Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities are carried at fair value and measured either on a recurring or non-recurring basis. The Company’s fair value measurements are based either on actual market data or assumptions that other market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in an orderly transaction, using the valuation hierarchy prescribed by GAAP under ASC 820.

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 are as follows:

Level I - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical investments at the measurement date are used.

Level II - Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices included within Level I that are observable for the investment, either directly or indirectly. Level II pricing inputs include quoted prices for similar investments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar investments in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the investment, and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level III - Pricing inputs are unobservable and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment. The inputs used in determination of fair value require significant judgment and estimation.

Fair Values - Recurring (Predecessor)

The Predecessor’s derivatives consisted of over-the-counter contracts that were not traded on a public exchange. As the fair value of these derivatives was based on inputs using market prices obtained from independent brokers or determined using quantitative models that used as their basis readily observable market parameters that are actively quoted and can be validated through external sources, including third-party pricing services, brokers and market transactions, the Predecessor categorized these derivatives as Level 2. The Predecessor valued these derivatives using the income approach using inputs such as the forward curve for commodity prices based on quoted market prices and prospective volatility factors related to changes in the forward curves. Estimates of fair value were determined at discrete points in time based on relevant market data. Furthermore, fair values were adjusted to reflect the credit risk inherent in the transaction, which may have included amounts to reflect counterparty credit quality and/or the effect of the Predecessor’s creditworthiness.

Fair Values - Nonrecurring

The fair value measurements of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured on a nonrecurring basis on the acquisition date using an income valuation technique based on inputs that are not observable in the market, and therefore, represent Level 3 inputs. Significant inputs to the valuation of acquired oil and gas properties includes estimates of: (i) reserves; (ii) production rates; (iii) future operating and development costs; (iv) future commodity prices, including price differentials; (v) future cash flows; and (vi) a market participant-based weighted average cost of capital rate. These inputs require significant judgments and estimates by the Company’s management at the time of the valuation. Refer to Note 3 - Acquisitions for additional information.

Deemed Dividend

In July 2019, the Company issued an aggregate of 9.2 million shares of Class A Common Stock in exchange for all of its warrants. The difference in fair value between the Class A Common Stock issued and the warrants exchanged was recorded as a non-cash deemed dividend for the incremental value provided to the holders of the warrants. The fair value of the non-cash deemed dividend related to the warrant exchange was determined based on unadjusted quoted prices in an active market, which are considered a Level 1 input in the fair value hierarchy. Refer to Note 13 - Stockholders’ Equity for additional information.

Debt Obligations

The carrying value and fair value of the financial instrument that is not carried at fair value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 is as follows:



	December 31, 2019
(In thousands)	Carrying Value		Fair Value
Long-term debt	$	389,835	$	412,000

The fair value of the 2026 Senior Notes at December 31, 2019 was based on unadjusted quoted prices in an active market, which are considered a Level 1 input in the fair value hierarchy.

The Company has other financial instruments consisting primarily of receivables, payables, and other current assets and liabilities that approximate fair value due to the nature of the instrument and their relatively short maturities. Non-financial assets and liabilities initially measured at fair value include assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the business combinations and asset retirement obligations.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

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