10-Q 1 ten-q.txt FORM 10-Q SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 -------------- FORM 10-Q (Mark One) [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005 ------------------------------------------------- or [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period ended Commission file number: 0-10990 ------- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Delaware 76-0035225 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 357 South Gulph Road, Suite 260, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code (610) 992-9900 -------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report) Indicate by check [CHECK MARK] whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days Yes [CHECK MARK] No . ------------ ------ Indicate by check [CHECK MARK] whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) Yes No [CHECK MARK]. ---- ------------ Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date: 7,215,360 shares of Common Stock, $.50 par value, outstanding as of August 16, 2005. CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION INDEX
PAGE # ------ Part I. Financial Information Item 1. Financial Statements: Consolidated Balance Sheets - June 30, 2005 (Unaudited) and September 30, 2004............................................................... 2 Consolidated Statements of Operations - Three Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited).............................................. 3 Consolidated Statements of Operations - Nine Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)................................................... 4 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Nine Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 (Unaudited)..................................... 5 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Other Comprehensive Income - Year Ended September 30, 2004 and Nine Months Ended June 30, 2005 (Unaudited)................................................... 6 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)................. 7 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.......................................................... 17 Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk............. 21 Item 4. Controls and Procedures................................................ 21 Part II. Other Information Item 1. Legal Proceedings...................................................... 22 Item 6. Exhibits............................................................... 22 Signature ............................................................................... 23
-1- PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 2004 -------- ------------- (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents......................................................... $ 29,627 $ 33,742 Restricted cash................................................................... 898 120 Accounts receivable............................................................... 732 582 Account receivable - Delta Petroleum Corporation.................................. 339 Marketable securities............................................................. 19 Prepaid expenses and other current assets......................................... 82 203 Note receivable - Networked Energy LLC, net of allowance for doubtful account of $125......................................................................... -------- -------- Total current assets............................................................ 31,339 35,005 Property, plant and equipment, net: Furniture, fixtures, equipment and vehicles....................................... 195 111 Oil and gas properties, net (full cost method): Proved properties............................................................... 8,657 9,012 Unproved properties not being amortized......................................... Marketable securities................................................................ 94,624 Investment in Networked Energy LLC, net of impairment reserve of $354................ 6 Investment in Delta Petroleum Corporation............................................ 39,698 -------- -------- Total assets.................................................................... $134,821 $ 83,826 ======== ======== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Dividend payable.................................................................. $ 361 $ 343 Accounts payable.................................................................. 448 749 Contingent note payable........................................................... Accrued expenses.................................................................. 321 906 Asset retirement obligations...................................................... 3 3 Net refining liabilities retained................................................. 1,552 -------- -------- Total current liabilities....................................................... 2,685 2,001 Net refining liabilities retained.................................................... 2,404 Asset retirement obligations......................................................... 250 227 Deferred income taxes................................................................ 25,572 5,171 Other liabilities.................................................................... 20 19 -------- -------- Total liabilities............................................................... 28,527 9,822 -------- -------- Commitments and contingencies........................................................ Stockholders' equity: Series B participating preferred stock; par value - $1.00; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued Common stock; par value - $0.50; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 12,126,404 shares issued at June 30, 2005 and 11,781,404 shares issued at September 30, 2004.............................................................. 6,064 5,891 Additional paid-in capital........................................................ 88,500 85,691 Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of $19,698 taxes in 2005 and $1,165 taxes in 2004................................................................... 35,018 170 Retained earnings................................................................. 43,379 48,919 -------- -------- 172,961 140,671 Treasury stock at cost - 4,911,044 shares at June 30, 2005 and 4,911,020 shares at September 30, 2004.......................................................... (66,667) (66,667) -------- -------- Total stockholders' equity...................................................... 106,294 74,004 -------- -------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity...................................... $134,821 $ 83,826 ======== ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements -2- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED)
THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, ------------------------------- 2005 2004 ------------ ----------- Revenue: Gas sales................................................................. $ 456 $ 491 ------------ ----------- 456 491 ------------ ----------- Expenses: General and administrative................................................ 1,036 1,006 Oil and gas production.................................................... 180 133 Depreciation, depletion and amortization.................................. 130 128 Litigation provision (recovery)........................................... (845) 825 ------------ ----------- 501 2,092 ------------ ----------- Operating income (loss)...................................................... (45) (1,601) ------------ ----------- Other income (expense): Gain on sale of Delta Petroleum Corporation investment.................... 5,664 Interest income........................................................... 188 30 Other income (expense).................................................... 23 (1) Equity in income of Delta Petroleum Corporation........................... 350 Equity in income (loss) of Networked Energy LLC........................... (1) ------------ ----------- 210 6,043 ------------ ----------- Income (loss) before provision for income taxes.............................. 165 4,442 ------------ ----------- Provision for (benefit of) income taxes: State..................................................................... 21 37 Federal................................................................... 640 1,692 ------------ ----------- 661 1,729 ------------ ----------- Net income (loss)............................................................ ($ 496) $ 2,713 ============ =========== Net income (loss) per share: Basic..................................................................... ($ .07) $ .40 ============ =========== Diluted................................................................... ($ .07) $ .39 ============ =========== Weighted average number of common and potential dilutive common shares outstanding: Basic..................................................................... 7,111,458 6,715,112 ============ =========== Diluted................................................................... 7,111,458 7,018,712 ============ =========== Dividends declared per share................................................. $ 1.05 $ .05 ============ ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements -3- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS ("000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED)
NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, ------------------------------- 2005 2004 ------------ ----------- Revenue: Gas sales................................................................ $ 1,967 $ 491 ------------ ----------- 1,967 491 ------------ ----------- Expenses: General and administrative................................................ 3,242 3,430 Oil and gas production.................................................... 423 133 Depreciation, depletion and amortization.................................. 400 153 Litigation provision (recovery)........................................... (845) 825 ------------ ----------- 3,220 4,541 ------------ ----------- Operating income (loss)...................................................... (1,253) (4,050) ------------ ----------- Other income (expense): Gain on sale of marketable securities..................................... 538 Gain on sale of Delta Petroleum Corporation investment.................... 3,066 18,211 Interest income........................................................... 468 102 Other income.............................................................. 24 447 Equity in income of Delta Petroleum Corporation........................... 1,690 856 Equity in income of Networked Energy LLC.................................. 7 ------------ ----------- 5,255 20,154 ------------ ----------- Income (loss) before provision for income taxes.............................. 4,002 16,104 ------------ ----------- Provision for (benefit of) income taxes: State..................................................................... 38 58 Federal................................................................... 1,237 2,413 ------------ ----------- 1,275 2,471 ------------ ----------- Net income (loss)............................................................ $ 2,727 $ 13,633 ============ =========== Net income (loss) per share: Basic..................................................................... $ .39 $ 2.05 ============ =========== Diluted................................................................... $ .38 $ 1.98 ============ =========== Weighted average number of common and potential dilutive common shares outstanding: Basic..................................................................... 6,996,767 6,652,995 ============ =========== Diluted................................................................... 7,154,841 6,886,691 ============ =========== Dividends declared per share................................................. $ 1.15 $ .15 ============ ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements -4- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS ("000'S" OMITTED) (UNAUDITED)
NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, -------------------------- 2005 2004 ------- ------- Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities..................... ($2,530) ($ 3,272) ------- ------- Cash flows from investing activities: Investment in furniture, fixtures and equipment........................... (119) (43) Investment in oil and gas properties...................................... (9,282) Proceeds from sale of marketable securities............................... 2,809 Proceeds from sale of Delta Petroleum Corporation shares.................. 4,800 29,339 ------- ------- Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 4,681 22,823 ------- ------- Cash flows from financing activities: Dividends paid to stockholders............................................ (8,251) (995) Proceeds from exercise of stock options................................... 1,985 715 ------- ------- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities..................... (6,266) (280) ------- ------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents......................... (4,115) 19,271 Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period.............................. 33,742 10,615 ------- ------- Cash and cash equivalents - end of period.................................... $29,627 $29,886 ======= =======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements -5- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2005 (UNAUDITED) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACCUMULATED COMMON STOCK ADDITIONAL OTHER --------------------- PAID-IN COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE RETAINED SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL INCOME INCOME (LOSS) EARNINGS -------- -------- ---------- ------------- ------------- -------- Balance - October 1, 2003................... 11,503,904 $5,752 $68,532 $ 1,383 $36,643 Options exercised........................... 277,500 139 1,232 Tax benefit of options exercised............ 468 Issuance of additional stock by Delta Petroleum Corporation, net of $4,595 tax.. 15,459 Dividends declared ($.20 per share)......... (1,344) Comprehensive income (loss): Net income (loss)......................... $13,620 13,620 Other comprehensive income (loss): Reclassification adjustment, net of $649 tax.............................. (1,153) (1,153) Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of Delta Petroleum Corporation, net of $32 tax benefit... (60) (60) ---------- ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- $12,407 Balance - September 30, 2004................ 11,781,404 5,891 85,691 ======= 170 48,919 Treasury stock surrendered.................. Options exercised........................... 345,000 173 1,812 Tax benefit of options exercised............ 677 Issuance of additional stock by Delta Petroleum Corporation, net of $180 tax.... 320 Dividends declared ($1.15 per share)........ (8,267) Comprehensive income (loss): Net income (loss)......................... $2,727 2,727 Other comprehensive income (loss): Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of Delta Petroleum Corporation, net of $600 tax benefit.. (1,067) (1,067) Reversal of cumulative equity in comprehensive income (loss) of Delta as of April 1, 2005, net of $506 tax.. 900 900 Unrealized gain on marketable securities, net of $19,698 tax........ 35,015 35,015 ------- ---------- ------ ------- $37,575 ------- ------- Balance - June 30, 2005..................... 12,126,404 $6,064 $88,500 ======= $35,018 $43,379 ========== ====== ======= ======= =======
TREASURY STOCK --------------------- SHARES AMOUNT TOTAL -------- -------- ------- Balance - October 1, 2003................... 4,911,020 ($66,667) $45,643 Options exercised........................... 1,371 Tax benefit of options exercised............ 468 Issuance of additional stock by Delta Petroleum Corporation, net of $4,595 tax.. 15,459 Dividends declared ($.20 per share)......... (1,344) Comprehensive income (loss): Net income (loss)......................... 13,620 Other comprehensive income (loss): Reclassification adjustment, net of $649 tax.............................. (1,153) Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of Delta Petroleum Corporation, net of $32 tax benefit... (60) --------- ------- ------- Balance - September 30, 2004................ 4,911,020 (66,667) 74,004 Treasury stock surrendered.................. 24 Options exercised........................... 1,985 Tax benefit of options exercised............ 677 Issuance of additional stock by Delta Petroleum Corporation, net of $180 tax.... 320 Dividends declared ($1.15 per share)........ (8,267) Comprehensive income (loss): Net income (loss)......................... 2,727 Other comprehensive income (loss): Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of Delta Petroleum Corporation, net of $600 tax benefit.. (1,067) Reversal of cumulative equity in comprehensive income (loss) of Delta as of April 1, 2005, net of $506 tax.. Unrealized gain on marketable securities, net of $19,698 tax........ 35,915 --------- ------- -------- Balance - June 30, 2005..................... 4,911,044 ($66,667) $106,294 ========= ======= ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. -6- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) Note 1 - Basis of Preparation The unaudited consolidated financial statements of Castle Energy Corporation (the "Company") included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain reclassifications have been made, where applicable, to make the periods presented comparable. Although certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, the Company believes that the disclosures included herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005 or for subsequent periods. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. In the opinion of the Company, the unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (normal and recurring) necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 and for a fair statement of financial position at June 30, 2005. Note 2 - September 30, 2004 Balance Sheet The amounts presented in the balance sheet as of September 30, 2004 were derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements which were included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. Note 3 - Discontinued Operations From August 1989 to September 30, 1995, several of the Company's subsidiaries conducted refining operations. By December 12, 1995, the Company's refining subsidiaries had sold all of their refining assets and the purchasers had assumed all related liabilities, including contingent environmental liabilities. The Company's refining subsidiaries own no refining assets, have been inactive for over nine years and are in the process of liquidation. As a result, the Company has accounted for its refining operations as discontinued operations. Such discontinued refining operations have not impacted the Company's operations since September 30, 1995, although they may impact the Company's future operations. Net refining liabilities retained represent the remaining liabilities from discontinued refining operations. Such amounts remain on the consolidated balance sheet pending final resolution. Such liabilities have been classified as current at June 30, 2005 because the presumptive trial date for related Chevron litigation has been set for November 2005 (see Note 4). Note 4 - Environmental Liabilities/Litigation Chevron Litigation On August 13, 2002, three subsidiaries of Chevron filed