UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
| For
the Quarterly Period Ended | |
| 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
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
(Nasdaq Capital Market) |
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. ☒ NO ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ NO ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ | |
| 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 ☐
The registrant had shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding as of August 10, 2022.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| 2 |
Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report” or “Form 10-Q”), including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements.
Examples of forward-looking statements in this Report include:
| ● | planned capital expenditures for oil and natural gas exploration and environmental compliance; | |
| ● | potential drilling locations and available spacing units, and possible changes in spacing rules; | |
| ● | cash expected to be available for capital expenditures and to satisfy other obligations; | |
| ● | recovered volumes and values of oil and natural gas approximating third-party estimates; | |
| ● | anticipated changes in oil and natural gas production; | |
| ● | drilling and completion activities and opportunities; | |
| ● | timing of drilling additional wells and performing other exploration and development projects; | |
| ● | expected spacing and the number of wells to be drilled with our oil and natural gas industry partners; | |
| ● | when payout-based milestones or similar thresholds will be reached for the purposes of our agreements with our partners; | |
| ● | expected working and net revenue interests, and costs of wells, relating to the drilling programs with our partners; | |
| ● | actual decline rates for producing wells; | |
| ● | future cash flows, expenses and borrowings; | |
| ● | pursuit of potential acquisition opportunities; | |
| ● | economic downturns (including as a result of COVID-19) wars and increased inflation and possible recessions caused thereby; | |
| ● | the effects of global pandemics, such as COVID-19 on our operations, properties, the market for oil and gas, and the demand for oil and gas; | |
| ● | our expected financial position; | |
| ● | our expected future overhead reductions; | |
| ● | our ability to become an operator of oil and natural gas properties; | |
| ● | our ability to raise additional financing and acquire attractive oil and natural gas properties; and | |
| ● | other plans and objectives for future operations. |
These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “may,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “achievable,” “anticipate,” “will,” “continue,” “potential,” “should,” “could,” “up to,” and similar terms and phrases. Though we believe that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable, they involve certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and in particular, under and incorporated by reference in, “Risk Factors”, below, the risks discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and those discussed in other documents we file with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements speak only at the date of the filing of this Report. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC.
| 3 |
Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
U.S. ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Oil and natural gas sales receivable | ||||||||
| Marketable equity securities | ||||||||
| Prepaid and other current assets | ||||||||
| Real estate assets held for sale, net of selling costs | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| Oil and natural gas properties under full cost method: | ||||||||
| Unevaluated properties | ||||||||
| Evaluated properties | ||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net oil and natural gas properties | ||||||||
| Pending acquisition | ||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | ||||||||
| Right-of-use asset | ||||||||
| Other assets | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued compensation and benefits | ||||||||
| Commodity derivative liability-current | ||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations-current | ||||||||
| Premium finance note | ||||||||
| Warrant liability | ||||||||
| Current lease obligation | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| Credit facility | ||||||||
| Commodity derivative liability-noncurrent | ||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations- noncurrent | ||||||||
| Lease obligation- non-current | ||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) | ||||||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock, $ par value; shares authorized; and shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively | ||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
| 4 |
U.S. ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022 AND 2021
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids | ||||||||||||||||
| Total revenue | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Lease operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Production taxes | ||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization | ||||||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Other non-operating income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||
| Commodity derivative loss | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Marketable equity securities gain (loss) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Other income (expense), net | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Interest, net | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Total other non-operating expense | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Net loss before income taxes | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
| Income tax (expense) benefit | ( | ) | ) | |||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
| Basic weighted shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| Diluted weighted shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per share | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
| Diluted earnings (loss) per share | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
| 5 |
U.S. ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES
IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022 AND 2021
(in thousands, except share amounts)
| Additional | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Paid-in | Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Amount | Capital | Deficit | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Balances, December 31, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares in underwritten offering, net of offering costs of $ | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares for related party secured note payable conversion | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares for settlement of related party legal costs | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares upon vesting of restricted stock awards | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shares withheld to settle tax withholding obligations for restricted stock awards | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balances, March 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balances, June 30, 2021 | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Balances, December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Shares issued for acquired properties | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Shares issued upon vesting of restricted stock awards | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shares withheld to settle tax withholding obligations for restricted stock awards | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Exercise of warrants | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balances, March 31, 2022 | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Cash dividends, $ per share | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | - | |||||||||||||||||||
| Balances, June 30, 2022 | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
| 6 |
U.S. ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022 AND 2021
(in thousands)
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion, accretion, and amortization | ||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ( | ) | ||||||
| Unrealized loss (gain) on commodity derivatives | ||||||||
| Loss (gain) on marketable equity securities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs | ||||||||
| Loss on warrant revaluation | ||||||||
| Loss on related party debt conversion and settlement of legal costs | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | ||||||||
| Right of use asset amortization | ||||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Oil and natural gas sales receivable | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Other assets | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accrued compensation and benefits | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Payments on operating lease liability | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
| Acquisition of proved properties | ( | ) | ||||||
| Oil and natural gas capital expenditures | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Expenditures for pending acquisition | ( | ) | ||||||
| Property and equipment expenditures | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from sale of oil and gas properties | ||||||||
| Payment received on note receivable | ||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of issuance costs | ||||||||
| Borrowings on credit facility | ||||||||
| Repayment of debt | ( | ) | ||||||
| Payment of fees for credit facility | ( | ) | ||||||
| Repayments of insurance premium finance note payable | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Exercise of warrant | ||||||||
| Shares withheld to settle tax withholding obligations for restricted stock awards | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Dividend paid | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and equivalents | ( | ) | ||||||
| Cash and equivalents, beginning of period | ||||||||
| Cash and equivalents, end of period | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Please see Note-14- Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information.
| 7 |
U.S. ENERGY CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION, OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization and Operations
U.S. Energy Corp. (collectively with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Energy One LLC (“Energy One”) and New Horizon Resources LLC, referred to as the “Company” in these Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements) was incorporated in the State of Wyoming on January 26, 1966. And recently reincorporated to Delaware, as discussed below. The Company’s principal business activities are focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. Effective on August 3, 2022, the Company changed its state of incorporation from the State of Wyoming to the State of Delaware (the “Reincorporation”) by means of a Plan of Conversion, effective August 3, 2022 (the “Plan of Conversion”). The Reincorporation, including the Plan of Conversion, was submitted to a vote of, and approved by, the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 21, 2022. The Reincorporation was accomplished by filing: (i) an Application for Certificate of Transfer with the Secretary of State of the State of Wyoming (the “Wyoming Certificate of Transfer”); (ii) a Certificate of Conversion with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Certificate of Conversion”); and (iii) a Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Certificate of Incorporation”). In connection with the Reincorporation, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted new amended and restated bylaws in the form attached to the Plan of Conversion, which are as were set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement (the “Delaware Bylaws”).
The Reincorporation did not result in any change in headquarters, business, jobs, management, location of any of the offices or facilities, number of employees, assets, liabilities or net worth (other than as a result of the costs incident to the Reincorporation) of the Company. The resulting Delaware corporation (“U.S. Energy-Delaware”) (i) is deemed to be the same entity as the Company as incorporated in Wyoming (“U.S. Energy-Wyoming”) for all purposes under Wyoming and Delaware law, (ii) continues to have all of the rights, privileges, and powers of U.S. Energy-Wyoming, (iii) continues to possess all of the properties of U.S. Energy-Wyoming, and (iv) continues to have all of the debts, liabilities, and duties of U.S. Energy-Wyoming.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements have been condensed or omitted in accordance with such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements have been included.
For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on March 28, 2022. Our financial condition as of June 30, 2022, and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, are not necessarily indicative of the financial condition and results of operations that may be expected for any future interim period or for the year ending December 31, 2022.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include oil and natural gas reserves that are used in the calculation of depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment of the carrying value of evaluated oil and natural gas properties; realizability of unevaluated properties; production and commodity price estimates used to record accrued oil and natural gas sales receivables; futures prices of commodities used in the valuation of commodity derivative contracts; and the cost of future asset retirement obligations. The Company evaluates its estimates on an on-going basis and bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable. Due to inherent uncertainties, including the future prices of oil and natural gas, these estimates could change in the near term and such changes could be material.
