Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K - PostRock Energy Corph80209e8vk.htm
Exhibit 99.1
     
For Immediate Release
   
(POSTROCK LOGO)
PostRock Reports Year-End Results
OKLAHOMA CITY — March 2, 2011 — PostRock Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: PSTR) (“PostRock” or the “Company”) today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. Before turning to the results, the Company noted the following key events that took place during 2010.
  PostRock was formed out of three predecessor entities.
  White Deer Energy L.P., a private equity fund, invested $60 million in the Company.
  The Company’s credit agreements were restructured.
  Certain Appalachian assets were sold for $28 million, another $11.7 million were sold in early 2011.
  Debt was reduced by $109.1 million, another $9.3 million was paid down in early 2011.
  163 wells were completed and 292 returned to production in the Cherokee Basin.
  Proved reserves rose 80.3%, reaching 134.9 Bcfe at year-end.
  Operating costs were reduced to $2.39 a Mcfe.
2010 Results
     Revenues fell to $103.9 million, a 2.0% decline from the prior year as the impact of lower production and reduced pipeline revenue was largely offset by higher oil and gas prices. Production declined 9.4% to 53.9 Mcfe a day, primarily due to a lack of development drilling in late 2008 and 2009. Average prices for the year, excluding hedging gains, increased 21.5% to $4.47 per Mcfe. Realized hedging gains during the year totaled $31.9 million. Interstate pipeline revenue decreased $8.3 million, or 44.5%, to $10.1 million due to the expiration of a significant contract at the end of October 2009.
     Production costs, including lease operating expenses (“LOE”), gathering, and severance and ad valorem taxes fell 16.1% to $47.0 million. The decline was comprised of a $6.6 million reduction in LOE and gathering costs and a $2.4 million reduction in production taxes. The cost reductions resulted from an increased focus on operating efficiencies in the Cherokee Basin. Severance and ad valorem taxes fell as a result of lower gas prices. Production costs totaled $2.39 per Mcfe, a 7.3% drop from 2009. During the year, the Company recovered $5.8 million of the cost to operate the gathering system through third party gathering fees. LOE net of this gathering cost recovery was $2.09 per Mcfe. Pipeline operating expense decreased 4.0% to $6.3 million. General and administrative expenses fell 36.6% to $26.4 million, reflecting a significant reduction in non-recurring expenses and savings realized following White Deer’s investment.
Fourth Quarter Results
     Revenues fell $4.9 million, or 17.0%, from the prior year period to $23.5 million. The decline reflected reduced volumes and lower realized gas prices. Production declined 4.0% to 54.2 Mcfe a day from the prior year period but increased very slightly from third quarter levels. The drop in production reflected a lack of drilling in 2009 and lower than anticipated production from 2010 drilling and completions. Average prices for the quarter, excluding hedging gains, decreased 10% to $3.85 per Mcfe.

 


 

Realized hedging gains in the quarter decreased 28.5% to $10.8 million. Pipeline revenue fell $0.7 million, or 18.8%, to $2.8 million primarily due to the expiration of a significant contract at the end of October 2009.
     Production costs, including LOE, gathering, and severance and ad valorem taxes, decreased a sharp 25.3%, to $11.3 million. The decline was comprised of a $1.9 million reduction in LOE and gathering costs, a $1.7 million drop in ad valorem taxes and a $0.3 million decrease in severance taxes. The reduction in LOE and gathering costs resulted from a greater focus on operational efficiency in the Cherokee Basin. Lower ad valorem and severance taxes resulted from the sharp fall in natural gas prices in 2009. Production costs totaled $2.27 per Mcfe in the quarter, a 22% drop from the prior year. During the quarter, the Company recovered $1.4 million of the cost to operate the gathering system through third party gathering fees. LOE net of this gathering cost recovery was $1.98 per Mcfe. Pipeline operating expenses were roughly flat at $1.5 million. General and administrative expenses fell 59% to $4.9 million reflecting the sharp reduction in non-recurring expenses and cost savings realized following White Deer’s investment.
Hedges
     PostRock holds natural gas hedges covering 37.1 Mmcf a day for 2011 at an average price of $6.38 per Mcf. The Company also holds hedges covering 30.1 Mmcf a day in 2012 and 24.7 Mmcf a day in 2013. In the fourth quarter, new hedges covering 132 Bbls a day of 2011 oil production were entered into an average price of $85.90 a barrel and 115 Bbls a day of 2012 production was hedged at an average price of $87.90. The fair value of the Company’s hedges shown below at December 31, 2010 was $60.7 million. Fair value of PostRock’s hedges will change based on oil and gas price fluctuations.
                                                 
