10-Q 1 erin-331201710q.htm 10-Q Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017
OR
¨
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: 01-34525
 
ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
 
Delaware
 
30-0349798
(State or Other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
1330 Post Oak Blvd.,
Suite 2250, Houston, Texas
 
77056
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
(713) 797-2940
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
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  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
 
¨
  
Accelerated filer
 
ý
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
 
¨
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  ý
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
At May 1, 2017, there were 213,407,011 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding.
 
 
 
 
 



PART I
  
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
  
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
  
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
  
 
 
 
 
PART II
  
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
  
 
 
 
 
Item 1A.
  
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 6.
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 


2


PART I. – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except for share and per share amounts)
 
March 31, 
 2017
 
December 31, 2016
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
8,538

 
$
7,177

Restricted cash
20,006

 
2,600

Accounts receivable - trade
5,153

 

Accounts receivable - partners
1,103

 
674

Accounts receivable - related party
2,354

 
1,956

Accounts receivable - other
9

 
29

Crude oil inventory
3,900

 
9,398

Prepaids and other current assets
2,498

 
872

Total current assets
43,561

 
22,706

 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment:
 
 
 
Oil and gas properties (successful efforts method of accounting), net
243,064

 
265,713

Other property, plant and equipment, net
711

 
716

Total property, plant and equipment, net
243,775

 
266,429

 
 

 
 

Other non-current assets
66

 
66

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
287,402

 
$
289,201

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL DEFICIENCY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
247,224

 
$
244,963

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities - related party
31,019

 
29,513

Current portion of long-term debt, net
41,994

 
12,627

Derivative liability
807

 

Total current liabilities
321,044

 
287,103

 
 
 
 
Long-term notes payable - related party, net
129,804

 
129,796

Long-term debt, net
64,444

 
74,446

Asset retirement obligations
22,944

 
22,476

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities
538,236

 
513,821

 
 
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)


 


 
 
 
 
Capital deficiency:
 
 
 
Preferred stock $0.001 par value - 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively

 

Common stock $0.001 par value - 416,666,667 shares authorized; 213,351,764 and 212,622,218 shares issued as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively
213

 
213

Additional paid-in capital
793,933

 
792,972

Accumulated deficit
(1,044,798
)
 
(1,018,292
)
Treasury stock at cost, 270,846 and 99,932 shares as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively
(877
)
 
(228
)
Total deficit - Erin Energy Corporation
(251,529
)
 
(225,335
)
Non-controlling interest
695

 
715

Total capital deficiency
(250,834
)
 
(224,620
)
Total liabilities and capital deficiency
$
287,402

 
$
289,201

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

3


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Revenues:
 
 
 
Crude oil sales, net of royalties
$
31,278

 
$
4,929

 
 
 
 
Operating costs and expenses:
 
 
 
Production costs
22,555

 
22,564

Crude oil inventory (increase) decrease
2,948

 
(831
)
Exploratory expenses
1,596

 
2,062

Depreciation, depletion and amortization
25,411

 
4,812

Accretion of asset retirement obligations
468

 
452

Loss on settlement of asset retirement obligations

 
205

General and administrative expenses
3,392

 
3,958

Total operating costs and expenses
56,370

 
33,222

 
 
 
 
Operating loss
(25,092
)
 
(28,293
)
 
 
 
 
Other income (expense):
 
 
 
Currency transaction gain
2,135

 
863

Interest expense
(3,966
)
 
(5,425
)
Total other expense, net
(1,831
)
 
(4,562
)
 
 
 
 
Loss before income taxes
(26,923
)
 
(32,855
)
Income tax expense

 

Net loss before non-controlling interest
(26,923
)
 
(32,855
)
 
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
417

 
444

 
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to Erin Energy Corporation
$
(26,506
)
 
$
(32,411
)
 
 
 
 
Net loss attributable to Erin Energy Corporation per common share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
(0.12
)
 
$
(0.15
)
Diluted
$
(0.12
)
 
$
(0.15
)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
Basic
212,841

 
211,844

Diluted
212,841

 
211,844

  
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

4


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CAPITAL DEFICIENCY
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
 
Common
Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
Treasury Stock
 
Non-controlling Interest
 
Total
Equity
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
213

 
$
792,972

 
$
(1,018,292
)
 
$
(228
)
 
$
715

 
$
(224,620
)
Stock-based compensation

 
961

 

 

 

 
961

Transfer to treasury arising from withholding taxes upon vesting of restricted stock and exercise of stock options

 

 

 
(649
)
 

 
(649
)
Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 
397

 
397

Net loss

 

 
(26,506
)
 

 
(417
)
 
(26,923
)
Balance at March 31, 2017
$
213

 
$
793,933

 
$
(1,044,798
)
 
$
(877
)
 
$
695

 
$
(250,834
)
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

5


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
Net loss, including non-controlling interest
$
(26,923
)
 
$
(32,855
)
 
 
 
 
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
25,411

 
4,812

Accretion of asset retirement obligations
468

 
452

Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs
242

 
878

Foreign currency transaction gain
(2,135
)
 
(863
)
Share-based compensation
961

 
888

Change in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
(5,563
)
 
782

Decrease (increase) in crude oil inventory
2,948

 
(831
)
Increase in prepaids and other current assets
(1,626
)
 
(4,539
)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
6,889

 
21,123

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
672

 
(10,153
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(3,092
)
 
(3,554
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(3,092
)
 
(3,554
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants

 
145

Payments for treasury stock arising from withholding taxes upon restricted stock vesting and exercise of stock options
(649
)
 
(189
)
Proceeds from MCB Finance Facility
28,237

 

Repayments of term loan facility

 
(5,981
)
Proceeds from notes payable - related party, net

 
3,000

Debt issuance costs
(8,197
)
 

Funds restricted in relation to the MCB Finance Facility drawdowns
(7,406
)
 

Funds restricted for debt service
(10,000
)
 
8,121

Net cash provided by financing activities
1,985

 
5,096

 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
1,796

 
946

 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
1,361

 
(7,665
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
7,177

 
8,363

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
8,538

 
$
698

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
 
 
 
Cash paid for:
 
 
 
Interest, net
$
4,487

 
$
5,280

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
 
 
Discount on notes payable pursuant to derivative liability
$
807

 
$


See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

6


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1. Company Description

Erin Energy Corporation (NYSE MKT: ERN; JSE: ERN) is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition and development of energy resources in Africa. The Company’s asset portfolio consists of seven licenses across four countries covering an area of approximately 5 million acres (approximately 19,000 square kilometers). The Company owns producing properties and conducts exploration activities offshore Nigeria, conducts exploration activities offshore Ghana and The Gambia, and onshore Kenya.
The Company is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has offices in Lagos, Nigeria, Nairobi, Kenya, Banjul, The Gambia, Accra, Ghana and Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Company’s operating subsidiaries include Erin Petroleum Nigeria Limited (“EPNL”), Erin Energy Kenya Limited, Erin Energy Gambia Ltd., and Erin Energy Ghana Limited. The terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “the Company,” and “our Company” refer to Erin Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries.
The Company also conducts certain business transactions with its majority shareholder, CAMAC Energy Holdings Limited (“CEHL”), and its affiliates, which include Allied Energy Plc. (“Allied”). See Note 8 - Related Party Transactions for further information.
On February 16, 2017, Babatunde (Segun) Omidele informed the Company that he would resign from service as a member of the Board of Directors and as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Board accepted his resignation effective as of February 22, 2017. The Board has appointed Jean-Michel Malek, the Company’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, to serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer effective February 22, 2017 while the Board conducts a search for a permanent replacement for Mr. Omidele.

2. Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Standards

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries, and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial position and results of operations for the indicated periods. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. This Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2017.

Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates based on certain assumptions. Estimates affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses attributable to the reporting periods. Accordingly, accounting estimates in conformity with U.S. GAAP require the exercise of judgment. These estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements are based on information available as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, and while management believes that the estimates and assumptions are appropriate, actual results could differ from management's estimates.
 
Estimates that may have a significant effect on the Company’s financial position and results from operations include share-based compensation assumptions, oil and natural gas reserve quantities, impairments, depletion and amortization relating to oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement obligation assumptions, and income taxes. The accounting estimates used in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements may change as new events occur, more experience is acquired, additional information is obtained and our operating environment changes.

Restricted Cash

Restricted cash consists of cash deposits that are contractually restricted for withdrawal or required to be maintained in a reserve bank account for a specific period of time, as provided for under certain agreements with third parties.