Industry Segment and Geographic Information
The Company operates in the exploration and production segment of the oil and gas industry, onshore in the United States. The Company reports as a single industry segment.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of U.S. Energy Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Energy One LLC (“Energy One”) and New Horizon Resources LLC (“New Horizon”). All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
2. ACQUISITIONS
On January 5, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), the Company closed the acquisitions contemplated by three separate Purchase and Sale Agreements (the “Purchase Agreements” and the “Closing”), entered into by the Company on October 4, 2021, with each of (a) Lubbock Energy Partners LLC (“Lubbock”); (b) Banner Oil & Gas, LLC, Woodford Petroleum, LLC and Llano Energy LLC (collectively, “Banner”), and (c) Synergy Offshore LLC (“Synergy”, and collectively with Lubbock and Banner, (the “Sellers”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreements, the Company acquired certain oil and gas properties from the Sellers, representing a diversified portfolio of primarily operated, producing, oil-weighted assets located across the Rockies, West Texas, Eagle Ford, and Mid-Continent. The acquisition also included certain wells, contracts, technical data, records, personal property and hydrocarbons associated with the acquired assets (collectively with the oil and gas properties acquired, the “Acquired Assets”).
The
Company accounted for the acquisition of the Acquired Assets as an asset acquisition. The purchase price for the Acquired Assets was
(a) $
| 8 |
| Amount | ||||
| (in thousands) | ||||
| Amounts incurred: | ||||
| Cash | $ | |||
| Value of shares issued | ||||
| Purchase price adjustments | ||||
| Transaction costs | ||||
| Total consideration paid | ||||
| Debt assumed | ||||
| Commodity derivative liabilities assumed | ||||
| Suspense accounts assumed | ||||
| Employee obligations assumed | ||||
| Asset retirement obligations assumed | ||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | ||||
| Total liabilities assumed | ||||
| Total consideration paid and liabilities assumed | $ | |||
| Allocation to acquired assets: | ||||
| Proved oil and gas properties | ||||
| Oil inventory in tanks | ||||
| Vehicles | ||||
| Deposit account | ||||
| Total allocation to acquired assets | $ | |||
Liberty County, Texas Acquisition
On
May 3, 2022, the Company acquired operated oil and gas producing properties in Liberty County, Texas, adjacent to its existing assets
in the area, for $
East Texas Acquisition
On
June 29, 2022, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “PSA”) with ETXENERGY, LLC. to acquire approximately
3. REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company’s operated oil production is sold at the delivery point specified in the contract. The Company collects an agreed-upon index price, net of pricing differentials. The purchaser takes custody, title and risk of loss of the oil at the delivery point; therefore, control passes at the delivery point. The Company recognizes revenue at the net price received when control transfers to the purchaser. Natural gas and natural gas liquid (“NGL”) are sold at the lease location, which is generally when control of the natural gas and NGL transfers to the purchaser, and revenue is recognized as the amount received from the purchaser.
The Company does not disclose the values of unsatisfied performance obligations under its contracts with customers as it applies the practical exemption in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606. The exemption applies to variable consideration that is recognized as control of the product is transferred to the customer. Since each unit of product represents a separate performance obligation, future volumes are wholly unsatisfied, and disclosure of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations is not required.
The Company reports revenue as the gross amount received from the well operators before taking into account production taxes and transportation costs. Production taxes are reported separately, and transportation costs are included in lease operating expense in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. The revenue and costs in the consolidated statements of operations were reported gross for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, as the gross amounts were known.
The Company’s non-operated revenues are derived from its interest in the sales of oil and natural gas production. The sales of oil and natural gas are made under contracts that operators of the wells have negotiated with third-party customers. The Company receives payment from the sale of oil and natural gas production between one to three months after delivery. At the end of each period when the performance obligation is satisfied, the variable consideration can be reasonably estimated and amounts due from customers are accrued in oil and natural gas sales receivable in the consolidated balance sheets. Variances between the Company’s estimated revenue and actual payments are recorded in the month the payment is received; however, differences have been and are insignificant. Accordingly, the variable consideration is not constrained. As a non-operator of its oil and natural gas properties, the Company records its share of the revenues and expenses based upon the information provided by the operators within the revenue statements.
The Company’s oil and natural gas production is typically sold at delivery points to various purchasers under contract terms that are common in the oil and natural gas industry. Regardless of the contract type, the terms of these contracts compensate the well operators for the value of the oil and natural gas at specified prices, and then the well operators remit payment to the Company for its share in the value of the oil and natural gas sold.
The Company disaggregates revenues from its share of revenue from the sale of oil and natural gas and liquids by region. The Company’s revenues in its Rockies, West Texas, South Texas, Gulf Coast and Mid- Continent regions for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, are presented in the following table:
| 9 |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
| Rockies | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| South Texas | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| West Texas | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Gulf Coast | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Mid-Continent | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||
| Combined Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| (1) | Negative amounts represent adjustments for the six months ended June 30, 2021, of estimated accruals to actual revenues received from non-operated properties in Oklahoma. |
Significant concentrations of credit risk
The Company has exposure to credit risk in the event of non-payment of oil and natural gas receivables by purchasers of its operated oil and natural gas properties and the joint interest operators of the Company’s non-operated oil and natural gas properties. The following table presents the purchasers that accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s total oil and natural gas revenue for at least one of the periods presented:
Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| Purchaser | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| Purchaser A | % | % | ||||||
| Purchaser B | % | |||||||
| Purchaser C | % | % | ||||||
| Purchaser D | % | % | ||||||
4. LEASES
During
the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company acquired right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities of $
June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| Right of use asset balance | ||||||||
| Operating lease | $ | $ | ||||||
| Lease liability balance | ||||||||
| Short-term operating lease | $ | $ | ||||||
| Long-term operating lease | ||||||||
| $ | $ | |||||||
| 10 |
The
Company recognizes lease expense on a straight-line basis excluding short-term and variable lease payments, which are recognized as incurred.
Short-term lease costs represent payments for office space in Golden, Colorado and our Houston, Texas office lease, prior to February
2021. In May 2022, the Company entered into a new
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease cost | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Short-term lease cost | ||||||||||||||||
| Sublease income | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
| Total lease costs | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
The Company’s Denver and Houston office operating leases do not contain implicit interest rates that can be readily determined; therefore, the Company used the incremental borrowing rates in effect at the time the Company entered into the leases.
| As of June 30, | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| Weighted average lease term (years) | ||||||||
| Weighted average discount rate | % | % | ||||||
The future minimum lease commitments as of June 30, 2022 are presented in the table below in thousands. Such commitments are reflected at undiscounted values and are reconciled to the discounted present value on the consolidated balance sheet as follows:
| Amount | ||||
| Remainder of 2022 | $ | |||
| 2023 | ||||
| 2024 | ||||
| 2025 | ||||
| 2026 | ||||
| 2027 | ||||
| Total lease payments | ||||
| Less: imputed interest | ( | ) | ||
| Total lease liability | $ | |||
In
August 2021, the Company sold its
| 11 |
5. OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES
Divestitures
During
the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company divested of the Wildhorse Waterflood Unit in Osage County, Oklahoma, which was part of
the Acquired Assets acquired on January 5, 2022. Net proceeds from sale of the waterflood unit were $
Ceiling Test and Impairment
The
Company did not record a ceiling test write-down of its oil and natural gas properties during the six months ended June 30, 2022 or 2021.
The reserves used in the ceiling test incorporate assumptions regarding pricing and discount rates over which management has no influence
in the determination of present value. In the calculation of the ceiling test as of June 30, 2022, the Company used $
6. DEBT
On
January 5, 2022, the Company entered into a five-year credit agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with Firstbank Southwest (“Firstbank”)
as administrative agent for one or more lenders (the “Lenders”), which provides for a revolving line of credit with an initial
borrowing base of $
The Credit Agreement contains various restrictive covenants and compliance requirements, which include, among other things: (i) maintenance of certain financial ratios, as defined in the Credit Agreement tested quarterly, that limit the Company’s ratio of total debt to EBITDAX (as defined in the Credit Agreement) to 3:1 and require its ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities (as each is described in the Credit Agreement) to remain at 1:1 or higher; (ii) a restriction on the payment of cash dividends (subject to certain limited rights to declare and pay dividends as long as no event of default has occurred and certain financial ratios are met); (iii) limits on the incurrence of additional indebtedness; (iv) a prohibition on the entry into commodity swap contracts exceeding a specified percentage of our expected production; and (v) restrictions on the disposition of assets. As of June 30, 2022, the Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the Credit Agreement.
A
total of $
On
March 4, 2021, the Company closed a Debt Conversion Agreement (the “Conversion Agreement”) with APEG Energy II, L.P. (“APEG
II”), which entity Patrick E. Duke, a former director of the Company, has shared voting power and shared investment power over.
The Conversion Agreement was related to a $
| 12 |
7. COMMODITY DERIVATIVES
The Company’s results of operations and cash flows are affected by changes in market prices for crude oil and natural gas. To manage a portion of its exposure to price volatility from producing crude oil and natural gas the Company enters into commodity derivative contracts to protect against price declines in future periods. The Company does not enter into derivative contracts for speculative purposes. The Company has not elected to designate the derivative contracts as cash flow hedges; therefore, the instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of the derivative contracts are recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and are included in cash flows from operating activities in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.
