10-Q: Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
Published on May 12, 2021
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM
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(Mark One)
For the quarterly period ended
For the transition period from _______ to _______
Commission file number
________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip code) |
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(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class |
Trading symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock |
EGY |
London Stock Exchange |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer |
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Accelerated filer |
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Smaller reporting company Emerging growth company |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes ¨ No
As of April 30, 2021, there were outstanding
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VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Table of Contents
Unless the context otherwise indicates, references to “VAALCO,” “the Company”, “we,” “our,” or “us” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are references to VAALCO Energy, Inc., including its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
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As of March 31, 2021 |
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As of December 31, 2020 |
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ASSETS |
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(in thousands) |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
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$ |
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Restricted cash |
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Receivables: |
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Trade |
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— |
Accounts with joint venture owners, net of allowance of $ |
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Other |
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Crude oil inventory |
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Prepayments and other |
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Total current assets |
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Crude oil and natural gas properties, equipment and other - successful efforts method, net |
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Other noncurrent assets: |
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Restricted cash |
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Value added tax and other receivables, net of allowance of $ |
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Right of use operating lease assets |
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Abandonment funding |
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Total assets |
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$ |
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$ |
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LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable |
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$ |
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$ |
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Accounts with joint venture owners |
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Accrued liabilities and other |
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Operating lease liabilities - current portion |
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Foreign income taxes payable |
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Current liabilities - discontinued operations |
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Total current liabilities |
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Asset retirement obligations |
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Operating lease liabilities - net of current portion |
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Deferred tax liabilities |
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— |
Other long-term liabilities |
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Total liabilities |
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Commitments and contingencies (Note 10) |
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Shareholders’ equity: |
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Preferred stock, $ |
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Common stock, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Less treasury stock, |
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( |
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( |
Retained earnings |
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Total shareholders' equity |
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Total liabilities and shareholders' equity |
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$ |
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$ |
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See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2021 |
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2020 |
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(in thousands, except per share amounts) |
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Revenues: |
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Crude oil and natural gas sales |
$ |
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$ |
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Operating costs and expenses: |
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Production expense |
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Exploration expense |
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— |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
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Impairment of proved crude oil and natural gas properties |
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— |
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General and administrative expense |
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Bad debt expense and other |
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Total operating costs and expenses |
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Other operating expense, net |
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( |
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( |
Operating income (loss) |
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( |
Other income (expense): |
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Derivative instruments gain (loss), net |
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( |
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Interest income, net |
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Other, net |
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( |
Total other income (expense), net |
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( |
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Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
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( |
Income tax expense |
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Income (loss) from continuing operations |
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( |
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
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( |
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( |
Net income (loss) |
$ |
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$ |
( |
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Basic net income (loss) per share: |
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Income (loss) from continuing operations |
$ |
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$ |
( |
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Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
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Net income (loss) per share |
$ |
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$ |
( |
Basic weighted average shares outstanding |
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Diluted net income (loss) per share: |
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Income (loss) from continuing operations |
$ |
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$ |
( |
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Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
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Net income (loss) per share |
$ |
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$ |
( |
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
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See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)
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Common Shares Issued |
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Treasury Shares |
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Common Stock |
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Additional Paid-In Capital |
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Treasury Stock |
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Retained Earnings |
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Total |
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(in thousands) |
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Balance at January 1, 2021 |
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( |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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$ |
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Shares issued - stock-based compensation |
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( |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Treasury stock |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
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— |
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( |
Net income |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Balance at March 31, 2021 |
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( |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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$ |
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Common Shares Issued |
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Treasury Shares |
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Common Stock |
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Additional Paid-In Capital |
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Treasury Stock |
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Retained Earnings |
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Total |
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(in thousands) |
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Balance at January 1, 2020 |
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( |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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$ |
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Shares issued - stock-based compensation |
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— |
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( |
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— |
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— |
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Stock-based compensation expense |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Treasury stock |
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— |
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( |
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— |
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— |
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( |
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— |
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( |
Net loss |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
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( |
Balance at March 31, 2020 |
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( |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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$ |
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See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2021 |
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2020 |
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(in thousands) |
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CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
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Net income (loss) |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: |
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Loss from discontinued operations |
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Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
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Bargain purchase gain |
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( |
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— |
Impairment of proved crude oil and natural gas properties |
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— |
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Other amortization |
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— |
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Deferred taxes |
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Unrealized foreign exchange gain |
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( |
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( |
Stock-based compensation |
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( |
Cash settlements paid on exercised stock appreciation rights |
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( |
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— |
Derivative instruments (gain) loss, net |
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( |
Cash settlements received (paid) on matured derivative contracts, net |
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( |
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Bad debt expense and other |
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Other operating loss, net |
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Operational expenses associated with equipment and other |
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Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Trade receivables |
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( |
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Accounts with joint venture owners |
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Other receivables |
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( |
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( |
Crude oil inventory |
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( |
Prepayments and other |
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( |
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( |
Value added tax and other receivables |
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( |
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( |
Accounts payable |
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( |
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( |
Foreign income taxes receivable/payable |
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( |
Accrued liabilities and other |
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( |
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( |
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities |
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Net cash used in discontinued operating activities |
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( |
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Net cash provided by operating activities |
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CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
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Property and equipment expenditures |
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( |
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( |
Acquisition of crude oil and natural gas properties |
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( |
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Net cash used in continuing investing activities |
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( |
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( |
Net cash used in discontinued investing activities |
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Net cash used in investing activities |
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( |
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( |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
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Proceeds from the issuances of common stock |
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Treasury shares |
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( |
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( |
Net cash used in continuing financing activities |
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( |
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( |
Net cash used in discontinued financing activities |
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Net cash used in financing activities |
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( |
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( |
NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH |
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( |
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CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD |
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CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AT END OF PERIOD |
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$ |
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$ |
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See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES (Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2021 |
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2020 |
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(in thousands) |
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Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities: |
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Property and equipment additions incurred but not paid at end of period |
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$ |
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$ |
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Asset retirement obligations |
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$ |
— |
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$ |
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See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
VAALCO ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
VAALCO’s consolidated subsidiaries are VAALCO Gabon (Etame), Inc., VAALCO Production (Gabon), Inc., VAALCO Gabon S.A., VAALCO Angola (Kwanza), Inc., VAALCO Energy (EG), Inc., VAALCO Energy Mauritius (EG) Limited and VAALCO Energy (USA), Inc.
In response to the oversupply of crude oil, global crude oil producers, including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil producing nations (“OPEC+”), reached agreement in April 2020 to cut crude oil production. Further, in connection with the OPEC+ agreement, the Minister of Hydrocarbons in Gabon requested that the Company reduce its production. In response to such request from the Minister of Hydrocarbons, beginning in July 2020 and continuing through June 30, 2021, the Company has temporarily reduced production from the Etame Marin block.
The Company considered the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the substantial decline in crude oil prices on the assumptions and estimates used for preparation of the financial statements. As a result, the Company recognized a number of material charges during the three months ended March 31, 2020, including impairments to its capitalized costs for proved crude oil and natural gas properties and valuation allowances on its deferred tax assets. These are discussed further in the following notes. Crude oil prices improved by March 31, 2021, and therefore
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows:
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As of March 31, |
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2021 |
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2020 |
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(in thousands) |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
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$ |
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Restricted cash - current |
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Restricted cash - non-current |
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Abandonment funding |
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Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
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$ |
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$ |
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The Company conducts regular abandonment studies to update the estimated costs to abandon the offshore wells, platforms and facilities on the Etame Marin block. This cash funding is reflected under “Other noncurrent assets” as “Abandonment funding” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Future changes to the anticipated abandonment cost estimate could change the asset retirement obligation and the amount of future abandonment funding payments. See Note 12 for further discussion.
On February 28, 2019, the Gabonese branch of an international commercial bank holding the abandonment funds in a U.S. dollar denominated account advised that the bank regulator required transfer of the funds to the Central Bank (“Central Bank”) for the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (“CEMAC”), of which Gabon is one of the six member states, for conversion to local currency with a credit back to the Gabonese branch in local currency. The Company’s production sharing contract related to the Etame Marin block located offshore Gabon (“Etame Marin block PSC”) provides that these payments must be denominated in U.S. dollars. The new CEMAC foreign currency regulations provide for the establishment of a U.S. dollar account with the Central Bank. Although we requested establishment of such account, the Central Bank did not comply with our requests until February 2021. As a result, we were not able to make the annual abandonment funding payment in 2019 and 2020. In February 2021, the Central Bank authorized the Company to apply for a USD escrow account for the Abandonment Fund at Citibank Gabon. The Company is working with Citibank to complete the documentation requires for the account. Amendment No. 5 to the Etame Marin block PSC also provides that in the event that the Gabonese bank fails for any reason to reimburse all of the principal and interest due, the Company and other joint interest owners shall no longer be held liable for the resulting shortfall in funding the obligation to remediate the sites.
