Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Executive Overview
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Results of Operations
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Executive Overview
General
Evolution Petroleum Corporation is an independent energy company focused on maximizing total returns to its shareholders through the ownership of and investment in onshore oil and natural gas properties in the United States. In support of that objective, our long-term goal is to maximize total shareholder return from a diversified portfolio of long-life oil and natural gas properties built through acquisitions and through selective development opportunities, production enhancements, and other exploitation efforts on our oil and natural gas properties.
Our oil and natural gas properties consist of non-operated interests in the Jonah Field in Sublette County, Wyoming, a natural gas producing field; non-operated interests in the Williston Basin in North Dakota, a producing oil and natural gas property; non-operated interests in the Barnett Shale located in North Texas, a natural gas producing property; non-operated interests in the Hamilton Dome Field located in Hot Springs County, Wyoming, a secondary recovery field utilizing water injection wells to pressurize the reservoir; non-operated interests in the Delhi Holt-Bryant Unit in the Delhi Field in Northeast Louisiana, a CO2 enhanced oil recovery (“EOR”) project; and small overriding royalty interests in four onshore central Texas wells.
Our non-operated interests in the Jonah Field, a natural gas and NGL property in Sublette County, Wyoming, consist of approximately 20% average net working interest and approximately 15% average net revenue interest located on approximately 950 net acres. The properties are operated by Jonah Energy, an established operator in the geographic region.
Our non-operated interests in the Williston Basin, an oil and natural gas producing property, consist of approximately 39% average net working interest and approximately 33% average net revenue interest located on approximately 43,300 net acres (approximately 92% held by production) across Billings, Golden Valley, and McKenzie Counties in North Dakota. The properties are operated by Foundation Energy Management, an established operator in the geographic region.
Our non-operated interests in the Barnett Shale, a natural gas and NGL producing shale reservoir, consist of approximately 17% average net working interest and approximately 14% average net revenue interest (inclusive of small overriding royalty interests). The approximately 21,000 net acres are held by production across nine North Texas counties. The oil and natural gas properties are primarily operated by Diversified Energy Company with approximately 10% of wells operated by six other operators.
Our non-operated interests in the Hamilton Dome Field, a secondary recovery field utilizing water injection wells to pressurize the reservoir, consist of approximately 24% average net working interest, with an associated 20% average net revenue interest (inclusive of a small overriding royalty interest). The approximately 5,900 gross acre unitized field, of which we hold approximately 1,400 net acres, is operated by Merit Energy Company, who owns the vast majority of the remaining working interest in the Hamilton Dome Field. The Hamilton Dome Field is located in the southwest region of the Big Horn Basin in northwest Wyoming.
Our non-operated interests in the Delhi Field, a CO2-EOR project, consist of approximately 24% average net working interest, with an associated 19% revenue interest and separate overriding royalty and mineral interests of approximately
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7% yielding a total average net revenue interest of approximately 26%. The field is operated by Denbury Onshore LLC. The Delhi Field is located in northeast Louisiana in Franklin, Madison, and Richland Parishes and encompasses approximately 14,000 gross unitized acres, or approximately 3,200 net acres.
Recent Developments
Dividend Declaration
On September 11, 2023, Evolution’s Board of Directors approved and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per common share payable September 29, 2023.
Senior Secured Credit Facility
On May 5, 2023, we entered into the Tenth Amendment to our Senior Secured Credit Facility, which has a current borrowing base of $50.0 million. This amendment, among other things, extends the maturity of our Senior Secured Credit Facility to April 9, 2026 and converts our benchmark interest rate from LIBOR to SOFR plus a credit spread adjustment of 0.05%. For further discussion of the amendment and our Senior Secured Credit Facility, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below.
Appointment of Chief Operating Officer
On February 23, 2023, we announced that the Board of Directors appointed J. Mark Bunch as COO. Mr. Bunch had been providing consulting services to the Company since 2016. We entered into an offer letter with Mr. Bunch setting forth his compensation as COO on February 21, 2023.
Appointment of Chief Executive Officer
On October 27, 2022, we announced that the Board of Directors selected Kelly W. Loyd as President and CEO. Mr. Loyd had been serving as Interim CEO since June 2022 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2008. We entered into an offer letter with Mr. Loyd setting forth his compensation as CEO on October 25, 2022. Upon commencing employment, Mr. Loyd no longer receives compensation for his services as a member of the Board of Directors.
Share Repurchase Program
On September 8, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program under which we are authorized to repurchase up to $25.0 million of our common stock in the open market through December 31, 2024. We intend to fund repurchases from available working capital and cash provided by operating activities. As we continue to focus on our goal of maximizing total shareholder return, the Board of Directors and management team believe that a share repurchase program is complimentary to the existing dividend policy and is a tax efficient means to further improve shareholder return. The shares may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions, through privately negotiated transactions or by other means in accordance with federal securities laws. The timing, as well as the number and value of shares repurchased under the program, will depend on a variety of factors, including management’s assessment of the intrinsic value of our shares, our capital needs and resources, the market price of our common stock, general market and economic conditions, and applicable legal requirements. The value of shares authorized for repurchase by our Board of Directors does not require us to repurchase such shares or guarantee that such shares will be repurchased, and the program may be suspended, modified, or discontinued at any time without prior notice.
Once we completed repayment of borrowings on our Senior Secured Credit Facility and emerged from our blackout period in December 2022, we entered into a Rule 10b5-1 plan that authorized a broker to repurchase shares in the open market subject to pre-defined limitations on trading volume and price. The plan included a 30-day cooling off period that did not allow repurchases to commence until January 2023. The plan was effective until June 30, 2023 and had a
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maximum authorized amount of $5.0 million over that period. During the year ended June 30, 2023, 0.6 million shares of our common stock were repurchased under the plan at a total cost of approximately $3.9 million, including incremental direct transaction costs. These treasury shares were subsequently cancelled. We may enter into additional Rule 10b5-1 plans in the future, the terms of which will be approved by the Board of Directors.
Proved Reserves
The following table is a summary of our proved reserves as of June 30, 2023 and 2022:
Proved Reserves
Proved Reserves MMBOE 31.2 36.2 (13.8) %
% Developed 88.1 % 90.1 % (2.0) %
Liquids % 50.5 % 50.8 % (0.3) %
Standardized Measure ($MM) $ 238.2 $ 314.8 (24.3) %
Proved oil equivalent reserves as of June 30, 2023 were 31.2 MMBOE, a 5.0 MMBOE, or 13.8%, decrease from the previous year of 36.2 MMBOE. The net decrease in total proved reserves was primarily due production of 2.6 MMBOE and net negative revisions of 2.6 MMBOE partially offset by additions and extensions of 0.1 MMBOE. Net negative revisions of 2.6 MMBOE are primarily due to declines in SEC trailing 12-month pricing that impacted late-in-life economic limits of production, adjustment to projections and increased production costs partially offset by restored production at Hamiton Dome Field and improved economics from our differentials at Jonah Field.
The Standardized Measure for proved reserves decreased 24.3% to $238.2 million, primarily due to sales of oil, natural gas and NGLs produced during the period, decreases in reserves estimates, decreases in the SEC mandated trailing 12-month average first day of the month prices for oil and natural gas and the price received for our NGLs. Prices decreased from $85.82 per barrel of oil, $5.19 per MMBtu of natural gas and $44.24 per barrel of NGLs at June 30, 2022 to $83.23 per barrel of oil, $4.78 per MMBtu of natural gas and $33.71 per barrel of NGLs at June 30, 2023. Our proved reserves consist of 32% oil, 49% natural gas, and 19% NGLs; 88.1% are classified as proved developed producing and 11.9% are proved undeveloped.
Additional property and project information is included under Item 1. Business and in Note 4, “Property and Equipment” and our Supplemental Disclosure about Oil and Natural Gas Properties (unaudited) to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, and in Exhibit 99.1 and 99.2 of this Form 10-K.
Risks and uncertainties
The global economy was deeply impacted by the effects of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and related efforts to mitigate the spread of the disease. These events led to crude oil prices falling to historic lows during the second quarter of 2020 and remaining depressed through much of 2020.
Beginning in 2021, the demand for oil and natural gas started to recover primarily as a result of the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine and lessening of pandemic related government restrictions on individuals and businesses. In addition, the military activities of Russia into Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions imposed on Russia and other actions have created significant market uncertainties, including uncertainties around potential supply disruptions for oil and natural gas, which further enhanced volatility in global commodity prices in the first half of 2022.