On January 5, 2022, the Company and NextEra Energy Marketing LLC (“NextEra”) entered into an International Swap Dealers Association, Inc. Master Agreement and Schedule (the “Master Agreement”), facilitating the Company to enter into derivative contracts to manage the risk associated with its business relating to commodity prices. The Company’s obligations to NextEra under the Master Agreement are secured by the collateral which secures the loans under the Credit Agreement on a pari passu and pro rata basis with the principal of such loans. The structure of the derivative contacts may include swaps, caps, floors, collars, locks, forwards and options.
The
Company’s entry into and the obligations of the Company under the Master Agreement were required conditions to the Closing of the
Banner Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Company was required to assume and novate certain hedges of Banner which had a mark
to market loss of approximately $
| Collars | Fixed Price Swaps | |||||||||||||||||||
| Quantity | Quantity | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commodity/ Index/ | Crude Oil-(Bbls) Natural | Weighted Average Prices | Crude Oil- (Bbls) Natural | Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||
| Maturity Period | Gas-(Mmbtu) | Floors | Ceilings | Gas-(Mmbtu) | Price | |||||||||||||||
| NYMEX WTI | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Crude Oil 2022 Contracts: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Third quarter 2022 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth quarter 2022 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Remaining 2022 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Crude Oil 2023 Contracts: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First quarter 2023 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Second quarter 2023 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Third quarter 2023 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth quarter 2023 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Total 2023 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| NYMEX Henry Hub | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Natural Gas 2022 Contracts: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Third quarter 2022 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Fourth quarter 2022 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Total remaining 2022 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| Natural Gas 2023 Contracts: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First quarter 2023 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 |
The following table details the fair value of commodity derivative contracts recorded in the accompanying balance sheets by category:
June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| Derivative liabilities: | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||||||
| Total derivative liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
As of June 30, 2022, all commodity derivative contracts held by the Company were subject to master netting arrangements with its counterparty. The terms of the Company’s derivative agreements provide for offsetting of amounts payable or receivable between it and the counterparty for contracts that settle on the same date. The Company’s agreements also provide that in the event of an early termination, the counterparty has the right to offset amounts owed or owing under that and any other agreement. The Company’s accounting policy is to offset positions that settle on the same date with the same counterparty.
The following table summarizes the commodity components of the derivative settlement gain (loss) as well as the components of the net derivative loss line-item presentation in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Derivative settlement losses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil contracts | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Gas contracts | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total derivative settlement losses | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||
| Total net derivative loss: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil contracts | $ | ( | ) | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Gas contracts | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total net derivative loss | $ | ( | ) | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | |||||
8. COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENCIES AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Litigation
In
July 2020, the Company received a request for arbitration from its former Chief Executive Officer, David Veltri claiming that it breached
his employment agreement. The Company settled the litigation in December 2021 by paying Mr. Veltri and his attorneys $
| 14 |
APEG II Litigation
From
February 2019 until August 2020, the Company was involved in litigation with its former Chief Executive Officer, David Veltri, and at
the time its largest shareholder, APEG II and APEG II’s general partner, APEG Energy II, GP (together with APEG II, “APEG”).
In addition, Patrick E. Duke, a former director of the Company, had shared voting and shared investment power over APEG. The litigation
arose as a result of a vote at the February 25, 2019 board of directors meeting to terminate Mr. Veltri for using Company funds outside
of his authority and for other reasons (the “Texas Litigation”). In a separate lawsuit, APEG initiated a shareholder derivative
action in Colorado against Mr. Veltri due to his refusal to recognize the Board’s decision to terminate him (the “Colorado
Litigation”). The Company was named as a nominal defendant in the Colorado Litigation. The Colorado litigation was dismissed in
May 2020 and the Texas Litigation was dismissed in August 2020. On March 4, 2021, the Company issued shares of unregistered common
stock, which had a value on the date of issuance of $
9. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Stock Options
From time to time, the Company may grant stock options under its incentive plan covering shares of common stock to employees of the Company. Stock options, when exercised, are settled through the payment of the exercise price in exchange for new shares of stock underlying the option. These awards typically expire ten years from the grant date.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, there was compensation expense related to stock options. As of December 31, 2019, all stock options had vested. stock options were granted or exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2022 or 2021. Stock options to purchase shares expired during the six months ended June 30, 2022. stock options expired during the six months ended June 30, 2021. Presented below is information about stock options outstanding and exercisable as of June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021:
| June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| Shares | Price | Shares | Price | |||||||||||||
| Stock options outstanding and exercisable | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Options Outstanding | Options Exercisable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercise | Weighted | Remaining | Weighted | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of | Price Range | Average Exercise | Contractual Term | Number of | Average Exercise | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Low | High | Price | (years) | Shares | Price | ||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted Stock
The Company grants restricted stock under its incentive plan covering shares of common stock to employees and directors of the Company. The restricted stock awards are time-based awards and are amortized ratably over the requisite service period. Restricted stock vests ratably on each anniversary following the grant date provided the grantee is employed on the vesting date. Restricted stock granted to employees, when vested are net settled through the issuance of shares, net of the number of shares required to pay withholding taxes.
| 15 |
The following table presents the changes in non-vested time-based restricted stock awards to all employees and directors for the six months ended June 30, 2022:
| Shares | Weighted-Avg. Grant Date Fair Value per Share | |||||||
| Non-vested restricted stock as of December 31, 2021 | $ | |||||||
| Granted | $ | |||||||
| Vested | ( | ) | $ | |||||
| Non-vested as of June 30, 2022 | $ | | ||||||
The following table presents the stock compensation expense related to restricted stock grants for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Stock compensation expense | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Total compensation cost related to non-vested time-based awards and not yet recognized in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations as of June 30, 2022, was $ million. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of years.
10. ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
The Company has asset retirement obligations (“AROs”) associated with the future plugging and abandonment of proved properties. Initially, the fair value of a liability for an ARO is recorded in the period in which the ARO is incurred with a corresponding increase in the carrying amount of the related asset. The liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized cost is depleted over the life of the related asset. If the liability is settled for an amount other than the recorded amount, an adjustment to the full-cost pool is recognized. The Company had no assets that are restricted for the purpose of settling AROs.
The
Company recorded $
In the fair value calculation for the ARO there are numerous assumptions and judgments, including the ultimate retirement cost, inflation factors, credit-adjusted risk-free discount rates, timing of retirement and changes in legal, regulatory, environmental, and political environments. To the extent future revisions to assumptions and judgments impact the present value of the existing ARO, a corresponding adjustment is made to the oil and natural gas property balance.
The following is a reconciliation of the changes in the Company’s liabilities for asset retirement obligations as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
June 30, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| Balance, beginning of year | $ | $ | ||||||
| Acquired | ||||||||
| Life revisions | ||||||||
| Sold/Plugged | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Accretion | ||||||||
| Balance, end of period | $ | $ | ||||||
| 16 |
11. INCOME TAXES
The
Company’s tax provision or benefit from income taxes for interim periods is generally determined using an estimate of its annual
effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items, if any. Each quarter the Company updates its estimate of the annual effective tax rate
and makes a year-to-date adjustment to the provision. However, for the six months ended June 30, 2022, the estimated annual effective
tax rate presented a distorted amount of expense in relation to the year-to-date results. As such, the Company has determined the tax
benefit for the six months ended June 30, 2022 on an actual year-to-date basis instead of applying the estimated annual effective tax
rate. The Company’s effective tax rate was approximately
The
Company’s income tax benefit for the six months ended June 30, 2022 includes a discrete income tax benefit of $
Deferred taxes are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets, liabilities, net operating losses and tax credit carry-forwards. We review our deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) and valuation allowance on a quarterly basis. As part of our review, we consider positive and negative evidence, including cumulative results in recent years. The January 5, 2022 transaction triggered an Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 382 ownership change, and therefore placed additional limitations on the Company’s pre-transaction net operating loss (NOL) and other tax attributes.
The Company recognizes, measures, and discloses uncertain tax positions whereby tax positions must meet a “more-likely-than-not” threshold to be recognized. During the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, no adjustments were recognized for uncertain tax positions.
Basic net income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the respective period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing adjusted net income (loss) by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding, which includes the effect of potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities for this calculation consist of stock options and warrants, which are measured using the treasury stock method, and unvested shares of restricted common stock. When the Company recognizes a net loss, as was the case for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, all potentially dilutive shares are anti-dilutive and are consequently excluded from the calculation of dilutive net loss per common share.