Cause No. 02-4162-JPG in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against the Company, as well as against two inactive subsidiaries of the Company and three unrelated parties. The lawsuit seeks damages and declaratory relief under contractual and statutory claims arising from environmental damage at the now dismantled Indian Refinery. In particular, the lawsuit claims that the Company is contractually obligated to indemnify and defend Chevron against all liability and costs, including lawsuits, claims and administrative actions initiated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and others, that Chevron has incurred or will incur as a result of environmental contamination at and around the Indian Refinery, even if that environmental contamination was caused by Texaco, Inc. and its present and former subsidiaries ("Texaco" - now merged into Chevron (previously ChevronTexaco)), which previously owned the refinery for over 75 years. The suit also seeks costs, damages and declaratory relief against the Company under the Federal Comprehensive Environmental -7- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) Response Compensation Liability Act ("CERCLA"), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 ("OPA") and the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, ("RCRA"). History In December 1995, Indian Refining Limited Partnership, an inactive refining subsidiary of the Company ("IRLP"), sold its refinery, the Indian Refinery, to American Western Refining L.P. ("American Western"), an unaffiliated party. As part of the related purchase and sale agreement, American Western assumed all environmental liabilities and indemnified IRLP with respect thereto. Subsequently, American Western filed for bankruptcy and sold large portions of the Indian Refinery to an outside party pursuant to a bankruptcy proceeding. The outside party has substantially dismantled the Indian Refinery. American Western filed a liquidation plan in 2001. American Western anticipated that the liquidation plan would be confirmed in January 2002 but confirmation was delayed primarily because of legal challenges by Texaco, and subsequently Chevron. American Western's liquidation plan was confirmed in April 2003. In the plan, IRLP reduced a $5,400 secured claim against American Western to $800. In exchange the EPA and Illinois EPA entered into an Agreement and Covenant Not to Sue with IRLP, which extinguished all CERCLA claims against IRLP. Under the American Western liquidation plan, IRLP received $599 which it distributed to its creditors. During fiscal 1998, the Company was informed that the EPA had investigated offsite acid sludge waste found near the Indian Refinery and had investigated and remediated surface contamination on the Indian Refinery property. Neither the Company nor IRLP was initially named with respect to these two actions. In October 1998, the EPA named the Company and two of its inactive refining subsidiaries as potentially responsible parties for the expected clean-up of an area of approximately 1,000 acres, which the EPA later designated as the Indian Refinery-Texaco Lawrenceville Superfund Site. In addition, eighteen other parties were named including Texaco and a subsidiary of Texaco which had owned the refinery until December of 1988. The Company subsequently responded to the EPA indicating that it was neither the owner nor the operator of the Indian Refinery and thus not responsible for its remediation. In November 1999, the Company received a request for information from the EPA concerning the Company's involvement in the ownership and operation of the Indian Refinery. The Company responded to the EPA information request in January 2000. Claims by Texaco On August 7, 2000, the Company received notice of a claim against it and two of its inactive refining subsidiaries from Texaco. Texaco had made no previous claims against the Company although the Company's subsidiaries had owned the refinery from August 1989 until December 1995. In its claim, Texaco demanded that the Company and its former subsidiaries indemnify Texaco for all liability resulting from environmental contamination at and around the Indian Refinery. In addition, Texaco demanded that the Company assume Texaco's defense in all matters relating to environmental contamination at and around the Indian Refinery, including lawsuits, claims and administrative actions initiated by the EPA, and indemnify Texaco for costs that Texaco had already incurred addressing environmental contamination at the Indian Refinery. Finally, Texaco also claimed that the Company and two of its inactive subsidiaries were liable to Texaco under the CERCLA as owners and operators of the Indian Refinery. The Company responded to Texaco disputing the factual and legal contentions for Texaco's claims against the Company. The Company's management and special counsel subsequently met with representatives of Texaco but the parties disagreed concerning Texaco's claims. In October 2001, Texaco merged with Chevron and the merged company was named ChevronTexaco. ChevronTexaco then recently changed its name to Chevron. In May 2002, the Company received a letter from Chevron which asserted a new claim against the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to OPA for costs and damages incurred or to be incurred by Chevron resulting from actual or threatened discharges of oil to navigable waters at or near the Indian Refinery. Chevron estimated these costs and damages to be $20,500. -8- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) The Company subsequently corresponded with Chevron and voluntarily provided a number of documents requested by Chevron. In June 2002, Chevron indicated to the Company that Chevron did not intend to sue the Company. Subsequently, Chevron requested additional documents from the Company, which the Company promptly and voluntarily again supplied to Chevron. In August 2002, the Company's management and special counsel met with legal and management representatives of Chevron in an effort to resolve outstanding issues. At the meeting a special outside counsel of Chevron asserted claims against the Company based upon newly expressed legal theories. Chevron also informed the Company that residential landowners adjacent to the Indian Refinery site had recently filed a toxic torts suit against Chevron in Illinois state court. The meeting ended in an impasse. Litigation On August 13, 2002, Chevron filed the above litigation in federal court. By letter dated August 28, 2002, Chevron tendered the Illinois state court litigation to the Company for indemnification, but the Company promptly responded, denying responsibility. Following the initiation of litigation the Company retained Bryan Cave LLP as trial counsel. On October 25, 2002, the Company filed motions to dismiss as a matter of law the contractual claims in Texaco's complaint, as well as the OPA and RCRA claims. At the same time, the Company filed its answer to Chevron's lawsuit on the remaining CERCLA claim. A pre-trial scheduling conference was held May 5, 2003 and on May 8, 2003 two unrelated defendants were dismissed from the case with prejudice under a stipulation with Chevron on undisclosed terms. On June 2, 2003, the Federal District Court denied the Company's motions to dismiss, following which, on July 9, 2003, the Company filed answers to the contractual, OPA and RCRA claims. The parties are currently conducting discovery and depositions. The presumptive trial date for this case has been set for November 2005 by the Federal District Court. The central argument to both Chevron's contractual and statutory claims is that the Company should be treated as a "successor" and "alter ego" of certain of its present and former subsidiaries, and thereby should be held directly liable for Chevron's claims against those entities. Chevron makes this argument notwithstanding the fact that the Company never directly owned the refinery and never was a party to any of the disputed contracts. Chevron has also claimed that the Company itself directly operated the refinery. The leading opinion in this area of the law, as issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 1998 in the comparable matter of United States v. Bestfoods, 524 U.S. 51, 118 S.Ct. 1876 (1998), supports the Company's positions. Estimated gross undiscounted clean-up costs for this refinery are at least $80,000-$150,000 according to public statements by Texaco to the Company and third parties. In January 2003, the United States and the State of Illinois filed a motion in the American Western bankruptcy case which stated that the estimated total response costs for one portion of the site alone could range from $109,000 to $205,000. Chevron has asserted in its contractual claim that the Company should indemnify Chevron for all environmental liabilities related to the Indian Refinery. If Chevron were to prevail on this theory, the Company could be held liable for the entirety of the estimated clean up costs, a sum far in excess of the Company's financial capability. On the other hand, if the Company were found liable by reason of Chevron's statutory claims for contribution and reimbursement under CERCLA and/or OPA, the Company could be required to pay a percentage of the clean-up costs based on equitable allocation factors such as comparative time of ownership and operation, toxicity and amount of hazardous materials released, remediation funded to date, as well as other factors. Since the Company's subsidiary only operated the Indian Refinery five years, whereas Texaco operated it over seventy-five years, the Company would expect that its share of remediation liability would at a minimum be reduced to an amount proportional to the years of operation by its subsidiary, although such may not be the case. Additionally, since Texaco -9- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) and