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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-K

(Mark One)  

ý

Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 or

or

o

Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from                                    to                                     

Commission File Number: 1-13515


FOREST OIL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

State of incorporation: New York   I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 25-0484900
1600 Broadway
Suite 2200
   
Denver, Colorado
(Address of principal executive offices)
  80202
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
303-812-1400

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on which Registered
Common Stock, Par Value $.10 Per Share   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Warrants to purchase Common Stock, expiring February 15, 2004
Warrants to purchase Common Stock, expiring February 15, 2005
Warrants to purchase Common Stock, expiring March 20, 2010

        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 ý    No o

        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. ý

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer. Yes ý    No o

        The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2002, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $899,972,660 (based on the closing price of such stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape). As of February 28, 2003, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates was $926,010,654 (based on the closing price of such stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape).

        There were 48,165,013 shares of the registrant's Common Stock, Par Value $.10 Per Share outstanding as of February 28, 2003.

        Document incorporated by reference: Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for the Forest Oil Corporation annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 8, 2003, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.





TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
PART I
 
Item 1.

 

Business
    The Company
    Exploration and Production Activities
    Sales and Markets
    Competition
    Regulation
    Forward-Looking Statements
  Item 2.   Properties
    Reserves
    Production
    Average Sales Prices
    Productive Wells
    Developed and Undeveloped Acreage
    Drilling Activity
    Delivery Commitments
  Item 3.   Legal Proceedings
  Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  Item 4A.   Executive Officers of Forest

PART II
  Item 5.   Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
    Common Stock
    Warrants
    Dividend Restrictions
  Item 6.   Selected Financial and Operating Data
  Item 7.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
    Results of Operations
    Liquidity and Capital Resources
    Risk Factors
    Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates, Judgments and Assumptions
  Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
    Commodity Price Risk
    Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
    Interest Rate Risk
  Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
  Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

PART III
  Item 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
  Item 11.   Executive Compensation
  Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
  Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
  Item 14.   Controls and Procedures

PART IV
  Item 15.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

 

 

Signature Pages

 

 

Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer


PART I

        Throughout this Form 10-K, we make statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. See Item 1, "Forward-Looking Statements" below. Historical statements made herein are accurate only as of the date of filing this Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and may be relied upon only as of that date.

        In this report, quantities of oil or natural gas liquids are expressed in barrels (BBLS), thousands of barrels (MBBLS) or millions of barrels (MMBBLS). One barrel equals 42 U.S. gallons. Quantities of natural gas are expressed in thousands of cubic feet (MCF), millions of cubic feet (MMCF) or billions of cubic feet (BCF). Equivalent units are expressed in thousand cubic feet of gas equivalents (MCFE), million cubic feet of gas equivalents (MMCFE), or billion cubic feet of gas equivalents (BCFE). Liquids are converted to gas at one barrel of oil equaling six MCF of gas. The term liquids is used to describe oil, condensate and natural gas liquids (NGL). With respect to information relating to Forest's working interest in wells or acreage, "net" oil and gas wells or acreage is determined by multiplying gross wells or acreage by Forest's working interest therein.

        Throughout this Form 10-K we use the terms "Forest", "Company", "we", "our" and "us" to refer to Forest Oil Corporation and its subsidiaries.


Item 1. Business

The Company

        Forest Oil Corporation is an independent oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, production and marketing of natural gas and liquids in North America and selected international locations. Forest was incorporated in New York in 1924, as the successor to a company formed in 1916, and has been a publicly held company since 1969. On December 31, 2002, we had 456 employees. Our common stock, par value $.10 per share, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FST."

        We operate from offices located in Anchorage, Alaska; Denver, Colorado; Lafayette and Metairie, Louisiana; and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Our corporate headquarters is located at 1600 Broadway, Denver, Colorado, 80202, telephone 303.812.1400. Information about Forest, including the periodic and current reports that it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and all amendments thereto, are accessible, free of charge, on Forest's website, www.forestoil.com, within 24 hours after filing with the SEC.

        In 2002, we operated in six business units: Offshore Gulf of Mexico, Onshore Gulf Coast, Western United States, Alaska, Canada and International. We conduct exploration and development activities in each of our North American core areas and in selected international locations. Our reserves and producing properties are all located in North America. At December 31, 2002, approximately 89% of our oil and gas reserves were in the United States and approximately 11% in Canada. During 2002, we produced 144 BCFE or an average of 394 MMCFE per day. Approximately 86% of our total production in 2002 was in the United States and approximately 14% in Canada. In the first quarter of 2003 we modified our business unit structure by combining the Offshore Gulf of Mexico and Onshore Gulf Coast units for increased efficiencies.

        For information with respect to our reserves, see Item 2, Properties, of this Form 10-K. For financial information relating to our geographic and operational segments, see Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K.

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Exploration and Production Activities

        During 2002, we drilled a total of 69 wells of which 16 were exploration and 53 were development. Our 2002 drilling program achieved a 75% success rate. At December 31, 2002, we held interests in approximately 876 net oil and gas wells in the United States and Canada. Our operations are conducted through our business units described below.

        Offshore Gulf of Mexico.    Our offshore operations are comprised of interests in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2002, the Offshore Gulf of Mexico was Forest's leading business unit for oil and gas production, contributing 46% of total production (67 BCFE, an average of 184 MMCFE per day). At December 31, 2002, this business unit accounted for 23% of our total estimated proved reserves. Forest participated in drilling 17 wells in the Offshore Gulf of Mexico during 2002, of which 14 wells were productive.

        Onshore Gulf Coast.    Our Onshore Gulf Coast business unit includes interests in properties located in the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. In 2002, the Onshore Gulf Coast business unit contributed 9% of total production (14 BCFE, an average of 38 MMCFE per day). At December 31, 2002, this business unit accounted for 15% of our total estimated proved reserves. In 2002, the Onshore Gulf Coast business unit participated in drilling three wells, two of which were productive.

        Western United States.    Our Western business unit is comprised primarily of our interests in Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming, West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. In 2002, the Western business unit contributed 16% of total production (23 BCFE, an average of approximately 63 MMCFE per day). The Western business unit accounted for 20% of our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2002. In 2002, the Western Business unit participated in drilling 27 wells, of which 23 were productive.

        Alaska.    Our Alaska operations are located primarily in the Cook Inlet area, consisting of production from Redoubt Shoal Field, McArthur River Field, West McArthur River Unit and Trading Bay Field. In 2002, the Alaskan business unit contributed 14% of our sales volumes (20 BCFE, an average of 55 MMCFE per day). At December 31, 2002, 31% of our total estimated proved reserves were in Alaska. In 2002, Forest participated in drilling six wells in Alaska, five of which were productive. We commenced production at Redoubt Shoal in December 2002.

        Canada.    Our Canadian operations include interests in the Plains region of Alberta, the Foothills regions of Alberta and British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories. In 2002, our Canadian operations contributed 14% of total production (20 BCFE, an average of 55 MMCFE per day). At December 31, 2002, the Canadian business unit accounted for 11% of our total estimated proved reserves. During 2002, the Canadian business unit participated in drilling 16 wells, eight of which were productive.

        International.    Forest evaluates oil and gas opportunities in countries outside North America. We currently hold concessions in South Africa, Gabon, Switzerland, Germany, Albania, Italy and Romania, as well as overriding royalty interests in certain other areas. To date, Forest has not recorded any proved reserves related to its international concessions. The book value of these international interests at December 31, 2002 represents approximately 2% of our total assets.

        In connection with our activities related to the development of the Ibhubesi Gas Field, offshore South Africa, we signed a Participation Agreement on March 13, 2003 with The Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (Pty) Limited (PetroSA) and Anschutz Overseas South Africa (Pty) Limited (Anschutz Overseas). Under the terms of the Participation Agreement, PetroSA has agreed to contribute US$30 million towards a drilling program starting in 2003 in order to earn an undivided 24% cost bearing interest (16.8% from Forest and 7.2% from Anschutz Overseas) in certain sub-lease agreements covering portions of Forest's South African offshore acreage, including the Ibhubesi Gas Field. PetroSA also has the option to acquire additional cost bearing interests. The Participation

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Agreement will not become operative until PetroSA has satisfactorily completed additional due diligence within twenty (20) days after the effective date, various governmental approvals have been obtained and the US$30 million has been transferred to an escrow account. We have dedicated considerable resources to the exploration of properties in South Africa; however, we do not expect to record any reserves for the Ibhubesi discovery until gas sales agreements have been executed.

        During 2002, we entered into two participation agreements in connection with our exploration activities in Gabon and Germany. Pursuant to these agreements, Forest received partial cost reimbursements and will be carried for future drilling costs in exchange for a reduced interest in the concessions.

        Foreign oil and natural gas operations are subject to certain risks, such as nationalization, confiscation, terrorism, renegotiation of existing contracts and currency fluctuations. Forest monitors the political, regulatory and economic developments in any foreign countries in which we operate. We sometimes attempt to reduce the risks associated with conducting operations in foreign countries by entering into farmout arrangements where we retain a working interest. We cannot assure you that these measures will adequately address all of these risks.


Sales and Markets

        Oil and gas operations.    Forest's U.S. production of natural gas is generally sold at the wellhead in the areas where it is produced or at nearby "pooling points". Our U.S. natural gas production is generally sold on a month to month basis in the spot market using published indices. We believe that the loss of one or more of our current natural gas spot purchasers would not have a material adverse effect on Forest's business in the United States because any individual spot purchaser could be readily replaced by another spot purchaser who would pay approximately the same sales price. Sales to Reliant Energy Services, Inc., a purchaser of natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico, represented approximately 10% of our total revenue in 2002.

        Our oil and natural gas liquids are typically sold under short-term contracts at prices based upon posted field prices. Except in Alaska, our liquids production is generally sold at the wellhead. Our Alaskan oil production, which represented approximately 14% of our total 2002 production, is currently being sold to a local refiner, Tesoro Alaska Petroleum Company and its affiliate. The oil is transported to a terminal by a pipeline company that is 40% owned by Forest. Our contract with this refiner expires on December 31, 2003 and is renewed automatically from year to year thereafter until terminated by either party upon written notice 60 days prior to December 31. Sales to this purchaser represented 16% of our total revenue in 2002.

        Canadian Forest's natural gas production is sold either through the ProMark Netback Pool, which is operated by ProMark on behalf of Canadian Forest, or through Canadian Forest's direct sales contracts or under spot contracts. ProMark is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Forest. Canadian Forest sold approximately 76% of its natural gas production through the ProMark Netback Pool in 2002. Canadian oil and natural gas liquids are typically sold under short-term contracts at prices based upon posted prices at Alberta pipeline and processing hubs, netted back to the field.

        We enter into energy swaps and collars to hedge the price of a portion of our spot market volumes against price fluctuations.

        Marketing and trading activities.    The ProMark Netback Pool matches major end users with providers of gas supply through firm transportation arrangements, and uses a netback pricing mechanism to establish the wellhead price paid to producers. Under this netback arrangement, producers receive the blended market price less related transportation and other direct costs. ProMark charges a marketing fee to the pool participant producers for marketing and administering the gas supply pool.

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        The ProMark Netback Pool gas sales in 2002 averaged 73 MMCF per day, of which Canadian Forest supplied approximately 31 MMCF per day or 42%. Approximately 21% of the volumes sold in the ProMark Netback Pool in 2002 were sold at fixed prices. The remainder of the volumes sold were priced in a variety of ways, including prices based on published indices.

        In addition to operating the ProMark Netback Pool, ProMark provides other marketing services for other producers and consumers of natural gas. ProMark manages long-term gas supply contracts for industrial customers and provides full-service purchasing, accounting and gas nomination services for both producers and customers on a fee-for-services basis. ProMark follows procedures to immediately match its gas purchase and sales commitments with offsetting gas purchase or sales, so there is not a risk from an open trading book position. We are, however, exposed to credit risk in that there exists the possibility that the counterparties to agreements will fail to perform their contractual obligations. The credit of counterparties is evaluated and letters of credit, prepayments or parent guarantees are obtained when considered necessary to minimize credit risk.


Competition

        The oil and natural gas industry is intensely competitive. Competition is particularly intense in the acquisition of prospective oil and natural gas properties and oil and gas reserves. Forest's competitive position depends on our geological, geophysical and engineering expertise, our financial resources, our ability to develop properties and our ability to select, acquire and develop proved reserves. We compete with a substantial number of other companies including many companies with larger technical staffs and greater financial and operational resources. Many such companies not only engage in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas reserves, but also carry on refining operations, generate electricity and market refined products. We also compete with major and independent oil and gas companies in the marketing and sale of oil and gas to transporters, distributors and end users. The oil and natural gas industry competes with other industries supplying energy and fuel to industrial, commercial and individual consumers. Forest competes with other oil and natural gas companies in attempting to secure drilling rigs and other equipment necessary for drilling and completion of wells. Such equipment may be in short supply from time to time. Finally, companies not previously investing in oil and natural gas may choose to acquire reserves to establish a firm supply or simply as an investment. Such companies provide competition for Forest.

        Forest's business is affected not only by such competition, but also by general economic developments, governmental regulations and other factors that affect our ability to market our oil and natural gas production. The prices of oil and natural gas realized by Forest are highly volatile. The price of oil is generally dependent on world supply and demand, while the price we receive for our natural gas is tied to the specific markets in which such gas is sold. Declines in crude oil prices or natural gas prices adversely impact Forest's activities. Our financial position and resources may also adversely affect our competitive position. Lack of available funds or financing alternatives can prevent us from executing our operating strategy and from deriving the expected benefits therefrom. For further information concerning Forest's financial position, see Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in this Form 10-K.

        ProMark also faces competition from other gas marketers, some of whom are significantly larger in size and have greater financial resources than ProMark, Canadian Forest or Forest.


Regulation

        Our oil and gas operations are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local laws and regulations and foreign laws and regulations.

        United States.    Various aspects of our oil and natural gas operations are regulated by administrative agencies under statutory provisions of the states where such operations are conducted

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and by certain agencies of the Federal government for operations on Federal leases. All of the jurisdictions in which we own or operate producing crude oil and natural gas properties have statutory provisions regulating the exploration for and production of crude oil and natural gas, including provisions requiring permits for the drilling of wells and maintaining bonding requirements in order to drill or operate wells and provisions relating to the location of wells, the method of drilling and casing wells, the surface use and restoration of properties upon which wells are drilled 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 and the number of wells which may be drilled in an area and the unitization or pooling of crude oil and natural gas properties. In this regard, some states can order the pooling or integration of tracts to facilitate exploration while other states rely on voluntary pooling of lands and leases. In addition, state conservation laws establish maximum rates of production from crude oil and natural gas wells, 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.

        The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates the transportation and sale for resale of natural gas in interstate commerce under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 (NGA) and the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA). In the past, the Federal government has regulated the prices at which oil and gas could be sold. The Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act of 1989 (the Decontrol Act) removed all NGA and NGPA price and nonprice controls affecting producers' wellhead sales of natural gas effective January 1, 1993. While sales by producers of natural gas, and all sales of crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids can currently be made at uncontrolled market prices, Congress could reenact price controls in the future.

        Commencing in 1992, the FERC issued Order No. 636 and subsequent orders (collectively, Order No. 636), which require interstate pipelines to provide transportation services separate from the pipelines' sales of gas. Also, Order No. 636 requires pipelines to provide open-access transportation on a basis that is equal for all gas supplies. The courts have largely affirmed the significant features of Order No. 636 and numerous related orders pertaining to the individual pipelines, although certain appeals remain pending and the FERC continues to review and modify its open access regulations. Commencing in February 2000, the FERC issued Order No. 637 and subsequent orders (collectively, Order No. 637), which imposed a number of reforms intended to further enhance competition in natural gas markets. Most major aspects of Order No. 637 were upheld in judicial review, though certain issues were remanded to FERC, have been considered on remand, and are pending rehearing at FERC.

        While any additional FERC action on these matters would affect Forest only indirectly, these changes are intended to further enhance competition in natural gas markets. We cannot predict whether and to what extent the FERC's regulations will survive rehearing and further judicial review and, if so, whether the FERC's actions will achieve the goal of increasing competition in natural gas markets in which our natural gas is sold. However, we do not believe that we will be affected materially differently than other natural gas producers and markets with which and in which we compete.

        The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) requires that all pipelines operating on or across the Outer Continental Shelf (the OCS) provide open-access, non-discriminatory service. Commencing in April 2000, FERC issued Order No. 639 and subsequent orders (collectively, Order No. 639), which imposed certain reporting requirements applicable to "gas service providers" operating on the OCS concerning their prices and other terms and conditions of service. The purpose of Order No. 639 is to provide regulators and other interested parties with sufficient information to detect and to remedy discriminatory conduct by such service providers. FERC has stated that these reporting rules apply to OCS gatherers and has clarified that they may also apply to other OCS service providers including platform operators performing dehydration, compression, processing and related services for third parties. The U.S. District Court overturned the FERC's reporting rules as exceeding its authority

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under OCSLA. The FERC has recently appealed this decision. We cannot predict whether and to what extent these regulations might be reinstated, and what effect, if any, they may have on our financial condition or operations. The rules, if reinstated, may increase the frequency of claims of discriminatory service, may decrease competition among OCS service providers and may lessen the willingness of OCS gathering companies to provide service on a discounted basis.

        Certain operations that we conduct are on federal oil and gas leases, which are administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Minerals Management Service (MMS). These leases contain relatively standardized terms and require compliance with detailed BLM and MMS regulations and orders pursuant to the OCSLA (which are subject to change by the MMS). Many onshore leases contain stipulations limiting activities that may be conducted on the lease. The stipulations are unique to particular geographic areas and may limit the times during which activities on the lease may be conducted, the manner in which certain activities may be conducted or, in some cases, may ban any surface activity. For offshore operations, lessees must obtain MMS approval for exploration, development and production plans prior to the commencement of such operations. In addition to permits required from other agencies (such as the Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency), lessees must obtain a permit from the BLM or the MMS, as applicable, prior to the commencement of drilling. Lessees must also comply with detailed BLM or MMS regulations, as applicable, governing, among other things, engineering and construction specifications for production facilities, safety procedures, plugging and abandonment of OCS wells, calculation of royalty payments and the valuation of production for this purpose and removal of facilities. To cover the various obligations of lessees on the OCS, the MMS generally requires that lessees post substantial bonds or other acceptable assurances that such obligations will be met, unless the MMS exempts the lessee from such obligations. The cost of such bonds or other surety can be substantial and we can provide no assurance that we can continue to obtain bonds or other surety in all cases. Under certain circumstances, the BLM or MMS, as applicable, may require our operations on federal leases to be suspended or terminated. Any such suspension or termination could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and operations.

        In March 2000, the MMS issued a final rule modifying the valuation procedures for the calculation of royalties owed for crude oil sales. When oil production sales are not in arms-length transactions, the new royalty calculation will base the valuation of oil production on spot market prices instead of the posted prices that were previously utilized. We do not believe that this rule will have a material adverse effect on our operations.

        Additional proposals and proceedings that might affect the oil and gas industry are regularly considered by Congress, states, the FERC and the courts. We cannot predict when or whether any such proposals may become effective. In the past, the natural gas industry has been heavily regulated. We can give no assurance that the regulatory approach currently pursued by the FERC will continue indefinitely. We do not anticipate, however, that compliance with existing federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations will have a material or significantly adverse effect upon our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position. No material portion of Forest's business is subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or subcontracts at the election of the Federal government.

        Canada.    The oil and natural gas industry in Canada is subject to extensive controls and regulations imposed by various levels of government. It is not expected that any of these controls or regulations will affect our operations in a manner materially different than they would affect other oil and gas companies of similar size. All current legislation is a matter of public record and we are unable to predict what additional legislation or amendments may be created.

        In Canada, oil and natural gas exported from Canada is subject to regulation by the National Energy Board (NEB), an independent federal regulatory agency and the government of Canada. Exporters are free to negotiate prices and other terms with purchasers, provided that the export

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contracts must continue to meet certain criteria prescribed by the NEB. Natural gas exports for a term of less than two years or for a term two to 20 years (in quantities of or more than 30,000 cubic meters per day), must be made pursuant to a NEB order. Oil exports may be made pursuant to export contracts with terms not exceeding one year, in the case of light crude, and not exceeding two years, in the case of heavy crude, provided that an order approving any export has been obtained from the NEB. Any natural gas export to be made pursuant to a contract of longer duration (to a maximum of 25 years) or a larger quantity requires an exporter to obtain an export license from the NEB, as will an oil export to be made pursuant to a contract of longer duration (to a maximum of 25 years). The issue of such a license requires the approval of the government of Canada.

        The provincial governments of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan also regulate the volume of natural gas which may be removed from those provinces for consumption elsewhere based on such factors as reserve availability, transportation arrangements and market considerations.

        In addition to federal regulation, each province has legislation and regulations which govern land tenure, royalties, production rates, environmental protection and other matters. The royalty regime is a significant factor in the profitability of oil and natural gas production. Royalties payable on production from lands other than Crown lands are determined by negotiations between the mineral owner and the lessee, although production from such lands is also subject to certain provincial taxes and royalties. Crown royalties are determined by government regulation and are generally calculated as a percentage of the value of the gross production, and the rate of royalties payable generally depends in part on prescribed reference prices, well productivity, geographical location, field discovery date and the type or quality of the petroleum product produced.

        The Petroleum Registry of Alberta is a new initiative of both industry and the Alberta government. Its purpose is to streamline data transfers between industry and government and industry to industry (i.e., partner to partner). The initiative makes use of technology such as the Internet to facilitate the transfer of regulatory and royalty data, reports and royalty payments.

        Concurrent with the implementation of the registry, the government of Alberta imposed a new NGL royalty system for products situated in the residue gas stream. It is the goal of this policy to maintain royalty neutrality. As such, there appears to be minimal effect on Canadian Forest's royalties.

        From time to time the governments of Canada, Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan have established incentive programs which have included royalty rate deductions, royalty holidays and tax credits for the purpose of encouraging oil and natural gas exploration or enhanced recovery projects. Oil and natural gas royalty holidays and reductions for specific wells reduce the amount of Crown royalties paid by Forest to the provincial governments. The trend in recent years has been for provincial governments to allow such programs to expire without renewal, and consequently few such programs are currently operative.

        In Alberta, certain producers of oil or natural gas are entitled to a credit against the royalties to the Crown by virtue of the ARTC (Alberta royalty tax credit) program. The credit is determined by applying a specified rate to a maximum of $2 million CDN of Alberta Crown royalties payable for each producer or associated group of producers. The specified rate is a function of the Royalty Tax Credit reference price which is set quarterly by the Alberta Department of Energy and ranges from 25% to 75%, depending on oil and gas par prices for the previous calendar quarter. Canadian Forest is eligible for ARTC credits only on eligible properties acquired and wells drilled after the change of control that occurred when Canadian Forest was acquired by Forest. Production from properties acquired from corporations claiming maximum entitlement to ARTC will generally not be eligible.

        Regulation in Northwest Territories of Canada.    The provincial governments have jurisdiction over the exploration and development of oil and gas resources in the provinces of Canada and the federal government has jurisdiction over the exploration and development of oil and gas resources in the

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Canadian territories. The federal regulatory regime reflects the extended timelines and increased capital expenditures inherent in working in the northern environment, providing for work commitments and work deposits coupled with the suspension and/or reimbursement of rentals and royalties at earlier developmental stages. This regime is subject to change as development in the Northwest Territories evolves toward a more conventional model. It is possible that, at some point, jurisdiction over the oil and gas resources in these territories could be transferred to the territorial governments of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. If so, the territorial governments would have the authority to regulate the grant of drilling permits, the construction of pipelines and other matters affecting oil and gas exploration and development activities. We are unable to predict whether any transfer of jurisdiction to the territorial governments would affect our exploration and development activities in the Northwest Territories, although it is possible that the territorial governments would adopt policies or regulations that could delay or limit our proposed exploration and development activities, delay or prevent the construction of pipelines or result in the payment of higher royalties or taxes than would otherwise be the case under the current federal regulatory framework.

        As a result of Canadian Forest's activity in the Northwest Territories, a large royalty tax credit has been accumulated to the extent of qualified capital expenditures. This credit can be used to eliminate royalties on existing and future producing wells.

        Canadian Forest's right to produce oil and gas from its Northwest Territories properties, along with the production rights of other industry participants in these properties, is subject to conversion of certain instruments (i.e., exploration licenses or significant discovery licenses) into production licenses on those lands which contain commercial discoveries. The right to such conversion is not absolute and is subject to an application process and regulatory approval. In addition, the right to produce may be dependent on the negotiation of a pooling agreement or the imposition of a forced pooling order, if other producers have rights in the spacing unit. Until the finalization of the particulars of such agreement and, or order, it would not be possible to finally determine Canadian Forest's share of production in such lands.

        North American Free Trade Agreement.    On January 1, 1994 the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) among the governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico became effective. NAFTA carries forward most of the material energy terms contained in the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. In the context of energy resources, Canada continues to remain free to determine whether exports to the United States or Mexico will be allowed provided that any export restrictions do not: (i) reduce the proportion of energy resource exported relative to domestic use (based upon the proportion prevailing in the most recent 36-month period), (ii) impose an export price higher than the domestic price, or (iii) disrupt normal channels of supply. All three countries are prohibited from imposing minimum export or import price requirements. NAFTA contemplates clearer disciplines on regulators to ensure fair implementation of any regulatory changes and to minimize disruption of contractual arrangements, which is important for Canadian natural gas exports.

        Environmental Matters.    Extensive U.S. federal, state and local laws, as well as law of foreign countries, govern oil and natural gas operations, regulate the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relate to environmental protection. Numerous governmental agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (commonly called the EPA) issue regulations to implement and enforce such laws. Environmental laws and regulations are often difficult and costly to comply with and substantial administrative, civil and even criminal penalties can be imposed for failure to comply. These laws and regulations may, in certain circumstances, impose "strict liability" for environmental contamination, rendering an owner or lessee liable for environmental and natural resource damages and cleanup costs without regard to negligence or fault on the part of the owner or lessee. This regulatory burden on the oil and natural gas industry increases its cost of doing business and consequently affects its profitability. Changes in existing environmental laws or the adoption of new environmental laws have the potential to adversely affect our operations or earnings, as well as the oil

8



and gas exploration and production industry in general. While we believe that we are in substantial compliance with current applicable environmental laws and regulations and that continued compliance with existing requirements will not have a material adverse impact on us, we cannot give any assurance that we will not be adversely affected in the future.

        The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) and regulations thereunder impose a variety of requirements on "responsible parties" related to the prevention of oil spills and liability for damages resulting from such spills in U.S. waters. A "responsible party" includes the owner or operator of a pipeline, vessel or onshore facility, or the lessee or permittee of the area in which an offshore facility is located. OPA assigns liability to each responsible party for oil cleanup costs and a variety of public and private damages from oil spills. OPA also requires operators of offshore OCS facilities to demonstrate to the MMS that they possess at least $35 million in financial resources that are available to pay for costs that may be incurred in responding to an oil spill. This financial responsibility amount can increase up to a maximum of $150 million if the MMS determines that a greater amount is justified based on specific risks posed by the operations or if the worst case oil-spill discharge volume possible at a facility exceeds applicable threshold volumes established by the MMS. While liability limits apply in some circumstances, a party cannot take advantage of liability limits if the spill was caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct or resulted from violation of a federal safety, construction or operating regulation. If the party fails to report a spill or to cooperate fully in the cleanup, liability limits likewise do not apply. Even if applicable, the liability limits for offshore facilities require the responsible party to pay all removal costs, plus up to $75 million in other damages. Few defenses exist to the liability imposed by OPA.

        The U.S. Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly called the Clean Water Act) imposes restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of produced waters and other oil and gas wastes in "waters of the United States," a broadly-defined term that includes all navigable waters. Many state discharge regulations and the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System generally prohibit the discharge of produced water and sand, drilling fluids, drill cuttings and certain other substances related to the oil and gas industry into coastal waters. Although the costs to comply with these zero discharge mandates under federal or state law may be significant, the entire industry is expected to experience similar costs and we believe that these costs will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and operations.

        The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended (commonly called CERCLA but also known as "Superfund") and comparable state laws impose liability without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release of a "hazardous substance" into the environment. These persons include the current owner and operator of the disposal site or sites where the release occurred and companies that transported or disposed or arranged for the transport or disposal of the hazardous substances that have been released at the site. Persons who are or were responsible for releases of hazardous substances under CERCLA may be subject to joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment and for damages to natural resources, and it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances or other pollutants into the environment. In the ordinary course of Forest's operations, substances may be generated that fall within the definition of "hazardous substances." Although we have utilized operating and disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hydrocarbons or other wastes may have been disposed of or released on or under the properties owned or leased by us or on or under other locations where such wastes have been taken for disposal. Moreover, we may own or operate properties that in the past were operated by third parties whose operations were not under our control. Those properties and any wastes that may have been disposed or released on them may be subject to CERCLA, and analogous state laws, and we potentially could be required to remediate such properties.

9


        In Canada, the oil and natural gas industry is currently subject to environmental regulation pursuant to provincial and federal legislation. Environmental legislation provides for restrictions and prohibitions on releases or emissions of various substances produced or utilized in association with certain oil and gas industry operations. In addition, legislation requires that well and facility sites be abandoned and reclaimed to the satisfaction of provincial authorities. Compliance with such legislation can require significant expenditures. A breach of such legislation may result in the imposition of fines and penalties, the revocation of licenses and authorizations or civil liability for pollution damage.

        Although we maintain insurance against some, but not all, of the risks described above, including insuring the costs of clean-up operations, public liability and physical damage, there is no assurance that such insurance will be adequate to fully cover all such costs or that such insurance will continue to be available in the future or that such insurance will be available at premium levels that justify its purchase. The occurrence of a significant environmental-related event not fully insured or indemnified against could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operations.

        We have established guidelines to be followed to comply with U.S. and Canadian environmental laws and regulations. In addition, we have designated a compliance officer whose responsibility is to monitor regulatory requirements and their impacts on Forest or Canadian Forest and to implement appropriate compliance procedures. We also employ an environmental director whose responsibilities include providing assurance that our operations are carried out in accordance with applicable environmental guidelines and safety precautions. Although we maintain pollution insurance against the costs of clean-up operations, public liability and physical damage, there is no assurance that such insurance will be adequate to cover all such costs or that such insurance will continue to be available in the future.

        We believe that it is reasonably likely that the trend in environmental legislation and regulation will continue toward stricter standards. We are committed to meeting our responsibilities to protect the environment wherever we operate and anticipate making increased expenditures as a result of increasingly stringent laws relating to the protection of the environment.


Forward-Looking Statements

        The information in this Form 10-K includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts or present facts, that address activities, events, outcomes and other matters that Forest plans, expects, intends, assumes, believes, budgets, predicts, forecasts, projects, estimates or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this Form 10-K, in Part II, Item 7 under the caption "—Risk Factors."

        These forward-looking statements appear in a number of places and include statements with respect to, among other things:

10


        We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, incident to the exploration for and development, production and sale of oil and gas. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility, inflation, lack of availability of goods and services, environmental risks, drilling and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in estimating proved oil and natural gas reserves and in projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures and the other risks described in Part II, Item 7 under the caption "—Risk Factors." The financial results of our foreign operations are also subject to currency exchange rate risks.

        Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact way. The accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data, the interpretation of such data and price and cost assumptions made by our reservoir engineers. In addition, the results of drilling, testing and production activities may justify revisions of estimates that were made previously. If significant, such revisions would change the schedule of any further production and development drilling. Accordingly, reserve estimates are generally different from the quantities of oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered.

        Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described above or elsewhere in this Form 10-K occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

        All forward-looking statements express or implied, included in this Form 10-K and attributable to Forest are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Forest or persons acting on its behalf may issue. Forest does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of filing this Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, except as required by law.

11



Item 2. Properties

        Forest's principal proved reserves and producing properties are located in the United States in Alaska, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and the Gulf of Mexico, and in Canada in Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. In addition, we have acreage in various locations outside North America.


Reserves

        Information regarding Forest's proved and proved developed oil and gas reserves and the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows and changes therein is included in Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See also Part II, Item 7 "—Risk Factors—Estimates of oil and gas reserves are uncertain and inherently imprecise" for additional information regarding reserves.

        Since January 1, 2002 we have not filed any oil or natural gas reserve estimates or included any such estimates in reports to any Federal or foreign governmental authority or agency, other than the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Energy (DOE). There were no differences between the reserve estimates included in the SEC report, the DOE report and those included herein, except for production and additions and deletions due to the difference in the "as of" dates of such reserve estimates.

        Forest's estimated proved reserves were 1,560 BCFE at December 31, 2002 compared to estimated proved reserves of 1,546 BCFE at December 31, 2001. Approximately 52% of our estimated proved reserves at December 31, 2002 were natural gas and our estimated proved developed reserves represented approximately 63% of total estimated proved reserves.


Production

        The following table shows our net liquids and natural gas production for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

 
  Net Natural Gas and
Liquids Production

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
United States:            
  Natural Gas (MMCF)   78,543   97,400   102,320
  Liquids (MBBLS)   7,477   9,239   9,891
    Total (MMCFE)   123,405   152,834   161,666

Canada:

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Natural Gas (MMCF)   13,525   10,994   11,522
  Liquids (MBBLS)   1,180   1,361   1,536
    Total (MMCFE)   20,605   19,160   20,738

Consolidated:

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Natural Gas (MMCF)   92,068   108,394   113,842
  Liquids (MBBLS)   8,657   10,600   11,427
    Total (MMCFE)   144,010   171,994   182,404

12



Average Sales Prices

        The following table sets forth production volumes and average sales prices per MCF of natural gas and per barrel of liquids for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

 
  United States
  Canada
 
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
Natural Gas:                            
  Production (MMCF)     78,543   97,400   102,320   13,525   10,994   11,522  
  Sales price received (per MCF)   $ 3.18   4.33   4.02   2.05   2.56   2.64  
  Effects of energy swaps (per MCF)(1)   $ .14   .18   (.67 )     (.44 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Average sales price (per MCF)   $ 3.32   4.51   3.35   2.05   2.56   2.20  

Liquids:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Oil and condensate:                            
  Production (MBBLS)     6,792   8,264   8,775   739   955   1,110  
  Sales price received (per BBL)   $ 24.30   23.92   28.74   23.37   22.96   28.54  
  Effects of energy swaps (per BBL)(1)   $ (1.90 ) .62   (5.65 )     (5.60 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average sales price (per BBL)   $ 22.40   24.54   23.09   23.37   22.96   22.94  
Natural gas liquids:                            
  Production (MBBLS)     685   975   1,116   441   406   426  
  Average sales price (per BBL)   $ 11.57   15.81   18.72   13.35   17.17   18.19  
Total liquids production (MBBLS)     7,477   9,239   9,891   1,180   1,361   1,536  
Average sales price (per BBL)   $ 21.40   23.62   22.59   19.63   21.23   21.62  

Total Production

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Production volumes (MMCFE)     123,405   152,834   161,666   20,605   19,160   20,738  
Average sales price (per MCFE)(1)   $ 3.41   4.30   3.50   2.47   2.97   2.82  

(1)
Commodity swaps and collars were transacted to hedge the price of spot market volumes against price fluctuations. Hedged natural gas volumes were 36,050 MMCF, 42,870 MMCF and 53,078 MMCF for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Hedged oil and condensate volumes were 3,921,500 barrels, 3,742,500 barrels and 6,953,000 barrels for 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Most of these arrangements have been designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes and, as a result, the net gains and losses were accounted for as increases and decreases of oil and gas sales. The aggregate net gains (losses) related to our cash flow hedges were ($1,742,000), $22,781,000 and $(129,091,000), respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000. Those arrangements that are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes are recorded as non-operating income or expense.

13



Productive Wells

        The following summarizes our total gross and net productive wells at December 31, 2002:

 
  Productive Wells(1)
 
  United States
  Canada
Gross(2)        
  Gas   639   215
  Oil   1,696   332
   
 
    Totals(3)   2,335   547
   
 
Net(4)        
  Gas   269   106
  Oil   278   223
   
 
    Totals   547   329
   
 

(1)
Productive wells are producing wells and wells capable of production, including injection wells, salt water disposal wells, service wells and wells that are shut-in.

(2)
The number of gross wells is the total number of wells in which a working interest is owned.

(3)
Includes 11 dual completions in the United States and eight dual completions in Canada. Dual completions are counted as one well. If either completion is an oil completion, the well is classified as an oil well.

(4)
The number of net wells is the sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross wells expressed as whole numbers and fractions thereof.

14



Developed and Undeveloped Acreage

        Forest held acreage as set forth below at December 31, 2002 and 2001. A majority of the developed acreage is subject to mortgage liens securing our bank indebtedness. See Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
  Developed Acreage(1)
  Undeveloped Acreage(2)
 
  Gross(3)
  Net(4)
  Gross(3)
  Net(4)
United States:                
  Offshore   659,987   305,242   180,309   100,588
  Onshore   71,522   32,524   7,888   3,542
  Western   253,222   63,837   231,515   118,687
  Alaska   312,606   26,708   1,457,145   1,243,753
   
 
 
 
    1,297,337   428,311   1,876,857   1,466,570
Canada   210,475   106,657   1,238,150   534,380
International:                
  South Africa       10,266,226   7,186,358
  Gabon       2,409,276   1,072,127
  Switzerland       1,850,000   925,000
  Germany       830,554   456,803
  Albania       855,123   320,670
  Italy       1,183,682   864,608
  Romania       1,242,187   1,242,187
   
 
 
 
        18,637,048   12,067,753
   
 
 
 
Total acreage at December 31, 2002   1,507,812   534,968   21,752,055   14,068,703
   
 
 
 
United States   1,256,832   432,481   581,040   428,054
Canada   262,387   126,240   1,637,479   735,448
International       18,837,280   13,978,887
   
 
 
 
Total acreage at December 31, 2001   1,519,219   558,721   21,055,799   15,142,389
   
 
 
 

(1)
Developed acres are those acres which are spaced or assigned to productive wells.

(2)
Undeveloped acres are considered to be those acres on which wells have not been drilled or completed to a point that would permit the production of commercial quantities of oil or natural gas, regardless of whether such acreage contains proved reserves. It should not be confused with undrilled acreage held by production under the terms of a lease.

(3)
A gross acre is an acre in which a working interest is owned. The number of gross acres is the total number of acres in which a working interest is owned.

(4)
A net acre is deemed to exist when the sum of the fractional ownership working interests in gross acres equals one. The number of net acres is the sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross acres expressed as whole numbers and fractions thereof.

        Approximately 10% of our net undeveloped acreage at December 31, 2002 is held under leases that have terms that will expire in 2003, if not extended by exploration or production activities, and approximately 0.5% of net undeveloped acreage will expire in 2004 if not extended by exploration or production activities.

15




Drilling Activity

        During the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, Forest drilled gross and net exploratory and development wells as set forth below. This information does not include wells drilled under farmout agreements or any other wells in which we do not have a working interest.

 
  United States
  Canada
  International
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  2002
  2001
  2000
  2002
  2001
  2000
Gross Exploratory Wells:                                    
  Dry(1)   5   8   12   6   3   6     2   2
  Productive(2)   1   69   50   4   15   13     2  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    6   77   62   10   18   19     4   2
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Exploratory Wells:(3)                                    
  Dry(1)   2.3   4.9   6.3   3.5   1.4   2.0     1.0   1.4
  Productive(2)   .7   38.3   26.5   1.9   8.9   7.6     1.4  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    3.0   43.2   32.8   5.4   10.3   9.6     2.4   1.4
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Development Wells:                                    
  Dry(1)   4   2     2   2        
  Productive(2)   43   8   16   4          
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    47   10   16   6   2        
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Development Wells:(3)                                    
  Dry(1)   2.3   1.3     .7          
  Productive(2)   23.5   5.4   8.9   3.0   0.7        
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    25.8   6.7   8.9   3.7   0.7        
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
A dry well (hole) is a well found to be incapable of producing either oil or natural gas in sufficient quantities to justify completion as an oil or natural gas well.

(2)
Productive wells are producing wells and wells capable of production, including wells that are shut-in.

(3)
The number of net wells is the sum of the fractional working interests owned in gross wells expressed as whole numbers and fractions thereof.

        At December 31, 2002 Forest and its subsidiaries had 4 exploratory wells (2.4 net) and 3 development wells (2.4 net) that were in the process of being drilled.

16



Delivery Commitments

        A significant portion of Canadian Forest's natural gas production is sold through the ProMark Netback Pool which is operated by ProMark on behalf of Canadian Forest. At December 31, 2002, the ProMark Netback Pool had entered into fixed price contracts to sell natural gas at the following quantities and weighted average prices:

 
  Natural Gas
 
  BCF
  Sales Price
per MCF

2003   5.5   $ 2.78 CDN
2004   5.5   $ 2.88 CDN
2005   5.5   $ 2.99 CDN
2006   5.5   $ 3.11 CDN
2007   5.5   $ 3.23 CDN
2008   5.5   $ 3.36 CDN
2009   3.6   $ 4.06 CDN
2010   1.7   $ 6.23 CDN
2011   .8   $ 6.57 CDN

        As operator of the netback pool, ProMark aggregates gas from producers for sale to markets across North America. Currently, over 30 producers have contracted with the netback pool including Canadian Forest. These producers have dedicated reserves and lands to the pool. The producers are paid a blended netback price which reflects all of the revenue from approved customers less the costs of delivery (including transportation, audit and shortfall makeup costs) and a ProMark marketing fee.

        Canadian Forest, as one of the producers in the ProMark Netback Pool, is obligated to supply its contract quantity. In 2002 Canadian Forest supplied 42% of the total netback pool sales quantity. In the 2003/2004 contract year, it is estimated that Canadian Forest will supply approximately 42% of the netback pool quantity. We expect that Canadian Forest's pro rata obligations as a gas producer will increase in 2005 and future years. In order to satisfy their supply obligations, the ProMark Netback Pool and Canadian Forest may be required to cover their obligations in the market.

        As the operator of the netback pool, ProMark is required to acquire gas in the event of a shortfall between the gas supply and market obligations. A shortfall could occur if a gas producer fails to deliver its dedicated share of the supply obligations of the netback pool. The cost of purchasing gas to cover any shortfall is a cost of the netback pool. The prices paid for shortfall gas would typically be spot market prices and may differ from the market prices received from netback pool customers. Higher spot prices would reduce the average netback pool price paid to the gas producers, including Canadian Forest. Shortfalls in gas produced may occur in the future. The Company does not believe that such shortfalls will be significant.

        In addition to its commitments to the ProMark Netback Pool, Canadian Forest is committed to sell natural gas at the following quantities and weighted average prices through its direct sales contracts:

 
  Natural Gas
 
  BCF
  Sales Price
per MCF

2003   .6   $ 3.82 CDN
2004   .6   $ 3.96 CDN
2005   .6   $ 4.11 CDN
2006   .5   $ 4.27 CDN

        There were no long-term delivery commitments in the United States as of December 31, 2002.

17



Item 3. Legal Proceedings

        Forest, in the ordinary course of business, is a party to various legal actions. While we believe that the amount of any potential loss would not be material to our consolidated financial position, the ultimate outcome of these proceedings is inherently difficult to predict with any certainty. In the event of an unfavorable outcome, the potential loss could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flow in the reporting periods in which any such actions are resolved.

        On December 7, 2000, Forest completed a merger transaction with Forcenergy Inc, in which Forest was the surviving company. Prior to the merger with Forest, Forcenergy was a party to various claims and routine litigation arising in the normal course of its business. Prior to the merger, on March 21, 1999, Forcenergy and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Forcenergy Resources Inc., filed voluntarily under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Forcenergy continued to operate as a debtor-in-possession subject to the bankruptcy court's supervision and orders until its plan of reorganization (which was confirmed on January 19, 2000) became effective on February 15, 2000. Obligations of Forcenergy arising out of activities prior to March 21, 1999, the bankruptcy petition date, will be discharged in accordance with the plan of reorganization. Pursuant to the plan of reorganization, Forcenergy established a reserve of Forcenergy common stock to be distributed to claimants in the event their disputed claims are ultimately determined by the bankruptcy court to be allowed claims. The reserved shares of Forcenergy common stock became Forest common shares in accordance with the terms of the merger. If the shares in the reserve are inadequate to cover all allowed claims, then under the Forcenergy plan of reorganization Forest would be required to issue additional shares of common stock to the holders of these claims. Forest currently believes, however, that the shares in the reserve are adequate to cover all remaining disputed claims that may be subsequently allowed. We cannot give assurances, however, that this will be the case.

        On May 1, 2002, the State of Alaska approved the development and production phase of our Redoubt Shoal project (the Production Project). On May 30, 2002, Cook Inlet Keeper, a non-governmental third party, filed a challenge to the regulatory review and approval process for the Production Project. In July 2002, Forest was granted leave to intervene to defend the State of Alaska's approval of the Production Project. In August 2002, the Court entered a briefing schedule. That briefing has been completed, and the matter is now set for oral argument before the Court on April 17, 2003. Separately, Cook Inlet Keeper filed a motion in September 2002 asking the Court to stay Forest's development and production phase operations during the pendency of the briefing process and through the Court's final determination regarding the challenge. Forest filed an opposition, and the Court denied Cook Inlet Keeper's motion on December 4, 2002. Cook Inlet Keeper appealed that denial to the Alaska Supreme Court. Forest subsequently filed an opposition. On March 14, 2003, the Alaska Supreme Court remanded the matter to the trial Court for clarification of the Court's ruling, and postponed ruling on the petition for review until receipt of that clarification. While we intend to continue our vigorous opposition to Cook Inlet Keeper's challenge, the outcome of the litigation is inherently difficult to predict with any certainty. We can give no assurances as to the effect of any delays in the Production Project on Forest's financial condition and results of operations.


Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

        No matter was submitted to a vote of our shareholders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.

18



Item 4A. Executive Officers of Forest

        The following persons were serving as executive officers of Forest as of February 28, 2003.

Name

  Age
  Years with
Forest

  Office(1)

Robert S. Boswell   53   17   Chairman of the Board since March 2000 and Chief Executive Officer since December 1995. Mr. Boswell served as our President from November 1993 to March 2000 and Chief Financial Officer from May 1991 until December 1995. Mr. Boswell has been a member of the Board of Directors since 1986 and serves as a member of the Executive Committee. Mr. Boswell is a director of C.E. Franklin Ltd.

H. Craig Clark

 

46

 

2

 

President and Chief Operating Officer since September 5, 2001. Prior to joining Forest, from May 2000 to September 2001, Mr. Clark served as Executive Vice President—U.S. Operations for Apache Corporation, a publicly traded independent energy company. Mr. Clark was employed by Apache Corporation in Houston, Texas, from 1989 to 2001. He served in various management positions during this period, including Vice President—Southern Exploration & Production/North American Gas Marketing, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer—Producers Energy Marketing, LLC, an affiliate of Apache Corporation, and Vice President—North American Exploration & Production.

David H. Keyte

 

46

 

15

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since November 1997. Mr. Keyte served as our Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from December 1995 to November 1997 and our Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from December 1993 until December 1995.

Gary E. Carlson

 

56

 

2

 

Senior Vice President—Alaska since December 2000. Mr. Carlson was Vice President—Alaska Division of Forcenergy Inc from March 1997 to December 2000 and General Manager for Health, Environment and Safety Support Worldwide of Unocal from 1995 to 1996.

Forest D. Dorn

 

48

 

25

 

Senior Vice President—Corporate Services since December 2000. Mr. Dorn served as Senior Vice President—Gulf Coast Region from November 1997 to December 2000, Vice President—Gulf Coast Region from August 1996 to October 1997 and Vice President and General Business Manager from December 1993 to August 1996.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19



James W. Knell

 

52

 

15

 

Senior Vice President—Gulf Coast Region since December 2000. Mr. Knell served as Vice President—Gulf Coast Offshore from May 1999 to December 2000, Gulf Coast Offshore Business Unit Manager from March 1998 to May 1999, Gulf Coast Region Business Unit Manager from November 1997 to March 1998 and Corporate Drilling and Production Manager from December 1991 to November 1997.

Neal A. Stanley

 

55

 

6

 

Senior Vice President—Western Region since November 1997. Mr. Stanley has served as our Vice President—Western Region from August 1996 to November 1997.

Newton W. Wilson III

 

52

 

2

 

Senior Vice President — Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary since December 2000. Mr. Wilson served as a consultant to Mariner Energy LLC from 1999 to December 2000 and a consultant to Sterling City Capital from 1998 to 1999. From 1996 to 1998 he was President and Chief Operations Officer of Union Texas Americas Ltd. and served as Regional Vice President-Americas at Union Texas Petroleum Holdings Inc., the parent company. He served as General Counsel, Vice President Administration and Secretary of Union Texas Petroleum Holdings Inc. from 1993 to 1996.

Joan C. Sonnen

 

49

 

13

 

Vice President—Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since December 2000. Ms. Sonnen served as our Vice President—Controller and Corporate Secretary from May 1999 to December 2000 and our Corporate Secretary from March 1999 to December 2000. She has served as our Controller since December 1993.

(1)
The term of office of each officer is one year from the date of his or her election immediately following the last annual meeting of shareholders and until the officer's respective successor has been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal from office whichever occurs first. Each of the named persons has held the office indicated since the last annual meeting of Forest's shareholders.

20



PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

Common Stock

        Forest has one class of common shares outstanding, its common stock, par value $.10 per share (Common Stock). Forest's Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FST". On February 28, 2003, there were 48,165,013 outstanding shares of our Common Stock held by 710 holders of record. The number of holders does not include the shareholders for whom shares are held in a "nominee" or "street" name.

        The table below reflects the high and low intraday sales prices of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange composite tape during each fiscal quarterly period of 2001 and 2002. There were no dividends declared on the Common Stock in 2001 or 2002. On February 28, 2003, the closing price of Forest Common Stock was $22.75.

 
   
  High
  Low
2001:   First Quarter   $ 36.00   $ 29.00
    Second Quarter     37.29     27.96
    Third Quarter     29.65     23.45
    Fourth Quarter     28.58     24.11
2002:   First Quarter     29.95     23.50
    Second Quarter     32.44     26.95
    Third Quarter     27.75     20.69
    Fourth Quarter     29.06     22.97


Warrants

        Forest has three series of warrants outstanding, which are each quoted on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board. At February 28, 2003, Forest had outstanding 237,739 warrants expiring on February 15, 2004 (the 2004 Warrants), which were held by 421 holders of record. Each 2004 Warrant entitles the holder to purchase 0.8 shares of Common Stock for $16.67, or an equivalent per share price of $20.84. Forest's 2004 Warrants are quoted on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board under the symbol "FTYLW.OB." On February 28, 2003, or the last day of activity prior thereto, the closing price of the 2004 Warrants was $10.35. The table below reflects the high and low intraday sales prices of the 2004 Warrants on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board during each fiscal quarter in 2001 and 2002.

 
   
  High
  Low
2001:   First Quarter   $ 15.00   $ 10.13
    Second Quarter     16.00     9.70
    Third Quarter     11.00     6.70
    Fourth Quarter     12.10     8.00
2002:   First Quarter     14.95     10.10
    Second Quarter     19.90     14.00
    Third Quarter     17.75     10.75
    Fourth Quarter     15.00     12.00

        At February 28, 2003, Forest also had outstanding 238,195 warrants expiring on February 15, 2005 (the 2005 Warrants), which were held by 422 holders of record. Each 2005 Warrant entitles the holder to purchase 0.8 shares of Common Stock for $20.83, or an equivalent per share price of $26.04. Forest's 2005 Warrants are quoted on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board under the symbol "FTYLZ.OB." On February 28, 2003, or the last day of activity prior thereto, the closing price of the 2005 Warrants was

21


$4.05. The table below reflects the high and low intraday sales prices of the 2005 Warrants on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board during each fiscal quarter in 2001 and 2002.

 
   
  High
  Low
2001:   First Quarter   $ 13.63   $ 10.75
    Second Quarter     15.25     9.63
    Third Quarter     9.75     7.00
    Fourth Quarter     9.00     7.06
2002:   First Quarter     8.00     6.20
    Second Quarter     9.80     7.50
    Third Quarter     9.65     6.50
    Fourth Quarter     7.95     5.00

        At February 28, 2003, Forest also had outstanding 1,752,355 subscription warrants (the Subscription Warrants), which were held by nine holders of record. Each Subscription Warrant entitles the holder to purchase 0.8 shares of Common Stock for $10.00, or an equivalent per share price of $12.50. The Subscription Warrants are detachable and expire on March 20, 2010 or earlier upon notice of expiration by Forest if, after March 20, 2004, the market price of the Common Stock has exceeded 300% of the exercise price, or $37.50 per share, for a period of 30 consecutive trading days. Forest's Subscription Warrants are quoted on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board under the symbol "FTYLL.OB". On February 28, 2003, or the last day of activity prior thereto, the closing price of the Subscription Warrants was $13.75. The table below reflects the high and low intraday sales prices of the Subscription Warrants on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board during each fiscal quarter in 2001 and 2002.

 
   
  High
  Low
2001:   First Quarter   $ 23.50   $ 17.50
    Second Quarter     21.50     17.00
    Third Quarter     16.75     13.80
    Fourth Quarter     14.75     13.25
2002:   First Quarter     15.00     15.00
    Second Quarter     17.75     14.50
    Third Quarter     14.13     11.00
    Fourth Quarter     14.91     9.75

        The warrants were originally issued by Forcenergy in connection with its plan of reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code, and were converted into warrants to purchase Forest common stock pursuant to our merger with Forcenergy on December 7, 2000. The issuance of Forest common stock upon exercise of the warrants is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code. During 2002, Forest issued 17,971 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants.


Dividend Restrictions

        Forest's present or future ability to pay dividends is restricted by (i) the provisions of the New York Business Corporation Law, (ii) Forest's 8% Senior Notes due 2008, Forest's 8% Senior Notes due 2011 and Forest's 73/4% Senior Notes due 2014, and (iii) our credit facilities dated as of December 7, 2000 with JPMorgan Chase and J.P. Morgan Bank Canada. The provisions in the indentures pertaining to the 8% Senior Notes due 2008 and 2011 and the 73/4% Senior Notes due 2014, and the credit facilities limit our ability to make restricted payments, which include dividend payments.

        Forest has not paid dividends on its Common Stock during the past five years and does not presently anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable future. The future payment of dividends, if any, on the Common Stock is within the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on Forest's earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other relevant factors. There is no assurance that Forest will pay any dividends. For further information regarding our equity securities and our ability to pay dividends on our Common Stock, see Notes 4 and 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Item 6. Selected Financial and Operating Data

        The following table sets forth selected financial and operating data of Forest as of and for each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2002. This data should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.

        On December 7, 2000, Forest completed its merger with Forcenergy Inc (Forcenergy). The merger was accounted for as a pooling of interests for accounting and financial reporting purposes. Under this method of accounting, the recorded assets and liabilities of Forest and Forcenergy were carried forward to the combined company at their recorded amounts on the date of the merger. Income and expense amounts reported for the combined company for 2000 include amounts attributable to the operations of both Forest and Forcenergy for the entire year. Forcenergy was merged into Forest on the date of the merger and, accordingly, all amounts attributable to periods after the merger represent the operations of the combined entities. The results of operations of Forcenergy prior to December 31, 1999, the effective date of its reorganization and fresh-start reporting, are not included in the financial statements of the combined company. In conjunction with the merger with Forcenergy, Forest effected a 1-for-2 reverse stock split. Unless otherwise indicated, all share and per share amounts included herein give retroactive effect to this reverse stock split.

 
  Years Ended December 31,
 
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998
 
 
  (In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts, Volumes and Prices)

 
FINANCIAL DATA                        
Revenue:                        
  Oil and gas sales   $ 471,740   714,852   624,925   193,841   173,701  
  Marketing and processing, net     3,954   3,465   3,094   3,666   6,321  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Total revenue   $ 475,694   718,317   628,019   197,507   180,022  
Earnings (loss) before extraordinary items   $ 24,486   109,354   130,608   19,641   (197,786 )
Net earnings (loss)   $ 21,276   103,743   130,608   19,043   (191,590 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding     46,935   47,674   46,330   23,971   20,455  
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common stock   $ 21,276   103,743   126,440   19,043   (191,590 )
Basic earnings (loss) per share:                        
  Earnings (loss) attributable to common stock before extraordinary items   $ .52   2.30   2.73   .82   (9.67 )
  Extraordinary items     (.07 ) (.12 )   (.03 ) .30  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Earnings (loss) attributable to common stock   $ 0.45   2.18   2.73   .79   (9.37 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:                        
  Earnings (loss) attributable to common stock before extraordinary items   $ .51   2.22   2.64   .81   (9.67 )
  Extraordinary items     (.07 ) (.11 )   (.02 ) .30  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Earnings (loss) attributable to common stock   $ 0.44   2.11   2.64   .79   (9.37 )

Total assets

 

$

1,924,681

 

1,796,369

 

1,752,378

 

1,474,689

 

759,736

 
Long-term debt   $ 767,219   594,178   622,234   686,153   505,450  
Other long-term liabilities   $ 44,576   37,950   31,241   25,112   24,267  
Shareholders' equity   $ 921,211   923,943   858,966   558,984   168,991  

23


 
  Years Ended December 31,
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998
 
  (In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts, Volumes and Prices)

OPERATING DATA                      
Annual production:                      
  Gas (MMCF)     92,068   108,394   113,842   61,702   62,310
  Liquids (MBBLS)     8,657   10,600   11,427   4,397   4,269

Average sales price:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Gas (per MCF)   $ 3.13   4.32   3.23   2.18   1.98
  Liquids (per Barrel)   $ 21.16   23.31   22.46   13.51   11.79

Capital expenditures, net of asset sales

 

$

352,812

 

416,316

 

372,688

 

104,612

 

461,452

Proved Reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Gas (MMCF)     813,394   828,549   844,058   825,623   564,264
  Liquids (MBBLS)     124,366   119,549   89,241   97,086   35,069

Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves

 

$

2,053,148

 

1,346,653

 

3,694,431

 

1,419,022

 

522,831

Prices used in calculating present value at end of year proved reserves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Gas (per MCF):                      
    United States   $ 4.16   2.66   9.52   2.37   2.03
    Canada   $ 3.30   2.06   6.11   1.66   1.38
  Liquids (per Barrel):                      
    United States   $ 27.85   17.01   23.84   22.38   9.51
    Canada   $ 26.63   15.05   23.59   19.98   8.91

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Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

        All expectations, forecasts, assumptions and beliefs about our future financial results, condition, operations, strategic plans and performance are forward-looking statements, as described in more detail in Part I, Item 1, under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements" of this Form 10-K. Our actual results may differ materially because of a number of risks and uncertainties. Some of these risks and uncertainties are detailed under the heading "—Risk Factors" below and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Historical statements made herein are accurate only as of the date of filing of this Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission and may be relied upon only as of that date.

        On December 7, 2000, Forest completed a merger with Forcenergy Inc (Forcenergy). The merger was accounted for as a pooling of interests for accounting and financial reporting purposes. Under this method of accounting, the recorded assets and liabilities of Forest and Forcenergy were carried forward to the combined company at their recorded amounts on the date of the merger. Income and expense amounts reported for the combined company for 2000 include amounts attributable to the operations of both Forest and Forcenergy for the entire year. Forcenergy was merged into Forest on the date of the merger and, accordingly, all amounts attributable to periods after the merger represent the operations of the combined entities.

        The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with Forest's Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.


Results of Operations

        Net earnings for 2002 were $21,276,000 compared to net earnings of $103,743,000 in 2001. The decrease in earnings was the result of lower production volumes and lower average oil and gas sales prices, offset partially by lower operating expenses. Lower production volumes were primarily the result of property sales in the fourth quarter of 2001, hurricane downtime in the Gulf of Mexico and normal declines caused by reduced capital expenditures.

        Net earnings for 2001 were $103,743,000 compared to net earnings of $130,608,000 in 2000. The decrease in earnings was due primarily to higher deferred income tax expense in 2001. In 2000, the income tax expense was lower due to a credit for previously unrecognized deferred tax assets. Earnings before income taxes were higher in 2001 than in 2000 as a result of higher product prices, offset partially by higher operating expense and lower production volumes.

        Marketing and processing, net represents the net margin earned by ProMark as well as processing income earned in the United States. Marketing and processing, net increased 14% to $3,954,000 in 2002 from $3,465,000 in 2001. The increase was due primarily to gas plant income in the United States. Marketing and processing income increased 12% to $3,465,000 in 2001 from $3,094,000 in 2000. The increase was due primarily to an increase in volumes marketed by ProMark in 2001 as well as higher margins on arrangements where the profit was determined as a percentage of natural gas sales prices

        Oil and gas sales revenue decreased by 34% to $471,740,000 in 2002 from $714,852,000 in 2001, primarily as a result of lower product prices and production volumes. The average sales prices received for natural gas and liquids in 2002 decreased 28% and 9%, respectively, compared to the average sales prices in 2001. Production volumes decreased 16% on an MCFE basis in 2002 compared to 2001. Volume decreases were attributable primarily to the Gulf of Mexico Offshore business unit. The Gulf of Mexico properties were impacted by the sale of 50% of Forest's interests in the South Marsh Island and Vermilion areas in the fourth quarter of 2001, and also experienced hurricane downtime and normal production declines that were the result of reduced capital expenditures.

        Oil and gas sales revenue increased by 14% to $714,852,000 in 2001 from $624,925,000 in 2000 due primarily to higher oil and gas prices, offset partially by lower production volumes. The average sales prices for natural gas and liquids in 2001 increased 34% and 4%, respectively, compared to the average sales prices received in 2000. Production volumes for natural gas and liquids on an MCFE basis

25


decreased 6% in 2001 compared to 2000. Volume decreases were attributable primarily to normal declines and property sales affecting Gulf of Mexico properties.

        Oil and gas production expense includes direct costs incurred to operate and maintain wells and related equipment and facilities, costs of workovers that are expensed rather than capitalized because they do not extend the life of the property, product transportation costs, production taxes and ad valorem taxes. In 2002, production expense decreased 15% to $158,699,000 from $186,250,000 in 2001. The decrease was due primarily to lower direct operating expense. In 2001 production expense increased 33% to $186,250,000 from $140,218,000 in 2000. The increase in 2001 was due primarily to increased workover activity, platform refurbishment in the Gulf of Mexico, pipeline maintenance in Alaska, general service cost increases, higher transportation costs and higher ad valorem tax expense.