The Company routinely assesses the recoverability of all material receivables to determine their collectability. The Company accrues a reserve on a receivable when, based on management’s judgment, it is probable that a receivable will not be collected and the amount of such reserve may be reasonably estimated. When collectability is in doubt, the Company records an allowance against the accounts receivable and a corresponding income charge for bad debts, which appears in the “Bad debt expense and other” line item of the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
As of March 31, 2021, the outstanding VAT receivable balance, excluding the allowance for bad debt, was approximately $
The following table provides a roll forward of the aggregate allowance for bad debt:
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2021 |
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2020 |
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(in thousands) |
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Allowance for bad debt |
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Balance at beginning of period |
$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
Bad debt charge |
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( |
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( |
Adjustment associated with reversal of allowance on Mutamba receivable |
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— |
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Adjustment associated with Sasol Acquisition |
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( |
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— |
Foreign currency gain (loss) |
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— |
Balance at end of period |
$ |
( |
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$ |
( |
The Company records balances resulting from commodity risk management activities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value. Gains and losses from the change in fair value of derivative instruments and cash settlements on commodity derivatives are presented in the “Derivative instruments gain (loss), net” line item located within the “Other income (expense)” section of the condensed consolidated statements of operations. See Note 8 for further discussion.
Level 1 – Inputs represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (for example, exchange-traded commodity derivatives).
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly (for example, quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or market-corroborated inputs).
Level 3 – Inputs that are not observable from objective sources, such as internally developed assumptions used in pricing an asset or liability (for example, an estimate of future cash flows used in the Company’s internally developed present value of future cash flows model that underlies the fair-value measurement).
Black-Scholes and Monte Carlo models employ assumptions, based on management’s best estimates at the time of grant, which impact the calculation of fair value and ultimately, the amount of expense that is recognized over the life of the stock options or SAR award. These models use the following inputs: (i) the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock on the valuation date, (ii) the maximum stock price appreciation that an employee may receive, (iii) the expected term that is based on the contractual term, (iv) the expected volatility that is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock for the length of time corresponding to the expected term of the option or SAR award, (v) the expected dividend yield that is based on the anticipated dividend payments and (vi) the risk-free interest rate that is based on the U.S. treasury yield curve in effect as of the reporting date for the length of time corresponding to the expected term of the option or SAR award.
For restricted stock, the grant date fair value is determined using the market value of the common stock on the date of grant.
The stock-based compensation expense for equity awards is recognized over the requisite or derived service period, using the straight-line attribution method over the service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in-substance, multiple awards.
Unless the awards contain a market condition, previously recognized expense related to forfeited awards is reversed in the period in which the forfeiture occurs. For awards containing a market condition, previously recognized stock-based compensation expense is not reversed when the awards are forfeited. See Note 14 for further discussion.
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As of March 31, 2021 |
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Balance Sheet Line |
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Level 1 |
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Level 2 |
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Level 3 |
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Total |
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(in thousands) |
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Liabilities |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SARs liability |
Accrued liabilities |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
Derivative liability - crude oil swaps |
Accrued liabilities |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Contingent payment |
Accrued liabilities |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
SARs liability |
Other long-term liabilities |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||
|
Balance Sheet Line |
|
Level 1 |
|
Level 2 |
|
Level 3 |
|
Total |
||||
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SARs liability |
Accrued liabilities |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
SARs liability |
Other long-term liabilities |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
inputs that are based upon estimates the most significant of which is the estimate of net proved reserves. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of proved reserves and in projecting future rates of production and timing of development expenditures, including many factors beyond the Company’s control. Reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas that cannot be measured in an exact manner, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. The quantities of crude oil and natural gas that are ultimately recovered, production and operating costs, the amount and timing of future development expenditures and future crude oil and natural gas sales prices may all differ from those assumed in these estimates. Capitalized equipment inventory is reviewed regularly for obsolescence. When undeveloped crude oil and natural gas leases are deemed to be impaired, exploration expense is charged. Unproved property costs consist of acquisition costs related to undeveloped acreage in the Etame Marin block in Gabon and in Block P in Equatorial Guinea.
A liability for ARO is recognized in the period in which the legal obligations are incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The ARO liability reflects the estimated present value of the amount of dismantlement, removal, site reclamation, and similar activities associated with the crude oil and natural gas properties. The Company uses current retirement costs to estimate the expected cash outflows for retirement obligations. Inherent in the present value calculation are numerous assumptions and judgments including the ultimate settlement amounts, inflation factors, credit-adjusted discount rates, timing of settlement, and changes in the legal, regulatory, environmental, and political environments. Initial recording of the ARO liability is offset by the corresponding capitalization of asset retirement cost recorded to crude oil and natural gas properties. To the extent these or other assumptions change after initial recognition of the liability, the fair value estimate is revised and the recognized liability is adjusted, with a corresponding adjustment made to the related asset balance or income statement, as appropriate. Depreciation of the capitalized asset retirement costs and accretion of asset retirement obligations are recorded over time. Depreciation is generally determined on a units-of-production basis for crude oil and natural gas production facilities, while accretion escalates over the lives of the assets to reach the settlement value. See Note 12 for disclosures regarding the asset retirement obligations. Where there is a downward revision to the ARO that exceeds the net book value of the related asset, the corresponding adjustment is limited to the amount of the net book value of the asset and the remaining amount is recognized as a gain.
Judgment is required in determining whether deferred tax assets will be realized in full or in part. Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if existing deferred tax assets will be utilized, and when it is estimated to be more-likely-than-not that all or some portion of specific deferred tax assets, such as net operating loss carry forwards or foreign tax credit carryovers, will not be realized, a valuation allowance must be established for the amount of the deferred tax assets that are estimated to not be realizable. Factors considered are earnings generated in previous periods, forecasted earnings and the expiration period of net operating loss carry forwards or foreign tax credit carryovers.
In certain jurisdictions, the Company may deem the likelihood of realizing deferred tax assets as remote where the Company expects that, due to the structure of operations and applicable law, the operations in such jurisdictions will not give rise to future tax consequences. For such jurisdictions, the Company has not recognized deferred tax assets. Should the Company’s expectations change regarding the expected future tax consequences, it may be required to record additional deferred taxes that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial position and results of operations. See Note 15 for further discussion.
Not Yet Adopted
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASU”) No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”) related to the calculation of credit losses on financial instruments. All financial instruments not accounted for at fair value will be impacted, including the Company’s trade and joint venture owners’ receivables. Allowances are to be measured using a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model as of the reporting date that is based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This is significantly different from the current model that increases the allowance when losses are probable. Initially, ASU 2016-13 was effective for all public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years and will be applied with a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The FASB subsequently issued ASU No. 2019-04 (“ASU 2019-04”): Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments and ASU No. 2019-05 (“ASU 2019-05”): Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) - Targeted Transition Relief. ASU 2019-04 and ASU 2019-05 provide certain codification improvements related to implementation of ASU 2016-13 and targeted transition relief consisting of an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option for eligible instruments. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates. This amendment deferred the effective date of ASU No. 2016-13 from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2023 for calendar year end smaller reporting companies, which includes the Company. The Company plans to defer the implementation of ASU 2016-13, and related updates, until January 2023.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-03 - Codification Improvements to Financial Instruments (“ASU 2020-03”). ASU 2020-03 improves and clarifies various financial instruments topics, including the CECL standard. ASU 2020-03 includes seven different issues that describe the areas of improvement and the related amendments to GAAP, intended to make the standards easier to understand and apply by eliminating inconsistencies and providing clarifications. The amendments in ASU 2020-03 have different effective dates. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
Adopted
In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740: Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740. ASU 2019-12 is effective for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.
Acquisition of Sasol Gabon S.A.’s Interest in Etame
On February 25, 2021, VAALCO Gabon S.A. completed the acquisition of Sasol’s
The following amounts represent the preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Sasol Acquisition. The final determination of fair value for certain assets and liabilities will be completed as soon as the information necessary to complete the analysis is obtained. These amounts will be finalized as soon as possible, but no later than one year from the date of the acquisition. The final determination of fair value for certain assets and liabilities (VAT and accrued liabilities) could differ materially from the amounts set forth below
|
|
|
|
|
February 25, 2021 |
|
|
(in thousands) |
Purchase Consideration |
|
|
Cash |
$ |
|
Fair value of contingent consideration |
|
|
Total purchase consideration |
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 25, 2021 |
|
|
(in thousands) |
Assets acquired: |
|
|
Wells, platforms and other production facilities |
$ |
|
Equipment and other |
|
|
Value added tax and other receivables |
|
|
Abandonment funding |
|
|
Accounts receivable - trade |
|
|
Other current assets |
|
|
Liabilities assumed: |
|
|
Asset retirement obligations |
|
( |
Accrued liabilities and other |
|
( |
Bargain purchase gain |
|
( |
Total purchase price |
$ |
|
|
|
|
All assets and liabilities associated with Sasol’s interest in Etame Marin block, including crude oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement obligations and working capital items, were recorded at their fair value. The Company used estimated future crude oil prices as of the closing date, February 25, 2021, to apply to the estimated reserve quantities acquired and market participant assumptions to the estimated future operating and development costs to arrive at the estimates of future net revenues. The future net revenues were discounted using the Company’s weighted average cost of capital to determine the fair value at closing. The valuations to derive the purchase price included the use of both proved and unproved categories of reserves, expectation for timing and amount of future development and operating costs, projections of future rates of production, expected recovery rates, and risk adjusted discount rates. Other significant estimates were used by the Company to determine the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The Company has one year from the date of closing to record purchase price adjustments as a result of changes in such estimates. As a result of comparing the purchase price to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed a $
crude oil price forecasts from the date the SPA was signed, November 17, 2020, to the closing date, February 25, 2021, when the fair value of the reserves associated with the Sasol Acquisition were determined.