    2011     2012     2013  
    Price     Volume     Price     Volume     Price     Volume  
    ($/Mmbtu)     (Mmbtu)     ($/Mmbtu)     (Mmbtu)     ($/Mmbtu)     (Mmbtu)  
Southern Star Gas Swaps
  $ 6.43       5,000,304     $ 6.72       2,000,004     $        
NYMEX Gas Swaps
  $ 7.02       8,549,998     $ 7.22       9,000,000     $ 7.28       9,000,003  
Southern Star Basis Swaps
  $ (0.67 )     8,549,998     $ (0.70 )     9,000,000     $ (0.71 )     9,000,003  
                                                 
    ($/Bbl)     (Bbls)     ($/Bbl)     (Bbls)     ($/Bbl)     (Bbls)  
NYMEX Oil Swaps
  $ 85.90       48,000     $ 87.90       42,000     $        
Debt and Liquidity
     At December 31, 2010, PostRock had $220.2 million of outstanding debt and $37.2 million of liquidity, including cash and available borrowings. In the debt restructuring, the current portion was reduced from $305.2 million at June 30, 2010 to $10.5 million at December 31, 2010. At year-end, the current portion represented twelve months of amortization on the Secured Pipeline Loan. That loan totaled $13.5 million at year-end. It is amortizing at the monthly rate of $500,000 through March and $1.0 million thereafter. It will be fully retired no later than March 2012.
     At year-end, the Company was in compliance with all financial covenants.

 


 

                 
            (Predecessor)  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
Cash and equivalents
  $ 730     $ 20,884  
 
           
 
               
Long-term debt (including current maturities)
               
Current Credit Agreements
               
Borrowing Base Facility
  $ 187,000     $  
Secured Pipeline Loan
    13,500        
QER Loan
    19,721        
 
               
Former Credit Agreements
               
Quest Cherokee Loan
          145,000  
Second Lien Loan
          29,821  
Midstream Loan
          118,728  
PESC Loan
          35,658  
 
               
Other Notes Payable
          103  
 
           
Total
  $ 220,221     $ 329,310  
 
           
 
               
Preferred Stock
  $ 50,622     $  
 
               
Equity
               
Total stockholders’ deficit
    (12,792 )     (148,377 )
Non-controlling interests
          57,990  
 
           
Total equity / (deficit)
  $ (12,792 )   $ (90,387 )
 
           
 
               
 
           
Total capitalization
  $ 258,051     $ 238,923  
 
           
Capital Expenditures
     Capital expenditures in 2010 totaled $32.3 million, a significant increase from the $9.6 million spent in 2009. Of this amount, spending included $30.8 million related to oil and gas operations and $1.5 million to the KPC Pipeline. In the Cherokee Basin, 163 wells were completed, of which 124 wells had been drilled prior to 2010. In Appalachia, $4.3 million was spent, primarily on drilling wells that were subsequently sold to Magnum Hunter.
     For 2011, the Company has budgeted $52 million of capital spending. Of this amount, $43.6 million will pay for the drilling and completion of 290 new wells, the completion of 8 wells drilled in 2010 and the recompletion of 40 wells, all in the Cherokee Basin. In addition, $7.3 million has been budgeted for leasehold acquisition land and equipment purchases and approximately $1.0 million for the KPC Pipeline. These capital expenditures are expected to be entirely funded with internal cash flow.

 


 

Reserves
     Proved reserves increased to 134.9 Bcfe at year end 2010, an 80.3% increase from the 74.8 Bcfe reported one year ago. The increase was mostly driven by 35.5 Bcfe related to lower gathering costs as a result of recombining our predecessor entities and 30.9 Bcfe related to higher prices. At year-end 2010, approximately 90% of the Company’s reserves were classified as proved developed.
                         
