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Callon Petroleum Company Reports Results For Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2009

NATCHEZ, Miss.--Callon Petroleum Company today reported results of operations for both the three and 12-month periods ended December 31, 2009.

“We exited the year 2009 with a new strategy and two new onshore assets in the Permian Basin in Texas and the Haynesville Shale play of northern Louisiana”

The company reported fourth quarter net income of $53.9 million, or $2.27 per share, compared to a net loss of $457.5 million or $21.19 per share for the 2008 fourth quarter. For the year ended December 31, 2009, Callon’s net income was $54.4 million or $2.45 per share.

Highlights for 2009 include:

  • Restructured Senior Notes due December 2010 and reduced the principal from $200.0 million to $154.0 million, extended debt maturities of $138.0 million until September 2016.
  • Filed for recoupment of deepwater royalty payments and associated interest relating to the deepwater Medusa Field. Received $44.8 million in January 2010 representing the royalty recoupment.
  • Initiated a new business strategy to reinvest strong offshore cash flow into lower-risk, longer-life onshore plays.
  • Acquired conventional oil assets in the Permian Basin, providing a multi-year inventory of drilling locations in the promising onshore Wolfberry oil play.
  • Established an initial position in the Haynesville Shale gas play of northern Louisiana.

“We exited the year 2009 with a new strategy and two new onshore assets in the Permian Basin in Texas and the Haynesville Shale play of northern Louisiana,” Fred Callon, Chairman and CEO explains. “Our focus in 2010 will be on growing through the drill bit and making selective acquisitions in our core areas to further expand our inventory of drilling opportunities and strengthening our visible, long-term growth potential. Our strategy is supported by the strong cash flow from our deepwater Gulf of Mexico fields into our onshore conventional oil and shale gas projects.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Net Income. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the company reported net income of $54.4 million, or $2.45 per share. Earnings include accruals for recoupment of royalties and interest from the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) of $51.5 million, or $2.32 per share. The 2009 results compare to a 2008 net loss of $438.9 million, or $20.68 per share, which resulted primarily from a non-cash charge of $485.5 million due to the impairment of the company’s oil and gas properties under full-cost accounting rules. In 2008, the book value of the company’s oil and gas properties exceeded the full-cost ceiling due primarily to lower oil and natural gas prices at year-end 2008 and the announced suspension of operations at the deepwater Entrada Field during the fourth quarter of 2008. For the quarter ended December 31, 2009, the company reported net income of $53.9 million, or $2.27 per share, compared to a net loss of $457.5 million, or $21.19 per share for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Operating Results. Operating results for the three months ended December 31, 2009 include oil and gas sales of $30.1 million from average production of 35.4 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day (MMcfe/d). This compares with oil and gas sales of $15.5 million from average production of 20.7 MMcfe/d during the comparable 2008 period.

The average price received per thousand cubic feet of natural gas (Mcf) in the fourth quarter of 2009, after the impact of hedging, decreased to $5.01, compared to $7.12 during the fourth quarter of 2008. The average price received per barrel of oil (Bbl) in the fourth quarter of 2009, after the impact of hedging, increased to $77.94, compared to $55.23 during the same period in 2008. Oil and natural gas sales for full year 2009 totaled $101.3 million, excluding the MMS royalty recoupment of $40.9 million related to 2003 through 2008 production, from average production of 32.4 MMcfe/d. This corresponds to oil and natural gas sales of $141.3 million from average production of 31.4 MMcfe/d during 2008. The average price received per Mcf for full year 2009, after the impact of hedging, decreased to $4.78, compared to $9.99 during the full year of 2008. The average price received per Bbl during full year 2009, after the impact of hedging, decreased to $73.00, compared to $88.07 during the same period in 2008.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2009 Discretionary Cash Flow. Discretionary cash flow for the three-month period ended December 31, 2009 totaled $64.3 million compared to $3.8 million during the comparable prior year period. Net cash flow provided by operating activities, as defined by U.S. GAAP, was $9.4 million in the fourth quarter 2009, while net cash flow used in operating activities was $31.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Discretionary cash flow for full year 2009 totaled $99.7 million, compared to $84.9 million in 2008. Net cash flow provided by operating activities, as defined by U.S. GAAP, totaled $26.4 million and $93.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. (See “Non-GAAP Financial Measure” that follows and the accompanying reconciliation of discretionary cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, to net cash flow provided by operating activities.)