The impact of the Sasol Acquisition was an increase to “Total revenues” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations of $
The unaudited pro forma results presented below have been prepared to give the effect to the Sasol Acquisition discussed above on the Company’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, as if the Sasol Acquisition had been consummated on January 1, 2020. The unaudited pro forma results do not purport to represent what the Company’s actual results of operations would have been if the Sasol Acquisition had been completed on such date or to project the Company’s results of operations for any future date or period.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
||||
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
||
|
(in thousands) |
|
||||
Pro forma (unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crude oil and natural gas sales |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
|
|
|
( |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
|
(a) |
|
( |
(b) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
$ |
|
$ |
( |
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
|
|
|
|
||
Net income (loss) per share |
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
|
Basic weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
$ |
|
$ |
( |
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
|
|
|
|
||
Net income (loss) per share |
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
|
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________
(a)The pro forma net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 excludes nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the Sasol Acquisition, consisting of a bargain purchase gain of $
(b)The pro forma net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2020 includes nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the Sasol Acquisition, consisting of a bargain purchase gain of $
Under the terms of the SPA, a contingent payment of $
Discontinued Operations - Angola
The Company’s operations are based in Gabon and the Company has an undeveloped block in Equatorial Guinea. Each of the Company’s
Segment activity of continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 as well as long-lived assets and segment assets at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 |
||||||||||
(in thousands) |
|
Gabon |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
|
Corporate and Other |
|
Total |
||||
Revenues-crude oil and natural gas sales |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
|
|
( |
|
|
|
Derivative instruments gain, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
( |
|
|
( |
Other, net |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
|
|
( |
|
|
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
|
|
|
Additions to crude oil and natural gas properties and equipment – accrual |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 |
||||||||||
(in thousands) |
|
Gabon |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
|
Corporate and Other |
|
Total |
||||
Revenues-crude oil and natural gas sales |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
|
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Impairment of proved crude oil and natural gas properties |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Bad debt expense and other |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
Operating loss |
|
|
( |
|
|
( |
|
|
( |
|
|
( |
Derivative instruments loss, net |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions to crude oil and natural gas properties and equipment – accrual |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
Gabon |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
|
Corporate and Other |
|
Total |
||||
Long-lived assets from continuing operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
As of December 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
Gabon |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
|
Corporate and Other |
|
Total |
||||
Total assets from continuing operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2021 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
As of December 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Information about the Company’s most significant customers
The Company currently sells crude oil production from Gabon under term contracts with pricing based upon an average of Dated Brent in the month of lifting, adjusted for location and market factors. From February 2019 to January 2020, crude oil sales were to Mercuria Energy Trading SA (“Mercuria”). The Company signed a new contract with ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC (“Exxon”) that covers sales from February 2020 through July 2021 with pricing based upon an average of Dated Brent in the month of lifting,
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated using the average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period. For the calculation of diluted shares, the Company assumes that restricted stock is outstanding on the date of vesting, and the Company assumes the issuance of shares from the exercise of stock options using the treasury stock method.
A reconciliation of reported net income (loss) to net income (loss) used in calculating EPS as well as a reconciliation from basic to diluted shares follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2021 |
|
|
2020 |
|
(in thousands) |
||||
Net income (loss) (numerator): |
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
Income from continuing operations attributable to unvested shares |
|
( |
|
|
— |
Numerator for basic |
|
|
|
|
( |
(Income) loss from continuing operations attributable to unvested shares |
|
— |
|
|
— |
Numerator for dilutive |
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
$ |
( |
|
$ |
( |
(Income) loss from discontinued operations attributable to unvested shares |
|
— |
|
|
— |
Numerator for basic |
|
( |
|
|
( |
(Income) loss from discontinued operations attributable to unvested shares |
|
— |
|
|
— |
Numerator for dilutive |
$ |
( |
|
$ |
( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
Net income attributable to unvested shares |
|
( |
|
|
— |
Numerator for basic |
|
|
|
|
( |
Net (income) loss attributable to unvested shares |
|
— |
|
|
— |
Numerator for dilutive |
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares (denominator): |
|
|
|
|
|
Basic weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of dilutive securities |
|
|
|
|
— |
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
Stock options and unvested restricted stock grants excluded from dilutive calculation because they would be anti-dilutive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues from contracts with customers are generated from sales in Gabon pursuant to COSPAs. The COSPAs have been and will be renewed or replaced from time to time either with the current buyer or another buyer. See Note 4 under “Information about the Company’s most significant customers” for further discussion.
COSPAs with customers are renegotiated near the end of the contract term and may be entered into with a different customer or the same customer going forward. Except for internal costs, which are expensed as incurred, there are no upfront costs associated with obtaining a new COSPA.
Customer sales generally occur on a monthly basis when the customer’s tanker arrives at the FPSO and the crude oil is delivered to the tanker through a connection. There is a single performance obligation (delivering crude oil to the delivery point, i.e. the connection to the customer’s crude oil tanker) that gives rise to revenue recognition at the point in time when the performance obligation event takes place. This is referred to as a “lifting”. Liftings can take to
The Company accounts for production imbalances as a reduction in reserves. The volumes sold may be more or less than the volumes that the Company is entitled based on the ownership interest in the property, and the Company would recognize a liability if the existing proved reserves were not adequate to cover an imbalance.
For each lifting completed under a COSPA, payment is made by the customer in U.S. dollars by electronic transfer
Generally, no significant judgments or estimates are required as of a given filing date with regard to applicable price or volumes sold because all of the parameters are known with certainty related to liftings that occurred in the recently completed calendar quarter. As such, the Company deemed this situation to be characterized as a fixed price situation.
In addition to revenues from customer contracts, the Company has other revenues related to contractual provisions under the Etame Marin block PSC. The Etame Marin block PSC is not a customer contract, and therefore the associated revenues are not within the scope of ASC 606. The terms of the Etame Marin block PSC include provisions for payments to the government of Gabon for royalties based on
To date, the government of Gabon has not elected to take its royalties in-kind, and this obligation is settled through a monthly cash payment. Payments for royalties are reflected as a reduction in revenues from customers. Should the government elect to take the production attributable to its royalty in-kind, the Company would no longer have sales to customers associated with production assigned to royalties.
With respect to the government’s share of Profit Oil, the Etame Marin block PSC provides that the corporate income tax liability is satisfied through the payment of Profit Oil. In the condensed consolidated statements of operations, the government’s share of revenues from Profit Oil is reported in revenues with a corresponding amount reflected as current income tax expense. These sales are not considered revenues under a customer contract as the Company is not a party to the contracts with the buyers of this crude oil. However, consistent with the reporting of Profit Oil in prior periods, the amount associated with the Profit Oil under the terms of the Etame Marin block PSC is reflected as revenue with an offsetting amount reported as a current income tax expense. Payments of the income tax expense will be reported in the period that the government takes its Profit Oil in-kind, i.e. the period in which it lifts the crude oil. As of March 31, 2021, the foreign income taxes payable attributable to this obligation was $
Certain amounts associated with the carried interest in the Etame Marin block discussed above are reported as revenues. In this carried interest arrangement, the carrying parties, which include the Company and other working interest owners, are obligated to fund all of the working interest costs that would otherwise be the obligation of the carried party. The carrying parties recoup these funds from the carried interest party’s revenues.
The following table presents revenues from contracts with customers as well as revenues associated with the obligations under the Etame Marin block PSC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||
Revenue from customer contracts: |
(in thousands) |
||||
Sales under the COSPA |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Carried interest recoupment |
|
|
|
|
|
Royalties |
|
( |
|
|
( |
Total revenue, net |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT
|
The Company’s crude oil and natural gas properties and equipment is comprised of the following: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2021 |
|
As of December 31, 2020 |
||
|
|
(in thousands) |
||||
Crude oil and natural gas properties and equipment - successful efforts method: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wells, platforms and other production facilities |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Work-in-progress |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Undeveloped acreage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment and other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and impairment |
|
|
( |
|
|
( |
Net crude oil and natural gas properties, equipment and other |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Extension of Term of Etame Marin Block PSC
On September 25, 2018, VAALCO, together with the other joint venture owners in the Etame Marin block (the “Consortium”), received an implementing Presidential Decree from the government of Gabon authorizing an extension for additional years (“PSC Extension”) to the Consortium to operate in the Etame Marin block. The Company’s subsidiary, VAALCO Gabon S.A., currently has a
The PSC Extension extended the term for each of the
In consideration for the PSC Extension, the Consortium agreed to a signing bonus of $
As required under the PSC Extension, the Consortium completed drilling
In accordance with the Etame Marin block PSC, the Consortium maintains a “Cost Account,” which accumulates capital costs and operating expenses that are deductible against revenues, net of royalties, in determining taxable profits. Under the PSC Extension, the Cost Recovery Percentage increased to
Proved Properties
The Company reviews the crude oil and natural gas producing properties for impairment quarterly or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such properties may not be recoverable. When a crude oil and natural gas property’s undiscounted estimated future net cash flows are not sufficient to recover its carrying amount, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the carrying amount of the asset to its fair value. The fair value of the asset is measured using a discounted cash flow model relying primarily on Level 3 inputs into the undiscounted future net cash flows. The undiscounted estimated future net cash flows used in the impairment evaluations at each quarter end are based upon the most recently prepared independent reserve engineers’ report adjusted to use forecasted prices from the forward strip price curves near each quarter end and adjusted as necessary for drilling and production results.
