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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------------
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004
-------------------------------------------------
or
[_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period ended
Commission file number: 0-10990
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CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware 76-0035225
- ----------------------------------- -------------------------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
of Incorporation or Organization)
357 South Gulph Road, Suite 260, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406
-------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code (610) 992-9900
---------------
________________________________________________________________________________
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year,
if Changed Since Last Report)
Indicate by check [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 [check mark] No _____.
Indicate by check [check mark] whether the registrant is an accelerated
filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes____ No [check mark].
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's
classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date: 6,720,384 shares of
Common Stock, $.50 par value, outstanding as of August 11, 2004.
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION
INDEX
PAGE #
------
Part I. Financial Information
---------------------
Item 1. Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets - June 30, 2004 (Unaudited) and September
30, 2003............................................................................... 2
Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three Months Ended June 30,
2004 and 2003 (Unaudited).............................................................. 3
Consolidated Statements of Operations - Nine Months Ended June 30, 2004
and 2003 (Unaudited)................................................................... 4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Nine Months Ended
June 30, 2004 and 2003 (Unaudited)......................................................5
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Other Comprehensive
Income - Year Ended September 30, 2003 and Nine Months Ended June
30, 2004 (Unaudited)................................................................... 6
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)............................. 7
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations ........................................................................ 19
Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk............................ 23
Item 4. Controls and Procedures................................................................23
Part II. Other Information
-----------------
Item 1. Legal Proceedings......................................................................24
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.......................................................24
Signature...................................................................................................25
-1-
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
2004 2003
-------- --------
UNAUDITED
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents....................................................... $ 29,886 $ 10,615
Restricted cash................................................................. 4,276 4,285
Accounts receivable............................................................. 701 152
Marketable securities........................................................... 16 4,088
Prepaid expenses and other current assets....................................... 88 112
Note receivable - Networked Energy LLC, net of allowance for doubtful account
of $126...........................................................
Deferred income taxes........................................................... 648
-------- --------
Total current assets......................................................... 34,967 19,900
Property, plant and equipment, net:
Furniture, fixtures, equipment and vehicles..................................... 68 65
Oil and gas properties, net (full cost method):
Proved properties............................................................... 9,246
Unproved properties not being amortized.........................................
Investment in Networked Energy LLC, net of impairment reserve of $354...............
Investment in Delta Petroleum Corporation........................................... 38,173 29,477
Deferred income taxes............................................................... 259 366
-------- --------
Total assets................................................................... $ 82,713 $ 49,808
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Dividend payable................................................................ $ 336 $ 330
Accounts payable................................................................ 596 541
Accrued expenses................................................................ 885 241
Accrued taxes on appreciation of marketable securities.......................... 649
Income taxes payable............................................................ 103
-------- --------
Total current liabilities.................................................... 1,920 1,761
Net refining liabilities retained................................................... 2,406 2,404
Asset retirement obligation......................................................... 227
Deferred income taxes............................................................... 5,423
-------- --------
Total liabilities............................................................ 9,976 4,165
-------- --------
Commitments and contingencies.......................................................
Stockholders' equity:
Series B participating preferred stock; par value - $1.00;
10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued
Common stock; par value - $0.50; 25,000,000 shares authorized;
11,631,404 shares issued at June 30, 2004 and 11,503,904 shares issued at
September 30, 2003........................................................... 5,816 5,752
Additional paid-in capital...................................................... 84,081 68,532
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes............................ 231 1,383
Retained earnings............................................................... 49,276 36,643
-------- --------
139,404 112,310
Treasury stock at cost - 4,911,020 shares at June 30, 2004 and September
30, 2003.................................................................... (66,667) (66,667)
-------- --------
Total stockholders' equity................................................... 72,737 45,643
-------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity................................... $ 82,713 $ 49,808
======== ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
-2-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
---------------------------
2004 2003
---------- ----------
Revenue:
Gas sales.............................................................. $ 491
----------
491
----------
Expenses:
General and administrative............................................. 1,006 $ 748
Oil and gas production................................................. 133
Depreciation, depletion and amortization............................... 128 14
Litigation provision................................................... 825
---------- ----------
2,092 762
---------- ----------
Operating income (loss).................................................... (1,601) (762)
---------- ----------
Other income (expense):
Gain on sale of Delta Petroleum Corporation investment................. 5,664
Interest income........................................................ 30 43
Other income (expense)................................................. (1) (238)
Equity in income of Delta Petroleum Corporation........................ 350
Decrease in market value of option granted to Delta Petroleum
Corporation......................................................... 17
---------- ----------
6,043 (178)
---------- ----------
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes............................ 4,442 (940)
---------- ----------
Provision for (benefit of) income taxes:
State.................................................................. 37 (5)
Federal................................................................ 1,692 (207)
---------- ----------
1,729 (212)
---------- ----------
Net income (loss).......................................................... $ 2,713 ($ 728)
========== ==========
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic.................................................................. $ .40 ($ .11)
========== ==========
Diluted................................................................ $ .39 ($ .11)
========== ==========
Weighted average number of common and potential dilutive common
shares outstanding:
Basic.................................................................. 6,715,112 6,592,884
========== ==========
Diluted................................................................ 7,018,712 6,616,896
========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
-3-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
("000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
---------------------------
2004 2003
---------- ----------
Revenue:
Gas sales.............................................................. $ 491
----------
491
----------
Expenses:
General and administrative............................................. 3,430 $ 2,313
Oil and gas production................................................. 133
Depreciation, depletion and amortization............................... 153 43
Litigation provision................................................... 825
---------- ----------
4,541 2,356
---------- ----------
Operating income (loss)................................................... (4,050) (2,356)
---------- ----------
Other income (expense):
Gain on sale of marketable securities.................................. 538
Gain on sale of Delta Petroleum Corporation investment................. 18,211
Interest income........................................................ 102 194
Other income........................................................... 447 2
Equity in income of Delta Petroleum Corporation........................ 856 512
Equity in loss of Networked Energy LLC................................. (20)
Impairment provision - investment in Networked Energy LLC.............. (480)
Decrease in market value of option granted to Delta Petroleum
Corporation......................................................... 432
---------- ----------
20,154 640
---------- ----------
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes............................ 16,104 (1,716)
---------- ----------
Provision for (benefit of) income taxes:
State.................................................................. 58 (8)
Federal................................................................ 2,413 (311)
---------- ----------
2,471 (319)
---------- ----------
Net income (loss).......................................................... $ 13,633 ($ 1,397)
========== ==========
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic.................................................................. $ 2.05 ($ .21)
========== ==========
Diluted................................................................ $ 1.98 ($ .21)
========== ==========
Weighted average number of common and potential dilutive common
shares outstanding:
Basic.................................................................. 6,652,995 6,592,884
========== ==========
Diluted................................................................ 6,886,691 6,601,764
========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
-4-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
("000'S" OMITTED)
(UNAUDITED)
NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
--------------------------
2004 2003
------- -------
Cash flows from operating activities................................. ($ 3,272) ($ 2,427)
------- -------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investment in furniture, fixtures and equipment.................... (43)