Additionally, in March 2023, the closures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and their placement into receivership with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) created broad uncertainty around world-wide financial institutions and liquidity risk. While we do not have exposure to these banks, we do maintain cash balances in excess of FDIC insurance protections at banks we believe to be financially sound. We also utilize insured cash sweep deposits to maximize the amount of our cash that is protected by FDIC insurance. We also rely heavily on our third-party operators who manage their own liquidity with various financial institutions.
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Given the dynamic nature of these events, we cannot reasonably estimate the period of time that these market conditions will persist; predict the broader impact of liquidity concerns around financial institutions; or the impact on the commodity prices that we realize.
Currently, our oil and natural gas properties are operated by third-party operators and involve other third-party working interest owners. As a result, we have limited ability to influence the operation or future development of such properties. Despite these uncertainties, we remain focused on our long-term objectives and continue to be proactive with our third-party operators to review capital expenditures and present alternative plans as necessary.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of June 30, 2023, we had no borrowings outstanding on our Senior Secured Credit Facility and $11.0 million in cash and cash equivalents compared to $21.3 million of borrowings on our Senior Secured Credit Facility and $8.3 million in cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2022. Our primary sources of liquidity and capital resources during the year ended June 30, 2023 were cash provided by operations and the unused portion of our Senior Secured Credit Facility. Our primary uses of liquidity and capital resources for the year ended June 30, 2023 were repayments on our Senior Secured Credit Facility, cash dividend payments to our common stockholders, common stock repurchases, and capital expenditures on our existing oil and natural gas properties. As of June 30, 2023, working capital was $8.9 million, an increase of $2.8 million from working capital of $6.1 million as of June 30, 2022.
The Senior Secured Credit Facility has a maximum capacity of $50.0 million subject to a borrowing base determined by the lender based on the value of our oil and natural gas properties. The Senior Secured Credit Facility has a current borrowing base of $50.0 million. The Senior Secured Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of our oil and natural gas properties and matures on April 9, 2026.
Borrowings bear interest, at our option, at either the SOFR plus 2.80% or the Prime Rate, as defined under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, plus 1.0%. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the weighted average interest on our borrowings was 5.25%. The Senior Secured Credit Facility contains covenants requiring the maintenance of (i) a total leverage ratio of not more than 3.00 to 1.00, (ii) a current ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00, and (iii) a consolidated tangible net worth of not less than $40.0 million, each as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facility. It also contains other customary affirmative and negative covenants, including a hedging covenant discussed below, and events of default. As of June 30, 2023, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facility.
On May 5, 2023, we entered into the Tenth Amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility. This amendment, among other things, extended the maturity of our Senior Secured Credit Facility to April 9, 2026, converted our benchmark interest rate from LIBOR to SOFR plus a credit spread adjustment of 0.05%, and modified the Margined Collateral Value, as defined in the Ninth Amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility, to $95.0 million. We are required to enter into hedges on a rolling 12-month basis when the borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facility exceed 25% of the Margined Collateral Value. The required amount of hedged oil and natural gas production is related to the amount of borrowings outstanding. At each redetermination, our Margined Collateral Value takes into account the estimated value of our oil and natural gas properties, proved developed reserves, total indebtedness, and other relevant factors consistent with customary oil and natural gas lending criteria.
On February 7, 2022, we entered into the Ninth Amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility. This amendment, among other things, modified the definition of utilization percentage related to the required hedging covenant such that for the purposes of determining the amount of future production to hedge, the utilization of the Senior Secured Credit Facility will be based on the Margined Collateral Value, as amended above, to the extent it exceeds the borrowing base then in effect. This amendment also required us to enter into hedges for the 12-month period ending February 2023, covering 25% of expected oil and natural gas production over that period.
On November 9, 2021, we entered into the Eighth Amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility. This amendment, among other things, increased the borrowing base to $50.0 million and added a hedging covenant whereby we must
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hedge a certain amount of our future production on a rolling 12-month basis when 25% or more of the borrowing base is utilized. The hedging covenant was amended in the Ninth Amendment, as discussed above.
On August 5, 2021, we entered into the Seventh Amendment of our Senior Secured Credit Facility which, among other things, added definitions for the terms “Acquired Entity or Mineral Interests” and “Acquired Entity or Mineral Interests EBITDA Adjustment.” Additionally, the consolidated tangible net worth covenant level was reduced to $40.0 million from $50.0 million.
We have historically funded operations through cash from operations and working capital. Our primary source of cash is the sale of produced crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. A portion of these cash flows is used to fund capital expenditures and pay cash dividends to shareholders. We expect to fund near-future capital development activities for our properties with cash flows from operating activities and existing working capital.
We are pursuing new growth opportunities through acquisitions and other transactions. In addition to cash on hand, we have access to the undrawn portion of the borrowing base available under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, totaling $50.0 million as of June 30, 2023. We also have an effective shelf registration statement with the SEC under which we may issue up to $500.0 million of new debt or equity securities.
Our Board of Directors instituted a cash dividend on common stock in December 2013. We have since paid 39 consecutive quarterly dividends. Distribution of a substantial portion of free cash flow in excess of operating and capital requirements through cash dividends remains a priority of our financial strategy, and it is our long-term goal to increase dividends over time, as appropriate. On September 11, 2023, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock to shareholders of record on September 22, 2023 and payable on September 29, 2023.
On September 8, 2022, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program, under which we are authorized to repurchase up to $25.0 million of our common stock in the open market through December 31, 2024. We intend to fund any repurchases from working capital and cash provided by operating activities. As we continue to focus on our goal of maximizing total shareholder return, the Board of Directors along with the management team believe that a share repurchase program is complimentary to the existing dividend policy and is a tax efficient means to further improve shareholder return.
Once we completed the repayment of borrowings on our Senior Secured Credit Facility and emerged from our blackout period in December 2022, we entered into a Rule 10b5-1 plan that authorizes a broker to repurchase shares in the open market subject to pre-defined limitations on trading volume and price. The plan included a 30-day cooling off period that did not allow repurchases to commence until January 2023. The plan was effective until June 30, 2023 and had a maximum authorized amount of $5.0 million over that period. During the year ended June 30, 2023, 0.6 million shares of our common stock were repurchased under the plan at a total cost of approximately $3.9 million, including incremental direct transaction costs. These treasury shares were subsequently cancelled. We may enter into additional Rule 10b5-1 plans in the future, the terms of which will be approved by the Board of Directors.
Capital Expenditures
For the year ended June 30, 2023, we incurred $6.2 million on development capital expenditures and $0.2 million for plugging and abandoning costs. During the latter half of fiscal year 2023, we participated in the completion and fracture stimulation of a vertical Bakken well. Toward the end of fiscal 2023 and into fiscal 2024 we have participated in the drilling of two new down dip wells in the Delhi Field. Completion and first production of the wells are expected in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
Based on discussions with our operators, we expect capital workover projects to continue in all the fields. Overall, for fiscal year 2024, we expect budgeted capital expenditures to be in the range of $4.0 million to $5.0 million, which excludes any potential acquisitions. Our expected capital expenditures for the next 12 months include the two new drill wells at Delhi Field, discussed above, and also include Foundation, the operator of our Williston Basin properties, drilling two sidetrack locations targeting the Birdbear formation.
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As of June 30, 2023, our PUD reserves included 3.7 MMBOE of reserves and approximately $71.7 million of future development costs primarily associated with the Williston Basin properties.
Funding for our anticipated capital expenditures over the near-term is expected to be met from cash flows from operations and current working capital, and as needed from borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facility.
Full Cost Pool Ceiling Test
Under the full cost method of accounting, capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated depletion, depreciation, and amortization and related deferred taxes, are limited to the estimated future net cash flows from proved oil and natural gas reserves, discounted at 10%, plus the lower of cost or fair value of unproved properties, as adjusted for related income tax effects (the valuation “ceiling”). If capitalized costs exceed the full cost ceiling, the excess would be charged to expense as a write-down of oil and natural gas properties in the quarter in which the excess occurred. The quarterly ceiling test calculation requires that we use the average first day of the month price for our petroleum products during the 12-month period ending with the balance sheet date. The prices used in calculating our ceiling test as of June 30, 2023 were $83.23 per barrel of oil, $4.78 per MMBtu of natural gas and $33.71 per barrel of NGLs. As of June 30, 2023, our capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties were below the full cost valuation ceiling. If commodity price levels were to substantially decline from the 12-month average first day of the month pricing levels as of June 30, 2023 and remain down for a prolonged period of time, our valuation ceiling over our capitalized costs may be reduced and adversely impact our ceiling tests in future quarters. We cannot give assurance that a write-down of capitalized oil and natural gas properties will not be required in the future. Additionally, a 10% reduction in respective commodity prices at June 30, 2023, while all other factors remained constant, would not have generated an impairment.