There was no triggering event in the first quarter of 2021 that would cause us to believe the value of crude oil and natural gas producing properties should be impaired. Factors considered included higher future strip prices for the first quarter of 2021 compared
to the fourth quarter of 2020, and that the Company incurred no significant capital expenditures in the period related to the fields in the Etame Marin block.
Declining forecasted oil prices in the first quarter of 2020 caused us to perform an impairment review during this period. The impairment test was performed using the year end 2019 independently prepared reserve report, estimated reserves for the South East Etame 4H well completed in March 2020 and forward price curves. The Company performed a recoverability test as defined under ASC 932 and ASC 360, noting that the undiscounted cash flows related to the Etame, Avouma, Ebouri, Southeast Etame and North Tchibala fields were less than the book values for these fields resulting in the Company recording a $
Undeveloped Leasehold Costs
VAALCO acquired a
As a result of the PSC Extension, the exploitation area for the Etame Marin block was expanded to include previously undeveloped acreage. The Company allocated $
Capitalized Equipment Inventory
The Company uses derivative financial instruments from time to time to achieve a more predictable cash flow from crude oil production by reducing the Company’s exposure to price fluctuations.
Commodity swaps – On May 6, 2019, the Company entered into commodity swaps at a Dated Brent weighted average of $
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Settlement Period |
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Type of Contract |
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Index |
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Barrels |
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Weighted Average Fixed Price |
|
April 2021 to January 2022 |
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Swaps |
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Dated Brent |
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$ |
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While these commodity swaps are intended to be an economic hedge to mitigate the impact of a decline in crude oil prices, the Company has not elected hedge accounting. The contracts are being measured at fair value each period, with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for speculative or trading proposes.
The crude oil swap contracts are measured at fair value using the Income Method. Level 2 observable inputs used in the valuation model include market information as of the reporting date, such as prevailing Brent crude futures prices, Brent crude futures commodity price volatility and interest rates. The determination of the swap contracts’ fair value includes the impact of the counterparty’s non-performance risk.
To mitigate counterparty risk, the Company enters into such derivative contracts with creditworthy financial institutions deemed by management as competent and competitive market makers.
The following table sets forth the gain (loss) on derivative instruments on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations:
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
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Derivative Item |
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Statement of Operations Line |
2021 |
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2020 |
||
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(in thousands) |
||||
Crude oil swaps |
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Realized gain (loss) - contract settlements |
$ |
( |
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$ |
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Unrealized gain (loss) |
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( |
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Derivative instruments gain (loss), net |
$ |
( |
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$ |
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Accrued liabilities and other balances were comprised of the following:
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As of March 31, 2021 |
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As of December 31, 2020 |
||
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(in thousands) |
||||
Accrued accounts payable invoices |
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$ |
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$ |
|
Gabon DMO, PID and PIH obligations |
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Derivative liability - crude oil swaps |
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— |
Contingent payment |
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— |
Capital expenditures |
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Stock appreciation rights – current portion |
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Accrued wages and other compensation |
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Other |
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Total accrued liabilities and other |
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$ |
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$ |
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Abandonment funding
Under the terms of the Etame Marin block PSC, the Company has a cash funding arrangement for the eventual abandonment of all offshore wells, platforms and facilities on the Etame Marin block. As a result of the PSC Extension, annual funding payments are spread over the periods from 2018 through 2028. The amounts paid will be reimbursed through the Cost Account and are non-refundable. The abandonment estimate used for this purpose is approximately $
On March 5, 2019, in accordance with certain foreign currency regulatory requirements, the Gabonese branch of an international commercial bank holding the abandonment funds in a U.S. dollar denominated account transferred the funds to the Central Bank for CEMAC, of which Gabon is one of the six member states. The U.S. dollars were converted to local currency with a credit back to the Gabonese branch. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recorded a $
FPSO charter
In connection with the charter of the FPSO, the Company, as operator of the Etame Marin block, guaranteed all of the charter payments under the charter through its contract term. At the Company’s election, the charter could be extended for
Company obtained guarantees from each of the Company’s joint venture owners for their respective shares of the payments. The Company’s net share of the charter payment is
Regulatory and Joint Interest Audits and Related Matters
The Company is subject to periodic routine audits by various government agencies in Gabon, including audits of the Company’s petroleum cost account, customs, taxes and other operational matters, as well as audits by other members of the contractor group under the Company’s joint operating agreements.
In 2016, the government of Gabon conducted an audit of the Company’s operations in Gabon, covering the years 2013 through 2014. The Company received the findings from this audit and responded to the audit findings in January 2017. Since providing the Company’s response, there have been changes in the Gabonese officials responsible for the audit. The Company is working with the newly appointed representatives to resolve the audit findings. The Company does not anticipate that the ultimate outcome of this audit will have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Between 2019 and 2021, the government of Gabon conducted an audit of the operations in Gabon, covering the years 2015 and 2016. The Company has not yet received the findings from this audit.
In July 2019, the Company reached an agreement in principle to resolve a legacy issue related to findings from the Etame Marin block joint venture owners’ audits for the periods from 2007 through 2016 for $
In 2019, the Etame joint venture owners conducted audits for the years 2017 and 2018. In June 2020, the Company agreed to a $
Other contractual commitments
Under ASC 842, Leases, there are two types of leases: finance and operating. Regardless of the type of lease, the initial measurement of the lease results in recording a Right-of-Use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability at the present value of the future lease payments.
Practical Expedients –The Company elected to use these practical expedients, effectively carrying over its previous identification and classification of leases that existed as of January 1, 2019. Additionally, a lessee may elect not to recognize ROU assets and liabilities arising from short-term leases provided there is no purchase option the entity is likely to exercise. The Company has elected this short-term lease exemption. The adoption of ASC 842 resulted in a material increase in the Company’s total assets and liabilities on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as certain of its operating leases are significant. In addition, adoption resulted in a decrease in working capital as the ROU asset is noncurrent, but the lease liability has both long-term and short-term portions. There was no material overall impact on results of operations or cash flows. In the statement of cash flows, operating leases remain an operating activity.
The Company is currently a party to several lease agreements for the rental of marine vessels and helicopters, warehouse and storage facilities, equipment and the FPSO. The duration for these agreements range from
For all other leases that contain an option to extend, the Company has concluded that it is not reasonably certain it will exercise the renewal option and the renewal periods have been excluded in the calculation for the ROU assets and liabilities. During the third quarter of 2019, the Company notified the lessor of the FPSO of its intent to extend the lease term by the first option that extends the FPSO lease to September 2021. Similarly, during the third quarter of 2020, the Company gave notification to extend the FPSO lease to September 2022.
The FPSO agreement also contains options to purchase the assets during or at the end of the lease term. The Company does not consider these options reasonably certain of exercise and has excluded the purchase price from the calculation of ROU assets and lease liabilities.
The FPSO, helicopter, marine vessels and certain equipment leases include provisions for variable lease payments, under which the Company is required to make additional payments based on the level of production or the number of days or hours the asset is deployed, or the number of persons onboard the vessel. Because the Company does not know the extent that the Company will be required to make such payments, they are excluded from the initial calculation of ROU assets and lease liabilities.
The discount rate used to calculate ROU assets and lease liabilities represents the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. The Company determined this by considering the term and economic environment of each lease, and estimating the resulting interest rate the Company would incur to borrow the lease payments.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the components of the lease costs and the supplemental information were as follows:
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
2021 |
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2020 |
||
Lease cost: |
(in thousands) |
||||
Operating lease cost |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Short-term lease cost |
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Variable lease cost |
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|
|
Total lease expense |
|
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|
|
Lease costs capitalized |
|
— |
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|
|
Total lease costs |
$ |
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|
$ |
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|
Other information: |
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|
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: |
2021 |
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2020 |
||
Operating cash flows attributable to operating leases |
$ |
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|
$ |
|
Weighted-average remaining lease term |
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||
Weighted-average discount rate |
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|
The table below describes the presentation of the total lease cost on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations. As discussed above, the Company’s joint venture owners are required to reimburse the Company for their share of certain expenses, including certain lease costs.
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Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
2021 |
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2020 |
||
|
(in thousands) |
||||
Production expense |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
General and administrative expense |
|
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|
Lease costs billed to the joint venture owners |
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Total lease expense |
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|
Lease costs capitalized |
|
— |
|
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|
Total lease costs |
$ |
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|
$ |
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|
The following table describes the future maturities of the Company’s operating lease liabilities at March 31, 2021:
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Lease Obligation |
|
Year |
(in thousands) |
|
2021 |
$ |
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2022 |
|
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2023 |
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|
Less: imputed interest |
|
|
Total lease liabilities |
$ |
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|
The following table summarizes the changes in the Company’s asset retirement obligations:
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|
(in thousands) |
|
As of March 31, 2021 |
|
As of December 31, 2020 |
||
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
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$ |
|
Accretion |
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Additions |
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Revisions |
|
|
— |
|
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Ending balance |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
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|
Accretion is recorded in the line item “Depreciation, depletion and amortization” on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Preferred stock – Authorized preferred stock consists of
Treasury stock – On June 20, 2019, the Board of Directors authorized and approved a share repurchase program for up to $
From commencement of the plan in June 2019 through April 13, 2020, the Company purchased
not issued or considered common stock repurchases under the Company’s stock repurchase program, they are treated as common stock repurchases in our financial statements as they reduce the number of shares that would have been issued upon vesting. See Note 14 for further discussion.