Investment in Networked Energy LLC................................. (125)
Investment in oil and gas properties............................... (9,282)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities........................ 2,809
Proceeds from investment in Delta Petroleum Corporation............ 29,339
------- -------
22,823 (125)
------- -------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid to stockholders..................................... (995) (989)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options............................ 715
------- -------
(280) (989)
------- -------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents................. 19,271 (3,541)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period...................... 10,615 15,539
------- -------
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period............................ $29,886 $11,998
======= =======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
-5-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2004 (UNAUDITED)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCUMULATED
ADDITIONAL OTHER
COMMON STOCK PAID-IN COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE RETAINED
SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL INCOME INCOME (LOSS) EARNINGS
---------- ------ ------- ------- ------------ --------
Balance - October 1, 2002.................... 11,503,904 $5,752 $67,365 $ 487 $ 39,965
Issuance of additional stock by Delta
Petroleum Corporation........................ 1,167
Dividends declared ($.20 per share).......... (1,321)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss).......................... ($2,001) (2,001)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on
marketable securities, net of $375
of income taxes......................... 666 666
Equity in other comprehensive
income (loss) of Delta Petroleum
Corporation, net of $129 tax
benefit................................. 230 230
-------
($1,105)
---------- ------ ------- ======= ------- --------
Balance - September 30, 2003................. 11,503,904 5,752 68,532 1,383 36,643
Options exercised............................ 127,500 64 651
Tax benefit of options exercised............. 153
Issuance of additional stock by Delta
Petroleum Corporation, net of $4,184
tax........................................ 14,745
Dividends declared ($.15 per share).......... (1,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss).......................... $13,633 13,633
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Reclassification adjustment, net of
$649 tax................................. (1,153) (1,153)
Equity in other comprehensive
income (loss) of Delta Petroleum
Corporation, net of $4 tax
benefit................................. 1 1
-------
$12,481
---------- ------ ------- ======= ------- --------
Balance - June 30, 2004...................... 11,631,404 $5,816 $84,081 $ 231 $ 49,276
========== ====== ======= ======= ========
[RESTUBBED TABLE]
TREASURY STOCK
---------------------
SHARES AMOUNT TOTAL
--------- ------- -------
Balance - October 1, 2002.................... 4,911,020 ($66,667) $46,902
Issuance of additional stock by Delta
Petroleum Corporation........................ 1,167
Dividends declared ($.20 per share).......... (1,321)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss).......................... (2,001)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain (loss) on
marketable securities, net of $375
of income taxes......................... 666
Equity in other comprehensive
income (loss) of Delta Petroleum
Corporation, net of $129 tax
benefit................................. 230
--------- ------- -------
Balance - September 30, 2003................. 4,911,020 (66,667) 45,643
Options exercised............................ 715
Tax benefit of options exercised............. 153
Issuance of additional stock by Delta
Petroleum Corporation, net of $4,184
tax........................................ 14,745
Dividends declared ($.15 per share).......... (1,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss).......................... 13,633
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Reclassification adjustment, net of
$649 tax................................. (1,153)
Equity in other comprehensive
income (loss) of Delta Petroleum
Corporation, net of $4 tax
benefit................................. 1
--------- ------- -------
Balance - June 30, 2004...................... 4,911,020 ($66,667) $72,737
========= ======= =======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
-6-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
Note 1 - Basis of Preparation
- -----------------------------
The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Castle Energy
Corporation (the "Company") included herein have been prepared pursuant to the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain
reclassifications have been made, where applicable, to make the periods
presented comparable. Although certain information and footnote disclosures
normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such
rules and regulations, the Company believes that the disclosures included herein
are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Operating results
for the nine month period ended June 30, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of
the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004
or for subsequent periods. These unaudited consolidated financial statements
should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes
thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2003.
In the opinion of the Company, the unaudited consolidated financial
statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results
of operations for the three month and nine month periods ended June 30, 2004 and
2003 and for a fair statement of financial position at June 30, 2004.
Note 2 - September 30, 2003 Balance Sheet
- -----------------------------------------
The amounts presented in the balance sheet as of September 30, 2003
were derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements which
were included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2003.
Note 3 - Discontinued Operations
- --------------------------------
From August 1989 to September 30, 1995, several of the Company's
subsidiaries conducted refining operations. By December 12, 1995, the Company's
refining subsidiaries had sold all of their refining assets and the purchasers
had assumed all related liabilities, including contingent environmental
liabilities. In addition, in 1996, Powerine Oil Company ("Powerine"), one of the
Company's former refining subsidiaries, merged into a subsidiary of the
purchaser of the refining assets sold by Powerine and is no longer a subsidiary
of the Company. The Company's remaining refining subsidiaries own no refining
assets, have been inactive for over eight years and are in the process of
liquidation. As a result, the Company has accounted for its refining operations
as discontinued operations. Such discontinued refining operations have not
impacted the Company's operations since September 30, 1995, although they may
impact the Company's future operations.
Note 4 - Environmental Liabilities/Litigation
- ---------------------------------------------
ChevronTexaco Litigation
On August 13, 2002, three subsidiaries of ChevronTexaco filed Cause No.
02-4162-JPG in the United States District Court for the Southern District of
Illinois against the Company, as well as against two inactive subsidiaries of
the Company and three unrelated parties. The lawsuit seeks damages and
declaratory relief under contractual and statutory claims arising from
environmental damage at the now dismantled Indian Refinery. In particular, the
lawsuit claims that the Company is contractually obligated to indemnify and
defend ChevronTexaco against all liability and costs, including lawsuits, claims
and administrative actions initiated by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency ("EPA") and others, that ChevronTexaco has incurred or will
incur as a result of environmental contamination at and around the Indian
Refinery, even if that environmental contamination was caused by Texaco, Inc.
and its present and former subsidiaries ("Texaco" - now merged into
ChevronTexaco) which previously owned the refinery for over 75 years. The suit
also seeks costs, damages and declaratory relief against the Company under the
Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Act
("CERCLA"), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ("OPA") and the Solid Waste Disposal
Act, as amended, ("RCRA").
-7-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
History
In December 1995, Indian Refining Limited Partnership, an inactive
refining subsidiary of the Company ("IRLP") sold its refinery, the Indian
Refinery, to American Western Refining L.P. ("American Western"), an
unaffiliated party. As part of the related purchase and sale agreement, American
Western assumed all environmental liabilities and indemnified IRLP with respect
thereto. Subsequently, American Western filed for bankruptcy and sold large
portions of the Indian Refinery to an outside party pursuant to a bankruptcy
proceeding. The outside party has substantially dismantled the Indian Refinery.
American Western filed a liquidation plan in 2001. American Western anticipated
that the liquidation plan would be confirmed in January 2002 but confirmation
was delayed primarily because of legal challenges by Texaco, and subsequently
ChevronTexaco. American Western's liquidation plan was confirmed in April 2003.
In the plan, IRLP reduced a $5,400 secured claim against American Western to
$800. In exchange the EPA and Illinois EPA entered into an Agreement and
Covenant Not to Sue with IRLP, which extinguished all CERCLA claims against
IRLP. Under the American Western liquidation plan, IRLP received $599 which it
is currently distributing to its creditors.
During fiscal 1998, the Company was informed that the EPA had
investigated offsite acid sludge waste found near the Indian Refinery and had
investigated and remediated surface contamination on the Indian Refinery
property. Neither the Company nor IRLP was initially named with respect to these
two actions.
In October 1998, the EPA named the Company and two of its inactive
refining subsidiaries as potentially responsible parties for the expected
clean-up of an area of approximately 1,000 acres, which the EPA later designated
as the Indian Refinery-Texaco Lawrenceville Superfund Site. In addition,
eighteen other parties were named including Texaco and a subsidiary of Texaco
which had owned the refinery until December of 1988. The Company subsequently
responded to the EPA indicating that it was neither the owner nor the operator
of the Indian Refinery and thus not responsible for its remediation.
In November 1999, the Company received a request for information from
the EPA concerning the Company's involvement in the ownership and operation of
the Indian Refinery. The Company responded to the EPA information request in
January 2000.
Claims by Texaco
On August 7, 2000, the Company received notice of a claim against it
and two of its inactive refining subsidiaries from Texaco. Texaco had made no
previous claims against the Company although the Company's subsidiaries had
owned the refinery from August 1989 until December 1995. In its claim, Texaco
demanded that the Company and its former subsidiaries indemnify Texaco for all
liability resulting from environmental contamination at and around the Indian
Refinery. In addition, Texaco demanded that the Company assume Texaco's defense
in all matters relating to environmental contamination at and around the Indian
Refinery, including lawsuits, claims and administrative actions initiated by the
EPA, and indemnify Texaco for costs that Texaco had already incurred addressing
environmental contamination at the Indian Refinery. Finally, Texaco also claimed
that the Company and two of its inactive subsidiaries were liable to Texaco
under the CERCLA as owners and operators of the Indian Refinery. The Company
responded to Texaco disputing the factual and legal contentions for Texaco's
claims against the Company. The Company's management and special counsel
subsequently met with representatives of Texaco but the parties disagreed
concerning Texaco's claims. In October 2001, Texaco merged with Chevron and the
merged company was named ChevronTexaco.