    Gas - Mcf     Oil - Bbls     Total - Mcfe  
           
Balance, December 31, 2009
    69,874,571       824,038       74,818,799  
Purchase of reserves in place
    10,842             10,842  
Extensions, discoveries, and other additions
    574,200       11,851       645,306  
Sale of reserves
    (13,016,672 )           (13,016,672 )
Revisions of previous estimates
    92,244,096       (15,040 )     92,153,856  
Production, 2010
    (19,225,006 )     (76,583 )     (19,684,504 )
           
Balance, December 31, 2010
    130,462,031       744,266       134,927,627  
           
     Commenting on the announcement, David C. Lawler, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Last year, we reached what we believe will be a key turning point for PostRock and its investors. We recombined our predecessor companies, recapitalized with the assistance of White Deer and we began to sell non-core assets. All these steps served to reduce debt and to increase focus on our core operations in the Cherokee Basin. In 2011, we plan to efficiently grow reserves and production as well as continue to lower costs and reduce debt. We believe this effort can be aided by our vertically integrated operating model. We are able to provide a full complement of fracture treating and well service on our wells while utilizing the latest artificial lift and well management system technology. As we begin to enhance our competitive position in the Basin, we will begin to pursue acquisitions opportunities that will be accretive to our shareholders.”
     “The majority of our development work in the first half of 2010 was delivered on schedule and under budget. However, a number of the new wells failed to meet projections. Through a growing focus on the detailed study of geologic and engineering factors by area of the field and even by individual well site, we expect to greatly increase our knowledge of individual locations. By customizing our fracture treatments and completions, we expect to enhance the productivity of our capital.”
     “At KPC Pipeline, we remain focused on increasing utilization. We are pursuing this by offering new services, reducing fuel rates, and adding producer volumes from new oil and gas plays developing near our lines. Partially as a result of these initiatives, we increased volumes to 3.6 Bcfe in 2010, a 37% increase from the prior year. If this trend continues, higher utilization should lead to improved profitability and enhance our ability to secure long-term firm transportation agreements.”
     PostRock Energy Corporation is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development, production and transportation of oil and natural gas, primarily in the Cherokee Basin of Kansas and Oklahoma. The Company owns and operates over 3,000 wells and nearly 2,200 miles of gas gathering lines in the Basin. It also owns a 1,100 mile interstate gas pipeline serving parts of Oklahoma and Kansas.
Webcast and Conference Call
     PostRock will host a year-end 2010 results webcast and conference call at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, Thursday, March 3, 2011. The live webcast will be accessible on the ‘Investors’ page at www.pstr.com. It will also be available for replay. The dial-in phone number for the call is (866) 516-1003.

 


 

Forward-Looking Statements
     Opinions, forecasts, projections or statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this announcement are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance such expectations will prove correct. Actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, some of which may not be foreseen. These risks and other risks are detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including risk factors listed in the Company’s 10-K and other filings with the SEC. You can find the Company’s SEC filings at www.pstr.com or www.sec.gov. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release.
     
Company Contacts
   
Jack Collins
  North Whipple
Chief Financial Officer
  Manager, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
(405) 702-7460
  (405) 702-7423
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
     The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before income taxes; interest expense, depreciation, depletion and amortization; other (income) expense; change in fair value of derivative instruments; loss (recovery) from misappropriation of funds; stock based compensation and impairments. The following table represents a reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA for the period presented:
                                         
            (Predecessor)             (Predecessor)     (Predecessor)  
    Three Months     Three Months     March 6, 2010 to             Year Ended  
    Ended December     Ended December     December 31,     January 1, 2010     December 31,  
    31, 2010     31, 2009     2010     to March 5, 2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest
  $ 9,609     $ (63,990 )   $ 45,221     $ 11,778     $ (144,922 )
Adjusted for:
                                       
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
          (102,036 )           9,958       (147,398 )
Income tax expense
                             
Interest expense, net
    3,112       8,663       20,137       5,336       29,329  
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization
    7,801       8,528       18,683       4,164       47,802  
 
                             
EBITDA
  $ 20,522     $ (148,835 )   $ 84,041     $ 31,236     $ (215,189 )
 