The Company’s stock-based compensation has been granted under several stock incentive and long-term incentive plans. The plans authorize the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors to issue various types of incentive compensation. The Company had previously issued stock options and restricted shares under the 2014 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2014 Plan”) and stock appreciation rights under the 2016 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan. On June 25, 2020, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2020 Plan”) under which
For each stock option granted, the number of authorized shares under the 2020 Plan will be reduced on a one-for-one basis. For each restricted share granted, the number of shares authorized under the 2020 Plan will be reduced by twice the number of restricted shares. The Company has no set policy for sourcing shares for option grants. Historically the shares issued under option grants have been new shares.
As referenced in the table below, the Company records compensation expense related to stock-based compensation as general and administrative expense associated with the issuance of stock options, restricted stock and stock appreciation rights. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company settled in cash $
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|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||
|
|
(in thousands) |
||||
Stock-based compensation - equity awards |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Stock-based compensation - liability awards |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
Total stock-based compensation |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
Stock options and performance shares
Stock options have an exercise price that may not be less than the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. In general, stock options granted to participants will become exercisable over a period determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, which generally vest over a service period of up to
In March 2021, the Company granted options to certain employees of the Company that are considered performance stock options to purchase an aggregate of
The Company used the Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the grant date fair value of performance stock option awards. The fair value of these awards will be amortized to expense over the derived service period of the option. During the three months ended March 31, 2021,
For options that do not contain a market or performance condition, the Company uses the Black-Scholes model to calculate the grant date fair value of stock option awards. This fair value is then amortized to expense over the service period of the option.
Because the Company has not paid cash dividends and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on the common stock in the foreseeable future, no expected dividend yield was input to the Black-Scholes or Monte Carlo models. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the weighted average assumptions shown below were used to calculate the weighted average grant date fair value of option grants in the Monte Carlo model.
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|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
||||
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
||
Weighted average exercise price - ($/share) |
$ |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Expected life in years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average expected volatility |
|
% |
|
— |
|
|
Risk-free interest rate |
|
% |
|
— |
|
|
Weighted average grant date fair value - ($/share) |
$ |
|
$ |
— |
|
Stock option activity associated with the Monte Carlo model for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is provided below:
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares Underlying Options |
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share |
|
|
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term |
|
|
Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
(in years) |
|
|
(in thousands) |
Outstanding at January 1, 2021 |
|
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|
|
Granted |
|
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|
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|
|
|
Exercised |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unvested shares forfeited |
|
( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vested shares expired |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at March 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Exercisable at March 31, 2021 |
|
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock option activity associated with the Black-Scholes model for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is provided below:
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares Underlying Options |
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share |
|
|
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term |
|
|
Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
(in years) |
|
|
(in thousands) |
Outstanding at January 1, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unvested shares forfeited |
|
( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vested shares expired |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at March 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Exercisable at March 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the three months ended March 31, 2021,
Restricted shares
Restricted stock granted to employees will vest over a period determined by the Compensation Committee that is generally a period, vesting in three equal parts on the anniversaries following the date of the grant. Restricted stock granted to directors will vest on the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of grant and (ii) the first annual meeting of stockholders following the date of grant (but not less than fifty (50) weeks following the date of grant). In March 2021, the Company issued
The following is a summary of activity for the nine months ended March 31, 2021:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted Stock |
|
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
Non-vested shares outstanding at January 1, 2021 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
Awards granted |
|
|
|
|
|
Awards vested |
|
( |
|
|
|
Awards forfeited |
|
( |
|
|
|
Non-vested shares outstanding at March 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the three months ended March 31, 2021,
Stock appreciation rights (“SARs”)
SARs may be granted under the VAALCO Energy, Inc. 2016 Stock Appreciation Rights Plan and the 2020 Plan. A SAR is the right to receive a cash amount equal to the spread with respect to a share of common stock upon the exercise of the SAR. The spread is the difference between the SAR exercise price per share specified in the SAR award (that may not be less than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant) and the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. SARs granted to participants will become exercisable over a period determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. In addition, SARs will become exercisable upon a change in control, unless provided otherwise by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company did
SAR activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is provided below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares Underlying SARs |
|
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share |
|
|
Term |
|
Aggregate Intrinsic Value |
||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
(in years) |
|
|
(in thousands) |
Outstanding at January 1, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unvested SARs forfeited |
|
( |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vested SARs expired |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at March 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
Exercisable at March 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
Other Benefit Plans
The income tax provision for VAALCO consists primarily of Gabonese and United States income taxes. The Company’s operations in other foreign jurisdictions have a
For interim reporting periods, the Company determines its tax expense by estimating an annual effective income tax rate based on current and forecasted business results and enacted tax laws on a quarterly basis and applies this tax rate to the Company’s ordinary income or loss to calculate its estimated tax expense or benefit. The tax effect of discrete items is recognized in the period in which they occur at the applicable statutory tax rate.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) became law. The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions to obtain alternative minimum tax credit refunds for which the Company qualifies. The Company has analyzed the different aspects of the CARES Act and implemented the applicable provisions, which had no material impact on the Company.
Provision for income tax expense (benefit) related to income from continuing operations consists of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||
U.S. Federal: |
|
(in thousands) |
||||
Current |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
( |
Deferred |
|
|
( |
|
|
|
Foreign: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
Deferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, excluding the impact of discrete items, was (
As of March 31, 2021, the Company had
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”), which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Quarterly Report that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future, including without limitation, statements regarding our financial position, operating performance and results, reserve quantities and net present values, market prices, business strategy, derivative activities, the amount and nature of capital expenditures and plans and objectives of management for future operations are forward-looking statements. When we use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “aim,” “target,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “likely,” “plan,” and “probably” or the negative of such terms or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. Many risks and uncertainties that could affect our future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
the impact of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, including the sharp decline in the global demand for crude oil, which resulted in a significant global oversupply of crude oil and steep decline in crude oil prices, potential difficulties in obtaining additional liquidity when and if needed, disruptions in global supply chains, quarantines of our workforce or workforce reductions and other matters related to the pandemic;
the impact of production quotas imposed by Gabon, as a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”), as a result of agreements among OPEC, Russia and other allied producing countries (collectively, “OPEC+”) with respect to crude oil production levels;
volatility of, and declines and weaknesses in crude oil and natural gas prices, as well as our ability to offset volatility in prices through the use of hedging transactions;
the discovery, acquisition, development and replacement of crude oil and natural gas reserves;
impairments in the value of our crude oil and natural gas assets;
future capital requirements;
our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity in order to fully implement our business plan;
our ability to generate cash flows that, along with our cash on hand, will be sufficient to support our operations and cash requirements;
our ability to attract capital or obtain debt financing arrangements;
our ability to pay the expenditures required in order to develop certain of our properties;
operating hazards inherent in the exploration for and production of crude oil and natural gas;
difficulties encountered during the exploration for and production of crude oil and natural gas;
the impact of competition;
our ability to identify and complete complementary opportunistic acquisitions;
our ability to effectively integrate assets and properties that we acquire into our operations;
weather conditions;
the uncertainty of estimates of crude oil and natural gas reserves;
currency exchange rates and regulations;
unanticipated issues and liabilities arising from non-compliance with environmental regulations;
the ultimate resolution of our abandonment funding obligations with the government of Gabon and the audit of our operations in Gabon currently being conducted by the government of Gabon;
the availability and cost of seismic, drilling and other equipment;
difficulties encountered in measuring, transporting and delivering crude oil to commercial markets;
our ability to find a replacement for the floating, production, storage and offloading vessel (“FPSO”) or to renew the FPSO charter;
timing and amount of future production of crude oil and natural gas;
hedging decisions, including whether or not to enter into derivative financial instruments;
general economic conditions, including any future economic downturn, disruption in financial markets and the availability of credit;
our ability to enter into new customer contracts;
changes in customer demand and producers’ supply;
actions by the governments of and events occurring in the countries in which we operate;
actions by our joint venture owners;
compliance with, or the effect of changes in, governmental regulations regarding our exploration, production, and well completion operations including those related to climate change;
the outcome of any governmental audit; and
actions of operators of our crude oil and natural gas properties.
The information contained in this Quarterly Report and the information set forth under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 (“2020 Form 10-K”), identifies additional factors that could cause our results or performance to differ materially from those we express in forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions and therefore also the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements that are included in this Quarterly Report and the 2020 Form 10-K, our inclusion of this information is not a representation by us or any other person that our objectives and plans will be achieved. When you consider our forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risk factors and the other cautionary statements in this Quarterly Report.
Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and reflect our best judgment about future events and trends based on the information currently available to us. Our results of operations can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we make or by risks and uncertainties known or unknown to us. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the forward-looking statements. Actual events and results of operations may vary materially from our current expectations and assumptions. Our forward-looking statements, express or implied, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” which constitute cautionary statements. These cautionary statements should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.
Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Quarterly Report.
INTRODUCTION
VAALCO is a Houston, Texas based independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and production of crude oil. As operator, we have production operations and conduct exploration activities in Gabon, West Africa. We also have opportunities to participate in development and exploration activities in Equatorial Guinea, West Africa. As discussed further in Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report, we have discontinued operations associated with our activities in Angola, West Africa.