In May 2002, the Company received a letter from ChevronTexaco which
asserted a new claim against the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to OPA
for costs and damages incurred or to be incurred by ChevronTexaco resulting from
actual or threatened discharges of oil to navigable waters at or near the Indian
Refinery. ChevronTexaco estimated these costs and damages to be $20,500.
-8-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
The Company subsequently corresponded with ChevronTexaco and
voluntarily provided a number of documents requested by ChevronTexaco. In June
2002, ChevronTexaco indicated to the Company that ChevronTexaco did not intend
to sue the Company. Subsequently, ChevronTexaco requested additional documents
from the Company, which the Company promptly and voluntarily again supplied to
ChevronTexaco.
In August 2002, the Company's management and special counsel met with
legal and management representatives of ChevronTexaco in an effort to resolve
outstanding issues. At the meeting a special outside counsel of ChevronTexaco
asserted claims against the Company based upon newly expressed legal theories.
ChevronTexaco also informed the Company that residential landowners adjacent to
the Indian Refinery site had recently filed a toxic torts suit against
ChevronTexaco in Illinois state court. The meeting ended in an impasse.
Litigation
On August 13, 2002, ChevronTexaco filed the above litigation in federal
court. By letter dated August 28, 2002, ChevronTexaco tendered the Illinois
state court litigation to the Company for indemnification, but the Company
promptly responded, denying responsibility. Following the initiation of
litigation the Company retained Bryan Cave LLP as trial counsel.
On October 25, 2002, the Company filed motions to dismiss as a matter
of law the contractual claims in Texaco's complaint, as well as the OPA and RCRA
claims. At the same time, the Company filed its answer to ChevronTexaco's
lawsuit on the remaining CERCLA claim. A pre-trial scheduling conference was
held May 5, 2003 and on May 8, 2003 two unrelated defendants were dismissed from
the case with prejudice under a stipulation with ChevronTexaco on undisclosed
terms. On June 2, 2003, the Federal District Court denied the Company's motions
to dismiss, following which, on July 9, 2003, the Company filed answers to the
contractual, OPA and RCRA claims. The parties are currently conducting discovery
and depositions. The Company is awaiting a rescheduling of the presumptive trial
date for this case from the Federal District Court caused by the court's crowded
criminal docket. The Company expects to pursue motions for summary judgment
prior to trial.
The central argument to both ChevronTexaco's contractual and statutory
claims is that the Company should be treated as a "successor" and "alter ego" of
certain of its present and former subsidiaries, and thereby should be held
directly liable for ChevronTexaco's claims against those entities. ChevronTexaco
makes this argument notwithstanding the fact that the Company never directly
owned the refinery and never was a party to any of the disputed contracts.
ChevronTexaco has also claimed that the Company itself directly operated the
refinery. The leading opinion in this area of the law, as issued by the U.S.
Supreme Court in June 1998 in the comparable matter of United States v.
Bestfoods, 524 U.S. 51, 118 S.Ct. 1876 (1998), supports the Company's positions.
Estimated gross undiscounted clean-up costs for this refinery are at
least $80,000-$150,000 according to public statements by Texaco to the Company
and third parties. In January 2003, the United States and the State of Illinois
filed a motion in the American Western bankruptcy case which stated that the
estimated total response costs for one portion of the site alone could range
from $109,000 to $205,000. ChevronTexaco has asserted in its contractual claim
that the Company should indemnify ChevronTexaco for all environmental
liabilities related to the Indian Refinery. If ChevronTexaco were to prevail on
this theory, the Company could be held liable for the entirety of the estimated
clean up costs, a sum far in excess of the Company's financial capability. On
the other hand, if the Company were found liable by reason of ChevronTexaco's
statutory claims for contribution and reimbursement under CERCLA and/or OPA, the
Company could be required to pay a percentage of the clean-up costs based on
equitable allocation factors such as comparative time of ownership and
operation, toxicity and amount of hazardous materials released, remediation
funded to date, as well as other factors. Since the Company's subsidiary only
operated the Indian Refinery five years, whereas Texaco operated it over
seventy-five years, the Company would expect that its share of remediation
liability would at a minimum be reduced to an amount proportional to the years
of operation by its subsidiary, although such may not be the case. Additionally,
-9-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
since Texaco and its subsidiaries intentionally disposed of hazardous wastes on
site at the Indian Refinery while the Company's subsidiary arranged to remove
for offsite destruction and disposal any hazardous wastes it may have generated,
any allocation to the Company and/or its subsidiaries might be further reduced.
The Company and its special counsel, Reed Smith LLP, do not consider an
unfavorable outcome for the Company in ChevronTexaco's lawsuit to be probable
and the Company intends to vigorously defend itself against all of
ChevronTexaco's claims in the litigation and any lawsuits that may follow. In
addition to the numerous defenses that the Company has against ChevronTexaco's
contractual claim for indemnity, the Company and its special counsel believe
that by the express language of the agreement which ChevronTexaco construes to
create an indemnity, ChevronTexaco has irrevocably elected to forego all rights
of contractual indemnification it might otherwise have had against the Company.
Contingent Environmental Liabilities
Although the Company does not believe it is liable for any of its
subsidiaries' clean-up costs and intends to vigorously defend itself in such
regard, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome or timing of these
matters due to inherent uncertainties. If funds for environmental clean-up are
not provided by former and/or present owners, it is possible that the Company
and/or one of its former refining subsidiaries could be held responsible or
could be named parties in additional legal actions to recover remediation costs.
In recent years, government and other plaintiffs have often sought redress for
environmental liabilities from the party most capable of payment without regard
to responsibility or fault.
Although any environmental liabilities related to the Indian Refinery
have been transferred to others, there can be no assurance that the parties
assuming such liabilities will be able to pay them. American Western, owner of
the Indian Refinery, filed for bankruptcy and is in the process of liquidation.
As noted above, the EPA named the Company as a potentially responsible
party for remediation of the Indian Refinery and requested and received relevant
information from the Company and ChevronTexaco has tendered the defense of a
state court toxic torts action to the Company. Whether or not the Company is
ultimately held liable in the current litigation or other proceedings, it is
probable that the Company will incur substantial legal fees and experience a
diversion of corporate resources from other opportunities.
OTHER LITIGATION
Long Trusts Lawsuit
In November 2000, the Company and three of its subsidiaries were
defendants in a jury trial in Rusk County, Texas. The plaintiffs in the case,
the Long Trusts, are non-operating working interest owners in certain wells
previously operated by Castle Texas Production Limited Partnership ("CTPLP"), an
inactive exploration and production subsidiary of the Company. The wells were
among those sold to Union Pacific Resources Corporation ("UPRC") in May 1997.
The Long Trusts claimed that CTPLP did not allow them to sell gas from March 1,
1996 to January 31, 1997 as required by applicable joint operating agreements,
and they sued CTPLP and the Company's other subsidiaries, claiming (among other
things) breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and conspiracy.
The Long Trusts sought actual damages, exemplary damages, prejudgment and
post-judgment interest, attorney's fees and court costs. CTPLP counterclaimed
for approximately $150 of unpaid joint interest billings plus interest,
attorney's fees and court costs.
After a three-week trial, the District Court in Rusk County submitted 36
questions to the jury which covered the claims and counterclaim in the lawsuit.