Liquidity. At December 31, 2009 the company’s cash balance was $3.6 million. The company received $44.8 million in January 2010 from the MMS for the recoupment of royalties relating the Medusa Field. The company concluded a notes exchange offering on December 31, 2009 and exchanged 92% of the $200 million of senior secured notes due December 2010. At year-end the company had $164 million of principal outstanding, excluding the Callon Entrada non-recourse credit agreement in the amount of $84.8 million. In January 2010, the company announced a new $100 million credit facility with Regions Bank. The initial borrowing base of the new facility is $20 million which will be reviewed semi-annually. As of March 8, 2010, there is nothing drawn on the facility.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure. This news release refers to a non-GAAP financial measure as “discretionary cash flow.” Callon believes that the non-GAAP measure of discretionary cash flow is useful as an indicator of an oil and gas exploration and production company’s ability to internally fund exploration and development activities and to service or incur additional debt. The company also has included this information because changes in operating assets and liabilities relate to the timing of cash receipts and disbursements which the company may not control and may not relate to the period in which the operating activities occurred.

   
 
 
 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure:

Three Months Ended 12 Months Ended
(In thousands) December 31, December 31,

2009

 

2008

2009

 

2008

Discretionary cash flow $ 64,316   $ 3,774 $ 99,732   $ 84,935
Net working capital changes and other changes  

(54,958

)

 

(35,317

)

 

(73,377

)

  8,297
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities $ 9,358  

$

(31,543

)

$ 26,355   $ 93,232
   
 
 
 
Production and Price Information: Three Months 12 Months
Ended Ended

 

December 31, December 31,
2009   2008 2009   2008
Production:
Oil (MBbls) 288 162 1,012 942
Gas (MMcf) 1,524 926 5,740 5,839
Gas equivalent (MMcfe) 3,254 1,901 11,809 11,494
Average daily (MMcfe) 35.4 20.7 32.4 31.4
 
Average prices:
Oil ($/Bbl) (a) $ 77.94 $ 55.23 $ 73.00 $ 88.07
Gas ($/Mcf) $ 5.01 $ 7.12 $ 4.78 $ 9.99
Gas equivalent ($/Mcfe) $ 9.25 $ 8.17 $ 8.57 $ 12.29
 
Additional per Mcfe data:
Sales price $ 9.25 $ 8.17 $ 8.57 $ 12.29
Lease operating expenses   1.47     2.87     1.56     1.67  
Operating margin $ 7.78   $ 5.30   $ 7.01   $ 10.62  
 
 
Depletion $ 2.68 $ 11.73 $ 2.83 $ 5.57
General and administrative (net of management fees) $ 0.97 $ 1.33 $ 1.13 $ 0.83
 

(a) Below is a reconciliation of the average NYMEX price to the average realized sales price per barrel of oil:

 
Average NYMEX oil price $ 76.19 $ 58.76 $ 61.80 $ 99.67
Basis differentials and quality adjustments (7.54 ) (15.66 ) (4.64 ) ( 1.15 )
Transportation (1.27 ) ( 1.32 ) (1.32 ) ( 1.15 )
Hedging   10.56     13.45     17.16     ( 9.30 )
Averaged realized oil price $ 77.94   $ 55.23   $ 73.00   $ 88.07  
 
 
 
 

Callon Petroleum Company

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

 
  December 31,
2009   2008
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,635 $ 17,126
Accounts receivable 20,798 44,290
Accounts receivable-MMS royalty recoupment 51,534 --
Fair market value of derivatives 145 21,780
Other current assets   1,572     1,103  
Total current assets   77,684     84,299  
 
Oil and gas properties, full-cost accounting method:
Evaluated properties 1,593,884 1,581,698
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization   (1,488,718 )   (1,455,275 )
105,166 126,423
 
Unevaluated properties excluded from amortization   25,442     32,829  
Total oil and gas properties   130,608     159,252  
 
Other property and equipment, net 2,508 2,536
Restricted investments 4,065 4,759
Investment in Medusa Spar LLC 11,537 12,577
Other assets, net   1,589     2,667  
Total assets $ 227,991   $ 266,090  
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 12,887 $ 76,516
Asset retirement obligations 4,002 9,151
9.75% Senior Notes   15,820     --  
32,709 85,667
 
Callon Entrada (non-recourse) credit facility   84,847     --  
Total current liabilities   117,556     85,667  
 
Senior Notes
Principal outstanding 137,961 200,000
Deferred credit 31,213 --
Discount   --     (5,580 )

Total Senior Notes

  169,174     194,420  
 
Senior secured revolving credit facility 10,000 --
Callon Entrada (non-recourse) credit facility   --     81,154  
Total long-term debt   179,174     275,574  
 
Asset retirement obligations 10,648 33,043
Other long-term liabilities   1,467     1,610  
Total liabilities   308,845     395,894  
 
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value; 2,500,000 shares authorized; -- --

Common Stock, $.01 par value; 60,000,000 shares authorized; 28,742,926 shares and 21,621,142 shares issued outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively

287 216
Capital in excess of par value 243,898 227,803
Other comprehensive income (loss) (7,478 ) 14,157
Retained (deficit) earnings   (317,561 )   (371,980 )
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)   (80,854 )   (129,804 )
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) $ 227,991   $ 266,090  
 
 
 
 

Callon Petroleum Company

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 
 
 

Quarter Ended December 31,

 