7


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Restricted cash as of March 31, 2017 totaling $20.0 million consists of $2.6 million held in a debt service reserve account to secure certain interest and principal repayments pursuant to the Term Loan Facility in Nigeria, $7.4 million restricted in relation to the MCB Finance Facility drawdowns, and $10.0 million held in a debt service reserve account as required under the MCB Finance Facility. Restricted cash as of December 31, 2016 consists of $2.6 million held in a debt service reserve account to secure certain interest and principal repayments pursuant to the Term Loan Facility in Nigeria.

Capitalized Interest

The Company capitalizes interest costs for qualifying oil and gas properties. The capitalization period begins when expenditures are incurred on qualified properties, activities begin which are necessary to prepare the property for production, and interest costs have been incurred. The capitalization period continues as long as these events occur. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying assets and is depleted using the unit-of-production method in the same manner as the underlying assets.
During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had no amounts of interest costs capitalized as additions to property, plant and equipment.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock is reported at cost and is included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Pursuant to the Company’s withholding tax policy with respect to vested restricted stock awards, the Company may withhold, on a cashless basis, a number of shares needed to settle statutory withholding tax requirements. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, 170,914 shares were withheld for taxes at a total cost of $0.6 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, 83,113 shares were withheld for taxes at a total cost of $0.2 million.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the withholding and related repurchases of our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased (1)
 
Average Price
Paid Per Share
January 1 - January 31, 2017
12,650

 
$
3.55

February 1 - February 28, 2017
158,264

 
3.82

March 1 - March 31, 2017

 

Total
170,914

 
$
3.80

(1)
All shares repurchased were surrendered by employees to settle tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock awards and the exercise of stock options.

Net Loss Per Common Share

Basic net earnings or loss per common share is computed by dividing net earnings or loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding at the end of the reporting period. Diluted net earnings or loss per share is computed by dividing net earnings or loss by the fully dilutive common stock equivalent, which consists of shares outstanding, augmented by potentially dilutive shares issuable upon the exercise of the Company's stock options, stock warrants, non-vested restricted stock awards, as well as the conversions of the 2011 Promissory Note, the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note and the 2016 Promissory Note (collectively, the "Convertible Notes"), calculated using the treasury stock method.

The table below sets forth the number of stock options, stock warrants, non-vested restricted stock, and shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes that were excluded from dilutive shares outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, as these securities are anti-dilutive because the Company was in a loss position during each period.


8


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
2017
 
2016
Stock options
279

 
328

Stock warrants
391

 

Unvested restricted stock awards
2,116

 
1,546

 
2,786

 
1,874

Upon the occurrence of certain events, the Company is also contingently liable to make additional payments to Allied, under a Transfer Agreement entered into in November 2013 by the Company, its affiliates and Allied (the “Transfer Agreement”), up to an additional amount totaling $50.0 million in cash, or the equivalent in shares of the Company’s common stock, at Allied’s option. See Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies for further information.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the amount at which an asset (or liability) could be bought (or incurred) or sold (or settled) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The established framework for measuring fair value establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the quality of inputs used to measure fair value, and includes certain disclosure requirements. Fair value estimates are based on either (i) actual market data or (ii) assumptions that other market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including estimates of risk.

There are three levels of valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1 -
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities. The Company considers active markets as those in which transactions for the assets or liabilities occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an on-going basis.

Level 2 -
Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability. Substantially all of these inputs are observable in the marketplace throughout the term, can be derived from observable data, or supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.

Level 3 -
Inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement (including the Company’s own assumptions in determining fair value).

The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

As discussed under Note 7 - Debt, the Company recognized a derivative liability relating to the portion of the amount drawn from the MCB Financing Facility as of March 31, 2017 in which issuance of stock warrants is expected on the day the Company receives funds under the MCB Finance Facility. The Company utilized a combination of a lattice-binomial option-pricing model and the Black-Scholes valuation model to determine the estimated fair value of this derivative liability.

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial liability that is accounted for at fair value using Level 3 assumptions on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 
Level 3
(in thousands)
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Derivative liability
$
807

 
$


The fair value of the derivative liability is estimated using a combination of a lattice-binomial option-pricing model and the Black-Scholes valuation model with the following assumptions as of March 31, 2017:

9


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


 
March 31, 2017
Estimated market value of common stock on measurement date
$
2.67

Estimated exercise price
$
2.67

Risk-free interest rate (1)
1.5
%
Expected warrant term (years)
3

Expected volatilities (2)
10.0% - 43.7%

Expected annual dividend yield

(1
)
The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the warrants is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
(2
)
Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility of the Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industries Index, among other factors.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, inventory, deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and debts at floating interest rates, approximate their fair values at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, principally due to the short-term nature, maturities or nature of interest rates of the above listed items.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 is aimed at making leasing activities more transparent and comparable, and requires substantially all leases be recognized by lessees on their balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability, including leases currently accounted for as operating leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company in the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact of this standard. However, due to the nature of its operations, the adoption of this standard could have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business (“ASU 2017-01”). This ASU clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. This guidance is to be applied using a prospective method and is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and assessing its potential impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 eliminates step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. An entity no longer will determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. A goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual reporting periods and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-05, Other Income-Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20): Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets. This ASU clarifies the scope and application of ASC 610-20 on the sale or transfer of nonfinancial assets and in substance nonfinancial assets to noncustomers, including partial sales. The Company is required to adopt this guidance at the same time that it adopts the guidance in ASU 2014-09. The adoption of this standards update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


10


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

In March 2017, the FASB has issued ASU 2017-08, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20), Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. This ASU shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium to the earliest call date. However, the amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. ASU 2017-08 is effective for the Company in the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3. Liquidity Matters and Going Concern

The Company incurred losses from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, the Company's total current liabilities of $321.0 million exceeded its total current assets of $43.6 million, resulting in a working capital deficit of $277.5 million. As a result of the current low commodity prices, the Company has not been able to generate sufficient cash from operations to satisfy certain obligations as they became due.

Well Oyo-7 is currently shut-in as a result of an emergency shut-in of the Oyo field production that occurred in early July 2016. This has resulted in a loss of approximately 1,400 BOPD. The Company is currently working on relocating an existing gaslift line to well Oyo-7 to enable continuous gaslift operation to assist in restoring lost production volumes. For cost effectiveness, the relocation of the gaslift line to well Oyo-7 is now planned to be combined with the Oyo-9 subsea equipment installation scheduled for the second half of 2017.

The Company is currently pursuing a number of actions, including (i) obtaining additional funds through public or private financing sources, (ii) restructuring existing debts from lenders, (iii) obtaining forbearance of debt from trade creditors, (iv) reducing ongoing operating costs, (v) minimizing projected capital costs for the 2017 exploration and development campaign, (vi) farming-out a portion of its rights to certain of its oil and gas properties and (vii) exploring potential business combination transactions. There can be no assurances that sufficient liquidity can be raised from one or more of these actions or that these actions can be consummated within the period needed to meet certain obligations.


The Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the assumption that it will continue as a going concern, which assumes the continuity of operations, the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities as they come due in the normal course of business. Although the Company believes that it will be able to generate sufficient liquidity from the measures described above, its current circumstances raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue to operate as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

4. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment were comprised of the following:
(In thousands)
March 31, 
 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Wells and production facilities
$
318,739

 
$
318,739

Proved properties
386,196

 
386,196

Work in progress and exploration inventory
34,839

 
34,712

Oilfield assets
739,774

 
739,647

Accumulated depletion
(506,530
)
 
(483,754
)
Oilfield assets, net
233,244

 
255,893

Unevaluated leaseholds
9,820

 
9,820

Oil and gas properties, net
243,064

 
265,713

 
 
 
 
Other property and equipment
3,120

 
3,040

Accumulated depreciation
(2,409
)
 
(2,324
)
Other property and equipment, net
711

 
716

 
 
 
 
Total property, plant and equipment, net
$
243,775

 
$
266,429


All of the Company’s oilfield assets are located offshore Nigeria in the Oil Mining Leases 120 and 121 (the "OMLs"). “Work-in-progress and exploration inventory” includes warehouse inventory items purchased as part of the redevelopment plan of the Oyo field.


11


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company’s unevaluated leasehold costs include costs to acquire the rights to the exploration acreage in its various oil and gas properties.

Gambia Farm-Out Agreement

In March 2017, the Company entered into a definitive farm-out agreement with FAR Ltd. ("FAR"), an Australian Securities Exchange listed oil and gas company (the "Farm-Out Agreement"), whereby FAR will acquire an 80% interest and operatorship of Erin Energy’s offshore A2 and A5 blocks in The Gambia. The Company will retain a 20% working interest in both blocks.

