Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt

Debt

The following table summarizes our outstanding debt:

	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022		Interest Rate	Maturity	Security
	(in thousands)
2021 RBL Facility	$	31,000	$	—	variable rates 10.50% (2023) and 9.50% (2022)	August 26, 2025	Mortgage on 90% of Present Value of proven oil and gas reserves and lien on certain other assets
2022 ABL Facility	—		—		variable rates 9.75% (2023) and 8.3% (2022)	June 5, 2025	CJWS property and certain other assets
2026 Notes	400,000		400,000		7.0%	February 15, 2026	Unsecured
Long-Term Debt - Principal Amount	431,000		400,000
Less: Debt Issuance Costs	(3,007)		(4,265)
Long-Term Debt, net	$	427,993	$	395,735

Deferred Financing Costs

We incurred legal and bank fees related to the issuance of debt. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, debt issuance costs reported in “other noncurrent assets” on the balance sheet were approximately (i) $3 million and $4 million, respectively, net of amortization, for the Credit Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2021, among Berry Corp, as a guarantor, Berry LLC, as the borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent and an issuing bank, and each of the lenders from time to time party thereto (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, the “2021 RBL Facility”) and (ii) an immaterial amount, net of amortization, for the Revolving Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 9, 2022, among C&J and C&J Management, as borrowers, and Tri Counties Bank, as lender (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “2022 ABL Facility”). At December 31, 2023 and 2022, debt issuance costs, net of amortization, for the unsecured notes due February 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) reported in “Long-Term Debt, net” on the balance sheet were approximately $3 million and $4 million, respectively.

For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, the amortization expense for the 2021 RBL Facility, the 2022 ABL Facility and the 2026 Notes combined, was approximately $3 million, $2 million, and $4 million, respectively. The amortization of debt issuance costs is presented in “interest expense” on the consolidated statements of operations.

Fair Value

Our debt is recorded at the carrying amount on the balance sheets. The carrying amounts of the 2021 RBL Facility and the 2022 ABL Facility approximate fair value because the interest rates are variable and reflect market rates. The 2021 RBL Facility and 2022 ABL Facility are Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of the 2026 Notes was approximately $391 million and $369 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The 2026 Notes are Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

2021 RBL Facility

The 2021 RBL Facility provides for a revolving loan with up to $500 million of commitment, subject to a reserve borrowing base and an aggregate elected commitment amount. The borrowing base under the 2021 RBL Facility is redetermined semi-annually, and the borrowing base redeterminations generally become effective each May and November, although the borrower and the lenders may each make one interim redetermination between scheduled redeterminations.

As of December 31, 2023, the 2021 RBL Facility had a $500 million revolving commitment, a $200 million borrowing base, a $200 million aggregate elected commitment amount and a $20 million sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit (with borrowing availability being reduced by the face amount of any letters of credit issued under the subfacility). Availability under the 2021 RBL Facility may not exceed the lesser of the aggregate elected commitment amount or the borrowing base less outstanding advances and letters of credit. The 2021 RBL Facility matures on August 26, 2025, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the 2021 RBL Facility. The 2021 RBL Facility is available to us for general corporate purposes, including working capital.

The outstanding borrowings under the 2021 RBL Facility bear interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (a) a customary base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.0% to 3.0% or (b) a term SOFR reference rate, plus an applicable margin ranging from 3.0% to 4.0%, in each case determined based on the utilization level under the 2021 RBL Facility. Interest on base rate borrowings is payable quarterly in arrears and interest on term SOFR borrowings accrues in respect of interest periods of one, three or six months, at the election of the borrower, and is payable on the last day of such interest period (or, for interest periods of six months, three months after the commencement of such interest period and at the end of such interest period). Unused commitment fees are charged at a rate of 0.50%.

The 2021 RBL Facility provides that, to the extent we incur unsecured indebtedness, including any amounts raised in the future, the borrowing base will be reduced by an amount equal to 25% of the amount of such unsecured debt. In addition, the 2021 RBL Facility requires us to maintain on a consolidated basis as of each quarter-end (i) a leverage ratio of not more than 2.75 to 1.0 and (ii) a current ratio of not less than 1.0 to 1.0. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with all of the debt covenants.

The 2021 RBL Facility also contains other customary affirmative and negative covenants, as well as events of default and remedies. If we do not comply with the financial and other covenants in the 2021 RBL Facility, the lenders may, subject to customary cure rights, require immediate payment of all amounts outstanding under the 2021 RBL Facility and terminate the commitments thereunder.