        Production volumes and weighted average sales prices for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 were as follows:

 
  Years Ended December 31,
 
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
Natural Gas                
  Production (MMCF):                
    United States     78,543   97,400   102,320  
    Canada     13,525   10,994   11,522  
   
 
 
 
      Total     92,068   108,394   113,842  
  Sales price received (per MCF)   $ 3.01   4.16   3.87  
  Effects of energy swaps and collars (per MCF)(1)     .12   .16   (.64 )
   
 
 
 
      Average sales price (per MCF)   $ 3.13   4.32   3.23  
Liquids                
Oil and condensate:                
  Production (MBBLS)     7,531   9,219   9,885  
  Sales price received (per BBL)   $ 24.21   23.82   28.72  
  Effects of energy swaps and collars (per BBL)(1)     (1.72 ) .55   (5.65 )
   
 
 
 
      Average sales price (per BBL)   $ 22.49   24.37   23.07  
Natural gas liquids:                
  Production (MBBLS)     1,126   1,381   1,542  
  Average sales price (per BBL)   $ 12.27   16.21   18.57  
Total Liquids Production (MBBLS):                
  United States     7,477   9,239   9,891  
  Canada     1,180   1,361   1,536  
   
 
 
 
      Total     8,657   10,600   11,427  
  Average sales price (per BBL)   $ 21.16   23.31   22.46  

Total Production

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Production volumes (MMCFE)     144,010   171,994   182,404  
Average sales price (per MCFE)   $ 3.28   4.15   3.43  

(1)
Commodity swaps and collars were transacted to hedge the price of spot market volumes against price fluctuations. Hedged natural gas volumes were 36,050 MMCF, 42,870 MMCF and 53,078 MMCF in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Hedged oil and condensate volumes were 3,921,500 barrels, 3,742,500 barrels and 6,953,000 barrels in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Most of these arrangements have been designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes and, as a result, the net gains and losses were accounted for as increases and decreases of oil and gas sales. The aggregate net gains (losses) related to our cash flow hedges were $(1,742,000), $22,781,000 and $(129,091,000), respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000. Those arrangements that are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes are recorded as non-operating income or expense.

26


        General and administrative expense was $39,126,000 in 2002 compared to $30,514,000 in 2001 and $35,580,000 in 2000. Total overhead costs (capitalized and expensed general and administrative costs) were $65,127,000 in 2002 compared to $51,988,000 in 2001 and $56,666,000 in 2000. The increases in 2002 were attributable primarily to increases in employee related expenses, legal expense and insurance expense, lower fixed rate overhead cost recoveries for production operations as a result of the Gulf of Mexico property sale and the related change in operatorship of those properties, and lower fixed rate overhead cost recoveries for drilling activities due to decreased capital spending in the 2002 period. The decreases in 2001 were due to operating synergies associated with the merger with Forcenergy and higher recoveries of overhead related to production operations and drilling activities. The percentage of overhead capitalized remained relatively constant, at approximately 40% during 2002 and 41% during 2001. The percentage of overhead capitalized increased to 41% of total overhead in 2001 compared to 37% in 2000. The increase in the capitalization rate in 2001 was due primarily to an increase in the relative numbers of exploration and development personnel compared to administrative personnel following the merger with Forcenergy. The following table summarizes total overhead costs incurred during the periods:

 
  Years Ended December 31,
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
  (In Thousands)

Overhead costs capitalized   $ 26,001   21,474   21,086
General and administrative costs expensed(1)     39,126   30,514   35,580
   
 
 
  Total overhead costs   $ 65,127   51,988   56,666
   
 
 
Number of salaried employees at end of year     356   352   349
   
 
 

(1)
Includes $1,484,000, $1,376,000 and $1,386,000 in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, related to marketing operations.

        Merger and seismic licensing costs of $9,836,000 in 2001 and $31,577,000 in 2000 include banking, legal, accounting, printing and other consulting costs related to the merger; severance paid to terminated employees; expenses for office closures, employee relocation, data migration and systems integration; and costs of transferring seismic licenses from Forcenergy to Forest.

        Depreciation and depletion expense was $186,221,000 in 2002 compared to $226,033,000 in 2001. The decrease was attributable primarily to lower production volumes. On a per-unit basis, the depletion rate was $1.26 per MCFE in 2002 compared to $1.29 per MCFE in 2001. Depreciation and depletion expense increased to $226,033,000 in 2001 from $212,480,000 in 2000 due primarily to a higher per-unit rate. The depletion rate increased to $1.29 per MCFE in 2001 compared to $1.15 per MCFE in 2000, due primarily to capital spending and higher estimates for future development costs during the first nine months of 2001, offset partially by a reduction in future development costs, credits to the full cost pool for property sales and increases in estimated proved reserves in the last three months of 2001.

        At December 31, Forest had the following costs of undeveloped properties which were not subject to depletion:

 
  United
States

  Canada
  International
  Total
 
   
  (In Thousands)

   
2002   $ 77,863   27,240   66,533   171,636
2001   $ 86,460   48,577   51,577   186,614
2000   $ 132,807   33,524   40,432   206,763

        No impairments were recorded in 2002. In 2001, Forest recorded impairments of oil and gas properties located outside North America of $18,072,000. Of this amount, approximately $10,000,000

27


related to an unsuccessful well in Albania. Impairments were also recognized in other countries based on expiration of certain concessions and evaluations of the viability of projects in those countries. In 2000, Forest recorded an impairment of $5,876,000 related to unsuccessful exploratory wells drilled in Switzerland and Thailand.

        In 2001, there was an impairment of contract value of $3,239,000 related to the netback pool administered by ProMark. The unamortized portion of the contract values recorded in the 1996 acquisition of ProMark was reduced to more closely match the remaining cash flows.

        Other expense of $703,000 in 2002 consisted primarily of franchise taxes. Other expense of $9,592,000 in 2001 consisted primarily of a reserve of $8,305,000 for 100% of receivables due from Enron for physical sales of natural gas. Other income of $1,757,000 in 2000 consisted primarily of interest income earned by Forcenergy.

        Interest expense of $50,433,000 in 2002 increased $523,000 or 1% compared to 2001 due primarily to higher debt balances that were, on average, 19% higher, offset partially by lower interest rates on variable and fixed rate debt. Interest expense of $49,910,000 in 2001 decreased $10,359,000 or 17% compared to 2000 due to lower average debt balances that were, on average, 4% lower, lower rates on variable and fixed rate debt and a net gain of $1,163,000 recognized under interest rate swap agreements.

        Foreign currency translation gains (losses) were $332,000 in 2002, $(7,872,000) in 2001 and $(7,102,000) in 2000. The foreign currency translation gains and losses were the result of translation of the 83/4% Notes issued by Canadian Forest and were attributable to the increases and decreases in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar during the periods. Forest was required to recognize the noncash foreign currency translation gains or losses related to the 83/4% Notes because the debt was denominated in U.S. dollars and the functional currency of Canadian Forest is the Canadian dollar. All of the outstanding notes were redeemed on September 15, 2002.

        There was a realized loss on derivative instruments of $1,253,000 in 2002 and a realized gain on derivatives of $11,556,000 in 2001. The loss in 2002 was due primarily to a $1,823,000 net settlement of a call option related to two terminated interest rate swaps associated with our 8% Senior Notes. The gain in 2001 was due primarily to oil and natural gas prices being, in the aggregate, lower than the prices established in certain derivative contracts that did not qualify for hedge accounting. This gain was partially offset by a $2,255,000 writeoff of 100% of the asset value of energy swaps where Enron was the counterparty.

        There was a net unrealized loss on derivative instruments of $788,000 in 2002 compared to a net unrealized gain on derivative instruments of $376,000 in 2001. The loss in 2002 was attributable primarily to decreases in the estimated future value of existing commodity swaps and collars as a result of increases in commodity futures prices. The gain in 2001 represents primarily the excess of the fair value over the intrinsic value of oil and gas derivatives designated as hedges. These realized and unrealized gains on derivative instruments were recorded separately in non-operating income since the instruments do not qualify as cash flow hedges under the accounting rules governing hedging activities that were adopted in 2001.

        Forest recorded current income tax expense of $268,000 in 2002 compared to $2,365,000 in 2001 and $1,666,000 in 2000. The decrease in 2002 compared to 2001 is due primarily to decreases in pre-tax profitability and reduced state tax provisions. The increase in 2001 compared to 2000 is due primarily to increases in pre-tax profitability and higher state tax provisions.

        Deferred income tax expense was $14,049,000 in 2002, compared with $77,212,000 in 2001 and $4,400,000 in 2000. The decrease in 2002 compared to 2001 was due primarily to reduced pre-tax profitability. The increase in 2001 compared to 2000 was due primarily to increased pre-tax profitability and to the recognition in 2000 of the future income tax benefit of previously unrecognized deferred tax assets.

28


        The extraordinary loss on extinguishment of debt of $3,210,000 in 2002 resulted from the repurchase of $5,300,000 principal amount of 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes at approximately 103.5% of par value, the repurchase of $22,210,000 principal amount of 101/2% Senior Subordinated Notes at approximately 107.8% of par value, and the redemption of $57,948,000 outstanding principal amount of 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes at 104.375% of par value. The extraordinary loss on extinguishment of debt of $5,611,000 in 2001 resulted from the redemption of $129,152,000 and $8,820,000 principal amount of 83/4% and 101/2% Senior Subordinated Notes, respectively, at 102.764% and 106% of par value, respectively.


Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Liquidity is a measure of a company's ability to access cash. We have historically addressed our long-term liquidity requirements through the use of bank credit facilities and cash provided by operating activities as well as through the issuance of debt and equity securities, when market conditions permit. The prices we receive for future oil and natural gas production and the level of production have significant impacts on operating cash flows. We are unable to predict with any degree of certainty the prices we will receive for our future oil and gas production.

        We continually examine alternative sources of long-term capital, including bank borrowings, the issuance of debt instruments, the sale of common stock, preferred stock or other equity securities, the issuance of net profits interests, sales of non-strategic assets, prospects and technical information, and joint venture financing. Availability of these sources of capital and, therefore, our ability to execute our operating strategy will depend upon a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control.

        Working Capital.    Working capital is the amount by which current assets exceed current liabilities. It is normal for Forest to report working capital deficits at the end of a period. Such working capital deficits are principally the result of accounts payable related to exploration and development costs. Settlement of these payables is funded by cash flow from operations or, if necessary, by drawdowns on long-term bank credit facilities.

        Forest had a working capital deficit, exclusive of the effects of derivatives, of approximately $15,159,000 at December 31, 2002 compared to a deficit of approximately $56,230,000 at December 31, 2001. The decrease in the deficit was due primarily to a decrease in accounts payable due to lower exploration and development activity, offset by a decrease in accounts receivable as a result of lower production prices and decreased production.

        Cash Flow.    Historically, one of our primary sources of capital has been net cash provided by operating activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $190,067,000 in 2002 compared to $498,013,000 in 2001. The decrease was due primarily to lower product prices and decreased production. Cash used for investing activities in 2002 was $356,643,000 compared to $421,196,000 in 2001. The decrease was due primarily to decreased exploration and development activity in 2002, offset partially by lower property sales in 2002 compared to 2001. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2002 was $171,563,000 compared to net cash used of $81,196,000 in 2001. The 2002 period included net bank debt borrowings of $75,389,000, proceeds from the settlement of interest rate swaps of $35,630,000 and net proceeds of $146,846,000 from the issuance of the 73/4% Notes, offset by repurchases of the 101/2% Notes of $23,935,000 and repurchases and redemptions of the 83/4% Notes of $66,248,000. The 2001 period included net repayments of bank debt of $313,560,000, cash used for redemption of 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes of $131,933,000, cash used for the purchase of treasury stock of $55,803,000, and net cash inflows of $420,550,000 from the issuance of two series of 8% Senior Notes.

        Net cash provided by operating activities was $498,013,000 in 2001 compared to $306,532,000 in 2000. The increase was due primarily to higher production revenue as a result of higher oil and gas prices. Cash used for investing activities in 2001 was $421,196,000 compared to $376,061,000 in 2000.

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The increase was due primarily to increased exploration and development activity in 2001, offset partially by an increase in property sales in 2001. Net cash used by financing activities in 2001 was $81,196,000 compared to $16,172,000 in 2000. The 2001 period included net repayments of bank debt of $313,560,000, cash used for redemption of 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes of $131,933,000, cash used for the purchase of treasury stock of $55,803,000, and net cash inflows of $420,550,000 from the issuance of two series of 8% Senior Notes. The 2000 period included net repayments of bank debt of $52,006,000 and net proceeds of $38,800,000 from Forcenergy's issuance of 14% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock.

        Capital Expenditures.    Expenditures for property acquisition, exploration and development were as follows:

 
  Years Ended December 31,
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
  (In Thousands)

Property acquisition costs:              
  Proved properties   $ 3,938   31   20,213
  Undeveloped properties     (13 )   2,486
   
 
 
      3,925   31   22,699
Exploration costs:              
  Direct costs     89,117   214,194   126,367
  Overhead capitalized     13,246   9,820   7,013
   
 
 
      102,363   224,014   133,380
Development costs:              
  Direct costs     235,177   328,962   217,886
  Overhead capitalized     12,755   11,654   14,073
   
 
 
      247,932   340,616   231,959
   
 
 
Total capital expenditures for property acquisition, exploration and development   $ 354,220   564,661   388,038
   
 
 

        Forest's anticipated expenditures for exploration and development in 2003 are estimated to range from $300,000,000 to $350,000,000. We intend to meet our 2003 capital expenditure financing requirements using cash flows generated by operations, sales of non-strategic assets and borrowings under existing lines of credit. There can be no assurance, however, that we will have access to sufficient capital to meet these capital requirements. The planned levels of capital expenditures could be reduced if we experience lower than anticipated net cash provided by operations or develop other needs for liquidity, or could be increased if we experience increased cash flow or access additional sources of capital.

        In addition, while we intend to continue a strategy of acquiring reserves that meet our investment criteria, no assurance can be given that we can locate or finance any property acquisitions.

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        Bank Credit Facilities.    We have credit facilities totalling $600,000,000, consisting of a $500,000,000 U.S. credit facility through a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase and a $100,000,000 Canadian credit facility through a syndicate of banks led by J.P. Morgan Bank Canada. The credit facilities mature in October 2005. Under the credit facilities, Forest, Canadian Forest and certain of their subsidiaries are subject to certain covenants and financial tests, including restrictions or requirements with respect to dividends, additional debt, liens, asset sales, investments, hedging activities, mergers and reporting responsibilities. These finanical covenants will affect the amount available and our ability to borrow amounts under the credit facility. In addition, if the rating on our bank credit facilities is downgraded below BB+ by Standard & Poor's Rating Services (S&P) and Ba1 by Moody's Investors Services (Moody's), the available borrowing amount under the credit facilities would be determined by a formula based on the value of certain oil and gas properties (a borrowing base) subject to semi-annual re-determination. As a result, the available borrowing amount could be increased or reduced under the borrowing base tests.

        Under the most restrictive of the financial covenants contained in our credit facilities, the unused borrowing amount under the credit facilities at December 31, 2002 was approximately $150,000,000 in addition to amounts outstanding. At February 28, 2003, under the most restrictive of these financial covenants, our unused borrowing amount under the credit facilities was approximately $168,000,000.

        At December 31, 2002, there were outstanding borrowings of $95,000,000 under the U.S. credit facility at a weighted average interest rate of 3.24% and there were no outstanding borrowings under the Canadian credit facility. At February 28, 2003, the outstanding borrowings under the U.S. credit facility were $145,000,000 at a weighted average interest rate of 3.06%, and there were no outstanding borrowings under the Canadian credit facility. At February 28, 2003, Forest had used the credit facilities for letters of credit in the amount of $6,162,000 U.S. and $976,000 CDN.

        Our U.S. credit facility is secured by a lien on, and a security interest in, a majority of our proved oil and gas properties and related assets in the United States and Canada, a pledge of 65% of the capital stock of Canadian Forest and its parent, 3189503 Canada Ltd., and a pledge of 100% of the capital stock of Forest Pipeline Company. Under certain circumstances, we could be obligated to pledge additional assets as collateral.

        Credit Ratings.    Our bank credit facilities and our senior notes are separately rated by two ratings agencies: Moody's and S&P. In addition, S&P has assigned Forest a general corporate credit rating. From time to time, our assigned credit ratings may change. In assigning ratings, the rating agencies evaluate a number of factors, such as our industry segment, volatility of our industry segment, the geographical mix and diversity of our asset portfolio, the allocation of properties and exploration and drilling activities among short-lived and longer-lived properties, the need and ability to replace reserves, our cost structure, our debt and capital structure, and our general financial condition and prospects.

        Our bank credit facilities include conditions that are linked to our credit rating. The fees and interest rates on our commitments and loans, as well as our collateral obligations, are affected by our credit ratings. For example, if our credit rating is downgraded from its current level, the amount of credit that is available under the credit facilities will be determined by a borrowing base. The available borrowing amount could be increased or be reduced under the borrowing base tests. If as a result of a downgrade of our credit rating a borrowing base is established at a level below our then outstanding borrowings under the credit facilities, we would be required to repay the excess of outstanding borrowings over the newly established borrowing base. If we were unable to pay such excess, it would cause an event of default.

        The agreements governing our senior notes do not include adverse triggers that are tied to our credit ratings. The terms of our senior notes include provisions that will allow us greater flexibility if the credit ratings improve to investment grade and other tests have been satisfied. In this event, we would have no further obligation to comply with certain restrictive covenants contained in the

31


indentures governing the senior notes. Our ability to raise funds and the costs of such financing activities may be affected by our credit rating at the time any such activities are conducted.

        Dispositions of Assets.    As a part of our ongoing operations, we routinely dispose of non-strategic assets. Assets with marginal value or which are not consistent with our operating strategy are identified for sale or trade.

        During 2002, we disposed of properties with estimated proved reserves of approximately 3.4 BCF of natural gas and 738,000 barrels of oil for total proceeds of approximately $5,465,000. During 2001, we disposed of properties with estimated proved reserves of approximately 69.8 BCF of natural gas and 4,868,000 barrels of oil for total proceeds of approximately $152,872,000. Of this amount, approximately $118,000,000 related to properties located in the offshore Gulf of Mexico area in which we sold 50% of our interests to Unocal in connection with a strategic joint venture program. During 2000, Forest disposed of properties with estimated proved reserves of approximately 28.3 BCF of natural gas and 913,000 barrels of oil for total net proceeds of $17,304,000.

        Termination of Interest Rate Swaps.    During 2002, Forest terminated two interest rate swaps related to its 8% Senior Notes and one interest rate swap related to its 73/4% Senior Notes. We received net proceeds of approximately $35,630,000 related to those terminations, which amount was used for general corporate purposes. From inception to September 30, 2002, the effective rates on Forest's 8% Senior Notes due 2008 and 2011 were reduced to 7.18% and 7.32%, respectively, as a result of the original swaps. From October 1, 2002, to maturity, the effective rates on the 8% Senior Notes due 2008 and 2011 will be reduced to 7.24% and 7.66%, respectively, as a result of amortization of the gain related to termination of those swaps. From date of issuance to December 27, 2002, the effective rate on Forest's 73/4% Senior Notes was reduced to approximately 3.50% as a result of the original swap. From December 28, 2002, to maturity, the effective rate on the 73/4% Senior Notes will be reduced to approximately 6.87% as a result of amortization of the gain related to termination of the swap.

        Securities Issued.    In the second quarter of 2002, we issued $150,000,000 principal amount of 73/4% Senior Notes due 2014 at 98.09% of par for proceeds of $146,846,000 (net of related issuance costs). A portion of the net proceeds was used to repay all outstanding indebtedness under our U.S. credit facility and to repurchase $15,110,000 principal amount of our 101/2% Senior Subordinated Notes. The remaining net proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.

        In January 2003, we issued 7,850,000 shares of common stock at a price of $24.50 per share. Net proceeds from this offering (before any exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option), were approximately $184,400,000 after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated expenses of the offering. Forest used the net proceeds from the offering to repurchase, immediately following the closing of the offering, 7,850,000 shares from The Anschutz Corporation and certain of its affiliates. The shares repurchased were cancelled immediately upon repurchase. In February 2003, an additional 900,000 shares of common stock were issued pursuant to exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option. The net proceeds of $21,168,000 were used for general corporate purposes.

        Securities Redeemed and Repurchased.    During 2002, we repurchased $5,300,000 principal amount of 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes at approximately 103.5% of par value; $22,210,000 principal amount of our 101/2% Senior Subordinated Notes at approximately 107.8% of par value; and redeemed $57,948,000 outstanding principal amount of 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes at 104.375% of par value, resulting in an aggregate loss of $3,210,000. In January 2003 we redeemed the remaining $65,970,000 outstanding principal amount of our 101/2% Senior Subordinated Notes at 105.25% of par value, resulting in a loss of $3,972,000 recorded in the first quarter of 2003. During 2002 we purchased 21,894 shares of our common stock at an average price of $24.68 per share pursuant to our odd-lot stock buyback program.

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        Contractual Obligations.    The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2002:

 
  2003
  2004
  2005
  2006
  2007
  After 2007
  Total
 
  (In Thousands)

Bank debt(1)   $     95,000         95,000
Other long-term debt(2)           65,970     575,000   640,970
Operating leases(3)     4,556   4,430   3,876   1,932   1,250   1,766   17,810
Unconditional purchase obligations(4)(5)     29,517   13,209   13,049   12,912   2,629   1,438   72,754
Approved capital projects(6)     14,164             14,164
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total contractual obligations   $ 48,237   17,639   111,925   80,814   3,879   578,204   840,698
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Bank debt consists of our U.S. and Canadian lines of credit. For a more detailed discussion of our long-term debt, see Item 7a, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Interest Rate Risk and Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2)
Other long-term debt consists of our senior and senior subordinated notes. On January 15, 2003 Forest redeemed the outstanding $65,970,000 principal amount of our 101/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 using borrowings under our credit facilities. For a more detailed discussion of our long-term debt, see Item 7a, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Interest Rate Risk and Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(3)
Consists primarily of leases for office space and leases for well equipment rentals.
(4)
Consists primarily of firm commitments for drilling services, and for gathering, processing and pipeline capacity. Gathering, processing and pipeline capacity commitments in areas that have secondary markets may be mitigated in the future if firm capacities are no longer required. ProMark, on behalf of the ProMark Netback Pool, has firm commitments for pipeline capacity of approximately $47,515,000 through 2007. Canadian Forest, as one of the producers in the ProMark Netback Pool, supplied 42% of the gas to the ProMark Netback Pool in 2002.
(5)
Purchase commitments associated with ProMark's trading activities were excluded from the table as all purchase commitments are immediately offset by sales commitments. For a more detailed discussion of ProMark's trading activities, see Part II, Item 7a, Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Commodity Price Risk and Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(6)
Consists of our net share of budgeted expenditures under Authorizations for Expenditure (AFEs) that were approved by us and our joint venture partners as of December 31, 2002. Includes AFEs for which Forest is the operator as well as those operated by others.

        In addition to the above commitments, we are committed to make approximately $11,028,000 of capital expenditures over the next three years pursuant to the terms of an exploration agreement in Canada and other foreign concession arrangements. Nonperformance under these agreements could result in the loss of acreage and concession rights.

        Forest also makes delay rental payments to lessors during the primary terms of oil and gas leases to delay drilling of wells, usually for one year. Although we are not obligated to make such payments, discontinuing them would result in the loss of the oil and gas lease. Our total maximum commitment under these leases, through 2012, totaled approximately $5,683,000 as of December 31, 2002.

        Other Obligations.    We hold a 40% equity interest in an affiliate that owns and operates a petroleum pipeline system within the Cook Inlet area of Alaska. In our capacity as a shareholder, we have agreed to fund our proportionate share of the operating costs and expenses of this affiliate. We

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may have contingent obligations in the event the affiliate experiences cash deficiencies. In addition, we may have other contingent obligations if it is unable to meet its indemnification requirements or its obligations to the operator of the pipeline. We are unable to predict or quantify the amount of these obligations, although we have obtained insurance to mitigate the impacts of certain eventualities.

        Surety Bonds.    In the ordinary course of our business and operations, we are required to post surety bonds from time to time with third parties, including governmental agencies. As of February 28, 2003, we have obtained surety bonds from a number of insurance and bonding institutions covering certain of our operations in the United States and Canada in the aggregate amount of approximately $21,400,000. In connection with their administration of offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico, the MMS annually evaluates each lessee's plugging and abandonment liabilities. The MMS reviews this information and applies certain financial tests including, but not limited to, current asset and net worth tests. The MMS determines whether each lessee is financially capable of paying the estimated costs of such plugging and abandonment liabilities. We annually provide the MMS with our financial information. If we do not satisfy the MMS requirements, we could be required to post supplemental bonds. In the past, Forest has not been required to post supplemental bonds; however, we cannot assure you that we will satisfy the financial tests and remain on the list of MMS lessees exempt from the supplemental bonding requirements. We cannot predict or quantify the amount of any such supplemental bonds or the annual premiums related thereto, but the amount could be substantial.

Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

        Statement No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations (SFAS No. 143) requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred and a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. We will be required to adopt SFAS No. 143 effective January 1, 2003 using a cumulative effect approach to recognize transition amounts for asset retirement obligations, asset retirement costs and accumulated depreciation. We currently record estimated costs of dismantlement, removal, site reclamation, and similar activities as part of our provision for depreciation and depletion for oil and gas properties without recording a separate liability for such amounts. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 143, we expect to record an increase to net properties and equipment between $125 million and $175 million, an asset retirement obligation liability between $125 million and $175 million, and a cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle between an after-tax charge of $5 million and an after-tax gain of $5 million.

        Statement No. 145, Rescission 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 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 this Statement are effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. We expect adoption of this Statement to result in the reclassification of losses on extinguishment of debt for all periods from extraordinary to other income and expense.

        Statement No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (SFAS No. 146), was issued in June 2002. SFAS No. 146 addresses significant issues regarding the recognition, measurement and reporting of costs that are associated with exit and disposal activities, including restructuring activities that are currently accounted for pursuant to the guidance set forth in EITF Issue No. 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity." SFAS No. 146 will be effective for Forest in January 2003. We expect the adoption of SFAS No. 146 to have no impact on our financial statements.

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        EITF Issue No. 02-03, Recognition and Reporting of Gains and Losses on Energy Trading Contracts under EITF Issues No. 98-10, Accounting for Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities, and No. 00-17, Measuring the Fair Value of Energy-Related Contracts in Applying Issue No. 98-10, was issued in June 2002. EITF Issue No. 02-03 addresses certain issues related to energy trading activities, including (a) gross versus net presentation in the income statement, (b) whether the initial fair value of an energy trading contract can be other than the price at which it was exchanged, and (c) accounting for inventory utilized in energy trading activities. Certain provisions of EITF Issue No. 02-03 relating to gross versus net presentations were effective for Forest in the third quarter of 2002 and, accordingly, we have presented our revenue and expenses from marketing and processing activities as a net revenue line item in the accompanying statements of operations. The remaining provisions effective January 1, 2003 will have no impact on our financial statements.

        Statement No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123(SFAS No. 148), was issued in December 2002. The Statement provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for employee stock-based compensation. SFAS No. 148 does not change the provisions of SFAS No. 123 that permit entities to continue to apply the intrinsic value method of APB 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Our accounting for stock-based compensation will not change as a result of SFAS No. 148 as we intend to continue following the provisions of APB 25. SFAS No. 148 does require certain new disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements. The required annual disclosures are effective immediately and have been included in Note 1 of our consolidated financial statements. The new interim disclosure provisions will be effective in the first quarter of 2003.

        FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, was issued in November 2002 (FIN 45). FIN 45 requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, the guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligation it assumes under that guarantee. FIN 45's provisions for initial recognition and measurement should be applied on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The guarantor's previous accounting for guarantees that were issued before the date of FIN 45's initial application may not be revised or restated to reflect the effect of the recognition and measurement provisions of the Interpretation. The disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements of both interim and annual periods that end after December 15, 2002. Forest is not a guarantor under any significant guarantees and thus this Interpretation is not expected to have a significant effect on our financial position or results of operations.

        FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, An Interpretation of ARB No. 51, was issued in January 2003. The primary objectives of FIN 46 are to provide guidance on how to identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than through voting rights (variable interest entities or VIEs) and how to determine when and which business enterprise should consolidate the VIE. This new model for consolidation applies to an entity in which either (1) the equity investors do not have a controlling financial interest or (2) the equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance that entity's activities without receiving additional subordinated financial support from other parties. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have any impact on our financial position or results of operations.

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Risk Factors

        Forest has made in this Form 10-K, and may from time to time otherwise make in other public filings, press releases and discussions with management, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include statements, among others, about Forest's operations, performance and financial results and condition, as described in more detail in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-K, under the heading "—Forward-Looking Statements." Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of these risks and uncertainties are detailed below and elsewhere in this Form 10-K and in Forest's other public filings, press releases and discussions with Forest's management. Forest undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

        In addition to the information set forth elsewhere in this Form 10-K, the following factors should be carefully considered when evaluating Forest.

        Oil and gas price declines and their volatility could adversely affect Forest's revenue, cash flows and profitability.    Prices for oil and natural gas fluctuate widely. Forest's revenues, profitability and future rate of growth depend substantially upon the prevailing prices of oil and natural gas. Increases and decreases in prices also affect the amount of cash flow available for capital expenditures and our ability to borrow money or raise additional capital. The amount we can borrow from banks may be subject to redetermination based on changes in prices. In addition, we may have ceiling test writedowns when prices decline. Lower prices may also reduce the amount of oil and natural gas that Forest can produce economically. Any substantial or extended decline in the prices of or demand for oil and natural gas would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

        We cannot predict future oil and natural gas prices. Factors that can cause price fluctuations include:

        Hedging transactions may limit our potential gains.    In order to manage our exposure to price risks in the marketing of our oil and natural gas, we enter into oil and gas price hedging arrangements with respect to a portion of our expected production. Our hedges are limited in duration, usually for periods of one year or less. While intended to reduce the effects of volatile oil and gas prices, such transactions may limit our potential gains if oil and gas prices rise substantially over the price established by the

36


arrangements. In addition, such transactions may expose us to the risk of financial loss in certain circumstances, including instances in which:

        We cannot assure you that our hedging transactions will reduce the risk or minimize the effect of any decline in oil or natural gas prices. For further information concerning prices, market conditions and energy swap and collar agreements, see Part II, Item 7a, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Commodity Price Risk of this Form 10-K, and Notes 9 and 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

        Certain parties with whom we have long-term and short-term contracts may fail to perform.    We have long-term and short-term contracts, including agreements for the sale of oil and natural gas. In 2003, we expect that our sales contracts may be concentrated among a smaller number of parties. For example, in 2003 we anticipate that we will sell our oil production in the Cook Inlet area to a single refiner, Tesoro Alaska Petroleum Company and its affiliate. These parties could fail to perform their contractual obligations as a result of circumstances that are beyond our control. Our ability to enforce these contractual obligations may be adversely affected by bankruptcy and other creditors' rights laws. We cannot guarantee that our oil and gas purchasers will not experience material changes in their financial condition that would impact our ability to collect outstanding amounts and efficiently market our oil and gas production.

        We may not be able to obtain adequate financing to execute our operating strategy.    We have historically addressed our long-term liquidity needs through the use of bank credit facilities and cash provided by operating activities as well as through the issuance of debt and equity securities when market conditions permit. We continue to examine the following alternative sources of long-term capital:

        The availability of these sources of capital will depend upon a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include general economic and financial market conditions, oil and natural gas prices and the value and performance of Forest. We may be unable to execute our operating strategy if we cannot obtain capital from these sources.

        We may not be able to fund our planned capital expenditures.    We spend and will continue to spend a substantial amount of capital for the development, exploration, acquisition and production of oil and natural gas reserves. Our capital expenditures for exploration and development during 2002, 2001 and 2000 totaled $354 million, $565 million and $388 million, respectively. We expect such capital expenditures in 2003 to be approximately $300 million to $350 million. If low oil and natural gas prices, drilling or production delays, operating difficulties or other factors, many of which are beyond our

37



control, cause our revenues and cash flows from operations to decrease, we may be limited in our ability to spend the capital necessary to complete our drilling and development program.