Based upon the jury's answers, the District Court entered judgment on some of
the Long Trusts' claims against the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as
CTPLP's counterclaim against the Long Trusts. The District Court issued an
amended judgment on September 5, 2001 which became final December 19, 2001. The
net amount awarded to the plaintiffs was approximately $2,700.
-10-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
The Company and its subsidiaries and the Long Trusts subsequently filed
notices of appeal, submitted legal briefs in April 2002, reply briefs in June
and July 2002, and ultimately argued the case before the 12th Court of Appeals
in Tyler, Texas in October 2002. On July 31, 2003, that court reversed and
remanded in part the trial court's judgment against the Company and its
subsidiaries while affirming the judgment against the Long Trusts which had
awarded damages on the counterclaim asserted by CTPLP. In its decision, the
appellate court held that the trial court had submitted erroneous theories to
the jury, expressly rejecting the Long Trusts' claims for breach of fiduciary
duty, conversion, implied covenants and exemplary damages. It also remanded the
Long Trusts' claims for breach of contract to the district court for retrial.
The appellate court upheld the trial court's award to CTPLP on its counterclaim
for approximately $150 of unpaid joint interests billings, $450 in attorneys'
fees, plus interest and court costs. Both the Company and its subsidiaries and
the Long Trusts thereafter submitted motions for a rehearing on certain rulings
to the 12th Court of Appeals. That court denied both motions for a rehearing.
The Long Trusts subsequently filed a petition for review with the
Supreme Court of Texas. On March 26, 2004, the Texas Supreme Court denied the
Long Trusts petition for review and the Long Trusts filed a petition for
rehearing with that court two weeks later. That petition was also subsequently
denied, whereupon the Court of Appeals issued its mandate on June 9, 2004
completing the appellate process. Certain breach of contract claims by the Long
Trusts which were reversed and remanded by the appellate court may be retried by
the plaintiffs. Based on the evidence at the initial trial coupled with the
guidance to the trial court given in the appellate decision, the Company
believes that it will be able to prove that there was no breach of contract and
that Long Trusts suffered no damages, and that any such breach of contract
claims, even if decided adversely to the Company, will not result in a material
loss to the Company.
Pursuant to the mandate of the Texas Court of Appeals, the Company has
now moved to sever CTPLP's claims against the Long Trusts from any retrial of
the Long Trust's contract claims against the Company and to collect on CTPLP's
judgment against the Long Trusts which is secured by a letter of credit posted
by the Long Trusts with the trial court. The Company estimates the judgment to
be approximately $1,000, including accrued interest, as of June 30, 2004.
Subsequent to June 30, 2004, upon issue of the mandate by the Texas Court of
Appeals, the Company's $3,886 supersedeas bond was released under Texas law. The
Company's $4,110 letter of credit, including accrued interest, securing that
bond was also released and those funds are no longer restricted cash.
The Company has not accrued any recoveries for this litigation as of
June 30, 2004, but will record recoveries if and when they are ultimately
realized (collected).
Pilgreen Litigation
As part of the oil and gas properties acquired from AmBrit Energy
Corporation ("AmBrit") in June 1999, Castle Exploration Company, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("CECI") acquired a 10.65% overriding
royalty interest ("ORRI") in the Simpson lease in south Texas, including the
Pilgreen #2ST gas well. CECI subsequently transferred that interest to Castle
Texas Oil and Gas Limited Partnership ("CTOGLP"), an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary. Because the operator suspended revenue attributable to the ORRI from
first production due to title disputes, AmBrit, the previous owner, filed claims
against the operator of the Pilgreen well, and CTOGLP acquired rights in that
litigation with respect to the period after January 1, 1999. In August 2002,
$282 was released to the Company of which $249 was recorded as income by the
Company and the remaining $33 paid to Delta Petroleum Corporation ("Delta").
Because of a claim by Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration and Production, Inc.
("Dominion") (see below), a working interest owner in the same well, that
CTOGLP's ORRI in the Simpson lease should be deemed burdened by 3.55% overriding
royalty interest, there is still a title dispute as to approximately $120 of
suspended CTOGLP Pilgreen #2ST production proceeds for the Company's account.
(The Company sold all of its oil and gas assets, including the Pilgreen #2ST
well, to Delta on May 31, 2002 but effective as of October 1, 2001.) The Company
has named Dominion as a defendant in a legal action seeking a declaratory
judgment that the Company is entitled to its full 10.65% overriding royalty
interest in the Pilgreen well. The Company believes that Dominion's title
exception to CTOGLP's overriding royalty interest is erroneous and notes that
-11-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
several previous title opinions have confirmed the validity of CTOGLP's
interest. The litigation is related to the Dominion litigation (see below).
Accordingly, the Company believes that CTOGLP will prevail in this litigation if
CTOGLP prevails in the Dominion Litigation or that CTOGLP will fail in this
litigation if it fails in the Dominion Litigation. Since the Company has not
recorded any revenue related to the $120 of suspended revenue, it expects to
record $120 of revenue if it prevails, but no expense if it fails in this
litigation. Dominion has filed a motion for summary judgment in which CTOGLP
will answer and a hearing has been set for August 24, 2004.
CTOGLP, along with several unrealized parties, has also filed suit to
collect production proceeds from an additional well on the Simpson lease in
which CTOLGP had a 5.325% overriding royalty interest suspended by the operator
because of title disputes. The Company intends to contest this matter
vigorously. At the present time, the amount held in escrow applicable to the
additional well attributable to the Company's interest is approximately $66
although approximately $22 of that amount would be subject to Dominion's claims
in the Pilgren Litigation. The Company has not recorded any of the $66 of
suspended revenue as income but will record it as income when and if it is
realized (collected).
Dominion Litigation
On March 18, 2002, Dominion, operator of the Mitchell and Migl-Mitchell
wells in the Southwest Speaks field in south Texas and a working interest owner
in the Pilgreen #2ST well, filed suit in Texas against CTOGLP seeking
declaratory judgment in a title action that the overriding royalty interest held
by CTOGLP in these wells should be deemed to be burdened by certain other
overriding royalty interests aggregating 3.55% and should therefore be reduced
from 10.65% to 7.10%. Dominion is also seeking an accounting and refund of
payments for overriding royalty to CTOGLP in excess of the 7.10% since April
2000. The Company currently estimates the amount in controversy to be
approximately $781. Dominion threatened to suspend all revenue payable to the
Company from the Mitchell and Migl-Mitchell to offset its claim. The Company and
Dominion subsequently examined the land and lease documents concerning the
overriding royalty interests. The Company believes that Dominion's title
exception to CTOGLP's overriding royalty interest is erroneous and notes that
several previous title opinions have confirmed the validity of CTOGLP's
interest.
In July 2003, Dominion filed a motion for partial summary judgment
concerning the Company's claim that it had assumed the liabilities of its
predecessor in interest and CTOGLP filed its response to Dominion's motion as
well as its own cross motion for partial summary judgment. In September 2003,
the District Court of Lavaca County granted Dominion's partial motion for
partial summary judgment. In January 2004, Dominion filed a motion for final
summary judgment on this matter to which CTOGLP and the other defendants filed a
response. In May 2004, the District Court of Lavaca County granted Dominion's
motion for final summary judgment. The Company has filed an appeal of both the
District Court's summary judgments with the Court of Appeals in Corpus Christi.
At June 30, 2004, the Company accrued a provision of $825 related to
this litigation, including $44 in estimated interest and plaintiff's legal
costs.
Note 5 - New Accounting Pronouncements
- --------------------------------------
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, "Business
Combinations" ("SFAS No. 141") and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" ("SFAS No. 142") were issued in
July 2001. SFAS No. 141 requires that all business combinations entered into
subsequent to June 30, 2001 be accounted for under the purchase method of
accounting and that certain acquired intangible assets in a business combination
be recognized and reported as assets apart from goodwill. SFAS No. 142 requires
that amortization of goodwill be replaced with periodic tests of the goodwill's
impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142
and that intangible assets other than goodwill be amortized over their useful
lives. The Company adopted SFAS No. 141 in July 2001 and adopted SFAS No. 142 on
October 1, 2002.