Overview of Cash Flow Activities
Years Ended June 30,
Cash flows provided by operating activities $ 51,272 $ 52,460 $ (1,188)
Cash flows used in investing activities (6,992) (54,873) 47,881
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $ 2,754 $ 3,003 $ (249)
Cash provided by operating activities decreased $1.2 million during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 compared to fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 primarily due to decreases in our operating assets and liabilities from the timing of converting working capital into cash. These decreases are partially offset by increases in total revenues over our increase in operating costs. Total revenues increased $19.6 million as compared to the prior year driven by an increase in our average daily production primarily due to our acquisition of non-operated working interests in the Jonah Field and Williston Basin in April 2022 and January 2022, respectively, partially offset by decreases in the average realized price per BOE.
Cash used in investing activities for the year ended June 30, 2023 decreased $47.9 million from the prior year. In fiscal year 2022, we completed the acquisition of our Jonah Field properties totaling $26.4 million and the acquisition of our Williston Basin properties total $25.8 million. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in development capital expenditures in the current fiscal year.
Net cash flows used in financing activities for the year ended June 30, 2023 were $41.5 million which included the repayment of $21.3 million of borrowings outstanding under our Senior Secured Credit Facility, $16.1 million in dividends paid to our common stockholders, and $3.9 million paid to repurchase shares of common stock under our share repurchase program. Net cash flows provided by financing activities for the year ended June 30, 2022 were $5.4 million which primarily included $17.3 million in net borrowings under our Senior Secured Credit Facility offset by $11.8 million in dividends paid to our common stockholders.
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Results of Operations
Years Ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
We reported net income of $35.2 million and $32.6 million for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The following table summarizes the comparison of financial information for the periods presented:
Years Ended June 30,
Revenues:
Operating costs:
Lease operating costs:
Depletion, depreciation, and accretion:
Depreciation of other property and equipment — 4 (4) (100.0) %
Accretion of asset retirement obligations 1,131 531 600 113.0 %
General and administrative expenses:
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income 121 95 26 27.4 %
Production:
Natural gas liquids (MBBL) 416 364 52 14.3 %
Average price per unit(2):
Average cost per unit:
Operating costs:
Lease operating costs:
Ad valorem and production taxes 3.15 3.20 (0.05) (1.6) %
General and administrative expenses:
General and administrative 3.06 3.09 (0.03) (1.0) %
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Revenues
Fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 revenues increased 18.0% to $128.5 million compared to $108.9 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. The increase in revenue is primarily due to our acquisitions of non-operated working interests in the Jonah Field and Williston Basin in the second half of fiscal year 2022. Average daily equivalent production increased 19.3%, from 5,953 BOEPD to 7,104 BOEPD in the current year. Production increases were driven by our acquisitions of non-operated working interests in the Jonah Field and Williston Basin in the second half of fiscal 2022, which increased current fiscal year production by approximately 1,621 BOEPD. The increase in our average daily production from our acquisitions was partially offset by decreases related to downtime at our Barnett Shale properties due to compressor and pipeline repairs as well as shut-in wells and our Delhi Field properties due to winter storms, and Delhi heat exchanger upgrade installation and NGL plant repairs during the fourth fiscal quarter. Our average realized commodity price (excluding the impact of derivative contracts) decreased approximately $0.57 per BOE, or 1.1%, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 compared to June 30, 2022. Realized oil and NGL prices decreased approximately 9.0% and 29.9% respectively, over the prior year. These decreases are partially offset by an increase of approximately 27.5% in realized natural gas prices from the prior year period despite the substantial decrease in natural gas prices that occurred in late third quarter. The year over year increase in realized natural gas prices is primarily attributed to the benefit of natural gas price differentials received at the Jonah Field where our realized price for natural gas for the current year period was $10.63 per MCF.
Lease Operating Costs
Ad valorem and production taxes were $8.2 million and $7.0 million for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in ad valorem and production taxes is primarily due to increased production volumes described above as production taxes are based on sales at the wellhead. On a per unit basis, ad valorem and production taxes were $3.15 per BOE and $3.20 per BOE for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease in ad valorem and production taxes on a per unit basis are due to the increased production volumes described above.
The following table summarizes CO2 costs per Mcf and CO2 volumes for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. CO2 purchase costs are for the Delhi Field. Under our contract with the Delhi Field operator, purchased CO2 is priced at 1% of the realized oil price in the field per Mcf, plus sales taxes and transportation costs as per contract terms.
Years Ended June 30,
CO2 volumes (MMCF per day, gross) 85.2 82.6 2.6 3.1 %
The $0.3 million decrease in CO2 costs for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 was primarily due to a 7.5% decrease in CO2 costs per MCF, which was driven by a decrease in our average realized oil price partially offset by a 3.1% increase in purchased CO2 volumes. CO2 purchases provide approximately 20% of the injected volumes in the field and the field’s recycle facilities provide the other 80%. We do not have any ownership in the CO2 pipeline which is owned and operated by Denbury. On a per unit basis, CO2 costs were $2.84 per BOE and $3.55 per BOE for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Other lease operating costs include remedial workover costs and gathering and transportation costs for our oil and natural gas production. Compared to the prior year, other lease operating costs increased $10.0 million, or 29.5%, to $44.0 million in the year ended June 30, 2023 primarily due to the acquisitions in the Jonah Field and Williston Basin in April 2022 and January 2022, respectively, which increased current year other lease operating costs by $8.0 million. Other lease operating costs on a per BOE basis increased to $16.97 per BOE in the current year from $15.64 per BOE in the prior year, an increase of $1.33 per BOE.
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Depletion of Full Cost Proved Oil and Natural Gas Properties
Depletion expense increased $5.6 million or 74.8% from $7.5 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 to $13.1 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 primarily due to an increase in production. On a per unit basis, depletion expense was $5.07 per BOE and $3.46 per BOE for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in depletion per BOE was due primarily to an increase in the depletable base of our unit of production calculation due to our acquisitions in fiscal year 2022 and an increase in our future development costs associated with our proved undeveloped reserve addition in fiscal year 2022 combined with a decrease in our proved reserve volumes.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 increased $1.2 million, or 18.4%, to $7.9 million compared to $6.7 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. The increase is primarily due to approximately $0.6 million for salary and employee benefits due to additional personnel added as additional assets were acquired, and $0.3 million in professional fees associated with our search for a CEO. The remaining increase is associated with fees for accounting and audit-related services and public reporting expenses due to the increased size of our Company. On a per unit basis, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.03 per BOE to $3.06 per BOE for the year ended June 30, 2023 from $3.09 per BOE for the prior year. The decrease in general and administrative expenses on a per unit basis are due to the increased production volumes described above.
Stock-based Compensation Expenses
Stock-based compensation increased $1.5 million to $1.6 million for the year ended June 30, 2023 compared to $0.1 million the prior period due primarily to the $1.2 million reduction in prior year expense related to the forfeiture of unvested shares in connection with severance, combined with the addition of new personnel, including our CEO and COO, and the associated new awards granted during the current year period to all staff and directors. In addition, approximately $0.1 million of the current year period increase related to a one-time share award granted in November 2022, which vested and was fully expensed immediately.
Net Gain (Loss) on Derivative Contracts
Periodically, we utilize commodity derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices. We have elected not to designate our open derivative contracts for hedge accounting, and accordingly, we recorded the net change in the mark-to-market valuation of the derivative contracts in the consolidated statements of operations. The amounts recorded on the consolidated statements of operations related to derivative contracts represent the (i) gains (losses) related to fair value adjustments on our open, or unrealized, derivative contracts, and (ii) gains (losses) on settlements of derivative contracts for positions that have settled or been realized. The table below summarizes our net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts as well as the impact of net realized (gains) losses on our average realized prices for the periods presented. As a result of our acquisitions during fiscal year 2022 and the corresponding borrowings on our Senior Secured Credit Facility, we were required by terms in our Senior Secured Credit Facility to hedge a portion of our production. The increase in commodity prices since entering into the hedges resulted in realized losses on derivative contracts for the current and prior years. As of June 30, 2023, we did not have any open crude oil or natural gas derivative contracts.