A significant component of our results of operations is dependent upon the difference between prices received for our offshore Gabon crude oil production and the costs to find and produce such crude oil. Historically, crude oil and natural gas prices have been volatile and subject to fluctuations based on a number of factors beyond our control. More recently, crude oil and natural gas prices have been in the midst of an unprecedented decline due to a combination of factors, including a substantial decline in global demand for oil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mitigation efforts. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to generating long-term value for our stockholders by focusing on exploration and development of existing properties, adding value with accretive acquisitions, controlling costs and optimizing production.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Impact on Operations of COVID-19 Pandemic and the Current Crude Oil Pricing Environment
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified the outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) as a pandemic, based on the rapid increase in global exposure. The COVID-19 pandemic and related economic repercussions have created significant volatility, uncertainty, and turmoil in the oil and gas industry, and the full impact of the outbreak continues to evolve. The adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak have materially decreased demand for crude oil based on the restrictions in place by governments trying to curb the outbreak and changes in consumer behavior. This has led to a significant global oversupply of oil and consequently a substantial decrease in crude oil prices. In April 2020, countries within OPEC+, which includes Gabon, reached an agreement to cut crude oil production to reduce the gap between excess supply and demand, in an effort to stabilize the international oil market. Gabon has undertaken measures to comply with such OPEC+ production quota agreement and, as a result, the Minister of Hydrocarbons in Gabon requested that we reduce our production. In response to such request from the Minister of Hydrocarbons, we temporarily reduced production from the Etame Marin block beginning in July 2020 and expect such reduction to continue through June 30, 2021. Reductions in production have significantly improved the demand/supply imbalance, and crude oil prices have improved from the lows seen in March and April of 2020. We currently have crude oil commodity swap agreements for a
total of 709,262 barrels at a Dated Brent weighted average price of $53.10 per barrel for the period from and including February 2021 through January 2022 to mitigate the effects of potential future price declines. We will consider entering into additional commodity derivative instruments from time to time. However, there can be no assurance when, or upon what terms, we may enter into any future commodity derivative instruments.
While we did not incur significant disruptions to operations during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to predict the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on us in the future, including our financial position, operating results, liquidity and ability to obtain financing in future reporting periods, due to numerous uncertainties. These uncertainties include the severity of the virus, the duration of the outbreak, governmental or other actions taken to combat the virus (which could include limitations on our operations or the operations of our customers and vendors), and the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic and the current crude oil price wars among global suppliers will have on the demand for crude oil. The health of our employees, contractors and vendors, and our ability to meet staffing needs in our operations and certain critical functions cannot be predicted and is vital to our operations. We are unable to predict the extent of the impact that the continuing spread of COVID-19 throughout Gabon may have on our ability to continue to conduct our operations.
Further, the impacts of a potential worsening of global economic conditions and the continued disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets as well as other unanticipated consequences remain unknown. In addition, we cannot predict the impact that COVID-19 will have on our customers, vendors and contractors; however, any material effect on these parties could adversely impact our business. The situation surrounding COVID-19 remains fluid and unpredictable, and we are actively managing our response and assessing potential impacts to our financial position and operating results, as well as any adverse developments that could impact our business.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the current pricing environment, we have taken the following measures:
put in place social distancing measures at our work sites;
actively screened and monitored employees and contractors that come on to our facilities including testing and quarantines with onsite medical supervision;
engaged in regular company-wide COVID-19 updates to keep employees informed of key developments;
implemented cost cutting measures with vendors;
implemented sharing certain costs, such as supply vessels, helicopter, and personnel with other operators in the region; and
ceased or deferred certain discretionary capital spending.
We expect to continue to take proactive steps to manage any disruption in our business caused by COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of our employees. However, the health and safety measures we and our vendors have taken have resulted in us incurring higher costs. As a result of these factors and the conditions described above, 2020 was one of the most uncertain and disruptive years that the industry has ever seen. Accordingly, the results presented herein are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.
Recent Operational Updates
In December 2020, we completed the acquisition of approximately 1,000 square kilometers of new dual-azimuth proprietary 3-D seismic data over the entire Etame Marin block. We expect the seismic data to enhance sub-surface imaging by merging legacy data with newly acquired seismic allowing for the first continuous 3-D seismic over the entire block. The processing of the seismic data began in January 2021, and we expect all the data to be fully processed and analyzed by the fourth quarter of 2021. The seismic data will be used to optimize and de-risk future drilling locations and potentially identify new drilling locations. We plan to commence the next drilling campaign at Etame in late 2021 or early 2022 with two development wells and two appraisal wells at an estimated cost of $115.0 million to $125.0 million gross, or $73.0 million to $79.0 million, net to VAALCO’s 63.6% participating interest. The locations of these wells will be determined in conjunction with the new seismic processing and interpretation.
We are currently a party to an FPSO charter for the storage of all of the crude oil that we produce. This contract will expire in September 2022. Our options include securing a new storage vessel, either under a charter agreement or a purchase, purchasing the vessel under the current FPSO charter pursuant to an option in the charter contract or extending the charter agreement for the current FPSO. Execution of any of these options requires significant lead time and may require a capital investment due to the specialized nature of such vessels. We are currently evaluating our alternatives so that we will be in position to have an alternative in place when the current charter expires. In April 2021, we signed a non-binding letter of intent with Omni Offshore Terminals Pte Ltd (“Omni”) to provide and operate a floating storage and offloading (“FSO”) unit at our Etame Marin field for up to 11 years upon the expiration of the current FPSO contract (the “Omni FSO Proposal”).
Acquisition of Additional Working Interest at Etame Marin Block
In November 2020, we signed a sale and purchase agreement (“SPA”) to acquire Sasol Gabon S.A.’s (“Sasol’s”) 27.8% working interest in the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon (the “Sasol Acquisition”). On February 25, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Sasol’s 27.8% working interest in the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon pursuant to the SPA. The effective date of the transaction was July 1, 2020. Prior to the Sasol Acquisition, we owned and operated a 31.1% working interest in Etame. The Sasol Acquisition increased our working interest to 58.8%, almost doubling our total production and reserves. As a result of the Sasol Acquisition, the net portion of production and costs relating to our Etame operations increased from 31.1% to 58.8%. Reserves, production and
financial results for the interests acquired have been included in our results for periods after February 25, 2021. All assets and liabilities associated with Sasol’s interest in Etame Marin block, including crude oil and natural gas properties, asset retirement obligations and working capital items were recorded at their fair value. As a result of comparing the purchase price to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, a $7.7 million bargain purchase gain was recognized. A bargain purchase gain of $5.5 million is included in “Other, net” under “Other income (expense)” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. An income tax benefit of $2.2 million, related to the bargain purchase gain, is also included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The reason for the bargain purchase gain is mainly due to the lower crude oil price outlook used when the SPA was signed, November 17, 2020, and the higher oil price outlook on February 25, 2021, when the fair value of the reserves associated with the Sasol Acquisition were determined.
The actual impact of the Sasol Acquisition was an increase to “Total revenues” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations of $9.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, and a $1.2 million increase to “Net income” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Under the terms of the SPA, a contingent payment of $5.0 million is payable to Sasol should the average Dated Brent price over a consecutive 90-day period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022 exceed $60.00 per barrel. Included in the purchase consideration was the fair value, at closing, of the contingent payment due to Sasol. As of March 31, 2021, we estimated the liability associated with this payment to be $5.0 million and recorded the difference between the initial fair value and the fair value at March 31, 2021 as additional expense included in “Other operating expense, net” under “Operating income (loss)” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. On April 29, 2021, the conditions related to the contingent payment were met and we paid the $5.0 million contingent amount to Sasol in accordance with the terms of the SPA.
ACTIVITIES BY ASSET
Gabon
Offshore – Etame Marin Block
Development and Production
We operate the Etame, Avouma/South Tchibala, Ebouri, Southeast Etame and the North Tchibala fields on behalf of a consortium of four companies. As of March 31, 2021, production operations in the Etame Marin block included eleven platform wells, plus three subsea wells across all fields tied back by pipelines to deliver crude oil and associated natural gas through a riser system to allow for delivery, processing, storage and ultimately offloading the crude oil from a leased FPSO anchored to the seabed on the block. We currently have fourteen producing wells. The FPSO has production limitations of approximately 25,000 barrels of oil per day and 30,000 barrels of total fluids per day. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, production from the block was 1,253 MBbls (466 MBbls net) and 1,665 MBbls (450 MBbls net), respectively, as discussed below in “Results of Operations”.
Equatorial Guinea
We acquired a 31% working interest in an undeveloped portion of a block (“Block P”) offshore Equatorial Guinea in 2012. The Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons (“EG MMH”) approved our appointment as operator for Block P on November 12, 2019. We acquired an additional working interest of 12% from Atlas Petroleum, thereby increasing our working interest to 43% in 2020, in exchange for a potential future payment of $3.1 million in the event that there is commercial production from Block P. On August 27, 2020, the amendment to the production sharing contract to ratify our increased working interest and appointment as operator was approved by the EG MMH. We are seeking to farm down our interest in Block P in exchange for funding a substantial portion of an appraisal well. On April 12, 2021, the majority of non-defaulting parties assigned the defaulting party’s interest to the non-defaulting parties. As a result, VAALCO’s working interest will increase to 45.9% once the EG MMH approves a new amendment to the production sharing contract. As of March 31, 2021, we had $10.0 million recorded for the book value of the undeveloped leasehold costs associated with the Block P license. We and our current and potential future joint venture owners are evaluating the timing and budgeting for development and exploration activities under a development and production area in the block, including the approval of a development and production plan. The Block P production sharing contract provides for a development and production period of 25 years from the date of approval of a development and production plan.