The Company has been made aware that an issue has arisen within the
industry regarding the application of the provisions of SFAS No. 142 and SFAS
No. 141 to companies in the extractive industries, including oil and gas
companies. The issue is whether SFAS No. 142 requires companies to reclassify
costs associated with mineral rights, including both proved and unproved
-12-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
leasehold acquisition costs, as intangible assets in the balance sheet, apart
from other capitalized oil and gas property costs. Historically, the Company and
other oil and gas companies have included the cost of these oil and gas
leasehold interests as part of oil and gas properties. Also under consideration
is whether SFAS No. 142 requires registrants to provide the additional
disclosures prescribed by SFAS No. 142 for intangible assets for costs
associated with mineral rights.
If it is ultimately determined that SFAS No. 142 requires the Company to
reclassify costs associated with mineral rights from property and equipment to
intangible assets, the amount that would be reclassified is approximately as
follows:
MARCH 31, 2004 AND JUNE 30, 2004
--------------------------------
Intangible assets:
Proved leasehold acquisition costs.............. $1,200
======
In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, "Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations" ("SFAS No. 143"), which provides accounting requirements
for retirement obligations associated with tangible long-lived assets,
including: 1) the timing of liability recognition; 2) initial measurement of the
liability; 3) allocation of asset retirement costs to expense; 4) subsequent
measurement of the liability; and 5) financial statement disclosures. SFAS No.
143 requires that asset retirement cost be capitalized as part of the cost of
the related long-lived asset and subsequently allocated to expense using a
systematic and rational method. Any transition adjustment resulting from the
adoption of SFAS No. 143 would be reported as a cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle. The Company adopted this statement effective October 1,
2002. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the
Company's consolidated financial statements. The Company recorded an asset
retirement obligation of $222 in conjunction with its acquisition of interests
in gas wells on March 31, 2004 (see Note 11). At June 30, 2004, the asset
retirement obligation was $227.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 145, "Recision of FASB
Statements No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical
Corrections" ("SFAS No. 145") was issued in April 2002. This statement rescinds
SFAS No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt, which
required all gains and losses from extinguishment of debt to be aggregated and,
if material, classified as an extraordinary item, net of income taxes. As a
result, the criteria in Accounting Principles Board No. 30 ("APB 30") will now
be used to classify those gains and losses. Any gain or loss on the
extinguishment of debt that was classified as an extraordinary item in prior
periods presented that does not meet the criteria in APB 30 for classification
as an extraordinary item shall be reclassified. The provisions of SFAS No. 145
are effective for fiscal years beginning after January 1, 2003 and the Company
adopted SFAS No. 145 on October 1, 2003. The Company's adoption of this
statement has not had any effect on its financial position or results of
operations.
In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, an Amendment of FASB
Statement No. 123" ("SFAS No. 148"). This statement amends SFAS No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," to provide alternative methods of
transition for a voluntary change to the fair value method of accounting for
stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this statement amends the
disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both
annual and interim financial statements. Certain of the disclosure modifications
are required for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002. Since the Company
has not issued any stock options since January 2002, the provisions of SFAS No.
148 have not had any effect on the Company's financial position or results of
operations.
In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation
of Variable Interests Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51"
("Interpretation No. 46"). This Interpretation addresses the consolidation by
business enterprises of variable interest entities as defined in the
Interpretation. Interpretation No. 46 applies immediately to variable interests
in variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable
interests in variable interest entities obtained after January 31, 2003. For
public enterprises with a variable interest in a variable interest entity
-13-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
created before February 1, 2003, the Interpretation applies to that enterprise
no later than the beginning of the first interim or annual reporting period
beginning after June 15, 2003. The Interpretation requires certain disclosures
in financial statements issued after January 31, 2003 if it is reasonably
possible that the Company will consolidate or disclose information about
variable interest entities when the Interpretation becomes effective. The
provisions of Interpretation No. 46 have not had an effect on the Company's
financial position and results of operations to date, and the Company does not
presently expect Interpretation No. 46 to have any effect on the Company's
future financial position or results of operations.
Note 6 - Income Taxes
- ---------------------
The Company's deferred taxes are comprised of the following:
JUNE 30, 2004 SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
------------- -------------------
(UNAUDITED)
Deferred tax assets - gross............................ $ 259 $7,431
Valuation allowance.................................... (6,417)
------ ------
Deferred tax assets - net.............................. $ 259 $1,014
====== ======
Deferred tax liability................................. $5,423 $ -
====== ======
Income taxes payable................................... $ 103 $ -
====== ======
The Company's gross deferred tax assets decreased from $7,431 at September
30, 2003 to $259 at June 30, 2004 primarily because the Company utilized most of
its tax carryforwards to reduce its taxable income for the nine months ended
June 30, 2004. Such taxable income resulted primarily from taxable gains on the
sale of marketable securities and 2,948,289 shares of Delta. (See Note 9).
Approximately $3,500 of the decrease in the valuation allowance was recorded as
a reduction in income tax expense.
The Company's tax provision consists of the following:
THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
---------------------------
2004 2003
---- ----
Current income tax expense..................................... $ 110
Deferred income tax expense (benefit).......................... 1,619 ($212)
------ ------
$1,729 ($212)
====== ======
NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
--------------------------
2004 2003
---- ----
(Unaudited)
Current income tax expense..................................... $ 368
Deferred income tax expense (benefit).......................... 2,103 ($319)
------ ------
$2,471 ($319)
====== =====
The income taxes payable at June 30, 2004 relate to Federal alternative
minimum taxes. Although the Company has alternative minimum tax carryforwards
available, it can only use 90% of such carryforwards to offset related
alternative minimum taxable income.
-14-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
Note 7 - Restricted Cash
- ------------------------
Restricted cash consists of the following:
JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
2004 2003
------ ------
(Unaudited)
Funds supporting bond for Long Trusts Lawsuit.................. $4,110 $4,075
Funds supporting letters of credit for operating bonds......... 120 210
Other.......................................................... 46
------ ------
$4,276 $4,285
====== ======
Subsequent to June 30, 2004, the funds supporting the Long Trusts Lawsuit
bond were released and were no longer restricted cash.
Note 8 - Accounts Receivable
- ----------------------------
Accounts receivable consist of the following:
JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
2004 2003
------ -----
(Unaudited)
Gas production revenues........................................ $ 482
Estimated purchase price adjustment on purchase of
Appalachian gas properties............................ 144
Other, net of allowance for doubtful accounts.................. 75 $ 152
------ ------
$ 701 $ 152
====== ======
Note 9 - Investment in Delta Petroleum Corporation
- --------------------------------------------------
Condensed financial information concerning Delta Petroleum Corporation
("Delta") is as follows:
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
MARCH 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
2004 2003
-------- --------
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets..................................................... $ 37,935 $ 7,456
Oil and gas properties, net........................................ 106,973 93,198
Other assets....................................................... 1,325 195
-------- --------
$146,233 $100,849
======== ========
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities, including current portion of long-term debt... $ 17,415 $ 18,029
Long-term liabilities.............................................. 28,091 27,555
Stockholders' equity............................................... 100,727 55,265
-------- --------
$146,233 $100,849
======== ========
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
SIX MONTHS THREE MONTHS NINE MONTHS
ENDED ENDED ENDED
MARCH 31, 2004 JUNE 30, 2003 JUNE 30, 2003
-------------- ------------- -------------
Revenue:
Oil and gas sales .............................................. $18,702 $6,286 $20,094
Other .......................................................... (354) (419) (1,548)
------- ------ -------
18,348 5,867 18,546
------- ------ -------
Expense:
Lease operating expenses ....................................... 4,847 2,287 7,410
General and administrative ..................................... 3,866 1,824 4,105
Depreciation, depletion and amortization ....................... 5,391 1,485 3,858
Other .......................................................... 2,223 457 794
------- ------ -------
16,529 6,053 16,167
------- ------ -------
Other income (expense) ........................................... 891 (409) (1,239)
------- ------ -------
Discontinued operations .......................................... 194
------- ------ -------
Income (loss) before taxes ....................................... 3,106 (595) 1,140
Income taxes .....................................................