The 2021 RBL Facility is guaranteed by Berry Corp. and certain of its subsidiaries. Each future subsidiary of Berry Corp., with certain exceptions, is required to guarantee our obligations and obligations of the other guarantors under the 2021 RBL Facility and under certain hedging transactions and banking services arrangements. The lenders under the 2021 RBL Facility hold a mortgage on at least 90% of the present value of our proven oil and gas reserves. The obligations of Berry LLC and the guarantors are also secured by liens on substantially all of our personal property, subject to customary exceptions.

As of December 31, 2023, we had $31 million borrowings outstanding, $10 million in letters of credit outstanding, and approximately $159 million of available borrowing capacity under the 2021 RBL Facility.

2022 ABL Facility

Subject to satisfaction of customary conditions precedent to borrowing, as of December 31, 2023, C&J and C&J Management could borrow up to the lesser of (x) $10 million and (y) the borrowing base under the 2022 ABL Facility, with a letter of credit subfacility for the issuance of letters of credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed $7.5 million (with borrowing availability being reduced by the face amount of any letters of credit issued under the subfacility). The “borrowing base” is an amount equal to 80% of the balance due on eligible accounts receivable,

subject to reserves that the lender may implement in its reasonable discretion. As of December 31, 2023, the borrowing base was $10 million. Interest on the outstanding principal amount of the revolving loans under the 2022 ABL Facility accrues at a per annum rate equal to 1.25% in excess of the variable rate of interest, on a per annum basis, which is announced and/or published in the “Money Rates” section of The Wall Street Journal from time to time as its “Prime Rate.” Interest is due quarterly, in arrears. The 2022 ABL Facility matures on June 5, 2025, unless terminated in accordance with the terms of the 2022 ABL Facility.

The 2022 ABL Facility requires C&J and C&J Management to comply with the following financial covenants (i) maintain on a consolidated basis a ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth of no greater than 1.5 to 1.0 at any time; (ii) reduce the amount of revolving advances outstanding under the 2022 ABL Facility to not more than 90% of the lesser of (a) the maximum revolving advance amount or (b) the borrowing base, as of the lender’s close of business on the last day of each fiscal quarter; and (iii) maintain net income before taxes of not less than $1.00 as of each fiscal year end. As of December 31, 2023, each of C&J and C&J Management was in compliance with all of the debt covenants.

The 2022 ABL Facility also contains other customary affirmative and negative covenants, as well as events of default and remedies. If C&J or C&J Management does not comply with the financial and other covenants in the 2022 ABL Facility, the lender may, subject to customary cure rights, require immediate payment of all amounts outstanding under the 2022 ABL Facility and terminate the commitment thereunder. The obligations of C&J and C&J Management under the 2022 ABL Facility are not guaranteed by Berry Corp. or Berry LLC and Berry Corp. and Berry LLC do not and are not required to provide any credit support for such obligations.

As of December 31, 2023, each of C&J and C&J Management had no borrowings and $3 million letters of credit outstanding with $7 million of available borrowing capacity under the 2022 ABL Facility.

Senior Unsecured Notes

In February 2018, Berry LLC completed a private issuance of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of 7.0% senior unsecured notes due February 2026, which resulted in net proceeds to us of approximately $391 million after deducting expenses and the initial purchasers’ discount.

The 2026 Notes are Berry LLC’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our other senior indebtedness and senior to any of our subordinated indebtedness. The 2026 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Berry Corp and certain of its subsidiaries. C&J and C&J Management do not guarantee the 2026 Notes. Macpherson Energy and certain of its subsidiaries became guarantors of the 2026 Notes on January 4, 2024 and February 8, 2024 pursuant to supplemental indentures.

The indenture governing the 2026 Notes contains customary covenants and events of default (in some cases, subject to grace periods). We were in compliance with all covenants under the 2026 Notes as of December 31, 2023.

Debt Repurchase Program

In February 2020, the board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) adopted a program to spend up to $75 million for the opportunistic repurchase of our 2026 Notes. The manner, timing and amount of any purchases will be determined based on our evaluation of market conditions, compliance with outstanding agreements and other factors, may be commenced or suspended at any time without notice and do not obligate Berry Corp. to purchase the 2026 Notes during any period or at all. We have not yet repurchased any notes under this program.