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
| Basic weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| Dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities | ||||||||||||||||
| Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic net income (loss) per share | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
| Diluted net income (loss) per share | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||||||
| 17 |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Stock options | ||||||||||||||||
| Unvested shares of restricted stock | ||||||||||||||||
| Warrants | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | ||||||||||||||||
13. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Company’s fair value measurements are estimated pursuant to a fair value hierarchy that requires us to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date, giving highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable data (Level 3). In some cases, the inputs used to measure fair value might fall in different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level input that is significant to a fair value measurement in its entirety determines the applicable level in the fair value hierarchy. Assessing the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, considering factors specific to the asset or liability, and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities and their placement within the hierarchy level. The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are defined as:
Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities traded in active exchange markets.
Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 that are directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other observable inputs that can be corroborated by observable market data.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity for financial instruments whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
| 18 |
Commodity Derivative Instruments
We measure the fair value of commodity derivative contracts using an income valuation technique based on the contract price of the underlying positions, crude oil forward curves, discount rates, and Company or counterparty non-performance risk. The fixed-price swaps and collar derivative contracts are included in Level 2. The fair value of commodity derivative contracts and their presentation in our condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2022 are presented below:
| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Total Fair Value | Effect Of Netting | Net Fair Value Presented in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet | |||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commodity derivatives | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||
| Non-current: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commodity derivatives | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commodity derivatives | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Non-current: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commodity derivatives | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net derivative instruments | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | ||||||||||||
Marketable Equity Securities
We measure the fair value of marketable equity securities based on quoted market prices obtained from independent pricing services. The Company has an investment in the marketable equity securities of Anfield Energy (“Anfield”), which it acquired as consideration for sales of certain mining operations. Anfield is traded in an active market under the trading symbol AEC:TSXV and has been classified as Level 1.
| June 30, | December 31, | |||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Marketable equity securities | ||||||||
| Number of shares owned | ||||||||
| Quoted market price | $ | $ | ||||||
| Fair value of marketable equity securities | $ | $ | ||||||
Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements
Asset Retirement Obligations
The Company measures the fair value of asset retirement obligations as of the date a well is acquired, the date a well begins drilling, or the date the Company revises its ARO assumptions using a discounted cash flow method based on unobservable inputs including estimates of the costs to abandon and the timing of when the Company will ultimately abandon the asset. These estimates are based on engineering estimates and estimated reserve life and therefore are designated as Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy See Note 10- Asset Retirement Obligations.
| 19 |
Other Assets and Liabilities
The Company evaluates the fair value on a non-recurring basis of properties acquired in asset acquisitions. The fair value of the oil and gas properties is determined based upon estimated future discounted cash flow, a Level 3 input, using estimated production which we reasonably expect, and estimated prices adjusted for differentials. Unobservable inputs include estimated future oil and natural gas production, prices, operating and development costs, and a discount rate of 10%, all Level 3 inputs within the fair value hierarchy.
The carrying value of financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of those instruments. The carrying value of the amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement approximate fair value because the interest on the Credit Agreement is at a floating rate.
14. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
| Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
| Investing activities: | ||||||||
| Change in capital expenditure accruals | ||||||||
| Change in accrual for acquisition costs | ( | ) | ||||||
| Common stock issued for acquisition of properties | ||||||||
| Assumption of commodity derivative liability in acquisition of properties | ||||||||
| Assumption of debt in acquisition of properties | ||||||||
| Assumption of suspense accounts in acquisition of properties | ||||||||
| Addition of operating lease liability and right of use asset | ||||||||
| Asset retirement obligations | ||||||||
| Financing activities: | ||||||||
| Issuance of stock for conversion of related party secured note payable and accrued interest | ||||||||
| Issuance of stock for settlement of related party legal costs | ||||||||
| Financing of insurance premiums with note payable | ||||||||
15. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Acquisition of East Texas Properties
On
July 27, 2022, the Company closed on the acquisition of certain oil and natural gas producing properties from ETXENERGY, LLC totaling
approximately
On
July 26, 2022, the Company, in anticipation of the closing of the ETXENERGY Acquisition entered into a letter agreement with FirstBank
Southwest, the administrative agent of its existing Credit Agreement, whereby it increased the borrowing base under the Credit Agreement
from $
On July 15, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $ per share of common stock outstanding. The dividend will be paid on August 22, 2022, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 8, 2022.
| 20 |
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Introduction
This information should be read in conjunction with the interim unaudited financial statements and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the audited financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2022 (the “Annual Report”).
Certain abbreviations and oil and gas industry terms used throughout this Report are described and defined in greater detail under “Glossary of Oil and Natural Gas Terms” on page 3 of our Annual Report.
Certain capitalized terms used below and otherwise defined below, have the meanings given to such terms in the footnotes to our consolidated financial statements included above under “Part I - Financial Information” – “Item 1. Financial Statements”.
In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we may rely on and refer to information regarding the industries in which we operate in general from market research reports, analyst reports and other publicly available information. Although we believe that this information is reliable, we cannot guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this information, and we have not independently verified any of it.
See also “Cautionary Statement About “Forward-Looking Statements” above.
Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “U.S. Energy”, and “U.S. Energy Corp.” refer specifically to U.S. Energy Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries
In addition, unless the context otherwise requires and for the purposes of this report only:
| ● | “Bbl” refers to one stock tank barrel, or 42 U.S. gallons liquid volume, used in this report in reference to crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons; |
| ● | “BOE” refers to barrels of oil equivalent, determined using the ratio of one Bbl of crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids, to six Mcf of natural gas; |
| ● | “Bopd” refers to barrels of oil day; |
| ● | “Mcf” refers to a thousand cubic feet of natural gas; |
| ● | “Mcfe” means 1,000 cubic feet equivalent, determined using the ratio of six Mcf of natural gas to one Bbl of crude oil, condensate or natural gas liquids; |
| ● | “NGL” refers to natural gas liquids; |
| ● | “Exchange Act” refers to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; |
| ● | “SEC” or the “Commission” refers to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission; |
| ● | “Securities Act” refers to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and |
| ● | “WTI” means West Texas Intermediate. |
| 21 |
Where You Can Find Other Information
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC like us at https://www.sec.gov (our filings can be found at https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000101594) and on the “Investors – SEC Filings” page of our website at https://usnrg.com. Copies of documents filed by us with the SEC are also available from us without charge, upon oral or written request to our Secretary, who can be contacted at the address and telephone number set forth on the cover page of this Report.
Summary of The Information Contained in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is provided in addition to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes to assist readers in understanding our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows. MD&A is organized as follows:
| ● | General Overview. A general overview of the Company and our operations. | |
| ● | Recent Developments. Discussion of recent developments affecting the Company and our operations. | |
| ● | Plan of Operations and Strategy. Discussion of our strategy moving forward and how we plan to seek to increase stockholder value. | |
| ● | Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates. Accounting estimates that we believe are important to understanding the assumptions and judgments incorporated in our reported financial results and forecasts. | |
| ● | Results of Operations. An analysis of our financial results comparing the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021. | |
| ● | Liquidity and Capital Resources. A discussion of our financial condition, including descriptions of balance sheet information and cash flows. |
General Overview
U.S. Energy Corp. - is a Delaware corporation, originally organized in Wyoming in 1966, and recently reincorporated to Delaware, as discussed below. We are an independent energy company focused on the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas producing properties in the continental United States. Our business activities are currently focused in West Texas, South Texas, the Gulf Coast, the Rockies and mid-continent.
Our strategic objective is to be a consolidator of high-quality producing assets in the United States with the potential to optimize production and generate free cashflow through low-risk development projects on existing assets, while maintaining an attractive shareholder returns program. We are committed to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) stewardship and being a leader in reducing our carbon footprint in the areas in which we operate.
On August 3, 2022, the Company changed its state of incorporation from the State of Wyoming to the State of Delaware (the “Reincorporation”) by means of a Plan of Conversion, effective August 3, 2022 (the “Plan of Conversion”). The Reincorporation, including the Plan of Conversion, was submitted to a vote of, and approved by, the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 21, 2022 (the “2022 Annual Meeting”), as set forth in the Company definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2022 (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”).