------- ------ -------
Net income (loss) ................................................ $ 3,106 ($ 595) $ 1,140
======= ====== =======
-15-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
The above condensed financial information has been compiled using Delta's
unaudited quarterly financial statements for the quarters ended March 31, 2004
and 2003 and September 30, 2003 and the year ended June 30, 2003.
Delta's stock is traded on the Nasdaq stock market under the symbol
"DPTR." At June 30, 2004, the closing price of Delta's common stock was $13.45
per share.
Since Delta's fiscal year ends June 30th, Delta has not yet closed its
books for the quarter or year ended June 30, 2004. As a result, the Company's
share of Delta's results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 is
based upon estimates provided by Delta's management. Actual results may vary
significantly from these estimates. Any variances from these estimates will be
recorded in the Company's fourth fiscal quarter. In addition, condensed balance
sheet and condensed statement of operations data concerning Delta have been
present as of and through March 31, 2004, the latest period for which such
information is available, rather than as of and through June 30, 2004. Reference
should be made to Delta's public filings for current information concerning
Delta and its financial position and results of operations.
At June 30, 2004, there were approximately 4,700,000 options and
warrants to acquire Delta's stock outstanding, including options and warrants
that were out of the money. The Company holds none of these options and
warrants. If all such options and warrants had been exercised at June 30, 2004,
the Company's percentage ownership of Delta would have decreased to
approximately 16%
At September 30, 2003, the Company owned 9,948,289 shares of Delta. In
March and May 2004, the Company sold 2,948,289 shares of Delta for net proceeds
of $29,339 and recognized a gain of $18,211 on the sale. The book value of the
shares sold was based upon the book value per share of the Company's investment
in Delta on the day of sale. At June 30, 2004, the Company owned 7,000,000 share
of Delta, representing approximately 18% of Delta's outstanding shares.
When the Company sold all of its assets to Delta in May 2002, it
valued the 9,566,000 Delta shares it received at $2.82 per share. Subsequently,
the Company has increased its investment in Delta by its share of Delta's
earnings and by its share of gains related to subsequent stock issuances by
Delta at prices in excess of the Company's book value/share of Delta in
accordance with the equity method of accounting. The Company's accounting policy
is to record these gains through equity and not as income. As a result, the
average cost of the 2,948,289 shares of Delta sold by the Company during the
nine months ended June 30, 2004 was $3.77 per share and the average book value
of the Company's remaining 7,000,000 Delta shares at June 30, 2004 was $5.45 per
share.
Note 10 - Amendment of Stockholder Rights Plan
- ----------------------------------------------
On April 21, 1994, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a
Stockholder Rights Plan ("Plan") under which one preferred stock purchase right
would be distributed for each outstanding share of the Company's common stock.
Each right initially entitles holders of common stock to buy one-hundredth of
one share of a new series of preferred stock at an exercise price of $35.00. The
rights will be exercisable only if a person or group, without the prior approval
of the Company's Board of Directors, acquires 15% or more of the outstanding
common stock or announces a tender offer as a result of which such person or
group would own 15% or more of the common stock. If a person to whom these
provisions apply becomes a beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding
common stock, each right (other than rights held by such acquiring person) will
also enable its holder to purchase common stock (or equivalent securities) of
the Company having a value of $70.00 for a purchase price of $35.00. In
addition, if the Company is involved in a merger or other business combination
with another entity, at or after the time that any person acquires 15% or more
of the outstanding common stock, each right will entitle its holder to purchase,
at $35.00 per right, common shares of such other entity having a value of $70.00
On December 31, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors amended the
Plan such that the rights will not become exercisable if a person who is an
institutional investor acquires more than 15% but less than 25% of the Company's
outstanding common stock.
-16-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
Note 11 - Purchases of Oil and Gas Properties
- ---------------------------------------------
On March 31, 2004, the Company acquired interests in 138 western
Pennsylvania gas wells from Delta. The Company previously owned most of these
properties through May 31, 2002 when it sold all of its United States oil and
gas properties to Delta. The purchase price paid by the Company was $8,121
consisting of $8,000 for the agreed-upon purchase price as of January 1, 2004
plus $121 of net expenses paid by Delta applicable to the period January 1, 2004
to March 31, 2004. The effective date of the purchase was January 1, 2004.
Subsequent to March 31, 2004, the Company received $229 of purchase price
adjustments from Delta and a preliminary final purchase price adjustment from
Delta. The Company is in the process of reviewing such purchase price
adjustment. Such purchase price adjustment represents cash flow from the
properties from January 1, 2004 to March 31, 2004 excluding the $121 of net
expenses during that period already paid by Delta.
The Company currently owns approximately 18% of Delta (see Note 9) and
three of the Company's directors are also directors of Delta. Prior to approving
the purchase, the Company appointed a committee of independent directors to
evaluate and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors with respect to the
proposed transaction. The Committee engaged an outside consultant to evaluate
the fairness of the proposed purchase. Based upon that consultant's
recommendation that the purchase price was reasonable and fair and the favorable
recommendation of the committee, the full Board of Directors of the Company
unanimously approved the transaction.
At the same time the Company also purchased another owner's interests in
the same gas properties for $334 subject to similar final closing adjustments.
The other owner's interests in the properties were approximately four percent of
Delta's interests in the same properties.
On March 30, 2004, the Company acquired interests in 28 western
Pennsylvania gas wells for $1,100 from five limited partnerships. That
transaction closed March 30, 2004. The general partner of the five selling
limited partnerships is also an officer of the Company. As a result, the Company
appointed a committee of independent directors to evaluate and make
recommendations to the Board with respect to the proposed transaction. The
committee engaged an outside consultant to evaluate the fairness of the proposed
purchase. Based upon that consultant's opinion that the proposed purchase price
was reasonable and fair and the favorable recommendation of the committee, the
full Board of Directors of the Company unanimously approved the transaction.
The Company's petroleum reservoir engineer has estimated the proved
reserves applicable to the three purchases to be approximately eight billion
cubic feet of natural gas, of which approximately 87% represents proved
producing reserves, while the remaining 13% represents behind pipe and
undeveloped reserves. Approximately 130 of 166 wells in which the Company
acquired interests will be operated by the Company. The Company also entered
into an operations management agreement with Delta whereby Delta agreed to
perform certain well operations functions for the Company on a transitional
basis for up to six months commencing April 1, 2004.
For accounting purposes, the Company has allocated $43 to trucks and the
remainder of the purchase price including estimated purchase price adjustments
and estimated asset retirement obligations associated with the properties to
proved oil and gas properties. The Company's investments in proved oil and gas
properties from March 31, 2004 to June 30, 2004 were as follows:
ASSET
PURCHASE ACCOUNTING RETIREMENT ACCUMULATED
PRICE ADJUSTMENTS OBLIGATION DEPLETION TOTAL
----- ----------- ---------- --------- ------
Purchase price, March 31, 2004..... $9,512 ($526) $222 $9,208
Purchase price adjustments......... 151 151
Depletion.......................... ($113) (113)
------ ----- ---- ----- ------
Balance - June 30, 2004............ $9,512 ($375) $222 ($113) $9,246
====== ===== ==== ===== ======
-17-
CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
(UNAUDITED)
Note 12 - Restatement
- ---------------------
As previously disclosed in Form 10-K/A, the Company has restated its
September 30, 2002 financial statements. The restatement reflects an adjustment
to general and administrative expenses to correct overaccrued severance recorded
in the year ended September 30, 2002 for approximately $258 which was also
incorrectly reversed during the quarter ended December 31, 2002. The following
table reflects the impact of restating the amounts previously reported in the
income statement for the nine months ended June 30, 2003:
NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
2003
--------------------------
PREVIOUSLY
REPORTED AS RESTATED
------- -----------
General and administrative expenses................................. $2,055 $2,313
Operating income (loss)............................................. ($2,098) ($2,356)
Net income (loss) before provision for (benefit of) income taxes.... ($1,458) ($1,716)
Net income (loss)................................................... ($1,139) ($1,397)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic.............................................................. ($ .17) ($ .21)
Diluted............................................................ ($ .17) ($ .21)
-18-
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations.