Years Ended June 30,
Average realized natural gas price per MCF $ 7.00 $ 5.49 $ 1.51 27.5 %
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Interest Expense
Interest expense decreased $0.1 million during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 compared to fiscal year 2022 primarily due to the repayment of borrowings outstanding on our Senior Secured Credit Facility throughout the year.
Income tax (expense) provision
For the year ended June 30, 2023, we recognized income tax expense of $10.1 million on net income before income taxes of $45.3 million compared to an income tax expense of $8.5 million on net income before income taxes of $41.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2022. The effective tax rates were 22.2% and 20.7% for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In the prior year, the Company benefited from certain EOR tax credits whereas in the current year the credits were not available.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires that we select certain accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of the assets, liabilities, and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These policies, together with our estimates, have a significant effect on our consolidated financial statements. Our significant accounting policies are included in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Events and Accounting Policies” to our consolidated statements in Item 8. Following is a discussion of our most critical accounting estimates, judgments, and uncertainties that are inherent in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
Oil and Natural Gas Properties. Companies engaged in the production of oil and natural gas are required to follow accounting rules that are unique to the oil and natural gas industry. We apply the full cost accounting method for our oil and natural gas properties as prescribed by SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10. Under this method of accounting, the costs of unsuccessful and successful, exploration and development activities are capitalized as properties and equipment. This includes any internal costs that are directly related to property acquisition, exploration, and development activities but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead, or similar activities. Gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and natural gas properties is not recognized unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves. Oil and natural gas properties include costs that are excluded from costs being depleted or amortized. Oil and natural gas property costs excluded represent investments in unevaluated properties. We exclude these costs until the property has been evaluated. Costs are transferred to the full cost pool as the properties are evaluated. As of June 30, 2023, we had no unevaluated property costs. Oil and natural gas properties include costs that are excluded from depletion and amortization, which represent investments in unproved and unevaluated properties and include non-producing leasehold, geologic and geophysical costs associated with leasehold or drilling interests, and exploration drilling costs.
Estimates of Proved Reserves. The estimated quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves have a significant impact on the underlying financial statements. The estimated quantities of proved reserves are used to calculate depletion expense and the estimated future net cash flows associated with those proved reserves is the basis for determining impairment under the quarterly ceiling test calculation. The process of estimating oil and natural gas reserves is very complex and requires significant decisions in the evaluation of all available geologic, geophysical, engineering, and economic data. Estimated reserves are often subject to future revisions, which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information; this includes reservoir performance, additional development activity, new geologic and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price changes, and other economic factors. As a result, material revisions to existing reserve estimates may occur from time to time. Although every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the reported reserve estimates prepared by our third-party independent engineers represent the most accurate assessments possible, the subjective decisions and variances in available data for the properties make these estimates generally less precise than other estimates included in our financial statements. Material revisions to reserve estimates and/or significant changes in commodity prices could substantially affect our estimated future net cash flows of our proved reserves. These changes could affect our quarterly ceiling test calculation and could significantly affect our depletion rate. Additionally, a 10% decrease in commodity prices used to determine our proved reserves as of
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June 30, 2023, while all other factors remained constant, would not have resulted in an impairment of our oil and natural gas properties. Holding all other factors constant, a reduction in our proved reserve estimates at June 30, 2023 of 10% would affect depletion, depreciation, and amortization expense by approximately $0.4 million.
On December 31, 2008, the SEC issued its final rule on the modernization of reporting oil and natural gas reserves. The rule allows consideration of new technologies in evaluating reserves, generally limits the designation of proved reserves to those projects forecasted to be drilled five years from the initial recognition date of such reserves, allows companies to disclose their probable and possible reserves to investors, requires reporting of oil and natural gas reserves using an average price based on the previous 12-month unweighted arithmetic average first-day-of-the-month price rather than year-end prices, revises the disclosure requirements for oil and natural gas operations, and revises accounting for the limitation on capitalized costs for full cost companies.
Stock-based Compensation. The fair value, and for certain awards the expected vesting period, of our performance-based awards were determined using a Monte Carlo simulation. This technique uses a geometric Brownian motion model with defined variables and randomly generates values for each variable through multiple trials. Variables include stock price volatility, expected term of the award, the expected risk-free interest rate, and the expected dividend yield of our stock. The risk-free interest rate used is the U.S. Treasury yield for bonds matching the expected term of the award on the date of grant. Vesting of performance-based awards is based on our total common stock return compared to a peer group of other companies in our industry with comparable market capitalizations and, for certain awards, our share price attaining a set target.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements. Refer to Note 1, “Summary of Significant Events and Accounting Policies” to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for discussion of the recent accounting pronouncements issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity
We are exposed to various risks, including energy commodity price risk, such as price differentials between the NYMEX commodity price and the index price at the location where our production is sold. When oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids prices decline significantly, our ability to finance our capital budget and operations may be adversely impacted. We expect energy prices to remain volatile and unpredictable, therefore we monitor commodity prices to identify the potential need for the use of derivative financial instruments to provide partial protection against declines in oil and natural gas prices. We do not enter into derivative contracts for speculative trading purposes.
We are exposed to market risk on our open derivative contracts related to potential non-performance by our counterparties. It is our policy to enter into derivative contracts only with counterparties that are creditworthy institutions deemed by management as competitive market makers. For the derivative contracts settled during fiscal 2023 and 2022, we did not post collateral. We account for our derivative activities under the provisions of ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, (“ASC 815”). ASC 815 establishes accounting and reporting that every derivative instrument be recorded on the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. See Note 7, “Derivatives” to our consolidated financial statements for more details.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to changes in interest rates. Changes in interest rates affect the interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents. Additionally, any borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facility will bear interest, at our option, at either SOFR plus 2.80%, which includes a 0.05% credit spread adjustment from LIBOR, subject to a minimum SOFR of 0.50%, or the Prime Rate, as defined under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, plus 1.00%. LIBOR rates are sensitive to the period of contract and market volatility, as well as changes in forward interest rate yields. Under our current practices, we do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes.
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Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2023 and 2022 46
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 50
Supplemental Disclosure about Oil and Natural Gas Properties (unaudited) 71
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Evolution Petroleum Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Evolution Petroleum Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and changes in stockholders’ equity for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2023 and 2022, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated September 13, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
The Impact of Proved Oil and Natural Gas Reserves on Depletion, Depreciation, and Amortization (“DD&A”) and Full Cost Ceiling Test Impairment Calculation (“Ceiling Test”)
As described in Note 1, the Company follows the full cost method of accounting, pursuant to which oil and natural gas properties are amortized using the unit-of-production method over total proved reserves. The Company’s proved oil and natural gas properties are evaluated for impairment by the Ceiling Test utilizing the Company’s proved oil and natural
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gas reserves in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and SEC guidelines. For the year ended June 30, 2023, the Company recorded DD&A related to its proved oil and natural gas properties of approximately $13.1 million, and there was no ceiling test impairment.
The Company engages two independent reservoir engineering firms to serve as a management specialist and to assist with the estimation of proved oil and natural gas reserves. To estimate the volume of proved oil and natural gas reserves and associated future net cash flows, management and their specialists make significant estimates and assumptions including forecasting the production decline rate of producing properties and forecasting the timing and volume of production associated with the Company’s development plan for proved undeveloped properties (“PUDs”). The estimation of proved oil and natural gas reserves is impacted by management’s judgments and estimates regarding the financial performance of wells associated with proved reserves to determine if wells are expected, with reasonable certainty, to be economical under the appropriate pricing assumptions required. Changes in significant assumptions or engineering data could have a significant impact on the amount of DD&A and impairment recorded for the Company’s proved oil and natural gas properties.