its subsidiaries intentionally disposed of hazardous wastes on site at the Indian Refinery while the Company's subsidiary arranged to remove for offsite destruction and disposal any hazardous wastes it may have generated, any allocation to the Company and/or its subsidiaries might be further reduced. The Company and its special counsel, Reed Smith LLP, do not consider an unfavorable outcome for the Company in Chevron's lawsuit to be probable, and the Company intends to vigorously defend itself against all of Chevron's claims in the litigation and any lawsuits that may follow. In addition to the numerous defenses that the Company has against Chevron's contractual claim for indemnity, the Company and its special counsel believe that by the express language of the agreement which Chevron construes to create an indemnity, Chevron has irrevocably elected to forego all rights of contractual indemnification it might otherwise have had against the Company. Contingent Environmental Liabilities Although the Company does not believe it is liable for any of its subsidiaries' clean-up costs and intends to vigorously defend itself in such regard, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome or timing of these matters due to inherent uncertainties. If funds for environmental clean-up are not provided by former and/or present owners, it is possible that the Company and/or one of its former refining subsidiaries could be held responsible or could be named parties in additional legal actions to recover remediation costs. In recent years, government and other plaintiffs have often sought redress for environmental liabilities from the party most capable of payment without regard to responsibility or fault. Although any environmental liabilities related to the Indian Refinery have been transferred to others, there can be no assurance that the parties assuming such liabilities will be able to pay them. American Western, owner of the Indian Refinery, emerged from bankruptcy and is in the process of liquidation. As noted above, the EPA named the Company as a potentially responsible party for remediation of the Indian Refinery and requested and received relevant information from the Company and Chevron has tendered the defense of a state court toxic torts action to the Company. Whether or not the Company is ultimately held liable in the current litigation or other proceedings, it is probable that the Company will incur substantial legal fees and experience a diversion of corporate resources from other opportunities. OTHER LITIGATION Long Trusts Lawsuit In November 2000, the Company and three of its subsidiaries were defendants in a jury trial in Rusk County, Texas. The plaintiffs in the case, the Long Trusts, are non-operating working interest owners in certain wells previously operated by Castle Texas Production Limited Partnership ("CTPLP"), an inactive exploration and production subsidiary of the Company. The wells were among those sold to Union Pacific Resources Corporation ("UPRC") in May 1997. The Long Trusts claimed that CTPLP did not allow them to sell gas from March 1, 1996 to January 31, 1997 as required by applicable joint operating agreements, and they sued CTPLP and the Company's other subsidiaries, claiming (among other things) breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion and conspiracy. The Long Trusts sought actual damages, exemplary damages, prejudgment and post-judgment interest, attorney's fees and court costs. CTPLP counterclaimed for approximately $150 of unpaid joint interest billings plus interest, attorney's fees and court costs. After a three-week trial, the District Court in Rusk County submitted 36 questions to the jury which covered the claims and counterclaim in the lawsuit. Based upon the jury's answers, the District Court entered judgment on some of the Long Trusts' claims against the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as CTPLP's counterclaim against the Long Trusts. The District Court issued an amended judgment on September 5, 2001 which became final December 19, 2001. The net amount awarded to the plaintiffs was approximately $2,700. -10- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) The Company and its subsidiaries and the Long Trusts subsequently filed notices of appeal, submitted legal briefs in April 2002, reply briefs in June and July 2002, and ultimately argued the case before the 12th Court of Appeals in Tyler, Texas in October 2002. On July 31, 2003, that court reversed and remanded in part the trial court's judgment against the Company and its subsidiaries while affirming the judgment against the Long Trusts which had awarded damages on the counterclaim asserted by CTPLP. In its decision, the appellate court held that the trial court had submitted erroneous theories to the jury, expressly rejecting the Long Trusts' claims for breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, implied covenants and exemplary damages. It also remanded the Long Trusts' claims for breach of contract to the district court for retrial. The appellate court upheld the trial court's award to CTPLP on its counterclaim for approximately $150 of unpaid joint interests billings, $450 in attorneys' fees, plus interest and court costs. Both the Company and its subsidiaries and the Long Trusts thereafter submitted motions for a rehearing on certain rulings to the 12th Court of Appeals. That court denied both motions for a rehearing. The Long Trusts subsequently filed a petition for review with the Supreme Court of Texas. On March 26, 2004, the Texas Supreme Court denied the Long Trusts petition for review and the Long Trusts filed a petition for rehearing with that court two weeks later. That petition was also subsequently denied, whereupon the Court of Appeals issued its mandate on June 9, 2004, completing the appellate process. Certain breach of contract claims by the Long Trusts which were reversed and remanded by the appellate court may be retried by the plaintiffs. Based on the evidence at the initial trial coupled with the guidance to the trial court given in the appellate decision, the Company believes that it will be able to prove that there was no breach of contract and that Long Trusts suffered no damages, and that any such breach of contract claims, even if decided adversely to the Company, will not result in a material loss to the Company. Pursuant to the mandate of the Texas Court of Appeals, the Company moved to sever CTPLP's claims against the Long Trusts from any retrial of the Long Trust's contract claims against the Company and to collect on CTPLP's judgment against the Long Trusts which is secured by a letter of credit posted by the Long Trusts with the trial court. The Company estimates the judgment to be in excess of $1,000, including accrued interest, as of June 30, 2005. Subsequent to June 30, 2004, upon issue of the mandate by the Texas Court of Appeals, the Company's $3,886 supersedeas bond was released under Texas law. The Company's $4,110 letter of credit, including accrued interest, securing that bond, was also released and those funds were no longer restricted cash. On September 17, 2004, the Long Trusts filed a Motion for Clarification with the Court of Appeals which in essence sought to reverse that court's severance of CTPLP's claims from the retrial of the Long Trusts' breach of contract claims. A Petition for Writ of Mandamus was filed with the Court of Appeals by the Company on December 3, 2004, requesting that the trial court be stayed from proceeding further, and be ordered to comply with the June mandate of the Court of Appeals. On January 31, 2005, the Court of Appeals stayed the trial court from proceeding and subsequently denied the Motion for Clarification on March 3, 2005 and the Petition for Writ of Mandamus on March 16, 2005. On May 2, 2005, the trial court from the bench announced that CTPLP's severed claim would be assigned a new case number, but took all other requests for action from the parties under advisement. In August 2005, the Company filed a second Petition for Writ of Mandamas with the Court of Appeals requesting that the calculation of interest due from the Long Trusts be made without a new trial and that Long Trusts be ordered to pay the judgement against it plus interest without delay. The Company has not accrued any recoveries for this litigation as of June 30, 2005, but will record recoveries if and when they are ultimately realized (collected). Pilgreen Litigation As part of the oil and gas properties acquired from AmBrit Energy Corporation ("AmBrit") in June 1999, Castle Exploration Company, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("CECI") acquired a 10.65% overriding royalty interest ("ORRI") in the Simpson lease in south Texas, including the Pilgreen #2ST gas well. CECI subsequently transferred that interest to Castle Texas Oil and Gas Limited Partnership ("CTOGLP"), an indirect wholly-owned -11- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) subsidiary. Because the operator suspended revenue attributable to the ORRI from first production due to title disputes, AmBrit, the previous owner, filed claims against the operator of the Pilgreen well, and CTOGLP acquired rights in that litigation with respect to the period after January 1, 1999. In August 2002, $282 was released to the Company of which $249 was recorded as income by the Company and the remaining $33 paid to Delta Petroleum Corporation ("Delta"). Because of a claim by Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration and Production, Inc. ("Dominion") (see below), a working interest owner in the same well, that CTOGLP's ORRI in the Simpson lease should be deemed burdened by 3.55% overriding royalty interest, there is still a title dispute as to approximately $120 of suspended CTOGLP Pilgreen #2ST production proceeds for the Company's account. (The Company sold all of its oil and gas