Under the terms of the Farm-Out Agreement, which is subject to approval by the Government of the Republic of The Gambia, upon closing of the transaction, FAR will pay Erin Energy a purchase price of $5.2 million and will carry $8.0 million of the Company’s share of costs in a planned exploration well to be drilled in late 2018. In addition, if Erin Energy’s share of the exploration well is less than $8.0 million, the balance is to be paid in cash to the Company. There is no assurance that the necessary approvals will be obtained from the Government of the Republic of the Gambia.

5. Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
 
The table below sets forth a summary of the Company’s accounts payable and accrued liabilities at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
(In thousands)
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Accounts payable - vendors
$
173,997

 
$
173,306

Amounts due to government entities
71,109

 
66,573

Accrued payroll and benefits
1,805

 
3,074

Accrued interest
313

 
1,204

Other liabilities

 
806

 
$
247,224

 
$
244,963


6. Asset Retirement Obligations

The Company’s asset retirement obligations primarily represent the estimated fair value of the amounts that will be incurred to plug, abandon and remediate its producing properties at the end of their productive lives. Significant inputs used in determining such obligations include, but are not limited to, estimates of plugging and abandonment costs, estimated future inflation rates and changes in property lives. The inputs used in the fair value determination were based on Level 3 inputs, which were essentially management's assumptions.
On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews the assumptions used to estimate the expected cash flows required to settle the asset retirement obligations, including changes in estimated probabilities, amounts and timing of the settlement of the asset retirement obligations, as well as changes in the legal obligation for each of its properties. Changes in any one or more of these assumptions may cause revisions in the estimated liabilities for the corresponding assets. The following summarizes changes in the Company’s asset retirement obligations during the three months ended March 31, 2017 (in thousands):

Balance at January 1, 2017
$
22,476

Accretion expense
468

Balance at March 31, 2017
$
22,944


7. Debt

Short-Term Debt:

Short-Term Borrowing - Glencore Advance

In February 2017, the Company received $13.6 million as an advance (the “February Advance”) under a stand-alone spot oil sales contract with Glencore Energy UK Ltd. ("Glencore"). Interest accrued on the February Advance at the rate of LIBOR plus 6.5%. Repayment of the February Advance was made from the February 2017 crude oil lifting.

12


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


Long-Term Debt:

Term Loan Facility

In September 2014, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary EPNL, entered into the Term Loan Facility (as amended or modified, the “Term Loan Facility”) with Zenith Bank PLC ("Zenith") for five-year senior secured term loan providing initial borrowing capacity of up to$100.0 million. Of the total commitment provided, 90.0% of the Term Loan Facility was available in U.S. dollars, while the remaining 10% was available in Nigerian Naira. U.S. dollar borrowings under the Term Loan Facility currently bear interest at the rate of 9.0%. The obligations under the Term Loan Facility include a legal charge over the OMLs and an assignment of proceeds from oil sales. The obligations of EPNL have been guaranteed by the Company and rank in priority with all its other obligations, subject to the provisions under the Override Deed. Proceeds from the Term Loan Facility were used for the further expansion and development of the Oyo field offshore Nigeria.

In June 2016, the Term Loan Facility was modified contingent upon the signing of a loan agreement, which was signed in August 2016. The modification put in place a twelve month moratorium on principal payments and extended the term of the Term Loan Facility until February 2021. Additionally, it reduced the funding requirement of the debt service reserve account (“DSRA”) to an amount equal to one quarter of interest until the price of oil exceeds $55 per barrel, at which time an amount equal to two quarters of interest will then be required.

Upon executing the Term Loan Facility, the Company paid fees totaling $2.6 million. Upon modification of the Term Loan Facility, additional fees of $1.4 million were incurred. These fees were recorded as debt issuance cost and are being amortized over the life of the Term Loan Facility using the effective interest method. As of March 31, 2017, $2.1 million of the debt issuance costs remained unamortized.

Under the Term Loan Facility, the following events, among others, constitute events of default: EPNL failing to pay any amounts due within thirty days of the due date; bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or dissolution of EPNL; a material breach of the Term Loan Facility by EPNL that remains unremedied within thirty days of written notice by EPNL; or a representation or warranty of EPNL proves to have been incorrect or materially inaccurate when made. Upon any event of default, all outstanding principal and interest under any loans will become immediately due and payable. Further, Zenith has the right to review the terms and conditions of the Term Loan Facility.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company made no payments for the principal repayment of neither the Naira portion of the loan nor for the U.S. dollar principal.

As of March 31, 2017, the Company recognized an unrealized foreign currency gain of $4.4 million on the Naira portion of the loan, reducing the balance under the Term Loan Facility to $87.2 million, net of debt discount. Of this amount, $69.7 million was classified as long-term and $17.5 million as short-term. Accrued interest for the Term Loan Facility was nil as of March 31, 2017.

MCB Finance Facility and Related Agreements

On February 6, 2017, the Company and its subsidiary, EPNL, entered into a Pre-export Finance Facility Agreement (the “MCB Finance Facility”) with The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited, as mandated lead arranger, agent, security agent, original lender and issuing bank ( “MCB”). The MCB Finance Facility provides for a total commitment of $100.0 million and is supported by a guarantee from The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (“SBSA”), as named guarantor, which guarantee is facilitated by the South African Public Investment Corporation (SOC) Limited ("PIC"), the Company’s second largest shareholder. The PIC guarantee is made with recourse to the Company pursuant to the Company’s entry into the Financing Support Agreement with PIC (the "Financing Support Agreement").

In connection with the MCB Finance Facility, and as a condition precedent to the initial drawdown thereunder, EPNL entered into an exclusive off-take contract with Glencore dated January 18, 2017 (the “Off-take Contract”) for EPNL’s entire volumes of oil produced from the OMLs located offshore Nigeria. Pursuant to the MCB Finance Facility, EPNL is required to comply with the terms of the Off-take Contract, ensure payments and deliveries of oil and notify MCB of any failures under such contract and ensure that it receives a fair market price for delivered oil.

The MCB Finance Facility is supported by the SBSA guarantee as facilitated by PIC, the assignment of the Off-take Contract and the assignment by way of security of certain accounts, including a debt service reserve account, as set forth in the MCB Finance

13


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Facility. EPNL is required to deposit $10.0 million at the closing of the MCB Finance Facility into the debt service reserve account with MCB and maintain that balance for so long as borrowings are outstanding under the MCB Finance Facility. The aforementioned guarantee and security agreements were entered into by the parties thereto before the initial drawdown on the MCB Finance Facility.

EPNL may make drawdowns under the MCB Finance Facility by way of loans and/or letters of credit until June 30, 2017 after which the remaining balance of MCB's commitment as of that date may be drawn and deposited into a capital expenditure reserve account for payment of invoices expected to be payable within six months after June 30, 2017. Borrowings under the MCB Finance Facility bear interest at three-month LIBOR plus a 6% margin. After a grace period that ends on June 30, 2017, the MCB Finance Facility will be repaid over a period starting from June 30, 2017 and ending on December 31, 2019.

The MCB Finance Facility includes customary fees, including a commitment fee, structuring fee, underwriting fee, management fee, fees payable in respect of utilization of the MCB Finance Facility by way of letter of credit and other fees, and subjects EPNL to certain covenants under the terms of the MCB Finance Facility, and is subject to customary events of default.

The Company made its initial drawdown under the MCB Finance Facility in March 2017 (the "March 2017 drawdown"). As part of the March 2017 drawdown, the Company paid debt issuance costs amounting to $9.0 million, which is shown as a discount to Long-term debt under the consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2017 , the amount drawn under the MBC Finance Facility reached $28.2 million. Accrued interest under the MCB Finance Facility was $0.3 million as of March 31, 2017.

Under the MCB Finance Facility, the Company is required to maintain specified financial ratios. Maintenance of these financial ratios (the "cover ratios"), including a debt service cover ratio and a life cover ratio, commenced during the quarter after the initial drawdown. As of March 31, 2017, the Company is in compliance with the cover ratios.

Also on February 6, 2017, the Company and PIC also entered into the Financing Support Agreement. Pursuant to the Financing Support Agreement, PIC agrees to apply for, request and authorize SBSA, or any other reputable commercial bank acceptable to MCB, to issue a bank guarantee in favor of MCB in the amount of $100.0 million. The issuance of a guarantee in favor of MCB by SBSA or another reputable commercial bank was a condition precedent to the closing of the MCB Finance Facility.