We identified the impact of proved oil and natural gas reserves on DD&A and the Ceiling Test as a critical audit matter due to use of significant judgment by management, including the use of specialists, when developing the estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves. This in turn led to a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to the significant assumptions used in developing those estimates of proved oil and natural gas reserves.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:
o Testing the data inputs used by specialist for completeness and accuracy;
o Testing the specialist’s findings for mathematical accuracy; and,
◾ prices to historical benchmark prices, adjusted for pricing differentials,
◾ production forecasts to recent historical actual production,
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/s/ Moss Adams LLP
Houston, Texas
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Evolution Petroleum Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Evolution Petroleum Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheets of Evolution Petroleum Corporation and subsidiaries as of June 30, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and changes in stockholders’ equity for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”) and our report dated September 13, 2023 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting included in Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
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/s/ Moss Adams LLP
Houston, Texas
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,034 $ 8,280
Derivative contract assets — 170
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,277 3,875
Property and equipment, net of depletion, depreciation, and impairment
which none were excluded from amortization 105,781 110,508
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accrued liabilities and other 6,027 11,893
Derivative contract liabilities — 2,164
State and federal taxes payable 365 1,095
Long term liabilities
Senior secured credit facility — 21,250
Deferred income taxes 6,803 7,099
Operating lease liability 125 —
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders’ equity
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 128,317 $ 148,047
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Years Ended June 30,
Revenues
Operating costs
Depletion, depreciation, and accretion 14,273 8,053
General and administrative expenses 9,583 6,835
Income (loss) from operations 45,113 45,381
Other income (expense)
Net gain (loss) on derivative contracts 513 (3,763)
Interest and other income 121 95
Interest expense (458) (572)
Income (loss) before income taxes 45,289 41,141
Income tax (expense) benefit (10,072) (8,513)
Net income (loss) per common share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Years Ended June 30,
Cash flows from operating activities:
Depletion, depreciation, and accretion 14,273 8,053
Stock-based compensation 1,639 125
Settlement of asset retirement obligations (174) —
Deferred income taxes (296) 1,142
Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative contracts (1,994) 1,994
Accrued settlements on derivative contracts (919) 919
Other (4) (10)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (692) (538)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and other (13,489) 18,516
State and federal taxes payable (730) 1,058
Net cash provided by operating activities 51,272 52,460
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of oil and natural gas properties (31) (53,342)
Capital expenditures for oil and natural gas properties (6,961) (1,531)
Net cash used in investing activities (6,992) (54,873)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Common stock dividends paid (16,106) (11,796)
Borrowings under senior secured credit facility — 34,000
Repayments of senior secured credit facility (21,250) (16,750)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (41,526) 5,416
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 2,754 3,003
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 8,280 5,277
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 11,034 $ 8,280
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest on senior secured credit facility $ 498 $ 523
Cash paid for income taxes 11,876 6,294
Cash received from income tax refunds — 3,223
Non-cash investing and financing transactions:
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
Additional Total
Common Stock Paid-in Retained Treasury Stockholders’
Shares Par Value Capital Earnings Stock Equity
Issuance of restricted common stock 336 — — — — —
Forfeitures of restricted stock (373) (1) 1 — — —
Retirements of treasury stock (7) — (38) — 38 —
Stock-based compensation — — 125 — — 125
Net income (loss) — — — 32,628 — 32,628
Common stock dividends paid — — — (11,796) — (11,796)
Issuance of restricted common stock 476 1 (1) — — —
Forfeitures of restricted stock (26) — — — — —
Retirements of treasury stock (673) (1) (4,169) — 4,170 —
Stock-based compensation — — 1,639 — — 1,639
Net income (loss) — — — 35,217 — 35,217
Common stock dividends paid — — — (16,106) — (16,106)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Summary of Significant Events and Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations. Evolution Petroleum Corporation (“Evolution,” and together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”) is an independent energy company focused on maximizing returns to stockholders through the ownership of and investment in onshore oil and natural gas properties in the United States. The Company’s long-term goal is to maximize total shareholder return from a diversified portfolio of long-life oil and natural gas properties built through acquisitions and through selective development opportunities, production enhancement, and other exploitation efforts on its oil and natural gas properties.
The Company’s producing properties consist of non-operated interests in the following areas: the Jonah Field in Sublette County, Wyoming, a natural gas and natural gas liquids producing field; the Williston Basin in North Dakota, producing oil and natural gas properties; the Barnett Shale located in North Texas, natural gas producing properties; the Hamilton Dome Field located in Hot Springs County, Wyoming, a secondary recovery field utilizing water injection wells to pressurize the reservoir; the Delhi Holt-Bryant Unit in the Delhi Field in Northeast Louisiana, a CO2 enhanced oil recovery project; as well as small overriding royalty interests in four onshore Texas wells.
Principles of Consolidation and Reporting. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Evolution Petroleum Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated financial statements for the previous year may include certain reclassifications to conform to the current presentation. To conform with the current year presentation, “Other receivables” disclosed in Footnote 14, “Additional Financial Information” is included with “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” instead of “Receivables from crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids revenues” at June 30, 2022 on the consolidated balance sheets. This reclassification has no impact on previously reported net income or stockholders’ equity.
Risk and Uncertainties. The Company’s oil and natural gas interests are operated by third-party operators and involve other third-party working interest owners. As a result, the Company has a limited ability to influence the operation or future development of such properties. However, the Company is proactive with its third-party operators to review capital projects and related spending and present alternative plans as appropriate.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, if any, at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the respective reporting periods. Significant estimates include (a) reserve quantities and estimated future cash flows associated with proved reserves, which may significantly impact depletion expense and potential impairments of oil and natural gas properties, (b) asset retirement obligations, (c) stock-based compensation, (d) fair values of derivative contract assets and liabilities, (e) income taxes and the valuation of deferred income tax assets, (f) commitments and contingencies, and (g) accruals of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (“NGL”) revenues and expenses. The Company analyzes estimates and judgements based on historical experience and various other assumptions and information that are believed to be reasonable. Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be predicted with certainty and, accordingly, these estimates may change as additional information is obtained, as new events occur, and as the Company’s environment changes. Actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company considers all highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less when purchased, to be cash and cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Accounts receivable consist of accrued hydrocarbon revenues due under normal trade terms, generally requiring payment within 30 to 60 days of production, and other
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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
miscellaneous receivables. No interest is charged on past-due balances. Payments made on accounts receivable are applied to the earliest unpaid items. The Company establishes provisions for losses on accounts receivable if it is determined that collection of all or a part of an outstanding balance is not probable. Collectability is reviewed regularly and an allowance is established or adjusted, as necessary, using the specific identification method. As of June 30, 2023 and 2022, no allowance for doubtful accounts was considered necessary.
Oil and Natural Gas Properties. The Company uses the full-cost method of accounting for its investments in oil and natural gas properties. Under this method of accounting, all costs incurred in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas properties, including unproductive wells, are capitalized. This includes any internal costs that are directly related to property acquisition, exploration, and development activities but does not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead, or similar activities. Gain or loss on the sale or other disposition of oil and natural gas properties is not recognized, unless the gain or loss would significantly alter the relationship between capitalized costs and proved reserves.
The depreciable base for oil and natural gas properties includes the sum of all capitalized costs net of depletion, estimated future development costs, and asset retirement costs (net of salvage values) not included in oil and natural gas properties, less costs excluded from amortization. The depreciable base of oil and natural gas properties is amortized using the unit-of-production method over total proved reserves.
The capitalized costs of the Company’s oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated amortization and related deferred income taxes are subject to a full cost ceiling limitation in which the costs are not allowed to exceed their related estimated future net revenues discounted at 10%, net of tax considerations. Any excess over the full cost ceiling limitation is charged to expense as an impairment and is reflected as additional accumulated depletion, depreciation, and impairment or as a credit to oil and natural gas properties.
Oil and natural gas properties include costs that are excluded from depletion and amortization, which represent investments in unproved and unevaluated properties and include non-producing leasehold, geologic and geophysical costs associated with leasehold or drilling interests, and exploration drilling costs. These costs are excluded until the project is evaluated and proved reserves are established or impairment is determined. As of June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not have any costs excluded from depletion and amortization.
Other Property and Equipment. Other property and equipment includes building leasehold improvements, data processing and telecommunications equipment, office furniture, and office equipment. These items are recorded at cost and depreciated over expected lives of the individual assets or group of assets, which range from three to seven years. The assets are depreciated using the straight-line method. Realization of the carrying value of other property and equipment is reviewed for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Assets are determined to be impaired if a forecast of undiscounted estimated future net operating cash flows directly related to the asset, including disposal value, if any, is less than the carrying amount of the asset. If any asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed in the period incurred.