assets, including the Pilgreen #2ST well, to Delta on May 31, 2002 but effective as of October 1, 2001.) The Company has named Dominion as a defendant in a legal action seeking a declaratory judgment that the Company is entitled to its full 10.65% overriding royalty interest in the Pilgreen well. The Company believes that Dominion's title exception to CTOGLP's overriding royalty interest is erroneous and notes that several previous title opinions have confirmed the validity of CTOGLP's interest. The litigation is related to the Dominion litigation (see below). The Company and its counsel are currently reviewing the effect of the Court of Appeals' opinion issued in the Dominion litigation on the Company's claims in this litigation. Since the Company has not recorded any revenue related to the $120 of suspended revenue, it expects to record $120 of revenue if and when such revenue is realized (collected), but no expense if it fails in this litigation. CTOGLP, along with several unrelated parties, has also filed suit to collect production proceeds from an additional well on the Simpson lease in which CTOLGP had a 5.325% ORRI suspended by the operator because of title disputes. The Company intends to contest this matter vigorously. At the present time, the amount held in escrow applicable to the additional well attributable to the Company's interest is approximately $66 although approximately $22 of that amount would be subject to Dominion's claims in the Pilgreen Litigation. The Company has not recorded any of the $66 of suspended revenue as income but will record it as income when and if it is realized (collected). Dominion Litigation On March 18, 2002, Dominion, operator of the Mitchell and Migl-Mitchell wells in the Southwest Speaks field in south Texas and a working interest owner in the Pilgreen #2ST well, filed suit in Texas against CTOGLP seeking declaratory judgment in a title action that the ORRI held by CTOGLP in these wells should be deemed to be burdened by certain other ORRI's aggregating 3.55% and should therefore be reduced from 10.65% to 7.10%. Dominion is also seeking an accounting and refund of payments for overriding royalty to CTOGLP in excess of the 7.10% since April 2000. The Company currently estimates the amount in controversy to be approximately $783. Dominion threatened to suspend all revenue payable to the Company from the Mitchell and Migl-Mitchell to offset its claim. The Company and Dominion subsequently examined the land and lease documents concerning the ORRI's. The Company believes that Dominion's title exception to CTOGLP's ORRI is erroneous and notes that several previous title opinions have confirmed the validity of CTOGLP's interest. In July 2003, Dominion filed a motion for partial summary judgment concerning the Company's claim that it had assumed the liabilities of its predecessor in interest and CTOGLP filed its response to Dominion's motion as well as its own cross motion for partial summary judgment. In September 2003, the District Court of Lavaca County granted Dominion's partial motion for partial summary judgment. In January 2004, Dominion filed a motion for final summary judgment on this matter to which CTOGLP and the other defendants filed a response. In May 2004, the District Court of Lavaca County granted Dominion's motion for final summary judgment following the Company's appeal of both the District Court's summary judgments with the Court of Appeals in Corpus Christi. By agreement with Dominion, CTOGLP executed a promissory note for $783 guaranteed by the Company and deposited this amount in a separate restricted cash account of CTOGLP to support the note and to avoid the cost of a supersedeas bond. On July 28, 2005, the Court of Appeals issued a Memorandum Opinion that affirmed Dominion's claims to reduce the ORRI, but only to take effect at a date after CTOGLP had sold the ORRI. The Court of Appeals overturned that portion of the judgment that required CTOGLP to refund any money received by it. The Company does -12- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) not at this time know if Dominion intends to petition the Supreme Court of Texas for review of this decision. The promissory note issued by CTOGLP will be cancelled and the restricted cash account of CTOGLP released when and if this judgment becomes final and non-appealable. In fiscal 2004, the Company recorded an $825 loss provision related to the Dominion litigation - primarily as a result of the District Court's granting of Dominion' motion for summary judgment in May 2004. The Company has reversed that provision plus $20 of accrued interest on the contingent note during the quarter ended June 30, 2005 primarily because the Court of Appeals reversed that District Court judgement against the Company. Nevertheless, the Company's contingent note payable to Dominion and CTOGLP's restricted cash account are required to remain in place until the Appeals Court judgement becomes non-appealable. Dominion may appeal the Appeal's Court judgement to the Texas Supreme Court and if that Court reverses the Appeals Court decision, the Company would then become liable for the contingent note to Dominion plus interest or some portion thereof. In such case, the Company would again record a loss provision. Note 5 - New Accounting Pronouncements On September 28, 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 106 ("SAB No. 106"). SAB No. 106 applies to companies using the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties and equipment costs, such as the Company. SAB No. 106 affects the way in which the Company calculates its full cost ceiling limitation (the Company now excludes future cash outflows associated with settling asset retirement obligations that are accrued on the balance sheet related to proved developed properties in the calculation of the ceiling) and the way the Company calculates depletion on its proved undeveloped gas properties. The Company adopted SAB No. 106 on October 1, 2004. The effects of adoption of SAB No. 106 to date have been immaterial. In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment" ("SFAS No. 123(R)"). SFAS No. 123(R) requires an entity to recognize the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees in the income statement. Pursuant to a delay in the implementation date by the SEC, SFAS No. 123(R) will be effective for the Company beginning October 1, 2005. The Company does not expect SFAS No. 123(R) to have a material impact on its results of operations. The Company has not issued any stock options since January 2002 and all stock options issued were vested by July 31, 2002. In December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 109-1, "Application of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, for the Tax Deduction Provided to U.S. Based Manufacturers by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004" ("FSP 109"). FSP 109 clarifies how to apply Statement No. 109 to the new tax deduction for income attributable to "domestic production activities." The Company expects that the new tax deduction will first be effective for the Company's fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 and that the affect on future income tax expense, deferred income taxes and income taxes payable will be immaterial. Note 6 - Restricted Cash Restricted cash consists of the following:
JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 2004 -------- ------------- Certificates of deposit supporting operating bonds........... $110 $120 Deposit securing contingent promissory note in Dominion litigation, plus accrued interest........................... 788 ---- ---- $898 $120 ==== ====
The certificates of deposit support letters of credit for operating and drilling bonds provided to state or county regulatory agencies. -13- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) Note 7 - Marketable Securities The Company's investment in marketable securities was as follows:
JUNE 30, 2005 --------------------------- DELTA SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 PETROLEUM -------------------- CHEVRON CORPORATION TOTAL CHEVRON TOTAL ------- ----------- ----- ------- ----- Common shares owned..................... 354 6,700,000 354 354 === ========= === === Cost.................................... $15 $ 39,892 $39,907 $15 $15 Unrealized gain (loss).................. 4 54,713 54,717 4 4 --- --------- ------- --- --- Book (market) value..................... $19 $ 94,605 $94,624 $19 $19 === ========= ======= === ===