In consideration for this undertaking, the Company has agreed to pay PIC an upfront fee equal to 250 basis points on the guarantee amount and issue to PIC warrants to purchase a number of shares of the Company’s common stock in an amount equal to the guarantee amount multiplied by 20% divided by the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the day that EPNL receives the funds available under the MCB Finance Facility (the "warrants issuance date), with an exercise price equal to such closing market price. The Company recognized a derivative liability for the warrants that are expected to be issued for the portion of the amount drawn under the MCB Finance Facility at March 31, 2017. See Note 2 – Fair Value Measurements for further information. The Company also has agreed to indemnify PIC from and against certain claims and losses. The amount of any and all indemnifiable losses suffered by PIC agreed or otherwise required to be paid by the Company will be paid in cash or, at the option of PIC, may be paid in newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock. In March 2017, the Company paid $2.8 million to PIC in fees under the Financing Support Agreement which is recorded as debt issuance costs and is being amortized to interest expense over the life of the MCB Financing Facility.

On February 8, 2017, and in connection with the MCB Finance Facility, the Company, EPNL, MCB and Zenith, the Company’s existing secured lender, also entered into an Override Deed (the “Override Deed”). The Override Deed establishes, inter alia, pro-rata rights of MCB and Zenith in respect of the proceeds from the Off-take Contract, governs the mechanics of any enforcement action by the creditors and sets out pro-rata sharing of enforcement proceeds between MCB and Zenith. The Override Deed also grants the necessary consents to EPNL’s entry into the MCB Finance Facility and related documents.

Long-Term Debt Maturities

Scheduled principal repayments on the outstanding balance on the Term Loan Facility and the MCB Finance Facility are as follows (in thousands):


14


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Scheduled payments by year
Principal
2017
$
33,898

2018
27,389

2019
21,437

2020
26,796

2021 and thereafter
8,036

Total principal payments
117,556

Less: Unamortized debt issuance costs
(11,118
)
Total Term Loan Facility, net
$
106,438


Long-Term Debt – Related Party:

As of March 31, 2017, the Company’s long-term related party debt was $129.8 million, consisting of $24.9 million owed under a 2011 Promissory Note, $50.0 million owed under a 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note, $48.5 million, net of discount, owed under a 2015 Convertible Note, and $6.4 million owed under a 2016 Promissory Note.

Allied, a related party, is the holder of each of the 2011 Promissory Note, the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note, and the 2015 Convertible Note (collectively the "Allied Notes"). Each of the Allied Notes contains certain default and cross-default provisions, including failure to pay interest and principal amounts when due and default under other indebtedness. As of March 31, 2017, the Company was not in compliance with certain default provisions of the Allied Notes with respect to the payment of quarterly interest. Further, the risk of cross-default exists for each of the Allied Notes if the holder of the Term Loan Facility exercises its right to terminate the Term Loan Facility and accelerate its maturity. Allied has agreed to waive its rights under all default provisions of each of the Allied Notes through April 2018.

2011 Promissory Note

EPNL, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, has a $25.0 million borrowing facility under the 2011 Promissory Note with Allied. Interest accrues on the outstanding principal under the 2011 Promissory Note at a rate of the 30-day LIBOR plus 2% per annum, payable quarterly. In March 2017, the Promissory Note was amended to extend the maturity date to April 2018. As consideration for the extension, the 2011 Promissory Note became convertible, at the sole option of the holder, into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $3.415 per share. The entire $25.0 million facility amount can be utilized for general corporate purposes. The stock of the Company’s subsidiary that holds the exploration licenses in The Gambia and Kenya were pledged as collateral to secure the 2011 Promissory Note, pursuant to an Equitable Share Mortgage arrangement. As of March 31, 2017, the outstanding principal and accrued interest under the 2011 Promissory Note were $24.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

2014 Convertible Subordinated Note

As partial consideration in connection with the February 2014 acquisition of the Allied Assets, the Company issued a $50.0 million Convertible Subordinated Note in favor of Allied (the “2014 Convertible Subordinated Note”). Interest on the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note accrues at a rate per annum of one-month LIBOR plus 5%, payable quarterly in cash until the maturity of the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note five years from the closing of the Allied Transaction.

At the election of the holder, the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at an initial conversion price of $4.2984 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. The 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note is subordinated to the Company’s existing and future senior indebtedness and is subject to acceleration upon an Event of Default (as defined in the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note). The following events, among others, constitute an Event of Default under the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note: the Company failing to pay interest within thirty days of the due date; the Company failing to pay principal when due; bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or dissolution of the Company; a material breach of the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note by the Company that remains unremedied within ten days of such material breach; or a representation or warranty of the Company proves to have been incorrect or materially inaccurate when made. Upon any event of default, all outstanding principal and interest under any loans will become immediately due and payable. As of March 31, 2017, the Company owed $8.8 million in accrued interest under the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note.


15


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company may, at its option, prepay the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note in whole or in part, at any time, without premium or penalty. Further, the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note is subject to mandatory prepayment upon (i) the Company’s issuance of capital stock or incurrence of indebtedness, the proceeds of which the Company does not apply to repayment of senior indebtedness or (ii) any capital markets debt issuance to the extent the net proceeds of such issuance exceed $250.0 million. Allied may assign all or any part of its rights and obligations under the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note to any person upon written notice to the Company. As of March 31, 2017, the outstanding principal under the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note was $50.0 million.

2015 Convertible Note

In March 2015, the Company entered into a new borrowing facility with Allied in the form of a Convertible Note (the “2015 Convertible Note”), allowing the Company to borrow up to $50.0 million for general corporate purposes. In March 2017, the maturity date of the 2015 Convertible Note was extended to April 2018. Interest accrues at the rate of LIBOR plus 5%, and is payable quarterly. 

The 2015 Convertible Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock upon the occurrence and continuation of an event of default, at the sole option of the holder. The number of shares issuable upon conversion is equal to the sum of the principal amount and the accrued and unpaid interest divided by the conversion price, defined as the volume weighted average of the closing sales prices on the NYSE MKT for a share of common stock for the five complete trading days immediately preceding the conversion date.

As of March 31, 2017, the Company had borrowed $48.5 million under the note and issued to Allied warrants to purchase approximately 2.7 million shares of the Company’s common stock at prices ranging from $2.00 to $7.85 per share. The total fair market value of the warrants amounting to $5.0 million based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model was recorded as a debt discount, and is being amortized using the effective interest method over the life of the note. As of March 31, 2017, the unamortized balance of the discount was nil.

Additional warrants are issuable in connection with future borrowings, with the per share price for those warrants determined based on the market price of the Company’s common stock at the time of such future borrowings. As of March 31, 2017, the outstanding balance of the 2015 Convertible Note, net of discount, was $48.5 million. Accrued interest on the 2015 Convertible Note was $5.7 million as of March 31, 2017.

2016 Promissory Note

In March 2016, the Company borrowed $3.0 million under a short-term Promissory Note agreement entered into with an entity related to the Company's majority shareholder, which accrued interest at a rate of the 30-day LIBOR plus 7% per annum.

In April 2016, the Company borrowed an additional sum of $1.0 million from the same lender, under another short-term Promissory Note, which also accrued interest at a rate of the 30-day LIBOR plus 7% per annum.

In May 2016, the Lender of the two Promissory Notes agreed to combine both notes into a $10.0 million borrowing facility (the "2016 Promissory Note"). Interest accrues at a rate of the 30-day LIBOR plus 7% per annum.

Subsequent to the combination of both notes into the 2016 Promissory Note, the Company had additional drawings under the 2016 Promissory Note totaling $2.4 million.

As of March 31, 2017, the outstanding balance under the 2016 Promissory Note was $6.4 million. Accrued interest on the 2016 Promissory Note was $0.5 million as of March 31, 2017. In March 2017, the maturity date of the 2016 Promissory Note was extended to April 2018. As consideration for the extension, the 2016 Promissory Note became convertible, at the sole option of the holder, into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $3.415 per share.

8. Related Party Transactions

Assets and Liabilities

The Company has transactions in the normal course of business with its shareholders, CEHL and their affiliates. The following table sets forth the related party assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

16


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(In thousands)
March 31, 
 2017
 
December 31, 2016
Accounts receivable, CEHL
$
2,354

 
$
1,956

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, CEHL
$
31,019

 
$
29,513

Long-term notes payable - related party, CEHL
$
129,804

 
$
129,796

As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the related party receivable balances of $2.4 million and $2.0 million, respectively, were for advance payments made for certain transactions on behalf of affiliates.
As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company owed $31.0 million and $29.5 million, respectively, to affiliates primarily for logistical and support services in relation to the Company's oilfield operations in Nigeria, as well as accrued interest on the various related party notes payable. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, accrued and unpaid interest on the various related party notes payable was $17.1 million and $15.2 million, respectively.
As of March 31, 2017, the Company had a combined note payable balance of $129.8 million owed to affiliates, consisting of a $50.0 million 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note, $24.9 million in borrowings under the 2011 Promissory Note, a $48.5 million borrowing under the 2015 Convertible Note, net of discount, and $6.4 million under the 2016 Promissory Note. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had a combined note payable balance of $129.8 million owed to an affiliate, consisting of the $50.0 million 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note, $24.9 million in borrowings under the 2011 Promissory Note, $48.5 million borrowing under the 2015 Convertible Note, net of discount, and $6.4 million under the 2016 Promissory Note. See Note 7 – Debt for further information relating to the notes payable transactions.