Year Ended December 31,

2009   2008 2009   2008
Operating revenues:
Oil sales $ 22,468 $ 8,947 $ 73,842 $ 82,963
Gas sales 7,631 6,593 27,417 58,349
MMS royalty recoupment   40,886     --     40,886     --  
Total operating revenues   70,985     15,540     142,145     141,312  
 
Operating expenses:
Lease operating expenses 4,790 5,459 18,447 19,208
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 8,717 22,294 33,443 64,054
General and administrative 3,145 2,519 13,355 9,565
Accretion expense 618 1,096 3,149 4,172
Acquisition expenses 298 -- 298 --
Derivative expense -- (888 ) -- 498
Impairment of oil and gas properties   --     485,498     --     485,498  
Total operating expenses   17,568     515,978     68,692     582,995  
 
Income (loss) from operations   53,417     (500,438 )   73,453     (441,683 )
 
Other (income) expenses:
Interest expense 4,534 5,460 19,089 23,986
Callon Entrada (non-recourse) interest expense 1,699 1,536 7,072 2,719
Loss on early extinguishment of debt -- -- -- 11,871
9.75% Senior Notes restructuring expenses 1,024 -- 1,024 --
Interest on MMS royalty recoupment (7,681 ) -- (7,681 ) --
Other income   114     ( 439 )   190     (1,379 )
Total other (income) expenses   (310 )   6,557     19,694     37,197  
 
Income (loss) before income taxes 53,727 (506,995 ) 53,759 (478,880 )
Income tax (benefit) expense   --     ( 49,456 )   --     (39,725 )
 

Income (loss) before equity in earnings of Medusa Spar LLC

53,727

(457,539

)

53,759

(439,155

)

Equity in earnings of Medusa Spar LLC, net of tax   168     5     660     262  
 
Net income (loss) $ 53,895   $ (457,534 ) $ 54,419   $ (438,893 )
 
Net income (loss) per common share:
Basic $ 2.31   $ (21.19 ) $ 2.47   $ (20.68 )
Diluted $ 2.27   $ (21.19 ) $ 2.45   $ (20.68 )
 
Shares used in computing net income (loss) per share:
Basic   23,331     21,589     22,072     21,222  
Diluted   23,740     21,589     22,200     21,222  
 
 
 
 

Callon Petroleum Company

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

 
  Years Ended December 31,
2009   2008   2007
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ 54,419 $ (438,893 ) $ 15,194

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation, depletion and amortization 34,274 64,862 73,677
Impairment of oil and gas properties -- 485,498 --
Accretion expense 3,149 4,172 3,985
Amortization of deferred financing costs 2,522 4,185 3,009
Non-cash interest expense for Callon Entrada credit agreement 3,693 -- --
Non-cash loss on early extinguishment of debt -- 5,598 --
Equity in earnings of Medusa Spar, LLC (660 ) (262 ) (507 )
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense -- (39,725 ) 8,506
Non-cash charge related to compensation plans 2,335 1,550 849
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements -- (2,050 ) (163 )
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (45,573 ) (22,215 ) 6,658
Other current assets (468 ) 5,489 (619 )
Current liabilities (27,260 ) 22,987 (2,057 )
Change in gas balancing receivable 279 630 (938 )
Change in gas balancing payable (312 ) 156 889
Change in other long-term liabilities (12 ) 2,708 (10 )
Change in other assets, net   (31 )   (1,458 )   810  
Cash provided by operating activities   26,355     93,232     109,283  
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (35,790 ) (176,536 ) (127,409 )
ExL acquisition (15,756 ) -- --
Entrada acquisition -- -- (150,000 )
Proceeds from sale of mineral interests -- 167,349 60,931
Distribution from Medusa Spar, LLC   1,700     498     687  
Cash used by investing activities   (49,846 )   (8,689 )   (215,791 )
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increases in debt 20,337 94,435 229,000
Payments on debt (10,337 ) (216,000 ) (64,000 )
Deferred financing costs -- -- (6,429 )
Equity issued related to employee stock plans -- (1,152 ) --
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements -- 2,050 163
Capital leases   --     --     (872 )

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

  10,000     (120,667 )   157,862  
 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (13,491 ) (36,124 ) 51,354
 
Cash and cash equivalents:
Balance, beginning of period   17,126     53,250     1,896  
 
Balance, end of period $ 3,635   $ 17,126   $ 53,250  
 
 

Callon Petroleum Company is engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration and operation of oil and gas properties in Louisiana, Texas, and the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

This news release is posted on the company’s website at www.callon.com and will be archived there for subsequent review. It can be accessed from the “News Releases” link on the left side of the homepage.

It should be noted that this news release contains projections and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These projections and statements reflect the company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. No assurances can be given, however, that these events will occur or that these projections will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially from those projected as a result of certain factors. Some of the factors which could affect our future results and could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements are discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, available on our website or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.