Asset Retirement Obligations. An asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset is recognized as a liability in the period incurred. It is associated with an increase in the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset, the Company’s oil and natural gas properties. The cost of the tangible asset, including the asset retirement cost, is depleted over the useful life of the asset. The initial recognition or subsequent revision of asset retirement cost is considered a Level 3 fair value measurement. The asset retirement obligation is recorded at its estimated fair value, measured by reference to the expected future cash outflows required to satisfy the retirement obligation discounted at the Company’s credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Accretion expense is recognized over time as the discounted liability is accreted to its expected settlement value. If the estimated future cost of the asset retirement obligation changes, an adjustment is recorded to both the asset retirement obligation and the long-lived asset. Revisions
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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
to estimated asset retirement obligations can result from changes in retirement cost estimates, revisions to estimated inflation rates, and changes in the estimated timing of abandonment.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, derivative instruments, and debt. Except for derivatives, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are short-term instruments and approximate fair value due to their highly liquid nature. The carrying amount of debt approximates fair value as the variable rates on the Senior Secured Credit Facility, as defined in Note 5, “Senior Secured Credit Facility,” are market interest rates. The fair values of the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities are based on a third-party industry-standard pricing model that uses market data obtained from third-party sources, including quoted forward prices for oil and natural gas, discount rates, and volatility factors.
Concentrations of Credit Risk. The Company’s primary concentrations of credit risk are the risks of uncollectible accounts receivable, and to a lesser extent, the non-performance by counterparties under the Company’s derivative contracts, and cash and cash equivalent balances in excess of limits federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Substantially all of the Company’s accounts receivable as of June 30, 2023 and 2022 are from crude oil, natural gas, and NGL sales to third-party purchasers in the oil and natural gas industry. The Company holds working interests in crude oil and natural gas properties for which a third-party serves as operator. As a non-operator, the Company primarily markets its production through its field operators, except at the Jonah Field, where the Company takes its natural gas and NGL production in-kind. As a non-operator, the Company is highly dependent on the success of its third-party operators and the decisions made in connection with their operations. With the exception of the Jonah Field, the third-party operator sells the crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs to the purchaser, collects the cash, and distributes the cash to the Company. In the year ended June 30, 2023, approximately 83% of the Company’s total revenues were realized from the Jonah Field, Barnett Shale and Delhi Field combined. Diversified, the Company’s largest operator at Barnett, remitted approximately 26% of total revenue proceeds to the Company and at Delhi Field, Denbury, the operator of the Field, remitted approximately 22% of total revenue proceeds to the Company. At Jonah Field, where the Company takes its natural gas and NGL production in-kind, during the current year, the Company sold approximately 17% of its total revenues to Conoco Phillips. In the year ended June 30, 2022, three operators each distributed over 10% of the Company’s crude oil, natural gas and NGL revenues making up approximately 83% of total revenues for the year, respectively. The majority of the Company’s crude oil, natural gas, and NGL production is sold to purchasers under short-term (less than 12 months) contracts at market-based prices.
Derivative Instruments. The Company follows Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). From time to time, in accordance with the Company’s risk management strategy and with certain covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, it may hedge a portion of its forecasted crude oil, natural gas, and NGL production. All derivative instruments are recorded on the consolidated balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at fair value. The Company nets its derivative instrument fair value amounts executed with the same counterparty pursuant to an International Swap Dealers Association Master Agreement (“ISDA”); the agreement provides for net settlement over the term of the contract and in the event of default or termination of the contract. Although the derivative instruments provide an economic hedge of the Company’s exposure to commodity price volatility, the Company elected not to meet the criteria to qualify its derivative instruments for hedge accounting treatment. Accordingly, the Company records the net change in the mark-to-market valuation of these positions, as well as payments and receipts on settled contracts, in “Net gain (loss) on derivative contracts” on the consolidated statements of operations.
Estimates of Proved Reserves. The estimated quantities of proved oil and natural gas reserves have a significant impact on the underlying financial statements. The estimated quantities of proved reserves are used to calculate depletion expense and the estimated future net cash flows associated with those proved reserves is the basis for determining impairment under the quarterly ceiling test calculation. The process of estimating oil and natural gas reserves is very
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EVOLUTION PETROLEUM CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
complex and requires significant decisions in the evaluation of all available geologic, geophysical, engineering, and economic data. Estimated reserves are often subject to future revisions, which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information; this includes reservoir performance, additional development activity, new geologic and geophysical data, additional drilling, technological advancements, price changes, and other economic factors. As a result, material revisions to existing reserve estimates may occur from time to time. Although every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the reported reserve estimates prepared by the Company’s third-party independent engineers represent the most accurate assessments possible, the subjective decisions and variances in available data for the properties make these estimates generally less precise than other estimates included in the Company’s financial statements. Material revisions to reserve estimates and/or significant changes in commodity prices could substantially affect the Company’s estimated future net cash flows of its proved reserves. These changes could affect the Company’s quarterly ceiling test calculation and could significantly affect its depletion rate.
Income Taxes. The Company recognizes deferred income tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and its reported amounts in the financial statements that may result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. The measurement of deferred income tax assets may be reduced by a valuation allowance based upon management’s assessment of available evidence if it is deemed more likely than not that some or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realizable. The Company recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination which is based on the technical merits of the position. The Company records the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority. The Company classifies any interest and penalties associated with income taxes as income tax expense.
Earnings (Loss) Per Share. The Company grants restricted stock awards which entitle the recipient to all of the rights of a shareholder of the Company including non-forfeitable rights to receive all dividends or other distributions paid with respect to such share; therefore, it applies the two-class method of calculating basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share (“ASC 260”). Basic EPS is computed by dividing earnings or loss available to common stockholders, after allocating undistributed earnings to participating securities, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The computation of diluted EPS is similar to the computation of basic EPS, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive common shares had been issued. Unvested performance-based restricted stock awards and unvested contingent restricted share units are only potentially dilutive if the awards meet their respective performance criteria as of the period end. The Company uses the treasury stock method to determine the effect of potentially dilutive common shares on diluted EPS, unless the effect would be anti-dilutive. The unamortized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested awards is assumed to be used to repurchase shares of common stock at the average market price during the period. The incremental shares (the difference between the number of shares assumed issued and the number of shares assumed repurchased) are included in the denominator of the diluted EPS computation. Awards with performance-based vesting restrictions are included in the computation of diluted shares, if dilutive, when the underlying performance conditions either (i) were satisfied as of the end of the reporting period or (ii) would be considered satisfied if the end of the reporting period were the end of the related contingency period.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments, including trade and other receivables, and requires the use of a new forward-looking expected loss model that will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. Early adoption is permitted and entities must adopt the amendment using a modified retrospective approach to the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. For smaller reporting companies, as provided by ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842), ASU 2016-13 is effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2016-13 but does
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not expect that it will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows or disclosures.
Other accounting pronouncements that have recently been issued by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, cash flows or disclosures.
Note 2. Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenues are primarily generated from its crude oil, natural gas and NGL production from the Jonah Field in Sublette County, Wyoming; the Williston Basin in North Dakota; the Barnett Shale located in North Texas; the Hamilton Dome Field in Wyoming; and the Delhi Field in Northeast Louisiana. Additionally, an overriding royalty interest retained in a past divestiture of Texas properties provides de minimis revenue. The following table disaggregates the Company’s revenues by major product for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Years Ended June 30,
Revenues
In the Jonah Field, the Company has elected to take its natural gas and NGL working interest production in-kind and markets its NGL production to Enterprise Products Partners L.P. and its natural gas production to different purchasers.
The Company does not take production in-kind at any of its other properties and does not negotiate contracts with customers for such production. The Company recognizes crude oil, natural gas, and NGL production revenue at the point in time when custody and title (“control”) of the product transfers to the customer. The sales of oil and natural gas are made under contracts which the Company’s third-party operators of its wells have negotiated with customers, which typically include variable consideration that is based on pricing tied to local indices and volumes delivered in the current month. The Company receives payment from the sale of oil and natural gas production one to two months after delivery.
Judgments made in applying the guidance in ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, relate primarily to determining the point in time when control of product transfers to the customer. The Company does not believe that significant judgments are required with respect to the determination of the transaction price, including amounts that represent variable consideration, as volume and price carry a low level of estimation uncertainty given the precision of volumetric measurements and the use of index pricing with predictable differentials. Accordingly, the Company does not consider estimates of variable consideration to be constrained.
The Company’s contractual performance obligations arise upon the production of hydrocarbons from wells in which the Company has an ownership interest. The performance obligations are considered satisfied upon control of produced hydrocarbons transferring to a customer at a specified delivery point. Consideration is allocated to completed performance obligations at the end of an accounting period.