                             
Other (income) expense, net
    (8 )     (109 )     24       4       (108 )
(Gain) on forgiveness of debt
    (2,909 )           (2,909 )            
Unrealized (gain) loss from derivative financial instruments
    13,193       (1,992 )     (19,611 )     (21,573 )     50,026  
Recovery of misappropriated funds
    (595 )     (6 )     (1,592 )           (3,412 )
Stock based compensation
    648       136       1,635       808       1,279  
Loss (Gain) on sale of assets
    (13,626 )     25       (13,495 )           25  
Impairment
          165,728                   268,630  
 
                             
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 17,225     $ 14,947     $ 48,093     $ 10,475     $ 101,251  
 
                             
     Although adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, management considers it an important measure of performance. Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for the GAAP measures of earnings or cash flow and

 


 

is not necessarily a measure of the Company’s ability to fund its cash needs. In addition, it should be noted that companies calculate adjusted EBITDA differently. Therefore, adjusted EBITDA as presented may not be comparable to adjusted EBITDA reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA has material limitations as a performance measure because it excludes, among other things, (a) interest expense, (b) depreciation, depletion, amortization and accretion, (c) impairments of oil and gas properties, and (d) income taxes, which may become material for the Company in the future. Because of its limitations, adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a measure of discretionary cash available to us to reinvest in PostRock’s business.

 


 

POSTROCK ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
                                         
            (Predecessor)             (Predecessor)     (Predecessor)  
    Three Months     Three Months     March 6, 2010     January 1,     Year Ended  
    Ended December     Ended December     to December     2010 to March     December 31,  
    31, 2010     31, 2009     31, 2010     5, 2010     2009  
Revenue
                                       
Oil and gas sales
  $ 19,202     $ 23,182     $ 69,277     $ 18,659     $ 79,893  
Gathering revenue
    1,430       1,696       4,771       1,076       7,760  
Pipeline revenue
    2,819       3,470       8,380       1,749       18,428  
 
                             
Total revenues
    23,451       28,348       82,428       21,484       106,081  
Costs and expenses
                                       
Oil and gas production
    11,302       15,126       38,329       8,645       55,961  
Pipeline operating
    1,463       1,445       5,195       1,110       6,573  
General administrative expenses
    4,933       12,018       20,705       5,735       41,723  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    7,801       8,528       18,683       4,164       47,802  
(Gain) loss from sale of assets
    (13,626 )     25       (13,495 )           25  
Impairments
          165,728                   268,630  
Recovery of misappropriated funds
    (595 )     (6 )     (1,592 )           (3,412 )
 
                             
Total costs and expenses
    11,278       202,864       67,825       19,654       417,302  
 
                             
 
                                       
Operating income (loss)
    12,173       (174,516 )     14,603       1,830       (311,221 )
 
                                       
Other income (expense)
                                       
Gain (loss) from derivative financial instruments
    (2,369 )     17,044       47,870       25,246       48,122  
Gain on forgiveness of debt
    2,909             2,909              
Other income (expense), net
    8       109       (24 )     (4 )     108  
Interest expense, net
    (3,112 )     (8,663 )     (20,137 )     (5,336 )     (29,329 )
 
                             
Total other income (expense)
    (2,564 )     8,490       30,618       19,906       18,901  
 
                             
Income (loss) before income taxes and non-controlling interests
    9,609       (166,026 )     45,221       21,736       (292,320 )
Income tax benefit (expense )
                             
 
                             
Net income (loss)
    9,609       (166,026 )     45,221       21,736       (292,320 )
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interest
          102,036             (9,958 )     147,398  
 
                             
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest
  $ 9,609     $ (63,990 )   $ 45,221     $ 11,778     $ (144,922 )
Preferred stock dividends and accretion
    2,098             2,307              
 
                             
 
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
  $ 7,511     $ (63,990 )   $ 42,914     $ 11,778     $ (144,922 )
 
                             
Net income (loss) per common share
                                       
Basic
  $ 0.91     $ (2.01 )   $ 5.29     $ 0.37     $ (4.55 )
 
