EX-99.1 3 h05315exv99w1.htm PRESS RELEASE - FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1

CONTACTS:

         
(Media):   Tony Lentini   (713/296-6227)
    Bill Mintz   (713/296-7276)
    David Higgins   (713/296-6690)
         
(Investor):   Robert Dye   (713/296-6662)
         
(Web site):   www.apachecorp.com    

FOR RELEASE AT 8 A.M. CENTRAL TIME

APACHE REPORTS RECORD FIRST-QUARTER EARNINGS OF $2.10 PER SHARE

     Houston (April 24, 2003) — Apache Corporation (NYSE: APA) today reported that rising commodity prices and strong production fueled record first-quarter earnings of $337.5 million or $2.10 per diluted common share, including the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles regarding asset retirement obligations.

     Excluding the effect of the accounting change, Apache earned $1.94 per diluted common share, or $310.9 million, which was nearly four times first quarter 2002 earnings of 52 cents per diluted common share, or $75.8 million.

     “In just one quarter, Apache’s net income exceeded the full-year totals for all but three of our 48 years,” said G. Steven Farris, president, chief executive officer and chief operating officer. “In March alone, Apache earned $147.8 million, or nearly $5 million a day. In one month, Apache earned more than the company earned in all of 1996.”

     Apache reported that cash from operations totaled $644 million in the first quarter, up from $289.2 million in the prior-year period, and exceeded the full-year totals for the first 44 years of Apache’s 48-year history. (Please see below for a reconciliation of Apache’s calculation of cash from operations, a non-GAAP financial measure.)

-over-

 


 

APACHE REPORTS RECORD FIRST-QUARTER EARNINGS — ADD ONE

     “Apache’s record financial results reflected a combination of robust commodity prices and strong production added at responsible costs,” Farris said.

     First-quarter operating results reflect 18 days of oil and gas sales from the Gulf of Mexico portion of Apache’s $1.3 billion acquisition of properties from BP, but no impact from the purchase of the North Sea Forties field portion, which was completed on April 2. Production from both segments of the acquisition will be included going forward.

     As a result of cash generated by higher commodity prices and rising production, as well as Apache’s $554 million common stock offering during the first quarter, Apache expects to end the second quarter with a lower debt-to-capitalization ratio than at the beginning of the year, Farris said.

     “With the additional production from the BP acquisition and first production expected this summer from the Zhao Dong development in China, we are on course for strong production growth in 2003,” Farris said.

     Oil production averaged 158,815 barrels per day in the first quarter, up from 150,253 barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2002. Natural gas production averaged 1.09 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day, up from 1.07 Bcf per day in the fourth quarter. Natural gas liquids (NGLs) production averaged 7,489 barrels per day, down from 8,967 barrels per day in the fourth quarter.

     During the first quarter, Apache realized average prices of $5.29 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas, up from $3.43 per Mcf in the fourth quarter; $30.67 per barrel of oil, up from $26.77 per barrel in the fourth quarter; and $24.42 per barrel of NGLs, up from $16.19 per barrel in the fourth quarter.

-more-

 


 

APACHE REPORTS RECORD FIRST-QUARTER EARNINGS — ADD TWO

     Oil and gas production revenues totaled $975.2 million in the first quarter, also a record.

     Apache’s first-quarter results reflect the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143 (SFAS No. 143), “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” which requires companies to record the present value of estimated future abandonment obligations as a liability, with a corresponding entry to oil and gas assets. The adoption of SFAS No. 143 resulted in a non-cash cumulative-effect benefit of $27 million. The effect of this rule over time will be zero because, in the end, it is simply a timing issue.

     “Once again, the rule makers have served to complicate an accepted and readily understood historical industry practice,” said Apache Chairman Raymond Plank. “In our case, we had already reflected through our amortization rate a significant portion of our future abandonment liabilities. This rule caused us to reverse prior charges and recognize a gain we didn’t earn. It tinkers with comprehendible accounting.”

     Apache Corporation is a large gas and oil independent with core operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom North Sea and Western Australia.

-end-

     NOTE: Apache will webcast its conference call live at 1 p.m. Central Time from its Web site, www.apachecorp.com. The replay will be available on the Web site or by dialing (719) 457-0820 and using pass code 452671. The telephone replay will be available for one week beginning at approximately 5 p.m. on April 24.

     This news release contains certain “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, expectations, beliefs, plans and objectives regarding Apache’s financing, financial ratios, use of funds, production growth and timing of new developments. Any matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking and, accordingly, involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties. There is no assurance that Apache’s expectations will be realized, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.

 


 

APACHE CORPORATION
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In thousands, except per share data)

                   
      For the Quarter
      Ended March 31,
     
      2003   2002
     
 
REVENUES:
               
Oil and gas production revenues
  $ 975,162     $ 529,389  
Other revenues
    (8,553 )     (1,393 )
 
   
     
 
 
Total revenues
    966,609       527,996  
 
   
     
 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
               
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    214,349       211,039  
Asset retirement obligation accretion
    5,313        
International impairments
          4,600  
Lease operating costs
    134,135       112,304  
Gathering and transportation costs
    11,861       8,233  
Severance and other taxes
    24,554       14,199  
General and administrative
    27,831       25,352  
 
   
     
 
 
Total operating expenses
    418,043       375,727  
 
   
     
 
OPERATING INCOME
    548,566       152,269  
FINANCING COSTS:
               
Interest expense
    37,696       36,882  
Amortization of deferred loan costs
    531       334  
Capitalized interest
    (11,232 )     (10,022 )
Interest income
    (1,074 )     (1,169 )
 