The Reincorporation was accomplished by filing: (i) an Application for Certificate of Transfer with the Secretary of State of the State of Wyoming (the “Wyoming Certificate of Transfer”); (ii) a Certificate of Conversion with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Certificate of Conversion”); and (iii) a Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Certificate of Incorporation”). In connection with the Reincorporation, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted new amended and restated bylaws in the form attached to the Plan of Conversion, which are as were set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement (the “Delaware Bylaws”).
| 22 |
Upon the effectiveness of the Reincorporation on August 3, 2022:
| ● | The Company’s affairs ceased to be governed by the Wyoming Business Corporation Act and the Company’s Wyoming articles of incorporation and bylaws, in each case as in effect immediately prior to the Reincorporation, and the Company’s affairs became governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Delaware Certificate of Incorporation, and the Delaware Bylaws; | |
| ● | The resulting Delaware corporation (“U.S. Energy-Delaware”) (i) is deemed to be the same entity as the Company as incorporated in Wyoming (“U.S. Energy-Wyoming”) for all purposes under Wyoming and Delaware law, (ii) continues to have all of the rights, privileges, and powers of U.S. Energy-Wyoming, (iii) continues to possess all of the properties of U.S. Energy-Wyoming, and (iv) continues to have all of the debts, liabilities, and duties of U.S. Energy-Wyoming; | |
| ● | Each (i) issued and outstanding share of common stock. $0.01 par value per share, of U.S. Energy-Wyoming automatically became an issued and outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of U.S. Energy-Delaware, (ii) option exercisable for common stock of U.S. Energy-Wyoming automatically became an equivalent option exercisable for shares of common stock of U.S. Energy-Delaware, (iii) warrant or other right to acquire shares of common stock U.S. Energy-Wyoming automatically became an equivalent warrant or other right to acquire shares of common stock of U.S. Energy-Delaware, and (iv) outstanding certificate representing shares of U.S. Energy-Wyoming common stock shall be deemed an equivalent certificate representing shares of U.S. Energy-Delaware common stock; | |
| ● | All employee benefit, stock option plans and incentive plans of U.S. Energy-Wyoming continue to be employee benefit, stock option plans and incentive plans of U.S. Energy-Delaware; and | |
| ● | Each director and officer of U.S. Energy-Wyoming continues to hold his or her respective office with U.S. Energy-Delaware. |
Certain rights of the Company’s stockholders changed as a result of the Reincorporation, and such changes are described in greater detail in the Definitive Proxy Statement under the section entitled “Proposal 6: Approval of the Reincorporation of U.S. Energy Corp. From a Wyoming Corporation to a Delaware Corporation”.
The Reincorporation did not affect the trading of the Company’s shares of common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market in any respect. The Company believes that the Reincorporation did not affect any of the Company’s material contracts with any third parties, and that the Company’s rights and obligations under such material contractual arrangements will continue to be rights and obligations of the Company after the Reincorporation. The Reincorporation did not result in any change in headquarters, business, jobs, management, location of any of the offices or facilities, number of employees, assets, liabilities or net worth (other than as a result of the costs incident to the Reincorporation) of the Company.
Recent Developments
Acquisition of Properties
On July 27, 2022, we closed on the acquisition of certain oil and natural gas producing properties from ETXENERGY, LLC totaling approximately 16,600 acres in Henderson and Anderson Counties, Texas for the initial purchase price of $11.9 million in cash (the “ETXENERGY Acquisition”). The Company financed the ETXENERGY Acquisition with $1.2 million of cash on hand and borrowings under its existing Credit Facility of $10.7 million. The asset acquired also include certain wells, pipelines, contracts technical data, records, personal property and hydrocarbons associated with the properties, including two pipeline gathering systems and related infrastructure.
On July 26, 2022, in anticipation of the closing of the ETXENERGY Acquisition we entered into a letter agreement with FirstBank Southwest, the administrative agent of our existing Credit Agreement, whereby we increased the borrowing base under the Credit Agreement from $15 million to $20 million. On July 27, 2022, in connection with the closing of the ETXENERGY Acquisition, we borrowed $10.7 million on the Credit Agreement. On August 4, 2022 we repaid $0.4 million on the Credit Agreement. The total amount outstanding on the Credit Agreement as of August 10, 2022, is $14.7 million.
| 23 |
Plan of Operations and Strategy
Continuing through 2022 and beyond, we intend to seek additional opportunities in the oil and natural gas sector, including but not limited to further acquisition of assets, participation with current and new industry partners in their exploration and development projects, acquisition of existing companies, and the purchase of oil and natural gas producing assets.
Key elements of our business strategy include:
| ● | Deploy our Capital in a Conservative and Strategic Manner and Review Opportunities to Bolster our Liquidity. In the current industry environment, maintaining liquidity is critical. Therefore, we will be highly selective in the projects we evaluate and will review opportunities to bolster our liquidity and financial position through various means. | |
| ● | Evaluate and Pursue Value-Enhancing Transactions. We will continuously evaluate strategic alternative opportunities that we believe will enhance shareholder value. |
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) requires us to make assumptions and estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. A summary of our significant accounting policies is detailed in Part II, Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2022.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
We do not believe that any recently issued but not yet effective accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements or related disclosures.
Results of Operations
Comparison of our Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
For the three months ended June 30, 2022, we recorded net income of $122 thousand, which was due to operating income of $2.7 million, primarily as a result of the assets acquired in January 2022. Partially offsetting our operating income, were losses on our commodity derivative contracts during the period of $2.1 million. For the three months ended June 30, 2021, we recorded a net loss of $207 thousand. In the following sections we discuss our revenue, operating expenses and non-operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2021.
Revenue. Presented below is a comparison of our oil and gas sales, production quantities and average sales prices for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
Three months ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands except average prices and production quantities) | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | 11,334 | $ | 1,507 | $ | 9,827 | 652 | % | ||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids | 2,146 | 149 | 1,997 | 1,340 | % | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | 13,480 | $ | 1,656 | $ | 11,824 | 714 | % | ||||||||
| Production quantities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil (Bbls) | 107,845 | 24,077 | 83,768 | 348 | % | |||||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids (Mcfe) | 326,308 | 47,979 | 278,329 | 580 | % | |||||||||||
| BOE | 162,230 | 32,073 | 130,157 | 406 | % | |||||||||||
| Average sales prices: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil (Bbls) | $ | 105.09 | $ | 62.59 | $ | 42.50 | 68 | % | ||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids (Mcfe) | 6.58 | 3.10 | 3.48 | 112 | % | |||||||||||
| BOE | $ | 83.09 | $ | 51.62 | $ | 31.47 | 61 | % | ||||||||
| 24 |
The increase in our oil and gas revenue of $11.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2021, was due primarily to an increase in oil production of 348% and an increase in the realized price received for our oil production of 68%. The increase in oil production is primarily related to production for the properties acquired in January 2022. The increase in crude oil prices is primarily due to the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the global commodity and financial markets, and in response to economic and trade sanctions that certain countries have imposed on Russia. Additionally, prices increased from 2021 due to stronger demand for crude oil on a global basis as the world recovered from government mandated lockdowns which began in mid-March 2020 and continued into 2021, which were put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
For the three months ended June 30, 2022, we produced 162,230 BOE, or an average of 1,783 BOE per day, as compared to 32,073 BOE or 352 BOE per day during the comparable period in 2021; however, the production mix shifted to become slightly less oil weighted in 2022, due to the acquisition in January 2022 of operated properties with relatively more natural gas production. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, our BOE production mix was 66% oil and 34% natural gas and liquids compared to 75% oil and 25% natural gas and liquids in the comparable period of 2021.
Oil and Gas Production Costs. Presented below is a comparison of our oil and gas production costs for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
| Three months ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Lease operating expense | $ | 4,646 | 477 | 4,169 | 874 | % | ||||||||||
| Production taxes | $ | 913 | $ | 131 | $ | 782 | 597 | % | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 5,559 | $ | 608 | $ | 4,951 | 814 | % | ||||||||
For the three months ended June 30, 2022, lease operating expenses were $4.6 million or $28.63 per BOE, an increase of $4.2 million when compared to the $477 thousand or $14.87 per BOE for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The increase in lease operating expense was due to increased activity as the result of the properties acquired in January 2022. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, production taxes were $913 thousand, an increase of $782 thousand, or 597%, compared to the comparable period of 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to the increase in oil revenues of 652% related to the increases in production from properties acquired in January 2022 and the increase in pricing as discussed above.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization. Our depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) rate for the three months ended June 30, 2022, was $15.84 per BOE, compared to $4.55 per BOE for the three months ended June 30, 2021. The increase in the DD&A rate was related to the acquisition of properties in January 2022. Our DD&A rate can fluctuate because of acquisitions, changes in drilling and completion costs, impairments, divestitures, changes in the mix of our production, the underlying proved reserve volumes and estimated costs to drill and complete proved undeveloped reserves.