Discontinued Operations - Angola
The Angola segment has been classified as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
Cash Flows
Our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
Increase (Decrease) in 2021 over 2020 |
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities |
|
$ |
13,453 |
|
$ |
8,896 |
|
$ |
4,557 |
Net change in operating assets and liabilities |
|
|
(11,698) |
|
|
18,749 |
|
|
(30,447) |
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities |
|
|
1,755 |
|
|
27,645 |
|
|
(25,890) |
Net cash used in discontinued operating activities |
|
|
(13) |
|
|
(18) |
|
|
5 |
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
1,742 |
|
|
27,627 |
|
|
(25,885) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(19,056) |
|
|
(11,980) |
|
|
(7,076) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in continuing financing activities |
|
|
(56) |
|
|
(652) |
|
|
596 |
Net cash used in financing activities |
|
|
(56) |
|
|
(652) |
|
|
596 |
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
$ |
(17,370) |
|
$ |
14,995 |
|
$ |
(32,365) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The $4.6 million increase in net cash provided by our operating activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the same period of 2020 was mainly due to higher crude oil prices in 2021 partially offset by higher operating costs and expenses as discussed below in “Results of Operations”. The net decrease in operating assets and liabilities of $30.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the same period of 2020 was primarily related to increases in accounts receivable, accrued liabilities and foreign income taxes payable, partially offset by decreases in crude oil inventory and accounts payable.
Net cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2021 included $17.9 million paid for the completion of the Sasol Acquisition as discussed in Note 3 to our condensed consolidated financial statements. In addition, we incurred on a cash basis $1.2 million for property and equipment primarily related to equipment and enhancements as well as expenditures related the next drilling program as discussed in “Recent Operational Updates” above. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we incurred on a cash basis $12.0 million for expenditures related to the 2019/2020 drilling campaign and equipment purchases. See “Capital Expenditures” below for further discussion.
Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2021 included $0.4 million for treasury stock as a result of tax withholding on options exercised and vested restricted stock as discussed in Note 14 to our condensed consolidated financial statements. Net cash used in financing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2020 included $0.7 million for treasury stock purchases primarily made under the Company’s stock repurchase plan.
Capital Expenditures
During the three months ended March 31, 2021, we incurred accrual basis capital expenditures of $2.5 million. These expenditures were primarily related to equipment and enhancements as wells and the next drilling program. The difference between capital expenditures and the property and equipment expenditures reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows is attributable to changes in accruals for costs incurred but not yet invoiced or paid on the report dates. Capital expenditures in 2020 were attributable to expenditures related to the 2019/2020 drilling program, seismic acquisition costs, equipment and enhancements. As discussed above, we anticipate beginning a drilling program late in 2021 that will continue into 2022, which will require significant capital investment in 2021 and 2022. In April 2021, we purchased a workover unit to have on site for approximately $1.9 million for future maintenance work. As discussed above, we signed a non-binding letter of intent with Omni to provide and operate a FSO unit at our Etame Marin field. The estimated capital investment is $40.0 million to $50.0 million gross ($25.0 million to $32.0 million net to VAALCO) for deployment of the Omni FSO and the required field reconfiguration, with approximately 20% expected to be invested in the second half of 2021 and the balance in 2022 and with an anticipated payback of less than three years.
Contractual Obligations
See Notes 10 and 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements as well as Notes 12 and 13 to our 2020 Form 10-K for discussion of our contractual obligations. There were no other material changes in our contractual obligations during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
Regulatory and Joint Interest Audits
We are subject to periodic routine audits by various government agencies in Gabon, including audits of our petroleum cost account, customs, taxes and other operational matters, as well as audits by other members of the contractor group under our joint operating agreements. See Note 10 to the condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
Capital Resources
Cash on Hand
At March 31, 2021, we had unrestricted cash of $19.3 million. The unrestricted cash balance includes $1.7 million of cash attributable to non-operating joint venture owner advances. As operator of the Etame Marin block in Gabon, we enter into project related activities on behalf of our working interest joint venture owners. We generally obtain advances from the joint venture owners prior to significant funding commitments.
We currently sell our crude oil production from Gabon under a term contract that began in February 2020 and ends in July 2021. Pricing under the contract is based upon an average of Dated Brent in the month of lifting, adjusted for location and market factors.
Liquidity
Historically, our primary source of liquidity has been cash flows from operations and our primary use of cash has been to fund capital expenditures for development activities in the Etame Marin block. As a result of completing the Sasol Acquisition on February 25, 2021, our obligations with respect to development activities in the Etame have increased based on the increase in our working interest in the Etame from 31.1 % at December 31, 2020, to 58.8%. We expect that part of this increase will be offset by an increase in our operating cash flows based on our increased portion of the Etame production. We continually monitor the availability of capital resources, including equity and debt financings that could be utilized to meet our future financial obligations, planned capital expenditure activities and liquidity requirements including those to fund opportunistic acquisitions.
Our future success in growing proved reserves, production and balancing the long-term development of our assets with a focus on generating attractive corporate-level returns will be highly dependent on the capital resources available to us. In early March 2020, crude oil prices declined significantly ending at approximately $15 per barrel for Brent crude, as of March 31, 2020, as a result of market concerns about the ability of OPEC and Russia to agree on a perceived need to implement further production cuts in response to weaker worldwide demand. While OPEC and Russia were able to reach an agreement to cut production in April 2020, crude oil prices continued to decline below $20 per barrel for Brent crude as a result of the substantial decline in the global demand for crude oil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mitigation efforts. The reduced demand for crude oil as a result of measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 led to a surplus in the global supply of crude oil. Reductions in production have significantly improved the demand/supply imbalance and crude oil prices have improved from the lows seen in March and April of 2020. Brent crude prices were approximately $63 per barrel as of March 31, 2021. On January 22, 2021, we entered into commodity swaps at a Dated Brent weighted average of $53.10 per barrel for the period from and including February 2021 through January 2022 for 709,262 barrels. On May 6, 2021, we entered into commodity swaps at a Dated Brent weighted average of $66.51 per barrel for the period from and including May 2021 through October 2021 for a quantity of 672,533 barrels.
Despite the lower Brent crude oil prices, based on current expectations, we believe we have sufficient liquidity through our existing cash balances and cash flow from operations to support our cash requirements, including those related to the Sasol Acquisition, through June 2022. We are continuing to evaluate all uses of cash and whether to pursue growth opportunities or preserve our resources in light of ongoing economic conditions.
At December 31, 2020, we had 3.2 MMBbls of estimated net proved reserves, all of which are related to the Etame Marin block offshore Gabon. The current term for exploitation of the reserves in the Etame Marin block ends in September 2028 with rights for two five-year extension periods. Except to the extent that we conduct successful exploration or development activities or acquire properties containing proved reserves, our estimated net proved reserves will generally decline as reserves are produced. While both short-term and long-term liquidity are impacted by crude oil prices, our long-term liquidity also depends upon our ability to find, develop or acquire additional crude oil and natural gas reserves that are economically recoverable.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
None.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies subsequent to December 31, 2020.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
See Note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 of $9.9 million, compared to net loss of $52.8 million for the same period of 2020.
Crude oil and natural gas revenues increased $21.4 million, or approximately 116.3%, during the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the same period of 2020. The increase in revenue is attributable to higher volumes and to a lesser degree higher sales prices as described. Further discussion of results by significant line item follows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
Increase/(Decrease) |
|||
|
|
(in thousands except per bbl information) |
|||||||
Net crude oil sales volume (MBbls) |
|
|
619 |
|
|
294 |
|
|
325 |
Average crude oil sales price (per Bbl) |
|
$ |
61.31 |
|
$ |
59.54 |
|
$ |
1.77 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net crude oil revenue |
|
$ |
39,774 |
|
$ |
18,389 |
|
$ |
21,385 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Production expense |
|
|
16,133 |
|
|
9,749 |
|
|
6,384 |
Exploration expense |
|
|
142 |
|
|
— |
|
|
142 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
|
|
4,148 |
|
|
3,103 |
|
|
1,045 |
Impairment of proved crude oil and natural gas properties |
|
|
— |
|
|
30,625 |
|
|
(30,625) |
General and administrative expense |
|
|
4,547 |
|
|
754 |
|
|
3,793 |
Bad debt expense |
|
|
101 |
|
|
810 |
|
|
(709) |
Total operating costs and expenses |
|
|
25,071 |
|
|
45,041 |
|
|
(19,970) |
Other operating expense, net |
|
|
(360) |
|
|
(31) |
|
|
(329) |
Operating income (loss) |
|
$ |
14,343 |
|
$ |
(26,683) |
|
$ |
41,026 |
The revenue changes in the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 identified as related to changes in price or volume, are shown in the table below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Price |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,096 |
Volume |
|
|
|
|
|
19,351 |
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
938 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
21,385 |
The table below shows net production, sales volumes and realized prices for both periods.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||
Gabon net crude oil production (MBbls) |
|
|
466 |
|
|
450 |
Gabon net crude oil sales (MBbls) |
|
|
619 |
|
|
294 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average realized crude oil price ($/Bbl) |
|
$ |
61.31 |
|
$ |
59.54 |
Average Dated Brent spot price* ($/Bbl) |
|
|
61.04 |
|
|
50.27 |
*Average of daily Dated Brent spot prices posted on the U.S. Energy Information Administration website. |
Crude oil sales are a function of the number and size of crude oil liftings in each quarter from the FPSO, and thus, crude oil sales do not always coincide with volumes produced in any given quarter. We made three liftings during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and two liftings during the three months March 31, 2020. Our share of crude oil inventory aboard the FPSO, excluding royalty barrels, was approximately 53,858 and 188,971 barrels at March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Production expenses increased $6.4 million, or approximately 65.5%, in the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in expense was primarily related to higher crude oil inventory and FPSO charter costs partially offset by lower workover and transportation costs. On a per barrel basis, production expense, excluding workover expense, for the three months ended March 31, 2021 increased to $26.02 per barrel from $23.39 per barrel for the three months ended March 31, 2020 primarily as a result of an increase in sales volumes. While we have not experienced any material operational disruptions associated
with the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, we have incurred approximately $0.6 million in higher costs related to the proactive measures taken in response to the pandemic.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization costs increased $1.0 million, or approximately 33.7% due to higher depletable costs associated with the Sasol Acquisition.