Through March 31, 2005, the Company accounted for its investment in Delta Petroleum Corporation, a public oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Denver, Colorado ("Delta"), using the equity method. Commencing April 1, 2005, the Company accounted for its investment in Delta as available-for-sale marketable securities (see Note 11 and "Critical Accounting Policies"). At June 30, 2005, the closing share price of Delta's common stock was $14.12. By August 10, 2005, the Delta share price had increased to $17.47 per share. Note 8 - Acquisition of Oil and Gas Properties On March 31, 2004, the Company acquired interests in 138 western Pennsylvania gas wells from Delta. The Company previously owned most of these properties through May 31, 2002 when it sold all of its United States oil and gas properties to Delta. The purchase price paid by the Company was effective January 1, 2004 and was reduced by purchase price adjustments to the closing date of March 31, 2004. For accounting purposes the Company allocated $43 of the purchase price to trucks and the remainder to oil and gas properties. The Company owned approximately 25% of Delta (see Note 11) at the time of purchase, and three of the Company's directors were then also directors of Delta. Prior to approving the purchase, the Company appointed a committee of independent directors to evaluate and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors with respect to the proposed transaction. The Committee engaged an outside consultant to evaluate the fairness of the proposed purchase. Based upon that consultant's recommendation that the purchase price was reasonable and fair and the favorable recommendation of the committee, the full Board of Directors of the Company unanimously approved the transaction. At the same time the Company also purchased another owner's interests in the same gas properties for $334 subject to similar final closing adjustments. The other owner's interests in the properties were approximately four percent of Delta's interests in the same properties. On March 30, 2004, the Company acquired interests in 28 western Pennsylvania gas wells for $1,100 from five limited partnerships effective January 1, 2004. That transaction closed March 30, 2004. The President of the general partner of the five selling limited partnerships was and still is an officer and director of the Company. As a result, the Company appointed a committee of independent directors to evaluate and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the proposed transaction. The committee engaged an outside consultant to evaluate the fairness of the proposed purchase. Based upon that consultant's opinion that the proposed purchase price was reasonable and fair and the favorable recommendation of the committee, the full Board of Directors of the Company unanimously approved the transaction. -14- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) The final adjusted purchase price for all of the oil and gas properties acquired in March 2004 was $8,985. The Company's petroleum reservoir engineer estimated the proved reserves applicable to the three Pennsylvania purchases to be approximately eight billion cubic feet of natural gas, of which approximately 87% represents proved producing reserves, while the remaining 13% represents behind pipe and undeveloped reserves. Approximately 130 of 166 wells in which the Company acquired interests are operated by the Company. The Company also entered into an operations management agreement with Delta whereby Delta performed certain well operations functions for the Company on a transitional basis from April 1, 2004 to September 30, 2004. That agreement terminated September 30, 2004 and the Company is now performing the well operations functions previously performed by Delta. Note 9 - Asset Retirement Obligations Changes in the Company's asset retirement obligations are as follows:
NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, --------------------------- 2005 2004 ------ ------ Balance - beginning of period.................................. $230 Acquisitions................................................... $222 Adjustments.................................................... 10 5 Accretion of discount.......................................... 13 ---- ---- Balance - end of period........................................ $253 $227 ==== ====
Note 10 - Investment in Networked Energy LLC ("Network") At March 31, 2003, the Company recorded a $480 impairment provision related to its investment in Network. This provision consisted of $354 provision related to the Company's 45% equity investment in Network and a $125 provision related to the Company's $125 note receivable from Network. As a result of these impairment provisions, the Company's investment in Network was reduced to zero and the Company ceased recording any share of Network's losses since the Company had no obligation to fund such losses. The impairment provisions were recorded because Network had not entered into any revenue-generating contracts by May 7, 2003. Subsequently, Network entered into several revenue-generating contracts; and, as of June 30, 2005, Network's revenues for the period April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2005 exceeded its expenses for the same period by $21. As a result, the Company resumed recording its share of Network's net income (loss) under the equity method of accounting. Whereas the Company previously owned 45% of Network at March 31, 2003, its ownership percentage had been reduced to 40% by March 31, 2005 (and at June 30, 2005) as a result of the issuance of additional membership units to officers of Network. As a result, the Company recorded $8 of equity income from its investment in Network during the quarter ended March 31, 2005. Network lost $3 for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 and the Company recorded $1 of equity loss from its investment in Network for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Note 11 - Investment in Delta Through March 31, 2005, the Company accounted for its investment in Delta using the equity method. Initially, in May 2002, the Company had owned 44% of Delta and three of the Company's directors constituted three of seven Delta directors. By April 1, 2005, the Company's ownership of Delta had decreased to 16% (approximately 15% fully diluted) and the Company's directors only comprised two of nine Delta directors. As a result of these developments, the Company believed it no longer had significant influence on Delta's management and thus, effective April 1, 2005, the Company commenced accounting for its investment in Delta as a marketable available-for-sale security. As a result of the change in accounting method, the book value of the Company's investment in Delta and the Company's cumulative equity in -15- CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) Delta's comprehensive income (loss) at April 1, 2005, under the equity method of accounting, $39,892, became the Company's value of the Delta stock as a marketable security on April 1, 2005. In June 2005, another director of the Company resigned from Delta's Board of Directors resulting in the Company having only one director remaining among Delta's nine directors. At September 30, 2004, the Company owned 7,000,000 shares of Delta. In March 2005, the Company sold 300,000 shares of Delta for net proceeds of $4,800 and recognized a gain of $3,066 on the sale. The book value of the shares sold was based upon the book value per share of the Company's investment in Delta, computed using the equity method, on the day of the sale. See Note 7 and "Critical Accounting Policies." Note 12 - Compensation Expense SFAS 123 allows an entity to continue to measure compensation costs in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 ("APB 25"). The Company has elected to continue to measure compensation cost in accordance with APB 25 and to comply with the required disclosure-only provisions of SFAS 123. Pro forma net income (loss) and pro forma net income (loss) per share are the same as net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share because the Company has not issued any options since January of 2002 and all options issued were fully vested by July 31, 2002. Note 13 - Comprehensive Income (Loss): Comprehensive income (loss) is as follows:
2005 2004 ------- ------- Three Months Ended June 30: Net income (loss).................................................. ($ 496) $ 2,713 Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of Delta, net of taxes........................................................... Reversal of cumulative equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of Delta as of April 1, 2005, net of taxes............... 900 Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax........ 35,015 (17) ------- ------- $35,419 $ 2,696 ======= ======= Nine Months Ended June 30: Net income (loss).................................................. $ 2,727 $13,633 Equity in income (loss) of Delta, net of taxes..................... (1,067) Reversal of cumulative equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of Delta as of April 1, 2005, net of taxes............... 900 1 Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax........ 35,015 Reclassification adjustments, net of taxes......................... (1,153) ------- ------- $37,575 $12,481 ======= =======
Note 14 - Subsequent Event On August 12, 2005, the Company's Board of Directors declared a recurring quarterly dividend of $.05 per shares to all stockholders of record as of October 3, 2005. -16- Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. ("$000'S" OMITTED EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS) RESULTS OF OPERATIONS All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this report are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this report generally are accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," or "expect" or similar statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company's results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements are discussed below. All forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. During the period from August 1989 to September 30, 1995, two of the Company's subsidiaries conducted refining operations. By December 12, 1995, the Company's refining subsidiaries had sold all of their refining assets. In 1996, one refining subsidiary merged into a subsidiary of another unrelated party and was no longer a subsidiary of the Company. The Company's other refining subsidiaries own no refining assets and are in the process of liquidation. As a result, the Company accounted for its refining operations as discontinued operations in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 1995 and retroactively. Accordingly, discussion of results of refining operations has been confined to the anticipated impact, if any, of liquidation of the Company's remaining inactive refining subsidiaries and contingent environmental liabilities of the Company and its refining subsidiaries. Since November 1996, the Company has reacquired 4,911,044 shares or approximately 69% of its then outstanding common stock (after taking into account a three-for-one stock split in January 2000). As a result of these