General and Administrative Expenses. Presented below is a comparison of our general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
| Three months ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits, including directors’ fees | $ | 1,189 | $ | 294 | $ | 895 | 304 | % | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 609 | 116 | 493 | 425 | % | |||||||||||
| Professional fees, insurance and other | 844 | 402 | 442 | 110 | % | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,642 | $ | 812 | $ | 1,830 | 225 | % | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses increased by $1.8 million during the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the prior year period. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $0.9 million related compensation and benefits including director fees. Compensation and benefits expense increased due to the addition of 36 employees as of June 30, 2022, compared to June 30, 2021. Stock-based compensation increased $0.5 million due to the amortization of stock-based compensation awards granted to employees and directors in January 2022, which were mainly in connection with new directors and officers appointed in connection with the January 2022 acquisition. Professional fees, Insurance and other expenses increased $0.4 million, primarily due to increased consulting, accounting, legal and insurance expenses related to the acquisition of properties in January 2022.
| 25 |
Non-Operating Income (Expense). Presented below is a comparison of our non-operating income (expense) for the three months ended June 2022 and 2021:
| Three months ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Commodity derivative loss, net | $ | (2,132 | ) | $ | (317 | ) | $ | (1,815 | ) | -573 | % | |||||
| Marketable equity securities (loss) gain | (121 | ) | 23 | (144 | ) | -626 | % | |||||||||
| Other (expense) income, net | (5 | ) | 3 | (8 | ) | -267 | % | |||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (60 | ) | (6 | ) | (54 | ) | -900 | % | ||||||||
| Total non-operating expense | $ | (2,318 | ) | $ | (297 | ) | $ | (2,021 | ) | -680 | % | |||||
Commodity derivative loss, net is the result of changes in derivative fair values associated with fluctuations in forward price curves for the commodities underlying our outstanding derivative contracts and the monthly cash settlements of our derivative positions during the period. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, we recognized losses on commodity derivative contracts of $2.1 million for contracts that we assumed in the January 2022 acquisition, as well as contracts we added during the period. See Note 7 Commodity Derivatives in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Loss on marketable equity securities represents the change in fair value of our investment in Anfield Energy. For the three months ended June 30, 2022, we recognized an unrealized loss on marketable equity securities of $121 thousand as compared to a gain of $23 thousand for the comparable period of 2021.
Interest, net, represents the interest related to our Credit Facility with Firstbank Southwest. We had $4.0 million borrowed on the Credit Facility at June 30, 2022. In addition, during the three months ended June 30, 2022, we incurred interest on our note payable for the financing of insurance premiums. The balance payable on our insurance premium finance note is $0.4 million at June 30, 2022. See Note 6-Debt in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Comparison of our Statements of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, we recorded a net loss of $3.3 million, which was primarily due to losses on our commodity derivative contracts of $9.0 million during the period. Operating income of $3.4 million primarily from the properties acquired in January 2022, partially offset the losses on commodity derivative contracts. For the six months ended June 30, 2021, we recorded a net loss of $369 thousand. In the following sections we discuss our revenue, operating expenses and non-operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021.
Revenue. Presented below is a comparison of our oil and gas sales, production quantities and average sales prices for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
Six months ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands except average prices and production quantities) | ||||||||||||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil | $ | 19,167 | $ | 2,639 | $ | 9,827 | 652 | % | ||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids | 3,185 | 228 | 1,997 | 1,340 | % | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | 22,352 | $ | 2,867 | $ | 11,824 | 714 | % | ||||||||
| Production quantities: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil (Bbls) | 198,666 | 45,949 | 152,717 | 332 | % | |||||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids (Mcfe) | 505,651 | 72,173 | 433,478 | 601 | % | |||||||||||
| BOE | 282,942 | 57,978 | 224,964 | 388 | % | |||||||||||
| Average sales prices: | ||||||||||||||||
| Oil (Bbls) | $ | 96.48 | $ | 57.43 | $ | 39.05 | 68 | % | ||||||||
| Natural gas and liquids (Mcfe) | $ | 6.30 | $ | 3.16 | $ | 6.46 | 204 | % | ||||||||
| BOE | $ | 79.00 | $ | 49.44 | $ | 30.56 | 62 | % | ||||||||
| 26 |
The increase in our oil and gas revenue of $11.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021, was due primarily to an increase in oil production of 348% and an increase in the realized price received for our oil production of 68%. The increase in oil production is primarily related to production for the properties acquired in January 2022. The increase in crude oil prices is primarily due to the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the global commodity and financial markets, and in response to economic and trade sanctions that certain countries have imposed on Russia. Additionally, prices increased from 2021 due to stronger demand for crude oil on a global basis as the world recovered from government mandated lockdowns which began in mid-March 2020 and continued into 2021, which were put in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, we produced 282,942 BOE, or an average of 1,563 BOE per day, as compared to 57,978 BOE or 320 BOE per day, during the comparable period in 2021; however, the production mix shifted to become slightly less oil weighted in 2022, due to the acquisition in January 2022 of operated properties with relatively more natural gas production. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, our BOE production mix was 70% oil and 30% natural gas and liquids compared to 79% oil and 21% natural gas and liquids in the comparable period of 2021.
Oil and Gas Production Costs. Presented below is a comparison of our oil and gas production costs for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
| Six months ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Lease operating expense | $ | 7,382 | $ | 1,045 | $ | 6,337 | 606 | % | ||||||||
| Production taxes | $ | 1,485 | $ | 210 | $ | 1,275 | 607 | % | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 8,867 | $ | 1,255 | $ | 7,612 | 607 | % | ||||||||
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, lease operating expenses were $7.4 million or $26.09 per BOE, an increase of $6.3 million when compared to the $1.0 million or $18.02 per BOE for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The increase in lease operating expense was due to increased activity as the result of the properties acquired in January 2022. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, production taxes were $1.5 million, an increase of $1.3 million, or 607%, compared to the comparable period of 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to the increase in oil revenues of 652% related to the increases in production from properties acquired in January 2022 and the increase in pricing as discussed above.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization. Our depreciation, depletion and amortization (“DD&A”) rate for the six months ended June 30, 2022, was $15.75 per BOE, compared to $4.55 per BOE for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The increase in the DD&A rate was related to the acquisition of properties in January 2022. Our DD&A rate can fluctuate because of acquisitions, changes in drilling and completion costs, impairments, divestitures, changes in the mix of our production, the underlying proved reserve volumes and estimated costs to drill and complete proved undeveloped reserves.
General and Administrative Expenses. Presented below is a comparison of our general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
| Six months ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits, including directors’ fees | $ | 1,818 | $ | 554 | $ | 1,264 | 228 | % | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 2,109 | 195 | 1,914 | 982 | % | |||||||||||
| Professional fees, insurance and other | 1,661 | 798 | 863 | 108 | % | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | 5,588 | $ | 1,547 | $ | 4,041 | 261 | % | ||||||||
General and administrative expenses increased by $4.0 million during the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, as compared to the prior year period. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $1.9 million in stock-based compensation due to the amortization of stock-based compensation awards granted to employees and directors in January 2022, which were in connection with new directors and officers appointed in connection with the January 2022 acquisition. Compensation and benefits including director fees increased $1.3 million due to the addition of 36 employees as of June 30, 2022, when compared to June 2021. Professional fees, insurance and other expenses increased $0.9 million, primarily due to increased consulting, accounting, legal and insurance expenses related to the acquisition of properties in January 2022.
| 27 |
Non-Operating Income (Expense). Presented below is a comparison of our non-operating income (expense) for the three months ended June 2022 and 2021:
| Six months ended June 30, | Change | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
| Commodity derivative loss, net | $ | (8,969 | ) | $ | (210 | ) | $ | (8,759 | ) | (4171 | )% | |||||
| Marketable equity securities (loss) gain | (40 | ) | 73 | (113 | ) | (155 | )% | |||||||||
| Other (expense) income, net | (6 | ) | 25 | (32 | ) | (128 | )% | |||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (108 | ) | (58 | ) | (50 | ) | (86 | )% | ||||||||
| Total non-operating expense | $ | (9,123 | ) | $ | (170 | ) | $ | (8,954 | ) | (5,267 | )% | |||||
Commodity derivative loss, net is the result of changes in derivative fair values associated with fluctuations in forward price curves for the commodities underlying our outstanding derivative contracts and the monthly cash settlements of our derivative positions during the period. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, we recognized losses on commodity derivative contracts of $9.0 million for contracts that we assumed in the acquisition, as wells as, contracts we added during the period. See Note 7 Commodity Derivatives in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Loss on marketable equity securities represents the change in fair value of our investment in Anfield Energy. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, we recognized an unrealized loss on marketable equity securities of $40 thousand as compared to a gain of $73 thousand for the comparable period of 2021.
Interest, net, represents the interest related to our Credit Facility with Firstbank Southwest. We had $4.0 million borrowed on the credit facility at June 30, 2022. In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2022, we incurred interest on our note payable for the financing of insurance premiums. The balance payable on our insurance premium finance note is $0.4 million at June 30, 2022. See Note 6-Debt in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Based on the current commodity price environment, we believe we have sufficient liquidity and capital resources to execute our business plan while continuing to meet our current financial obligations. We continue to manage our commitments in order to maintain flexibility with regard to our activity level and capital expenditures.