("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in
this report are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this
report generally are accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," or "expect" or similar statements. Although the Company believes
that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct.
Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the
results discussed in such forward-looking statements are discussed below. All
forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q are expressly qualified in their
entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph.
During the period from August 1989 to September 30, 1995, two of the
Company's subsidiaries conducted refining operations. By December 12, 1995, the
Company's refining subsidiaries had sold all of their refining assets. In
addition, Powerine merged into another company and was no longer a subsidiary of
the Company. The Company's other refining subsidiaries own no refining assets
and are in the process of liquidation. As a result, the Company accounted for
its refining operations as discontinued operations in the Company's consolidated
financial statements as of September 30, 1995 and retroactively. Accordingly,
discussion of results of refining operations has been confined to the
anticipated impact, if any, of liquidation of the Company's remaining inactive
refining subsidiaries and contingent environmental liabilities of the Company
and its refining subsidiaries.
Since November 1996, the Company has reacquired 4,911,020 shares or
approximately 69% of its common stock (after taking into account a three-for-one
stock split in January 2000). As a result of these share acquisitions, earnings
and losses per outstanding share have been higher than would have been the case
if no shares had been repurchased.
Gas sales increased $491 as a result of the Company's acquisition of 166
Appalachian gas properties on March 30 and 31, 2004 (see Note 11). The Company
owned no oil and gas properties from September 2002 to March 30, 2004.
General and administrative expenses increased $1,117 or 48% from the
nine months ended June 30, 2003 to the nine months ended June 30, 2004. The
increase resulted primarily from increased legal costs related to the
ChevronTexaco lawsuit. In addition, the Company recorded a bad debt provision of
$86 for the nine months ended June 30, 2004 because of delays and uncertainties
in the collection of estimated accounts receivable that were then over eighteen
months old. No similar bad debt provision was recorded for the nine months ended
June 30, 2003.
Oil and gas production expenses increased $133 as a result of the
Company's acquisition of 166 Appalachian gas properties on March 30 and 31, 2004
(see Note 11). The Company owned no oil and gas properties from September 2002
to March 30, 2004.
The Company recorded no gain or loss in the value of the option it
granted to Delta for the nine months ended June 30 2004 because that option
expired unexercised on May 31, 2003. The Company had granted Delta an option to
repurchase 3,188,667 of the Delta shares held by the Company at $4.50/share
until May 31, 2003 as part of the sale of its domestic oil and gas properties to
Delta on May 31, 2002. The Company currently owns approximately 18% of Delta.
The Company recorded no portion of the loss of Networked Energy LLC
("Network") for the nine months ended June 30 2004 because the Company had
recorded a $354 impairment provision on its equity investment in Network and a
$126 allowance for doubtful accounts on its note receivable from Network at
March 31, 2003, reducing both amounts to zero. The Company has no obligation to
fund Network's future losses. For the nine months ended June 30 2004, Network's
loss was $17. The Company owns 45% of Network.
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The Company's equity in Delta's net income increased $344 or 67% from
the nine months ended June 30, 2003 to the nine months ended June 30, 2004. The
increase was caused by Delta's increased net income, excluding the $1,782 gain
recorded by Delta on its sale of its Appalachian properties to the Company,
notwithstanding that the Company's percentage ownership of Delta decreased from
approximately 39% to approximately 18%. The Company did not record any portion
of Delta's gain on the Appalachian property sale because of the Company's equity
ownership of Delta (see Note 9).
During the nine months ended June 30, 2004, the Company sold all of its
holdings in Penn Octane Corporation ("Penn Octane"), constituting 1,343,600
shares of common stock of Penn Octane, for $2,809 resulting in a gain on the
sale of $538. As a result of the sale, the Company's only remaining marketable
securities consist of 177 shares of ChevronTexaco, which had a market value of
$16 at June 30, 2004. In addition, during the nine months ended June 30, 2004,
the Company sold 2,948,289 shares of Delta for $29,339, resulting in a gain of
$18,211 (see Note 9). There were no such sales during the nine months ended June
30, 2003.
For the nine months ended June 30, 2004, the Company recorded a tax
provision of $2,471 or15.3% of pre-tax book income for the period. This
provision was significantly less than that which would be obtained using the
Company's blended tax rate (Federal and state taxes combined) of 36% because the
Company was able to utilize its tax carryforwards and was thus able to release
its valuation allowance. Of this amount, $259 represented alternative minimum
taxes.
The $319 tax benefit for the nine-months ended June 30, 2003 resulted
primarily because of changes in the Company's expectations concerning future
taxable income.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
During the nine months ended June 30, 2004, the Company used $3,272 in
operating activities. During the same period the Company paid $9,325 for oil and
gas properties and vehicles and $995 for dividends to stockholders. During the
same period the Company received $29,339 in proceeds from the sale of part of
its investment in Delta Petroleum Corporation and $2,809 in proceeds from the
sale of marketable securities. At June 30, 2004, the Company had $29,886 of
unrestricted cash, $33,047 of working capital and no long-term debt.
At the present time, the Company's anticipated future cash expenditures
are primarily recurring general and administrative costs, including substantial
legal costs related to the ChevronTexaco litigation (see Note 4), recurring
dividends and lease operating costs related to the Appalachian gas properties
acquired by the Company (see Note 11). In addition, the Company continues to
review possible future acquisitions of oil and gas properties and, if the
Company is successful in such pursuits, additional expenditures would be
required. To the extent that such anticipated expenditures cannot be funded from
cash flow from the Company's oil and gas operations, the Company can fund such
expenditures using its available cash. If the Company were to make another
substantial acquisition in excess of its current cash and other liquid working
capital, the Company believes it could fund such acquisitions by selling
additional shares of Delta or by renewing its previous oil and gas borrowing
arrangements with an energy bank and using the related loan proceeds for the
acquisition. In addition, as explained in Note 4, most of the Company's
restricted cash has been released and those funds can now be used to fund future
acquisitions.
The Company's future operations are subject to the following risks:
a. Litigation - As noted above, the Company is a defendant in three
significant unsettled lawsuits. Although the Company does not
believe it has any material unrecorded liabilities with respect to
any of these lawsuits, the Company could incur significant
liabilities if it ultimately is judged to be liable in these
lawsuits. Any resulting litigation could not only cause the
Company to incur significant legal costs but could also delay any
distributions to stockholders for years and/or reduce or eliminate
entirely such distributions. If ChevronTexaco were to prevail on
its indemnity claim in its lawsuit (Note 4 to the consolidated
financial statements), ChevronTexaco's recovery could conceivably
exceed the Company's net worth.
b. Exploration and Production Price Risk - The Company has not hedged
any of its anticipated future gas production because the cost to
do so appears excessive when compared to the risk involved. As a
result, the Company remains exposed to future gas price changes
with respect to all of its anticipated future gas production. Such
exposure could be significant given the volatility of gas prices.