share acquisitions, earnings and losses per outstanding share have been higher than would have been the case if no shares had been repurchased. COMPARISON OF THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2005 AND 2004 Gas sales increased $1,476 from the nine months ended June 30, 2004 to the nine months ended June 30, 2005 as a result of the Company's acquisition of 166 Appalachian gas properties on March 30 and 31, 2004 (see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q). The Company owned no oil and gas properties from September 2002 to March 30, 2004. Production expenses increased $290 from the nine months ended June 30, 2004 to the nine months ended June 30, 2005 as a result of the Company's acquisition of 166 Appalachian gas properties on March 30, and 31, 2004 (see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q). The Company owned no oil and gas properties from September 2002 to March 30, 2004. Depreciation, depletion and amortization increased $247 from the first nine months of fiscal 2004 to the first nine months of fiscal 2005. The increase was entirely attributable to the gas properties acquired by the Company in March 2004. The Company owned no oil and gas properties from September 2002 to March 30, 2004. General and administrative costs decreased $188 or 5.5% from the nine months ended June 30, 2004 to the nine months ended June 30, 2005. The decrease was caused primarily by decreased legal expenses, offset partially by increased compensation costs. In addition, during the nine months ended June 30, 2004, the Company recorded a $86 bad debt provision related to accounts receivable that were then over eighteen months old. No bad debt provision was recorded for the nine months ended June 30, 2005. The Company's equity in Delta's net income increased $834 or 97.4% from the nine months ended June 30, 2004 to the nine months ended June 30, 2005. The increase was caused by Delta's increased net income, notwithstanding that the Company's percentage ownership of Delta decreased from approximately 18% at June 30, 2004 to approximately 16% at March 31, 2005 and the fact that the Company recorded no Delta equity income after March 31, 2005 (see Notes 7, 11 and "Critical Accounting Policies"). -17- The $1,275 tax provision for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 represents approximately 31.9% of pre-tax income and includes the tax effects of a change in accounting for the Company's investment in Delta from the equity method to accounting for Delta as available-for-sale marketable securities and changes in estimates of taxable income. For the nine months ended June 30, 2004, the Company recorded a tax provision of $2,471 or 15.3% of pre-tax book income for the period. This provision was significantly less than that which would be obtained using the Company's blended tax rate (Federal and state taxes combined) of 36% because the Company was able to utilize its tax carryforwards and was thus able to release its valuation allowance. Of this amount, $259 represented alternative minimum taxes. COMPARISON OF THE THREE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2005 AND 2004 Gas sales decreased $35 from the three months ended June 30, 2004 to the three months ended June 30, 2005. Although gas prices were higher in 2005, production was lower thus accounting for much of the net decrease. Oil and gas production expenses increased $47 from the three months ended June 30, 2004 to the three months ended June 30, 2005 as a result of increased salaries paid to pumpers and increased well maintenance costs. The $661 tax provision for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 includes the tax effects of a change in accounting for the Company's investment in Delta from the equity method to accounting for Delta as available-for-sale marketable securities and changes in estimates of taxable income. The $1,729 tax provision for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, which represents 38.9% of pre-tax income, approximates the Company's blended (Federal and state combined) tax rate of 36% and consists primarily of deferred taxes. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES During the nine months ended June 30, 2005, the Company used $2,529 in operating activities. During the same period the Company paid $8,251 for dividends to stockholders, including $7,213 in special dividends ($1.00/share), and received $1,985 in proceeds from the exercise of stock options. At June 30, 2005, the Company had $28,654 of unrestricted cash, $103,072 of working capital and no long-term debt. At the present time, the Company's anticipated future cash expenditures are primarily recurring general and administrative costs, including substantial legal costs related to the Chevron litigation (see Note 4 to this Form 10-Q), recurring dividends and lease operating costs and some minor capital expenditures related to the Appalachian gas properties acquired by the Company. In addition, the Company continues to review possible future acquisitions of oil and gas properties; and, if the Company is successful in such pursuits, additional expenditures would be required. To the extent that such anticipated expenditures cannot be funded from cash flow from the Company's oil and gas operations, the Company can fund such expenditures using its available cash. If the Company were to make another substantial acquisition in excess of its current cash and other liquid working capital, the Company believes it could fund such acquisitions by selling additional shares of Delta or by renewing its previous oil and gas borrowing arrangements with an energy bank and using the related loan proceeds for the acquisition. The Company's future operations are subject to the following risks: a. Litigation - As noted above, the Company is a defendant in three significant ongoing lawsuits. Although the Company does not believe it has any material unrecorded liabilities with respect to any of these lawsuits, the Company could incur significant liabilities if it ultimately is judged to be liable in these lawsuits. This litigation has caused and could continue to cause the Company to incur significant legal costs. If Chevron were to prevail on its indemnity claim in its lawsuit (see Note 4 to this Form 10-Q), the Company could be held liable for the entirety of the estimated cleanup costs. Although the Company does not believe that the aggregate clean up costs currently exceeds the Company's financial capability, such may not be the case and it is possible that such clean up costs could exceed the Company's financial capacity if the Company were required to fund the entire clean up. b. Exploration and Production Price Risk - The Company has not hedged any of its anticipated future gas production because the cost to do so appears excessive when compared to the risk involved. As a result, -18- the Company remains exposed to future gas price changes with respect to all of its anticipated future gas production. Such exposure could be significant given the volatility of gas prices. For example, natural gas prices have increased over 50% from 2002 to 2005 and could either increase or decrease a similar percentage in the future. When the Company acquired its gas properties in March 2004, the prices being received for natural gas were $5.00 to $6.00 pe mcf sold. The Company paid for its gas reserve acquisitions using such pricing. Subsequent to the acquisitions, natural gas prices have increased 10% to 20%. If natural gas prices decrease in the future, the decrease will directly impact the Company's gas sales, operating income and net income. In addition, if gas prices are low at the end of the Company quarterly and annual reporting periods, the value of the Company's gas reserves may decrease such that the Company would be forced to record an impairment provision - see "Critical Accounting Policies" below. c. Exploration and Production Operating Risk - All of the Company's current gas properties are onshore properties with relatively low operating risk. Nevertheless, the Company faces the risks encountered from operating approximately 130 gas wells - including the risk of gas leaks, resulting environmental damage, third party liability claims related to operations, claims by landowners where the operated wells are located, and general operating risks. d. Public Market for the Company's Stock - Although there presently exists a market for the Company's stock, such market is volatile and the Company's stock is thinly traded. The Company's stock price has fluctuated significantly during recent years. This volatility may adversely affect the market price and liquidity of the Company's common stock. e. Other Risks - In addition to the specific risks noted above, the Company is subject to general business risks, including insurance claims in excess of insurance coverage, tax liabilities resulting from tax audits and the risks associated with increased litigation generally. f. Market Value of Delta Stock - The Company currently owns 6,700,000 shares of Delta. At June 30, 2005, the market value of such shares was $94,605 and constituted the largest asset of the Company. At August 10, 2005, the market value of the Company's Delta stock had increased to $117,050. In the past year Delta's stock price has fluctuated significantly over short periods of time. It is currently at an all-time high. If Delta's stock price decreases significantly - especially at a time when the Company expects to liquidate some or all of its Delta stock - the Company would be adversely affected. g. Future of the Company - Although the Company acquired interests in 166 gas wells in Pennsylvania in March 2004 (see Note 8), the Company is smaller than most of its competitors which benefit from better fixed cost efficiencies than the Company given their larger sizes and revenues. The Company's fixed costs (computer system, technical