        In addition, if availability under our credit facilities is reduced as a result of the covenants and financial tests contained in the agreements, our ability to fund our planned capital expenditures could be adversely affected. After utilizing our available sources of financing, we could be forced to raise additional debt or equity proceeds to fund such expenditures. We cannot assure you that additional debt or equity financing or cash generated by operations will be available to meet these requirements.

        A curtailment of capital spending could adversely affect our ability to replace production and our future cash flow from operations.

        Estimates of oil and gas reserves are uncertain and inherently imprecise.    This Form 10-K contains estimates of our proved oil and gas reserves and the estimated future net cash flows from such reserves. These estimates are based upon various assumptions, including assumptions required by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to oil and gas prices, drilling and operating expenses, capital expenditures, taxes and availability of funds.

        Actual future production, oil and gas prices, revenues, taxes, development expenditures, operating expenses and quantities of recoverable oil and gas reserves likely will vary from those estimated. Any significant variance could materially affect the estimated quantities and present value of reserves set forth. In certain situations, hydrocarbon reservoirs underlying our properties may extend beyond the boundaries of our own acreage to adjacent acreage owned by others. In this case, our properties may also be susceptible to hydrocarbon drainage from production by the operators on those adjacent properties. Also, we may adjust estimates of proved reserves to reflect production history, results of exploration and development, prevailing oil and gas prices and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Actual production, revenue, taxes, development expenditures and operating expenses with respect to our reserves will likely vary from the estimates used. Such variances may be material.

        At December 31, 2002, approximately 37% of our estimated proved reserves were undeveloped compared to 39% at December 31, 2001. Recovery of undeveloped reserves requires significant capital expenditures and successful drilling operations. In estimating our proved reserves we have assumed that we will make significant capital expenditures to develop our reserves. Although we have prepared estimates of our oil and gas reserves and the costs associated with these reserves in accordance with generally accepted petroleum engineering and evaluation principles, we cannot assure you that the estimated costs are accurate, that development will occur as scheduled or that the results will be as estimated. See Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

        You should not assume that the present value of future net cash flows referred to in this Form 10-K is the current market value of our estimated oil and gas reserves. In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission requirements, the estimated discounted future net cash flows from proved reserves are based on prices and costs as of the date of the estimate. Actual future prices and costs may be materially higher or lower than the prices and costs as of the date of the estimate. Any changes in consumption by purchasers or in governmental regulations or taxation will also affect actual future net cash flows. The timing of both the production and the expenses from the development and production of oil and gas properties will affect the timing of actual future net cash flows from estimated proved reserves and their present value. In addition, the 10% discount factor, which is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to be used in calculating discounted future net cash flows for reporting purposes, is not necessarily the most appropriate discount factor for Forest. The effective interest rate at various times and the risks associated with Forest or the oil and gas industry in general will affect the appropriateness of the 10% discount factor.

        The process of estimating oil and gas reserves is a complex subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of oil and natural gas and their recoverability that cannot be measured in

38



an exact way. Such process requires significant decisions and assumptions in the evaluation of available geological, geophysical, engineering and economic data for each reservoir. The accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data and the interpretation of such data. Therefore, these estimates are inherently imprecise and different reserve engineers may analyze the same data and determine different reserve estimates.

        For example, we engaged Ryder Scott Company, independent petroleum engineers, to review our process as well as our estimates of proved oil and gas reserves, future net cash flows and discounted future net cash flows at December 31, 2002. Upon consummation of that review, Ryder Scott provided us with their opinion indicating that, on an aggregate basis, our estimates of proved reserves and discounted future net cash flows complied with the definitions and disclosure guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission and were prepared in accordance with generally accepted procedures for the estimation of future reserves and that such estimates fairly reflected the estimated net reserves owned by us. As part of its review, Ryder Scott established an acceptable variance and determined that Forest's estimates were within this variance. In the aggregate, Ryder Scott's estimates of reserve quantities were lower than Forest's by approximately 10%.

        Leverage will materially affect our operations.    As of December 31, 2002, our long-term debt was approximately $767 million, including approximately $95 million outstanding under our global bank credit facilities with a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase and J.P. Morgan Bank Canada. Our long-term debt represented 45% of our total capitalization at December 31, 2002.

        Our level of debt affects our operations in several important ways, including the following:

        In addition, we may alter our capitalization significantly in order to make future acquisitions or develop our properties. These changes in capitalization may increase our level of debt significantly. A high level of debt increases the risk that we may default on our debt obligations. Our ability to meet our debt obligations and to reduce our level of debt depends on our future performance. General economic conditions and financial, business and other factors affect our operations, our future performance and our ability to raise additional capital. Many of these factors are beyond our control.

        If we are unable to repay our debt at maturity out of cash on hand, we could attempt to refinance such debt, or repay such debt with the proceeds of any equity offering. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flow to pay the interest on our debt or that future debt or equity financing will be available to pay or refinance such debt. In addition, if our bank credit facility rating is downgraded, our ability to borrow under our credit facilities would be subject to a borrowing base that would be re-determined semi-annually. If, following such a re-determination, our outstanding borrowings exceeded the amount of the re-determined borrowing base, we would be forced to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings in excess of the re-determined borrowing base. We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient funds to make such repayments. If we are not able to negotiate renewals of our borrowings or to arrange new financing, we may have to sell significant assets. Any

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such sale would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results. Factors that will affect our ability to raise cash through an offering of our capital stock or a refinancing of our debt include financial market conditions, our credit ratings and our value and performance at the time of such offering or other financing. We cannot assure you that any such offering or refinancing can be successfully completed.

        Lower oil and gas prices may cause us to record ceiling limitation writedowns.    We use the full cost method of accounting to report our oil and gas operations. Accordingly, we capitalize the cost to acquire, explore for and develop oil and gas properties. Under full cost accounting rules, the net capitalized costs of oil and gas properties may not exceed a "ceiling limit" which is based upon the present value of estimated future net cash flows from proved reserves, discounted at 10%, plus the lower of cost or fair market value of unproved properties. If net capitalized costs of oil and gas properties exceed the ceiling limit, we must charge the amount of the excess to earnings. This is called a "ceiling test writedown." This charge does not impact cash flow from operating activities, but does reduce our shareholders' equity. The risk that we will be required to write down the carrying value of our oil and gas properties increases when oil and gas prices are low or volatile. In addition, writedowns may occur if we experience substantial downward adjustments to our estimated proved reserves or our undeveloped property values, if estimated future development costs increase or if purchasers cancel long-term contracts for our natural gas production. We cannot assure you that we will not experience ceiling test writedowns in the future.

        We may incur significant abandonment costs or be required to post substantial performance bonds in connection with the plugging and abandonment of wells, platforms and pipelines.    We are responsible for the costs associated with the plugging of wells, the removal of facilities and equipment and site restoration on our oil and gas properties, pro rata to our working interest. Prior to January 1, 2003 we provided for expected future abandonment liabilities by accruing for such costs as a component of depletion, depreciation and amortization. We also accounted for these future liabilities by including all projected abandonment costs as a reduction in the future cash flows from our reserves in our reserve reporting. As of January 1, 2003, after adoption of SFAS No. 143, our asset retirement obligation liability is estimated to be approximately $125 million to $175 million, primarily for properties in offshore Gulf of Mexico and Alaska waters. Approximately $25 million of abandonment costs are anticipated to be incurred in 2003, all of which are expected to be funded by cash flow from operations. Estimates of abandonment costs and their timing may change due to many factors, including actual drilling and production results, inflation rates, changes in abandonment techniques and technology, and changes in environmental laws and regulations.

        We may not be able to replace production with new reserves.    In general, the volume of production from oil and gas properties declines as reserves are depleted. The decline rates depend on reservoir characteristics. Gulf of Mexico reservoirs experience steep declines, while the declines in long-lived fields in other regions are lower. Production from Gulf of Mexico reservoirs represented approximately 46% of our total production in 2002. Our reserves will decline as they are produced unless we acquire properties with proved reserves or conduct successful exploration and development activities. Forest's future natural gas and oil production is highly dependent upon its level of success in finding or acquiring additional reserves. The business of exploring for, developing or acquiring reserves is capital intensive and uncertain. We may be unable to make the necessary capital investment to maintain or expand our oil and gas reserves if cash flow from operations is reduced and external sources of capital become limited or unavailable. We cannot assure you that our future exploration, development and acquisition activities will result in additional proved reserves or that we will be able to drill productive wells at acceptable costs.

        Our operations are subject to numerous risks of oil and gas drilling and production activities.    Oil and gas drilling and production activities are subject to numerous risks, including the risk that no

40



commercially productive oil or natural gas reservoirs will be found. The cost of drilling and completing wells is often uncertain. Oil and gas drilling and production activities may be shortened, delayed or canceled as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include:

        The prevailing prices of oil and natural gas also affect the cost of and the demand for drilling rigs, production equipment and related services.

        We cannot assure you that the new wells we drill will be productive or that we will recover all or any portion of our investment. Drilling for oil and natural gas may be unprofitable. Drilling activities can result in dry wells and wells that are productive but do not produce sufficient net revenues after operating and other costs.

        Our Redoubt Shoal Prospect in Alaska is an important property on which we have spent and have budgeted to spend substantial amounts.    Our discovery at Redoubt Shoal in the Cook Inlet of Alaska is an important property on which we have recorded in excess of 50 MMBBLS of estimated proved reserves and where we spent substantial amounts to commence production operations in December 2002. In order to complete the construction of our facilities and conduct ongoing operations in the Cook Inlet area, we have obtained various Federal and state governmental approvals, permits and licenses and entered into agreements with individual landowners. A third party has commenced a legal challenge to the regulatory review and approval process for the development and production phase of our Redoubt Shoal project. The outcome of this litigation is inherently difficult to predict with any certainty. The litigation could result in a court ordering a temporary halt in production. We cannot predict the effect of a curtailment of production for a significant period of time on our financial condition and results of operations. See Part I, Item 3 of this Form 10-K for additional information concerning this litigation.

        We may be restrained in our ability to market production due to the availability, proximity and capacity limits of pipelines. There currently is only one crude oil refiner, Tesoro Alaska Petroleum Company, located in the Cook Inlet area. If we are unable to sell to this refiner we would be forced to market our production through other sources with the result that we might be forced to sell our production at a lower net price.

        Once construction at our Kustatan onshore production facility is complete, all Redoubt Shoal production will flow through that single facility. The facility is a new project and we may experience problems in its start-up. Since a significant portion of our oil recovery at Redoubt Shoal will come from a secondary recovery water injection program, there is risk that ultimate recovery will vary from our estimates based on the performance of the water injection program. Also, we intend to continue to drill additional wells to develop this field. We are currently drilling and producing from a single platform. Any difficulties in production or drilling operations could adversely affect both. In addition, the area in which we operate in Alaska may experience volcanic activity, tremors and earthquakes. Depending on the severity of these types of disturbances, they could cause substantial damage to our facilities and interrupt production.

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        Our industry experiences numerous operating risks.    The exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas involves risks. These operating risks include the risk of fire, explosions, blow-outs, pipe failure, abnormally pressured formations and environmental hazards. Environmental hazards include oil spills, gas leaks, pipeline ruptures or discharges of toxic gases. If any of these industry operating risks occur, we could have substantial losses. Substantial losses may be caused by injury or loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property, natural resources and equipment, pollution or other environmental damage, clean-up responsibilities, regulatory investigation and penalties and suspension of operations. For example, a substantial portion of our oil and gas operations is located offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico area experiences tropical weather disturbances, some of which can be severe enough to cause substantial damage to facilities and possibly interrupt production. In accordance with industry practice, we maintain insurance against some, but not all, of the risks described above. We cannot assure you that our insurance will be adequate to cover losses or liabilities. Also, we cannot predict the continued availability of insurance at premium levels that justify its purchase.

        The profitability of our gas marketing activities may be limited.    Our operations include gas marketing through our subsidiary, ProMark. ProMark's gas marketing operations consist of the marketing of gas production in Canada, the purchase and direct sale of third parties' natural gas, the handling of transportation and operations of third party gas and spot purchasing and selling of natural gas. The profitability of such natural gas marketing operations depends on our ability to assess and respond to changing market conditions, including credit risk. Profitability also depends on our ability to maximize the volume of third party natural gas that we purchase and resell or exchange and to obtain a satisfactory fee for service or margin between the negotiated purchase price and the sales price for such volumes. If we are unable to respond accurately to changing conditions in the gas marketing business, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected. ProMark does not buy or sell gas to hold as a speculative position. All transactions are immediately offset, establishing the margin to be earned. ProMark is exposed to credit risk because the counterparties to agreements might not perform their contractual obligations.

        Our international operations may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations and economic and political developments.    We have significant oil and gas operations in Canada. The expenses of such operations, which represented approximately 10% of consolidated cash costs of oil and gas operations, are payable in Canadian dollars. Most of the revenue from Canadian natural gas and oil sales, which represented 11% of total oil and gas revenue in 2002, is based upon U.S. dollars price indices. As a result, Canadian operations are subject to the risk of fluctuations in the relative value of the Canadian and U.S. dollars. We have also acquired additional oil and gas assets in other countries. Although there are no material operations in these countries, our foreign operations may also be adversely affected by political and economic developments, royalty and tax increases and other laws or policies in these countries, as well as U.S. policies affecting trade, taxation and investment in other countries. In South Africa we have an interest in offshore properties with the potential for gas production. No proved reserves have been assigned to these properties as commercial sales contracts have not been established. If we are unable to arrange for commercial use of these properties, we may not be able to recoup our investment and will not realize our anticipated financial and operating results for these properties.

        Competition within our industry may adversely affect our operations.    We operate in a highly competitive environment. Forest competes with major and independent oil and gas companies for the acquisition of desirable oil and gas properties and the equipment and labor required to develop and operate such properties. Forest also competes with major and independent oil and gas companies in the marketing and sale of oil and natural gas. Many of these competitors have financial and other resources substantially greater than ours.

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        Our future acquisitions may not contain economically recoverable reserves.    Our recent growth is due in part to our merger with Forcenergy in 2000 and acquisitions of producing properties. A successful acquisition of producing properties requires an assessment of a number of factors beyond our control. These factors include recoverable reserves, future oil and gas prices, operating costs and potential environmental and other liabilities. Such assessments are inexact and their accuracy is inherently uncertain. In connection with such assessments, we perform a review of the subject properties, which we believe is generally consistent with industry practices. However, such a review may not reveal all existing or potential problems. In addition, the review will not permit us to become sufficiently familiar with the properties to fully assess their deficiencies and capabilities. We do not inspect every platform or well. Even when a platform or well is inspected, structural and environmental problems are not necessarily discovered. We are generally not entitled to contractual indemnification for preclosing liabilities, including environmental liabilities. Normally, we acquire interests in properties on an "as is" basis with limited remedies for breaches of representations and warranties. In addition, competition for producing oil and gas properties is intense and many of our competitors have financial and other resources which are substantially greater than those available to us. Therefore, we cannot assure you that we will be able to acquire oil and gas properties that contain economically recoverable reserves or that we will acquire such properties at acceptable prices.

        There are uncertainties in successfully integrating our acquisitions.    Integrating acquired businesses and properties involves a number of special risks. These risks include the possibility that management may be distracted from regular business concerns by the need to integrate operations and that unforeseen difficulties can arise in integrating operations and systems and retaining and assimilating the employees. In addition, although we perform a diligent review of the properties acquired in connection with such acquisitions in accordance with industry practices, such reviews are inherently incomplete. These reviews may not necessarily reveal all existing or potential problems or permit us to fully assess the deficiencies and potential associated with the properties. Any of these or similar risks could lead to potential adverse short-term or long-term effects on our operating results.

        The marketability of our production depends largely upon the availability, proximity and capacity of gas gathering systems, pipelines and processing facilities.    Transportation space on such gathering systems and pipelines is occasionally limited and at times unavailable due to repairs or improvements being made to such facilities or due to such space being utilized by other companies with priority transportation agreements. The available capacity, or lack of available capacity, on these systems and facilities, could result in the shutting-in of producing wells or the delay or discontinuance of development plans for properties. Our access to transportation options can also be affected by U.S. federal and state and Canadian regulation of oil and gas production and transportation, general economic conditions, and changes in supply and demand. These factors and the availability of markets are beyond our control. If market factors dramatically change, the financial impact on Forest could be substantial and could adversely affect our ability to produce and market oil and natural gas.

        Our oil and gas operations are subject to various governmental regulations that materially affect our operations.    Our oil and gas operations are subject to various U.S. federal, state and local and Canadian federal and provincial governmental regulations. These regulations may be changed in response to economic or political conditions. Matters regulated include permits for discharges of wastewaters and other substances generated in connection with drilling operations, bonds or other financial responsibility requirements to cover drilling contingencies and well plugging and abandonment costs, reports concerning operations, the spacing of wells, and unitization and pooling of properties and taxation. At various times, regulatory agencies have imposed price controls and limitations on oil and gas production. In order to conserve supplies of oil and gas, these agencies have restricted the rates of flow of oil and gas wells below actual production capacity. In addition, the Federal Oil Pollution Act (OPA), as amended, requires operators of offshore facilities to prove that they have the financial capability to respond to costs that may be incurred in connection with potential oil spills. Under the

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OPA and other federal and state environmental statutes, owners and operators of certain defined facilities are strictly liable for such spills of oil and other regulated substances, subject to certain limitations. A substantial spill from one of our facilities could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, competitive position or financial condition. U.S. and non-U.S. laws regulate production, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of oil and gas, by-products from oil and gas and other substances and materials produced or used in connection with oil and gas operations. We cannot predict the ultimate cost of compliance with these requirements or their effect on our operations.

        The significant ownership position of Anschutz could limit Forest's ability to enter into certain transactions.    As of February 28, 2003, The Anschutz Corporation and its affiliates (Anschutz) owned approximately 15.3% of our outstanding common stock, in addition to options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 522,216 shares of common stock. Two of Forest's directors are officers of Anschutz. Therefore, Anschutz may substantially influence matters being considered by Forest and its board of directors.

        Because of Anschutz's stock ownership and board positions, a third party probably would not offer to pay a premium to acquire Forest without the prior agreement of Anschutz, even if the board of directors should choose to attempt to sell Forest in the future. In addition, if shareholder approval would be required by New York Stock Exchange rules, Anschutz's opposition to such a transaction could significantly reduce the likelihood of its approval.

        We do not pay dividends.    We have not declared any cash dividends on our common stock in a number of years and have no intention to do so in the near future. In addition, we are limited in the amount we can pay by our global credit agreement and the indentures pursuant to which our subordinated notes were issued.

        Our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws have provisions that discourage corporate takeovers and could prevent shareholders from realizing a premium on their investment.    Certain provisions of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws and provisions of the New York Business Corporation Law may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control. Our directors are elected to staggered terms. Also, our Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval and to set the rights, preferences and other designations, including voting rights of those shares as the board may determine. Additional provisions include restrictions on business combinations, the availability of authorized but unissued common stock and notice requirements for shareholder proposals and director nominations. These provisions, alone or in combination with each other and with the rights plan described below, may discourage transactions involving actual or potential changes of control, including transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices to shareholders for their common stock.

        Our board of directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan. The existence of the rights plan may impede a takeover of Forest not supported by the board of directors, including a proposed takeover that may be desired by a majority of our shareholders or involving a premium over the prevailing market price of our common stock.

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Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates, Judgments and Assumptions

        Alternatives exist among accounting methods we use to report our financial results. The choice of an accounting method can have a significant impact on reported amounts. In addition, application of generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements as well as the revenues and expenses reported during the period. Changes in these estimates, judgments and assumptions will occur as a result of future events, and, accordingly, actual results could differ from amounts estimated.

        The more significant areas requiring the use of assumptions, judgments and estimates relate to volumes of oil and gas reserves used in calculating depletion, depreciation and amortization, the amount of future net revenues used in computing the ceiling test limitations and the amount of abandonment obligations used in such calculations. Assumptions, judgments and estimates are also required in determining impairments of undeveloped properties, the valuation of deferred tax assets, and the estimation of fair values for derivative instruments.

        The use of estimates, judgments and assumptions and the potential effects thereof are further described in "—Risk Factors—Estimates of oil and gas reserves are uncertain and inherently imprecise" in this Item 7 and in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

        Full Cost Method of Accounting.    We use the "full cost method" of accounting for our oil and gas operations. Separate cost centers are maintained for each country in which we incur costs. All costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of properties (including costs of surrendered and abandoned leaseholds, delay lease rentals, dry holes and overhead related to exploration and development activities) are capitalized. Capitalized costs applicable to each full cost center are depleted using the units of production method based on conversion to common units of measure using one barrel of oil as an equivalent to six thousand cubic feet of natural gas. A reserve is also provided for estimated future development costs related to proved reserves and for estimated future costs of site restoration, dismantlement and abandonment as a component of depletion expense. Changes in estimates of reserves, future development costs or future abandonment costs are accounted for prospectively in the depletion calculations. Assuming consistent production year over year, our depletion expense will be significantly higher or lower if we significantly decrease or increase our estimates of remaining proved reserves.

        Investments in unproved properties, including related capitalized interest costs, are not depleted pending the determination of the existence of proved reserves. Unproved properties are assessed periodically to ascertain whether impairment has occurred. Unproved properties whose costs are individually significant are assessed individually by considering the primary lease terms of the properties, the holding period of the properties, and geographic and geologic data obtained relating to the properties. Where it is not practicable to individually assess the amount of impairment of properties for which costs are not individually significant, such properties are grouped for purposes of assessing impairment. The amount of impairment assessed is added to the costs to be amortized in the appropriate full cost pool.

        Where proved reserves are established, the net capitalized costs of oil and gas properties may not exceed a "ceiling limitation" which is based on the present value of estimated future net cash flows from proved reserves, discounted at 10%, plus the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties, all net of expected income tax effects. To the extent the net capitalized costs of oil and gas properties exceed the ceiling limit, the excess is charged to earnings.

        Changes in estimates of discounted future net revenues will affect the calculation of the ceiling limitation. We did not have any writedowns related to the full cost ceiling limitation in 2002, 2001 or 2000. As of December 31, 2002, the ceiling limitation exceeded the carrying value of our oil and gas

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properties by approximately $692,000,000 in the U.S. and $60,000,000 (CDN) in Canada. Estimates of discounted future net cash flows at December 31, 2002 were based on average natural gas prices of approximately $4.16 per MCF in the U.S. and approximately $3.30 per MCF in Canada and on average liquids prices of approximately $27.85 per barrel in the U.S. and approximately $26.63 per barrel in Canada. A reduction in oil and gas prices and/or estimated quantities of oil and gas reserves would reduce the ceiling limitation in the U.S. and Canada and could result in a ceiling test writedown.

        In countries where the existence of proved reserves has not yet been determined, leasehold costs, seismic costs and other costs incurred during the exploration phase remain capitalized as unproved property costs until proved reserves have been established or until exploration activities cease. If exploration activities result in the establishment of proved reserves, amounts are reclassified as proved properties and become subject to depreciation, depletion and amortization and the application of the ceiling test. If exploration efforts are unsuccessful in establishing proved reserves and exploration activities cease, the amounts accumulated as unproved costs are charged against earnings as impairments. As of December 31, 2002, costs related to these international projects of approximately $66,533,000 were not being depleted pending determination of the existence of proved reserves. In 2002 no impairments were recorded. In 2001, we recorded an impairment of $18,072,000 related to the concessions in Albania, Australia, Italy, Romania, Tunisia and Thailand. In 2000 we recorded an impairment of $5,876,000 related to unsuccessful exploratory wells drilled in Switzerland and Thailand.

        Under the alternative "successful efforts method" of accounting, surrendered, abandoned and impaired leases, delay lease rentals, dry holes and overhead costs are expensed as incurred. Capitalized costs are depleted on a property by property basis under the successful efforts method. A reserve is provided for estimated future costs of site restoration, dismantlement and abandonment activities as a component of depletion. Impairments are assessed on a property-by-property basis and are charged to expense when assessed.

        We believe the full cost method is the appropriate method to use to account for our oil and gas exploration and development activities. We conduct significant exploration programs in the Gulf of Mexico, the Cook Inlet area of Alaska, frontier areas in Canada and in various international regions. We believe the full cost method more appropriately treats the costs of these exploration programs as part of an overall investment in discovering and developing proved reserves.

        Fair Values of Derivative Instruments.    We periodically hedge a portion of our oil and gas production through swap and collar agreements. The purpose of the hedges is to provide a measure of stability to our cash flows in an environment of volatile oil and gas prices and to manage the exposure to commodity price risk. We recognize the fair value of all derivative instruments as assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. The accounting treatment of the changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a derivative instrument is a cash flow hedge or a fair value hedge, and upon whether or not the derivative qualifies as an effective hedge. For cash flow hedges, changes in fair value, to the extent the hedge is effective, are recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. For fair value hedges to the extent the hedge is effective, there is no effect on the statement of operations because changes in fair value of the derivative offset changes in the fair value of the asset or liability being hedged. For derivative instruments that do not qualify as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings as non-operating income or expense.

        The estimation of fair values for our hedging derivatives requires substantial judgment. The fair values of our derivatives are estimated on a monthly basis using an option-pricing model. The option-pricing model uses various factors that include closing exchange prices on the NYMEX, volatility and the time value of options. The estimated future prices are compared to the prices fixed by the hedge agreements, and the resulting estimated future cash inflows (outflows) over the lives of the hedges are discounted using estimated weighted average cost of the debt. These pricing and discounting variables

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are sensitive to market volatility as well as to changes in future price forecasts, regional price differentials and interest rates.

        Entitlements Method of Accounting for Oil and Gas Sales.    We account for oil and gas sales using the "entitlements method." Under the entitlements method, revenue is recorded based upon our ownership share of volumes sold, regardless of whether we have taken our ownership share of such volumes. We record a receivable or a liability to the extent we receive less or more than our share of the volumes and related revenue. Under the alternative "sales method" of accounting for oil and gas sales, revenue is recorded based on volumes taken by us or allocated to us by third parties, regardless of whether such volumes are more or less than our ownership share of volumes produced. Reserve estimates are adjusted to reflect any overproduced or underproduced positions. Receivables or payables are recognized on a company's balance sheet only to the extent that remaining reserves are not sufficient to satisfy volumes over- or under-produced.

        Make-up provisions and ultimate settlements of volume imbalances are generally governed by agreements between Forest and its partners with respect to specific properties or, in the absence of such agreements, through negotiation. The value of volumes over- or under-produced can change based on changes in commodity prices.

        The entitlements method of accounting for oil and gas sales allows for recognition of revenue based on Forest's actual share of jointly owned production, and matches revenue with related operating expenses. In addition, it provides balance sheet recognition of the estimated value of product imbalances. At December 31, 2002, Forest had taken approximately 993 MMCF more than its entitled share of production. The estimated value of this imbalance of approximately $2,487,000 was recorded as a long-term liability.

        Valuation of Deferred Tax Assets.    We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, future income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement carrying values and their respective income tax bases (temporary differences). Future income tax assets and liabilities are measured using the tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences are likely to reverse. The effect on future income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is included in operations in the period in which the change is enacted. The amount of future income tax assets recognized is limited to the amount of the benefit that is more likely than not to be realized.

        In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. In order to fully realize its United States net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2002, the Company will need to generate future taxable income of approximately $128,968,000 prior to the expiration of the net operating loss carryforwards in 2003 to 2022. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is more likely than not the Company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences, net of the existing valuation allowances at December 31, 2002. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward periods are reduced.

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

        We are exposed to market risk, including the effects of adverse changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates as discussed below.


Commodity Price Risk

        We produce and sell natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids for our own account in the United States and Canada and, through ProMark, our marketing subsidiary, we market natural gas for third parties in Canada. As a result, our financial results are affected when prices for these commodities fluctuate. Such effects can be significant. In order to reduce the impact of fluctuations in prices, we enter into long-term contracts for a portion of our production and use a hedging strategy. Under our hedging strategy, Forest enters into commodity swaps, collars and other financial instruments. All of our commodity swaps and collar agreements and a portion of our basis swaps in place at December 31, 2002 have been designated as cash flow hedges. These arrangements, which are based on prices available in the financial markets at the time the contracts are entered into, are settled in cash and do not require physical deliveries of hydrocarbons. We periodically assess the estimated portion of our anticipated production that is subject to hedging arrangements, and we adjust this percentage based on our assessment of market conditions and the availability of hedging arrangements that meet our criteria. Hedging arrangements covered 42%, 47% and 52% of our consolidated production, on an equivalent basis, during the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

        Long-Term Sales Contracts.    A significant portion of Canadian Forest's natural gas production is sold through the ProMark Netback Pool which is operated by ProMark on behalf of Canadian Forest. At December 31, 2002, the ProMark Netback Pool had entered into fixed price contracts to sell natural gas at the following quantities and weighted average prices:

 
   
  Natural Gas
 
  BCF
  Sales Price
per MCF

2003   5.5   $ 2.78 CDN
2004   5.5   $ 2.88 CDN
2005   5.5   $ 2.99 CDN
2006   5.5   $ 3.11 CDN
2007   5.5   $ 3.23 CDN
2008   5.5   $ 3.36 CDN
2009   3.6   $ 4.06 CDN
2010   1.7   $ 6.23 CDN
2011   .8   $ 6.57 CDN

        As operator of the netback pool, ProMark aggregates gas from producers for sale to markets across North America. Currently, over 30 producers have contracted with the netback pool including Canadian Forest. The producers are paid a netback price which reflects all of the revenue from approved customers less the costs of delivery (including transportation, audit and shortfall makeup costs) and a ProMark marketing fee.

        Canadian Forest, as one of the producers in the netback pool, is obligated to supply its contract quantity. In 2002, Canadian Forest supplied 42% of the total netback pool sales quantity. In the 2003/2004 contract year, it is estimated that Canadian Forest will supply approximately 42% of the netback pool quantity. We expect that Canadian Forest's pro rata obligations as a gas producer will increase in 2005 and future years. In order to satisfy their supply obligations, the ProMark Netback Pool and Canadian Forest may be required to cover their obligations in the market.

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        As the operator of the netback pool, ProMark is required to acquire gas in the event of a shortfall between the gas supply and market obligations. A shortfall could occur if a gas producer fails to deliver its contractual share of the supply obligations of the netback pool. The cost of purchasing gas to cover any shortfall is a cost of the netback pool. The prices paid for shortfall gas would typically be spot market prices and may differ from the market prices received from netback pool customers. Higher spot prices would reduce the average netback pool price paid to the gas producers, including Canadian Forest. Shortfalls in gas produced may occur in the future. The Company does not believe that such shortfalls will be significant.