For example, natural gas prices have increased over 50% from 2002
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to 2004 and could either increase or decrease a similar percentage
in the future. When the Company acquired its gas properties in
March 2004, the prices being received for natural gas were $5.00
to $6.00 per mcf sold. The Company paid for its gas reserve
acquisitions using such pricing. If natural gas prices decrease in
the future, the decrease will directly impact the Company's gas
sales, operating income and net income. In addition, if gas prices
are low at the end of the Company's quarterly and annual reporting
periods, the value of the Company's gas reserves may decrease such
that the Company would be forced to record an impairment provision
- see "Critical Accounting Policies" below.
c. Exploration and Production Operating Risk - All of the Company's
current gas properties are onshore properties with relatively low
operating risk. Nevertheless, the Company faces the risks
encountered from operating approximately 130 gas wells - including
the risk of gas spills, resulting environmental damage, third
party liability claims related to operations, including claims by
landowners where the operated wells are located, as well as
general operating risks.
d. Public Market for the Company's Stock - Although there presently
exists a market for the Company's stock, such market is volatile
and the Company's stock is thinly traded. This volatility may
adversely affect the market price and liquidity of the Company's
common stock.
e. Other Risks - In addition to the specific risks noted above, the
Company is subject to general business risks, including insurance
claims in excess of insurance coverage, tax liabilities resulting
from tax audits and the risks associated with the increased
litigation that appear to affect most corporations.
f. Future of the Company- Although the Company has recently acquired
interests in 166 gas wells in Pennsylvania (see Note 11), the
Company is smaller than many of its competitors which benefit from
better fixed cost efficiencies than the Company given their larger
sizes and revenues. The Company's fixed costs (computer system,
technical skills, field offices, public company compliance costs,
etc.) are expected to consume a greater percentage of the
Company's oil and gas revenues than do those of many of its larger
competitors unless the Company is able to make additional future
acquisitions at favorable prices. Upon resolution of the Company's
outstanding litigation - whether by settlement or judgment - the
Company's directors may consider options to liquidate the Company
or merge the Company into another company to maximize stockholder
value. If such were the case, the Company would face risks
concerning the value of the Delta shares it owns, tax risks and
risks in the liquidation of its assets. Such risks are more fully
described in Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
The accounting policies critical to the Company in the future, are as
follows:
EQUITY METHOD OF ACCOUNTING
At June 30, 2004, the Company owned approximately 18% of Delta and
accounted for its investment in Delta using the equity method of accounting.
Under this method, the Company is required to increase its investment in Delta
by its share of Delta's income and decrease such investment by its share of
Delta's losses and any distributions from Delta. If Delta incurs future losses,
the Company would thus include its share of such losses in its consolidated
statement of operations. In addition, the Company estimates that its investment
in Delta exceeded the Company's proportional share of Delta's equity by
approximately $4,200 at June 30, 2004. The Company has allocated such excess to
Delta's ownership interests in offshore California leases and the related
potential recovery from a lawsuit Delta and other owners of offshore California
leases have instituted against the United States for breach of contract. The
Company is required to evaluate the recoverability of the leases periodically
and write off the excess costs or reduce them to the extent they are not deemed
recoverable. In addition, if Delta incurs recurring losses in the future and/or
the market value of its stock declines significantly, the Company's investment
in Delta may be impaired and the Company may then be required to recognize the
impairment.
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DISCONTINUED REFINING OPERATIONS
At June 30, 2004, the Company had recorded net refining liabilities
retained of $2,406. As noted in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements
in this Form 10-Q, ChevronTexaco has sued the Company for environmental
remediation costs that have been estimated at $80,000-$150,000. In January 2003,
the United States and the State of Illinois filed a motion which estimated the
total costs for just one portion of the Indian Refinery-Texaco-Lawrenceville
Superfund Site to be $109,000 to $205,000. The Company's accounting policy with
respect to contingent environmental liabilities is to record environmental
liabilities when and if environmental assessment and/or remediation costs are
probable and can be reasonably estimated. Although the Company and its special
counsel do not consider an unfavorable and final outcome for the Company in
ChevronTexaco's lawsuit to be probable, the Company would be required to record
additional environmental liabilities if it becomes probable that the Company
will incur liabilities related to ChevronTexaco's claims and/or other
environmental liabilities and such liabilities exceed $2,406. As noted above, if
such liabilities exceed the value of the Company's assets, the Company would not
have the financial capability to pay such liabilities. The amounts and
classification of the estimated values of discontinued net refining assets and
net refining liabilities retained could change significantly in the future as a
result of litigation or other factors.
VALUATION ALLOWANCE FOR DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET
At June 30, 2004, the Company recorded no valuation allowance offsetting
its gross deferred tax asset of $259 at that date. Recording no valuation
allowance is based upon the Company's assessment that the Company will generate
future taxable income to utilize all of its gross deferred tax asset at June 30,
2004. If circumstances change such that the Company no longer expects future
taxable income or expects less future taxable income, the Company will revise
its valuation allowance, which could result in tax expense.
INVESTMENT IN NETWORK
At March 31, 2003, the Company recorded a $480 impairment provision
related to its investment in Network. This provision consisted of $354 provision
related to the Company's 45% equity investment in Network and a $126 provision
related to the Company's $126 note receivable from Network. As a result of these
impairment provisions, the Company's investment in Network was reduced to zero.
The impairment provisions were recorded because Network had not entered into any
revenue generating contracts by that date or as of August 11, 2004. Network
still has not entered into any revenue-generating contracts. If Network is able
to enter into revenue-generating contracts and generate future net income, the
Company may record its share of such income under the equity method of
accounting.
FULL COST METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES
The Company follows the full-cost method of accounting for oil and
gas properties and equipment costs. Under this method of accounting, net
capitalized costs, less related deferred income taxes, in excess of the present
value of net future cash inflows (oil and gas sales less production expenses)
from proved reserves, tax effected and discounted at 10%, and the cost of
properties not being amortized, if any, are charged to expense (full cost
ceiling test). If at a future reporting date oil and gas prices decline, it is
possible that the Company's book value will exceed the allowable full cost
ceiling and the Company would have to write down its oil and gas properties.
Even if oil and gas prices subsequently increase, the write down would not be
restored under the full cost method of accounting.
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ITEM 3. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
On March 30 and 31, 2004, the Company acquired interests in Pennsylvania
gas wells (see Note 11). The Company has not hedged its share of the expected
natural gas production from these wells. As a result, the Company remains at
risk with respect to such unhedged expected production. If oil and gas market
prices increase, oil and gas sales applicable to the unhedged production will
increase. If oil and gas market prices decrease, oil and gas sales and the gross
margin related to such unhedged production will decrease.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The conclusions of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer concerning the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure
controls and procedures and changes in internal controls as of June 30, 2004 are
as follows:
a) They have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and
procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be
disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
rules and forms of the SEC.
b) There were no significant changes in the Company's internal controls
or in other factors during the quarter ended June 30, 2004 that
materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect,
the Company's internal control over financial reporting in the
future.
The Company was required to restate its September 30, 2002 financial
statements because of a charge to general and administrative expenses that
should have been recorded as a reduction to accrued expenses. As a result of
this restatement, the Company instituted an additional internal control
procedure whereby the Company's Chief Financial Officer will review all
quarterly closing journal entries in excess of $25,000. The Company's management
believes that this new procedure will preclude future restatements arising from
charges to incorrect account(s).
See Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Form 10-Q.
-23-
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
For additional information regarding lawsuits, reference is made to Item
3 of the Company's Form 10-K (Annual Report) for the fiscal year ended September
30, 2003. Also see Note 4 to the June 30, 2004 consolidated financial statements
included in Part I.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(A) Exhibits:
Exhibit 11.1 - Statement re: Computation of Earnings Per Share
Exhibit 31.1 Certificate of Chief Executive Officer (Section 302 of Sarbanes Oxley Act)
Exhibit 31.2 Certificate of Chief Financial Officer (Section 302 of Sarbanes Oxley Act)
Exhibit 32.1 Certificate of Chief Executive Officer (Section 906 of Sarbanes Oxley Act)
Exhibit 32.2 Certificate of Chief Financial Officer (Section 906 of Sarbanes Oxley Act)
-24-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: August 16, 2004 CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION
---------------
/s/Richard E. Staedtler
----------------------------
Richard E. Staedtler
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Accounting Officer
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