skills, field offices, public company compliance costs, etc.) have consumed and are expected to continue to consume a greater percentage of the Company's oil and gas revenues than do those of most of its large competitors unless the Compan is able to make additional future acquisitions at favorable prices. Upon resolution of the Company's outstanding litigation - whether by settlement or judgment - the Company's directors may consider options to liquidate the Company or merge the Company into another company to maximize stockholder value. If such were the case, the Company would face risks concerning the value of the Delta shares it owns, resultant tax liabilities and risks in the liquidation of its assets. If the Company's directors decide to liquidate the Company and distribute the 6,700,000 Delta shares owned by the Company to its stockholders as part of the plan of liquidation, the Company would be subject to a tax liability on the difference between its tax basis in the Delta stock, approximately $18,400, and the fair market value of the Delta stock at the time it is distributed to stockholders. Since the Company has utilized most of its tax carryovers at June 30, 2005, the Company would face Federal income tax liabilities of approximately 35% on the difference between the Company's tax basis in the Delta stock and its fair market value on the date of liquidation. Such tax liabilities are included in "Deferred Income Taxes" on the Company's consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2005. Any such taxes would reduce distributions available for stockholders. -19- CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES: The accounting policies critical to the Company are as follows: METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR INVESTMENT IN DELTA The Company currently owns 6,700,000 shares of Delta. Through March 31, 2005, the Company accounted for its investment in Delta using the equity method of accounting. Under this method the Company increased its investment by its share of Delta's income and decreased its investment by its share of Delta's losses and distributions. The Company also increased its investment for increases in its share of Delta's equity as a result of Delta's issuances of additional Delta equity at prices in excess of the Company's book value. Effective April 1, 2005, the Company commenced accounting for its investment in Delta as a marketable available- for-sale security (see Notes 7 and 11). As a result, commencing April 1, 2005, pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 ("SFAS 115"), the Company measures its investment in Delta's stock at fair market value (closing prices per the stock exchange) with unrealized gains or losses, net of taxes, recorded in other comprehensive income until the stock is sold or otherwise disposed of. At such time gain or loss will be included in earnings. A decline in the market value of any available for sale security below cost that is deemed to be other than temporary will result in a reduction in the carrying amount to fair value. The impairment will be charged to earnings and a new cost basis for the security will result. Accordingly, the future effect of any change in the market value of Delta stock will affect the Company's equity but will not be recorded in operations until the stock is actually sold or disposed of. DISCONTINUED REFINING OPERATIONS At June 30, 2005, the Company had recorded net refining liabilities retained of $1,552. The Company anticipates that it will settle such liabilities in the next year because the Chevron lawsuit (see Note 4) is scheduled for trial in November 2005, although that may not be the case and this litigation may continue several years. As noted in Note 4 to this Form 10-Q, Chevron has sued the Company for environmental remediation costs that have been estimated at $80,000 to $150,000. In January 2003, the United States and the State of Illinois filed a motion which estimated the total costs for just one portion of the Indian Refinery-Texaco-Lawrenceville Superfund Site to be $109,000 to $205,000. The Company's accounting policy with respect to contingent environmental liabilities is to record environmental liabilities when and if environmental assessment and/or remediation costs are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Although the Company and its special counsel do not consider an unfavorable and final outcome for the Company in Chevron's lawsuit to be probable, the Company would be required to record additional environmental liabilities if it becomes probable such liabilities would be assessed against the Company related to Chevron's claims and/or other environmental liabilities and such liabilities exceed $1,552. As noted above, if such liabilities exceed the value of the Company's assets, the Company would not have the financial capability to pay such liabilities. The amounts and classification of the estimated values of discontinued net refining assets and net refining liabilities retained could change significantly in the future as a result of litigation or other factors. FULL COST METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR OIL AND GAS PROPERTIES The Company follows the full-cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties and equipment costs. Under this method of accounting, net capitalized costs, less related deferred income taxes, in excess of the present value of net future cash inflows (oil and gas sales less production expenses) from proved reserves, tax effected and discounted at 10%, and the cost of properties not being amortized, if any, are charged to expense (full cost ceiling test). If at a future reporting date oil and gas prices decline, it is possible that the Company's book value will exceed the allowable full cost ceiling and the Company would have to write down its oil and gas properties. Even if oil and gas prices subsequently increase, the write down would not be restored under the full cost method of accounting. Although the Company recorded no full cost ceiling provision through June 30, 2005, it could be required to record such a provision in the future - especially if there were a significant decrease in gas prices by the end of a quarterly or annual financial reporting period. See "New Accounting Pronouncements." -20- ITEM 3. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK On March 30 and 31, 2004, the Company acquired interests in Pennsylvania gas wells (see Note 8). The Company has not hedged its share of the expected natural gas production from these wells. As a result, the Company remains at risk with respect to such unhedged expected production. If market prices increase, gas sales applicable to the unhedged production will increase. If market prices decrease, gas sales and the gross margin related to such unhedged production will decrease. At June 30, 2005, the Company owned 6,700,000 shares of Delta. The stock price of Delta has fluctuated significantly in the last three years; and thus, the market value of the Company's investment in Delta remains subject to significant changes in the market price of Delta stock. ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES The conclusions of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concerning the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and changes in internal controls as of June 30, 2005 are as follows: a) They have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. b) There were no changes in the Company's internal controls during the quarter ended June 30, 2005 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. See Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Form 10-Q. The Company expected that it would be subject to certain attestation requirements concerning the effectiveness of its internal controls pursuant to the Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act, effective September 30, 2005. These requirements include management's documenting and testing the Company's internal controls and attesting as to their effectiveness and a reporting by the Company's independent accountants concerning management's attestation. The SEC extended by one year the effective date when non-accelerated filers, such as the Company, would become subject to such requirements. Although the Company is working to comply with these requirements, the Company has only eleven employees and these employees work at four widely scattered locations. The Company's small number of employees and their geographical separation is expected to make compliance with Section 404 - especially with segregation of duty control requirements - very difficult and cost ineffective, if not impossible. While the SEC had indicated it expects to issue supplementary regulations easing the burden of Section 404 requirements for small entities like the Company, such regulations have not yet been issued. -21- PART II. OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS For additional information regarding lawsuits, reference is made to Item 3 of the Company's Form 10-K (Annual Report) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. Also see Note 4 to the June 30, 2005 consolidated financial statements included in Part I. ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit 11.1 Statement re: Computation of Earnings Per Share Exhibit 31.1 Certificate of Chief Executive Officer (Section 302 of Sarbanes Oxley Act) Exhibit 31.2 Certificate of Chief Financial Officer (Section 302 of Sarbanes Oxley Act) Exhibit 32.1 Certificate of Chief Executive Officer (Section 906 of Sarbanes Oxley Act) Exhibit 32.2 Certificate of Chief Financial Officer (Section 906 of Sarbanes Oxley Act)
-22- SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. Date: August 16, 2005 CASTLE ENERGY CORPORATION -------------------- /s/Richard E. Staedtler --------------------------------- Richard E. Staedtler Chief Executive Officer -23-