        In addition to its commitments to the ProMark Netback Pool, Canadian Forest is committed to sell natural gas at the following quantities and weighted average prices:

 
  Natural Gas
 
  BCF
  Sales Price
per MCF

2003   .6   $ 3.82 CDN
2004   .6   $ 3.96 CDN
2005   .6   $ 4.11 CDN
2006   .5   $ 4.27 CDN

        Hedging Program.    In a typical commodity swap agreement, Forest receives the difference between a fixed price per unit of production and a price based on an agreed upon published, third-party index if the index price is lower. If the index price is higher, Forest pays the difference. By entering into swap agreements we effectively fix the price that we will receive in the future for the hedged production. Our current swaps are settled in cash on a monthly basis. As of December 31, 2002, Forest had entered into the following swaps accounted for as cash flow hedges:

 
  Natural Gas
  Oil (NYMEX WTI)
 
  BBTUs per
Day

  Average
Hedged Price
per MMBTU

  Barrels
per Day

  Average
Hedged Price
per BBL

First Quarter 2003   41.6   $ 3.88   8,000   $ 23.62
Second Quarter 2003   80.0   $ 4.10   10,500   $ 24.54
Third Quarter 2003   60.0   $ 4.07   7,000   $ 23.21
Fourth Quarter 2003   33.5   $ 4.16   7,000   $ 23.16
First Quarter 2004     $   5,000   $ 23.07
Second Quarter 2004   20.0   $ 3.90   3,000   $ 23.10
Third Quarter 2004   20.0   $ 3.90   2,000   $ 22.98
Fourth Quarter 2004   6.7   $ 3.90   2,000   $ 22.98

        Between January 1, 2003 and March 7, 2003, we entered into the following swaps accounted for as cash flow hedges:

 
  Natural Gas
 
  BBTUs per
Day

  Average
Hedged Price
per MMBTU

First Quarter 2003   13.1   $ 4.88
Second Quarter 2003   40.0   $ 5.08
Third Quarter 2003   40.0   $ 5.08
Fourth Quarter 2003   26.7   $ 4.98

        We also enter into collar agreements with third parties. A collar agreement is similar to a swap agreement, except that we receive the difference between the floor price and the index price only if the

49



index price is below the floor price, and we pay the difference between the ceiling price and the index price only if the index price is above the ceiling price. Collars are also settled in cash, either on a monthly basis or at the end of their terms. By entering into collars we effectively provide a floor for the price that we will receive for the hedged production; however, the collar also establishes a maximum price that we will receive for the hedged production if prices increase above the ceiling price. We enter into collars during periods of volatile commodity prices in order to protect against a significant decline in prices in exchange for forgoing the benefit of price increases in excess of the ceiling price on the hedged production. As of December 31, 2002, Forest had entered into the following gas and oil collars accounted for as cash flow hedges:

 
  Natural Gas
 
  BBTUs
Per Day

  Average Floor
Price
per MMBTU

  Average Ceiling
Price
per MMBTU

First Quarter 2003   80.0   $ 3.44   $ 5.10
Second Quarter 2003   20.0   $ 3.25   $ 4.08
Third Quarter 2003   20.0   $ 3.25   $ 4.08
Fourth Quarter 2003   33.3   $ 3.49   $ 4.93
First Quarter 2004   40.0   $ 3.55   $ 5.15
 
  Oil (NYMEX WTI)
 
  Barrels
Per Day

  Average Floor
Price
per BBL

  Average Ceiling
Price
per BBL

First Quarter 2003   5,500   $ 23.36   $ 27.04
Second Quarter 2003   3,000   $ 22.00   $ 25.42
Third Quarter 2003   3,000   $ 22.00   $ 25.42
Fourth Quarter 2003   3,000   $ 22.00   $ 25.42
First Quarter 2004   2,000   $ 22.00   $ 24.08

        Between January 1, 2003 and March 7, 2003, we did not enter into any collars accounted for as cash flow hedges.

        We also use basis swaps to fix the differential price between the NYMEX price and the index price at which the hedged gas is sold. As of December 31, 2002, Forest had entered into basis swaps designated as cash flow hedges with weighted average volumes of 68.8 BBTUs per day for 2003 and weighted average volumes of 5.8 BBTUs per day for 2004. Between January 1, 2003 and March 7, 2003, we entered into basis swaps designated as cash flow hedges with weighted average volumes of 30.0 BBTU's per day for 2003.

        The fair value of our cash flow hedges based on the futures prices quoted on December 31, 2002 was a loss of approximately $27,996,000 ($17,357,000 after tax) which was recorded to other comprehensive income.

        As of December 31, 2002, Forest had entered into basis swaps that were not designated as cash flow hedges with weighted average volumes of 18.3 BBTUs per day for 2003 and weighted average volumes of 2.5 BBTUs per day for 2004. Between January 1, 2003 and March 7, 2003 we did not enter into any additional basis swaps not designated as cash flow hedges.

        The fair value of our derivative instruments not designated as cash flow hedges based on the futures prices quoted on December 31, 2002 was a loss of approximately $413,000.

        Trading Activities.    Profits or losses generated by the purchase and sale of third parties' gas are based on the spread between the prices of natural gas purchased and sold. ProMark does not trade natural gas to hold as a speculative or open position. All transactions represent physical volumes and

50



are immediately offset, thereby fixing the margin and eliminating the market risk on the related agreements. At December 31, 2002, ProMark's trading operations had the following purchase and sales commitments in place for 2003:

 
  Natural Gas
 
  BCF
  Purchase Price
per MCF

  Sales Price
per MCF

2003   1.2   $ 5.13 CDN   $ 5.17 CDN


Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

        We conduct business in several foreign currencies and thus are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk on cash flows related to sales, expenses, financing and investing transactions. In the past, we have not entered into any foreign currency forward contracts or other similar financial instruments to manage this risk. Expenditures incurred relative to the foreign concessions held by Forest outside of North America have been primarily U.S. dollar-denominated, as have cash proceeds related to property sales and farmout arrangements.


Interest Rate Risk

        The following table presents principal amounts and related average fixed interest rates by year of maturity for Forest's debt obligations at December 31, 2002:

 
  2005
  2006
  2008
  2011
  2014
  Total
  Fair Value
 
  (Dollar Amounts in Thousands)

Bank credit facilities:                              
  Variable rate   $ 95,000           95,000   95,000
  Average interest rate     3.24 %         3.24 %  

Long-term debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Fixed rate   $   65,970 (1) 265,000   160,000   150,000   640,970   672,053
  Coupon interest rate       10.5 % 8.00 % 8.00 % 7.75 % 8.20 %  
  Effective interest rate (2)       10.5 % 7.24 % 7.66 % 6.87 % 7.59 %  

(1)
On January 15, 2003 Forest redeemed all of its outstanding 101/2% Senior Subordinated Notes. The redemption was funded by borrowings under the bank credit facility.

(2)
The effective interest rate on 8% Senior Notes due 2008, the 8% Senior Notes due 2011 and the 73/4% Senior Notes due 2014 will be reduced from the coupon rate as a result of amortization of the gain related to termination of the related interest rate swaps.


Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

        Information concerning this Item begins on the following page.


Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

        None.

51


Independent Auditors' Report

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Forest Oil Corporation:

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Forest Oil Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Forest Oil Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

        As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2002, the Company changed its method of accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets as prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, and effective January 1, 2001, the Company changed its method of accounting for derivative financial instruments as prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133.

KPMG LLP

Denver, Colorado
February 12, 2003

52



FOREST OIL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 
  December 31,
 
 
  2002
  2001
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
ASSETS
 
Current assets:            
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 13,166   8,387  
  Accounts receivable     111,760   134,090  
  Derivative instruments     3,241   31,632  
  Current deferred tax asset     10,310    
  Other current assets     21,994   27,856  
   
 
 
    Total current assets     160,471   201,965  
Net property and equipment, at cost, full cost method (Note 4)     1,687,885   1,516,900  
Deferred income taxes (Note 5)     41,022   43,930  
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net     12,525   13,263  
Other assets     22,778   20,311  
   
 
 
    $ 1,924,681   1,796,369  
   
 
 


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


 
Current liabilities:            
  Accounts payable   $ 153,413   209,163  
  Accrued interest     6,857   7,364  
  Derivative instruments     29,120   1,548  
  Current portion of deferred income tax liability       11,154  
  Other current liabilities     2,285   11,069  
   
 
 
    Total current liabilities     191,675   240,298  
Long-term debt (Note 4)     767,219   594,178  
Other liabilities     28,199   21,524  
Deferred income taxes (Note 5)     16,377   16,426  
Shareholders' equity (Notes 2, 4, 6 and 7):            
  Common stock, 49,125,773 shares in 2002 (48,834,306 shares in 2001)     4,913   4,883  
  Capital surplus     1,159,269   1,145,282  
  Accumulated deficit     (144,548 ) (165,824 )
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (41,887 ) (4,147 )
  Treasury stock, at cost, 2,101,481 shares in 2002 (2,089,831 shares in 2001)     (56,536 ) (56,251 )
   
 
 
    Total shareholders' equity     921,211   923,943  
   
 
 
    $ 1,924,681   1,796,369  
   
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

53



FOREST OIL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 
  Years Ended December 31,
 
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
 
  (In Thousands Except
Per Share Amounts)

 
Revenue:                
  Oil and gas sales:                
    Natural gas   $ 288,542   467,767   368,245  
    Oil, condensate and natural gas liquids     183,198   247,085   256,680  
   
 
 
 
      Total oil and gas sales     471,740   714,852   624,925  
  Marketing and processing, net (Note 3)     3,954   3,465   3,094  
   
 
 
 
        Total revenue     475,694   718,317   628,019  
Operating expenses:                
  Oil and gas production     158,699   186,250   140,218  
  General and administrative     39,126   30,514   35,580  
  Merger and seismic licensing (Note 2)       9,836   31,577  
  Depreciation and depletion     186,221   226,033   212,480  
  Impairment of oil and gas properties       18,072   5,876  
  Impairment of contract value       3,239    
   
 
 
 
        Total operating expenses     384,046   473,944   425,731  
   
 
 
 
Earnings from operations     91,648   244,373   202,288  
Other income and expense:                
  Other expense (income), net     703   9,592   (1,757 )
  Interest expense     50,433   49,910   60,269  
  Translation (gain) loss on subordinated debt (Note 4)     (332 ) 7,872   7,102  
  Realized (gain) loss on derivative instruments, net (Note 9)     1,253   (11,556 )  
  Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative instruments, net (Note 9)     788   (376 )  
   
 
 
 
        Total other income and expense     52,845   55,442   65,614  
   
 
 
 
Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item     38,803   188,931   136,674  
Income tax expense (Note 5):                
  Current     268   2,365   1,666  
  Deferred     14,049   77,212   4,400  
   
 
 
 
      14,317   79,577   6,066  
   
 
 
 
Net earnings before extraordinary item     24,486   109,354   130,608  
Extraordinary loss on extinguishment of debt (Note 4)     (3,210 ) (5,611 )  
   
 
 
 
Net earnings   $ 21,276   103,743   130,608  
   
 
 
 
Earnings attributable to common stock   $ 21,276   103,743   126,440  
   
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                
  Basic     46,935   47,674   46,330  
   
 
 
 
  Diluted     48,207   49,282   47,977  
   
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share:                
  Earnings attributable to common stock before extraordinary item   $ .52   2.30   2.73  
  Extraordinary loss on extinguishment of debt     (.07 ) (.12 )  
   
 
 
 
  Earnings attributable to common stock   $ .45   2.18   2.73  
   
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per common share:                
  Earnings attributable to common stock before extraordinary item   $ .51   2.22   2.64  
  Extraordinary loss on extinguishment of debt     (.07 ) (.11 )  
   
 
 
 
  Earnings attributable to common stock   $ .44   2.11   2.64  
   
 
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

54


FOREST OIL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 
  Preferred
Stock

  Common
Stock

  Capital
Surplus

  Accumulated
Deficit

  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

  Treasury
Stock

  Total
Shareholders'
Equity

 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Balances at December 31, 1999   $   4,611   962,602   (396,007 ) (11,774 ) (448 ) 558,984  
  Preferred Stock issued (Note 6)     38,858             38,858  
  Preferred Stock dividends paid in kind (Note 6)     4,168       (4,168 )      
  Preferred Stock exchanged for Common Stock (Note 6)     (43,026 ) 152   42,874          
  Exercise of warrants to purchase 22,604 shares of Common Stock       2   294         296  
  Stock options exercised (Note 7)       69   11,849         11,918  
  Employee stock purchase plan (Note 7)       3   338         341  
  Common stock issued as compensation (Note 7)       3   595         598  
  Stock option compensation (Note 7)         3,013         3,013  
  Tax benefit of stock options exercised         2,900         2,900  
  Purchase of 152,400 shares of treasury stock               (2,818 ) (2,818 )
  Fresh start tax benefits recognized (Note 5)         114,671         114,671  
Comprehensive earnings:                                
  Net earnings           130,608       130,608  
  Unrealized gain on market value of investment             39     39  
  Increase in unfunded pension liability (Note 8)             (2,072 )   (2,072 )
  Foreign currency translation             1,630     1,630  
                             
 
    Total comprehensive earnings                             130,205  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2000       4,840   1,139,136   (269,567 ) (12,177 ) (3,266 ) 858,966  
  Exercise of warrants to purchase 706 shares of Common Stock         17         17  
  Stock options exercised (Note 7)       57   7,970         8,027  
  Tax benefit of stock options exercised         40         40  
  Employee stock purchase plan (Note 7)       1   433         434  
  Purchase of 2,074,300 shares of treasury stock               (55,803 ) (55,803 )
  Retirement of 156,522 shares of treasury stock       (15 ) (2,803 )     2,818    
  Stock option compensation (Note 7)         595         595  
  Cash in lieu of shares exchanged         (50 )       (50 )
  Shares retired in lieu of taxes on restricted stock award         (56 )       (56 )
Comprehensive earnings:                                
  Net earnings           103,743       103,743  
  Unrealized loss on market value of investment             (426 )   (426 )
  Unrealized gain on effective derivative instruments, net (Note 9)             19,293     19,293  
  Increase in unfunded pension liability (Note 8)             (4,251 )   (4,251 )
  Foreign currency translation             (6,586 )   (6,586 )
                             
 
    Total comprehensive earnings                             111,773  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2001       4,883   1,145,282   (165,824 ) (4,147 ) (56,251 ) 923,943  
  Exercise of warrants to purchase 17,971 shares of Common Stock       2   231         233  
  Stock options exercised (Note 7)       26   4,059         4,085  
  Tax benefit of stock options exercised         865         865  
  Tax benefit of additional acquired net operating losses and other tax assets         8,800         8,800  
  Employee stock purchase plan (Note 7)       3   457         460  
  Purchase of 21,894 shares of treasury stock               (560 ) (560 )
  Retirement of 1,584 shares in lieu of taxes on restricted stock award         (43 )       (43 )
  Other       (1 ) (382 )     275   (108 )
Comprehensive loss:                                
  Net earnings           21,276       21,276  
  Unrealized loss on market value of investment             (94 )   (94 )
  Unrealized loss on effective derivative instruments, net (Note 9)             (36,650 )   (36,650 )
  Increase in unfunded pension liability (Note 8)             (3,595 )   (3,595 )
  Foreign currency translation             2,599     2,599  
                             
 
  Total comprehensive loss                             (16,464 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balances at December 31, 2002   $   4,913   1,159,269   (144,548 ) (41,887 ) (56,536 ) 921,211  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

55



FOREST OIL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 
  Years Ended December 31,
 
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Cash flows from operating activities:                
  Net earnings before preferred dividends and extraordinary item   $ 24,486   109,354   130,608  
    Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:                
      Depreciation and depletion     186,221   226,033   212,480  
      Impairment of oil and gas properties       18,072   5,876  
      Impairment of contract value       3,239    
      Amortization of deferred gain on termination of fair value hedges     (791 )    
      Amortization of deferred debt costs     2,233   1,793   1,517  
      Translation (gain) loss on subordinated debt     (332 ) 7,872   7,102  
      Unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net     788   1,353    
      Deferred income tax expense     14,049   77,212   4,400  
      Stock and stock option compensation       595   3,611  
      Other, net     (1,774 ) (59 ) (1,452 )
      (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable     23,196   66,358   (97,195 )
      (Increase) decrease in other current assets     7,929   (5,341 ) 2,983  
      (Decrease) increase in accounts payable     (59,065 ) 50,241   10,661  
      (Decrease) increase in accrued interest and other current liabilities     (6,873 ) (58,709 ) 37,177  
   
 
 
 
        Net cash provided by operating activities before reorganization item     190,067   498,013   317,768  
      Decrease in reorganization costs payable         (11,236 )
   
 
 
 
        Net cash provided by operating activities after reorganization item     190,067   498,013   306,532  
Cash flows from investing activities:                
      Capital expenditures for property and equipment:                
        Exploration, development and acquisition costs     (354,220 ) (564,661 ) (388,038 )
        Other fixed assets     (4,057 ) (4,527 ) (1,954 )
      Proceeds from sale of assets     5,465   152,872   17,304  
      Increase in other assets, net     (3,831 ) (4,880 ) (3,373 )
   
 
 
 
        Net cash used by investing activities     (356,643 ) (421,196 ) (376,061 )
Cash flows from financing activities:                
      Proceeds from bank borrowings     466,760   766,986   638,407  
      Repayments of bank borrowings     (391,371 ) (1,080,546 ) (690,413 )
      Proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps     35,630      
      Issuance of 73/4% senior notes, net of offering costs     146,846      
      Issuance of 8% senior notes, net of offering costs       420,550    
      Repurchases of 83/4% senior subordinated notes     (66,248 ) (131,933 ) (7,184 )
      Repurchases of 101/2% senior subordinated notes     (23,935 ) (9,350 ) (3,067 )
      Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock         38,800  
      Proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants     4,671   8,430   12,556  
      Purchase of treasury stock     (560 ) (55,803 ) (2,818 )
      (Decrease) increase in other liabilities, net     (230 ) 470   (2,453 )
   
 
 
 
        Net cash provided (used) by financing activities     171,563   (81,196 ) (16,172 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash     (208 ) (1,237 ) 43  
   
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     4,779   (5,616 ) (85,658 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year     8,387   14,003   99,661  
   
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year   $ 13,166   8,387   14,003  
   
 
 
 
Cash paid (refunded) during the year for:                
    Interest   $ 51,038   48,081   79,381  
    Income taxes   $ 720   4,527   (2,167 )

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

56



FOREST OIL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

        Description of the Business—Forest Oil Corporation is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, production and marketing of natural gas and liquids. The Company was incorporated in New York in 1924, the successor to a company formed in 1916, and has been publicly held since 1969. The Company is active in several of the major exploration and producing areas in and offshore the United States and in Canada, and has exploratory interests in various other foreign countries.

        Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation—The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Forest Oil Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, Forest or the Company). Significant intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. The Company generally consolidates all subsidiaries in which it controls over 50% of the voting interests. Entities in which the Company does not have a direct or indirect majority voting interest are generally accounted for using the equity method. Under the equity method, the initial investment in the affiliated entity is recorded at cost and subsequently increased or reduced to reflect the Company's share of gains or losses or dividends received from the affiliate. The Company's share of the income or losses of the affiliate is included in the Company's reported net income.

        On December 7, 2000, Forest completed its merger with Forcenergy Inc (Forcenergy). The merger was accounted for as a pooling of interests for accounting and financial reporting purposes. Under this method of accounting, the recorded assets and liabilities of Forest and Forcenergy were carried forward to the combined company at their recorded amounts, and income of the combined company includes income of Forest and Forcenergy for the entire year.

        Certain amounts in prior years' financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2002 financial statement presentation. Most notably, marketing and processing revenue and related expenses have been netted in the accompanying financial statements. These revenues and expenses were presented separately in prior years.

        Assumptions, Judgments and Estimates—In the course of preparing the consolidated financial statements, management makes various assumptions, judgments and estimates to determine the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and in the disclosures of commitments and contingencies. Changes in these assumptions, judgments and estimates will occur as a result of the passage of time and the occurrence of future events and, accordingly, actual results could differ from amounts previously established.

        The more significant areas requiring the use of assumptions, judgments and estimates relate to volumes of oil and gas reserves used in calculating depletion, depreciation and amortization, the amount of future net revenues used in computing the ceiling test limitations and the amount of future capital obligations used in such calculations. Assumptions, judgments and estimates are also required in determining impairments of undeveloped properties, the valuation of deferred tax assets and the estimation of fair values of derivative instruments.

        Cash Equivalents—For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Company considers all debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

        Property and Equipment—The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties. Separate cost centers are maintained for each country in which the Company has operations. During 2002, 2001 and 2000, the Company's primary oil and gas operations were conducted in the United

57



States and in Canada. All costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of properties (including costs of surrendered and abandoned leaseholds, delay lease rentals, dry holes and overhead related to exploration and development activities) are capitalized. Capitalized costs applicable to each cost center are depleted using the units of production method based on conversion to common units of measure using one barrel of oil as an equivalent to six thousand cubic feet (MCF) of natural gas. A reserve is provided for estimated future costs of site restoration, dismantlement and abandonment activities as a component of depletion.

        Investments in unproved properties, including related capitalized interest costs, are not depleted pending determination of the existence of proved reserves. Unproved properties are assessed periodically to ascertain whether impairment has occurred. Unproved properties whose costs are individually significant are assessed individually by considering the primary lease terms of the properties, the holding period of the properties, and geographic and geologic data obtained relating to the properties. Where it is not practicable to individually assess the amount of impairment of properties for which costs are not individually significant, such properties are grouped for purposes of assessing impairment. The amount of impairment assessed is added to the costs to be amortized.

        As of December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, there were undeveloped property costs of $77,863,000, $86,460,000 and $132,807,000, respectively, which were not being depleted in the United States and $27,240,000, $48,577,000 and $33,524,000, respectively, which were not being depleted in Canada. Of the undeveloped costs in the United States not being depleted at December 31, 2002, approximately 25% were incurred in 2002, 9% in 2001, 2% in 2000, 22% in 1999, 40% in 1998, 1% in 1997 and 1% in 1996. Of the undeveloped costs in Canada not being depleted at December 31, 2002, 8% were incurred in 2002, 33% in 2001, 14% in 2000, 17% in 1999, 6% in 1998, 3% in 1997, and 19% in 1996.

        The Company holds interests in various projects located outside North America. As of December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, costs related to these international interests of approximately $66,533,000, $51,577,000 and $40,432,000, respectively, were not being depleted pending determination of the existence of proved reserves. In 2002, no impairments of international properties were recorded. In 2001, Forest recorded impairments of $18,072,000 related to projects in Albania, Australia, Italy, Romania, Tunisia and Thailand. In 2000, Forest recorded impairments of $5,876,000 related to projects in Switzerland and Thailand.

        Depletion per unit of production (MCFE) for each of the Company's cost centers was as follows:

 
  United States
  Canada
2002   $ 1.30   1.08
2001     1.32   1.02
2000     1.18   .87

        Pursuant to full cost accounting rules, capitalized costs less related accumulated depletion and deferred income taxes for each cost center may not exceed the sum of (1) the present value of future net revenue from estimated production of proved oil and gas reserves using current prices and a discount factor of 10%; plus (2) the cost of properties not being amortized, if any; plus (3) the lower of cost or estimated fair value of unproved properties included in the costs being amortized, if any; less (4) income tax effects related to differences in the book and tax basis of oil and gas properties. There were no such

58



provisions for impairment of oil and gas properties in 2002, 2001 or 2000. Gain or loss is not recognized on the sale of oil and gas properties unless the sale significantly alters the relationship between capitalized costs and proved oil and gas reserves attributable to a cost center.

        Buildings, transportation and other equipment are depreciated on the straight-line method based upon estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from five to forty-five years.

        Net property and equipment at December 31 consists of the following:

 
  2002
  2001
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Oil and gas properties   $ 3,763,080   3,408,317  
Buildings, transportation and other equipment     27,230   23,137  
   
 
 
      3,790,310   3,431,454  
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and valuation allowance     (2,102,425 ) (1,914,554 )
   
 
 
    $ 1,687,885   1,516,900  
   
 
 

        Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—Goodwill and other intangible assets recorded in the acquisition of Producers Marketing Ltd. (ProMark), the Company's gas marketing subsidiary, consist of the following at December 31, 2002 and 2001:

 
  2002
  2001
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Goodwill   $ 14,589   14,394  
Long-term gas marketing contracts     12,728   12,558  
   
 
 
      27,317   26,952  
Less accumulated amortization     (14,792 ) (13,689 )
   
 
 
    $ 12,525   13,263  
   
 
 

59


        Effective January 1, 2002, pursuant to SFAS No. 142, goodwill is no longer being amortized but is tested annually for impairment. Prior thereto, goodwill was amortized on a straight-line basis over 20 years. Had SFAS No. 142 been applied as of January 1, 2000, net earnings attributable to common stock and earnings per common share for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 would have been as follows:

 
  2001
  2000
 
  (In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

Net earnings attributable to common stock   $ 103,743   126,440
Add back: Goodwill amortization, net of tax     416   416
   
 
Adjusted net earnings attributable to common stock   $ 104,159   126,856
   
 
Basic earnings per common share:          
  Earnings attributable to common stock   $ 2.18   2.73
  Add back: Goodwill amortization, net of tax     .01   .01
   
 
  Adjusted earnings attributable to common stock   $ 2.19   2.74
   
 
Diluted earnings per common share:          
  Earnings attributable to common stock   $ 2.11   2.64
  Add back: Goodwill amortization, net of tax      
   
 
  Adjusted earnings attributable to common stock   $ 2.11   2.64
   
 

        Long-term gas marketing contracts are amortized based on estimated revenues over the life of the contracts. In 2001, the Company recorded an impairment of $3,239,000 of the gas marketing contracts related to the netback pool administered by ProMark. The book values of the contracts were reduced to reflect the estimated fair market value of the contracts.

        Financial Instruments—Forest periodically hedges a portion of its oil and gas production through swap and collar agreements. The purpose of the hedges is to provide a measure of stability to the Company's cash flows in an environment of volatile oil and gas prices and to manage the exposure to commodity price risk. Forest also periodically enters into interest rate swap agreements in an attempt to achieve a desired mix of fixed and floating rates in its debt portfolio. Interest rate swap agreements are generally designated as fair value hedges. Periodic settlements under the swap agreements are accounted for as adjustments to interest expense.

        The Company recognizes the fair values of its derivative instruments as assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. The accounting treatment for the changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a derivative instrument is a cash flow hedge or a fair value hedge, and upon whether or not the derivative qualifies as an effective hedge. Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges are recognized, to the extent the hedge is effective, in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. For fair value hedges, to the extent the hedge is effective, there is no effect on the statement of operations because changes in fair value of the derivative offset changes in the fair value of the hedged item. For derivative instruments that do not qualify as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings as non-operating income or expense.

60



        Prior to January 1, 2001, gains and losses from all derivative financial instruments were recorded as revenue in the periods covered by the derivative financial instrument.

        Oil and Gas Sales—The Company accounts for oil and gas sales using the entitlements method. Under the entitlements method, revenue is recorded based upon the Company's share of volumes sold, regardless of whether the Company has taken its proportionate share of volumes produced. The Company records a receivable or payable to the extent it receives less or more than its proportionate share of the related revenue. As of December 31, 2002 and 2001, the Company had produced approximately 993 MMCF and 758 MMCF, respectively, more than its entitled share of production. The estimated values of these imbalances at December 31, 2002 and 2001 of approximately $2,487,000 and $1,752,000, respectively, are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as long-term liabilities.

        In 2002, sales to two purchasers were approximately 16% and 10% of total revenue. In 2001, sales to two purchasers were approximately 12% and 10% of total revenue and in 2000, sales to two purchasers were approximately 13% and 12% of total revenue. The percentages above were calculated for all years on revenue amounts based on the current year presentation of revenues, which presents net marketing and processing revenue.

        Gas Marketing and Processing—The Company's operations include gas marketing through its subsidiary, ProMark. ProMark's gas marketing operations consist of the marketing of gas production in Canada, the purchase and direct sale of third parties' natural gas, the handling of transportation and operations of third party gas and spot purchasing and selling of natural gas. ProMark does not buy, sell or trade gas to hold as a speculative position. All transactions are immediately offset, establishing the margin to be earned. Revenue from the sale of the gas is recorded, net of marketing expense, as marketing revenue. ProMark also provides natural gas marketing aggregation services for third parties. Fees earned for such services are recorded as marketing revenue as the services are performed. Processing income consists of fees earned, net of expenses, attributable to volumes processed on behalf of third parties.

        Income Taxes—The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes which requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial accounting bases and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The tax benefits of net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred taxes are recorded as an asset to the extent that management assesses the utilization of such assets to be more likely than not. When the future utilization of some portion of the deferred tax asset is determined not to be more likely than not, a valuation allowance is provided to reduce the recorded deferred tax assets. Management believes that it could implement tax planning strategies to prevent these carryforwards from expiring.

        Foreign Currency Translation—The functional currency of Canadian Forest Oil Ltd. (Canadian Forest), the Company's wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, is the Canadian dollar. Assets and liabilities related to the Company's Canadian operations are generally translated at current exchange rates, and related translation adjustments are reported as a component of shareholders' equity in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Statement of operations accounts are translated at the average exchange rates during the period.

        The Company was also required to recognize foreign currency translation gains or losses related to the 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the 83/4% Notes) because the debt was denominated in U.S.

61



dollars. As a result of the change in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, the Company reported noncash translation (gains) losses of approximately $(332,000), $7,872,000 and $7,102,000 for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Following the redemption of the 83/4% Notes during 2002, Forest has no debt issued in a currency other than the functional currency of the issuer.

        Earnings (Loss) per Share—Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period, excluding treasury shares. Net earnings attributable to common stock represents net earnings less preferred stock dividends of $4,168,000 in 2000. The preferred stock dividends related to Forcenergy's Preferred Stock that was exchanged for Forest's Common Stock in conjunction with the merger with Forcenergy.

        Diluted earnings per share is computed by adjusting the average number of common shares outstanding for the dilutive effect, if any, of convertible preferred stock, stock options and warrants. The effect of potentially dilutive securities is based on earnings before extraordinary items.

        On December 7, 2000, in conjunction with the merger with Forcenergy, a 1-for-2 reverse stock split was approved by the Company's shareholders. Unless otherwise indicated, all share and per share amounts in these financial statements have been adjusted to give retroactive effect to the 1-for-2 reverse stock split.

        The following sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31:

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
 
  (In Thousands Except
Per Share Amounts)

 
Net earnings before extraordinary item   $ 24,486   109,354   130,608  
Less: Preferred stock dividends         (4,168 )
   
 
 
 
Net earnings before extraordinary item available to common stock   $ 24,486   109,354   126,440  
   
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding during the period     46,935   47,674   46,330  
Add dilutive effects of stock options (1)     476   709   1,178  
Add dilutive effects of warrants     796   899   469  
   
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding including the effects of dilutive securities     48,207   49,282   47,977  
   
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share before extraordinary item   $ .52   2.30   2.73  
   
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per share before extraordinary item   $ .51   2.22   2.64  
   
 
 
 

(1)
At December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, options to purchase 1,909,050 shares, 1,594,750 shares and 1,867,400 shares, respectively, of common stock were outstanding, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because to do so would have been antidilutive. These options expire at various dates from 2002 to 2012.

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        Stock Based Compensation—The Company applies APB Opinion 25 and related Interpretations in accounting for its stock-based compensation plans. Accordingly, no compensation cost is recognized for options granted at a price equal to or greater than the fair market value of the Common Stock. Compensation cost is recognized over the vesting period of options granted at a price less than the fair market value of the Common Stock at the date of the grant. No compensation cost is recognized for stock purchase rights that qualify under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code as a noncompensatory plan. Had compensation cost for the Company's stock-based compensation plans been determined using the fair value of the options at the grant date as prescribed by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, the Company's pro forma net earnings and earnings per common share would be as follows:

 
  Years Ended December 31,
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
  (In Thousands Except
Per Share Amounts)

Net earnings:              
As reported   $ 21,276   103,743   130,608
   
 
 
  Pro forma   $ 8,997   92,187   113,986
   
 
 
Basic earnings per share:              
  As reported   $ 0.45   2.18   2.73
   
 
 
  Pro forma   $ 0.19   1.93   2.37
   
 
 
Diluted earnings per share:              
  As reported   $ 0.44   2.11   2.64
   
 
 
  Pro forma   $ 0.19   1.87   2.29
   
 
 

        Comprehensive Earnings (Loss)—Comprehensive earnings (loss) is a term used to refer to net earnings (loss) plus other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of revenues, expenses, gains and losses that under generally accepted accounting principles are reported as separate components of shareholders' equity instead of net earnings (loss). Items included in the Company's other comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 are foreign currency gains (losses) related to the translation of the assets and liabilities of the Company's Canadian operations; changes in the unfunded pension liability; unrealized gains (losses) related to the change in fair value of securities available for sale; and unrealized gains (losses) related to the changes in fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges.