General and administrative expenses increased $3.8 million, or approximately 503.1% in the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the same period of 2020. The increase in expense was primarily related to a $4.0 million increase in SARs expense. SARs liability awards are measured at fair value. The primary driver of changes in the fair value of these awards is changes in the Company’s stock price. See Note 14 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
Bad debt expense was lower between the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 primarily due to bad debt expense associated with the VAT allowance.
Other operating expense, net for the three months ended March 31, 2021 increased primarily due to $0.4 million for the change in fair value of the contingent consideration payment.
Derivative instruments gain (loss), net is attributable to our swaps as discussed in Note 8 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. The $6.0 million loss for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is a result of the increase in the price of Dated Brent crude oil during the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to a decrease in the price of Dated Brent crude oil that resulted in a $7.3 million gain during the comparable prior year period. Our derivative instruments only cover a portion of our production through January 2022.
Other, net for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is primarily attributable to $7.7 million for the bargain purchase gain and expenses of $2.2 million for the difference in book to tax basis caused by the bargain purchase gain and $1.0 million for an acquisition success fee.
Income tax expense (benefit) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $3.1 million. This is comprised of $ (0.3) million of deferred tax benefit and a current tax expense of $3.4 million. The deferred income tax benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2021 included a $(2.3) million decrease to the valuation allowances on U.S. and Gabonese deferred tax assets offset by a $3.9 million deferred tax expense. Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020, includes $35.6 million of deferred tax expense and a current tax benefit of $(2.2) million. The deferred income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 included a $46.9 million charge to increase the valuation allowances on U.S. and Gabonese deferred tax assets offset by an $11.8 million deferred tax benefit. For both the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, our overall effective tax rate was impacted by non-deductible items associated with operations and deducting foreign taxes rather than crediting them for United States tax purposes.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market Risk
We are exposed to market risk, including the effects of adverse changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rates as described below.
Foreign Exchange Risk
Our results of operations and financial condition are affected by currency exchange rates. While crude oil sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, portions of our costs in Gabon are denominated in the local currency (the “Central African CFA Franc”, or “XAF”), and our VAT receivable as well as certain liabilities in Gabon are also denominated in XAF. A weakening U.S. dollar will have the effect of increasing costs while a strengthening U.S. dollar will have the effect of reducing costs. For our VAT receivable in Gabon, a strengthening U.S. dollar will have the effect of decreasing the value of this receivable resulting in foreign exchange losses, and vice versa. The Gabon local currency is tied to the Euro. The exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar has historically fluctuated in response to international political conditions, general economic conditions and other factors beyond our control. As of March 31, 2021, we had net monetary assets of $8.2 million (XAF 4,590.3 million) (net to VAALCO) denominated in XAF. A 10% weakening of the CFA Franc relative to the U.S. dollar would have a $ (0.7) million reduction in the value of these net assets. For the three months ended March 31, 2021, we had expenditures of approximately $3.9 million (net to VAALCO), denominated in XAF.
COUNTERPARTY Risk
We are exposed to market risk on our open derivative instruments related to potential nonperformance by our counterparty. To mitigate this risk, we enter into such derivative contracts with creditworthy financial institutions deemed by management as competent and competitive market makers.
Commodity Price Risk
Our major market risk exposure continues to be the prices received for our crude oil production. Sales prices are primarily driven by the prevailing market prices applicable to our production. Market prices for crude oil and natural gas have been volatile and unpredictable in recent years, and this volatility may continue.
Sustained low crude oil prices could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, the carrying value of our proved reserves, our undeveloped leasehold interests and our ability to borrow funds and to obtain additional capital on attractive terms. If
crude oil sales were to remain constant at the most recent quarterly sales volumes of 619 MBbls, a $5 per Bbl decrease in crude oil price would be expected to cause a $3.1 million decrease per quarter in revenues and operating income and a $2.8 million decrease per quarter in net income.
As of March 31, 2021, we had crude oil swaps outstanding. In the past, we have used derivative instruments as an economic hedge against declines in crude oil prices; however, such instruments were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Our derivative instruments only cover a portion of our production through January 2022. See Note 8 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The evaluation was performed with the participation of senior management, under the supervision of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer. Based on their evaluation as of March 31, 2021, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The internal control environment was impacted by the stay-at-home requirements for our Houston and Gabon staff which began in mid-March 2020 and continues through the date of this report. While modifications were made to the manner in which controls were performed, these changes did not have a material effect on our internal control over financial reporting, and there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are subject to litigation claims and governmental and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. It is management’s opinion that all claims and litigation we are currently involved in are not material to our business.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Our business faces many risks. Any of the risks discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and our other SEC filings could have a material impact on our business, financial position or results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair our business operations.
For a discussion of our potential risks and uncertainties, see the information in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our 2020 Form 10-K. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those described in our 2020 Form 10-K.
We may never enter into a definitive binding agreement with Omni to provide and operate an FSO unit for the storage of the crude oil that we produce, and if we are not able to timely secure a method of storing the crude oil before the expiration of the FPSO contract in September 2022, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
As an offshore producer, we depend on our floating, production, storage and offloading vessel (“FPSO”) to store all of the crude oil we produce prior to sale to our customers. Our current FPSO contract expires in September 2022. We are currently evaluating our alternatives so that we will be in position to have an alternative in place when the current charter expires. Our options include securing a new storage vessel, either under a charter agreement or a purchase, purchasing the vessel under the current FPSO charter pursuant to an option in the charter contract or extending the charter agreement for the current FPSO.
In April 2021, we signed a non-binding letter of intent with Omni Offshore Terminals Pte Ltd (“Omni”) to provide and operate a floating storage and offloading (“FSO”) unit at our Etame Marin field for up to 11 years upon the expiration of the current FPSO contract (the “Omni FSO Proposal”).
Our obligations under the letter of intent are subject to a number of conditions, including completion of due diligence to each party’s satisfaction and the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement, and there is no assurance these conditions will be satisfied. Any definitive agreement may differ materially from the letter of intent and may contain conditions to closing, which may or may not be satisfied or waived by the parties. In addition, any such agreement will be subject to board approval by both parties as well as Etame joint-owner and Gabonese government approvals. Further, although we have no present intention to terminate the LOI or to abandon the Omni FSO Proposal, we may seek other opportunities if it is in the best interests of the Company.
For all of the foregoing reasons, there is no assurance that we will be able to agree to terms on a definitive binding agreement with Omni upon the expiration of the current FPSO contract, or at all.
Execution of any of the storage options, including the Omni FSO Proposal, requires significant lead time and may require a capital investment due to the specialized nature of such vessels. To become operational, significant engineering studies, platform modifications, mooring and pipeline surveys as well as installation must be completed. If we are not able to timely secure an alternative method of storing the crude oil we produce, then we will not be able to sell crude oil to our customers. Consequently, we
would be required to shut in production until such time that we could offload the oil, and our results of operations would be materially adversely affected.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
(a) Exhibits
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Certificate of Incorporation as amended through May 7, 2014 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 10, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference). |
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Third Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 4, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference). |
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10.1* |
Separation Agreement, by and between VAALCO Energy, Inc. and Cary Bounds, dated April 9, 2021 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 12, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference). |
10.2* |
Employment Agreement, by and between VAALCO Energy, Inc. and George Maxwell, effective as of April 19, 2021 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 12, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference). |
31.1(a) |
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302 certification of Principal Executive Officer. |
31.2(a) |
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302 certification of Principal Financial Officer. |
32.1(b) |
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 906 certification of Principal Executive Officer. |
32.2(b) |
Sarbanes-Oxley Section 906 certification of Principal Financial Officer. |
101.INS(a) |
Inline XBRL Instance Document. |
101.SCH(a) |
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Schema Document. |
101.CAL(a) |
Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document. |
101.DEF(a) |
Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document. |
101.LAB(a) |
Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document. |
101.PRE(a) |
Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document. |
104 |
Cover Page Interactive Data File (Formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
(a) Filed herewith
(b) Furnished herewith
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
VAALCO ENERGY, INC.
(Registrant)
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By |
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/s/ Jason Doornik |
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Jason Doornik |
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Chief Accounting Officer and Controller (Interim Principal Financial Officer) |
Dated: May 12, 2021