Revenue is recorded in the month when contractual performance obligations are satisfied. However, settlement statements from the purchasers of hydrocarbons and the related cash consideration are received by field operators one to two months before the Company receives payment and documentation from the operator, which is typical in the oil and natural gas industry. As a result, the Company must estimate the amount of production delivered to the customer and the consideration that will ultimately be received for the sale of the product. To estimate accounts receivable from operators’ contracts with customers, the Company uses knowledge of its properties, information from field operators, historical performance, contractual arrangements, index pricing, quality and transportation differentials, and other factors. Because
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the contractual performance obligations have been satisfied and an unconditional right to consideration exists as of the balance sheet date, the Company recognized amounts due from contracts with field operators as “Receivables from crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids revenues” on the consolidated balance sheets. Differences between estimates and actual amounts received for product sales are recorded in the month that payments received from purchasers are remitted to the Company by field operators.
Note 3. Acquisitions
On April 1, 2022, the Company closed the acquisition of non-operated interests in the Jonah Field in Sublette County, Wyoming from Exaro Energy III, LLC (the “Jonah Field Acquisition”). After taking into account customary closing adjustments and an effective date of February 1, 2022, total cash consideration for the Jonah Field Acquisition was $26.4 million. The Company accounted for this transaction as an asset acquisition and allocated all of the purchase price (including $0.2 million of transaction costs) to proved oil and natural gas properties. Approximately, $1.6 million of the consideration transferred related to deposits transferred to the Company at closing, the largest related to a $1.2 million deposit with Enterprise for a gas gathering contract which was recorded to “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets. In addition, the Company recognized $3.0 million in non-cash asset retirement obligations. The transaction was funded with cash on hand and $17.0 million in borrowings under the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facility.
On January 14, 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of non-operated working interests in the Williston Basin in North Dakota from Foundation Energy Fund VII-A, LP and Foundation Energy Management, LLC (the “Williston Basin Acquisition”). After taking into account customary closing adjustments and an effective date of June 1, 2021, cash consideration was $25.2 million which included $0.3 million of capitalized transaction costs related to the acquisition. The Company accounted for the transaction as an asset acquisition and allocated all of the purchase price (including capitalized transaction costs) to proved oil and natural gas properties. The Company also recognized $2.4 million in non-cash asset retirement obligations. The transaction was funded with cash on hand and $16.0 million in borrowings under the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facility.
In accordance with the FASB’s authoritative guidance on asset acquisitions, the Company allocated the cost of the above acquisitions to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on a relative fair value basis of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with no recognition of goodwill or bargain purchase gain recorded. Incremental legal and professional fees related directly to the acquisitions were capitalized as part of the acquisition cost. The fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). Fair value measurements also utilize market assumptions of market participants.
Note 4. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment as of June 30, 2023 and 2022 consisted of the following (in thousands):
Oil and natural gas properties
Property costs subject to amortization $ 197,049 $ 188,634
As of June 30, 2023 and 2022, all oil and natural gas property costs were subject to amortization. Depletion on oil and natural gas properties was $13.1 million and $7.5 million for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Depreciation on other properties and equipment was less than $0.1 million for the year ended June 30, 2022. The Company’s other properties and equipment were fully depreciated as of June 30, 2022.
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During the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred development capital expenditures of $6.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively. In addition, during the year ended June 30, 2022, the Company recorded a downward $0.9 million purchase adjustment related to its acquisition of the Barnett Shale properties. The Company received $0.9 million during the year ended June 30, 2022 primarily related to effective date net revenues received from the previous owner of the properties.
The Company uses the full cost method of accounting for its investments in oil and natural gas properties. All costs of acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and natural gas reserves are capitalized as the cost of oil and natural gas and properties when incurred. To the extent capitalized costs of evaluated oil and natural gas properties, net of accumulated depletion, exceed the discounted future net revenues of proved oil and natural gas reserves, net of deferred taxes, such excess capitalized costs would be charged to expense as a write-down of oil and natural gas properties.
At June 30, 2023, the ceiling test value of the Company’s reserves was calculated based on the first-day-of-the-month average for the 12-months ended June 30, 2023 of the West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) crude oil spot price of $83.23 per barrel and Henry Hub natural gas spot price of $4.78 per MMBtu, adjusted by market differentials by field. The net price per barrel of NGLs was $33.71, which was based on historical differentials to WTI as NGLs do not have any single comparable reference index price. Using these prices at June 30, 2023, the cost center ceiling was higher than the capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties, and as a result, no write-down was necessary.
At June 30, 2022, the ceiling test value of the Company’s reserves was calculated based on the first-day-of-the-month average for the 12-months ended June 30, 2022 of the WTI crude oil spot price of $85.82 per barrel and Henry Hub natural gas spot price of $5.19 per MMBtu, adjusted by market differentials by field. The net price per barrel of NGLs was $44.24, which was based on historical differentials to WTI as NGLs do not have any single comparable reference index price. Using these prices at June 30, 2022, the cost center ceiling was higher than the capitalized costs of oil and natural gas properties, and as a result, no write-down was necessary.
Note 5. Senior Secured Credit Facility
On April 11, 2016, the Company entered into a three-year, senior secured reserve-based credit facility, as amended, (the “Senior Secured Credit Facility”) with MidFirst Bank in an amount up to $50.0 million with a current borrowing base of $50.0 million. On May 5, 2023, the Company entered into the Tenth Amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility extending the maturity to April 9, 2026. The Tenth Amendment also replaced the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") with the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus a credit spread adjustment of 0.05% to effectively convert SOFR to a LIBOR equivalent and modifies the Margined Collateral Value, as defined in the Ninth Amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility, to $95.0 million. The borrowing base will be redetermined semiannually, with the lenders and the Company each having the right to one interim unscheduled redetermination between any two consecutive semi-annual redeterminations. The borrowing base takes into account the estimated value of the Company’s oil and natural gas properties, proved reserves, total indebtedness, and other relevant factors consistent with customary oil and natural gas lending criteria. The Senior Secured Credit Facility carries a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum on the undrawn portion of the borrowing base. Any borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facility will bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either SOFR plus 2.80%, which includes a 0.05% credit spread adjustment from LIBOR, subject to a minimum SOFR of 0.50%, or the Prime Rate, as defined under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, plus 1.00%.
The Company may elect, at its option, to prepay any borrowings outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facility without premium or penalty. Amounts outstanding under the Senior Secured Credit Facility are guaranteed by the Company’s direct and indirect subsidiaries and secured by a security interest in substantially all of the properties of the Company and its subsidiaries. Borrowings under the Senior Secured Credit Facility may be used for the acquisition and development of oil and natural gas properties, investments in cash flow generating properties complimentary to the production of oil and natural gas, and for letters of credit or other general corporate purposes.
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The Senior Secured Credit Facility contains certain events of default, including non-payment; breaches or representation and warranties; non-compliance with covenants; cross-defaults to material indebtedness; voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy; judgments and change in control. The Senior Secured Credit Facility also contains financial covenants including a requirement that the Company maintain, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, (i) a maximum total leverage ratio of not more than 3.00 to 1.00, (ii) a current ratio of not less than 1.00 to 1.00, and (iii) a consolidated tangible net worth of not less than $40.0 million, each as defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2023, the Company did not have any borrowings outstanding under its Senior Secured Credit Facility, resulting in $50.0 million of available borrowing capacity. As of June 30, 2023, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facility.
On February 7, 2022, the Company entered into the Ninth Amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility. This amendment, among other things, modified the definition of utilization percentage related to the required hedging covenant such that for the purposes of determining the amount of future production to hedge, the utilization of the Senior Secured Credit Facility will be based on the Margined Collateral Value, as defined in the agreement, to the extent it exceeds the borrowing base then in effect. This amendment also required the Company to enter into hedges for the next 12-month period ending February 2023, covering 25% of expected crude oil and natural gas production over that period.
On November 9, 2021, the Company entered into the Eighth Amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility. This amendment, among other things, increased the borrowing base to $50.0 million and added a hedging covenant whereby the Company must hedge a minimum of 25% to 75% of future production on a rolling 12-month basis when 25% or more of the borrowing base is utilized. The hedging covenant was amended in the Ninth Amendment, as discussed above.
On August 5, 2021 the Company entered into the Seventh Amendment to the Senior Secured Credit Facility which, among other things, added definitions for the terms “Acquired Entity or Mineral Interests” and “Acquired Entity or Mineral Interests EBITDA Adjustment.” Additionally, the consolidated tangible net worth covenant level was reduced to $40.0 million from $50.0 million.