63



        The components of comprehensive earnings (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 are as follows:

 
  Foreign
Currency
Translation

  Unfunded
Pension
Liability

  Unrealized
gain (loss) on
securities
available for
sale

  Unrealized
gain on
derivative
instruments,
net

  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
(Loss)

  Net
Earnings

  Total
Comprehensive
Earnings
(Loss)

 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Balance at December 31, 1999   $ (8,241 ) (3,533 )     (11,774 ) (396,007 ) (407,781 )
2000 activity (1)     1,630   (2,072 ) 39     (403 ) 126,440   126,037  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2000     (6,611 ) (5,605 ) 39     (12,177 ) (269,567 ) (281,744 )
2001 activity     (6,586 ) (4,251 ) (426 ) 19,293   8,030   103,743   111,773  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2001     (13,197 ) (9,856 ) (387 ) 19,293   (4,147 ) (165,824 ) (169,971 )
2002 activity     2,599   (3,595 ) (94 ) (36,650 ) (37,740 ) 21,276   (16,464 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2002   $ (10,598 ) (13,451 ) (481 ) (17,357 ) (41,887 ) (144,548 ) (186,435 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
2000 net earnings reflect earnings attributable to common stock after preferred stock dividends paid in kind of $4,168,000.

        Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements—Statement No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations (SFAS No. 143), requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred and a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. We will be required to adopt SFAS No. 143 effective January 1, 2003 using a cumulative effect approach to recognize transition amounts for asset retirement obligations, asset retirement costs and accumulated depreciation. We currently record estimated costs of dismantlement, removal, site reclamation, and similar activities as part of our provision for depreciation and depletion for oil and gas properties without recording a separate liability for such amounts. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 143, we expect to record an increase to net properties and equipment between $125 million and $175 million, an asset retirement obligation liability between $125 million and $175 million, and a cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle between an after-tax charge of $5 million and an after-tax gain of $5 million.

        Statement No. 145, Rescission 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 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 this Statement are effective for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. We expect adoption of this Statement to result in the reclassification of losses on extinguishment of debt for all periods from extraordinary to other income and expense.

        Statement No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (SFAS No. 146), was issued in June 2002. SFAS No. 146 addresses significant issues regarding the recognition, measurement and reporting of costs that are associated with exit and disposal activities, including restructuring activities that are currently accounted for pursuant to the guidance set forth in EITF Issue No. 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity." SFAS

64



No. 146 will be effective for Forest in January 2003. We expect the adoption of SFAS No. 146 to have no impact on our financial statements.

        EITF Issue No. 02-03, Recognition and Reporting of Gains and Losses on Energy Trading Contracts under EITF Issues No. 98-10, Accounting for Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities, and No. 00-17, Measuring the Fair Value of Energy-Related Contracts in Applying Issue No. 98-10, was issued in June 2002. EITF Issue No. 02-03 addresses certain issues related to energy trading activities, including (a) gross versus net presentation in the income statement, (b) whether the initial fair value of an energy trading contract can be other than the price at which it was exchanged, and (c) accounting for inventory utilized in energy trading activities. Certain provisions of EITF Issue No. 02-03 relating to gross versus net presentations were effective for Forest in the third quarter of 2002 and, accordingly, we have presented our revenues and expenses from marketing and processing activities as a net line item in the accompanying statements of operations. The remaining provisions effective January 1, 2003 will have no impact on our financial statements.

        Statement No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 (SFAS No. 148), was issued in December 2002. The Statement provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for employee stock-based compensation. SFAS No. 148 does not change the provisions of SFAS No. 123 that permit entities to continue to apply the intrinsic value method of APB 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Our accounting for stock-based compensation will not change as a result of SFAS No. 148 as we intend to continue following the provisions of APB 25. SFAS No. 148 does require certain new disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements. The required annual disclosures are effective immediately and have been included in Note 1 of our consolidated financial statements. The new interim disclosure provisions will be effective in the first quarter of 2003.

        FASB Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others (FIN 45), was issued in November 2002. FIN 45 requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, the guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligation it assumes under that guarantee. FIN 45's provisions for initial recognition and measurement should be applied on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The guarantor's previous accounting for guarantees that were issued before the date of FIN 45's initial application may not be revised or restated to reflect the effect of the recognition and measurement provisions of the Interpretation. The disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements of both interim and annual periods that end after December 15, 2002. Forest is not a guarantor under any significant guarantees and thus this Interpretation is not expected to have a significant effect on our financial position or results of operations.

        FASB Interpretation No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, An Interpretation of ARB No. 51 (FIN 46), was issued in January 2003. The primary objectives of FIN 46 are to provide guidance on how to identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than through voting rights (variable interest entities or VIEs) and how to determine when and which business enterprise should consolidate the VIE. This new model for consolidation applies to an entity in which either (1) the equity investors do not have a controlling financial interest or (2) the equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance that entity's activities without receiving additional subordinated financial support from other parties. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have any impact on our financial position or results of operations.

65


(2) MERGER WITH FORCENERGY INC:

        On December 7, 2000 Forest completed its merger with Forcenergy. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, and after giving effect to the reverse split of Forest common shares, Forcenergy stockholders received 0.8 of a Forest common share for each share of Forcenergy common stock they owned and 34.307 Forest common shares for each $1,000 stated value amount of Forcenergy preferred stock. In addition, each warrant to purchase the equivalent of one share of Forcenergy common stock was exchanged for the right to purchase 0.8 share of Forest common stock. The merger was accounted for as a pooling of interests for accounting and financial reporting purposes. Under this method of accounting, the recorded assets and liabilities of Forest and Forcenergy were carried forward to the combined company at their recorded amounts on the date of the merger. Income and expense amounts reported for the combined company for 2000 include amounts attributable to the operations of both Forest and Forcenergy for the entire year. Forcenergy was merged into Forest on the date of the merger and, accordingly, all amounts attributable to periods after the merger represent the operations of the combined entities.

        The results of operations previously reported by the separate companies for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 are as follows:

 
  Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2000

 
  Forest
  Forcenergy
  Combined
 
  (In Thousands)

Total revenue   $ 353,942   250,835   604,777
Net earnings   $ 28,936   46,132   75,068

        There were no intercompany transactions between Forest and Forcenergy prior to the combination.

        Merger and seismic licensing costs reported in the Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 of $9,836,000 (approximately $6,015,000 net of tax) and $31,577,000 (approximately $28,500,000 net of tax), respectively, included the following merger-related costs: banking, legal, accounting, printing and other consulting costs related to the merger; severance paid to terminated employees; expenses for office closures, employee relocation, data migration and systems integration; and costs of transferring seismic licenses from Forcenergy to Forest.

(3) MARKETING AND PROCESSING OPERATIONS:

        The Company's gas marketing subsidiary, ProMark, operates the ProMark Netback Pool. The ProMark Netback Pool matches major end users with providers of gas supply through arranged transportation channels, and uses a netback pricing mechanism to establish the wellhead price paid to producers. Under this netback arrangement, producers receive the blended market price less related transportation and other direct costs. ProMark charges a marketing fee to the pool participant producers for marketing and administering the gas supply pool.

        In addition to operating the ProMark Netback Pool, ProMark provides other marketing services for other producers and consumers of natural gas. ProMark manages long-term gas supply contracts for industrial customers and provides full-service purchasing, accounting and gas nomination services for both producers and customers on a fee-for-service basis.

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        Processing income consists of fees earned, net of expenses, attributable to volumes processed on behalf of third parties.

        Components of marketing and processing, net for the years ended December 31 are as follows:

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
  (In Thousands)

Marketing and processing revenue   $ 250,907   303,527   288,133
Marketing and processing expense     246,953   300,062   285,039
   
 
 
Marketing and processing, net   $ 3,954   3,465   3,094
   
 
 

(4) LONG-TERM DEBT:

        Components of long-term debt are as follows:

 
  December 31, 2002
   
 
  Principal
  Unamortized
Discount

  Other
  Total
  December 31,
2001

 
  (In Thousands)

U.S. Credit Facility   $ 95,000       95,000   19,000
8% Senior Notes Due 2008     265,000   (536 ) 12,558(1 ) 277,022   264,366
8% Senior Notes Due 2011     160,000     7,509(1 ) 167,509   160,000
73/4% Senior Notes Due 2014     150,000   (2,706 ) 14,772(1 ) 162,066  
101/2% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2006     65,970   (348 )   65,622   87,569
83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007             63,243
   
 
 
 
 
    $ 735,970   (3,590 ) 34,839   767,219   594,178
   
 
 
 
 

(1)
Represents the unamortized portion of gains realized upon termination of three interest rate swaps that were accounted for as fair value hedges. The gains will be amortized as a reduction of interest expense over the terms of the note issues.

Bank Credit Facilities:

        The Company has credit facilities totalling $600,000,000, consisting of a $500,000,000 U.S. credit facility through a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase and a $100,000,000 Canadian credit facility through a syndicate of banks led by J.P. Morgan Bank Canada. The credit facilities mature in October 2005. Under the credit facilities, Forest, Canadian Forest and certain of their subsidiaries are subject to certain covenants and financial tests, including restrictions or requirements with respect to dividends, additional debt, liens, asset sales, investments, hedging activities, mergers and reporting responsibilities. The financial covenants will affect the amount available and our ability to borrow amounts under the credit facility. In addition, if the rating on Forest's bank credit facilities is downgraded below BB+ by Standard & Poor's Rating Service and Ba1 by Moody's Investor Services, the available borrowing amount under the credit facilities would be determined by a formula based on the value of certain oil and

67



gas properties (a borrowing base), subject to semi-annual re-determination. As a result, the available borrowing amount could be increased or reduced under the borrowing base tests. If, following such a re-determination, the Company's outstanding borrowings exceeded the amount of the re-determined borrowing base, Forest would be forced to repay a portion of the outstanding borrowings in excess of the re-determined borrowing base.

        The U.S. credit facility is secured by a lien on, and a security interest in, a majority of the Company's proved oil and gas properties and related assets in the United States and Canada, a pledge of 65% of the capital stock of Canadian Forest and its parent, 3189503 Canada Ltd., and a pledge of 100% of the capital stock of Forest Pipeline Company. Under certain circumstances, Forest could be obligated to pledge additional assets as collateral.

        At December 31, 2002, there were outstanding borrowings of $95,000,000 under the U.S. credit facility at a weighted average interest rate of 3.24% and there were no outstanding borrowings under the Canadian credit facility. At December 31, 2002, Forest had used the credit facilities for letters of credit in the amount of $4,548,000 U.S. and $1,286,000 (CDN).

8% Senior Notes Due 2008:

        In June 2001, the Company issued $200,000,000 principal amount of 8% Senior Notes Due 2008 (the 8% Notes Due 2008) at par for proceeds of $199,500,000 (net of related offering costs). In October 2001, the Company issued an additional $65,000,000 principal amount of 8% Notes Due 2008 at 99% of par for proceeds of $63,550,000 (net of related offering costs).

8% Senior Notes Due 2011:

        In December 2001, the Company issued $160,000,000 principal amount of 8% Senior Notes Due 2011 (the 8% Notes Due 2011) at par for proceeds of $157,500,000 (net of related offering costs).

73/4% Senior Notes Due 2014:

        In 2002, the Company issued $150,000,000 principal amount of 73/4% Senior Notes due 2014 (the 73/4% Notes) at 98.09% of par for proceeds of $146,846,000 (net of related offering costs).

10 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2006:

        In February 1999, Forest issued $100,000,000 principal amount of 101/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2006 (the 101/2% Notes) at 98.8% of par.

        In 2002, the Company repurchased $22,210,000 principal amount of 101/2% Notes at approximately 107.8% of par value. In December 2001, the Company repurchased $8,820,000 principal amount of 101/2% Notes at 106.0% of par value. In December 2000, the Company repurchased $3,000,000 principal amount of 101/2% Notes at 102.3% of par value. As a result of these repurchases, Forest recorded losses of $1,198,000, $621,000 and $110,000 in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

        In January 2003, the Company redeemed the remaining $65,970,000 outstanding principal amount of 101/2% Notes at 105.25% of par value. As a result of this redemption, Forest will record a loss of approximately $3,972,000 in the first quarter of 2003.

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83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007:

        In September 1997 Canadian Forest completed an offering of $125,000,000 of 83/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the 83/4% Notes), which were sold at 99.745% of par and guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by the Company. In February 1998 Canadian Forest issued $75,000,000 principal amount of 83/4% Notes, an add-on to the September 1997 offering.

        The Company was required to recognize foreign currency translation gains or losses related to the 83/4% Notes because the debt was denominated in U.S. dollars and the functional currency of Canadian Forest is the Canadian dollar. As a result of the change in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar during 2002, 2001 and 2000, the Company reported noncash translation gains (losses) of approximately $332,000, $(7,872,000) and $(7,102,000), respectively, in those years.

        In 2002, the Company repurchased $5,300,000 principal amount of 83/4% Notes at approximately 103.5% of par value, and redeemed $57,948,000 outstanding principal amount of 83/4% Notes at 104.375% of par value. In 2001, the Company repurchased $129,152,000 principal amount of 83/4% Notes at an average price of 102.8% of par value. In 2000, the Company repurchased $7,600,000 principal amount of 83/4% Notes at an average price of 94.0% of par value. As a result of these repurchases, Forest recorded gains (losses) of $(2,012,000), $(4,990,000) and $239,000 in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

(5) INCOME TAXES:

        The income tax expense was different from amounts computed by applying the statutory Federal income tax rate for the following reasons:

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Federal income tax at 35% of income before income taxes and extraordinary item   $ 13,581   66,126   47,836  
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit     985   5,668   4,100  
Adjustment for additional acquired net operating losses and other tax assets       (31,670 )  
Change in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, including an increase in the valuation allowance in 2001 for additional acquired net operating losses and other tax assets of $31,670,000     (1,751 ) 35,160   (55,833 )
Effect of higher effective rate on Canadian income (loss)     446   (440 ) 404  
Canadian Crown payments (net of Alberta Royalty Tax Credit)     3,326   5,727   6,079  
Canadian resource allowance     (3,189 ) (4,359 ) (6,781 )
Canadian non-deductible depletion and amortization     392   856   945  
Canadian large corporation tax     582   562   513  
Expiration of tax carryforwards       73   523  
Nondeductible (nontaxable) foreign exchange (gains) losses     (101 ) 339   2,100  
Nondeductible merger costs         4,318  
Adjustment to deferred tax assets for filed returns and other     46   1,535   1,862  
   
 
 
 
Total income tax expense   $ 14,317   79,577   6,066  
   
 
 
 

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        Deferred income taxes generally result from recognizing income and expenses at different times for financial and tax reporting. In the United States, the largest differences are the tax effect of the capitalization of certain development, exploration and other costs under the full cost method of accounting, recording proceeds from the sale of properties in the full cost pool, and the provision for impairment of oil and gas properties for financial accounting purposes. In Canada, differences result in part from accelerated cost recovery of oil and gas capital expenditures for tax purposes.

        The components of the net deferred tax liability by geographical segment at December 31, 2002 and 2001 are as follows:

 
  December 31, 2002
 
 
  United States
  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Deferred tax assets:                
Allowance for doubtful accounts   $ 5,329     5,329  
Investment in subsidiaries     2,140     2,140  
Accrual for medical and retirement benefits     2,771     2,771  
Unamortized proceeds from interest rate swap settlements     13,239     13,239  
Unrealized losses on derivative contracts, net     10,795     10,795  
Net operating loss carryforwards     210,156     210,156  
Capital loss carryforward       4,354   4,354  
Depletion carryforward     7,554     7,554  
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward     2,324     2,324  
Other     2,769   1,421   4,190  
   
 
 
 
Total gross deferred tax assets     257,077   5,775   262,852  
Less valuation allowance     (121,913 ) (4,354 ) (126,267 )
   
 
 
 
Net deferred tax assets     135,164   1,421   136,585  
Deferred tax liabilities:                
Property and equipment     (83,832 ) (16,417 ) (100,249 )
Deferred income on long term contracts       (869 ) (869 )
Other       (512 ) (512 )
   
 
 
 
Total gross deferred tax liabilities     (83,832 ) (17,798 ) (101,630 )
   
 
 
 
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)   $ 51,332   (16,377 ) 34,955  
   
 
 
 

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December 31, 2001


 
 
  United States
  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Deferred tax assets:                
Allowance for doubtful accounts   $ 4,364     4,364  
Investment in subsidiaries     2,151     2,151  
Accrual for medical and retirement benefits     2,968   227   3,195  
Unrealized foreign exchange losses       2,459   2,459  
Net operating loss carryforwards     164,614   627   165,241  
Capital loss carryforward       3,646   3,646  
Depletion carryforward     7,554     7,554  
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward     3,222     3,222  
Other     1,634     1,634  
   
 
 
 
Total gross deferred tax assets     186,507   6,959   193,466  
Less valuation allowance     (121,913 ) (6,105 ) (128,018 )
   
 
 
 
Net deferred tax assets     64,594   854   65,448  
Deferred tax liabilities:                
Property and equipment     (19,691 ) (15,184 ) (34,875 )
Unrealized gains on derivative contracts, net     (12,127 )   (12,127 )
Deferred income on long term contracts       (1,302 ) (1,302 )
Other       (794 ) (794 )
   
 
 
 
Total gross deferred tax liabilities     (31,818 ) (17,280 ) (49,098 )
   
 
 
 
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)   $ 32,776   (16,426 ) 16,350  
   
 
 
 

        The net deferred tax assets are reflected in the accompanying balance sheets as follows:

 
  December 31, 2002
 
 
  United States
  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Non-current deferred tax assets   $ 41,022     41,022  
Current deferred tax assets     10,310     10,310  
Non-current deferred tax liabilities       (16,377 ) (16,377 )
   
 
 
 
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)   $ 51,332   (16,377 ) 34,955  
   
 
 
 

 


 

December 31, 2001


 
 
  United States
  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Non-current deferred tax assets   $ 43,930     43,930  
Current deferred tax liabilities     (11,154 )   (11,154 )
Non-current deferred tax liabilities       (16,426 ) (16,426 )
   
 
 
 
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)   $ 32,776   (16,426 ) 16,350  
   
 
 
 

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        The net changes in the valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 were as follows:

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, including an increase in the valuation allowance in 2001 for additional acquired net operating losses and other tax assets of $31,670,000   $ (1,751 ) 35,160   (55,833 )
Decrease in the valuation allowance attributable to fresh start deferred tax assets recognized         (114,671 )
   
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance   $ (1,751 ) 35,160   (170,504 )
   
 
 
 

        The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) credit carryforward available to reduce future U.S. Federal regular taxes aggregated $2,324,000 at December 31, 2002. This amount may be carried forward indefinitely. U.S. Federal regular and AMT net operating loss carryforwards at December 31, 2002 were approximately $553,024,000 and $370,907,000, respectively, and will expire in the years indicated below:

 
  Regular
  AMT
 
  (In Thousands)

  2003   $ 7,821  
  2004     79,412   60,466
  2005     59,296   43,918
  2006     26,370   14,996
  2007     21,684   7,992
  2008     64,024   8,394
  2009     32,212   41,591
  2010     45,737   54,523
  2011     3,260   1,794
  2012     206   2,158
  2017     69,110   67,599
  2018     39,143   40,587
  2019     1,310   1,310
  2022     103,439   25,579
   
 
    $ 553,024   370,907
   
 

        AMT net operating loss carryforwards can be used to offset 100% of AMT income in future years.

        Canadian tax pools relating to the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas which are available to reduce future Canadian Federal income taxes aggregated approximately $160,006,000 ($271,268,000 CDN) at December 31, 2002. These tax pool balances are deductible on a declining balance basis ranging from 10% to 100% of the balance annually. Other Canadian tax pools and loss carryforwards available to reduce future Canadian Federal income taxes were approximately $13,873,000 ($23,520,000 CDN) at December 31, 2002. The amounts may be carried forward indefinitely.

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        The availability of some of the U.S. tax attributes to reduce current and future U.S. Federal taxable income of the Company is subject to various limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. In particular, the Company's ability to utilize such tax attributes could be limited due to the occurrence of an "ownership change" within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. "Ownership changes" occurred in the Company in 1995 following the issuance of securities to Anschutz, in 1996 following the public stock issuance, and in 2000 following the merger with Forcenergy.

        "Ownership changes" occurred in Forcenergy in 2000 following its emergence from bankruptcy and in 1995 as a result of an Initial Public Offering and merger with Ashlawn group. Portions of Forcenergy's net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes are further limited due to "ownership changes" that occurred with respect to businesses acquired by Forcenergy in 1997.

        Approximately $102,000,000 of Forest's net operating loss carryforwards will be subject to an annual limitation of approximately $5,800,000. In addition, the Company's ability to utilize substantially all of Forcenergy's built-in losses and net operating loss carryforwards will be subject to an overall annual limitation of approximately $22,000,000. Additional limitations affect the Company's ability to utilize certain portions of Forcenergy's built-in losses and net operating loss carryforwards generated prior to 1997. The Company has provided a valuation allowance for its estimate of amounts that will not ultimately be realized due to limitations imposed by Section 382.

        To the extent of any net unrealized built-in gains at the time of an ownership change, the annual limitation can be increased by (a) any gains recognized in the five years following an ownership change on the disposition of certain assets, to the extent that the value of the assets disposed of exceeded their tax basis on the date of the ownership change, or (b) any item of income which is properly taken into account in the five years following the ownership change but which is attributable to periods before the ownership change.

(6) PREFERRED STOCK:

        In March 2000, Forcenergy issued 40,000 shares of 14% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock (the Preferred Stock) for net proceeds of approximately $38,800,000 as part of a rights offering to holders of unsecured claims. The Preferred Stock was non-convertible, and dividends were payable quarterly in additional shares of Preferred Stock. On December 7, 2000, in conjunction with the merger with Forcenergy, the Company issued 1,514,004 shares of Common Stock in exchange for the 44,131 outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.

(7) COMMON STOCK:

Common Stock:

        At December 31, 2002 the Company had 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, authorized.

        In January 2003, the Company issued 7,850,000 shares of common stock at a price of $24.50 per share. Net proceeds from this offering (before any exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option) were approximately $184,400,000 after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Forest used the net proceeds from the offering, before deduction of estimated offering

73


expenses, to repurchase, immediately following the closing of the offering, 7,850,000 shares from The Anschutz Corporation and certain of its affiliates (Anschutz). The shares repurchased by Forest were purchased at a price of $23.52 per share and were cancelled immediately upon repurchase. In February 2003, an additional 900,000 shares of common stock were issued, also at a price of $24.50 per share, pursuant to exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option for net proceeds of $21,168,000 after deducting underwriters discounts and commissions.

Rights Agreement:

        In October 1993, the Board of Directors adopted a shareholders' rights plan (the Plan) and entered into the Rights Agreement. The Company distributed one Preferred Share Purchase Right (the Rights) for each outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock. The Rights are exercisable only if a person or group acquires 20% or more of the Company's Common Stock or announces a tender offer which would result in ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the Common Stock. Each Right initially entitles each shareholder to buy 1/100th of a share of a new series of Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $60.00, subject to adjustment upon certain occurrences. Each 1/100th of a share of such new Preferred Stock that can be purchased upon exercise of a Right has economic terms designed to approximate the value of one share of Common Stock. The Rights will expire on October 29, 2003, unless extended or terminated earlier. The Company has amended the Rights Agreement to exempt from the provisions of the Rights Agreement certain shares of Common Stock held by The Anschutz Corporation and related entities.

Warrants:

        At December 31, 2002 the Company had outstanding 237,799 warrants to purchase shares of its Common Stock (the 2004 Warrants). Each 2004 Warrant entitles the holder to purchase 0.8 shares of Common Stock for $16.67, or an equivalent per share price of $20.84. The 2004 Warrants expire on February 15, 2004.

        At December 31, 2002 the Company had outstanding 238,204 warrants to purchase shares of its Common Stock (the 2005 Warrants). Each 2005 Warrant entitles the holder to purchase 0.8 shares of Common Stock for $20.83, or an equivalent per share price of $26.04. The 2005 Warrants expire on February 15, 2005.

        At December 31, 2002 the Company had outstanding 1,752,355 warrants to purchase shares of its Common Stock (Subscription Warrants). Each Subscription Warrant entitles the holder to purchase 0.8 shares of Common Stock for $10.00, or an equivalent per share price of $12.50. The Subscription Warrants are detachable and expire on March 20, 2010 or earlier upon notice of expiration by the Company if, after March 20, 2004, the market price of the Common Stock has exceeded 300% of the exercise price of the Subscription Warrants, or $37.50 per share, for a period of 30 consecutive trading days.

Restricted Stock Awards:

        During 2000, the Company issued 32,486 shares of restricted Common Stock to officers and employees as a portion of the bonuses earned pursuant to the Business Unit Annual Incentive Plan for the year ended December 31, 1999. All of the shares issued vested immediately upon issuance, but were

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subject to a two-year restriction on transfer. In 1999, the Company entered into restricted stock agreements with two executives covering 20,168 shares of Common Stock. The shares carry restrictions as to forfeiture, transfer and encumbrance. The restrictions lapse 20% annually beginning January 1, 2000.

        During 2000 and 1999, the Company issued 4,393 and 5,497 shares of restricted common stock, respectively, to members of its board of directors as payment of a portion of their annual retainer. All of the shares issued vested immediately upon issuance, but were subject to a two-year restriction on transfer.

Stock Options:

        In 2001, the Company adopted the Forest Oil Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2001 Plan) under which stock options, restricted stock and other awards may be granted to employees, consultants and non-employee directors. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which the Company may issue under the 2001 Plan may not exceed 1,800,000 shares. The exercise price of an option shall not be less than the fair market value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant. Options under the 2001 Plan generally vest in increments of 25% on each of the first four anniversary dates of the date of grant.

        The Company had a Stock Incentive Plan (the 1996 Plan) that expired on March 5, 2002 under which non-qualified stock options and restricted stock were granted to employees and director stock awards were granted to non-employee directors. Under the 1996 Plan the exercise price of an option could not be less than 85% of the fair market value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant. Options granted under the 1996 Plan generally vested in increments of 20% on the date of grant and on each of the first four anniversary dates of the date of the grant.

        On February 15, 2000, Forcenergy adopted the Forcenergy 1999 Stock Plan. On December 7, 2000, in connection with the merger, the Company assumed the obligations of the plan and all options outstanding on that date became fully vested. The Forcenergy 1999 Stock Plan was subsequently terminated.

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        The following table summarizes the activity in the Company's stock-based compensation plans for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

 
  Number of
Shares

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

  Number of
Shares
Exercisable

Outstanding at December 31, 1999   1,814,230   $ 22.63   782,590
  Granted at fair value   2,422,011     22.05    
  Granted below fair value   252,500     14.06    
  Exercised   (686,004 )   17.06    
  Cancelled   (68,964 )   22.38    
   
 
   
Outstanding at December 31, 2000   3,733,773     22.70   2,033,573
  Granted at fair value   929,650     26.63    
  Exercised   (573,805 )   13.99    
  Cancelled   (127,276 )   28.04    
   
 
   
Outstanding at December 31, 2001   3,962,342   $ 24.71   2,072,342
  Granted at fair value   105,300     29.62    
  Exercised   (265,164 )   15.42    
  Cancelled   (186,934 )   29.90    
   
 
   
Outstanding at December 31, 2002   3,615,544   $ 25.26   2,374,436
   
 
 

        The fair value of each option granted in 2002, 2001 and 2000 was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following assumptions were used to compute the weighted average fair market value of options granted:

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
Expected life of options   5 years   5 years   5 years
Risk free interest rates   2.76%-4.64%   3.52%-4.91%   5.14%-6.68%
Estimated volatility   57.80%   60.61%   60.64%
Dividend yield   0.0%   0.0%   0.0%
Weighted average fair market value of options granted during the year   $15.90   $14.79   $12.95

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        The following table summarizes information about options outstanding at December 31, 2002:

 
  Options Outstanding
   
   
 
  Options Exercisable
 
   
  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life

   
Range of
Exercise Prices

  Number
Outstanding
as of
12/31/2002

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

  Number
Exercisable
as of
12/31/2002

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

$12.50-14.88   615,994   6.64   $ 13.89   524,944   $ 13.72
16.75-22.50   479,350   6.11     20.43   404,600     20.49
23.30-25.00   541,250   8.93     24.96   146,042     24.94
25.16-28.00   479,250   6.62     27.21   312,050     27.48
28.33-29.56   50,750   7.01     29.11   29,750     29.13
29.75   1,050,400   7.92     29.75   636,900     29.75
29.88-35.50   354,550   7.07     32.97   284,150     33.27
36.20   10,000   8.42     36.20   4,000     36.20
36.88   5,000   7.99     36.88   3,000     36.88
50.00   29,000   0.79     50.00   29,000     50.00
   
 
 
 
 
    3,615,544   7.29   $ 25.26   2,374,436   $ 24.72
   
 
 
 
 

Stock Purchase Plan:

        Under the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP), the Company is authorized to issue up to 125,000 shares of Common Stock. Employees who are regularly scheduled to work more than 20 hours per week and more than five months in any calendar year may participate in the ESPP. Under the terms of the plan, employees can choose each quarter to have up to 15% of their annual base earnings withheld to purchase Common Stock, up to a limit of $25,000 of Common Stock per calendar year. The purchase price of the Common Stock is 85% of the lower of its beginning-of-quarter or end-of-quarter market price. The employee is restricted from selling the shares of Common Stock purchased under the ESPP for a period of six months after purchase. Under the ESPP, the Company sold 20,160 shares, 19,140 shares and 6,735 shares of Common Stock to employees in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

        The fair value of each stock purchase right granted during 2002, 2001 and 2000 was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following assumptions were used to compute the weighted average fair market value of purchase rights granted:

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
Expected option life   3 months   3 months   3 months
Risk free interest rates   1.59%-1.79%   1.72%-4.28%   5.83%-6.50%
Estimated volatility   57.80%   60.61%   60.64%
Dividend yield   0.0%   0.0%   0.0%
Weighted average fair market value of purchase rights granted   $8.89   $9.60   $7.00

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        On February 15, 2000, Forcenergy adopted the Forcenergy 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, under which Forcenergy was authorized to issue up to 384,000 shares of common stock to qualifying employees at a purchase price of 85% of the lower of the market price at the beginning or end of each semi-annual period. On December 7, 2000, in connection with the merger, the Company assumed the outstanding obligations of the plan through December 31, 2000, and the plan was terminated. Under this plan, 26,377 shares of common stock were sold to employees in 2000.