Sources of Cash
For the six months ended June 30, 2022, we funded our capital expenditures primarily with cash flows from operating activities. During the period we borrowed $0.5 million on our Credit Facility, which as of June 30, 2022 had a balance borrowed of $4.0 million. On July 26, 2022, we entered into a letter agreement with Firstbank Southwest, the administrative agent of our Credit Agreement, whereby we increased the borrowing base under the Credit Agreement from $15 million to $20 million. On July 27, 2022, in connection with the closing of the ETXENERGY Acquisition, we borrowed $10.7 million under the Credit Agreement. On August 4, 2022, we repaid $0.4 million on the Credit Agreement. The total amount outstanding on the Credit Agreement as of August 10, 2022 is $14.3 million.
In April 2022 we sold the Wildhorse waterflood unit in Osage County, Oklahoma. Net proceeds from the sale were $1.2 million.
We expect that cash flows from operating activities will be sufficient to fund our planned capital expenditures for the next 12 months. However, we may also use borrowings under our Credit Facility or raise funds through new equity offerings or from other sources of financing. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity, the percentage ownership of our current stockholders could be diluted. Additionally, we may enter into carrying cost and sharing arrangements with third parties for certain development programs. All of our sources of liquidity can be affected by the general conditions of the broader economy, force majeure events, fluctuations in commodity prices, operating costs, tax law changes, and volumes produced, all of which would affect us and our industry.
We have no control over the market prices for oil and gas, although we may be able to influence the amount of our realized revenues from oil and gas through the use of commodity derivative contracts as part of our commodity price risk management program. Commodity derivative contracts may limit the prices we receive from our oil and gas sales if oil and gas prices rise substantially over the price established by the commodity derivative contract. See Note 7- Commodity Derivatives in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional information about our oil and gas commodity derivative contracts currently in place and the timing of the settlement of those contracts.
| 28 |
Credit Agreement
On January 5, 2022, we entered into a five-year credit agreement with Firstbank Southwest as administrative agent, which provides for a revolving line of credit which had an initial borrowing base of $15 million, and a maximum credit amount of $100 million (the “Credit Agreement”). On July 26, 2022, in anticipation of closing the ETXENERGY Acquisition our borrowing base was increased from $15 million to $20 million. Under the Credit Agreement, revolving loans may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed until January 5, 2026, when all outstanding amounts must be repaid. The Credit Agreement contains customary indemnification requirements, representations and warranties and customary affirmative and negative covenants applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains financial covenants, tested quarterly, that limit our ratio of total debt to EBITDAX (as defined in the Credit Agreement) to 3:1 and require its ratio of consolidated current assets to consolidated current liabilities (as each is described in the Credit Agreement) to remain at 1:1 or higher. We were in compliance with all financial and non-financial covenants as of June 30, 2022, and through the filing of this report. Please refer to Note 6 - Debt in Part I, Item 1 of this report for additional discussion.
The borrowing base is redetermined semi-annually on or about April 1 and October 1 of each year during the five-year term of the Credit agreement. The next borrowing base redetermination date is scheduled for October 1, 2022. Our borrowing base can be adjusted as a result of changes in commodity prices, acquisitions or divestitures of proved properties, or financing activities, all as provided for in the Credit Agreement.
Cash flows provided by our operating activities, proceeds received from divestitures of properties, capital markets activities, and our capital expenditures, including acquisitions, all impact the amount we borrow under our revolving Credit Agreement. A total of $3.5 million was borrowed under the Credit Agreement immediately upon the entry into such Credit Agreement on January 5, 2022. The $3.5 million was immediately used to repay $3.3 million of debt assumed as part of the acquisition of the Acquired Assets. Since the acquisition of the Acquired Assets through June 30, 2022, we have borrowed $1.0 million and repaid $0.5 million on the Credit Agreement. On July 26, 2022 we borrowed an additional $10.7 million, which was used for the ETXENERGY Acquisition and on August 4, 2022, repaid $0.4 million. The amount outstanding on the Credit Agreement as of August 10, 2022, was $14.3 million.
Uses of Cash
We use cash for the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties and for the payment of operating and general and administrative costs, settlements of commodity derivative contracts, debt obligations, including interest and payment of dividends. Expenditures for the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties are the primary use of our capital resources. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, we spent approximately $6.5 million on capital expenditures and acquisitions.
The amount and allocation of our future capital expenditures will depend upon a number of factors, including our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities, our ability to execute our development program, and the number and size of acquisitions that we complete. In addition, the impact of oil and gas, prices on investment opportunities, the availability of capital, tax law changes, and the timing and results of our development activities may lead to changes in funding requirements for future development. We periodically review our capital expenditure budget to assess if changes are necessary based on current and projected cash flows, acquisition and divestiture activities, and other factors. Our 2022 capital program is expected to be approximately $20 million of which we have spent approximately $17 million through August 10, 2022. We will continue to monitor the economic environment through the remainder of the year and adjust our activity level as warranted.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:
| Six months ended June 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in): | ||||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 3,662 | $ | (591 | ) | $ | 4,253 | |||||
| Investing activities | (5,170 | ) | (877 | ) | (4,293 | ) | ||||||
| Financing activities | (447 | ) | 5,196 | (5,643 | ) | |||||||
| 29 |
Operating Activities. Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $3.7 million as compared to cash used in operating activities of $0.6 million for the comparable period in 2021. The increase in cash provided by operating activities is mainly attributable to cash receipts for revenues, which were partially offset by settlements of commodity derivative contracts and increases in payments for operating and general and administrative expenses.
Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022, was $5.2 million as compared to $0.9 million for the comparable period in 2021. The primary use of cash in our investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022, was the capital expenditures related to returning idle wells to production on assets acquired during the period and acquisitions of oil and gas producing properties.
Financing Activities. Cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022, was $0.4 million as compared to cash provided by financing activities of $5.2 million for the comparable period in 2021. The cash used in financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2022, was primarily attributable to a cash dividend of $0.6 million paid to common stockholders, cash paid to settle taxes on share-based compensation of $0.3 million and payments on our insurance premium finance note payable of $0.2 million, which were partially offset by net borrowings under our Credit Agreement of $0.5 million and cash proceeds of $0.2 million received from the exercise of warrants. Cash provided by financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2021, represents cash received from the sale of 1.1 million shares of common stock of $5.3 million.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Pursuant to Item 305(e) of Regulation S-K (§ 229.305(e)), the Company is not required to provide the information required by this Item as it is a “smaller reporting company,” as defined by Rule 229.10(f)(1).
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We are required to maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined by Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure
As of June 30, 2022, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based on the results of the evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls were not effective as of June 30, 2022 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Such determination was made in part on material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, as discussed below.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. As previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2022, in connection with our assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at the end of our last fiscal year, management identified the following material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 and is in the process of remediating such material weaknesses as of June 30, 2022:
| ● | We had inadequate segregation of duties as a result of limited accounting staff and resources, which may impact our ability to prevent or detect material errors in our consolidated financial statements. |
| 30 |
| ● | We had inadequate segregation of duties related to logical access to our accounting systems, which may affect our ability to prevent or detect material errors in the recorded transactions. | |
| ● | We did not have adequate controls to ensure the accuracy of the disclosures related to the accounting for and valuation of the acquisition completed subsequent to year end. |
Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Except as disclosed below there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended June 30, 2022, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, except that beginning in January 2022 and continuing through August 10, 2022, we have added four additional experienced accounting personnel, including a controller and an assistant controller and have implemented a new accounting system. We have also engaged a third-party consulting firm that specializes in risk assessment, documentation of policies and procedures and testing of controls to assist in the design, implementation and testing of our internal controls, which may help remediate the material weakness related to inadequate segregation of duties as discussed above.
| 31 |
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we may become party to litigation or other legal proceedings that we consider to be a part of the ordinary course of our business. We are not currently involved in any legal proceedings that we believe could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations. We may become involved in material legal proceedings in the future.
Prior litigation which has been settled to date, is described in, and incorporated by reference in, this “Item 1. Legal Proceedings” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q from, Note 8-Commitments, Contingencies and Related-Party Transactions-Litigation in the Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on March 28, 2022, under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, which are incorporated by reference herein, except as discussed below, and investors should review the risks provided in the Annual Report and below, prior to making an investment in the Company. The business, financial condition and operating results of the Company can be affected by a number of factors, whether currently known or unknown, including but not limited to those described in the Annual Report, under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and below, any one or more of which could, directly or indirectly, cause the Company’s actual financial condition and operating results to vary materially from past, or from anticipated future, financial condition and operating results. Any of these factors, in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and stock price.
The following risk factors supplement the risk factors included in the Annual Report.
Our industry and the broader US economy have experienced higher than expected inflationary pressures in the first and second quarters of 2022, related to continued supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and geopolitical instability. Should these conditions persist our business, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.