                             
Diluted
  $ 0.66     $ (2.01 )   $ 4.62     $ 0.36     $ (4.55 )
 
                             
Weighted average shares outstanding
                                       
Basic
    8,239       31,851       8,110       32,137       31,833  
 
                             
Diluted
    11,372       31,851       9,295       32,614       31,833  
 
                             

 


 

POSTROCK ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
                 
            (Predecessor)  
    December 31,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
ASSETS
               
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 730     $ 20,884  
Restricted cash
    28       718  
Accounts receivable — trade, net
    11,845       13,707  
Other receivables
    1,153       2,269  
Other current assets
    2,771       8,141  
Inventory
    6,161       9,702  
Current derivative financial instrument assets
    31,588       10,624  
 
           
Total current assets
    54,276       66,045  
Oil and gas properties under full cost method of accounting, net
    116,488       40,478  
Pipeline assets, net
    61,148       136,017  
Other property and equipment, net
    15,964       19,433  
Other assets, net
    9,303       2,727  
Long-term derivative financial instrument assets
    39,633       18,955  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 296,812     $ 283,655  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 7,030     $ 10,852  
Revenue payable
    5,898       5,895  
Accrued expenses
    8,210       11,417  
Current portion of notes payable
    10,500       310,015  
Current derivative financial instrument liabilities
    3,792       1,447  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    35,430       339,626  
Long-term derivative financial instrument liabilities
    6,681       8,569  
Asset retirement obligations
    7,150       6,552  
Notes payable
    209,721       19,295  
 
           
Total liabilities
    258,982       374,042  
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
           
Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
    50,622        
 
               
Equity
               
Preferred stock
    2        
Common stock
    82       33  
Additional paid-in capital
    377,538       299,010  
Treasury stock, at cost
          (7 )
Accumulated deficit
    (390,414 )     (447,413 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ deficit before non-controlling interests
    (12,792 )     (148,377 )
Non-controlling interests
          57,990  
 
           
Total (deficit) equity
    (12,792 )     (90,387 )
 
           
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 296,812     $ 283,655  
 
           

 


 

POSTROCK ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
                         
            (Predecessor)     (Predecessor)  
    March 6, 2010     January 1, 2010     Year Ended  
    to December 31,     to March 5,     December 31,  
    2010     2010     2009  
Cash flows from operating activities
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 45,221     $ 21,736     $ (292,320 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operations
                       
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    18,683       4,164       47,802  
Stock-based compensation
    1,635       808       1,279  
Impairments
                268,630  
Amortization of deferred financing costs
    5,753       2,094       7,761  
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments
    (19,611 )     (21,573 )     50,026  
Recovery of misappropriated funds net of liabilities assumed
    (487 )           (977 )
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment
    (13,495 )           25  
Gain on forgiveness of debt
    (2,909 )                
Other non-cash changes to items affecting net income (loss)
    138             1,000  
Change in assets and liabilities
                       
Accounts receivable
    2,400       (237 )     3,008  
Other receivables
    (199 )     1,014       7,165  
Other current assets
    (486 )     466       1,461  
Other assets
    (3,224 )     2       193  
Accounts payable
    (4,773 )     (83 )     (25,115 )
Revenue payable
    160       (157 )     (2,526 )
Accrued expenses
    735       983       7,142  
Other
    17             65  
 
                 
Net cash flows from operating activities
    29,558       9,217       74,619  
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from investing activities
                       
Restricted cash
    691       (1 )     (159 )
Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties
    14,062             8,898  
Equipment, development, drilling, leasehold and pipeline
    (25,858 )     (2,282 )     (8,426 )
 
                 
Net cash flows from investing activities
    (11,105 )     (2,283 )     313  
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from financing activities
                       
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock and warrants
    60,000              
Proceeds from bank borrowings
    2,100       900       4,300  
Repayments of bank borrowings
    (102,023 )     (41 )     (67,413 )
Debt and equity financing costs
    (6,477 )           (4,720 )
 
                 
Net cash flows from financing activities
    (46,400 )     859       (67,833 )
 
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash
    (27,947 )     7,793       7,099  
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of period
    28,677       20,884       13,785  
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents end of period
  $ 730     $ 28,677     $ 20,884