        The fair value of each stock purchase right granted during 2000 was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following assumptions were used to compute the weighted average fair market value of the purchase rights granted:

 
  2000
Expected option life   6 months
Risk free interest rates   6.12%-6.50%
Estimated volatility   60.64%
Dividend yield   0.0%
Weighted average fair market value of purchase rights granted   $5.08

(8) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:

United States Pension Plan and Postretirement Benefits:

        The Company has a qualified defined benefit pension plan which covers its employees in the United States (Pension Plan). The Pension Plan has been curtailed and all benefit accruals were suspended effective May 31, 1991. The Company also has a non-qualified unfunded supplementary retirement plan (the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan) that provides certain officers with defined retirement benefits in excess of qualified plan limits imposed by Federal tax law. Benefit accruals were suspended effective May 31, 1991 in connection with suspension of benefit accruals under the Pension Plan. Amounts for both the Pension Plan and the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan are combined in the "Pension Benefits" column below.

        In addition to the defined benefit pension plans described above, the Company also accrues expected costs of providing postretirement benefits to employees in the United States, their beneficiaries and covered dependents in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions (SFAS No. 106). These amounts, which consist primarily of medical benefits payable on behalf of retirees in the United States, are presented in the "Postretirement Benefits" column below.

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        The following tables set forth the plans' benefit obligations, fair value of plan assets and funded status at December 31, 2002 and 2001:

 
  Pension Benefits
  Postretirement
Benefits

 
Benefit Obligations:

  2002
  2001
  2002
  2001
 
 
 
 
  (In Thousands)

  (In Thousands)

 
Projected benefit obligation at the beginning of the year   $ 28,019   26,689   6,902   7,176  
Service cost         576   482  
Interest cost     1,728   1,944   467   431  
Actuarial (gain) loss     1,350   1,695   763   (804 )
Benefits paid     (2,323 ) (2,309 ) (677 ) (452 )
Retiree contributions         58   69  
   
 
 
 
 
Projected benefit obligation at the end of the year   $ 28,774   28,019   8,089   6,902  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Pension Benefits
  Postretirement
Benefits

 
Fair Value of Plan Assets:

  2002
  2001
  2002
  2001
 


 
 
  (In Thousands)

  (In Thousands)

 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of the year   $ 21,615   22,208      
Actual return on plan assets     (288 ) 392      
Plan participants' contribution         58   69  
Employer contribution     832   1,324   619   383  
Benefits paid     (2,323 ) (2,309 ) (677 ) (452 )
   
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year   $ 19,836   21,615      
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Pension Benefits
  Postretirement Benefits
 
Funded Status:

  2002
  2001
  2002
  2001
 


 
 
  (In Thousands)

  (In Thousands)

 
Excess of projected benefit obligation over plan assets   $ (8,938 ) (6,405 ) (8,089 ) (6,902 )
Unrecognized actuarial (gain) loss     11,408   8,588   552   (211 )
   
 
 
 
 
Net amount recognized   $ 2,470   2,183   (7,537 ) (7,113 )
   
 
 
 
 
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet consist of:                    
  Prepaid pension cost   $ 2,872   2,593      
  Accrued benefit liability     (8,938 ) (6,405 ) (7,537 ) (7,113 )
  Accumulated other comprehensive income     8,536   5,995      
   
 
 
 
 
Net amount recognized   $ 2,470   2,183   (7,537 ) (7,113 )
   
 
 
 
 

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        The following tables set forth the components of the net periodic cost of the plans and the underlying weighted average actuarial assumptions for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

 
  Pension Benefits
  Postretirement Benefits
 
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
 
  (In Thousands)

  (In Thousands)

 
Service cost   $       576   482   219  
Interest cost     1,728   1,944   1,974   467   431   507  
Expected return on plan assets     (1,452 ) (1,921 ) (2,032 )      
Recognized actuarial (gain) loss     268   240   34     (1 )  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total net periodic expense (benefit)   $ 544   263   (24 ) 1,043   912   726  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate     6.50 % 7.00 % 7.50 % 6.50 % 7.00 % 7.50 %
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expected return on plan assets     7.00 % 9.00 % 9.00 % n/a   n/a   n/a  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

        Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for postretirement benefits. A one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects for 2002:

 
  Postretirement Benefits
 
 
  1% Increase
  1% Decrease
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Effect on service and interest cost components   $ 290   $ (108 )
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation   $ 1,311   $ (925 )

        For measurement purposes, a 6.3% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed for 2002. The rate was assumed to decrease .8% to 5.5% in 2003 and to remain at that level thereafter.

        As a result of suspension of benefit accruals under the Pension Plan and the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, the Company records as a liability the unfunded pension liabilities attributable to these plans. The following changes in the minimum unfunded pension liability were recorded as adjustments to other comprehensive income (in thousands):

2002   $ (3,595 )
2001   $ (4,251 )
2000   $ (2,072 )

Canadian Pension Plan and Postretirement Benefits:

        Canadian Forest has a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan (the Canadian Defined Benefit Plan). Benefits under the Canadian Defined Benefit Plan are based on years of service, the employee's average annual compensation during the highest consecutive sixty month period of pensionable service and the employee's age at retirement. On April 1, 2000, a defined contribution plan (the Canadian Defined Contribution Plan) was introduced and many of Canadian Forest's employees elected to be covered under

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the new plan. All new employees are covered by the Canadian Defined Contribution Plan. The Company recorded a curtailment gain of $323,000 in the year ended December 31, 2000 for the decrease in the projected benefit obligation related to those employees no longer covered by the Canadian Defined Benefit Plan.

        In addition to the defined benefit pension plan described above, Canadian Forest also accrues expected costs of providing postretirement benefits to certain of its Canadian employees, their beneficiaries and covered dependents in accordance with SFAS No. 106. These amounts, which consist primarily of medical and dental benefits payable on behalf of retirees in Canada, are presented in the "Postretirement Benefits" column below. The postretirement benefit is closed to new participants.

        The following tables set forth the estimated benefit obligations, fair value of plan assets and funded status of the Canadian Defined Benefit Plan and Canadian postretirement benefits at December 31, 2002 and 2001:

 
  Pension Benefits
  Postretirement
Benefits

 
Benefit Obligations:

  2002
  2001
  2002
 
 
  (In Thousands of Canadian Dollars)

 
Projected benefit obligation at the beginning of the year   $ 5,260   4,959    
Service cost     404   379   723  
Interest cost     376   336    
Actuarial loss     614   186    
Benefits paid     (585 ) (600 ) (23 )
   
 
 
 
Projected benefit obligation at the end of the year   $ 6,069   5,260   700  
   
 
 
 
 
  Pension Benefits
  Postretirement
Benefits

 
Fair Value of Plan Assets:

  2002
  2001
  2002
 
 
  (In Thousands of Canadian Dollars)

 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year   $ 6,900   7,189    
Actual return on plan assets     776   246    
Employer contributions     54   65   23  
Benefits paid     (585 ) (600 ) (23 )
   
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year   $ 7,145   6,900    
   
 
 
 
 
  Pension Benefits
  Postretirement
Benefits

 
Funded Status:

  2002
  2001
  2002
 
 
  (In Thousands of Canadian Dollars)

 
Excess of assets over projected benefit obligation   $ 1,076   1,640   (700 )
Unamortized transitional obligation asset     (1,819 ) (2,046 )  
Unamortized net actuarial loss     925   615    
   
 
 
 
Net amount recognized   $ 182   209   (700 )
   
 
 
 

81


        The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension cost and the underlying weighted average actuarial assumptions for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000. The amounts shown include costs of both of the Canadian plans because the surplus attributable to the defined benefits plan is being used to meet the obligations of both plans:

 
  Pension Benefits
  Postretirement
Benefits

 
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
  2002
 
 
  (In Thousands of Canadian Dollars)

 
Service cost   $ 404   379   326   723  
Interest cost     376   336   362    
Expected return on plan assets     (484 ) (509 ) (525 )  
Amortization of transition asset     (227 ) (227 ) (246 )  
Recognized actuarial gains     13        
Settlement gain         (323 )  
   
 
 
 
 
Total net periodic pension expense (benefit)   $ 82   (21 ) (406 ) 723  
   
 
 
 
 
Discount rate     6.50 % 6.70 % 7.25 % 7.00 %
   
 
 
 
 
Expected return on plan assets     7.00 % 7.00 % 7.00 % n/a  
   
 
 
 
 

United States Retirement Savings Plans:

        The Company sponsors a qualified tax-deferred savings plan for its employees in the United States in accordance with the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Effective January 1, 2002, employees may defer up to 80% of their compensation, subject to certain limitations. Prior thereto, employees could defer up to 15% of their compensation, subject to certain limitations. In 2002, 2001 and 2000 the Company matched employee contributions up to 5% of eligible employee compensation. Effective January 1, 2003, the Company matching percentage increased to 6% of eligible employee compensation. The expense associated with the Company's contributions was $1,184,000 in 2002, $882,000 in 2001 and $578,000 in 2000. In each of these years, the Company matched employee contributions in cash.

        The Company also sponsored a qualified tax-deferred savings plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for employees formerly employed by Forcenergy. This plan was merged into the Forest Oil 401(k) plan effective August 1, 2001. Employees could defer up to 15% of their compensation, subject to certain limitations. The Company matched employee contributions up to 50% of the first 5% of the employee compensation. The expense associated with the Company's contributions was $125,000 and $183,000 in 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Canadian Savings Plan:

        Canadian Forest also provides a savings plan which is available to all of its employees. Employees may contribute up to 4% of their salary, subject to certain limitations, with Canadian Forest matching the employee contribution in full. The expense associated with Canadian Forest's contributions to the plan was $169,000 in 2002, $160,000 in 2001 and $153,000 in 2000.

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Deferred Compensation Plans:

        The Company has an Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the Executive Plan) pursuant to which certain executives may defer a portion of their compensation after contributing the maximum allowable amount to the 401(k) Plan. The deferred compensation plan is not funded, but the Company records a liability for matching contributions and accrues interest on each executive's account balance at the rate of 1% per month. The expense associated with the Company's matching contributions and interest was $187,000 in 2002, $122,000 in 2001 and $80,000 in 2000 and the liability was approximately $1,090,000 and $697,000 at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        The Company adopted a Salary Deferred Compensation Plan (the Salary Deferred Compensation Plan) and Change of Control Deferred Compensation Plan (the Change of Control Plan) in the fourth quarter of 2002. Eligibility to participate in these plans is limited to a select group of officers of the Company. Under the terms of the Salary Deferred Compensation Plan, a participant may defer a percentage of his or her base salary, bonuses and possibly certain equity awards, while the Change of Control Plan will allow participants to make one-time deferrals of compensation that they would otherwise receive upon a change in control of the Company. Under both plans, the Company will deposit the deferred amounts in a trust (a so-called "rabbi trust"). Assets of the trusts will be available to creditors of the Company in the event of the Company's insolvency or bankruptcy. Amounts were deferred under the Salary Deferred Compensation Plan in the first quarter of 2003. Deferrals will not occur under the Change of Control Plan until a change of control event. The taxable income and losses of the trusts will be included in the Company's taxable income, and the Company's deductions for tax purposes for any compensation deferred under these plans will be delayed until the funds held in the trusts are distributed to the participant.

Split Dollar Life Insurance:

        The Company provides life insurance benefits for certain retirees under split dollar life insurance plans. Under the life insurance plans, the Company is assigned a portion of the benefits which is designed to recover the premiums paid. Until August 2002, the Company also provided life insurance benefits to two officers under split dollar life insurance plans. The Company has suspended this benefit pending clarification under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

83



(9) FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

        The Company recognizes the fair value of its derivative instruments as assets or liabilities on the balance sheet. The accounting treatment for the changes in fair value is dependent upon whether or not a derivative instrument is a cash flow hedge or a fair value hedge, and upon whether or not the derivative qualifies as an effective hedge. Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges are recognized, to the extent the hedge is effective, in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. For fair value hedges, to the extent the hedge is effective, there is no effect on the statement of operations because changes in fair value of the derivative offset changes in the fair value of the hedged item. For derivative instruments that do not qualify as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings as non-operating income or expense.

Interest Rate Swaps:

        In 2002 and 2001 the Company entered into two interest rate swaps intended to exchange the fixed interest rate on a specified principal amount of the 8% Notes due 2011 and the 8% Notes due 2008 for a variable rate based on LIBOR plus specified basis points over the term of the notes. The interest rate swaps were treated as fair value hedges for accounting purposes. In August 2002, the Company sold a call option on these two interest rate swaps. The call option was not designated as a hedge. On September 30, 2002 the Company terminated the two interest rate swaps and settled the call option. The Company received approximately $20,858,000 (net of accrued settlements of approximately $1,779,000) in connection with termination of the interest rate swaps. Those aggregate gains were deferred and added to the carrying value of the related debt, and will be amortized as reductions of interest expense over the remaining terms of the note issues. The Company recorded approximately $1,823,000 as a realized loss on derivative instruments as a result of settlement of the call option.

        In 2002, the Company entered into an interest rate swap intended to exchange the fixed interest rate on a specified principal amount of the 73/4% Notes for a variable rate based on LIBOR plus specified basis points over the term of the notes. On December 27, 2002 the Company terminated this interest rate swap. The Company received approximately $14,772,000 (net of accrued settlements of approximately $1,128,000) in connection with termination of the interest rate swap. The gain was deferred and added to the carrying value of the related debt, and will be amortized as reductions of interest expense over the remaining term of the note issue.

        During the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, the Company recognized net gains of $9,802,000 and $1,163,000, respectively, under the terminated interest rate swaps, which were recorded as reductions of interest expense.

Commodity Swaps, Collars and Basis Swaps:

        Forest periodically hedges a portion of its oil and gas production through swap and collar agreements. The purpose of the hedges is to provide a measure of stability to the Company's cash flows in an environment of volatile oil and gas prices and to manage the exposure to commodity price risk.

        All of the Company's commodity swaps and collar agreements and a portion of its basis swaps in place at December 31, 2002 have been designated as cash flow hedges. At December 31, 2002 the Company had a derivative asset of $4,440,000 (of which $3,241,000 was classified as current), a derivative liability of $32,849,000 (of which $29,120,000 was classified as current), a deferred tax asset of $10,795,000 (of which

84



$9,834,000 was classified as current) and accumulated other comprehensive loss of approximately $17,357,000.

        The Company's gains (losses) under these agreements were:

 
  Years Ended December 31,
 
 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges   $ (1,742 ) 22,781   (129,091 )
Derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges     (2,041 ) 11,932    
   
 
 
 
Total gain (loss)   $ (3,783 ) 34,713   (129,091 )
   
 
 
 

        In a typical swap agreement, Forest receives the difference between a fixed price per unit of production and a price based on an agreed upon published, third party index if the index price is lower. If the index price is higher, Forest pays the difference. By entering into swap agreements the Company effectively fixes the price that it will receive in the future for the hedged production. Forest's current swaps are settled in cash on a monthly basis. As of December 31, 2002, Forest had entered into the following swaps accounted for as cash flow hedges:

 
  Natural Gas
  Oil (NYMEX WTI)
 
  BBTUs
per Day

  Average
Hedged Price
per MMBTU

  Barrels
per Day

  Average
Hedged Price
per Barrel

First Quarter 2003   41.6   $ 3.88   8,000   $ 23.62
Second Quarter 2003   80.0   $ 4.10   10,500   $ 24.54
Third Quarter 2003   60.0   $ 4.07   7,000   $ 23.21
Fourth Quarter 2003   33.5   $ 4.16   7,000   $ 23.16
First Quarter 2004     $   5,000   $ 23.07
Second Quarter 2004   20.0   $ 3.90   3,000   $ 23.10
ThirdQuarter 2004   20.0   $ 3.90   2,000   $ 22.98
Fourth Quarter 2004   6.7   $ 3.90   2,000   $ 22.98

        Forest also enters into collar agreements with third parties. A collar agreement is similar to a swap agreement, except that the Company receives the difference between the floor price and the index price only if the index price is below the floor price, and the Company pays the difference between the ceiling price and the index price only if the index price is above the ceiling price. Collars are also settled in cash, either on a monthly basis or at the end of their terms. By entering into collars, the Company effectively provides a floor for the price that it will receive for the hedged production; however, the collar also establishes a maximum price that the Company will receive for the hedged production if prices increase above the ceiling price. The Company enters into collars during periods of volatile commodity prices in order to protect against a significant decline in prices in exchange for forgoing the benefit of price

85




increases in excess of the ceiling price on the hedged production. As of December 31, 2002, the Company had entered into the following gas and oil collars accounted for as cash flow hedges:

 
  Natural Gas
 
  BBTUs per
Day

  Average Floor Price
per MMBTU

  Average Ceiling Price
per MMBTU

First Quarter 2003   80.0   $ 3.44   $ 5.10
Second Quarter 2003   20.0   $ 3.25   $ 4.08
Third Quarter 2003   20.0   $ 3.25   $ 4.08
Fourth Quarter 2003   33.3   $ 3.49   $ 4.93
First Quarter 2004   40.0   $ 3.55   $ 5.15
 
  Oil (NYMEX WTI)
 
  Barrels per
Day

  Average Floor Price
per BBL

  Average Ceiling Price
per BBL

First Quarter 2003   5,500   $ 23.36   $ 27.04
Second Quarter 2003   3,000   $ 22.00   $ 25.42
Third Quarter 2003   3,000   $ 22.00   $ 25.42
Fourth Quarter 2003   3,000   $ 22.00   $ 25.42
First Quarter 2004   2,000   $ 22.00   $ 24.08

        The Company also uses basis swaps from time to time in connection with natural gas swaps, in order to fix the price differential between the NYMEX price and the index price at which the hedged gas is sold. At December 31, 2002 there were basis swaps designated as cash flow hedges in place with weighted average volumes of 68.8 BBTUs per day for 2003 and weighted average volumes of 5.8 BBTUs per day for 2004. At December 31, 2002 there were basis swaps not designated as cash flow hedges in place with weighted average volumes of 18.3 BBTUs per day for 2003 and weighted average volumes of 2.5 BBTUs per day for 2004.

        The Company is exposed to risks associated with swap and collar agreements arising from movements in the prices of oil and natural gas and from the unlikely event of non-performance by the counterparties to the swap and collar agreements.

        Set forth below is the estimated fair value of certain financial instruments, along with the methods and assumptions used to estimate such fair values as of December 31, 2002:

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable:

        The carrying amount of these instruments approximates fair value due to their short maturity.

Senior Subordinated Notes:

        The fair value of the Company's 101/2% Notes was approximately $69,928,000, based upon quoted market prices of the notes. In January 2003, the Company redeemed the outstanding principal amount of its 101/2% Notes.

86


Senior Notes:

        The fair value of the Company's 8% Notes Due 2008 was approximately $279,575,000 based upon quoted market prices for the notes. The fair value of the Company's 8% Notes Due 2011 was approximately $168,800,000, based upon quoted market prices for the notes. The fair value of the Company's 73/4% Notes due 2014 was approximately $153,750,000 based upon quoted market prices for the notes.

Energy swap agreements:

        The fair value of the Company's energy swap agreements was a loss of approximately $20,226,000, based upon the discounted intrinsic value of the derivatives.

Energy collar agreements:

        The fair value of the Company's energy collar agreements was a loss of approximately $9,053,000, based upon the discounted intrinsic value and option value of the derivatives.

Basis swap agreements:

        The fair value of the Company's basis swap agreements was a gain of approximately $870,000, based upon the discounted intrinsic value of the derivatives.

(10) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

        Beginning in 1995, the Company consummated certain transactions with The Anschutz Corporation and related entities (Anschutz) pursuant to which Anschutz acquired a significant ownership position in the Company. As of December 31, 2002 Anschutz owned 32.4% of Forest's outstanding common shares and, in addition, held options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 522,216 shares of common stock.

        In January 2003, Forest issued 7,850,000 shares of stock at a gross price of $24.50 per share. Forest used the net proceeds from the offering to repurchase 7,850,000 shares of common stock from Anschutz and certain of its affiliates at a price of $23.52 per share. The shares were cancelled immediately upon repurchase. Subsequent to the share issuance, the repurchase of shares from Anschutz, and the issuance of an additional 900,000 shares in February 2003 in connection with an over-allotment option, Anschutz owned 15.3% of Forest's outstanding common shares.

        In 1998, the Company purchased certain oil and gas assets from Anschutz for $67,565,000. Forest and Anschutz subsequently agreed to acquire additional concessions in South Africa. Effective October 1, 1999, Forest and Anschutz entered into an agreement under which Anschutz repurchased 30% of the original South Africa blocks sold to Forest and Forest purchased 20% of a new South Africa concession from Anschutz. Consideration was based on the original purchase price paid to Anschutz by Forest and based on actual costs incurred by the respective parties in obtaining the new concessions. As a result of these agreements, Forest has a 70% interest in the two South African concessions. Forest is the operator of the South Africa concession blocks and is reimbursed by Anschutz for general, technical and administrative overhead.

87



        In connection with Forest's activities related to the development of the Ibhubesi Gas Field, offshore South Africa, a Participation Agreement was signed March 13, 2003 with The Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (Pty) Limited (PetroSA) and Anschutz Overseas South Africa (Pty) Limited (Anschutz Overseas). Under the terms of the Participation Agreement PetroSA has agreed to contribute US$30 million towards a drilling program starting in 2003 in order to earn an undivided 24% cost bearing interest (16.8% from Forest and 7.2% from Anschutz Overseas) in certain sub-lease agreements covering portions of Forest's South African offshore acreage, including the Ibhubesi Gas Field. PetroSA also has the option to acquire additional cost bearing interests. The Participation Agreement will not become operative until PetroSA has satisfactorily completed additional due diligence within twenty (20) days after the effective date, various governmental approvals have been obtained and the US$30 million has been transferred to an escrow account. The Company has dedicated considerable resources to the exploration of properties in South Africa; however, the Company does not expect to record any reserves for the Ibhubesi discovery until gas sales agreements have been executed.

        In August 2001, the Company completed a joint exploration agreement with Anschutz Exploration Corporation (AEC) concerning properties in the Copper River Basin in Alaska. AEC held a 100% interest in an exploration license issued by the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources granting exploration rights to approximately 400,000 acres in the Copper River Basin. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement executed by the Company and AEC in August 2001, AEC assigned to the Company a 50% interest in this license and the Company and AEC agreed to jointly acquire, explore, develop, produce and market the production from the lands covered by this license and other lands included in a defined area of mutual interest. Under the agreement, the parties will bear proportionally to their working interest in any license or lease acquired in the designated area of mutual interest a four percent of 8/8ths overriding royalty interest in favor of AEC. Under the terms of the license and the joint exploration agreement, the Company and AEC are required to expend approximately $1.42 million in exploration expenditures during the term of the license. In 2001, the Company reimbursed AEC $233,566 for its proportionate share of the exploration and other costs incurred to date.

(11) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

        Future rental payments for office facilities and equipment and well equipment under the remaining terms of noncancelable operating leases are $4,556,000, $4,430,000, $3,876,000, $1,932,000 and $1,250,000 for the years ending December 31, 2003 through 2007, respectively.

        Net rental payments applicable to exploration and development activities and capitalized in the oil and gas property accounts aggregated $4,109,000 in 2002, $6,343,000 in 2001 and $4,021,000 in 2000. Net rental payments charged to expense amounted to $7,546,000 in 2002, $8,241,000 in 2001 and $7,011,000 in 2000. Rental payments include the short-term lease of vehicles. There are no leases which are accounted for as capital leases.

88



        A significant portion of Canadian Forest's natural gas production is sold through the ProMark Netback Pool, which is operated by ProMark on behalf of Canadian Forest. At December 31, 2002, the ProMark Netback Pool had entered into fixed price contracts to sell natural gas at the following quantities and weighted average prices:

 
  Natural Gas
 
  BCF
  Sales Price
per MCF

2003   5.5   $ 2.78 CDN
2004   5.5   $ 2.88 CDN
2005   5.5   $ 2.99 CDN
2006   5.5   $ 3.11 CDN
2007   5.5   $ 3.23 CDN
2008   5.5   $ 3.36 CDN
2009   3.6   $ 4.06 CDN
2010   1.7   $ 6.23 CDN
2011   .8   $ 6.57 CDN

        Canadian Forest, as one of the producers in the netback pool, is obligated to supply its contract quantity. In 2002 Canadian Forest supplied 42% of the total netback pool sales quantity. In the 2003/2004 contract year, it is estimated that Canadian Forest will supply approximately 42% of the netback pool quantity. The Company currently expects that Canadian Forest's pro rata obligations as a gas producer will continue to change and may increase as production dedicated to the netback pool declines and producers' supply contracts expire, or may decrease as gas sales contracts expire.

        As the operator of the netback pool, ProMark is required to acquire gas in the event of a shortfall between the gas supply and market obligations. A shortfall could occur if a gas producer fails to deliver its contractual share of the supply obligations of the netback pool. The cost of purchasing gas to cover any shortfall is a cost of the netback pool. The prices paid for shortfall gas would typically be spot market prices and may differ from the market prices received from netback pool customers. Higher spot prices would reduce the average netback pool price paid to the gas producers, including Canadian Forest. Shortfalls in gas produced may occur in the future. The Company does not believe that such shortfalls will be significant.

        In addition to its commitments to the ProMark Netback Pool, Canadian Forest has contracts to sell approximately .6 BCF of natural gas annually from 2003 through 2006 at prices increasing ratably from $3.82 CDN per MCF in 2003 to $4.27 CDN per MCF in 2006.

        As part of ProMark's gas marketing activities, ProMark has entered into fixed price contracts to purchase and to resell natural gas. At December 31, 2002, ProMark's trading operations had the following purchase and sales commitments in place for 2003:

 
  Natural Gas
 
  BCF
  Purchase Price
per MCF

  Sales Price per
MCF

2003   1.2   $ 5.13 CDN   $ 5.17 CDN

89


        The Company could be exposed to loss in the event that a counterparty to these agreements failed to perform in accordance with the terms of the agreements.

        Forest, in the ordinary course of business, is a party to various legal actions. While we believe that the amount of any potential loss would not be material to our consolidated financial position, the ultimate outcome of these proceedings is inherently difficult to predict with any certainty. In the event of an unfavorable outcome, the potential loss could have an adverse effect on Forest's results of operations and cash flow in the reporting periods in which any such actions are resolved.

        On May 1, 2002, the State of Alaska approved the development and production phase of our Redoubt Shoal project (the Production Project). On May 30, 2002, Cook Inlet Keeper, a non-governmental third party, filed a challenge to the regulatory review and approval process for the Production Project. In July 2002, Forest was granted leave to intervene to defend the State of Alaska's approval of the Projection Project. In August 2002, the Court entered a briefing schedule. That briefing has been completed, and the matter is now set for oral argument before the Court on April 17, 2003. Separately, Cook Inlet Keeper filed a motion in September 2002 asking the Court to stay Forest's development and production phase operations during the pendency of the briefing process and through the Court's final determination regarding the challenge. Forest filed an opposition, and the Court denied Cook Inlet Keeper's motion on December 4, 2002. Cook Inlet Keeper appealed that denial to the Alaska Supreme Court. Forest subsequently filed an opposition. On March 14, 2003, the Alaska Supreme Court remanded the matter back to the trial Court for clarification of the Court's ruling, and postponed ruling on the petition for review until receipt of that clarification. While we intend to continue our vigorous opposition to Cook Inlet Keeper's challenge, the outcome of the litigation is inherently difficult to predict with any certainty. We can give no assurances as to the effect of any delays in the Production Project on Forest's financial condition and results of operations.

90



(12) SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (unaudited):

 
  First
Quarter

  Second
Quarter

  Third
Quarter

  Fourth
Quarter

 
 
  (In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 
2002                    
Revenue(1)   $ 96,433   126,887   124,781   127,593  
   
 
 
 
 
Earnings from operations   $ 10,879   28,862   24,395   27,512  
   
 
 
 
 
Net earnings (loss) before extraordinary item   $ (1,553 ) 12,056   4,683   9,300  
   
 
 
 
 
Net earnings (loss)   $ (1,784 ) 10,958   2,909   9,193  
   
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings (loss) per share before extraordinary item   $ (.03 ) 0.25   0.10   0.20  
Basic earnings (loss) per share   $ (.04 ) 0.23   0.06   0.20  
Diluted earnings (loss) per share before extraordinary item   $ (.03 ) 0.25   0.10   0.19  
Diluted earnings (loss) per share   $ (.04 ) 0.23   0.06   0.19  
2001(2)                    
Revenue(1)   $ 258,671   187,929   146,619   125,098  
   
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) from operations   $ 155,373   75,336   22,291   (8,627 )
   
 
 
 
 
Earning (loss)before extraordinary item   $ 81,285   52,179   2,367   (26,477 )
   
 
 
 
 
Net earnings (loss)   $ 81,285   50,589   1,540   (29,671 )
   
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings (loss) per share before extraordinary item   $ 1.68   1.08   .05   (.56 )
Basic earnings (loss) per share   $ 1.68   1.05   .03   (.63 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per share before extraordinary item   $ 1.60   1.04   .05   (.56 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per share   $ 1.60   1.01   .03   (.63 )

(1)
In the third quarter of 2002 the Company began presenting revenue and expenses from marketing and processing activities as a net revenue line item in the statement of operations. Revenue for all quarters in 2001 and the first two quarters of 2002 has been restated to reflect the net presentation of the Company's marketing and processing activities.

(2)
The fourth quarter of 2001 includes an impairment of international oil and gas properties of $18,072,000 ($11,052,000 net of tax), an impairment of contract value of $3,239,000 ($1,891,000 net of tax) related to the netback pool administered by ProMark and $10,560,000 ($6,458,000 net of tax) of expense related to write off of 100% of Enron-related assets.

91


(13) BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS:

        Segment information has been prepared in accordance with Statement 131, Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information (SFAS No. 131). In 2002, 2001 and 2000, Forest had seven reportable segments consisting of oil and gas operations in six business units (Gulf of Mexico Offshore Region, Gulf Coast Onshore Region, Western United States, Alaska, Canada and International), and marketing and processing operations conducted by ProMark in Canada. The segments were determined based upon the type of operations in each business unit and the geographical location of each. The segment data presented below was prepared on the same basis as the consolidated financial statements.