Results from Operations

The table below sets forth a summary of transactions included in the Company's results of operations that were incurred with affiliates during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)
2017
 
2016
Total operating expenses, CEHL
$
2,513

 
$
1,683

Interest expense, CEHL
$
1,937

 
$
1,676


Certain affiliates of the Company provide procurement and logistical support services to the Company’s operations. In connection therewith, during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company incurred operating costs amounting to approximately $2.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company incurred interest expense, excluding debt discount amortization, totaling approximately $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively, in relation to related party notes payable.

9. Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments

In February 2014, a long-term contract was signed for the floating, production, storage, and offloading vessel (“FPSO”) Armada Perdana, which is the vessel currently connected to the Company’s productive wells, Oyo-7 and Oyo-8, offshore Nigeria. The contract provides for an initial term of seven years beginning January 1, 2014, with an automatic extension for an additional term of two years unless terminated by the Company with prior notice. The FPSO can process up to 40,000 barrels of liquid per day, with a storage capacity of approximately one million barrels. The annual minimum contractual commitment per the terms of the agreement is approximately $48.4 million per year through 2020.

The Company also has commitments related to four production sharing contracts with the Government of the Republic of Kenya (the “Kenya PSCs”), two Petroleum Exploration, Development & Production Licenses with the Republic of The Gambia (the “Gambia Licenses”), and one Petroleum Agreement with the Republic of Ghana (the "Ghana Petroleum Agreement"). In all cases, the Company entered into these commitments through a subsidiary. To maintain compliance and ownership, the Company is required to fulfill certain minimum work obligations and to make certain payments as stated in each of the Kenya PSCs, the Gambia Licenses, and the Ghana Petroleum Agreement. Among the Kenya PSCs in which the Company have remaining obligations,

17


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

production sharing contracts related to offshore blocks L27 and L28 expired in February 2017, with the Company having no intension to renew or extend these leases.

In March 2017, the Company entered into a drilling services contract with Pacific Drilling using the Pacific Bora drilling rig. The Company plans to use this rig to drill well Oyo-9 on the Oyo field in the deepwater offshore Nigeria. Under the contract, the Company has the option to drill up to two additional wells. The option to extend the contract, if exercised, would be used to drill two of its offshore Nigeria exploration prospects in the prolific Miocene geological zone. The Pacific Bora is a highly efficient sixth generation double-hulled drillship currently in Nigeria and expected to be mobilized to the Oyo field and on site in June 2017. The contract provides for a base operating rate of $195,000 per day. The rig can be used for both drilling and well completion.

Contingencies

Legal Contingencies and Proceedings

From time to time, the Company may be involved in various legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. As of March 31, 2017, and through the filing date of this report, the Company does not believe the ultimate resolution of such actions or potential actions of which the Company is currently aware will have a material effect on its consolidated financial position or results of operations.

On January 22, 2016, a request for arbitration was filed with the London Court of International Arbitration by Transocean Offshore Gulf of Guinea VII Limited and Indigo Drilling Limited, as Claimants, against the Company and its Nigerian subsidiary, EPNL, as Respondents (the “Arbitration”). The Arbitration is in relation to a drilling contract entered into by the Claimants and EPNL, and a parent company guarantee provided by the Company in relation thereto. The Claimants are seeking an order that the Respondents pay the sum of approximately $20.2 million together with interest and costs. The Company filed its Statement of Defense on October 4, 2016. The London Court of International Arbitration has set the Arbitration hearing to begin on June 7, 2017.

On February 5, 2016, a class action and derivative complaint was filed in the Delaware Chancery Court purportedly on behalf of the Company and on behalf of a putative class of persons who were stockholders as of the date the Company (1) acquired the Allied Assets pursuant to the Transfer Agreement and (2) issued shares to PIC in a private placement (collectively the “February 2014 Transactions”). The complaint alleges the February 2014 Transactions were unfair to the Company and purports to assert derivative claims against (1) the seven individuals who served on our Board at the time of the February 2014 Transactions and (2) our majority shareholder, CEHL. The complaint also purports to assert a direct breach of fiduciary duty claim on behalf of the putative class against the seven individuals who served on our Board at the time of the February 2014 Transactions on the grounds that they purportedly caused the Company to disseminate a false and misleading proxy statement in connection with the February 2014 Transactions, and a direct claim for aiding and abetting against Dr. Kase Lawal, the former Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The plaintiff is seeking, on behalf of the Company and the putative class, an undisclosed amount of compensatory damages. The Company is named solely as a nominal defendant against whom the plaintiff seeks no recovery.  On March 3, 2016, all of the defendants, including the Company, filed motions to dismiss the complaint, which motions were heard on January 18, 2017.

Unrecognized Loss Contingency

As of March 31, 2017, the Company has not accrued penalty and interest related to certain outstanding transactional tax obligations in Nigeria, including withholding taxes, value-added taxes, Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NCD) tax, Cabotage taxes, and Niger Delta Development Corporation taxes (NDDC). As of the date of this report, the Company believes that, based on its experience with local practices in Nigeria, the likelihood of being assessed penalty and interest is reasonably possible, with an estimated liability up to $18.7 million.

Contingency under the Allied Transfer Agreement

As provided for under the Transfer Agreement with Allied, the Company is required to make the following additional payments upon the occurrence of certain future events: (i) $25.0 million cash or the equivalent in shares of the Company’s common stock within fifteen days following the approval of a development plan by the Nigerian Department of Petroleum Resources ("DPR") with respect to a first new discovery of hydrocarbons in a non-Oyo field area; and (ii) $25.0 million cash or the equivalent in shares of the Company’s common stock within fifteen days starting from the commencement of the first hydrocarbon production in commercial quantities in a non-Oyo field area. The number of shares to be issued shall be determined by calculating the average

18


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

closing price of the Company’s common stock over a period of thirty days, counted back from the first business day immediately prior to the approval of a development plan by DPR or the date of the first hydrocarbon production in commercial quantities, as applicable.

Contingency under the 2015 Convertible Note

As part of the condition to the extension of the maturity date of the 2015 Convertible Note, which extension was entered into in March 2016, the Company is required to (i) pay to Allied an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of any successful debt fundraising event completed during the remaining term of the 2015 Convertible Note; and (ii) pay to Allied an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of any successful equity fundraising event completed during the remaining term of the 2015 Convertible Note.

10. Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Options

The table below sets forth a summary of stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 
  Shares
Underlying
Options
(In Thousands)
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
 
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
(Years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2016
1,147

 
$2.54
 
2.0
Granted

 
$—
 
Exercised
(154
)
 
$1.99
 
Forfeited

 
$—
 
Expired

 
$—
 
Outstanding at March 31, 2017
993

 
$2.63
 
2.0
Expected to vest
809

 
$2.34
 
1.7
Exercisable at March 31, 2017
184

 
$3.90
 
3.5

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company issued 59,169 shares of common stock as a result of the exercise of stock options, all of which were issued as a result of the cashless exercise of 154,204 options. Also, during the three months ended March 31, 2017, no options to purchase shares of common stock expired, and no options to purchase shares were forfeited.

Stock Warrants

The table below sets forth a summary of stock warrant activity for the three months ended March 31, 2017.

 
  Shares
Underlying
Warrants
(In Thousands)
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
 
Weighted-Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
(Years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2016
2,983

 
$3.59
 
3.2
Granted

 
$—
 
Exercised

 
$—
 
Forfeited

 
$—
 
Expired

 
$—
 
Outstanding at March 31, 2017
2,983

 
$3.59
 
3.0
Expected to vest

 
$—
 
Exercisable at March 31, 2017
2,983

 
$3.59
 
3.0

Restricted Stock Awards

The table below sets forth a summary of restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) activity for the three months ended March 31, 2017.