The first and second quarters of 2022 have seen significant increases in the costs of certain materials, including steel, sand and fuel, as a result of availability constraints, supply chain disruption, increased demand, labor shortages associated with a fully employed US labor force, high inflation and other factors. Supply and demand fundamentals have been further aggravated by disruptions in global energy supply caused by multiple geopolitical events, including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Recent supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures may continue to adversely impact our operating costs and may negatively impact our ability to procure materials and equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner, if at all, which could result in reduced margins and production delays and, as a result, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.
The conflict in Ukraine and related price volatility and geopolitical instability could negatively impact our business.
In late February 2022, Russia launched significant military action against Ukraine. The conflict has caused, and could intensify, volatility in natural gas, oil and NGL prices, and the extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions could be significant and could potentially have a substantial negative impact on the global economy and/or our business for an unknown period of time. We believe that the increase in crude oil prices during the first half of 2022 has partially been due to the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine on the global commodity and financial markets, and in response to economic and trade sanctions that certain countries have imposed on Russia. Any such volatility and disruptions may also magnify the impact of other risks described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
| 32 |
The Company’s operations could be disrupted by natural or human causes beyond its control.
The Company’s operations are subject to disruption from natural or human causes beyond its control, including risks from hurricanes, severe storms, floods, heat waves, other forms of severe weather, wildfires, ambient temperature increases, sea level rise, war, accidents, civil unrest, political events, fires, earthquakes, system failures, cyber threats, terrorist acts and epidemic or pandemic diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic, some of which may be impacted by climate change and any of which could result in suspension of operations or harm to people or the natural environment, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.
Increasing attention to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters may impact our business.
Increasing attention to ESG matters, including those related to climate change and sustainability, increasing societal, investor and legislative pressure on companies to address ESG matters, and potential customer use of substitutes to our products may result in increased costs, reduced demand for our products, reduced profits, increased investigations and litigation or threats thereof, negative impacts on our stock price and access to capital markets, and damage to our reputation. Increasing attention to climate change, for example, may result in demand shifts for our hydrocarbon products and additional governmental investigations and private litigation, or threats thereof, against the Company.
Economic uncertainty may affect our access to capital and/or increase the costs of such capital.
Global economic conditions continue to be volatile and uncertain due to, among other things, consumer confidence in future economic conditions, fears of recession and trade wars, the price of energy, fluctuating interest rates, the availability and cost of consumer credit, the availability and timing of government stimulus programs, levels of unemployment, increased inflation, and tax rates. These conditions remain unpredictable and create uncertainties about our ability to raise capital in the future. In the event required capital becomes unavailable in the future, or more costly, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
A sale of a substantial number of registered shares of common could cause the price of our common stock to decline and make it harder for us to sell equity in the future.
We have registered the resale of 19,905,736 shares of common stock pursuant to a Form S-3 Registration Statement, which shares of common stock represent approximately 77.5% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Such shares of common stock may be resold in the public market immediately without restriction. The registered shares represent a significant number of shares of our common stock, and if sold in the market all at once or at about the same time, could significantly depress the market price of our common stock during the period the registration statement remains effective and could also affect our ability to raise equity capital in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate.
Our stock price has historically been and is likely to continue to be, volatile.
Our stock is traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “USEG”. During the last 52 weeks, our common stock has traded as high as $13.92 per share and as low as $2.91 per share. We expect our common stock will continue to be subject to wide fluctuations as a result of a variety of factors, including factors beyond our control. These factors include:
| ● | price volatility in the oil and natural gas commodities markets; | |
| ● | variations in our drilling, recompletion and operating activity; | |
| ● | relatively small amounts of our common stock trading on any given day; | |
| ● | additions or departures of key personnel; | |
| ● | legislative and regulatory changes; and | |
| ● | changes in the national and global economic outlook. |
| 33 |
The stock market has recently experienced significant price and volume fluctuations, and oil and natural gas prices have declined significantly. These fluctuations have particularly affected the market prices of securities of oil and natural gas companies like ours.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides for indemnification of officers and directors at our expense and limits their liability, which may result in a major cost to us and hurt the interests of our stockholders because corporate resources may be expended for the benefit of officers or directors.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides for indemnification as follows: “To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the [Company] shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the [Company] or, while a director or officer of the [Company], is or was serving at the request of the [Company] as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The [Company] shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under [the Certificate of Incorporation] or otherwise.”
Our obligation to indemnify our officers and directors may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, indemnification for liabilities arising under federal securities laws is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification for liabilities arising under federal securities laws, other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding, is asserted by a director, officer or controlling person in connection with our activities, we will (unless in the opinion of our counsel, the matter has been settled by controlling precedent) submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction, the question whether indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The legal process relating to this matter if it were to occur is likely to be very costly and may result in us receiving negative publicity, either of which factors is likely to materially reduce the market and price for our shares.
Our Certificate of Incorporation contains a specific provision that limits the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the Company and the Company’s stockholders and requires us, under certain circumstances, to indemnify officers, directors and employees.
The limitation of monetary liability against our directors, officers and employees under Delaware law and the existence of indemnification rights to them may result in substantial expenditures by us and may discourage lawsuits against our directors, officers and employees.
Our Certificate of Incorporation contains a specific provision that limits the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the Company and the Company’s stockholders, including as a result of a breach of their fiduciary duties, except to the extent such exception from liability is not permitted under Delaware General Corporation Law. We also have contractual indemnification obligations under our employment and engagement agreements with our executive officers and directors, as well as pursuant to indemnification agreements. The foregoing indemnification obligations could result in us incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against our directors and officers, which the Company may be unable to recoup. These provisions and resultant costs may also discourage us from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breaches of their fiduciary duties and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our stockholders against our directors and officers, even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders.
| 34 |
Anti-takeover provisions may impede the acquisition of the Company.
Certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL) have anti-takeover effects and may inhibit a non-negotiated merger or other business combination, notwithstanding the fact that our Certificate of Incorporation provides that we are not subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which relates to certain restrictions on business combinations with interested stockholders. These provisions are intended to encourage any person interested in acquiring the Company to negotiate with, and to obtain the approval of, our directors, in connection with such a transaction. As a result, certain of these provisions may discourage a future acquisition of the Company, including an acquisition in which the stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. In addition, we can also authorize “blank check” preferred stock, which could be issued by our Board of Directors without stockholder approval and may contain voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to our common stock.
Anti-takeover provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, might discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or changes in our management and, therefore, depress the trading price of our common stock.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware law contain provisions that may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares of our common stock. These provisions may also prevent or delay attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our management. Our corporate governance documents include provisions:
| ● | a classified board of directors, as a result of which our board of directors is divided into three classes, with each class serving for staggered three-year terms; | |
| ● | the removal of directors only for cause; | |
| ● | requiring advance notice of stockholder proposals for business to be conducted at meetings of our stockholders and for nominations of candidates for election to our Board of Directors; | |
| ● | authorizing blank check preferred stock, which could be issued with voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to our common stock; and | |
| ● | limiting the liability of, and providing indemnification to, our directors and officers. |
Any provision of our Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of our common stock, and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock.
The existence of the foregoing provisions and anti-takeover measures could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock. They could also deter potential acquirers of our company, thereby reducing the likelihood that you could receive a premium for your common stock in an acquisition.
Our Certificate of Incorporation contains exclusive forum provisions that may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors and officers.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that unless the corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim for breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
The choice of forum provision in our Certificate of Incorporation does not waive our compliance with our obligations under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Moreover, the provision does not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or by the Securities Act. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, and Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts with respect to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain claims under the Securities Act.
| 35 |
Notwithstanding the above, to prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that unless the Company consents, the U.S. federal district courts will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. However, there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such a provision. While the Delaware courts have determined that choice of forum provisions of the type included in our Certificate of Incorporation are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in our exclusive forum provision. In such instance, to the extent applicable, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of our exclusive forum provision. This may require additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions and there can be no assurance that the provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions.
These exclusive forum provisions may limit the ability of the Company’s stockholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum that such stockholders find favorable for disputes with the Company or the Company’s directors or officers, which may discourage such lawsuits against the Company and the Company’s directors and officers. Alternatively, if a court were to find one or more of these exclusive forum provisions inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings described above, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions or forums, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Sales of Unregistered Securities
There have been no sales of unregistered securities during the quarter ended June 30, 2022, and from the period from July 1, 2022, to the filing date of this Report.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Exhibits
| * | Filed herewith. |
| † | Exhibit constitutes a management contract or compensatory plan or agreement. |
| ♦ | Furnished herewith. |
# Certain schedules, exhibits, annexes, and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be furnished supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request; provided, however, that U.S. Energy Corp. may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any schedule or exhibit so furnished
| 36 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| U.S. ENERGY CORP. | ||
| Date: August 11, 2022 | By: | /s/ Ryan L. Smith |
| RYAN
L. SMITH, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | ||
| 37 |