Year ended December 31, 2002

 
  Oil and Gas Operations
   
   
   
 
  Gulf of Mexico Offshore
  Gulf
Coast
Onshore

  Western
  Alaska
  Total
United States

  Canada
  Total
  Marketing
and
Processing

  Inter-
national

  Total
Company

 
   
   
   
   
  (In Thousands)

   
   
   
   
Revenue   $ 244,298   48,049   63,054   65,475   420,876   50,864   471,740   3,954     475,694
Expenses:                                          
  Oil and gas production     66,106   16,225   21,572   40,988   144,891   13,808   158,699       158,699
  General and administrative     15,003   4,290   6,041   7,570   32,904   4,738   37,642   1,484     39,126
  Depletion     109,845   13,564   17,614   18,818   159,841   21,326   181,167   933     182,100
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings from operations   $ 53,344   13,970   17,827   (1,901 ) 83,240   10,992   94,232   1,537     95,769
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Capital expenditures

 

$

90,819

 

24,437

 

37,578

 

163,836

 

316,670

 

21,286

 

337,956

 


 

16,264

 

354,220
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Property and equipment, net

 

$

486,067

 

298,957

 

231,507

 

368,223

 

1,384,754

 

229,773

 

1,614,527

 


 

66,533

 

1,681,060
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

        Information for reportable segments relates to the Company's 2002 consolidated totals as follows:

 
  (In Thousands)
 
Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item:        
Earnings from operations for reportable segments   $ 95,769  
Administrative asset depreciation     (4,121 )
Other expense, net     (703 )
Interest expense     (50,433 )
Translation gain on subordinated debt     332  
Realized loss on derivative instruments, net     (1,253 )
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net     (788 )
   
 
Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item   $ 38,803  
   
 

92


Year ended December 31, 2001

 
  Oil and Gas Operations
   
   
   
 
  Gulf of Mexico Offshore
  Gulf
Coast
Onshore

  Western
  Alaska
  Total
United States

  Canada
  Total
  Marketing
and
Processing

  Inter-
national

  Total
Company

 
   
   
   
   
  (In Thousands)

   
   
   
   
Revenue   $ 435,370   61,325   78,356   82,655   657,706   57,146   714,852   3,465     718,317
Expenses:                                          
  Oil and gas production     88,492   20,176   23,766   38,021   170,455   15,795   186,250       186,250
  General and administrative     11,966   3,094   4,135   4,932   24,127   5,011   29,138   1,376     30,514
  Depletion     153,041   14,680   16,282   18,117   202,120   17,664   219,784   1,857     221,641
  Impairment of oil and gas properties                     18,072   18,072
  Impairment of contract value                   3,239     3,239
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings from operations   $ 181,871   23,375   34,173   21,585   261,004   18,676   279,680   (3,007 ) (18,072 ) 258,601
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Capital expenditures

 

$

265,328

 

51,208

 

45,333

 

106,260

 

468,129

 

63,193

 

531,322

 


 

33,339

 

564,661
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Property and equipment, net

 

$

501,640

 

289,119

 

211,905

 

223,099

 

1,225,763

 

233,578

 

1,459,341

 


 

51,612

 

1,510,953
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

        Information for reportable segments relates to the Company's 2001 consolidated totals as follows:

 
  (In Thousands)
 
Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item:        
Earnings from operations for reportable segments   $ 258,601  
Administrative asset depreciation     (4,392 )
Other expense, net     (9,592 )
Merger and seismic licensing expense     (9,836 )
Interest expense     (49,910 )
Translation loss on subordinated debt     (7,872 )
Realized gain on derivative instruments, net     11,556  
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments, net     376  
   
 
Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item   $ 188,931  
   
 

93


Year ended December 31, 2000

 
  Oil and Gas Operations
   
   
   
 
  Gulf of Mexico Offshore
  Gulf
Coast
Onshore

  Western
  Alaska
  Total
United States

  Canada
  Total
  Marketing
and
Processing

  Inter-
national

  Total
Company

 
   
   
   
   
  (In Thousands)

   
   
   
   
Revenue   $ 359,718   48,313   95,442   62,882   566,355   58,570   624,925   3,094     628,019
Expenses:                                          
  Oil and gas production     64,862   11,885   26,807   23,877   127,431   12,787   140,218       140,218
  General and administrative     16,272   4,559   6,083   3,220   30,134   4,060   34,194   1,386     35,580
  Depletion     123,020   20,576   27,158   20,148   190,902   18,056   208,958   2,227     211,185
  Impairment of oil and gas properties                     5,876   5,876
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (loss) from operations   $ 155,564   11,293   35,394   15,637   217,888   23,667   241,555   (519 ) (5,876 ) 235,160
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Capital expenditures

 

$

218,540

 

10,083

 

25,504

 

58,085

 

312,212

 

50,802

 

363,014

 


 

25,024

 

388,038
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Property and equipment, net

 

$

515,973

 

257,336

 

199,456

 

135,528

 

1,108,293

 

202,941

 

1,311,234

 


 

40,432

 

1,351,666
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

        Information for reportable segments relates to the Company's 2000 consolidated totals as follows:

 
  (In Thousands)
 
Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item:        
Earnings from operations for reportable segments   $ 235,160  
Administrative asset depreciation     (1,295 )
Other income, net     1,757  
Merger and seismic licensing expense     (31,577 )
Interest expense     (60,269 )
Translation loss on subordinated debt     (7,102 )
   
 
Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item   $ 136,674  
   
 

94


(14) SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA—OIL AND GAS PRODUCING ACTIVITIES (unaudited):

        The following information is presented in accordance with Statement 69, Disclosure about Oil and Gas Producing Activities, (Statement No. 69).

        (A) Costs Incurred in Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Activities.    The following costs were incurred in oil and gas exploration and development activities during the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000:

 
  United
States

  Canada
  International
  Total
 
  (In Thousands)

2002                  
  Property acquisition costs (undeveloped leases and proved properties)   $ 3,925       3,925
  Exploration costs     72,698   13,401   16,264   102,363
  Development costs     240,047   7,885     247,932
   
 
 
 
    Total   $ 316,670   21,286   16,264   354,220
   
 
 
 
2001                  
  Property acquisition costs (undeveloped leases and proved properties)   $ (207 ) 238     31
  Exploration costs     145,882   44,793   33,339   224,014
  Development costs     322,454   18,162     340,616
   
 
 
 
    Total   $ 468,129   63,193   33,339   564,661
   
 
 
 
2000                  
  Property acquisition costs (undeveloped leases and proved properties)   $ 22,754   1   (56 ) 22,699
  Exploration costs     87,051   21,249   25,080   133,380
  Development costs     202,407   29,552     231,959
   
 
 
 
    Total   $ 312,212   50,802   25,024   388,038
   
 
 
 

        (B) Aggregate Capitalized Costs.    The aggregate capitalized costs relating to oil and gas activities at the end of each of the years indicated were as follows:

 
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Costs related to proved properties   $ 3,588,128   3,208,348   2,807,033  
Costs related to unproved properties:                
  Costs subject to depletion     3,316   13,355   6,982  
  Costs not subject to depletion     171,636   186,614   206,763  
   
 
 
 
      3,763,080   3,408,317   3,020,778  
Less accumulated depletion and valuation allowance     (2,082,020 ) (1,897,400 ) (1,669,112 )
   
 
 
 
    $ 1,681,060   1,510,917   1,351,666  
   
 
 
 

95


        (C) Results of Operations from Producing Activities.    Results of operations from producing activities for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 are presented below. Income taxes are different from income taxes shown in the Consolidated Statements of Operations because this table excludes general and administrative and interest expense.

 
  United
States

  Canada
  Total
 
  (In Thousands)

2002              
  Oil and gas sales   $ 420,876   50,864   471,740
  Production expense     144,891   13,808   158,699
  Depletion expense     159,841   21,326   181,167
  Income tax expense     44,135   5,576   49,711
   
 
 
      348,867   40,710   389,577
   
 
 
  Results of operations from producing activities   $ 72,009   10,154   82,163
   
 
 
2001              
  Oil and gas sales   $ 657,856   56,996   714,852
  Production expense     170,455   15,795   186,250
  Depletion expense     202,120   17,664   219,784
  Income tax expense     108,407   8,013   116,420
   
 
 
      480,982   41,472   522,454
   
 
 
  Results of operations from producing activities   $ 176,874   15,524   192,398
   
 
 
2000              
  Oil and gas sales   $ 555,582   69,343   624,925
  Production expense     127,431   12,787   140,218
  Depletion expense     190,902   18,056   208,958
  Income tax expense     83,041   16,551   99,592
   
 
 
      401,374   47,394   448,768
   
 
 
  Results of operations from producing activities   $ 154,208   21,949   176,157
   
 
 

        The Company recorded impairments of its international oil and gas properties of $18,072,000 in 2001 and $5,876,000 in 2000.

        (D) Estimated Proved Oil and Gas Reserves.    The Company's estimate of its net proved and proved developed oil and gas reserves and changes for 2002, 2001 and 2000 follows. Proved oil and gas reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions; i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made.

96



        Prices include consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual arrangement, but not on escalations based on future conditions. Purchases of reserves in place represent volumes recorded on the closing dates of the acquisitions for financial accounting purposes.

        Proved developed oil and gas reserves are reserves that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods. Additional oil and gas expected to be obtained through the application of fluid injection or other improved mechanisms of primary recovery are included as "proved developed reserves" only after testing by a pilot project or after the operation of an installed program has confirmed through production response that increased recovery will be achieved.

        Proved undeveloped oil and gas 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 for recompletion.

 
  Liquids
  Gas
 
 
  (MBBLS)
  (MMCF)
 
 
  United
States

  Canada
  Total
  United
States

  Canada
  Total
 
Balance at December 31, 1999   86,308   10,778   97,086   694,696   130,927   825,623  
  Revisions of previous estimates   (1,710 ) (641 ) (2,351 ) 2,680   (19,647 ) (16,967 )
  Extensions and discoveries   5,780   529   6,309   116,911   23,206   140,117  
  Production   (9,891 ) (1,536 ) (11,427 ) (102,320 ) (11,522 ) (113,842 )
  Sales of reserves in place   (904 ) (9 ) (913 ) (26,084 ) (2,172 ) (28,256 )
  Purchases of reserves in place   537     537   37,383     37,383  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2000   80,120   9,121   89,241   723,266   120,792   844,058  
  Revisions of previous estimates   878   680   1,558   (22,137 ) 3,789   (18,348 )
  Extensions and discoveries   44,000   135   44,135   133,933   46,221   180,154  
  Production   (9,239 ) (1,361 ) (10,600 ) (97,400 ) (10,994 ) (108,394 )
  Sales of reserves in place   (4,833 ) (35 ) (4,868 ) (68,979 ) (867 ) (69,846 )
  Purchases of reserves in place   69   14   83   56   869   925  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2001   110,995   8,554   119,549   668,739   159,810   828,549  
  Revisions of previous estimates   3,419   170   3,589   1,002   (18,565 ) (17,563 )
  Extensions and discoveries   10,544   11   10,555   85,460   10,205   95,665  
  Production   (7,477 ) (1,180 ) (8,657 ) (78,543 ) (13,525 ) (92,068 )
  Sales of reserves in place   (97 ) (641 ) (738 ) (324 ) (3,059 ) (3,383 )
  Purchases of reserves in place   68     68   2,076   118   2,194  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2002   117,452   6,914   124,366   678,410   134,984   813,394  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proved developed reserves at:                          
  December 31, 1999   57,746   10,715   68,461   539,802   124,201   664,003  
  December 31, 2000   53,385   9,121   62,506   546,789   83,824   630,613  
  December 31, 2001   45,909   8,554   54,463   491,757   123,168   614,925  
  December 31, 2002   61,398   6,914   68,312   496,056   79,777   575,833  

97


        (E) Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows.    Future oil and gas sales and production and development costs have been estimated using prices and costs in effect at the end of the years indicated, except in those instances where the sale of oil and natural gas is covered by contracts, in which case, the applicable contract prices, including fixed and determinable escalations, were used for the duration of the contract. Thereafter, the current spot price was used. All cash flow amounts, including income taxes, are discounted at 10%.

        Future income tax expenses are estimated using an estimated combined federal and state income tax rate of 38% in the United States and a combined Federal and Provincial rate of 42.12% in Canada. Estimates for future general and administrative and interest expense have not been considered.

        Changes in the demand for oil and natural gas, inflation and other factors make such estimates inherently imprecise and subject to substantial revision. This table should not be construed to be an estimate of the current market value of the Company's proved reserves. Management does not rely upon the information that follows in making investment decisions.

 
  December 31, 2002
 
 
  United
States

  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Future oil and gas sales   $ 6,191,349   628,996   6,820,345  
Future production costs     (1,486,637 ) (120,133 ) (1,606,770 )
Future development costs     (465,081 ) (31,826 ) (496,907 )
Future abandonment costs     (157,309 ) (2,665 ) (159,974 )
Future income taxes     (988,477 ) (126,994 ) (1,115,471 )
   
 
 
 
Future net cash flows     3,093,845   347,378   3,441,223  
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows     (1,250,048 ) (138,027 ) (1,388,075 )
   
 
 
 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows   $ 1,843,797   209,351   2,053,148  
   
 
 
 

        Present value of future net cash flows before income taxes was $2,323,870,000 in the United States and $262,257,000 in Canada at December 31, 2002.

98


 
  December 31, 2001
 
 
  United
States

  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Future oil and gas sales   $ 3,679,113   462,773   4,141,886  
Future production costs     (957,645 ) (126,656 ) (1,084,301 )
Future development costs     (346,695 ) (6,035 ) (352,730 )
Future abandonment costs     (150,675 ) (2,822 ) (153,497 )
Future income taxes     (331,912 ) (69,341 ) (401,253 )
   
 
 
 
Future net cash flows     1,892,186   257,919   2,150,105  
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows     (715,546 ) (87,906 ) (803,452 )
   
 
 
 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows   $ 1,176,640   170,013   1,346,653  
   
 
 
 

        Present value of future net cash flows before income taxes was $1,345,743,000 in the United States and $197,025,000 in Canada at December 31, 2001.

 
  December 31, 2000
 
 
  United
States

  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Future oil and gas sales   $ 8,805,617   958,776   9,764,393  
Future production costs     (1,284,255 ) (111,954 ) (1,396,209 )
Future development costs     (359,152 ) (13,910 ) (373,062 )
Future abandonment costs     (174,197 ) (4,091 ) (178,288 )
Future income taxes     (1,913,585 ) (293,654 ) (2,207,239 )
   
 
 
 
Future net cash flows     5,074,428   535,167   5,609,595  
10% annual discount for estimated timing of cash flows     (1,702,274 ) (212,890 ) (1,915,164 )
   
 
 
 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows   $ 3,372,154   322,277   3,694,431  
   
 
 
 

        Present value of future net cash flows before income taxes was $4,605,767,000 in the United States and $471,536,000 in Canada at December 31, 2000.

99



        Changes in the Standardized Measure of Discounted Future Net Cash Flows Relating to Proved Oil and Gas Reserves    An analysis of the changes in the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows during each of the last three years is as follows:

 
  December 31, 2002
 
 
  United
States

  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves, at beginning of year   $ 1,176,640   170,013   1,346,653  
Changes resulting from:                
  Sales of oil and gas, net of production costs     (277,113 ) (37,056 ) (314,169 )
  Net changes in prices and future production costs     821,159   119,484   940,643  
  Net changes in future development costs     (160,173 ) (18,174 ) (178,347 )
  Extensions, discoveries and improved recovery     138,241   10,414   148,655  
  Previously estimated development costs incurred during the period     227,980   7,197   235,177  
  Revisions of previous quantity estimates     89,629   (27,670 ) 61,959  
  Sales of reserves in place     (454 ) (8,702 ) (9,156 )
  Purchases of reserves in place     4,284   36   4,320  
  Accretion of discount on reserves at beginning of year before income taxes     134,574   19,703   154,277  
  Net change in income taxes     (310,970 ) (25,894 ) (336,864 )
   
 
 
 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves, at end of year   $ 1,843,797   209,351   2,053,148  
   
 
 
 

        The computation of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves at December 31, 2002 was based on average natural gas prices of approximately $4.16 per MCF in the U.S. and approximately $3.30 per MCF in Canada and on average liquids prices of approximately $27.85 per barrel in the U.S. and approximately $26.63 per barrel in Canada.

100


 
  December 31, 2001
 
 
  United
States

  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves, at beginning of year   $ 3,372,152   322,279   3,694,431  
Changes resulting from:                
  Sales of oil and gas, net of production costs     (487,401 ) (43,986 ) (531,387 )
  Net changes in prices and future production costs     (3,900,193 ) (327,716 ) (4,227,909 )
  Net changes in future development costs     (122,581 ) (16,569 ) (139,150 )
  Extensions, discoveries and improved recovery     633,549   41,474   675,023  
  Previously estimated development costs incurred during the period     311,412   17,550   328,962  
  Revisions of previous quantity estimates     (24,714 ) 8,283   (16,431 )
  Sales of reserves in place     (132,305 ) (1,708 ) (134,013 )
  Purchases of reserves in place     1,634   1,005   2,639  
  Accretion of discount on reserves at beginning of year before income taxes     460,577   47,154   507,731  
  Net change in income taxes     1,064,510   122,247   1,186,757  
   
 
 
 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves, at end of year   $ 1,176,640   170,013   1,346,653  
   
 
 
 

        The computation of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves at December 31, 2001 was based on average natural gas prices of approximately $2.66 per MCF in the U.S. and approximately $2.06 per MCF in Canada and on average liquids prices of approximately $17.01 per barrel in the U.S. and approximately $15.05 per barrel in Canada.

101


 
  December 31, 2000
 
 
  United
States

  Canada
  Total
 
 
  (In Thousands)

 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves, at beginning of year   $ 1,264,525   154,497   1,419,022  
Changes resulting from:                
  Sales of oil and gas, net of production costs     (428,162 ) (56,545 ) (484,707 )
  Net changes in prices and future production costs     2,454,268   312,067   2,766,335  
  Net changes in future development costs     (135,125 ) (12,268 ) (147,393 )
  Extensions, discoveries and improved recovery     833,232   61,298   894,530  
  Previously estimated development costs incurred during the period     188,891   28,995   217,886  
  Revisions of previous quantity estimates     (15,250 ) (68,734 ) (83,984 )
  Sales of reserves in place     (45,172 ) (1,621 ) (46,793 )
  Purchases of reserves in place     212,201     212,201  
  Accretion of discount on reserves at beginning of year before income taxes     140,080   18,941   159,021  
  Net change in income taxes     (1,097,336 ) (114,351 ) (1,211,687 )
   
 
 
 
Standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves, at end of year   $ 3,372,152   322,279   3,694,431  
   
 
 
 

        The computation of the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves at December 31, 2000 was based on average natural gas prices of approximately $9.52 per MCF in the U.S. and approximately $6.11 per MCF in Canada and on average liquids prices of approximately $23.84 per barrel in the U.S. and approximately $23.59 per barrel in Canada.

102




PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

        The information concerning Forest's directors required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information under the captions "Proposal No. 1—Election of Directors" in the definitive Proxy Statement concerning its Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 8, 2003 (the "2003 Proxy Statement").

        The information concerning Forest's executive officers required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Executive Officers of Forest" included in Part I, Item 4A of this Form 10-K.

        The information concerning compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information set forth under the caption "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" in the 2003 Proxy Statement.


Item 11. Executive Compensation

        The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information under the captions "Executive Compensation" and "Stock Performance Graph" in the 2003 Proxy Statement.


Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management And Related Stockholder Matters

        The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information under the captions "Principal Holders of Securities" and "Security Ownership of Management" in the 2003 Proxy Statement.


Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

        The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the information under the caption "Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions" in the 2003 Proxy Statement.


Item 14. Controls and Procedures

        (a)    Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Within 90 days before the filing of this Report, Robert S. Boswell, our Chief Executive Officer, and David H. Keyte, our Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation, they believe that:

        (b)    Changes in internal controls. There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect our internal controls subsequent to their evaluation, nor have there been any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies or material weaknesses.

103




PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)
The following documents are filed as part of this report or are incorporated by reference:

(1)
Financial Statements:

1.
Independent Auditors' Report

2.
Consolidated Balance Sheets—December 31, 2002 and 2001

3.
Consolidated Statements of Operations—Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

4.
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity—Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

5.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000

6.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules:
(b)
Reports on Form 8-K:

104


(c)
Index of Exhibits:

Exhibit Number

  Exhibits

3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Forest Oil Corporation dated October 14, 1993, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended September 30, 1993 (File No. 0-4597).
3.2   Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, dated as of July 20, 1995, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(a) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 1995 (File No. 0-4597).
3.3   Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation, dated as of July 26, 1995, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(b) to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 1995 (File No. 0-4597).
3.4   Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation dated as of January 5, 1996, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(c) to Forest Oil Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 33-64949).
3.5   Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation dated as of December 7, 2000, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i)(d) to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 001-13515).
3.6   Restated Bylaws of Forest Oil Corporation dated as of February 14, 2001, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 001-13515).
3.7   [Amendment No. 1, dated as of February 25, 2003, to the Restated By-laws of Forest Oil Corporation dated as of February 14, 2001, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Forest Oil Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 25, 2003 (File No. 001-13515).]
4.1   Indenture dated as of September 29, 1997 among Canadian Forest Oil Ltd., Forest Oil Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Forest Oil Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated October 31, 1997 (File No. 333-39255).
4.2   Supplemental Indenture dated December 1, 1999 among Forest Oil Corporation, Canadian Forest Oil Ltd., Producers Marketing Ltd., and State Street Bank and Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Forest Oil Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated February 6, 2002 (File No. 333-82254).
4.3   Indenture dated as of February 5, 1999 between Forest Oil Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to Forest Oil Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated November 14, 1996, as amended (File No. 333-16125).
4.4   Indenture dated as of June 21, 2001 between Forest Oil Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (File No. 001-13515).
4.5   Indenture dated as of December 7, 2001 between Forest Oil Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Forest Oil Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated February 6, 2002 (File No. 333-82254).
4.6   Indenture dated as of April 25, 2002 between Forest Oil Corporation and State Street Bank and Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Forest Oil Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated June 11, 2002 (File No. 333-90220).

105


4.7   Rights Agreement between Forest Oil Corporation and Mellon Securities Trust Company, as Rights Agent dated as of October 14, 1993, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended September 30, 1993 (File No. 0-4597).
4.8   Amendment No. 1 dated as of July 27, 1995 to Rights Agreement dated as of October 14, 1993 between Forest Oil Corporation and Mellon Securities Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.5 of Form 8-K for Forest Oil Corporation dated October 11, 1995 (File No. 0-4597).
4.9   Amendment No. 2, dated as of June 25, 1998 to Rights Agreement, dated as of October 14, 1993, between Forest Oil Corporation and Mellon Securities Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K for Forest Oil Corporation, dated June 25, 1998 (File No. 001-13515).
4.10   Amendment No. 3, dated as of September 1, 1998 to Rights Agreement, dated as of October 14, 1993, between Forest Oil Corporation and Mellon Securities Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to Forest Oil Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated November 6, 2000 (File No. 333-49376).
4.11   Amendment No. 4, dated as of July 10, 2000, to Rights Agreement, dated as of October 14, 1993, between Forest Oil Corporation and Mellon Securities Trust Company, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to Forest Oil Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated November 6, 2000 (File No. 333-49376).
4.12   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 10, 2000, by and between Forest Oil Corporation and the other signatories thereto, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.15 to Forest Oil Corporation Registration Statement on Form S-4, dated November 6, 2000 (File No. 333-49376).
4.13   Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2000, among Forest Oil Corporation, the lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as U.S. Syndication Agent, Citibank, N.A., as U.S. Documentation Agent, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Global Administrative Agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 001-13515).
4.14   Canadian Credit Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2000, among Canadian Forest Oil Ltd., the subsidiary borrowers from time to time parties thereto, the lenders party thereto, Bank of Montreal, as Canadian Syndication Agent, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, as Canadian Documentation Agent, The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada, as Canadian Administrative Agent, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Global Administrative Agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 001-13515).
4.15   Mortgage, Deed of Trust, Assignment, Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Fixture Filing from Forest Oil Corporation to Robert C. Mertensotto, trustee, and Gregory P. Williams, trustee (Utah), and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Global Administrative Agent, dated as of December 7, 2000, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 001-13515).

106


4.16   First Amendment to Combined Credit Agreement dated as of May 24, 2001, by and between Forest Oil Corporation, Canadian Forest Oil Ltd., each of the lenders that is a party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as U.S. Syndication Agent, Citibank, N.A., as U.S. Documentation Agent, The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada, as Canadian Administrative Agent, Bank of Montreal, as Canadian Syndication Agent, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, as Canadian Documentation Agent, and JPMorgan Chase, successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Global Administrative Agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (File No. 001-13515).
4.17   Second Amendment to Combined Credit Agreements dated as of April 3, 2002, by and between Forest Oil Corporation, Canadian Forest Oil Ltd., each of the lenders that is a party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as U.S. Syndication Agent, Citibank, N.A., as U.S. Documentation Agent, J.P. Morgan Bank Canada, successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada, as Canadian Administrative Agent, Bank of Montreal, as Canadian Syndication Agent, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, as Canadian Documentation Agent, and J.P. Morgan Chase, successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Global Administrative Agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.17 to Forest Oil Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated June 11, 2002 (File No. 333-90220).
4.18   Third Amendment to Combined Credit Agreements dated as of May 31, 2002, by and between Forest Oil Corporation, Canadian Forest Oil Ltd., each of the lenders that is a party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as U.S. Syndication Agent, Citibank, N.A., as U.S. Documentation Agent, J.P. Morgan Bank Canada, successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada, as Canadian Administrative Agent, Bank of Montreal, as Canadian Syndication Agent, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, as Canadian Documentation Agent, and JPMorgan Chase, successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Global Administrative Agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.18 Forest Oil Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated June 11, 2002 (File No. 333-90220).
4.19   Fourth Amendment to Combined Credit Agreement dated as of October 8, 2002, among Forest Oil Corporation, Canadian Forest Oil Ltd., and the subsidiary borrowers from time to time parties thereto, each of the lenders that is party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as U.S. Syndication Agent, Citibank, N.A., as U.S. Documentation Agent, J.P. Morgan Bank Canada, successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada, as Canadian Administrative Agent, Bank of Montreal, as Canadian Syndication Agent, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, as Canadian Documentation Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Global Administrative Agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Forest Oil Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated as of January 15, 2003 (File No. 1-13515).
4.20   Fifth Amendment to Combined Credit Agreements, dated as of January 7, 2003, among Forest Oil Corporation, Canadian Forest Oil Ltd., and the subsidiary borrowers from time to time parties thereto, each of the lenders that is a party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as U.S. Syndication Agent, Citibank, N.A., as U.S. Documentation Agent, J.P. Morgan Bank Canada, successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada, as Canadian Administrative Agent, Bank of Montreal, as Canadian Syndication Agent, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, as Canadian Documentation Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Global Administrative Agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Forest Oil Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated as of January 15, 2003 (File No. 1-13515).
4.21†   Registration Rights Agreement between Forest Oil Corporation and The Anschutz Corporation dated as of May 19, 1995.

107


10.1*   Description of Executive Life Insurance Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1991 (File No. 0-4597).
10.2*   Form of non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1990 (File No. 0-4597).
10.3*   Form of Executive Retirement Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1990 (File No. 0-4597).
10.4*   Forest Oil Corporation 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and Option Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-8 for Forest Oil Corporation dated June 7, 1996 (File No. 0-4597).
10.5*   First Amendment to Forest Oil Corporation 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (File No. 001-13515).
10.6*   Second Amendment to Forest Oil Corporation 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (File No. 001-13515).
10.7*   Form of Executive Severance Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Form 10-K for Forest Oil Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1993 (File No. 0-4597).
10.8*   Form of First Amendment to Severance Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (File No. 001-13515).
10.9*   Form of Executive Severance Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (File No. 001-13515).
10.10*   Form of Executive Severance Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Forest Oil Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated February 6, 2002 (File No. 333-82254).
10.11*   Employment Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2000, between Forcenergy Inc and Gary E. Carlson, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Form 8-K for Forcenergy Inc filed on February 16, 2000 (File No. 0-26444).
10.12*   Forest Oil Corporation 2001 Stock Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-8 for Forest Oil Corporation dated June 6, 2001 (File No. 333-62408).
10.13*   Form of Employee Stock Option Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form S-8 for Forest Oil Corporation dated June 6, 2001 (File No. 333-62408).
10.14*   Form of Non-Employee Director Stock Option Agreement, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form S-8 for Forest Oil Corporation dated June 6, 2001 (File No. 333-62408).
10.15*   Forest Oil Corporation Pension Trust Agreement dated as of January 1, 2002 by and between Forest Oil Corporation and the trustees named therein or their successors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 (File No. 1-13515).
10.16*   First Amendment to Retirement Savings Plan of Forest Oil Corporation dated April 12, 2002, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q for Forest Oil Corporation for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 (File No. 1-13515).

108


10.17*†   Forest Oil Corporation Salary Deferral Deferred Compensation Plan.
10.18*†   Forest Oil Corporation Change of Control Deferred Compensation Plan.
10.19*†   Second Amendment to Retirement Savings Plan of Forest Oil Corporation dated November 13, 2002.
10.20*†   First Amendment to Forest Oil Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated November 13, 2002.
10.21*†   Second Amendment to Forest Oil Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated February 3, 2003.
10.22*†   Form of Stock Option Agreement between Forest Oil Corporation and Robert S. Boswell.
10.23*†   Form of Restricted Stock Agreement between Forest Oil Corporation and Robert S. Boswell.
21.1†   List of Subsidiaries of Registrant.
23.1†   Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2†   Consent of Ryder Scott Company.
24.1†   Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereof).

*
Contract or compensatory plan or arrangement in which directors and/or officers participate.

Indicates exhibits filed with this Form 10-K.

109



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 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.

    FOREST OIL CORPORATION
(Registrant)

Date: March 21, 2003

 

By:

/s/  
ROBERT S. BOSWELL      
Robert S. Boswell
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer


Power of Attorney

        The officers and directors of Forest Oil Corporation, whose signatures appear below, hereby constitute and appoint Robert S. Boswell, Joan C. Sonnen and Newton W. Wilson III, and each of them (with full power to each of them to act alone), the true and lawful attorney-in-fact to sign and execute, on behalf of the undersigned, any amendment(s) to this Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2002, and any instrument or document filed as part of, as an exhibit to or in connection with any amendment, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm as his own act and deed all that said attorneys shall do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

        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 in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signatures
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/  ROBERT S. BOSWELL      
(Robert S. Boswell)
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   March 21, 2003

/s/  
DAVID H. KEYTE      
David H. Keyte

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

March 21, 2003

/s/  
JOAN C. SONNEN      
Joan C. Sonnen

 

Vice President—Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

March 21, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

110



/s/  
WILLIAM L. BRITTON      
William L. Britton

 

Director

 

March 21, 2003

/s/  
CORTLANDT S. DIETLER      
Cortlandt S. Dietler

 

Director

 

March 21, 2003

/s/  
DOD. A. FRASER      
Dod. A. Fraser

 

Director

 

March 21, 2003

/s/  
CANNON Y. HARVEY      
Cannon Y. Harvey

 

Director

 

March 21, 2003

/s/  
FORREST E. HOGLUND      
Forrest E. Hoglund

 

Director

 

March 21, 2003

/s/  
JAMES H. LEE      
James H. Lee

 

Director

 

March 21, 2003

/s/  
CRAIG D. SLATER      
Craig D. Slater

 

Director

 

March 21, 2003

111



CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Robert S. Boswell, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Forest Oil Corporation;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this periodic report is being prepared;

b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c)
presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
5.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing fulfilling the equivalent function):

a)
all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and
6.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

March 21, 2003 /s/  ROBERT S. BOSWELL      
Robert S. Boswell
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer

112



CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, David H. Keyte, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Forest Oil Corporation;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this periodic report is being prepared;

b)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c)
presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
5.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a)
all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and
6.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

March 21, 2003 /s/  DAVID H. KEYTE      
David H. Keyte
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

113


Index
of Exhibits filed with this Form 10-K:

Exhibit Number

  Exhibits

4.21   Registration Rights Agreement between Forest Oil Corporation and The Anschutz Corporation dated as of May 19, 1995.
10.17   Forest Oil Corporation Salary Deferral Deferred Compensation Plan.
10.18   Forest Oil Corporation Change of Control Deferred Compensation Plan.
10.19   Second Amendment to Retirement Savings Plan of Forest Oil Corporation dated November 13, 2002.
10.20   First Amendment to Forest Oil Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated November 13, 2002.
10.21   Second Amendment to Forest Oil Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated February 3, 2003.
10.22   Form of Stock Option Agreement between Forest Oil Corporation and Robert S. Boswell.
10.23   Form of Restricted Stock Agreement between Forest Oil Corporation and Robert S. Boswell.
21.1   List of Subsidiaries of Registrant.
23.1   Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2   Consent of Ryder Scott Company.
24.1   Powers of Attorney (included on the signature pages hereof).