19


ERIN ENERGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
 Shares
(In Thousands)
 
Weighted-Average
Grant Date Price Per Share
Non-vested at December 31, 2016
2,072

 
$
2.25

Granted
650

 
$
3.86

Vested
(571
)
 
$
2.47

Forfeited
(11
)
 
$
2.25

Non-vested as of March 31, 2017
2,140

 
$
2.68


During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company granted officers, directors, and employees a total of approximately 0.6 million shares of restricted common stock, including 0.2 million performance-based restricted stock awards ("PBRSA"), with vesting periods varying from immediate vesting to 36 months. During the same period, 11,395 shares of restricted common stock were forfeited.

With regards to the PBRSA, each grant will vest if the individuals remain employed three years from the date of grant and the Company achieves specific performance objectives at the end of the designated performance period. Up to 50% additional shares may be awarded if performance objectives are exceeded. None of the PBRSAs will vest if certain minimum performance goals are not met. The performance conditions are based on the Company’s total shareholder return over the performance period compared to an industry peer group of companies. Total estimated compensation expense is $0.7 million over three years.

11. Segment Information
The Company’s current operations are based in Nigeria, Kenya, The Gambia, and Ghana. Management reviews and evaluates the operations of each geographic segment separately. Operations include exploration for and production of hydrocarbons where commercial reserves have been found and developed. Revenues and expenditures are recognized at the relevant geographical location. The Company evaluates each segment based on operating income (loss). 

Segment activity for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:

(In thousands
Nigeria
 
Kenya
 
The Gambia
 
Ghana
 
Corporate and Other
 
Total
Three months ended March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$
31,278

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
31,278

Operating loss
$
(20,672
)
 
$
(320
)
 
$
(329
)
 
$
(837
)
 
$
(2,934
)
 
$
(25,092
)
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$
4,929

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
4,929

Operating loss
$
(23,160
)
 
$
(542
)
 
$
(274
)
 
$
(886
)
 
$
(3,431
)
 
$
(28,293
)
Total assets by segment as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, are as follows:
(In thousands)
Nigeria
 
Kenya
 
The Gambia
 
Ghana
 
Corporate and Other
 
Total
Total Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2017
$
276,672

 
$
688

 
$
3,017

 
$
4,528

 
$
2,497

 
$
287,402

As of December 31, 2016
$
281,050

 
$
698

 
$
3,034

 
$
3,648

 
$
771

 
$
289,201


12. Subsequent Events
 
In April 2017, the Company issued 55,247 shares of common stock upon the cashless exercise of stock options.

In April 2017, the Company granted to certain officers approximately 0.6 million stock options with a three year vesting period.



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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Our Business

Erin Energy Corporation, a Delaware corporation, is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on energy resources in Africa. Our strategy is to acquire and develop high-potential exploration and production assets in Africa, and to explore and develop those assets through strategic partnerships with national oil companies, indigenous local partners and other independent oil companies. We seek to build and operate a strategic portfolio of high-impact exploration and near-term development projects with significant production, reserves and resources growth potential. 

We actively manage investments and on-going operations by limiting capital exposure through farm-outs at various stages of exploration and development to share risks and costs. We prioritize on building a strong technical and operational team and place an emphasis on the utilization of modern oil field technologies that mature our assets, reduce the cost of our projects and improve the efficiency of our operations. 

Our shares are traded on both the NYSE MKT and on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange ("JSE") under the symbol “ERN”.

Our asset portfolio consists of seven licenses across four countries covering an area of approximately 5 million acres (approximately 19,000 square kilometers). We own producing properties offshore Nigeria and conduct exploration activities as an operator offshore Nigeria and conduct exploration activities as an operator onshore Kenya, offshore The Gambia, and offshore Ghana.

Our operating subsidiaries include Erin Petroleum Nigeria Limited, Erin Energy Kenya Limited, Erin Energy Gambia Ltd., and Erin Energy Ghana Limited.

We conduct certain business transactions with our majority shareholder, CAMAC Energy Holdings Limited (“CEHL”) and its affiliates, which include CAMAC Nigeria Limited (“CNL”) and Allied. See Note 8 - Related Party Transactions to the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

On February 16, 2017, Babatunde (Segun) Omidele informed the Company that he would resign from service as a member of the Board of Directors and as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Board accepted his resignation effective as of February 22, 2017. The Board has appointed Jean-Michel Malek, the Company’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, to serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer effective February 22, 2017 while the Board conducts a search for a permanent replacement for Mr. Omidele.

Nigeria

The Company currently owns 100% of the economic interests in the Oil Mineral Leases ("OMLs"), which include the currently producing Oyo field.

In early July 2016, the Oyo-7 well was shut-in as a result of an emergency shut-in of the Oyo field production. This has resulted in a loss of approximately 1,400 BOPD. The Company is currently working on relocating an existing gaslift line to well Oyo-7 to enable continuous gaslift operation. For cost effectiveness, the relocation of the gaslift line to well Oyo-7 is now planned to be combined with the Oyo-9 subsea equipment installation scheduled for the second half of 2017.

Daily production from the Oyo-8 well during the three months ended March 31, 2017 was approximately 6,300 BOPD (approximately 5,500 BOPD net to the Company after royalty).

Current plans include drilling a development well in the Oyo field (Oyo-9 well), which will be tied in to the field’s current production facility. The Oyo-9 well is expected to add an additional 6,000 to 7,000 barrels of oil per day from the field. The Company also plans on drilling a potential high-impact exploration well in the Miocene formation of the OMLs, subject to capital and rig availability.

Kenya


In May 2012, the Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, entered into four production sharing contracts with the Government of the Republic of Kenya, covering onshore exploration blocks L1B and L16, and offshore exploration blocks L27 and L28 (the “Kenya PSCs”). Each block requires specific work commitments to be completed by the end of the respective license periods. The Company is the operator of all blocks with the Government having the right to participate up to 20%, either directly or through

21


an appointee, in any area subsequent to declaration of a commercial discovery. The Company is responsible for all exploration expenditures.

Blocks L1B and L16

The Company is currently in the First Additional Exploration Period for both onshore blocks, which will last through July 2017. In accordance with the Kenya PSCs, the Company is obligated, for each block, to (i) acquire, process and interpret high density 300 square kilometer 3-D seismic data at a minimum expenditure of $12.0 million and (ii) drill one exploration well to a minimum depth of 3,000 meters at a minimum expenditure of $20.0 million. The Company plans to pursue completion of the work program and is considering the possibility of farming-out a portion of its rights to both blocks to potential partners.

Blocks L27 and L28

In August 2015, the Company received approval from the Kenya Ministry of Energy and Petroleum for an 18-month extension of the Initial Exploration Period for offshore blocks L27 and L28, which lasted through February 2017. The remaining contractual obligation under the initial exploration period is for the Company to acquire, process and interpret 1,500 square kilometers of 3-D seismic data over both offshore blocks.

In December 2016, the Company wrote off the costs related to offshore blocks L27 and L28 that had been capitalized to that date as the Company no longer intends to renew or extend its leases on these offshore blocks.

The Gambia

In May 2012, the Company, through a wholly owned subsidiary, signed two Petroleum Exploration, Development & Production Licenses with The Republic of The Gambia, for offshore exploration blocks A2 and A5 (the “Gambia Licenses”). For both blocks, the Company is the operator, with the Gambian National Petroleum Company (“GNPCo”) having the right to elect to participate up to a 15% interest, following approval of a development and production plan. The Company is responsible for all expenditures prior to such approval even if the GNPCo elects to participate. 

The term of the initial exploration period for both blocks A2 and A5, now extended through December 2018, require for the Company to (i) complete the processing and interpretation of approximately 1,500 square kilometers of 3-D seismic data that was acquired in September 2015 and (ii) drill one exploration well on either block A2 or A5 and evaluate the drilling results. The Company is currently interpreting the 3-D seismic data processed by an outside contractor.

In March 2017, the Company entered into a definitive farm-out agreement with FAR Ltd. (FAR), an Australian Securities Exchange listed oil and gas company, whereby FAR will acquire an 80% interest and operatorship of Erin Energy’s offshore A2 and A5 blocks, with the Company retaining a 20% working interest in both blocks. Under the terms of the farm-out agreement, which is subject to approval by the Government of the Republic of The Gambia, upon closing of the transaction, FAR will pay the Company a purchase price of $5.2 million and will carry $8.0 million of the Company’s share of costs in a planned exploration well to be drilled in late 2018. In addition, if the Company’s share of the exploration well is less than $8.0 million, the balance is to be paid in cash to the Company.

The Company and FAR are interpreting the recently acquired 3-D seismic data to further mature identified prospects on blocks A2 and A5 and may reprocess these data to enhance our interpretation.

