policies
It is
the policy of our board of directors that all services to be
provided by our independent registered public accounting firm,
including audit services and permitted audit-related and non-audit
services, must be pre-approved by our board of directors. Our board
of directors pre-approved all services, audit and non-audit,
provided to us by GBH and Marcum LLP for 2018 and
2017.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
(1) Financial Statements
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Audited Financial Statements for Years Ended December 31, 2018 and
2017
|
|
|
|
PEDEVCO Corp.:
|
|
|
F-2
|
|
F-4
|
|
F-5
|
|
F-6
|
|
F-8
|
|
F-9
|
(2) Financial Statement
Schedules
|
All
financial statement schedules have been omitted, since the required
information is not applicable or is not present in amounts
sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the
information required is included in the consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto included in this Form
10-K.
(3) Exhibits required
by Item 601 of Regulation S-K
|
Pursuant to the
requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
|
PEDEVCO Corp.
|
|
|
|
|
April
1, 2019
|
By:
|
/s/ Dr.
Simon Kukes
|
|
|
|
Dr.
Simon Kukes
|
|
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
|
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
April
1, 2019
|
By:
|
/s/ Paul
A. Pinkston
|
|
|
|
Paul A.
Pinkston
|
|
|
|
Chief
Accounting Officer
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: /s/ Dr. Simon Kukes
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director
|
|
March
27, 2019
|
Dr.
Simon Kukes
|
|
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: /s/ Paul A. Pinkston
|
|
Chief
Accounting Officer
|
|
March
27, 2019
|
Paul A.
Pinkston
|
|
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: /s/ John J. Scelfo
|
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
|
|
March
27, 2019
|
John J.
Scelfo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: /s/ H. Douglas Evans
|
|
Director
|
|
March
27, 2019
|
H.
Douglas Evans
|
|
|
|
|
By: /s/ Ivar Siem
|
|
Director
|
|
March
27, 2019
|
Ivar
Siem
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incorporated By
Reference
|
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
Filed With This
Annual Report on Form 10-K
|
|
Form
|
|
Exhibit
|
|
Filing Date/Period End Date
|
|
File Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
1.1
|
|
September 29,
2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
2.1
|
|
August 1, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
2.1
|
|
January 14,
2019
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
3.1
|
|
August 2,
2012
|
|
000-53725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
3.1
|
|
April 23,
2013
|
|
000-53725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
3.1
|
|
February 24,
2015
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
3.1
|
|
March 27,
2017
|
|
333-64122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
3.1
|
|
June 26,
2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
3.3
|
|
March 6,
2008
|
|
333-64122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
3.1
|
|
December 6,
2012
|
|
000-53725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
3.1
|
|
October 21,
2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-3
|
|
4.1
|
|
October 23,
2013
|
|
333-191869
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-K
|
|
4.2
|
|
March 31,
2014
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.13
|
|
October 31,
2013
|
|
333-192002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.14
|
|
October 31,
2013
|
|
333-192002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-QSB/A
|
|
10.12
|
|
November 20,
2003
|
|
333-64122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-Q
|
|
4.1
|
|
August 14, 2009
|
|
000-53725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
4.1
|
|
August 2, 2012
|
|
000-53725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.2
|
|
October 31,
2013
|
|
333-192002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.3
|
|
October 31,
2013
|
|
333-192002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.4
|
|
October 31,
2013
|
|
333-192002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.1
|
|
December 28,
2017
|
|
333-222335
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.5
|
|
October 31,
2013
|
|
333-192002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.6
|
|
October 31,
2013
|
|
333-192002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.7
|
|
October 31,
2013
|
|
333-192002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.8
|
|
October 31,
2013
|
|
333-192002
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-K
|
|
10.11
|
|
March 31, 2014
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-K
|
|
10.20
|
|
March 31, 2014
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-K
|
|
10.38
|
|
March 31, 2014
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-K
|
|
10.43
|
|
March 31, 2014
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-K
|
|
10.44
|
|
March 31, 2014
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10-K
|
|
10.58
|
|
March 31, 2014
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
April 27, 2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.2
|
|
April 27, 2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.3
|
|
April 27, 2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.4
|
|
April 27, 2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.5
|
|
April 27, 2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.6
|
|
April 27, 2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.5
|
|
May 17, 2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.6
|
|
May 17, 2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.12
|
|
May 17, 2016
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
May 10, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.2
|
|
May 10, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.3
|
|
May 10, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
June 26, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.2
|
|
June 26, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.3
|
|
June 26, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.4
|
|
June 26, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.5
|
|
June 26, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-8
|
|
4.1
|
|
September 27,
2018
|
|
333-227566
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
August 1, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.2
|
|
August 1, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.3
|
|
August 1, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.4
|
|
August 1, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
September 4,
2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.2
|
|
September 4,
2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
September 10,
2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.2
|
|
September 10,
2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
October 26,
2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
December 3,
2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
January 4, 2019
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.2
|
|
January 4, 2019
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
January 14,
2019
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.4
|
|
February 19,
2019
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
10.1
|
|
March 4, 2019
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K/A
|
|
14.1
|
|
August 8, 2012
|
|
000-53725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
16.1
|
|
August 1, 2018
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
99.1
|
|
September 5,
2013
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
99.2
|
|
September 5,
2013
|
|
001-35922
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8-K
|
|
99.3
|
|
September 5,
2013
|
|
001-35922
|
101.INS
|
|
XBRL Instance
Document
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.SCH
|
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
Document
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.CAL
|
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation
Linkbase Document
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.DEF
|
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition
Linkbase Document
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.LAB
|
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label
Linkbase Document
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101.PRE
|
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Presentation Linkbase Document
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
Indicates management contract or
compensatory plan or arrangement.
#
Schedules
and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of
Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be
furnished supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission
upon request; provided, however that PEDEVCO Corp. may request
confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any schedule or exhibit so
furnished.