   
     
 
 
Net financing costs
    25,921       26,025  
 
   
     
 
Preferred interests of subsidiaries
    3,362       3,533  
 
   
     
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    519,283       122,711  
Provision for income taxes
    206,986       42,039  
 
   
     
 
INCOME BEFORE CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
    312,297       80,672  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax
    26,632        
 
   
     
 
NET INCOME
    338,929       80,672  
Preferred stock dividends
    1,420       4,908  
 
   
     
 
INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK
  $ 337,509     $ 75,764  
 
   
     
 
INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCK BEFORE CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLE
  $ 310,877     $ 75,764  
 
   
     
 
BASIC NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
               
Before change in accounting principle
  $ 1.95     $ .53  
 
   
     
 
After change in accounting principle
  $ 2.12     $ .53  
 
   
     
 
DILUTED NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
               
Before change in accounting principle
  $ 1.94     $ 0.52  
 
   
     
 
After change in accounting principle
  $ 2.10     $ 0.52  
 
   
     
 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING
    159,255       144,159  
 
   
     
 

 


 

APACHE CORPORATION
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In thousands)

                     
        For the Quarter
        Ended March 31,
       
        2003   2002
       
 
CAPITALIZED COSTS INCURRED:
               
 
North America exploration and development
  $ 252,327     $ 137,377  
 
International exploration and development
    89,949       60,871  
 
 
   
     
 
 
Total exploration and development
  $ 342,276     $ 198,248  
 
 
   
     
 
 
Acquisitions:
               
   
Oil and gas properties
  $ 544,371     $ 108  
   
Gas gathering, transmission and processing facilities
    5,484        
   
Goodwill
           
 
 
   
     
 
 
Total Acquisitions
  $ 549,855     $ 108  
 
 
   
     
 
 
Asset Retirement Obligation
  $ 350,686     $  
 
Capitalized interest
  $ 11,232     $ 10,022  
 
Property sales
  $ (521 )   $ (796 )
                   
      March 31,   December 31,
      2003   2002
     
 
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
               
 
Preferred interests of subsidiaries
  $ 437,088     $ 436,626  
 
Total debt
  $ 1,943,364     $ 2,158,815  
 
Shareholders’ equity
  $ 5,803,100     $ 4,924,280  
 
Common shares outstanding at end of period
    161,602       151,253  

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE:

Cash from operations represents net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities. Cash from operations is presented because management believes it is a useful adjunct to net cash provided by operating activities under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). Cash from operations is widely accepted as a financial indicator of an oil and gas company’s ability to generate cash which is used to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service debt. Cash from operations is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating, investing, or financing activities, as an indicator of cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity. The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities to cash from operations.

                 
    For the Quarter
    Ended March 31,
   
    2003   2002
   
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 538,041     $ 205,265  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
    (105,924 )     (83,943 )
 
   
     
 
Cash from operations
  $ 643,965     $ 289,208  
 
   
     
 

 


 

APACHE CORPORATION
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(In thousands, except per share data)

                     
        For the Quarter
        Ended March 31,
       
        2003   2002
       
 
FINANCIAL DATA:
               
Revenues
  $ 966,609     $ 527,996  
 
   
     
 
Income Attributable to Common Stock
  $ 337,509     $ 75,764  
 
   
     
 
Basic Net Income Per Common Share:
               
   
Before change in accounting principle
  $ 1.95     $ .53  
 
   
     
 
   
After change in accounting principle
  $ 2.12     $ .53  
 
   
     
 
Diluted Net Income Per Common Share:
               
   
Before change in accounting principle
  $ 1.94     $ .52  
 
   
     
 
   
After change in accounting principle
  $ 2.10     $ .52  
 
   
     
 
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding
    159,255       144,159  
 
   
     
 
Diluted Shares Outstanding
    160,580       145,767  
 
   
     
 
PRODUCTION AND PRICING DATA:
               
NATURAL GAS VOLUME — Mcf per day
               
 
United States
    552,783       540,433  
 
Canada
    309,205       314,659  
 
Egypt
    123,719       117,525  
 
Australia
    101,153       120,645  
 
Argentina
    6,788       3,856  
 
   
     
 
   
Total
    1,093,648       1,097,118  
 
   
     
 
AVERAGE NATURAL GAS PRICE PER MCF
               
 
United States
  $ 6.22     $ 2.35  
 
Canada
    5.35       2.33  
 
Egypt
    4.50       3.05  
 
Australia
    1.31       1.23  
 
Argentina
    0.42       0.64  
   
Total
    5.29       2.29  
OIL VOLUME — Barrels per day
               
 
United States
    57,334       55,829  
 
Canada
    24,735       25,339  
 
Egypt
    45,710       44,378  
 
Australia
    30,439       32,941  
 
Argentina
    597       669  
 
   
     
 
   
Total
    158,815       159,156  
 
   
     
 
AVERAGE OIL PRICE PER BARREL
               
 
United States
  $ 28.97     $ 20.56  
 
Canada
    32.09       18.87  
 
Egypt
    30.46       21.42  
 
Australia
    33.00       20.60  
 
Argentina
    31.95       20.07  
   
Total
    30.67       20.53  
NGL VOLUME — Barrels per day
               
 
United States
    6,083       6,895  
 
Canada
    1,406       1,358  
 
   
     
 
   
Total
    7,489       8,253  
 
   
     
 
AVERAGE NGL PRICE PER BARREL
               
 
United States
  $ 24.34     $ 12.78  
 
Canada
    24.75       10.95  
   
Total
    24.42       12.48