Ghana

In April 2014, the Company, through an indirect 50%-owned subsidiary, signed a Petroleum Agreement with the Republic of Ghana (the “Petroleum Agreement”) relating to the Expanded Shallow Water Tano block offshore Ghana ("ESWT"). The Contracting Parties, which hold 90% of the participating interest in the block, are Erin Energy Ghana Limited as the operator, GNPC Exploration and Production Company Limited, and Base Energy (collectively the “Contracting Parties”), holding 60%, 25%, and 15% share of the participating interest of the Contracting Parties, respectively. The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation initially has a 10% carried interest through the exploration phase, and will have the option to acquire an additional paying interest of up to 10% following a declaration of commercial discovery. The Company owns 50% of its subsidiary Erin Energy Ghana Limited. The remaining 50% interest is owned by an affiliate of the Company’s majority shareholder. 

The ESWT block contains three previously discovered fields (the "Fields") and the work program requires the Contracting Parties to determine, within nine months of the effective date of the Petroleum Agreement, the economic viability of developing the Fields. In addition, the Petroleum Agreement provides for an initial exploration period of two years from the effective date of the Petroleum

22


Agreement, with specified work obligations during that period, including the reprocessing of existing 2-D and 3-D seismic data and the drilling of one exploration well on the ESWT block.

The Petroleum Agreement became effective in January 2015. Having completed the initial technical and commercial evaluation of the Fields, the Contracting Parties concluded that certain fiscal terms in the Petroleum Agreement had to be adjusted in order to achieve commerciality of the Fields under current economic conditions. The Contracting Parties have presented this conclusion to the relevant government entities. The Ghanian Government is currently reviewing the requests for adjustment of the fiscal terms, and has granted Erin Energy an extension of the Initial Exploration Period for eighteen months until the end of July 2018.

Results of Operations
The following discussion pertains to the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources and should be read together with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained in this report, and our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed on March 16, 2017 with the SEC.

Three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to three months ended March 31, 2016

Revenues

Revenue is recognized when an oil lifting occurs. Crude oil revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $31.3 million, as compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2016. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company sold approximately 597,000 net barrels of oil at an average price of $52.41/Bbl. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company sold approximately 161,000 net barrels of oil at an average price of $30.54/Bbl.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the average daily production from the Oyo field, net of royalty, over the number of days production occurred, was approximately 5,500 BOPD and 1,800 BOPD, respectively.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Production costs for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $22.6 million, as compared to $22.6 million for the same period in 2016. Production costs include costs directly related to the production of hydrocarbons. The Company matches production expenses with crude oil sales. Any production expenses associated with unsold crude oil inventory are capitalized with a corresponding offset to operating costs. The capitalized crude oil inventory costs are subsequently expensed when crude oil is sold.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company incurred $1.6 million of exploration expenses, including $0.3 million spent in Kenya, $0.2 million spent in Nigeria, $0.8 million spent in Ghana, and $0.3 million spent in The Gambia. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company incurred $2.1 million of exploration expenses, including $0.9 million spent in Ghana,$0.5 million spent in Kenya, $0.4 million spent in Nigeria, and $0.3 million spent in The Gambia.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017, was $25.4 million, as compared to $4.8 million for the same period in 2016. DD&A expense was higher during the three months ended March 31, 2017 mainly due to the higher sales volumes in 2017 as compared to that in 2016. The Company sold approximately 597,000 net barrels during the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared approximately 161,000 net barrels during the same period in 2016.

Accretion of asset retirement obligations ("ARO") for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was $0.5 million. ARO accretion expense for both 2017 and 2016 relates to the abandonment costs of the Company's developed properties in the Oyo field.

There was no plug and abandonment ("P&A") activity during the three months ended March 31, 2017. In April 2015, the Company completed P&A activities for well Oyo-6 that was previously shut-in. Actual P&A expenditures exceeded estimated P&A liabilities by $0.2 million. Accordingly, the Company recognized a $0.2 million loss on settlement of its ARO during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

General and administrative ("G&A") expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were $3.4 million, as compared to $4.0 million in the same period in 2016. G&A decreased in 2017 mainly due to the ongoing cost reduction initiatives, primarily related to employee costs and professional and consulting fees.


23


Other Income (Expense), Net
Other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $1.8 million, consisting of $4.0 million in interest expense on borrowings, partially offset by a $2.1 million gain on foreign currency transactions. Other expense for the same period in 2016 was $4.6 million consisting of $5.4 million in interest expense on borrowings, partially offset by a $0.9 million gain on foreign currency transactions.

Income Taxes

Income taxes were nil for each of the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. The Company did not have any taxable income from its oil and gas activities in Nigeria in these respective periods.

Headline Earnings 

In addition to the Company’s primary listing on the NYSE MKT, the Company’s common stock is also traded on the JSE. The JSE requires the Company to file certain documents that it files with the SEC. The JSE also requires that we calculate Headline Earnings Per Share (“HEPS”) which, per the SEC, is considered a non-GAAP measurement.
As defined in the Circular 3/2009 of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, headline earnings is an additional earnings number that excludes certain separately identifiable re-measurements, net of related tax, and related non-controlling interest.
The number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted HEPS is the same as basic and diluted EPS. During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no separate identifiable re-measurements required and headline earnings was the same as net loss per share as disclosed on the unaudited consolidated statements of operations. Therefore, HEPS for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, was a loss of $(0.12) and $(0.15), respectively.

Liquidity

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $0.7 million for the period, as compared to net cash used in operating activities of $10.2 million in the prior period. Cash provided by operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2017 increased by $10.8 million as compared to the same period in 2016 primarily due to a combination of higher revenues, use of vendor financing and higher non-cash adjustments to net loss.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $3.1 million, as compared to $3.6 million for the same period in 2016. Cash used in investing activities for both periods was used primarily to settle outstanding liabilities associated with additions to property, plant, and equipment for the Oyo field redevelopment campaign in the OMLs.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities of $2.0 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017, consisted of $28.2 million of proceeds from the drawdowns under the MCB Finance Facility, partially offset by $10.0 million funds restricted for debt service,$7.4 million restricted in relation to the MCB Finance Facility drawdowns, $8.2 million payment for debt issuance costs, and $0.6 million payment to settle withholding tax obligations upon vesting of restricted stock awards and exercise of stock options. Net cash provided by financing activities of $5.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 consisted of $8.1 million of funds released from restricted cash, $3.0 million inflows from short-term borrowings from a related party, and $0.1 million proceeds from the exercise of stock options, partially offset by a $6.0 million principal repayment of our Term Loan Facility and a $0.2 million payment to settle withholding tax obligations upon vesting of restricted stock awards

Capital Resources


24


Our primary cash requirements are for capital expenditures for the continued development of the Oyo field in Nigeria, operating expenditures for the Oyo field, exploration activities in unevaluated leaseholds, working capital needs, and interest and principal payments under current indebtedness.

We incurred losses from operations for the three ended March 31, 2017. As of March 31, 2017, the Company's total current liabilities of $321.0 million exceeded its total current assets of $43.6 million, resulting in a working capital deficit of $277.5 million. As a result of the current low commodity prices, we have not been able to generate sufficient cash from operations to satisfy certain obligations as they became due.


Well Oyo-7 is currently shut-in as a result of an emergency shut-in of the Oyo field production that occurred in early July 2016. This has resulted in a loss of approximately 1,400 BOPD from the field. The Company is currently working on relocating an existing gaslift line to well Oyo-7 to enable continuous gaslift operation to assist in restoring lost production. For cost effectiveness, the relocation of the gaslift line to well Oyo-7 is now planned to be combined with the Oyo-9 subsea equipment installation scheduled for the second half of 2017.

We are currently pursuing a number of actions, including (i) obtaining additional funds through public or private financing sources, (ii) restructuring existing debts from lenders, (iii) obtaining forbearance of debt from trade creditors, (iv) reducing ongoing operating costs, (v) minimizing projected capital costs for the 2017 exploration and development campaign, (vi) farming-out a portion of our rights to certain of our oil and gas properties and (vii) exploring potential business combination transactions. There can be no assurances that sufficient liquidity can be raised from one or more of these actions or that these actions can be consummated within the period needed to meet certain obligations.

In February 2017, we lifted and sold approximately 332,000 Bbls of crude oil (approximately 292,000 Bbls net to the Company). Net proceeds to us were approximately $15.9 million.

In March 2017, we lifted and sold approximately 346,000 Bbls of crude oil (approximately 304,000 Bbls net to the Company). Net proceeds to us were approximately $15.4 million.