Note 6. Income Taxes
The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return in the United States and various combined and separate filings in several state and local jurisdictions.
There were no unrecognized tax benefits, nor any accrued interest or penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits during the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. The Company believes that it has appropriate support for the income tax positions taken and to be taken on the Company’s tax returns and that the accruals for tax liabilities are adequate for all open years based on its assessment of many factors including past experience and interpretations of tax law applied to the facts of each matter. The Company’s federal and state income tax returns are open to audit under the statute of limitations for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 through June 30, 2022 for federal tax purposes and for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2018 through June 30, 2022 for state tax purposes. To the extent the Company utilizes net operating losses (“NOLs”) generated in earlier years, such earlier years may also be subject to audit.
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Income tax (expense) benefit for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 is comprised of the following (in thousands):
Current:
Total current income tax (expense) benefit (10,368) (7,371)
Deferred:
Total deferred income tax (expense) benefit 296 (1,142)
Total income tax (expense) benefit $ (10,072) $ (8,513)
For the year ended June 30, 2023 the Company recognized income tax expense of $10.1 million and had an effective tax rate of 22.2% compared to income tax expense of $8.5 million and an effective tax rates of 20.7% for the year ended June 30, 2022. During the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $0.1 million for both periods related to the vesting of restricted stock awards.
The Company’s effective tax rate will typically differ from the statutory federal rate as a result of state income taxes, primarily in the states of Louisiana, North Dakota, and Texas, due to percentage depletion in excess of basis, enhanced oil recovery credit, and other permanent differences. The following table presents the reconciliation of the Company’s income taxes calculated at the statutory federal tax rate to the income tax (expense) benefit (in thousands).
% of Income % of Income
Before Before
Reconciling items:
Depletion in excess of tax basis 78 (0.2) % 190 (0.5) %
Federal valuation allowance — — % 623 (1.5) %
EOR credit benefit — — % 377 (0.9) %
Other (1) — % (46) 0.1 %
In certain prior years, the Company undertook a project to seek potential cash tax savings opportunities identifying available Enhanced Oil Recovery credits (“EOR credits”) related to its interests in the Delhi Field. During the year ended June 30, 2022, the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $0.4 million attributable to the EOR credit. The EOR credit was not available for fiscal year 2023.
In the prior year, the Company released its valuation allowance of $0.6 million. The Company considered all positive and negative evidence to assess the likelihood that it will be able to realize its deferred tax assets. Realization is dependent on generating sufficient taxable income over the period the deferred tax assets are deductible. For the three-year period ending June 30, 2022, the Company was in a cumulative income position. Based on the weight of available evidence, the Company believed that is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.
Deferred income taxes primarily represent the net tax effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The components of net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) recognized are as follows (in thousands):
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Deferred tax assets:
Non-qualified stock-based compensation $ 250 $ 106
Net operating loss carry-forwards and other carry-forwards — 8
Derivative losses — 427
Asset retirement obligations 3,883 3,128
Other deferred tax assets 201 238
Net deferred tax assets 4,334 3,907
Deferred tax liability:
Oil and natural gas properties (11,137) (11,006)
Total deferred tax liability (11,137) (11,006)
Net deferred tax liability $ (6,803) $ (7,099)
Note 7. Derivatives
The Company is exposed to certain risks relating to its ongoing business operations, including commodity price risk and interest rate risk. In accordance with the Company’s strategy and the requirements under the Senior Secured Credit Facility (as discussed in Note 5, “Senior Secured Credit Facility”), it may hedge or may be required to hedge a varying portion of anticipated oil and natural gas production for future periods. Derivatives are carried at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities, with the changes in the fair value included in the consolidated statements of operations for the period in which the change occurs. The Company’s hedge policies and objectives may change significantly as its operational profile changes or as required under the Senior Secured Credit Facility. The Company does not enter into derivative contracts for speculative trading purposes.
It is the Company’s policy to enter into derivative contracts only with counterparties that are creditworthy financial or commodity hedging institutions deemed by management as competent and competitive market makers. As of June 30, 2023, all of the Company’s derivative contracts had expired. The Company has no open derivative contracts as of June 30, 2023, and the Company did not post collateral under any of its derivative contracts during the year as they were secured under the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facility.
The Company has in the past and may utilize in the future costless put/call collars and fixed-price swaps to hedge a portion of its anticipated future production. A costless collar consists of a sold call, which establishes a maximum price the Company will receive for the volumes under contract, and a purchased put that establishes a minimum price. Fixed-price swaps are designed so that the Company receives or makes payments based on a differential between fixed and variable prices for the volumes under contract. The Company has elected not to designate its open derivative contracts for hedge accounting. Accordingly, the Company records the net change in the mark-to-market valuation of the derivative contracts and all payments and receipts on settled derivative contracts in “Net gain (loss) on derivative contracts” on the consolidated statements of operations.
All derivative contracts are recorded at fair market value in accordance with ASC 815 and ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”) and included in the consolidated balance sheets as assets or liabilities. The “Derivative contract assets” and “Derivative contract liabilities” represent the difference between the market commodity prices and the hedged prices for the remaining volumes of production hedges as of June 30, 2022 (the “mark-to-market valuation”).
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The following table summarizes the location and fair value amounts of all derivative contracts in the consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Derivatives not designated
The following table summarizes the location and amounts of the Company’s realized and unrealized gains and losses on derivative contracts in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the years ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands). “Realized gain (loss) on derivative contracts” represents all receipts (payments) on derivative contracts settled during the period. “Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative contracts” represents the net change in the mark-to-market valuation of the derivative contracts.
Derivatives not designated Location of gain (loss)
as hedging contracts recognized in income on Years Ended June 30,
Commodity contracts:
Total net gain (loss) on derivative contracts $ 513 $ (3,763)
The Company presents the fair value of its derivative contracts at the gross amounts in the consolidated balance sheets. The following table shows the potential effects of master netting arrangements on the fair value of the Company’s derivative contracts as of June 30, 2022 (in thousands):
Derivative Contracts Assets Derivative Contracts Liabilities
Offsetting of Derivative Assets and Liabilities June 30, 2022 June 30, 2022
Gross amounts presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet $ 170 $ 2,164
Amounts not offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (170) (170)
Net amount $ — $ 1,994
The Company enters into an ISDA with each counterparty prior to a derivative contract with such counterparty. The ISDA is a standard contract that governs all derivative contracts entered into between the Company and the respective counterparty. The ISDA allows for offsetting of amounts payable or receivable between the Company and the counterparty, at the election of both parties, for transactions that occur on the same date and in the same currency.
Note 8. Fair Value Measurement
Accounting guidelines for measuring fair value establish a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy categorizes assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement.
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The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1—Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.
Level 2—Other inputs that are observable directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Level 3—Unobservable inputs for which there are little or no market data and which the Company makes its own assumptions about how market participants would price the assets and liabilities.
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments. The Company’s determination of fair value incorporates not only the credit standing of the counterparties involved in transactions with the Company resulting in receivables on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, but also the impact of the Company’s nonperformance risk on its own liabilities. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The Company utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. These inputs can be readily observable (Level 1) market corroborated (Level 2), or generally unobservable (Level 3). The Company classifies fair value balances based on observability of those inputs.
As required by ASC 820, a financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. There were no transfers between fair value hierarchy levels for any period presented. The following table, set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, shows the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value as of June 30, 2022 (in thousands). The Company did not have any open positions as of June 30, 2023.
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Assets
Derivative contract assets $ — $ 170 $ — $ 170
Liabilities
Derivative contract liabilities $ — $ 2,164 $ — $ 2,164
Derivative contracts listed above as Level 2 include costless put/call collars that are carried at fair value. The Company records the net change in fair value of these positions in “Net gain (loss) on derivative contracts” in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company is able to value the assets and liabilities based on observable market data for similar instruments, which resulted in the Company reporting its derivatives as Level 2. This observable data includes the forward curves for commodity prices based on quoted market prices and implied volatility factors related to changes in the forward curves. See Note 7, “Derivatives,” for additional discussion of derivatives.
Historically, the Company’s derivative contracts were with large utilities with investment grade credit ratings which are believed to have minimal credit risk. As such, the Company was exposed to credit risk to the extent of nonperformance by the counterparties in the derivative contracts. To date, the Company has not experienced such nonperformance.