Although we believe that we will be able to generate sufficient liquidity from the measures described above, our current circumstances raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue to realize the carrying value of our assets and operate as a going concern.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

From time-to-time, we may enter into arrangements that can give rise to off-balance sheet obligations. As of March 31, 2017, material off-balance sheet obligations include operating leases for the FPSO and certain employment contracts. Other than the material off-balance sheet arrangements discussed above, no other arrangements are likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, results from operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, in this report, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected revenues, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, to be materially different from historical earnings and those presently anticipated or projected or any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this report.

In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “will likely,” or similar expressions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Important factors that could affect our financial performance and that could cause actual results for future periods to differ materially from our expectations include, but are not limited to:

25



the supply, demand and market prices of oil and natural gas;
our current and future indebtedness;
our ability to raise capital to fund our current and future operations;
our ability to develop oil and gas reserves;
competition from other companies in the energy market;
political instability and foreign government regulations over international operations;
our lack of diversification of production and reserves;
compliance and enforcement of restriction on production and exports;
compliance and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations;
our ability to achieve profitability;
our dependency on third parties to enable us to produce and deliver oil and gas; and
other factors disclosed under Item 1. Description of Business, Item 1A. Risk Factors, Item 2. Properties, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and elsewhere in this report.

We have based our forward-looking statements on our management’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available to our management at the time the statements are made. We caution you that assumptions, beliefs, expectations, intentions and projections about future events may and often do vary materially from actual results. Therefore, we cannot assure you that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements.

For a detailed description of these and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, please see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part II of this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by reference to these risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and, except as required by law, we undertake no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company may be exposed to certain market risks related to changes in foreign currency exchange, interest rates, and commodity prices.

Foreign Currency Exchange Risk

Our results of operations and financial conditions are affected by currency exchange rates. While oil sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, portions of our capital and operating costs in Nigeria are denominated in Naira, the Nigerian local currency. Similarly, portions of our exploration costs in Kenya, The Gambia, and Ghana are denominated in each country’s respective local currency.

Historically, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the local currencies in the countries in which we operate has fluctuated widely in response to international political conditions, general economic conditions, and other factors beyond our control.

The weighted average exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Nigerian Naira was 190.44 Naira per each U.S. dollar for the three months ended March 31, 2017. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, a 10% fluctuation in the weighted average exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Nigerian Naira would have had an approximate $3.9 million impact on our capital and operating costs in Nigeria.

To date, we have not engaged in hedging activities to hedge our foreign currency exposure in our foreign operations. In the future, we may enter into hedging instruments to manage our foreign currency exchange risk or continue to be subject to exchange rate risk.

Commodity Price Risk


26


As an independent oil producer, our revenue, other income and profitability, reserve values, access to capital and future rate of growth are substantially dependent upon the prevailing prices of crude oil. Prevailing prices for such commodities are subject to wide fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in supply and demand and a variety of additional factors beyond our control. Prices received for oil production have been volatile and unpredictable, and such volatility is expected to continue.

Historically, realized commodity prices received for our crude oil sales have been tied to the Brent oil prices. Prices received have been volatile and unpredictable. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, a $10.00 fluctuation in the prices received for our crude oil sales would have had an approximate $5.9 million impact on our revenues.

We do not currently engage in hedging activities to hedge our exposure to commodity price risks. In the future, we may enter into hedging instruments to manage our exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices.

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to changes in interest rates, primarily from possible fluctuations in the London Interbank Borrowing Rate (“LIBOR”). The interest rates on our debt obligations are stated at floating rates tied to the LIBOR. Currently, we do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the weighted average interest rate on our variable rate debt was 23.82%. Assuming our current level of borrowings, a 100 basis point increase in the interest rates we pay under our various debt facilities would result in an increase of our interest expense by $2.5 million over a twelve month period.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including its Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management of the Company, with the participation of its Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2017. Based on their evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q, the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The disclosures required in this Item 1 are included in Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Financial Information, Item 1, Financial Statements and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

The following risk factors update the Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 16, 2017 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Annual Report”). Except as set forth below, there have not been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of the Annual Report.

We have substantial indebtedness and may incur substantially more debt. Higher levels of indebtedness make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and adverse developments in our business.

27



As of March 31, 2017, we had approximately $24.9 million of outstanding principal under the 2011 Promissory Note, $50.0 million of outstanding principal under the 2014 Convertible Subordinated Note, $48.5 million of outstanding principal under the 2015 Convertible Note, $89.3 million outstanding principal under the Term Loan Facility, $6.4 million of outstanding principal under the 2016 Promissory Note and $28.2 million of outstanding principal under the MCB Finance Facility, and we may incur additional indebtedness in the future. Our level of indebtedness has, or could have, important consequences to our business because:

a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations will be dedicated to interest and principal payments and may not be available for operations, working capital, capital expenditures, expansion, acquisitions, general corporate or other purposes;
it may impair our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for acquisitions, capital expenditures or general corporate purposes;
it may limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and industry; and
we may be substantially more leveraged than some of our competitors, which may place us at a relative competitive disadvantage and make us more vulnerable to downturns in our business, our industry or the economy in general.

In addition, the terms of the Term Loan Facility and the MCB Finance Facility restrict, and the terms of any future indebtedness including any future credit facility may restrict, our ability to incur additional indebtedness and grant liens because of debt or financial covenants we are, or may be, required to meet and compliance with certain negative covenants restricting the incurrence of addition indebtedness. Thus, we may not be able to obtain sufficient capital to grow our business or implement our business strategy and may lose opportunities to acquire interests in oil properties or related businesses because of our inability to fund such growth.

Our ability to comply with restrictions and covenants, including those in the Term Loan Facility, the MCB Finance Facility or in any future credit facility, is uncertain and will be affected by the levels of cash flow from our operations and events or circumstances beyond our control. Our failure to comply with any of the restrictions and covenants in the Term Loan Facility and the MCB Facility could result in a default, which could permit the lenders to accelerate repayments and foreclose on the collateral securing such indebtedness.

Due to lack of liquidity, we may not be able to make the required principal and interest payments under the Term Loan Facility due quarterly beginning June 1, 2017.

As a result of the current low commodity prices and a prior history of low oil production volumes due to the recent shut-in of well Oyo-8 from September 2015 to May 2016 and the currently shut-in well Oyo 7, the Company has not been able to generate sufficient cash from operations to satisfy certain obligations as they become due. The Company has been relying on short-term promissory notes, such as the 2016 Promissory Note, with an entity related to the Company’s majority shareholder to supplement its liquidity needs, but there can be no assurances that the related party will continue to provide such short-term loans in the future.

Pursuant to the Term Loan Facility, Zenith has the right to review the terms and conditions of the Term Loan Facility.

Our failure to make the required payments under the Term Loan Facility, maturing in 2021, or to comply with its applicable debt covenants could result in a default under the Term Loan Facility and a cross-default under the Allied Notes and the MCB Finance Facility, which could result in the acceleration of the payment of such indebtedness, termination of Zenith’s commitments to make further loans to us, loss of our ownership interests in the secured properties or otherwise materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, if we are unable to service our debt obligations generally, we cannot assure you that the Company will continue in its current state or continue to operate as a going concern.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to repurchases of our common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

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Total Number of
Shares Purchased (1)
 
Average Price
Paid Per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plan
or Program
 
Maximum Number 
(or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares that
May be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs
January 1 - January 31, 2017
12,650

 
$
3.55

 
 
 
 
February 1 - February 28, 2017
158,264

 
3.82

 
 
 
 
March 1 - March 31, 2017

 

 

 

Total
170,914

 
$
3.80

 

 

(1)
All shares repurchased were surrendered by employees to settle tax withholding upon the vesting of restricted stock awards and the exercise of stock options.

Item 6. Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed with this report:

Exhibit Number
Description
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-SB filed on August 16, 2007).
3.2
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 13, 2010).
3.3
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2014).
3.4
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2015).
3.5
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company as of April 11, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 3, 2011).
3.6
First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company adopted on March 11, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 17, 2016.
10.1
Pre-export Finance Facility Agreement between Erin Energy Corporation, Erin Petroleum Nigeria Limited and The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited, dated February 6, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2017).
10.2
Financing Support Agreement between Erin Energy Corporation and the Public Investment Corporation SOC Ltd., dated February 6, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2017).
10.3
Override Deed between Erin Energy Corporation, Erin Petroleum Nigeria Limited, Zenith Bank PLC and The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited, dated February 8, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2017)
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 7241, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 7241, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101. INS
XBRL Instance Document.
101. SCH
XBRL Schema Document.
101. CAL
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document.
101. DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101. LAB
XBRL Label Linkbase Document.
101. PRE
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.
 
 

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Erin Energy Corporation
Date: May 10, 2017
 
/s/ Daniel Ogbonna
Daniel Ogbonna
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

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